Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-11
"Ah, I heard Joey barking He has

had caught the fierce hiss of steam,
and she was well aware that steam
would only be brought into use If the
Indians were endeavoring to climb the
ships sides. Not yet had it occurrcs
that they could possibly be on board
"Some of our friends the enemy have
come near enough TO be scalded," said
the man coOlly THAT should soon
drive them away. You are not fright
encd. I hope?"
Not bit. My only regret is that I
Tense. 1t must be irksome for you, Dr.
Chrlstobal. to DO stationed here when
the ship is in danger. am certain
you would prefer to be up there with
the others
THANK you for saying that. I wish
you were able to read ell my thoughts
as accurately"
His right hand went to the pocket in
which he had placed the revolver. The
stock appeared to have peculiar clam
mipcss as his fingers closed around It.
Though he was proud of the iron nerve
which had won him repute in his pro-
fession, he almost prayed now that it
might not fail him ut tho last What
horror. to be compelled with his part
ing glance to 500 this bright and gra
clous woman crumple up on the deck.
He heard ominous sounds from the
fore part of the vessel. The revolver
shooting had ceased, for the convinc
ing reason there were no more car
tridges. Courtcnny's double barreled
gun was being fred as quickly as he
could reload il, and the sharp snap of
ono Of the rifles in the Indians posses
sion was recognizable as coming from
the poop. the remaining marksmen
having preferred to fire wildly from
their canoes. But Christobal knew that
q deadly struggle was in progress on
the fore deck. Tollcmache, Frascuelo
and three Chileans were engaged in a
hand to hand fight with nearly a score
of savages. The doctor could distin-
gui5h the cries Of the combatents, the
irregular stamping Of boot shod feet.
He wondered why tic girl. with her
acute senses. did not grasp the signlfi-
canoe of the ycls and trampling on the
deck until it occurred to him, with n
quick pang, that she was listening for
one voice alone. Owing to her igno-
rance Of the desperate nature of the
conflict raging overhead she had ears
for nothing further.
He placed hand on her shoulder.
She turned and looked at him. There
was gravity in his eyes which star
tied her.
ELSIE" he said. you believe in the
efficacy of prayer, don't you? Well
then. pray now little. shall be glad
to think when this time of danger has
passed that we owed something to
your invocation"
1t was in his mind that he must
shoot her within few seconds, and
the imneasurab bic agony Of the thought
reflected itself in his face. He had no
notion that she would give his words
a more direct significance than he In
tended them to bear. But a strange
hosrse yell Of triumph, the war cry Of
an Alaculof leader who had hauled
himself to the bridge and found it un-
defended, warned her in the same mo-
ment that all was not we'll with the
defense.
She sprang toward the salon stairs.
do you hear that" she cried in q
ringing voice. There are Indians on
board. Come! We must not stay here
lives"
Christohal knew that this active girl
would readily outstrip him in race to
the deck She was already several feet
distant, but he must detain her, no
matter what the cost. If she fell into
the clutches Of the ghoulS then over
running the Kansas she might not be
killed, but only wounded. and her suf
ferings would he inconceivable ere the
end came.
You arc wrong" ~ shouted. with
convincing vehemence. but If you
wish to see for yourself at least allow
me 20 go first"
While he vas speaking he ran for
ward. She thought he meant what he
said ard waited for him. Then he
caught her right arm firmly in his left
hand.
let us wait here a moment or two
he breathed.
mo, no. l am going now. You shall
not hold me back You dort under
stand. The man l love is Up there
perhaps surrounded by sav2ges, let
me go, I tell you. II he is dying shall
die by his side. Let me go. Would
you have me strike you?' She turn
ed on him like an angry goddess and
strove to wrest herself from his grip.
At that instant Tollemache and Fras-
cuelo. the only survivors Of the deadly
struggle forward, were driven back by
rush Of Indians. They caught sight
OF others leaping down the bridge com
panion.
ITO the salon. Courtenay" roarel
Tollemache, clearing path for him
self with an iron bar which he swung
in both hands. Followed by Frascuelo
he jumped inside the salon gangway,
-Four Savages followed, two entering
through the doorway behind him. One
raised a hatchet-like implement and
would have Drained the Tnglishman
had not Christobal whipped out his re-
volver and shot him through the body
releasing the girls wrist in his furry
The Indian pitched headlong down the
stairs, falling Imply at Elsie's feet
She stopped over the terrifying figure
and seized the mans weapon. Her