The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-07-02


"Will you tell me now what 1t was
that Suarez found out?' she mur-
INJURED to Christobal.
The doctor quickly appreciated her
need of material for further thought.
He suppressed no detail except his
own willingness to take Courtenay's
place in the boat.
When Elsie heard of the duplicity
practiced by Suarez it was good to see
the hot indignation which Redeemed
her brow. With all a woman's single
mindedness she regarded the Argen-
tine miner as being directly RESPONSE
BILE for Courtenay's hazard, nor would
she listen to Christobal's mild protest
that nothing could have been done
earlier, no matter how outspoken Sua.
rez chose to be.
The Spaniard encouraged her to de-
bate this point-anything was better
than the dumb pain Of thought-but
their talk ceased abruptly when a NUT.
tered exclamation from Gray sent
Walker flying to the chart house Forth
with the. trumpet Shrek of the siren
sent its wild boom across the silent
waters. Elsie needed no explanation Of
this tumult. Otter creek was not so
far distant that canoes quitting its
shelter could not be seen with the max.
ed eye. She counted sixteen putting
forth in cluster. and they all made
for the adventurous lifeboat
"That Is exactly what our captain
expected" Christobal was ready to as
sure her. "He was certain he would
reach the head Of the bay before the
Indians awoke to the meaning Of his
scheme. By this time. unless his plan
fails, the men on shore should have
jointA him, no matter what number
of savages may seek to oppose their
passage to the boat. The only doubt
full question is. Will be be able to beat
off the rascals who are now cutting
his line Of retreat?
Huh" growled Boyle. "The skip
per's out of sight now. Gone into
small creek or somethin' Of the sort.
Hope he heard the horn. Let her rip!'
he added in a loud shout over his
shoulder. and again the siren flung
warning to the foot Of the mountain
range.
1t was evident that the wonderful
eyesight of the Indians practically
equaled the range of the telescope.
Ihe men in the canoes were aware of
the lifeboats disappearance, and their
wet paddles flashed in the sun as they
tore across the three miles of open
water which separated the southern
promontory from the inner shore Of
the island. Creeping nearer Boyle. FL
sic whispered:
"For heavens sake. say the lifeboat
is visible again.
He held up hand to enforce silence.
A deep hush fell on the ship.
"Listen"' he muttered, so low that
Elsie alone caught the words. Can
you hear firin'?"
She thought she could distinguish an
irregular patter Of dull reports, and
the behavior of the Indians showed
that additional excitement was toward.
Many Of them stood up and waved
their arms. possibly as signal to their
allies on shore The canoes raced mad
ly. Where speed was vital the rough
hewn native craft were far swifter
than the solidly built lifeboat, with its
broad beam and deep draft.
And that was all. Though they
strained their eyes and spoke with
bated breath, never a sight of boat or
canoes was obtainable for hours after
the latter were swallowed up by the
trees which shrouded the creek at the
| foot Of Guanaco hill.
Isobel Barring. moved by genuine pity
for her distraught friend. tried to in
duce her to leave the deck. but she
shrank away terrified by the fire which
blazed from the blue eyes resting on
her for an instant. Mrs. Somerville
came, but she. too, was repulsed.
When Christobal made a serious effort
with the ferceness Of mother defend
ing her child from evil.
But relief was vouchsafed in the
,, worst throes of her agony.
Boyle or Gray had never relaxed a
close vigil by her side. 1t was Gray
who made the thrilling discovery that
the canoes were returning. AS the
fleet crossed the bay it could be seen
that they were towing the lifeboat, but
never sign of any prisoners could the
most careful scrutiny detect. The boat
was empty. 1t was easy to count ev-
cry man in the canoes as they passed
into Otter creek. and there were wound
ed Indians on board many of them.
That was significant, tremendous.
fact. There had been hard fighting.
and the boat was captured. but some.
If not all, Of the crew must have joined
their comrades in the sanctuary Of the
haunted cave. The accuracy Of this
deduction was proved by the presence
Of the smoke column on the hill. In
deed, the opinion was generally held
that its spiral clouds were denser than
at any previous hour, thus showing
that the defenders were endeavoring to
make known their continued existence
Elsie awoke from her trance. but in
returning to life she was transformed
into stern, resourceful, commanding
woman. None suspected the mighty
force which worked this resolution in
her nature. She conducted herself
yryffh xI4& all Gov.