The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-04-24

al. nedrd Joey barking. He has
gone aft" cried Elsie. And what is
thatY" 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 endeavoring to climb the
ships sides. Not yet had it 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. hope"
mot bit. My only regret is that
am not permitted to help in the de-
tense. It must be irksome for you, DR..
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
as accurately"
His right hand went to the pocket in
which he had placed the revolver. The
stock appeared to have peculiar clam
miness as his fingers closed around 1t.
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 at the last What
q 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
shooting 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 it. and the sharp snap of
one 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
deadly struggle was in progress on
the fore deck. Tollemache, Frascuelo
and three Chileans were engaged in a
hand to hand fight with nearly score
of savages. The doctor could distin-
guish the cries Of the combatants, the
/
He wondered why the girl. with her
acute senses, did not grasp the signii-
canoe Of the yells and trampling on the
deck until 1t occurred to him, with g
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 a hand on her shoulder
She turned and looked at him. There
was a 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 tc
your invocation"
1t was in his mind that he must
shoot her within a few seconds, and
the Unreasonable agony of the thought
reflected itself in his face. He had nc
notion that she would give his words
more direct significance than he in
tended them to bear. But a strange
hoarse 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 {
ringing voice There are Indians OF
board. Come! WS must not stay herr
when our friends are fighting for thei
uves.'
Christobal knew that this active cir
would readily outstrip him in race t,
the deck. She was already several fee
distant, but he must detain her, n,
matter what the cost If she fell int
the clutches of the ghouls then over
running the Kansas she might not b
killed. but only wounded. and her sui
ferings would be inconceivable ere th
end came.
You are wrong" he shouted, wit
convincing vehemence, "but if yoi
wish to see for yourself at least ALLOW
. me to go first"