The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-05-21


his compatriot with some interest
while the Spaniard surveyed his rival
doubtfully.
"Yes; was on the Emu. wrecked in
Cockburn channel"
! Now, the story of the Emu is one of
those fierce tragedies which the sea
first puts on the stage of life with dire
skill and then proceeds to destroy the
slightest vestige Of their brief exist
ence. But such things leave abiding
| memories in mems souls, and Courte-
nay had heard how twenty-seven sur
vivors out of a muster roll Of thirty
who escaped from the wreck had been
shot down by Indians ambushed in the
forest. Elsie was listening to the con-
versation, SO the captain did not carry
1t further, contenting himself with the
remark:
THAT will be useful if we are COM
PEELED to 60 ashore. You will have
some acquaintance with the ways Of
our hosts"
Tollemache, having nothing to say,
was not given to the use Of unneces-
sary words. Elsie was conscious Of a
certain constraint in their talk.
please don't mind me-" she said
quietly. II know all about the loss Of
the Emu. If we fall into the hands Of
the Alaculof tribe We shall be not only
killed, but eaten"
Each Of the men admired her COOL
ness, but Tollemache, who had been
quietly scrutinizing the nearer hills,
gave painful emphasis to this grew
some topic by exclaiming:
There they are now-smoke sig
nals!"
Sure enough, thin columns Of smoke
were rising from several points on the
land. 1t could not be doubted that
these were caused by human agency.
They were not visible when the party
sat down to breakfast. The appear
ance Of the ship was their obvious ex-
PLANTATION, but not a canoe or a soli-
tary figure could be seen, though Cour-
tenay and others at various times dur
ing the day searched every part of the
neighboring shore with field glasses
and powerful telescopes.
After an all too brief burst Of sun
shine the Land of Storms again justi-
fed it's name. Giant clouds came roll
ing in from seaward; the mountains
were lost in mist; the glaciers became
sullen, rock strewn masses Of white
brown ice; the fresh greenery of the
forests faded into somber belts Of
blackness. Though it was high sum-
mer In this desolate region, heavy
showers of hail and sleet alternated
with drenching rain. At low water.
though the Kansas foated securely in
a depth of twenty fathoms, yellow
current sweeping past her starboard
quarter showed how accurately Courte-
nay had read the tokens of the inlet.
Many a swollen torrent and perhaps
one or two fair sized streams at the
head of the bay contributed this food
of fresh water.
To Elsie and the doctor were in
trusted the daylight watch on deck and
the care of the sick. For the latter
there was not much to be done. The
cook undertook to feed them, and
Frascuelo, the wounded stevedore who
had been discovered in a state of COL
lapse, soon revived and was practical
ly able to look after himself. The
others, under Walkers directions, were
hard at work in the engine room and
stokehold. for there alone lay the
chance of ultimate escape
The two sentinels conversed but lit
tie. The outer war of the elements
was disturbing, and Christobal, though
unfailingly optimistic in his speech,
was nevertheless a prey to dark fore
bodings. Elsie, worn out by the strain
Of the preceding twenty-four hours
and Notwithstanding her brief sleep
in the morning thoroughly exhausted
for want Of rest, was persuaded to re-
tire early to her cabin. She lay down
almost fully dressed. Somehow it was
preparedness for any emergency.
She was soon sound asleep. She
awoke with start, with all her nerves
a-quiver. joey was tearing along the
deck, barking furiously. She heard
two men run past her door with
0minous haste. Then, after a heart
breaking pause, there was some shoot
ing. Some one-she thought it was
Courtenay-roared down the salon com
panion:
ION deck, all hands, to repel board
ersv'
With confused rush, men mounted
the stairs and raced forward. She
knew that nearly all Of those not or
watch were sleeping with the injured
men in the salon, and now she under
stood the reason. The ship was being
attacked by Indians and not altogether
Unexpectedly. The savages had stolen
alongside in their canoes under the
cloak Of night Perhaps they were al
ready on board in overwhelming mum
bers. Poor grill She murmured a pray
er while she hurriedly drew on hel
boots and ulster.
There seemed to be no end to the
evils which assailed the Kansas, and
she dreaded this new terror more than
the mad fury Of the seas. But If the
men were fighting for their lives and
hers she must help too. That was
clear. She had weapon, loaded re
volver, which she had picked up from
beneath a boats tarpaulin lying or
J the spar deck. She opened her door