Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-05-28

acute senses, did not grasp the signifi-
canoe Of the yelIs and trampling on the
deck until it occurred to him, with a
quick pang. that she was listening for
one voice alone. Owing to her igno-
rance Of the desperate nature of the
conflict raging overhead she had ears
for nothing further.
He placed hand on her shoulder.
She turned and looked at him. There
was a gravity in his eyes which star
tied her.
Elsie, he said, "you believe in the
efficacy of prayer, don't you? Well,
then, pray now little. / shall be glad
to think when this time of danger has
passed that we owed something to
your invocation
It was in his mind that he must
shoot her within few seconds, and
the Unreasonable agony of the thought
reflected itself in his face He had no
notion that she would give his words
a more direct significance than he in
tended them to bear But q strange,
hoarse yell of triumph, the war cry of
an AlacuIof leader who had hauled
himself to the bridge and found it I'M
defended, warned her in the same mo-
ment that all was not well with the
defense.
She sprang toward the salon stairs.
do you hear that?" she cried in a
ringing voice. There are Indians on
board Come. We must not stay here
when our friends are fighting for their
lives
Christobal knew that this active girl
would readily outstrip him in race to
the deck She was already several feet
distant, but he must detain her, no
matter what the cost. If she fell into
the clutches of the gheuls then over
running the Kansas she might not be
killed, but only wounded, and her suf-
ferings would be inconceiyable ere the
end came.
ssYou are wrong" he shouted, with
convincing vehemence, but if you
wish to see for yourself at least allow
me to go frst.'
While he was speaking he ran for
ward. She thought he meant what he
said and waited for him. Then he
caught her right arm firmly in his left
hand.
LET us wait here a moment or two,
he breathed.
eNo, no! am going now. You shall
not hold me back You don't UNDER
stand. The man I love is up there,
perhaps surrounded by savages. Let
me go, I tell youl If he is dying shall
die by his sidei Let me goi Would
you have me strike your She turn
ed ON him like an angry goddess and
stroye to wrest herself from his grip.
At that instant Tollemache and B'ras-
cuelo, the only survivors of the deadly
struggle forward, We're driven back by
rush of Indians. They caught sight
Of others leaping down the bridge COM
panion.
ITO the salon, Courtenayv roared
Tollemaehe. clearing a path for HIM
self with an iron bar which he swung
in both hands. Followed by Frascuelo,
he jumped inside the salon gangway.
Four savages followed, two entering
through the doorway behind him. One
raised a hatchet-like implement and
would have Drained the Englishman
had not Christobai whipped out his re-
yolver and shot him through the body,
releasing the girls wrist in his furry.
The Indian pitched headlong down the
stairs. falling Imply at Elsies feet.
She stopped over the terrifying figure
and seized the mans weapon. Her
eyes shone with a strange light She
felt her arms Jingle A wonderful
power seemed to flow through her
body, like gush of strong wine. she
was assured that she, unaided, could
beat down all the puny, despicable
creatures who barred the path to her
lover.
She vaulted over the writing form
Of the Alacuiof and made to climb the
stairs, but Christobal, admirably cool,
fired again and brought another Indian
to his knees. The second Indians fall
caused Frascuelo to trip, and the Chill
can, locked rib to rib with somewhat
sturdy opponent, rolled into the salon.
Elsie drew back just in time or the
two men would have knocked her
down. Even as they were turning
over on the steep steps she saw Fras-
cuelo's knife flash. At the foot of the
stairs the Indian lay still, and Fras-
cuelo tried to rise. She helped him
gladly. The awfulness of this killing
no longer appalled, her. Each dead or
disabled Indian was one less obstacle
between her and Courtenay. A third
time the revolver barked, but Christie
bal missed. 1t did not matter greatly,
as Tollemache had shortened his bar,
using it twice as miner delves at
rock. But the doctor did not forget
that he had only three cartridges left,
two of which were bespoken long be-
fore the fight began.
At last, then, the way was clear. Ell
sic would have mounted the stairs, but
an appealing hand detained her.