Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-06-04
CHAPTER XVII.


II erville supported her to the state
room, and there Elsie sat with
her a little while soothing her as one
might comfort child in pain.
Isobel, stupefied by some haunting
knowledge which appeared to have
vague connection with the misfortunes
of the Kansas, yielded to Elsie's gentle
compulsion and endeavored to close
her eyes.
Through the open port Elsie heard a
man walk rapidly along the deck and
halt outside the door. She half rose
from her knees to answer the expected
knock, thinking that Mrs Somerville
had sent steward to ascertain If Miss
Barring needed anything, but the new
conner evidently changed his mind and
turned back. Then came Courtenay's
voice, low, but compelling:
Zone moment, NJ de Poincilit. A
word with YOU
Another time, m'sieu'. pray you
pardon me now. find am not strong
enough yet to venture on deck
.Oh, yes, you are, m'sieu'. I want to
give you the chance of your life Mr..
Gray has told me of your behavior,
and he charitably added that your cow
ardice and treachery might have arisen
from ungovernable fear. Now, if you
wish to atone for your conduct, here is
an opportunity. / am taking a boat
ashore to try to save some of my men
who are imprisoned there. There is a
fair risk in the venture. The outcome
may be death. Will you volunteer to
take an oar? That would whitewash
your weather marks
1T is impossible. am too feeble. ]
cannot row.
All, you swine! Can it be possible
that you are Frenchman? What sort
of countship is it you boast Of?
Sir, am a passenger on this ship
Courtenay's voice was raised little.
Mr. Boyle he said, give orders
that if this skunk shows his nose in
side the salon again he is to be kicked
out. He can eat his meals in his state
room or in the fore cabin with the 9TH
er SayageS.' .
Elsie heard every word. She fancied,
too, that Isobel was listening, though
she gave no sign. But the unknown
cause of the captains anger was as
naught compared with the statement
that he was about to leave the ship.
She had heard the lowering of the boat
without needing. He was already
climbing down the ships side. Soon
he would be far from her, perhaps new
er to return, for he was not one to
paint imaginary ills, and had he not
told De Poincilit what the outcome of
the undertaking might be? She found
Isobel looking at her with frightened
eyes.
did you heary' came the tense
whisper.
Eyes =
s.And you are content to let him go?"
"Ah, God! Yes, content
"But it is folly. He is the captain.
He should not go. We have risked
enough already. Who are these men
for whose sake he leaves you and all
of us?''
II know not, nor do I greatly care.
May heaven help me and them. We
are his first care Let it be mine to
leave him unhindered in the task he
has undertaken
IsobeI was cowed into silence. FL
sizes hero worship had reached a
height beyond her comprehension. She
would never understand how wo-
man who loved man could send him
voluntarily to his death, and her shall
low mind did not contemplate the pos
sibility Of Courtenay's refusing to be
gwayed by any other consideration
than that which his conscience told
him was right.
Thus at arms length, as it were, they
waited until they caught the sharp
command "Give way therer' and the
plash of oars told them that the boat
had really started on its journey shore
ward. Then IsobeI, glancing furtively
at her companion, saw the tears steal
ing down her cheeks, and the situation
came back from the transcendental to
that which was ineligible to her low
er ideals.
81 am sorry" she whispered, catch
ing Elsie's hand timidly. Il said what
I thought was for the best. At any
rate, it is too late now"
Too latei The other girl CROPPED
blindly for the door. She felt that she
would yield to the strain if she did not
80 ON deck and catch a parting glimpse
Of the man who had become dearer to
her than life itself.
On the poop she found Boyle. Chris
tobal, Gray and Walker. A number
Of ChiIeans were leaning over the rails
Of the main deck. All the men were
talking earnestly. 1t was ominous that
they should cease their conversation
the instant she appeared One man
may conceal his fears, but twenty can
not.
She brushed away the tears deter
mindedIy and looked at the boat, al
ready a white speck on the green car