The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.

] I'm tt' fh'AttN lux ~ IN
instantly perceptibIe that sh
was not aware Of the grave positio
4 Of Affairs on deck She knew, o
course, that the Alacuiof menace ha'
become active again. but the first al
tack had been beaten OF 30 easily tina
she was sure this later effort woul'
I fail.
The dog was better informed. Ill
alert ears told him that there wer
strange beings on board. He struggle,
so resolutely that Elsie freed him jus
as the Spaniari reached the foot OF TIN
stairs. Forgetting his wounded paw
aud all a-quiyer with the fine courage
OF his race, Joey galloped up the com
panlon and disappeared. Elsie wal
much distressed by her four footed
friends useless pugnacity.
II could not keep him back" sh,
said, ''and am afraid he runs som,
risk OF being hit DO you think b,
will go TO the chart housei That 4,
so exposed. Captain Courtenay IL mo-
there, Is hei"
"No. left him a moment ago clos,
TO the salon entrance"
She listened intently. Her imagina
ton led her astray, II was so hopeless
ly on the wrong tack.
There does not appear TO be Sc
much stone throwing now, but sup
pose ! ought not TO go on deck she
cried.
1T is not TO be thought of, Miss
Maxwell. Indeed, the captain asked
me to come and bear you company"
Just fancy those horrid Indians ven
turing to approach the ship tonight
after the dreadful lesson they received
this afternoon And what will poor
Senor Suarez sayf He was SO positive
that they would never come near us
after dark"
Il saw him also ON the promenade
deck" answered Christobal quietly.
"He had very much the semblance Of
a false prophet"
The Spaniard meant to meet grim
fate with Jest on his lips. He had
seen Suarez lying dead or insensible
close TO the rails. In fact, the unlucky
Argentine was only separated by the
thickness Of the ships deck from the
table near which Elsie was standing.
Unless he were speedily rescued hs
would bleed to death.
"Ah. | heard Joey barking. He has
gone aft" cried Elsie. And what IL
that" she added, moving suddenly to-
ward the center Of the salon. She
had caught the fierce hiss OF steam,
and she was well aware that steam
would only be brought into use If the
Indians were endeayoring to climb the
ships sides. Not yet had 1t occurred
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.
ened. hopei"
Not bit. My only regret is that l
am not permitted to help In the de-
fense II must be irksome for you, DIR.
Christobal, TO be 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. ! wish
you were able TO read all 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
miuess as his fingers closed around II.
Though he was proud OF the iron nerve
which had won him repute In his pro-
fession, he almost prayed now that 1t
might not fail him at the last. What
a horror, to be compelled with his part
Ing glance to see this bright and gra-
cious woman crumple up on the deck!
He heard ominous sounds from the
fore part Of the vessel. The revolver
had ceased, for the convinc-
Ing reason there were no more car
tridges. Courtenay's double barreled
gun was being fired as quickly as he
could reload II. and the sharp snap Of
one Of the rifles In the Indians posses
sion was recognizable as coming from
he poop, the remaining marksmen
having preferred 10 fire wildly from
heir canoes. But Christobal knew that |
, deadly struggle was In progress on |
The fore deck. Tollemacbe, Frascuelo |
ind three chileans were engaged In a
hand TO hand fight with nearly score |
,f sayages. The doctor could distin.
gulsh the cries OF the combatants. the |
irregular stamping Of boot shod feet
He wondered why the girl. with her
,cute senses, did not grasp the signifl-
,ance OF the yells and trampling on the
leck until II occurred 10 him. with
,uick pang, that she was listening for
me voice alone. Owing 70 her igno-
.ance OF the desperate nature Of the
,onfiict raging overhead she had ears
or nothing further.
He placed hand on her shoulder.
;he turned and looked at him. There
vas a gravity In bis eyes which star
led her.
Elsie" he said. you believe ia the
.fiicacy Of prayer, don't your Well,
hen, pray now a little. shall be glad
o think when this time OF danger has
,assed that We owed something to
our invocation"
II was ia his mind that be must
boot her within few seconds. and
be immeasurable agony Of the thought
effected itself 10 his face. He had no
lotion that sbe would give bis words
more direct significance than be tn
ended them 10 bear But strange.
Ioarse yell Of triumph. the wsr cry Of
"a Alacuiof leader who had hauled
Iimself to the hridgc and found II TN
offended, warned her Ia the same mo.
oenf that all was not well with the
efense.
She sprsng toward the salon stairs
do you hear thatT" she cried In q
lnging voice. There are Indians on
,oard. colnel We must no; stay here
rhen our friends are nghtlng for their
Iyes."
Chris,obal knew that this active girl
roaId readily ou,s;rip hin In race 10