The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-06-11

when fighting collectively under Euro
pean leadership and well aware that
the Indians would kill and spare not,
the half breeds might be trusted to ac-
quit themselves like men.
The canvas awning constituted a
fimsy citadel in the center of the ves-
sci. Six men were stationed on the
starboard side of the promenade deck
and six on the port side. Tollemache
and Chilean who said he could shoot
we'll were told to Illustrate any at
tempt to climb the after part of the
ship, while Courtenay, with his fowl
ing piece. would have the lions share
Of this work from the spar deck, as be
undertook to keep the rails clear for.
ward and help the revolver practice If
necessary. With him was Suarez, who
knew what was expected of him, so
the language difficulty offered no ap-
parent hindrance once the fight began.
Finally, if the Indians made good their
footing, the defenders were to rally to-
ward the salon companion, where
steam jets were ready to squirt with
ering blasts along the corridors.
1t was a good plan and might have
kept at bay an enemy of higher valor
than the Alaculofs, provided they were
not armed with rifles. Against mod
ern weapons of long range nothing
could be done. If Suarez did not exag-
gerate, therein lay the real danger.
COurtenay wished to make sure at the
outset of the number of guns carried
by the savages. 1t was also important
to know whether their marksmen were
distributed or crowded together in one
or two canoes. If the latter, be would
give those warriors his special atten.
ton.
His binocular glasses were not strong
enough, so he walked back toward the
chart house to procure a telescope.
Catching Joey under his left arm, he
climbed the short ladder leading to
the spar deck and pulled it up after
him, the bolts having been already re-
moved to permit of that being done.
Walker was screwing tight the door
of the engine room in order to safe
guard the fireman in attendance on the
donkey boiler. Now that the screw
driving was actually in operation 1t
very unpleasantly reminded Courtenay
Of the fastening of coffin lid. Nei-
ther Walker nor the man inside could
guess the grewsome notion which held
the captain in its chilly grip for an in
stant Indeed, the engineer looked up
with a grin.
81 suppose it's twue, sir, the-aw's
goin' to be a fght?" he asked.
'There's fair chance of one, Wal
ker."
Walker wiEked suggestively.
THAT chap inside thinks he's out of
it," he said, 80 that's all wight" An
energetic turn of the screwdriver signi-
fed that the man from Newcastle held
the opposite view. Much as he loved
his engines. he preferred to be on deck
when the trouble came.
1t happened that during this slight
delay Courtenay glanced at the north
ern headland. which Elsie had christ
ened Cape Templar owing to the some
what remarkable profile of knight in
armor offered by it's seaward crags.
Possibly had he gone straight to the
chart house he might not have noticed
a signal fire which was in full blast
on the summit Of the cliff. 1t had not
been many minutes in existence. and
1t struck him at once that it was We
hicle of communication between the
savages in the approaching canoes and
Others yet invisible. who were expect
ed to share in the attack.
He was quick to perceive how seri-
ously this new peril affected his calcu.
lations By the time the nine canoes
he had counted were 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
morningT he inquired.
"Yes. sir. they aw in fine condition."
said Walker.
"Try them again, will you? l 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
uS CdlIcu luS uldu dlleullOu W luc
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
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 Christoba's
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-
quired 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 kim
die a fire on that point when they
want the signal to be seen from the