The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-08-14

sonen that such q precaution would
not be taken during the present excite
ment
That was the first part Of her pro-
gramme-to capture the entire feet, in
Guiding the lifeboat. In any event. she
intended to go next to the hidden cleft
at the foot of Guanaco hill, trusting to
the dogs sagacity to yeveal the re-
treat where she believed that her lover
and many of his men were hidden. II
a squad of Indians mounted guard
there, the temperance OF Suarez in
his war paint, backed by the alarm of
night attack from the sea, might mys-
tify the enemy sufficiently to permit Of
a landing. while the frequent reports
of the revolver would certainly le~. to
a counter demonstration by Courtena
Gray listened to the girls cool state
ment with growing admiration. The
plan began to look feasible. 1t came
within the bounds of reason. The
odds were against 1t, of course, but the
law Of probability is seldom in favor
of forlorn hope. Suarez. too, making
the best of situation which gave him
no option, agreed that they had fair
chance If once they got hold Of the
canoes. Nevertheless he warned them
that he knew nothing of the surround
ings of Guanaco hill. He believed
there were no reefs on that side of the
inlet, but he had never visited it.
Their greatest peril lay amid the al
most impenetrable trees which grew
down to the waters edge. On his adj
vice Gray unshipped the mast and
threw it overheard. Then silence be-
| came imperative. If aught were said,
| they must speak in the merest whis-
| per.
The canoe darted forward again with
stealthy haste. The night was clear,
though dark. The stars helped them
| to distinguish the outlines of the shore
| now coming rapidly nearer. AS they
| crept round the southern cheek of
Point Kansas the Argentine ceased
padding and placed warning hand
| on Gray's arm. The cliff was so high
| and steep that its shadow plunged into
| deepest gloom the water at its base.
Suarez, however, had imbibed a good
| deal of savage lore during his enforced
| residence on the island. He stretch
| ed well forward over the bows, held a
| paddle as far in front as possible and
| thus not only guided the drifting canoe
by an occasional dip of the blade, but
| trusted to it for warning of any un-
seen rock.
There was a cold breeze on the sur
| face of the bay, but the dog was the
| only one that shivered, and his tremors
arose from excitement At last they
felt slight bump. The Argentine had
found the reef he was searching for.
BY watching star it was easy enough
to follow the southerly bend taken by
the canoe in skirting this barrier, while
their ears caught the murmur of the
swift current amid the numerous tiny
channels of the rocks. Suddenly this
swirl and hum of fast flowing water
ceased. Elsie and Gray became aware
| that Suarez was cautiously drawing
| himself inboard again. Then his pad
die dipped with a noiseless stroke. The
| canoe was inside the Alaculof harbor.
The midnight blackness was now
something that had a sense of actual
obstruction in it. 1t seemed that q
hand put forth would encounter a
wall. The tide was here but no per-
ceptible current. For all they could
tell to the contrary, they might have
been floating in Charon's boat across
some Stygian pool.
Continued next week.