Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-28

he said. Behind those hills there one
sees few canoe Indians. l have
heard that they are somewhat lower
in the social scale than the aborigines
of Australia"
"Are they?" said Courtenay. He
looked Christobal straight in the eyes,
and the doctor returned his gaze as
steadily.
''rhat is their repute They live
mostly on sheilfish. They do not con-
gregate in communities. A few fami-
lies keep together and move constant
ly from place to place.
"They are called the Alaculof. They
use bows and arrows with heads chip
In Tollemache.
''Oh. you have been in these parts
before?" cried Courtenay, regarding
his compatriot with some interest.
while the Spaniard surveyed his rival
doubtfully.
8 Yes; was on the Emu, wrecked in
Cockburn channel"
| Now, the story of the Emu is one of
those fierce tragedies which the sea
skill and then proceeds to destroy the
slightest vestige of their brief exist
ence. But such things leave abiding
memories in mems souls, and Courte-
nay had heard how twenty seven sur
vivors out of Il muster roll of thirty
who escaped from the wreck had been
shot down by Indians ambushed in the
forest Elsie was listening to the con-
versation, SO the captain did not carry
it further, contenting himself with the
remark:
! THAT will be useful if we are com.
PEELED to go ashore. You will have
some acquaintance with the ways of
our hosts.''
| Tollemache. having nothing to say,
was not given to the use of unneces-
sary words. Elsie was conscious of a
certain conStraint in their talk.
I please don't mind me-" she said
quietly. II know all about the loss of
the Emu. If we fell into the hands of
the Alaculof tribe we shall be not only
killed. but eaten"
Each of the men admired her cool
ness. but TOlemache. who had been
quietly scrutiniZing the nearer hills,
gave painful emphasis to this grew
some topic by exclaiming:
There they are now-smGke sig
nalsr'
Sure enough. thin columns of smoke
We're rising from several points on the
land. 1t could not be doubted that
these were caused by human agency
They We're not visible when the party
sat down to breakfast. The appear
ance of the ship was their obvious ex-
panation, but not a canoe or n soli-
tary figure could be seen. though Cour-
tenay and others at various times dur
ing the day searched every part of the
neighboring shore with field glasses
and powerful telescopes.
After an all too brief burst of sun
shine the Land of Storms again Justi-
fed its name. Giant clouds came roll
ing In from seawaFd: the mountains
were lost IN mist: the glaciers became
Sullen, rock strewn masses of white
brown ice; the fresh greenery of the
forests faded into somber belts of
blackness. Though it was high sum-
showers of hail and sleet alternated
with drenching rain. At low wafer,
though the Kansas fioated securely in
depth of twenty fathoms, yellow
current sweeping past her starboard
quarter showed how accurately Courte-
nay had read the tokens of the inlet
Many a swollen torrent and perhaps
one or two fair sized streams at the
head of the bay contributed this fioot
of fresh water.
To Elsie and the doctor were in
trusted the daylight watch on deck ant
the care of the sick. For the latter
there was not much to be done. TIL,
cook undertook to feed them, an(
FraScuelo, the wounded stcvedore wh'
had been discovered in a state of col
lapse, soon revived and was practical
ly able to look after himself. TIL,
others, under Walkers directions, wer
! hard at work in the engine room ant
stokehold. for there alone lay tn
chance of ultimate escape
, The two sentinels conversed but lit
, tie. The outer war of the element
was disturbing, and Christobal, though
, unfailingly optimistic in his speech
was nevertheless a prey to dark fore
bOdings Elsie. worn out by the strain
of the preceding twenty-four hour
and notwithstanding her brief sleel
in the morning thoroughly exhauste
for want of rest, was persuaded to re
tire early to her cabin. She lay dow
almost fully dressed. Somehow it wa
impossible to think of state of un
preparedness for any emergency.
She was soon sound asleep. Sh
awoke with a start, with all her nerve
a-quiver. Joey was tearing along tn
deck, barking furiously. She hear
two men run past her door wit
ominous haste. Them after a hear
breaking pause, there was some shoot
ing Some one-she thought it wa
Courtenay-roared down the salon con
panion:
ION deck, all hands, to repel board
ers."
With confused rush, men mounte
the stairs and raced forward. Sh