Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-28

INJURED Christobal, watching Elsie I'M
F, til she had disappeared. Then he turn
/, ed to Courtenay.
Il suppose you have seen nothing of
| the boats?"
mo sign whatever. And could
hardly have missed them if they We're
here. They may have escaped, but /
! doubt it The sea ran very high for
; time, and the Kansas scraped past
so many reefs that it was almost i'm
possible for each of the three boats to
have done the same"
even if one or more of them reach
ed land there is small likelihood that
they would turn up in this particular
bay?'
'That is true, especially if they used
their sails. The Chileans who got
away in the lifeboats would know suf-
ficient of the coast to make northerly
course, while my parting instructions
: to Malcolm were to keep to the north
/ all the time"
! II wish now that poor Isobel Barring
and the others had not left u.s." said
, Christobal sadly.
| Courtenay was about to say some
thing, but checked himself. He was
not blind to the aspect of affairs which
4 Tollemache had summarized so pithily.
1t might yet be that those who remain
ed had more to endure. Then Elsie
summoned them to breakfast, which
! was served on deck, as the salon had
been temporarily converted into hos
pital.
! Before sitting down Courtenay paid
a brief visit TO Mr.. Boyle. Christobal
told him not to allow the wounded
man to talk too much, complete rest
for a few hours being essential. But
BoyIe's pallid face lit up SO brightly
when the captain stood by mis- side
that it was hard not to indulge him to
some extent.
Huh he said. his gruff voice strong
as ever. ''Christobal was not humbug
gin me when he assured me you We're
all right. Where are we?''
'In small bay on the east of Hano-
yer island. l have not taken any OBJ
servations yet, and there is no hurry,
old chap. You'll be out and about
long before we move again.
Boyle smiled and closed his eyes.
81 heard the anchors go, and then
knew that all was well. You're the
luckiest skipper afoat. Huh, the
bloomin' Kansas was lost not once,
but twenty times"
Are you in pain. Boyle?' asked
COurtenay, placing a gentle hand on
his friends forehead.
Not much. More stiff than sore. 1t
was Knockout blow of its kind.
can just recall you haulin' me out of
the scrimmage and
1T will be your turn to do as much
for me next time. Try TO go to sleep.
| Well have you on deck tomorrow
Courtenay noticed that there were
only four other sufferers in the sa-
Ion. Three were 1iremen injured by
the explosion. He had a pleasant
word for each of them. The fourth
was a sailor. either asleep or uncon-
ognized severe bruise on the mans
left temple where the butt of his re-
volver had struck hard.
| When he returned on deck he learn
ed that two other members of the
crew, in addition to the cook, were
able to work Walker had set one, to
clear up the stokehold. His compan-
ion, a fireman. mad relieved Mr.. Tolle-
mache. Indeed, the latter had gone
to his cabin and was the last TO arrive
at the feast, finally putting iii an APP
pearance In a new suit and spotles.
linen.
Christobal protested loudly
81 thought this was to he workers
meal" he said. "Tollemache has stol
EN- march on us. He is quite a Bone
street lounger in appearance"
Dirty job stoking," said Tollemache
Il seem to have been the only laZ.
person on board during the night.
cried Elsie
:. do you know what time it is?' ask
ed Courtenay.
NO; about 10 o'clock. fancy"
at is not yet half past A."
The blue eyes opened wide. oar,
you in earnest?" she demanded
He showed her his watch. Scare
= four hours had elapsed since she la,
waited in the captains cabin, annie
the drenching spray and tearing wind
Z while he took Isobel and Mrs. Somer
vile and the shrieking maid to th
boat. The corners of her mouth droop
, ed, and tears trembled on her eye