Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

"a t14-NOutlAuCo.
"Well. Miss Elsie, he figures that an
open effort by daylight is the only way to
rescue them. They will have seen our
signals. and they can hardly fail to sight
the boat. When he is close inshore they
are sure to make dash for 1T, and he
hopes to get them off before the Indians
wake up to the game he is playing.
There are eight men in the boat. and.
with eleven others to help. there shouldn t
be much difficulty in keepin' the saw
ages at a proper distance"
How soon-will he-reach the landing
place."
Huh, mebbe an hour; an another hour
for the home trip. He'll be aboard Tor
tea"
Boyle uttered that concluding statement
a trife too airily. Elsie, for the first time
in her life, knew what it meant to want
to scream aloud.
The dog was dancing about excitedly.
and whining without cease. She stopped
and took him up in her arms
please, Joey, be quiet" she murmared,
her voice breaking with a stified sob. She
turned again to Mr.. Boyle, who sedulous-
ly avoided her eyes.
Ibid Capt. Courtenay leave any mes
sage for me?, she demanded
away only a couple of hours"
The chief officers tone was grun, con-
veying the idea that women asked silly
questions. but his gruffness did not mood
wink Elsie. He had prepared his replies
beforehand
Surely you will tell me, Mr.. Boyle?"
she pleaded wistfully.
well. 1 happen to know there's let
ter in the doctors hands. But that Is TO
be given to you in case of accident alone.
Icn'f that dncIOr2 And there's no
sign of any accident yet, thank good
ness"
Boyle sighed. like a man who lays
down heavy load. He had successfully
engineered Christobal into the converse
ton.
The Spaniard drew near. He had heard
all that had passed. and tried a new
line.
Il was rather hoping that you would
not put that awkward query" he said,
more alive than the sailor to the wisdom
uof discussing the very topic which Of
fered SO many thorns. of course, none
of us, least: of all Courtenay himself, dis
guises the difficulties which confront him.
We have not fought the Alaculofs in two
serious battles without learning. their
tenacity of purpose. and the mere fact
that the men hidden in that cleft are
compelled to remain invisible shows that
they are beleaguered But the last thing
the Indians will expect Is the appearance
of boatload of armed men at this hour,
and to take the enemy unawares is the
essence of good generalship."
when am l to have my letter." she
persisted, clinging tenaciously to one clear
thought amid the phaDtasms which
thronged her dazed mind.
"Oh, come, now, That Is not the hope
less view I want you to take In writing
to you, Courtenay was only providing
against. mishap. He would not go to
certain death. He has too high sense
of what is due to his position as captain
of a ship like the Kansas, loaded with
valuable cargo and carrying so many
lives. Nor does Tollemache impress me as
a would-be suicide. Both men think they
will succeed. and they had not any trou-
BILE in obtaining boats crew of Chfleans.
So you see. there is a general Delicf in
success, not failure"
She felt that the doctor was talking
against time. He had instructions not to
give her that letter until there could be
no doubt of the fate which had befallen
the rescuers. A mist came over her eyes,
but she bit her lower lip fiercely, and the
white teeth left their deep impress. The
dog squirmed uneasily in her arms and
endeavored to lick her face. Joey's anx-.
iety rivaled her own; had he, too, pre-
monition of evil?
Christobal was watching her intently.
1t was evident he feared the outcome of
any sudden overthrow Of her self-control
II think" he suggested. with a real