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

As the canoe slipped out of the dense
gloom Of the ships shadow the Argen-
tine squatted on his knees In the bows,
Gray placed himself amidships, and
Elsie sat aft, holding the revolver in
her right hand and the dogs collar in
her left The American CROPPED for and
found a paddle which he piled vigor-
ously.
Guess you'd better discourse" said
he over his shoulder when the light
craft was well clear Of the ship.
"You understand Spanish, Think"
Eyes"
please tell Suarez to cease pad.
ding and listen. Don't move. I can
trust you, but I may have to shoot
him"
BEST hand me that popgun, Miss
Maxwell. Tho gentleman in front
seems to have n wholesome respect for
you already. Anything you say goes
where he Is concerned. I am taking
your word for 1t his name is Suarez.
but he looks and smells more like an
Indian"
| II forced him to dress in his dis
rarded clothes. He may he able now
to scare any Of the savnges we come
across. Rut why should I give you
my weapon, Mr.. Grny?'
because can hit most things I
aim at, whereas you are more likely
to bore n hole through me as n pro-
liminary. Moreover. you have the dog
with You, and even the wisest dog may
bark at the wrong moment You must
have both hands at liberty to choke his
enthusiasm"
"Do you pledge your word to go on
with my scheme?"
THAT Is what I am here for"
Take the revolver, then"
Sure It's loaded?'
"Quite sure. have fifteen extra
cartridges; but, as 7 have practiced re-
nlling 1t In the dark, give It to me II
you have occasion to empty it,
you seem to have thought this thing
out pretty fully"
81 intend to succeed Now, please,
must explain what want Suarez to
DO"
Speaking In Spanish, slow and clear,
while the canoe drifted steadily up the
bay with the rising tide. Elsie unfold
ed her project. Behind the guardian
| cliff Of Otter creek ridge OF rocks
created small natural harbor 1t
was the custom Of the Alaculofs when
the weather was calm and they meant
! to use their craft at daybreak to an
/ Choir most Of their vessels in this shell
! tered breakwater. At other times the
canoes were drawn ashore, but she rea-
soned that such a 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
GLIDING 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 reveal the re-
treat where she believed that her lover
and many of his men were hidden. If
a squad Of Indians mounted guard
there the temperance of SCarez in
his war paint. backed by the alarm of a
night attack from the sea, might mvS-
tify the enemy sufficiently to permit Of
landing. while the frequent reports
Of the revolver would certainly lead to
counter demonstration by Courtenay
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 proba bility 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 ad-
vice Gray unshipped the mast and
threw 1t overheard Then silence be-
came imperative. If nught were said.
they must speak in the merest whis.
per.
The canoe darted forward again with
steathy 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 it's base.
Suarez. however, had imbibed q 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 I'm.
seen rock
There was 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 n 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