Evening star., 1907-11-02

been warming a serpent In my bosom"
With a mOue of make-believe anguish
lSobel leaned back in her chair. She was
lnsolcntly conscious of her superior at
fractions. Was she not the richie st heir SIS
IN Valparaiso? Had not her father char
tered this ship? And was not Elsie even
now flying from an unWelcome sElitor?
She knew full we'll that her fri nd would
resent the slightest semblance OF love-
making on the part of any man on board
Already her astonishment at Elsie'S un-
looked-for vivacity wa; yielding 10 the
humor of meeting such a rival. The
count might serve as a 'oil. but the real
quarry now was the captain. That very
night there would be moon. And the
sea was calm a shelf r d lake. Iso-
bells lips parted in a delightful smile as
she tried to imagine CJurtenay deserting
her to discuss those celebriti IS whom
Elsie had made the most OF. And how
she would play off the count against the
captain. They ought to be at daggers
drawn long before the Straits of Magellan
Were reached. Certainly she never eX-
pected such sport on board such a hum
drum ship as the Kansas.
Suddenly they both heard an excited
bark from the dog. and the quick rush of
feet along the deck; Courtenay's voice
reached them with new and startling
note in It.
stop that" he shouted.
There was an instants pause. Their
all ears Caught lIs SOUNDS OF Il GlSldilI
scuftle. Then a pistol shot Jared the
peaceful drone of the ship.
Sheer off, there roarad Courtnay
again. Next time 1 shoot to kiIl!'
With terror in their eyes, with h!anchcd
cheeks. they rushed TO the door and
peeped out. Courtenay was not to be
seen, but the officer Of the watch was
swinging himself over the canvas sEi Id
of the bridge. He disappeared. Joey,
barking furiously, trotted into view and
ran back again. Creeping forward, they
saw the stOlid sailor within the chart
house Squfnt at the compass and give the
wheel a slight turn. That was reassur
ing. Yet another timorous pace, and
through the Curving window they could
discern COurtenay. holding a revolver in
his right hand. but behind his back.
Even in their alarm they realized that
nothing very terrible would happen now.
But why had the shot been fired. and
what had given that tense ring TO Courte-
nays threat?
Venturing a little further. they gained
the bridge. On the main deck, long
way beneath, near an open hatch. half
caste Chilean was lying On his back. He
had evidently been wounded. Blood was
flowing from his leg; it smeared the white
deck. The officer who had climbed down
so speedily from the bridge was directing
two other men how to lift him. Close by
the chief officer. Mr.. Boyle, was stanching
Il deep cut on his chin with a haudker-
chief. At the same time he curtly or
dered off such deck hands and stewards
as came running forward, attracted by
the disturbance.
The girls were gazing wide-eyed at this
somewhat unnerving scene, when Courte-
nay approached.
Better go below" he said, quietly. Il
am sorry this trouble should have hap
pened. at the beginning OF the voyag .
to-. l hope it will not upset you. That
rascally Chilean tried to knife Mr. Boyle
a tbpSa 0t bar rly 1,-
to side with him. | had to shoot quick
and straight to show them l meant what
l said
rs he dead?" asked Isobel, with a cor
temptuous coolness as II the fate OF thr
mutineer which Courtenay found ad
mirable.
Not a bit of it. Fired at his legs
Only flesh wound. l fancy"