Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-09

Dusty This new peril affected his calcu-
lations. By the time the nine canoes
he had counted we're alongside the ship
there might be dozens of others ready
to help them. He leaned over the rail-
did you test those flexible pipes this
morning?" he inquired.
yes, sir, they aw In fine condition."
said Walker
TRY them again. will you? ! want
to make sure. Our lives may depend
on them very SOON
He saw Suarez watching the oncom-
ing canoes. BY touch on the shoulder
he called the mans attention to the
smoke signal on Cape Templar. A
voluble and perfervid explanation in
Spanish was useless. Here arose the
unforeseen need of an Interpreter.
Without troubling to analyze his feel
ings Courtenay was glad of the excuse
which presented itself of obtaining u
momentary glimpse of Elsie.
Bring the senorita." he said, and
Elsie. wondering why she had been
summoned from the salon. ran up the
bridge companion. Her face was
aglow with excitement, her heart going
pitapat. She hoped that Courtenay
meant to keep her near him during the
fight. She almost doubted ChristobaPs
statement that the captain had given
specific orders that she was to remain
In the salon. 1t was one thing that
she should wish to avoid him, but why
should he wish to avoid her?
The joy In her eyes died away when
she found that the captain merely re-
auired translator. The restraint she
imposed on herself made her tongue
trip. She had to ask Suarez to repeat
his statement twice before she was
able to put it into English.
"He says that the Indians only kin
die a fire on that point when they
want the signal to be seen from the
sea-" she explained at last. They
used it once to his knowledge when
some Of them had gone to the island
out there to kill seals. He cannot guess
what it portends today. but he is quite
sure that they have many more canoes
at command than those which you now
see up the bay"
Courtenay could not fail to notice
her agitation. His quick intent was to
Soothe her.
81 am afraid my sending for you In
such a hurry rather alarmed you. Sua-
rez strikes me as person of nerves
He overrates the enemy. Miss Max
WELL l think you know me well
enough to believe that ! would not
mislead you, and am quite in earnest
| when tell you that we shall drive of
these unfortunate wretches with com
paratiye ease. Why, l had it in my
heart to ply them moment ago."
She was glad he misunderstood the
cause of her agitation.
''Suarez is certainly rather dramatic
she said. smiling wistfully. Il ought
to have discounted his Spanish mode
of address. But is 1t really necessary
that should remain belowY' ~
ut Is. If shots are fired or stone:
| slung at US. the chart house will prob
! ably be bit. All. yes. am sure yor
would risk that and more. but we ma.
sustain casualties, and Christobal ough
to have help. You see. i am asking
You to act the drawer part"
He caught her hand and looked int,
her eyes. There are so many message:
that can be given in that silent Ian
guage. For blissful moment Elsi,
forgot the other woman. Not until sh,
had left the bridge did she realize tina
I Courtenay. too. must have been equal
j lp ffr1l nd hot 4 he
tressing both for her and the un
known. But here she wass. face to fac
with him and in such close proximit,
that she was unaccountably timid
| While her heart leaped In tumult, sh
forced her lips to answer:
you are right. You are Away
| right. l was selfish in thinking that
4 that Knight
There was pitiful quivering in til
corners of her mouth. Courtenay fel
her hand tremble.
BE brave girl. Elsie" he murmuI
ed. "You must go now. Have no feal
4 We are in Gods care. May his angel
watch over youw
"But you-you will not risk your life
What shall we do If anything happen
to you"
She was strung to that tense pitc
when unguarded speech bubbles fort
the souls secrets. All she knew wa
that Courtenay was looking at her as
man looks at the woman he loves. Ne
Their Of them paid heed to the presenc
Of Suarez. For an instant they had
glimpse Of heaven. but the curiousl
harsh voice Of the Spanish miner fe
on their ears. and they came back
earth with sudden drop.
'.The Feathered People are singin
their war chant" he said, and his ge:
ture seemed to ask them to lister
They started apart, and it was not E
sic alone who blushed. Courtena
crimsoned beneath the tan on his fac
and pretended mighty interest in tn
tdoings Of the savages. The girl r,
covered her self control more rapid.
She half whispered the meaning of til
miners cry. whereon Courtenay trie
! to laugh.
"They will be singing a dirge next
said he, with jaunty confdene
"NoW. Elsie. off with youi Be sure