Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-18


of life aboard told her that Courtenay
had chosen the last hour of flood for j
his effort, thus gaining the advantage
of the ebb in the event of the lifeboat
being pursued by canoes on the return
journey. BY degrees tender little
sprig of hope peeped up in her dulled i
consciousness. The boat was very !
near the distant rocks. and there was
neither sight nor sound of the Indians. !
Could it be that they were afraid-al- !
together broken and demOraliZed by !
the slaughter of the preceding night?
Suddenly she had breathless desire |
to know why Courtenay was so sure !
that the men to whose help he had |
gone were really members of the crew.
"Will you tell me now what it was
that Suarez found outY' she muir
INJURED to Christobal.
The doctor quickly appreciated her
need of material for further thought
He suppressed no detail except his
own willingness to take Courtenay's
place in the boat.
When Elsie heard of the duplicity
practiced by Suarez 1T was good to see
the hot indignation which Redeemed
her brow. With all a woman's single
mindedneSS she regarded the Argen-
tine miner as being directly RESPONSE
BILE for Courtenay's hazard, nor would
she listen to Christobal's mild protest
that nothing could have been done
earlier. no matter how outspoken Sua-
rez chose to be.
The Spaniard encouraged her to de-
bate this point-anything was better
than the dumb pain of thought-but
their talk ceased abruptly when a NUT
tered exclamation from Gray sent
Walker flying to the chart house. Forth
with the trumpet shrek of the siren
sent its wild boom across the silent
waters. Elsie needed no explanation of
this tumult. Otter creek was not so
far distant that canoes quitting its
shelter could not be seen with the max
ed eye. She counted sixteen putting
forth In Il cluster. and they all made
for the adventurous lifeboat.
"That is exactly what our captain
expected" Christobal was ready TO as
sure her. HE was certain he would
reach the head of the bay before the
Indians awoke TO the meaning of his
scheme. BY this time, unless his plan
fails, the men on shore should have
Joined him, no matter what number
of savages may seek to oppose their
passage to the boat. The only doubt
full question is, Will he be able to beat
off the rascals who are now cutting
his line of retreat?'
''Huh.'' growled Boyle. "The skip
pers out of sight now. Gone into a
small creek or somethin' of the sort.
Hope he heard the horn. Let her rip!'
he added in loud shout over his
shoulder. and again the siren flung a
warning to the foot of the mountain
range.
1t was evident that the wonderful
| eyesight of the Indians practically
| equaled the range of the telescope.
The men in the canoes We're aware of
| the lifeboats disappearance. and their
| wet paddles flashed in the sun as they
tore across the three miles of open
water which separated the southern
promontory from the inner shore Of
the island. Creeping nearer Boyle, Ell
sic whispered:
For 5eaven's sake, say the lifsboat
is visible again.
| He held up hand to enforce silence.
A deep hush fell on the ship.
| Listen he muttered, SO low that
Elsie alone caught the words. "Can
you hear firin'?"
She thought she could distinguish an
irregular patter of dull reports. and
the behavior. of the Indians showed
that additional excitement was toward
Many Of them stood up and waved
their arms, possibly as a signal to their
niles on shore. The canoes raced mad
| ly. Where speed was vital the rough
hewn native craft We're far swifter
than the solidly built llfeboat, with its
broad beam and deep draft.
And that was ALL Though they
strained their eyes and spoke with
bated breath, never a sight of boat OF
canoes was obtainable for hours after
the latter We're swallowed up by the
i trees which shrouded the creek at the
foot of Guanaco hill.
L.
for her distraught friend, tried to in
duce her to leave the deck, but She
shrank away terrified by the fire which
blazed from the blue eyes resting OF
her for an instant. Mrs. Somervillt
came, but she, too, was repulsed
When Christobal made serious effor
to lead her away she threatened hin
: with the fierceness of a mother defend
ing her child from evil.
But relief was vouchsafed in ths
worst throes of her agony.
Z Boyle or Gray had never relaxed {
close vigil by her side. 1t was Gray
who made the thrilling discovery tina
the canoes were returning. AS tn,
feet crossed the bay it could be sect
that they were towing the lifeboat. blu
: never a sign of any prisoners could tn,
most careful scrutiny detect. The boa
: was empty. 1t was easy to count ev
cry man in the canoes as they passed
| into Otter creek, and there were wound
ed Indians on board many of them
That was significant. tremendous
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