Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-05-14

T
and tremendous hubbub of yells
came from the main body of Indians.
A couple of heavily charged dynamite
bombs had burst in their midst, deal
ing death and destruction over wide
area. Several canoes near the float
ing platforms were torn asunder and
sank, while men were killed or wound
ed out of all proportion to the number
of craft disabled
Courtenay at once picked up the gov
erning cord of the mine which he was
about to fire in the first instance. He
| felt that the Alaculof fiotilla would act
in future on the "once bitten twice
shy" principle where those innocent
looking little poles showed above sea
level and he must strike fierce blows
while the opportunity served. The
nine canoes on the south We're not clus-
tered around the bomb in the same
manner as the others, but they were
near enough to sustain heavy loss, and
| their frightened crews had ceased to
ply their paddles, SO he fired that shell
l-also and had the satisfaction of seeing
| two more of the frail craft capsize.
He heard the crash of bullets against
smashed several more panes of stout
glass, many arrows were imbedded in
| the woodwork, but he calmly pulled an
other cord and blew single loud blast
| on the siren. That was the agreed sig
nal to warn those below that they
must expect TO be attacked from the
| fore part of the vessel. His shotgun
was lying on the table. He took it up
and faced forward again. Several
canoes were scurrying past and away
| from the ship as fast as the current
and many arms could propel them.
| He fired both barrels at those within
range on the port side. He reloaded,
and the sharp swapping of revolver
/ shots told him that Tollemache and
| the Chilean We're busy.
/ But the Indians We're demoralized by
! the complete failure of their scheme.
They had ceased firing and stone sling
| ing; they were flying for their lives.
Courtenay wheeled round on Suarez.
"Now! he cried, pointing to a speak
| ing trumpet. Suarez ran out on deck.
put the megaphone to his mouth and
reared after the discounted enemy
| threat Of worse things in store If they
dared to come near the ship again. AS
| he used the Alaculof language, the
sounds he uttered were the most ex
traordinary that Courtenay had ever
| heard from a human throat-a COM
| pound of hoarse. cultural vowels and
c0nsonants ending in series of clicks
land the stentorian power of his lungs
must have amazed the Indians.
| Courtenay saw that the two fleets
were combining forces about 500 yards
| to the westward. They were close in.
shore. but none of the savages landed.
nor did they head for the more remote
Otter creek. AS he was anxious to
keep them on the run. he resolved to
| try the siren again. He judged right
| ", as it transpired, that they would
fear the below of the fog horn even
more than the flying missiles which
had dealt death and serious wounds SO
lavishly.
He knew sufficient Spanish, eked out
by signs, to bid Suarez hold the siren
cord taut for a minute. While the
Kansas was still trumpeting forth her
loud blare of defiance he ran down the
bridge companion. Mr.. Boyle and the
tiny garrison of the port promenade
deck received him jubiIantly. They
| had escaped without a bruise and ow-
ing to their position were able to wit
ness the Indians retreat.
He raced across to starboard and
| found that by unfortunate mischanee
a Chilean fireman in Tollemaehe's de
tachmeut had been shot through the
brain. The poor fellow was prone on
the deck. 1t was only too evident that
a Doctors skill could avail him naught.
SO Tollemache had decided that he
should not be taken below. The Incl
dent marfed an easily won victory.
! Courtenay was assured in his own
mind that none of the men had been
/ injured, seeing that he and Suarez, who
occupied the most dangerous position,
were untouched. This fatality was a
mere blunder of fate, and it grieyed
| him sorely.
| Even while he bent reyerentIy over
the unlueky Chilean's body the deafen-
ing vibration of the fog horn ceased
and he heard Elsie's glad cry from the
salon:
ooh, my, here comes Joey. That
means that Captain Courtenay has left
the bridge"
The girls joyous exclamation, her
prelude to a paean of thanks that the
dreadful necessary Staying of men had
ceased, was strange commentary on
the shattered form stretched at the
commanaer reef. among the small
company on board it had been decreed
that one at least, after surviving so
many periIs, should never see home
and kin again.
He gave orders that the dead man