The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-09

zone moment, Miss Maxwell" brok
in Gray's quiet voice from the uppe
deck. "You can't engineer that schem,
with one man crew and he sick ant
unwilling. l am going with you. Yo1
must take me aboard, wet or dry"
81 am well armed and shall admit O
no interference" she cried.
Il promise to obey orders"
"If wanted you. Mr.. Gray. SHOULD
have sought your help"
"It is one thing or the other, a wrig
gle down rope or high diving act. p"
"You have no right to impose suct
an alternative on me-"
81 hate it myself. and I can't dive
worth cent. You will hear a beastly
flop when strike the damp"
"Mr. Boyle. call on you to hold
him"
Boyle explained luridly that the
American was doing balancing act
on the rail eight feet above his head
Elsie. taking her eyes off Suarez for an
instant. discerned Gray's figure sill.
| houetted against the sky. She yielded.
There is a rope ladder fastened to
the lowest rail near where the canoe
was moored," she said.
"Is there to be any catch-as-catch-can
business, Boylefc demanded Gray.
"No. All this is mighty unfair to
me-"
"You have my sympathy, friend, but
you can't leave the ship. Now, Miss
Maxwell, come alongside. Boyle is
going to be good. He doesn't mean
half he says anyhow"
AS the canoe slipped out of the dense
gloom of the ships shadow the Argen-
tine sQuatted on his knees in the bows,
Gray placed himself amidships, and
Elsie sat aft, holding the revolver in
her right hand and the dogs collar In
her left The American groped for and
found paddle. which he piled vigor-
ously.
Guess you'd better DISCOURSE" said
he over his shoulder when the light
craft was we'll clear of the ship.
"You understand Spanish. l thinkY'
"Yes."
"Please tell Suarez to cease pad
ding and listen. Don't move. I can
trust you. but may have to shoot
him."
BEST hand me that popgun, Miss
Maxwell. The gentleman in front
seems to have wholesome respect for
you already. Anything you say goes
where he Is concerned. l am taking
your word for it his name is Suarez,
but he looks and smells more like an
Indian"
II forced him to dress in his dis.
carded clothes. He may be able now
to scare any Of the savages We come
across. But why should give you
my weapon, MFR. Gray"
Because can hit most things l
aim at, whereas you are more likely
to bore hole through me as pre-
iminary. Moreover, you have the dog
with you, and even the wisest dog may
bark at the wrong moment. You must
have both hands at liberty to choke his
'Do you pledge your word to go on
with my scheme"
'"That is what I am here for"
''Take the revolver, then"
"Sure it's loadedY'
"Quite sure. have fifteen extra
cartridges: but as I have practiced re-
filling it in the dark, give it to me II
you have occasion to empty it."
"You seem to have thought this thing
out pretty fully"
81 intend to succeed. how. please,
must explain what I want Suarez to
do"
Speaking in Spanish, slow and clear.
while the canoe drifted steadily up the
bay with the rising tide. Elsie unfold
ed her project. Behind the guardian
cliff of Otter creek ridge Of rocks
created a small natural harbor. 1t
was the custom of the Alaculofs when
the weather was calm and they meant
to use their craft at daybreak to an
chor most of their vessels in this shell
tered breakwater. At other times the
were drawn ashore. but she rea-
soned that such precaution would
not be taken during the present excite
ment.
That was the first part Of her pro-
gramme-to capture the entire feet. in !
Guiding the lifeboat. In any event. she |
intended to go next to the hidden cleft |
1T the foot of Guanaco hill, trusting to
the dogs sagacity to reveal the re-
.reat where she believed that her lover |
md many of his men were hidden. If
1 squad of Indians mounted guard |
here, the temperance of Suarez in |
,is war paint, backed by the alarm of a |
light attack from the sea, might mys. |
dfy the enemy sufficiently to permit of |
landing, while the frequent reports !
It the revolver would certainly lead to
counter demonstration by Courtenay.
Gray listened to the girls cool state
nent with growing admiration. The
'lan began to look feasible. 1t came
within the bounds Of reason. The
dds were against it, of course, but the
aw of proba bility is seldom in favor
Il forlorn hope. Suarez, too, making
he best Of situation which gave him
10 option, agreed that they had fair
hance if once they got hold Of the
QnnoS Novorfholoco h. y,