The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-05-21
CHAPTER XII.


kansas changed for the bettei
Mr Boyle was So far recovered tha
! be could walk. lie even took comrnan
OF two watches in the twenty fou
hours, but was forbidden 10 exert him
self lest the wound IN his back shoul'
reopen. Several injured sailors and fire
men were conralescent. The two mos
serious cases were out of danger
frascuelo. hardy as weed. dared th'
risk OF using his damaged leg and sur
rlved, though his progress along th'
deck was painful Nevertheless OF
Christmas morning he presented him
self before the captain and asked leay,
10 abandon his present quarters. lii
felt lonely In the forecastle and wish
ed 10 berth with the other Chileans II
the neighborhood Of the salon. Al
though his luck was bad In some re
spects. the coal trimmer was endowed
with the nine lives OF n cat. for there
could be no manner OF doubt that be
dragged himself aft just in time tc
avoid being Killed.
Yet never was day less ominous In
appearance The breezy. sunllt morn
Ing brought no hint OF coming tragedy
The fine weather which had prevailed
since the Kansas drifted into the estu.
AIRY seemed TO become more settled as
the month wore. suarez said II was
unprecedented.
But the miner from Argentina never
wayered In his belief that the Indians
would soon muster every adult for an
assault on the ship. The elements
might waver, but not the hate OF the
savage. From the rising OF the sun to
the going down thereof Suarez was
ever ON the alert.
Every other person on the ship held the
opinion that the Alaculofs would attack
by night IL they were not afraid to at
tempt the enterprise at all SO Suarez
slept soundly while his companions
were on the qui vive for call TO repel
boarders. Were 1t not for the strain
Induced by the silent menace OF their
savage nelghbors the small company
suffered no III from their prolonged
stay In this peaceful anchorage. There
was work in plenty for all hands.
Walker was REINFORCED by n trio of
fremen whose technical knowledge,
slight as 1t was, proved useful when
he began TO fit aud connect the dis
abled machinery. For the rest, the
promenade deck was walled with
strong canvas. while Courtenay and
Tollemaehe gave undivided attention
10 the fashioning OF several other float
Ing bombs which could be exploded
from the ship. They also provided
flexible steam pipes In places where a
rush might be made II the Indians once
secured footing on the deck, fore or
aft. Steam was kept up constantly In
the donkey boiler not alone for the
electric light and the daily working Of
the pumps, as the Kansas had not
blundered over the shoal without
straining some OF her plates, but for
use against the naked bodies OF their
possible assaiants.
When day followed day without any
sign Of hostility not a man on board
save Suarez and Tollemache paid
much real heed TO the shoreward peril. |
Walker, with his hammers and cold
chlsels, screw jacks and wrenches, was
the center of interest. And Walkers |
swarthy yisage wore permanent grin. |
which presaged well for the fufllment
Of his promise
Elsie devoted herself TO the hospital. |
She was thus brought more in contact |
with Chrlstobal than with any OF the
others. Nor did he make this close ac-
luaintance irksome 10 her. Always |
suaye and charming In manner, he
axerted himself to be entertaining
Though she knew full well that II the
Kansas reached the open sea again
be would ask her 10 marry him, he
was evidently content TO deny himself
he privileges Of courtshlp until prop
sr time and season.
She was far too wise to appear TO
ivoid Courtenay. Indeed, she was stu.
iiously agreeable TO him when they
net She adopted the safe role Of
rood fellowship fattering herself that
ier own folly would shrink TO nothing
ness under the hourly castlgation thus
Inflicted.
After the midday meal on Christmas
lay-a sumptuous repast, for the due
preparation OF which Elsie had come
o the Chilean cooks assistance In the
natter OF the plum pudding Suarez
reported that new column
II smoke was rising from Guanaco
I'LL, crag dominating the eastern
ide Of the bay. He was unable TO at
ribute any special significance TO the
ignal on that particular place. Dur
ng his five years with the Alaculof
ribe he had never seen fire lighted
here before. That IN itself was a fact
mister and alarming.
suarez had sufficient tact not to make
his statement publicly. He told Chris.
obal, and the doctor passed on the In.
ormation 10 the captain. Both men
vent TO the poop with their glasses and
arefuliy examined the coast line
Courienay was the first TO break an
oppressive silence, and his low pitched
olce announced stirring tidings
"Do you see those canoes yonderTF
e said There were three under the
rees before Suarez discovered the
moke On Gnanaeo. Now fancy
an make out nearly doren Though
hey are not launched, they have been
,ut there for some purpose. Would
lou mind going forward and asking
ir. Boyle 10 summon all hands on
Ieexi He knows exactly what 10 do.
remember that regard you and Miss
iaxwell as noneombatants end expect
iou both 10 remain in the salon II
hese painted devils really mean 10 nt.
aek. some of Us viii gel hurf, and then
our services win Dc u greater value
han 10 the nghtiag line. And II do
ot see Miss Maxwell before the trou-
le begins please tell her She need fear
o alarm. We shall be able 10 beat 81
Or ASSISTANTS with comparative ease"
When the captain ef the Kansas
poke like that, there Was no gainsAy /