Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-18

| inshore they nre sure to make n dash
for It, an he hopes to get them or
before the Indians wake up to tho
game he Is playin. There are eight
men In the boat, and with eleven 9TH
ers to help there shouldn't be much
dimcuty in keepln' the savages at q
proper distance
"IIow soon-will he-reach the land.
ing placer
"Huh. Maybe an hour. an another
hour for the home trip He'll bo
aboard for tea"
Boyle uttered that concluding state
mont trife too alrily, Elsie for the
first time in her life knew what it
meant TO want to scream aloud
odd Captain Courtenay leave any
message for me?" she demanded.
'IIuh-message. Why, he will ~
away only a couple OF hours"
"Surev you will tell me, Mr. BoyleT'
she pleaded wistfully.
well, I happen to know there's a
letter in the doctors hands. but that IL
to be given you in case Of accident
aloue. And there's no sign of any &C.
cldcnt yet thank goodness.'
Elsie chung TO the after rail and
watched the boat. now n tiny dot hard
to discern amid the rlpples caused lv
the inhowing tide. Her intimate nc-
quaintance with the daily happenings
Of life aboard told her that Courtenav
had chosen the last hour Of food for
his effort, thus gaining the advantage
OF the ebb in the event OF the lifebor
being pursued by canoes on the return
journey. BY degrees n tender little
sprig of hope peepcd up In her dulled
consciousness. The boat was very
near the distant rocks. and there was
neither sight nor sound of the Indians
Could II be that they were afraid--al-
together broken and demoralzed by
the slaughter Of the preceding night?
Suddenly she had a breatbless desire
to know why Courtenay was so sure
that the poen to whose help he hal
gone were really members Of the crew.
will you tell me now what 1t was
that Suarez found outf' she muir
INJURED to Christobal.
The doctor quickly appreciated her
need Of material for further thought
He suppressed no detail except his
own willingness to take Courtenay's
place in the boat.
When Elsie heard Of the duplicity
practiced by Suarez 1t was good to see
the hot Indignation which redeemed
her brow. With all woman's singls
mindedness she regarded the Argen.
tine miner as being directly RESPONSE.
bic for Courtenay's hazard. nor would
she listen TO Christobals mild protest
that nothing could have been done
earlier. no matter how outspoken Sua-
rez chose TO be-
The Spaniard encouraged her to de-
bate this point-anythng was better
than the dumb pain of thought-but
l their talk ceased abruptly when NUT
l tered exclamation from Gray sent
Walker flying to the chart house. Forth.
with the trumpet Shrek Of the siren
sent its wild boom across the silent
waters. Elsie needed no explanation Of
this tumult Otter creek was not SC
far distant that canoes quitting its
. shelter could not be seen with the nal'
] ed eye. She counted sixteen putting
forth In cluster and they all madH
! for the adventurous lifehoat
THAT is exactly what our captain
;. expected" Christobal was ready TO as.
e sure her He was certain he would
o reach the head Of the bay before tho
g Indians awoke 10 the meaning OF bis
scheme. BY this time, unless his plan
j. fails the men on shore should hava
a Joined him, no matter what number
Of savages may seek to oppose their
y passage to the boat The only doubt
n full question IS, VIII he be able to beat
J. Off the rascas who are now cutting
J. his line OF retreat!'
Huh" growled Boyle "Thc skip
d pcrs ont Of sight now. Gone into a
small creek or somethin' Of the sort.
Hope he heard the horn, Let her rip
y he added in a loud shout over his
p shoulder. and again the siren fung a
. warning to the foot of the mountain
i range.
1t was evident that the wonderful
:! eyesight OF the Indians practically
equaled the range of the telescope.
" The men in the canoes were aware OF
the lfeboats disappearance. and their
wet paddles flashed In the sun as they
tore across the three miles of open
water which separated the southern
Il promoutory from the inner shore OF
! the island. Creeping nearer Boyle, FL.
sic whispered:
"For heavens sake say the lifeboat
:. is visible again
y He held up hand to enforce silence
e A deep hush fell on the ship.
y Listen he muttered, SO low that
Elsie alone caught the words. Can
you hear nrin'?"
. She thought she could distinguish an
:, irregular patter Of dull reports, and
the behavior of the Indians showed
- that additional excitement was toward
= Many of them stood up and waved
their arms. possibly as signal to thelI
allies on shore. The canoes raced mad
". Where speed was vital the rough
, hewn native craft were far swifter
than the solidly built lifeboat. with Its
broad beam and deep draft.
Aud that was all. Though they
We strained their eyes and spoke with
e bated breath, never sight OF boat or
= canoes was obtainable for hours after
e the latter we're swallowed up by tho
trees which shrouded the creek at the
foot Of GuanacO hill
l., "a