The Lake County times., 1908-04-21


sea. Tide and paddles were swinging
the small craft along at a spanking
pace. They were already much near
er the vessel than the first batch of
Indians. who had very cleverly con-
trived to enlist the attention OF the de-
tenders while the real attack was de-
veloping without let or hindrance. It
was a smart ruse worthy Of race OF
higher attainments than the tribe
which is ranked lowest In the human
scale. The newcomers abstained from
firing or stone singing. They were
gathering with the speed and silence
Of vultures.
Two mines protected the front of the
Kansas, and several canoes had passed
them. Indeed. Courtenay soon found
that some of the assailants were al
ready screened by the ships bows. but
the larger number were clustered
thickly round Tollemache's internal
machines. 1t was well that a cool
headed sailor was called on to deal
with this emergency. The captain of
the Kansas even smiled as he appre-
ciated the full meaning of the trick
which his adv ersaries had tried to play
on him, and the man who smiles in the
face of danger is one to be depended
on.
The six cords were numbered. He
dropped No. 2, which he was holding.
and seized Nos. and 5. He drew
them in, hand over hand. as rapidly as
possible, but was careful not to sacrifice
q smooth tension to undue hurry In a
few seconds two deafening reports
split the air, the glass front of the
chart house shook, pieces of the broken
panes ratified on the floor. several
scraps of iron, bolts, nuts and heavy
nails fell off the decks and hatches.
and q 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 a 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 fotilla 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 were 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 she'll
also and had the satisfaction of seeing
two more Of the frail craft capsize.
He heard the crash of bullets against
the ships sides. A volley of stones
smashed several more panes of stout
glass. many arrows were imbedded in
the woodwork, but he calmly pulled an
other cord and blew a 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 1t up
and faced forward again. Several
canoes We're 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 were busy.
But the Indians were 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.
"Noww he cried, pointing to a speak
ing trumpet. SuareZ ran out on deck
put the megaphone to his mouth anG
roared after the discounted enemy {
threat of worse things in store if they
dared to come near the ship again. Al
he used the Alaculof language, thu
sounds he uttered were the most ex
traordinary that Courtenay had eve
heard from a human throat-a com
pound of hoarse. cultural vowels anC
consonants ending in a series of clicks
and the Stentorian power of his lung
must have amazed the Indians.
Courtenay saw that the two fleet
were combining forces about 500 yard
to the westward. They were close in
shore, but none Of the savages landed
nor did they head for the more remot
Otter creek. AS he was anxious t,
keep them on the run, he resolved t
try the siren again. He judged right
ly, as it transpired, that they wouI,
fear the below of the fog horn evel
more than the flying missiles whicl
had dealt death and serious wounds 8
lavishly.
He knew sufficient Spanish, eked ou
by signs. to bid Suarez hold the sirel
cord taut for minute. While tn
Kansas was still trumpeting forth he
loud blare Of defiance he ran down tn
bridge companion. Mr.. Boyle and tn
tiny garrison of the port promenad
deck received him jubilantly. The