Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-23
By LOUIS TRACY,

~N' 'tbiuiS htalCls 4AS lutN
 crept round the southern cheek of
 Point Kansas the Argentine ceased
 padding and placed a warning hand
 on Gray's arm. The cliff was so high and steep that it's shadow plunged into deepest gloom the water at its base. Suarez, however, had imbibed 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 un- seen rock.
 There was a 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 star it was easy enough to follow the southerly bend taken by the canoe in skirting this barrier, while their ears caught the mufmur 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 that Suarez was cautiously drawing himself inboard again. Then his pad dle dipped with a noiseless stroke. The canoe was inside the Alaculof harbor.
 The midnight blackness was now something that had a sense of actual obstruction in it. It seemed that hand put forth would encounter a wall. The tide was here, but no per ceptible current. For all they could tell to the contrary, they might have been floating in Charon's boat across some Stygian pool.
 For a minute or two ElsieS brave heart failed her. Here was diff culty which desperate courage could not surmount. There might be dozens of canoes moored on all sides, but to discover them in this pitch darkness was so obviously impossible that she almost made up her mind to abandon this part of her enterprise. Yet the narrow beamed Fuegian craft she was in would hold only four more occu- pants, and that with a certain risk and unwieldiness.
 She was as determined as ever to cross the bay and endeavor to commit nicate with the imprisoned men. But she recognized the absurdity of the fhat A1l maehe would consent to escape in the canoe and leave the others to their fate, even if such a thing were practi- cable. Oddly enough, the one person whose daring might reasonably be sus- pected gave no signs of the bangs of doubt. SuareZ pushed forward reso- lutely. He knew what Elsie had for gotten-that in each canoe used by the Indians there was carefully pre- served fire, whose charcoal embers re- tained some heat and glow all night The first intimation of this fact was revealed by the pungent fumes which environed them. Elsie could not help uttering a little gasp of relief. There was a slight movement in front Gray leaned back and touched her hand.
 ''Suarez says" he whispered, that you are to be ready with your tow ropes. As he secures each canoe he will pass it along to me. You will be able to see it's outlines by the dim glimmer of the fire. But how will you manage about the dog? He may cause bn alarm"
 Much to Joey's disgust. he was forth with muzzled wi.h piece of rope-not that this device would stop him ef- fectually from barking. but Elsie thought he would so resent the indig- sity that hs might pay less heed to outer circumstances. She needed no warning that Indians were near. The Argentine miners description of the community which dweIt on Otter creek made her understand that there were hundreds within hail.
 A great joy leaped up in her when the first canoe came under her hand. It was quite easy to manipulate the painter rope. The stem had nOtched knob provided for this very purpose, tnd there was a sternpOSt against which a steersman might press a pad fiIe and thus swerve the canoe in any direction But it was slow work. The craft were mOOred without any sem blance of order. yet Suarez was forced to secure them in a definite sequencs CT string of half dozen would be- come unmanageable.
 When the second canoe was made fast Gray bent toward the girl once more.
 "I have been listening to the tick of my watca.- he breathed against hc- rar. '.I reckon it has taken ten min lites to collect two dugOuts. Unless we . mean to remain all night we must let rp on the cutting ldrift proposition"
 T agree she murmured But we must have two more ,
 He told Suarsz of the new develop ment. which was essential. though it added to the danger of the enterprise By sheer good fortune. however. they IBundered against the lifeb0st- \ dog harke,I. and EIsie had thrilling stTgs- .ss with Joey. who was furious that his unlocked for insoiencs should So unanswered The sleepless cur that re.ped ashore speedily SuFsided. but it srlrsxzrpd to be an aEe Eef0Ie Suarez moved again He knew better than his 5ompznions how ready the Indians were to nCte such sentinel chzIIenges- EIs5e found tbe painter Of the life aaat coiIei i1 it's proTer place sooa