The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-08-07
CHAPTER XVI.
y the way, what Of NJ. de
4 Poincilit?" said Courtenay.

| Malcolm, but he dived into the
salon and has not reappeared. Is he
| i'll"
| Gray's mouth set like q steel trap
J His eyes had CLINT in them. He
seemed to be unwilling to speak. When
words came they were cold and MEAS.
ured.
| II haven't any use for that fellow"
he said. IL suppose the unpleasant
story must be told sooner or later, SO
here goes. In the first place, Polncilit
forgot that | understood Spanish. and
heard him yelping to the Chileans In
the jolly boat that If we took any more
| people on board we should be swamp
ed. 1t was he who put the notion in
their heads to cast off while you were
| lowering Miss Baring's maid into my
arms. tried to forget that, as he was
blue white with fear and some fellows
are not responsible for their actions
when their liver melts. But I can
never forget his action on the island.
Yesterday morning was just in time
to stop him and four others from
sneaking off in the lifeboat with ell
our provisions"
Courtenays face hardened too.
Necessity may have no laws" said
he, but | fancy should have found
a code to meet his case"
81 have organized vigilance COM
mittee in my time. and it's articles
kind of fitted in," was the Americans
quiet replj "That Is why l have q
few recent knife cuts distributed about
my skin. l began to shoot. and we
were two short on the muster roll next
day. De Poincilit ran and fell on his
knees. So did skunk of an Italian,
and did not want to waste cartridges.
They were tied back to back until we
sailed today"
"And the fifthY
"The fifth was a woman"
They talked until daybreak; then
Courtenay turned in. He did not ap-
pear on deck again until noon. By
that time the Kansas had lost all
marks of the fight excepting the
smashed windows, and a sailor who
understood the glaciers art was re-
placing the broken glass. Making the
round of the ship, the captain found
Elsie sitting with Isobel and Mrs. Som.
erville on the promenade deck. She
was binding Joey's foot, and he knew
then why the dog had scampered off
on three legs as soon as the cabin door
was opened.
Lifting his cap, with a smile and q
general Good morning" he bent over
Elsie.
"Well." he said, "surely you owe me
at least one kissv'
If her cheeks were red before, they
became scarlet now. But his kindlins
glance had warned her that he would
adopt no pretense. so she lifted her
face to his. though she did not dare to
look at her amazed companions. Cour-
tenay explained matters quite coolly.
'If Elsie has not told you already 1t
is my privilege to announce that she
and ! have signed articles" he said.
with a smile. "That is, we intend to
get married as soon as the ship reaches
England"
Indeed, congratulate you both most
Events have marched. then, while
we were stranded on that wretched is
land. Uttered Isobel. Her voice was
rather shrill. She, too, was excited,
not quite mistress of herself. She did
not know how far Gray's statements
might have prejudiced her with the
captain. She had already sent De Poin-
Gilt a note urging him to deny abso-
lutely all knowledge Of the plot to steal
the boat and attribute the Americans
summary action to his mistaken rem
dering of the Spanish patois used by
the Chilean sailors. You feel sure
that we shall see no more of the In
diansY' asked Isobel quickly.
81 think so. One never can tell, but
if they have the grit to attack us again
I shall regard them as first class fight
ers." 4,, -. y T. Z g,''' 'Ya,~s
Isobel meant to be on her best be.
havior. Her pact with the Frenchman
was discreditable. but smooth words
might restrain tongues from wagging
over the vicissitudes of life in these
later days were not without their eff
feet
II shall resume my rounds" said
Courtenay to Elsie. 81 expect to be re.
.ceived reproachfully by Walker. He
made great progress yesterday. Let me
whisper secret. Then you may pass
it on in strictest confidence"
He placed his lips close to her ear.
II am dreadfully in love with you
this morning" he breathed.
THAT is no secret" she retorted.
at is. You and I together must
daily find new paths in Eden. But my
less poetic news should be welcome
also. Walker says he hopes to get
steam up tomorrow"
swell, tell us quickly" cried Isobel,
with a show of intense interest when
Courtenay had gone. Though his man.
ner betokened that the affair was some.
thing which concerned Elsie alone, she
was on fire until she learned that his
secret alluded to the restored vital
ity Of the ship.
For once her expressions of gratitude