Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-26
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

CHAPTER XIV-Continued.
| 1t was a strange and peculiar fact that
Boyle had cornered Christobal in the
saloon. and had insisted on telling him
various remarkable anecdotes concerning
the one-legged skipper of the Flower OF
the Ocean brig. 1t was still more odd that
when Christobal yielded to fit Of I'M
wonted and melancholy silence after
| learning from Suarez that the senior cap
| tain had been talking to the senorita for
/ very long time on the promenade deck,
Boyle should feel inclined to sing.
The chief officers musical attachments
were not Of the highest, and his repertory
was archaic. But there must be some ex-
PLANTATION Of his unwonted and melan-
choly chanting. He always spoke Of
Elsie with the utmost admiration. and 1t
was no secret that he rendered Courtenay
a sort Of hero worship hidden under the
guise Of an exaggerated belief in the
good luck which followed the captain OF
the Kansas in all his doings And then,
with a chilling inspiration. Christobal
him to miss the hour for relieving the
watch. Boyle had seen those two to-
gether, and had planned to leave them
undisturbed.
Inc SpanldTO was QlSnlHeO man, lie
had inherited from his English mother g
saving sense of humor. 1t was intolerable
| that, the pleasant relations existing be-
tween the few survivors on board the
Kansas should be disturbed by reason of
any failure on his part. to acquiesce in
Elsie's right to bestow her affections
where she listed. He wondered If the girl
had come on deck after supper; her habit
was to retire early. as she rose soon after
the sun. He had seen her for a moment
only in passing out OF the saloon. and
there was a suspicious brightness in her
eyes for which solicitude on the dogs be-
half would hardly account. Why not put
his fortunes to the test that night and
have done with it? Yes, that was the
right course. He would cease this petty
watchfulness. this campaign Of planning
and contriving lest others should monopo-
lie more of her smiles and pleasant
words than he. simple question would
determine his fate. Either she was heart
whole or not; at any rate, he would re-
ceive straight answer.
So 1t was on the cards that Elsie would
be the amazed recipient of two proposals
in one evening. which is better average
than most women are favored with In
lifetime. Christobal had entered the
charthouse with the fixed intent Of warn
ing Boyle that he was going below for a
moment to ask Miss Maxwell to come on
deck, when a hurried step on the bridge
companion caused the imminent words to
be withheld.
1t was Courtenay, who had run up from
the saloon to procure those fateful letters
which had SO nearly parted Elsie and
himself He had laughingly refused to
tell her their history. That would spoil
their effect. he said. She must take them
to her .stateroom and read them at her
leisure. Then she would see their true in
wardness. and his feelings would be
spared. as he could not deny that the
majority Of them had been written by
ladies'.
On his way he looked into the Wheel
house. There was no light in the interior.
Boyle, wrapped in a heavy coat, was
seated in the most sheltered corner.
"All quiet?" asked the captain, in his
brisk way.
"Nothin' dom, SIR" answered Boyle.
Il expect you are both feeling pretty
tired. Tollemache and 1 propose to re-
lieve you at six BELLS
But Why" demanded Christobal. ut
is you who have passed an exciting day.
I am ready to mount guard until dawn.
Tollemache can join me now IL he likes,
as Mr.. Boyle ought to be in bed
I'm all right" said Boyle. gruffiy. Il
am only sitting here because my back is
stiff"
Courtenay glanced at the somber shadow
of Point Kansas, silhouetted against the
deep blue of the seward arc.
'Suarez has retired to roost," he said.
HE seems to be quite assured that the
1UQldnb Will never denver q night dttdCk.
"Todays hammering should teach them
to leave the Kansas alone in future"
said Christobal
Il hope so. but Suarez and Tollemache
agree that they are most persistent
wretches. Now; Boyle, you must obey the
doctor. I am going back to the saloon
to give Miss Maxwell some documents l
wish her to see. Then Tollemache and
Will relieve the pair of you. All right.
Christobal; l promise to take my share
% h. III 49, t., r1,~
be ready for nap at o'clock. At pres
ent feel particularly wide awake"
He went to the cabin. They heard him
unlock the door and enter. At that in
slant a startling hail came, from two
sailors stationed on the poop.
'Indianos!" they yelled.
The three men were on the spar deck
second later. -straining their eyes into the
black vagueness of the water.
'Indianos!' shouted two other sailors
1t seemed to be possible to distinguish
several black objects moving toward the
ship,
THE siren. Boyle" cried Courtenay.
striking match. At once the swelling
note of the foghorn smote the air and
Numbered away in tremendous sound
waves. Soon Kissing fiery serpent ran
up the port wall Of the charthouse. and a
fine star rocket scared into the sky. 1t
illuminated wide area Of the bay, and
darting in on the ship from all sides.
Courtenay grasped the lines connected
with the remaining mines and hauled for
dear life. Already the Indian rifle fire
was cracking with vivid spurts OF flame.
and stones and arrows we're beginning to
patter on the deck and bang against the
steel plates. Two Of the dynamite bombs
exploded with the usual din. but 1t was
impossible to ascertain their effect owing
to the yelling of the Indians.
The loud summons of the siren brought
all hands from below; arms were hastily
secured. the fore and aft awnings closed.
and Walker made shift to hammer the
engine-room door tight. The increasing
violence Of the stone singing showed that
the Alaculofs meant to press home this
time. Whatever their dread of the fiends
who roam the world in the dark, they had
conquered it. and this latest phase In the
stormy history Of the ship threatened to
be its most trying one
Courtenay, who seemed to be every
where at once. lighted torches. which
were fastened to the empty davits in
readiness for night alarm. He had used
the last rocket on board. but the flares
would burn for fifteen minutes at least.
BY their light the defenders we're able to
shoot or smash the Slx,1IlS of seyera1 saw