The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-02

living twenty-five years ln tne oasis oi
q mission house, was a strange subject
for storm tossed wandering and fights
with cannibals.
1T will be q real manifestation Of
Providence If we ever reach England
again." she cried, dabbing her eyes
with a handkerchief. 'I'm sure John
and I have said so many time dur
Ing the past week. To think Of the
ships blowing up in the way she did!
It makes me all Of a-tremble, it does"
"Oh," broke in Elsie, thinking that
the Information she possessed would
help to calm the older woman, 1--WE
have made a good many discoveries
since-since the boat went away with
out me, I mean. But do tell mellow
did those horrid Chileans manage to
cast off the tackle before Mr.. Gray or
some Of the other men were able to
stop them? OF course it is matterless
now in sense, but at that moment it
looked like leaving those on the ship
to certain DEATH"
Mrs. Somerville was stricken dumb.
The Americans shooting Of two men
on White Horse island had naturally
called for a complete explanation on
his part, and she did not know how to
answer Elsie's question. Before she
could gather her wits Isobel inter
vened.
IF you had been in that boat, dear"
she said sweetly, you would realize
the topsy turvy condition of our brains.
Even Mr.. Gray himself, the coolest
man on board, imagined we might sink
any moment, SO what can you expect
Of those excitable Chileans? What are
the discoveries you spoke Off"
"Well, some one placed dynamite
among the COAL"
"But who would do such a thing?''
'"That is hard to say. The captain
believes that the culprit will be found
out through the insurance policies.
You cannot tell how surprised / was
to hear him mention Ventana's name
in connection with it."
"Ventana's namev'
The blood ebbed away from IsobeIs
cheeks. leaving her pallid as statue.
There was a gasp in her voice which
startled her own ears. Lest her agita-
ton should be noted too keenly she
bent forward and propped her face on
her clinched hands. staring fixedly at
the distant cliffs in a supreme effort to
appear apathetic. Elsie heard that dry
sob, but her friends seeming indiffer-
ence misled her.
"Yes," she said, wondering a little
whether or not ChristobaPs yelled hint
regarding bygone tenderness between
the two might account for Isobeps hys-
terical outburst on the night of the
ships breakdown. So, pondering un-
spoken thoughts the while. she told the
others exactly what Tollemache, Chris
tobal and Courtenay had said and even
revealed to them that which Courtenay
himself did not yet know.
"You remember the poor fellow who
got into trouble soon after we sailed
from Valparaiso" she said. "His name
is Frascuelo. He was wounded again
in last nights fight, but not seriously,
and he and are quite chums. He as
sures me that he was drugged by a
man named Jose Anacleto, who took
his place among the coal trimmers"-
"Oh. Miss Maxwell, come quick"
screamed Mrs. Somerville, for Isobel
had lurched sideways out Of her chair
In fainting fit, and the missionary's
wife was barely able to save her head
from striking the ships rails.
Joey was shot out Of Elsie's lap with
such surprising speed that he trotted
away without any exhibition Of lame
ness. He was quite disgusted for at
least five minutes, but it is reasonable
to suppose that dog Of his intelli-
gence would brighten up when he
heard the wholly unlocked for story
Courtenay word for word as it was
dragged hesitatingly out Of Sua1ez.
The Argentine miner had been badly
injured during the struggle for posses
sion Of the promenade deck. Owing to
loss Of consciousness, supplemented by
an awkward fall. he might have chok-
ed to death had he not been rescued
within few minutes. He was very i'll
all night, and 1t was not until midday
that he recovered sufficient strength to
enable him to question the Indians on
board.
Courtenay wished specially to find
out what chance, If any. there was of
the Alaculof attack being renewed.
1t was obvious that some Of the
MANNED Indians recognized Suarez,
Notwithstanding his changed appear
ance. the instant he spoke to them. At
once they broke out into an excited
chattering. and Suarez was so discon-
certed by the tidings they conveyed
that he stammered a good deal and
seemed to founder in giving the Span
ish rendering.
This fellow is telling us just as
much as he thinks it is good for us to
know" said Courtenay sternly when
the interpreter avoided his accusing
gaze. IBID him out with the whole
truth, Christobal, or 1t shall be his
pleasing task to escort his dear friends
back to their family circles"
Being detected, Suarez faltered no
longer. A ships lifeboat had been
driven ashore lower down the coast.
Fourteen men had landed. They were
captured by the Indians after useless
s>A T. p-sr