The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-04-30


A woinan's logic Ia apt 10 he lritat.
ing when one expects a nlght OF ar
rows or, II may he. gnnshot out Of
the hlackness few feet away.
For goodness sake. stand here.
them he cried, SEEKING her arm and
compelling her TO shelter behind the
heavy molding which carried the
bridge Then he quilted her for a
moment IN order to dispatch Chilean
sailor for lantern and long cord.
lie wished TO Investigate the captured
canoe.
The lantern was brought Courienay
stood on the lowermost rail and care
fully paid out rope 10 which the
light was slung lie was far too brave
man 10 take undue risks. lie was
ready TO shoot instantly II need be.
and by his instructions Tollemache
aud Walker kept watch us best they
could In case other canoes were lying
close 10 the ship.
ANY doubt IA this regard was dis
PEELED In singular manner The dick
ering rays OF the lantern had barely
revealed the primitive craft lying
alongside when voice came from the
depths, cryingin broken Spanish.
Don't shoot seniors! Spare me, for
the love OF heaven, am a white man
from Argentina
Christobal and Elsie alone understood
the exact significance OF the words.
Courtenay OF course knew what Ian.
guage was being spoken, and II was
easy to guess the nature Of the appeal.
But the lantern showed that the ca
noe was empty. In the center lay the
Fuegian fire, its embers covered with
q small hide. The pole, fastened TO a
crossplece In the thwarts, was not a
mast, but had evidently been shipped
In order 10 give speedy access to the
deck by climbing.
Then Courtenay caught sight Of two
hands clinglng TO the stern OF the ca.
noe. He swung the lantern in that
direction, and an extraordinary and
even an affrighting object became Wis
ible. A caricature Of human head
was raised slightly above the level OF
the water. 1t was crowned by shock
Of coarse black knotted hair tied
back from the brows by tillet OF
white feathers. An intensely black
face. crossed by two bars Of red and
white pigment, reaching from ear to
ear and covering eyelids, nose and
lips, was upturned TO the watchers
from the deck. The colors were vivid
enough Notwithstanding the sheets of
rain which blew In gusts against the
ships side, dimming the dull light Of
storm proof lamp, to conyey~a most
uncanny effect. Nor did Courtenay re-
move either his eyes or the revolver
while he said to Chrlstobal:
ASK him who he is and what he
wants"
The answer was Ineligible enough:
II am miner from Argentina. l
have been among these Indians 1--WE
years. When their attack failed Il
thought there was chance Of escape.
For PHYS sake, senior, help me instant
ly or shall die from the cold"
"Have the Indians gomez asked
Chrlstobal.
Yes. They thought to surprise you.
When they come again It will be by
daylight, as they are afraid of the
dark. But be quick, implore you. My
hands are numb"
There was no resisting the mans ap-
peal. A rope ladder was lowered, and
a Chilean sailor went down In ODE
dience to the captains order, though
he disliked the job and crossed him
self before descending. He passed
rope under the fugltive's armplts and
with aid from the deck hoisted him
aboard. The unfortunate miner gave
proof Of his wretched state by prompt.
ly collapsing In faint with sigh Of
"Madre de Dios~
His only garments were species Of
walstcoat and rough trousers of un.
tanned guanaco hide. The white skin
of bis breast and legs, though darken.
ed by exposure, showed that he had
told the truth as TO his descent, not
withstanding the amazing daubs on bis
face. His hair, stiffened with black |
grease, stood out all around bis head,
and the same oily composition had
been used to blacken his forehead. |
neck and hands.
Some brandy and hot water, COM
bined with the warmth OF the salon,
soon revived him. He ate a quantity |
Of bread with the eagerness Of man |
suffering from starvation.
Christobal brought him to the chart
house, where most Of the others were |
and there questioned him.
It was a most astonishing story
which Francisco Suarez, gold miner
and prospector, laid before an exceed
lngly attentive audience. As the man
spoke so did he recover the freer usage
Of civilized tongue. At first his
words had hoarse, cultural sound,
but Or. Christobals questions seemed
to awaken dormant memories, and ev-
cry one noticed, not least those who
had small knowledge Of Spanish, that
be had practically recovered command
Of the language at the end OF half an
hour.
And this was what he told them:
He, with three partners and few In
dams from the pampas, had set out on
a gold prospecting expedition on the
heRGwaters Of the Gallegos river.
They were disappointed In their search
until they crossed the cordlllera and
sighted the gloomy shores OF Last
Hope inlet leading into Smyth chan
mel. There they found alluyial sand
md gold bearing quartz, yielding but
poor results. Unfortunately some ma.
tiyes assured them that the metal they
sought abounded In Hanover island
They obtained canoes. voyaged down
the long inlet, crossed the strait and
struck inland toward the unknown
beyond the swamps OF FL
len bay.
After enduring all the hardships en-
tailed by life In such q Wild country
they Numbered into gully where q
brief analysis OF the detritus gave O