Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03

but trusted to it for warning of any I'M
seen rock.
There was a cold breeze on the surface
of the bay. but the dog was the only one
who shivered and his tremors arose from
excitement. At last they felt slight
bump. The Argentine had found the reef
he was searching for; by watching star
1t was easy enough to follow the souther-
| ly bend taken by the canoe in skirting
this barrier. while their ears caught the
| murmur of the swift current amid the
numerous tiny channels of the rocks
Suddenly this swirl and hum of fast
flowing water ceased. Elsie and Gray be-
came aware that Suarez was cautiously
drawing hims elf inboard again. Then, his
paddle dipped with a noiseless stroke: the
canoe was inside the Alaculof harbor.
The midnight blackness was now some
thing that had a sense Of actual obstruc-
ton in 1t. 1t seemed that hand put
forth would encounter a wall. The tide
was here. but no perceptible current. For
all they could tell to the contrary. they
might have been floating in Charon's boat
across some Stygian pool. ID.
For minute two Elsie's brave heart
failed her. Here was a difficulty which
desperate courage could not surmount.
There might be dozens of canoes mCored
on all sides. but to discover them in this
pitch darkness was so obviously fmpos-
Sible that she almost made up her mind
to abandon this part of her enterprise.
Yet the narrow-beamed Fuegian craft she,
was In would hold only four more occu-
pants and that with a certain risk and
unwieldiness. She was as determined as
ever to cross the bay and endeavor to
communicate with the imprisoned men,.
But she recognized the absurdity of the
thought that Courtenay and Tollemache
would consent to escape in the canoe and
leave the others to their fate, even if
such thing were practicable. Oddly
enough, the one person whose daring
might reasonably be suspected, gave no
signs of the pangs of doubt. Suarez
pushed forward resolutely. He knew
canoe used by the Indians there was a
carefully, preserved fire, whose charcoal
embers retained some heat and glow all
night. The first intimation of this fact
was revealed by the pungent fumes which
environed them. Elsie could not help ut
tering a little gasp of relief. There was a
slight movement in front. Gray leaned
back and touched her hand.
'Suarez says" he whispered, chat you
are to be ready with your tow ropes. AS
along to me. You will be able to see its
outlines by the dim glimmer of the fire.
But how will you manage about the dog?
He may cause an alarm"
Much to Joey's disgust, he was forth
with muZzled with piece of rope, not
that this device would stop him effectu-
ally from barking, but Elsie thought he
would so resent the indignity that he
might pay less heed to outer circum-
stances. She needed no warning that In
dams were near. The Argentine miner
description of the community which
dwelt on Otter creek made her under
stand that there were hundreds within
hail. -
A great joy leaped up in her when the
first canoe came under her hand 1t was
quite easy to manipulate the painter
rope. The stem had a .notched knob pro-
vided for this very purpose, and there
was stern post against which steers
man might press a paddle and thus
swerve the canoe in any direction. But
it was slow work. The craft were moored
without any semblance of order, yet
Suarez was forced to secure them in a !
definite sequence, or a string of half a /
dozen would become unmanageable.
When the second canoe was made fast
Gray bent toward the girl once more.
Il have been listening to the tick Of my
watch he breathed against her ear. Il
reckon it has taken ten minutes to col
lect two dugouts.- Unless we mean to re-
main all night we must let up on: the cut
ting-adrift proposition"
Il agree she murmured. But we
must have two more
He told Suarez of the new development,
which was essential, though 1t added to
the danger of the enterprise. By sheer
good fortune. however, they blundered
against the lifeboat. A dog barked and
Elsie had thrilling struggle with Joey,
who was furious that this unlocked for
insolenca should go unanswered. The
sleepless cur who yelped ashore speedily
subsidized, but 1t appeared to be an age be-
fore Suarez moved again. He knew bet
ter than his companions, how ready the
Indians were to note such sentinel chal-
lenges. Had the alarm continued, the
whole village would have been aroused,
and, If the attack on the canoes were
suspected, the water would swarm with
vengeful savages.
Ito be Continued TomorroXl