Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-28

ceased. save Tor. the root
steps Of men whom she could not see,
the prevalent noises were caused only
by wind and sloet. While she was hur-
rying forward as rapidly as the dark
hess permitted, the lights were switch
I'd on with n suddenness that made her
gasp. The dog began to bark again,
but 1t was easy to distinguish his sharp
yelps of excitement and defiance from
the earlier notes Of alarmed suspicion.
In fact, Joey himself was the first to
discover the stealthy approach of the
Indians. Courtenay and T%ollemache.
who took the middle watch, from mid
night to 4 q. NJ. had failed TO note the
presence Of several canoes on the Ink
black surface Of the bay until the dog
warned them by growing and running
the bristles on his back. The night
was pitch dark. The moon was not
only hidden by the hills of the island,
but frequent storms Of rain and hail
rendered 1t impossible while they
ragged to see or hear beyond the dis
tance NJ a fec feet.
In all probability as the canoes bore
down from windward Joey had scent
ed them. He also gave the highly i'm.
portant Information as TO the quarter
from which attack might be expected.
Three men at least had gained the
deck. but the prompt use Of a revolver
had caused them to retreat as silently
and speedily as they had appeared.
That vas all. There was no actual
fight. The phantoms vanished ms ST.
lently as they came. The only exter-
nal lights on the ship were the mast.
head and side lights hoisted by Courte.
nay to reveal the steamers where.
abouts in case one of the boats CHANGED
to be driven into the bay during the
dark hours. There was an electric
lamp turned on In the donkey engine
room and another In the main salon,
but means were taken TO exclude them
from showing without. II the Indians
meant to be actively hostile, lights on
board would be more helpful to the
assailants than to the assailed.
When the captain and Tollemache
followed Joey's lead, they discerned
three demoninc figures vaguely outlined
by the ruddy glare Of the port light In
the very act of climbing the rails.
They fred instantly. and the naked
forms vanished. Both men thought
they heard the splashing caused by the
leaping or falling Of the Indians into
the sea. BY the same subdued radi.
ance Courtenay made out the too Of a
pole or mast sticking up c,/ac to the
ships side. He leaned over, fired a
couple of shots downward ut random
seized the pole ana lash ID 1t TO a
stanchion with a loode rope enc, q
remnant of one Of the AWNINGS. A
small craft, even nm Indian canoe.
would be most useful, and its capture
might tend to scare the attackers.
Telling TOllemache TO mount guard
he raced back to tn. saloon hatch and
summoned assistance. The others
search. c the SHY 10 sm9., dctach
ments. but the indians were gone II
was manifest that none beyond those
driven off at the first onset had Sc
cured a footing on deck. Then, tnkine
the risk OF being shot at. Courtenay or
dered the lights to be turned or, anG
the first person he saw clearly was
Elsie. He was almost genuinely angry
with her.
what are you doing hcrey' he de-.
manded.
She was learning not to fear his
brusque ways. He was no carpet
knight. and men who carry their II yes
In their hands do not pick and choose
their words.
II thought you were in danger, so l
came to help" she said calmly.
You must go back to your cabin at
once"
why? OF what avail is the safety
Of my cabin If you are killed."
A woman's logic is apt to be irritat-
ing when. II expects a fight Of ar
rows or. 1t may be, a gunshot out Of
the blackness n few feet away
For goodness sake, stand here,
then" he cried, Selling 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 a Chilean
sailor for a lantern and q long cord.
He wished to investigate the captured
eanoe.
The lantern was brought. Courtenay
stood on the lowermost rail and care
fully paid out a rope to which the
light was slung. He was far too brav
\ man to take undue risks. He was
ready to shoot instantly If need be,
and by his instructions Tollemache
md Walker kept watch as best they
rould in case other canoes were lying
close to the ship.
Any doubt in this regard was dis
PEELED in a singular manner The flick
ering rays Of the lantern had barely
revealed the primitive craft lying
alongside when a voice came from the
depths. crying in broken Spanish:
Don't shoot, senors! Spare me-, for
she love Of heaven! am a white man
from Argentina"
ChristobaI and Elsie alone understood
1he exact significance of the words.
Courtenay Of course knew what Ian
Buage was being spoken, and 1t wa
basy 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
. small hide. The pole. fastened to a
r~rosspiece In the thwarts. was not q
mast, but had evidently been shipped
N order to give speedy sccess to the
--I