Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-18
tCIIApTER XIV CONTINUED.)

Barely minute lad elapsed since
they were Ia the throcs Of struggle
which promised to he the last act of
tragedy. The ship was then ovcrr,in
by horde Of bowling savnges. mad
dcned by the desperate resistance Of
fercd Ivy the defenders and ruthless MS
wolves In their lust for destruction.
Now the Kansas was clear of every
bedaubed Alaculof save the many who
numbered the decks either dead or so
seriously wounded that they could not
move. These men were so near akin
to animals that this condition implied
ultimate collapse save in few In
stances Of fractured skulls and broken
limbs. From the final stage of hope
less butchery the survivors of the
ships company were suddenly trans
ferred to a position of reasonable Sc
curity. 1t was not that the arrival OF
the ships boats meant such an acccs-
sion Of lighting strength TINT the Ala
culofs could not have made sure Ct VIC
tory. Gray and his companions were
badly armed The Indians remaining
in the canoes could have peltpd them to
shreds III few minutes. Even those
on the ship had the power 10 resist any
attempt by the newcomers to gain the
decks. But the Suporstitous savageG
had already screwed thcmSol up TO
an act Of unusual daring IN delivering
night attack. and the appearance Of
boats filed with mon of whose fight
ing qualities they had already such n
lively experience quite demoralizcd
them. They fed without attempting
a counter assault.
At last the sounds Of conflict died
away. The black waters closed over
the dead the last swimme. vanished
into the silence The spasmodlc bark
ing Of the dog. the grooming OF men IT,
ing on the decks and the shouts ex-
changed between Courtenay and Gray
for the guidance Of the boats were the
only remaining symbols Of the fiercest
crisis which had vet befallen the Kan.
sas.
Elsie. wandering through n trancelike
maze Of vivid impressions, awoke with
start to the fact that Courtenay was
giving directions for the lowering Of
the ships gangway. meanwhile receiv-
ing information as to the identity Of
the boats beneath.
"Mr. Malcolm is in charge Of the
Jolly boat" Gray was saying. Miss
Barring and Mr.. and Mrs Somerville
are with him. Miss Bnring's maid Is
dead. Senior Jerrera IS In my boat,
No. 2. We have been on White Horse
island all this time, but we have seen
nothing Of the other lifchoat."
That meant that two boats ont of those
which quilted the ship had arrived thus
opportunity. Senior Jerrera was the
Spanish mining engineer who had been
hustled into one Of the craft manned
by the mutincers. And Chrlstobal was
saying:
well, Miss Maxwell. you and I can
look forward to a busy night The
ship Is Uttered with wounded men, and
our newly arrived friends must he
worn with fatigue"
His smooth. even sentences helped to
dispel the stupor OF amazement which
had made her dumb. And the first
reasoned thought which came to her
was that the Spanish doctor had treat
ed her with the kindness Of an indul-
gent parent. for Elsie was far too I'M
selfish not to he alive to the unselflsh-
ness OF others.
''IIow good you have been to me-
she murmured. 81 can mover repay
you. remember now that said
dreadful things to you in the salon.
But you did not know what it meant TO
me when realized that Captain Cour-
iu, bn fall m
meath the blows of those mercilcss saw
ages. I have not had chance to tell
you that he has asked me to be his
wife and I have consented. l love
him more than all the world. And you
DR.. Christobal. you who knew my ia
Their and mother, who have grownuI
daughters Of your own, you will wish
me hnppincss?"
1t was not easy 70 bear when /,
came, although he had guessed the
truth already Put he choked back
the wrath and despair which surgei
up In him and said, with his stately
courtesy:
II do wish you well. Elsie. 40 mar
can hope more earnestly than | thai
you have made the better choice"
Then he turned with a certain abrupt
ness which reminded her Of the change
in his manner she had noticed once Of
twice during recent days and quilted
the bridge, She sighed and was sorry
for him, knowing that he loved her.
Courtenay, who had been far to,
busy to pay heed 10 anything beyonC
the brief fight between the boats anC
the canoes, perceived now that tn,
gangway was in position. Lights wcr,
shining on both the upper and lowe
platforms
lie stretched out his hand and drew
Elsie to him.
Are you alone, sweetheart" n
asked.
Eyes"
kiss mo, then. AMI 20 TO meet you
friends. They VIII lc aboard In les
thnn n minute. Oh. IL IL. | thought
had seen the last of yoU.'
WAS It 20 hHd rs that" ahc nun
lncrc1 4 great content rnothing no
heart and lI:aln ut her l,vcr's Nlmly
bon that he was thiuEin, of he: dui
Ing 'hc worst HgIH} of 'lc fay, II
gave her a rcnnsn"iN,; hN,;
wish he? sou, sln';D; u cGNillo .
10Y. IN pussV from ,!,r pri,,.:s q u
lover dec'; ~ EuT,r was waitii