The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-06-04
CHAPTER XVIII.

earnest words, ana tney were
- forthcoming Elsie understood
them to mean that she need not be
In such purple hurry TO disappear
into the darkness without the least ex'
planation. Thereupon she bade Suarez
back the canoe Il little.
II am sorry II IL necessary TO steai
away In this fashion" she said, and
the GOODNESS of her tone was highly
exasperatlng to II man who could no
more detain her than he could move
the Kansas unaided. II have plan
which requires only bit of good for
tune to render II practicable. have
two assistants Suarez, whose aid |
am compelling, and Joey, who Is quite
eager There Is no use In risking any
more lives. IL do not return you may
be sure the worst has happened
but what is your planY roared
Boyle. ut may be just sheer non
sense. Tell me what IL Is, an | swear
by the nautical almanac ! shall not
prevent you from carryin' 1t out II II
has any reason behind It,"
'1 am going to collect all the Indian
canoes" was the amazing answer. Il
know 1t can he done from what Snarez
has said. Once we have the canoes ID
mjdchannel we can set most OF them
adrft and bring Captain Courtenay
and the others back to the ship In four
or five, which we will tow to Guanaco
hill. And now goodby again"
zone moment, Miss Maxwell broke
In Gray's quiet voice from the upper
deck. "You can't engineer that scheme
with one man crew and he sick ana
unwilling. am going with you. fon
must take me aboard, wet or dry"
II am well armed and shall admit of
no interference" she cried.
IL promise TO obey orders
"If | wanted you, Mr.. Gray, should
have sought your help
1T Is one thing or the other wrig-
gle down rope or high diving act
"You have no right to impose such
an alternative on me-"
II hate II myself and | can't dive
worth cent You will hear a beastly
flop when | strike the damp"
"Mr. Boyle, call on you to hold
him"
Boyle explained luridly that the
American WAS doing balancing act
on the rail eight feet above his head.
Elsie. taking her eyes or Suarez for an
instant, discerned Gray's figure sill
houetted against the sky, She yielded,
There IL a rope ladder fastened to
the lowest rail near where the canoe
was moored," she said,
rs there to be any catch-as-catch-can
business, BoyleT' demanded Gray.
mo. All this IL mighty unfair to
me-"
"You have my sympathy. friend. but
you can't leave the ship. Now Miss
Maxwell, come alongside. Boyle Is
going 10 be good. He doesn't mean
half he says anyhow"
Al 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 amidshlps. and
Elsie sat aft, holding the revolver In
her right hand and the dogs collar In
her left The American groped for and
found paddle. which he piled yigor
ously.
Guess you'd better discourse" said
he over bis shoulder when the light
craft was well clear Of the ship
you understand Spanish. tbInkr
"Yes"
please tell Suarez 10 cease pad
ding and listen. Don't move. can
trust you, but ] may have TO shoot
him
Best hand me that popgun, Miss
Maxwell The gentleman In front
seems to have q wholesome respect for
you already Anything you say goes
where he Is concerned. am taking
your word for II his name Is suarez,
but be looks snd smells more like an
Indian"
II forced him to dress In his dis,
earded clothes. He may be able now
70 scare any Of the sayages we come
across. But why should give you
my weapon. Mr.. GrayT
Because can hif most things ]
aim at, whereas you are more likely
10 bore hole through me M pre-.
Ilminary. Moreover. you have the dog
with you, aud even the wis@st dog may
bark at the wrong moment You must
have both hands al liberty 70 choke bis
enthusiasm"
do you pledge your word TO 60 on
with my schslnef'