The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-06-11

straining some Of her plates. but for
use against the naked bodies Of their
possible assailants.
When day followed day without any
sign of hostility not man on board
save Suarez and Tollemache paid
much real heed to the shoreward peril
Walker, with his hammers and cold
chisels, screw jacks and wrenches, was
the center Of interest And Walkers
swarthy visage wore permanent grin,
which presaged we'll for the fulfllment
Of his promise.
Elsie devoted herself to the hospital.
She was thus brought more in contact
with Christobal than with any of the
others. Nor did he make this close &C.
quaintance irksome to her. Always
suave and charming In manner, he
exerted himself to be entertaining
Though she knew full we'll that If the
Kansas reached the open sea again
he would ask her to marry him, he
was evidently content to deny himself
the privileges of courtship until prop
er time and season.
She was far too wise to appear to
avoid Courtenay. Indeed, she was stu
diously agreeable to him when they
met. She adopted the safe role Of
good fellowship, fattering herself that
her own folly would shrink to nothing
ness under the hourly castigation thus
inflicted.
After the midday meal on Christmas
day-a sumptuous repast. for the due
preparation of which Elsie had come
to the Chilean cooks assistance in the
matter Of the plum pudding-Suarez
suddenly reported that a new column
of smoke was rising from Guanaco
hill, crag dominating the eastern
side of the bay. He was unable to at
tribute any special significance to the
signal on that particular place. Dur
ing his five years with the Alaculof
tribe he had never seen a fire lighted
there before. That in itself was fact
sinister and alarming.
Suarez had sufficient tact not to make
this statement publicly. He told Chris
tobal, and the doctor passed on the in
formation to the captain. Both men
went to the poop with their glasses and
carefully examined the coast line.
Courtenay was the first to break an
oppressive silence, and his low pitched
voice announced stirring tidings.
do you see those canoes yonder"
he said. There were three under the
trees before Suarez discovered the
smoke on Guanaco. Now l fancy
can make out nearly a dozen. Though
they are not launched, they have been
put there for some purpose. Would
you mind going forward and asking
Mr.. Boyle to summon all hands on
deck? He knows exactly what to do
Remember that regard you and Miss
Maxwell as noncombatants and expect
you both to remain in the salon. If
these painted devils really mean to at
tack, some Of us will get hurt. and then
your services will be of greater value
than in the fighting line. And if l do
not see Miss Maxwell before the trou-
BILE begins please tell her she need fear
no alarm. We shall be able to beat of
our assailants with comparative ease"
When the captain of the Kansas
spoke like that. there was no gainsay
ing him. Even Christobal. whose jeal
Gus suspicious were ever ready to burst
into fame, was reused to enthusiasm
by his cool gallantry.
But ere the Spaniard turned to go q
disturbing thought forced it's way tc
his lips.
1--WE have every confidence in you,'
he said, land | admit that it should be
a simple matter to prevent the savages
from gaining the upper hand. Yet &C.
cidents happen. Suppose they manage
to rush your defense?"
"They will not do that while and
every other man on deck is alive. II
the worst comes to the worst, you
have revolver
"Yes," said Christobal.
1T will suffice for two. but not for 9
hundred"
The two men. united by the very
bond which threatened to bring them
into antagonism. looked into each 9th.
er's eyes.
Is that your last wordY' asked
Christobal
1T is"
81 feel sure that yon are right Good
byw
They shook hands. They were near.
er real friendship then than either OF
them thought possible, and the bond
which held them was love for the
same woman.
Courtenay. using his glasses again,
saw that a number Of Indians were
launching the canoes simultaneously.
He counted nine small craft. each
holding FIVE or six men or men and
women. At the distance. nearly three
miles, he could not be certain whether
or not they all wore the distinguishing
headdress of feathers. Against wind
and current they could not possibly
reach the ship under half an hour. and
the smallness of the feet surprised
him.
The news that the Indians were ad.
vancing ran through the ship like wild
fire. Including Mr.. Boyle, Frascuelo
and those among the Chileans whose
wounds were not serious, there were
fourteen men available for the de-
tense. Unfortunately the supply of
firearms was inadequate. A shotgun
and FIVE revolvers constituted the ar