The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-02

bound securely and placed in a cave
in order to be killed at intervals, an
exact parallel to the fate Of Suarez's
own companions FIVE years earlier.
But on this occasion a woman inter-
vened. Suarez confessed very reluc-
tantly that there was a girl In the
tribe to whom be had taught some
words of his own language. He
declared that the relations between
them were those Of master and serv-
ant, but the poor creature had fallen
in love with him and had become near
ly frantic with grief when he disap-
peared. 1t was difficult to analyze her
motives. but she had undoubtedly freed
the eleven sailors and led them over
the rocks at low water to a cave on
Guanaco hill, believed by the Indians
to be haunted. The Indians dared not
follow, but they took good care that
no canoes were obtainable in which
the unhappy fugitives could reach the
ship, and they were confident that
hunger would soon drive them forth.
Courtenay's brow became black with
duSCI WuSu uC uhuCASIOOO IAC SlS5AAu-
canoe of this staggering story.
ut comes to this" he said to Chris
tobal. "The men who got away from
the Kansas in No. 8 lifeboat fell into
the hands Of the savages early on the
day Of the ships arrival here. Suarez
slipped his cable that night being
aware Of the time that eleven white
captives were still alive. Yet he said
no word. not even when he heard that
we had seen one Of the boats water
casks in a canoe. What sort Of mean
hound can he be?'
Suarez needed no translation to
grasp the purport of Courtenay's
words. He besought the senor captain
to have patience with him. He had
escaped from a living tomb and felt
that he would yield up his life rather
than return. Therefore when he saw
how few in number and badly armed
were they on board the ship be thought
it best to remain silent as to the fate Of
the boats crew. In the first place. he
fully expected that they had been kill
ed by the Indians. who would be en-
ragged by his own disappearance; Sec
ondly, he alone knew how hopeless any
attempt at a rescue must prove; final.
ly, he wished to spare the feelings Of
those who had befriended him. OF
what avail were useless mind tortur-
ings regarding the hapless beings in
the hands of the savages?
There was a certain plausibleness in
this reasoning which curbed Courte
nays wrath. though it in no way d.
minished his disgust.
"Ask him to ascertain if the Indians
believe the white men are still living"
he said A fresh series of grunts and
clicks elected the fact that the smoke
column seen the previous day on Guam
AGO hill had not been created by the
tribe. Suarez begged the senor captain
to remember that he had spoken truly
when he declared that it's meaning was
unknown to him. Probably from what
he now learned the girl who threw in
her lot with the sailors had built a fire
there.
Courtenay turned on his heel and
quilted the cabin. Christobal, well
knowing how the demons of doubt and
despair were affecting Courtenay. fol-
lowed him to the upper deck. Boyle
was in the chart house. and Tolle-
mache. Each man noted the captains
troubled face.
Courtenay obtained a telescope.
With the tact which never failed him.
even in such desperate crisis as this.
he handed the doctor his binoculars.
Then both men looked at the summit
Of Guanaco hill. Though it was high
noon and the landscape was simmer.
ing in the heat mist created by the un.
usual power and brilliance of the sun,
they distinctly saw thin pillar of
smoke rising above the trees. Courte-
nay closed his telescope. He made to
approach Boyle. evidently for the pur-
pose of giving some order, when Chris
tobal said quietly:
"Wait! I have something to say to
you. You ought to remain on the ship.
Let me gov'
"YouY'
Eyes, I. After all, it Is only matter
Of taking command. One man cannot
go alone. He could not even pull the
lifeboat SO far; hence what you can
do can do, and have no objection to
dying in that way"
"Why should either of us die?'
"You know better than I how little
chance there is Of saving those men.
You may deem me callous If l suggest
that the reasonable thing would be to
forget the miserable statement you
have just heard. Oh, please hear me to
the end. l am not talking for your sole
benefit, believe me. Greatly as l and
all on board are beholden to you. l do
not propose giving my life in your
stead because Of my abounding admi-
ration for your many virtues. Well.
then, since you are SO impatient as tc
be almost rude, l come straight to the
point. If you take command of boats
crew and endeavor to save the men
imprisoned over there, you will almost
certainly throw away your life and the
lives Of those who help you. In that
event lady in whom we are both in
terested will suffer grievously. On the
other hand, if were killed she would
weep little, because she has large
heart, but you would console her. And