The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-08-21
CONTINUED from last week. }

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 commu-
nicate with the imprisoned men. But
she recognized the absurdity of the
thought that Courtenay and Tolle-
mache would consent to escape in the
canoe and leave the others to their
fate, even If such thing were practi-
cable. Oddly enough, the one person
whose daring might reasonably be sus-
pected gave no signs of the pangs 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-
tanned 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 little gasp of relief. There
was 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
nble to see it's outlines by the dim
glimmer Of the fire. But how will you
manage about the dog? He may cause
an alarm"
Much to Joey's disgust, he was forth
with muZZled with piece Of rope-not
Mat this device would stop him eff
ectually from barking but Elsie
thought he would so resent the indig-
nifty that he might pay less heed tt
outer circumstances. She needed nc
warning that Indians were near. The
Argentine miners description Of the
community which dwelt 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
1t was quite easy to manipulate the
painter rope. The stem had a notched
knob provided for this very purpose,
and there was q sternpost against
which q steersman might press pad.
die 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 sequence
or string Of half a dozen would be.
come manageable.
When the second canoe was made
fast Gray bent toward the girl once
more.
81 have been listening to the tick of
my watch" he breathed against her
ear. II reckon it has taken ten min.
utes to collect two dugouts. Unless we
mean to remain all night we must let
up on the cutting adrift proposition"
II agree" she murmured. But we
must have two more"
He told Suarez of the new develop.
ment, which was essential, though ii
added to the danger Of the enterprise.
BY sheer good fortune, however they
Numbered against the lifeboat. A dog
barked, and Elsie had thrilling strug.
gle with Joey, who was furious that
this unlocked for insolence should 60
unanswered. The sleepless cur that
yelped ashore speedily subsidized. but il
appeared to be an age before Suarez
moved again. He knew better than his
companions how ready the Indians
were to note such sentinel challenges.
Elsie found the painter Of the life
boat coiled in its proper place. Soon
she experienced steady pull on the
rope. Her little feet was in motion.
Gray began to help in the padding.
Ere long they came under the influence
of the tide, and she heard the ripple
of the water against the planks Of the
boat. Then Suarez called halt and a
parley.
1t would be better, he advised, to
use the oars in the heavy boat than at
tempt to tow 1t across the strong cur
rent from a canoe. They would gain
time and be safer. So they climbed
into the lifeboat, but continued to tow
the canoes.
Suarez, somewhat weak from his
knock on the head overnight, was not
equal to the strain of continued exer-
ton, so Elsie and Gray took two oars
each and allowed their companion to
rest When, judging by the surround
ing hills. they were half way across
the inlet, Gray stopped low in the boat
struck a match and looked ut his
watch. 1t was long after / o'clock.
There could be no doubt whatever that
the dawn would find them far from the
ship, no matter how fortunate they
might be in their further adventures
1t was well for Elsie that she had
learned how to scull when In her
teens and that her muscles were in
fair condition owing to her skill at
tennis. Even so, she feared that she
could never hold out against the sus-
tanned stress Of that pull across the
bay. The heavy boat, intended to be
rowed by six men, had the added bur-
den Of four canoes. 1t was back
breaking work, but she neither falter.
ed nor sighed until SuareS said: