Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-18

By LOUIS TRACY,
COPYRIGHT. 1905 BY EDWARD J. GLOBE


II ID iiiipoSSiOle. uLu tOo ietDlcs i
cannot row.
''-Ah. you swine, Can it be possible
that you are Frenchman? What sort
of countship is it you boast OFF,"
Sir, am passenger on this ship
/ CQurtenay's voice was raised a little.
mfr. Boyle" he said, '.giye. orders
that If this skunk shows his nose in
side the salon again he is to be kicked
out. He can eat his meals in his state
room or in the fore cabin with the 9TH
er savages.''
Elsie heard every word. She fancied,
too, that Isobel was listening. though
she gave no sign But the unknown
naught compared with the statement
that he was about to leave the ship.
She had heard the lowering of the boat
without needing He was already
climbing down the ships side. Soon
he would be far from her. perhaps new
err to return, for he was not one to
paint imaginary Ills. and had he not
told De Poincilit what the outcome of
the undertaking might be? She found
Isobel looking at her with frightened
eyes.
Did you hear" came the tense
whisper
"Yes."
"And you are content to let him go?"
"Ah, God, Yes. content"
But it is folly. He is the captain.
He should not go. We have risked
enough already. Who are these men
for whose sake he leaves you and all
of us?''
Il know not, nor do / greatly care.
May heaven help me and them. We
are his first care. Let 1t be mine to
leave him unhindered in the task he
has undertaken
Isobel was cowed into silence. Ell
sizes hero worship had reached n
height beyond her comprehension. She
would never understand how wo-
man who loved a man could send him
voluntarily to his death, and her shall
/ low mind did not contemplate the pos
sibility of Courtenay's refusing TO be
than that which his conscience told
MIN was flSht.
Thus alarms length, as it We're, they
waited until they caught the sharp
command Give way therer' and the
plash of oars told them that the boat
had really started on its journey shore
| ward. Then Isobel, glancing furtively
| at her companion, saw the tears steal
! ing down her cheeks. anu the situation
/. came back from the transcendental tt
that which was Ineligible to her low
er ideals
81 am sorry" she whispered. catch
ing Elsie's hand timidly Il said wha
/ thought was for the best. At an!
| rate, it is too late now"
| Too late, The other girl CROPPED
blindly for the door. She felt that sh,
would yield to the strain if she did no
go on deck and catch a parting glimps,
| of the man who had become dearer 4
her than life itself.
On the poop she found Boyle, Chris
tobal, Gray and Walker. A humble
of Chileans were leaning over the rail
of the main deck. All the men wer
talking earnestly. 1t was ominous tina
they should cease their conversation
the instant she appeared. One maj
may conceal his fears, but twenty car
not.
Il She brushed away the tears deter
mindedly and looked at the boat, a.
ready a white speck on the green cal
pet of the bay. She could see COurte
nay distinctly. Some magnetic impuls
must have gone out from her, becaus
she had not been watching him longe
than 4 couple of seconds when
turned and waved his hand. She RI
piled instantly, fluttering a handkel
, chief, poor girl, long after it becam
impossible for her to distinguish whetf
er or not he returned her signals.
At last she turned to Mr.. Boyle, VIII
I was nearest to her.
"Who is sitting next to Captain Coul
tenay:" she asked, and she had flee
4 ing impression that he was anxious fe
2 her to speak. so quickly did he answe
"Tollemache Tfe Skinned down til
3 ladder as the first volunteer. TIL
skipper ordered him to get out, but h
said he was deaf. Anyhow, Pm gla
e he is there. Courtenay ought to hay
E one sure enough white man by b
side'
q "And what are they attempting?"
l Huh. It's bold plan. an I'm n,
e goin to condemn it on that accoun
! Have you heard this mornin's news
e how Suarez found out from the L
) dams that eleven of our crew are hi
: ing In cave on Guanaco hilIy'
i Something of it. not all. But why
$ why has Captain Courtenay gone G
in such hurry?'
| well, Miss Elsie, he figures that 9
open effort by daylight is the only ws
4 to rescue them. They will have see
our signals, an they can hardly fs
to sight the boat. When he is clo
Q inshore they are sure to make da.
:. for it, an he hopes to get them G
:, before the Indians wake up to II
: game he is playin' There are Gig
q men in the boat, and with eleven OF
j ers to help there shouldn't be mut
5 difficulty. in keepip' the savages at
t. proper distance"
4 How soon--will he-reach the Ian
4 inc rl.,cn 81