Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-09

hCAAbiC StC0ih pipes III piuGCS W ACiS a
rush might be made if the Indians once
secured footing on the deck. fore or
aft. Steam was kept up constantly in
the donkey boiler not alone for the
electric light and the daily working of
the pumps, as the Kansas had not
Numbered over the shoal without
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 a 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 well for the fulfillment
Of his premise.
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 well 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
err 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, fiattering 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
suddenly reported that 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 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 Cuanaco. Now / fancy
! can make out nearly 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
J 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 ther
4 y
| than in the fighting line. And If dc
not see Miss Maxwell before the trou.
BILE begins please tell her she need feal
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
| du TO h,1vS
into flame, was reused to enthusiasm
by his cool gallantry.
But ere the Spaniard turned to go ,
disturbing thought forced its way t.
his lips.
I'VE have every confidence in you,
he said, land admit that it should b.
a simple matter to prevent the savage
from gaining the upper hand. Yet &C
cidents happen. Suppose they manag
to rush your defenseT
"They will not do that while an,
EVERY other man on deck is alive.
the worst comes to the worst, yo
have a revolver
YES" said Christobal.
at will suffice for two, but not for
hundred"
: The two men, united by the YER
, bond which threatened to bring Their
!, into antagonism, looked into each ott
, er's eyes.
rs that your last wordy' aske
, Christobal.
ut Is"
81 feel sure that you are right. Coco
byi"
Il They shook hands. They were neal
er real friendship then than either q
them thought possible. and the bon
! which held them was love for tn
i same woman.
, Ceurtenay. using his glasses agair
: saw that number Of Indians wer
, launching the canoes simultaneously
! He counted nine small craft. eac
, holding Eve or six men or men an
women. At the distance, nearly thre
T miles. he could not be certain whethe
or not they all wore the distinguishin
headdress of feathers. Against win
and current they could not possibl
! reach the ship under half an hour, an
, | the SutallnesS of the fQof sr1rnrise,