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

VncTe.
Courtenay turned on his heel and
quilted the cabin. Christobal, well
knowing how the demons Of doubt and
despair were afflicting Courtcnay, fol-
lowed him to the upper deck. Boyle
was in the chart house and Tolle-
moche. Each man noted the captains
troubled face.
Courtcnay obtained 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 I'M
usual power and briliancc Of the sun.
they distinctly saw q thin pillar Of
smoke rising above the trees. Courte-
nay closed his telescope. lie made to
approach Boyle, evidently for the pur-
pose of giving some order when Chris.
tobal said quietly:
wait. l have something TO say to
you. You ought TO remain on the ship.
Let me gor'
"You?"
yes, l. After nil, It Is only n matter
Of taking command. One man cannot
go alone. lie 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 dicf'
"You know better than | how little
chance there is of saving those men
You may deem mo Gallons II I suggest
that the reasonable thing would he to
forget the miserable statement you
have Just heard oh. please hear me to
the end. I am not talking for your sole
benefit believe me. Greatly as | and
all on board are behodcn to you, dc
not propose giving my life in your
stead because Of my Astounding admi
ration for your many virtues. Well
then, since yon are so impatient as tc
he almost rude, come straight to the
point II you take command of boats
crew and cndeavor to save the mer
imprisoned over there, you will almost
certainly throw away your life and the
| event lady in whom we are both in
terested will suffer grievously. On thu
other hand, II were killed she woult
weep a little. because she has a large
heart, but you would console her. And
the odd thing is that you and I arr
fully aware that either you or mus
go off on this fools errand. There 1!
none Other to take the vacant place
Now, have made myself cleari'
"Whilc ! command the Kansas I an
responsible for the we'll being Of tn
ship. her crew and her passengers.
could never forgive myself II I lef
those men to the mercy Of the Indians
I cannot permit either you or Tolle
mache to take risk which I shirk
Boyle and Walker must remain OIL
boa rd-lest fail. Now. Christobal
don't make my duty harder Shak'
hands. am proud to claim you as
friend"
Huh" said Boyle. strolling towar'
them. What is it-a bet?"
Yes" laughed Courtenay, from
whose face all doubt had vanished. "'
bet indeed, and you hold the stakes
Have you seen the smoke sigma! yon
der: And he pointed across the bay.
Yes. Tollemache found 1t agail
twenty minutes since"
at means that eleven of our mel
are there. expecting us to save them
Hoist the ships answering pennan
from the main yard swung out TO stal
board Build q small fire on the poo
and throw some oil and lampblack Of
1t. If they don't recognize the pennan
they will understand the smoke &c
some food and water slowed In tn
lifeboat and offer Is head to six me
who will volunteer for trip ashore"
81 go In charge, OF course, sir?" sal
Boyle.
"You remain here and take comman
during my absence. want two re
volvers for a couple Of the crew. and
shall take my own gun Please max
all arrangements promptly. l am &c
Ing to my cabin for Ave minutes an
shall start Immediately afterward."
This was the captain speaking. III
tone admitted Of no contention. Boyl
hurried off. and Cour.enay went int
his quarters.
What do you think OF IT." Chris
tobal asked Tollcmache as the latte
appeared to he sauntering after tn
chief officer.
"Conrtenay is a hard man to stop,
said To'lemachc. vanishing down tn
companion. The Spaniard was LEI
alone on the bridge, He paced TO an
fro deep in thought. He scarce dare
probe his own communings. So con
pick were they, such queer amalgai
Of noble fear and base expectation
that he could have cried aloud in y
anguish. Big drops Of perspiratio
stood on his forehead when Courtena
came to him.
For Gods sake. don't 60" said /
hoarsely. do you know you are pla
Ing me on the rack"
Your suffernss are of your ow
rontrlving. then. Why. man, there
no reason for all this agony. l hay
written to Elsie, briefly explaining ma
ters. Here Is the letter. Give It
her If l don't return. And now pu
yourself together want You to chez
her. Above all things. don't let h,
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