The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-08-21
CHAPTER XIX.

| HM'A HE events OF the next uour
w were shadowy as the dawn to
81 Elsie. She knew that her low
err placed men In each Of the
canoes, that the lifeboat itself was
crowded and that it began the seward
| Journey after the others had started.
They sped out of the twilight int
the morning glory of the open bay, anu
never q savage boot disturbed the ech-
oes. Some &c the Alaculofs had drag
ged q couple of canoes from beneath
the trees and raced off toward the vii
lage. others had followed q coast path
known only to them, while If there
| were watchers by the side of that
mysterious river which flowed both
ways with the tide they kept silent
vigil, awed by the force arrayed
against them.
AS the lifeboat emerged into the estu-
airy under the vigorous sweep of six
ash blades Elsie's wondering glance
rested on the brown plumpness of a
| girl who was gazing at Suarez with
wistful. glistening eyes. much as joey
was regarding his master.
|
sigh. half laugh, half sob. with which
Elsie announced her discovery of the
idyl in the canoe.
"We owe lot to that young per-
son." he said. "None Of us could make
out q word she uttered when first we
saw her. She loses what small amount
| of Spanish she can speak when she
becomes excited, and it was sheer good
fortune that some Of the crew were
with her when she swung herself
down the side of the cliff to warn us
Of our danger; otherwise she might
have been shot. I suppose Suarez told
| you what to expect?"
"You might as well be talking Alacu.
lof yourself for all 1 can follow what
you are saying" murmured Elsie hap.
PLY.
Whereupon Courtenay took thought
and explained that the channel which
flowed through that amazing cut In
the cliff led to the crater of an extinct
volcano, into which the sea poured
twenty feet Of water each tide. An
almost everlasting maelstrom ragged
within. as the water entered by a side.
long channel and sent whirlpool spin.
ming with the hands Of the clock until
the enormous cistern was full and
against them until 1t was empty. The
sulphur coated ledge high above the
vortex, and the presence Of several
skeletons showed that many an unfor
tunate had sought last shelter there
against pursuit Every Alaculof knew
Of this retreat, but few dared approach
1t, as the roar of the water far below
appalled, them. There was only one
path. When the hunters closed sthat
their prey was safe. The alternative
to capture was death by starvation.
The Chileans and he himself during
the past fourteen hours had subsisted
on a bag Of dried berries stolen by the
girl when she first led the sailors
thither.
Didn't you see how eager we all
were to search the lockers?" he asked
'But the rascals had cleared every
scrap when the boat fell into their
hands again with the falling tide"
She nestled close to him.
II saw nothing" she whispered. "My
mind held but one thought--that you
were alive, though indeed was
mourning you as dead. But now am
restored to my senses. think can
grasp what happened. Did joey find
you?"
"Yes. You can guess my bewilder.
ment when he sprang on top of me.
was lying down. | heard our sen.
tries shouting. but paid no heed. AS
matter Of fact Elsie, l. too, had
abandoned hope. could see no chance
Of escape. Great heaven-to think
of your coming to my rescue! What
made you do itT'
please go on. Tell me all. You
shall hear NY story afterward."
well, jumped up, and joey nearly
fell into the crater with delight I
was fust In time to save Suarez from