Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-12-29


have money. Let me ask him to ex-
plain matters to this dear woman and
her daughter. They have been more
than kind to me already"
She turned TO the sulky San Bena-
videS and told him what HoZier had
suggested. He frightened at that and
began a voluble speech to Luisa Co
mez. Interrupting himself, he in
quired in French how Hozier proposed
to reach the rock.
"On catamaran. There are two on
the beach, and l can handle one of
them all right" said Philip. "But
what is this yarn of warship? When
last l sighted the launch she was
standing out of the harbor, and the
first clouds of the storm helped TO
screen her from the citadel"
Iris interpreted. San Benavides re-
peated his story of the rockets. In her
present tumult the girl forgot the
touch of realism with regard to the
firing that he had heard. Certainly
there was good deal of promiscuous
rifle shooting after the departure of
the launch, but warships use cannon
to enforce their demands, and the
boom of a big gun had not woke the
echoes of Fernando Noronha that
night. Philip deemed the present no
time for argument He despised San
Benavides and gave no credence to
him. Just now the Brazilian was an
evil that must be endured.
Luisa Gomez promised to help In
every possible way. Her eyes sparkled
at the sight Of gold, but the poor wo-
man would have assisted them out OF
sheer pity. Nevertheless the gift of
a couple Of sovereigns, backed by the
promise of many more If her husband
devoted himself TO their service, spur
red her to frenzy of activity.
There was not moment to be lost
The squall had spent itself, and a peep
through the chinks of the door showed
that the moon would quickly be In evi-
dence again. 1t was essential that
they should cross the channel while
the scattering clouds still dimmed her
brightness, so Manoela and her mother
collected such store of food and milk
and water as they could lay hands on.
Well laden, all five fastened to the
creek, and Hozier. Iris and San Bena-
vides boarded the larger OF the two
catamarans.
When the catamaran rounded the
last outlying crag and they were all
straining their eyes to find the sentinel
pillars they became aware that a
small boat was being pulled cautiously
toward them from the opposite side
Vt the rock.
Iris gasped. She heard Hozier NUT
ter under his breath, while San Bens-
vides revealed his dismay by an oath
and a convulsive tightening Of the
hands that rested on the girls shoul-
ders.
Hozier strove with few desperate
strokes Of the paddle 10 reach the shad-
ows Of the passage before the cata'
, maran was seen by the boats Occu
pants. He might have succeeded. But
there was even a greater probability
: that the unwieldy catamaran might b'
caught by the swell and dashed side
: long against one of the half submerged
above the water.
Happily they were spared either al
tentative. At the very instant tina
their lot must be put to the test o
? chance Coke's hoarse accents came u
their incredulous ears.
LET her go, Olsen," he was growl
? ing. We've clear course now, al
VI ! hot tpf al mil tafIa
thing If we're spotted"
= In this instance hearing was beliey
e ing and Philip was the first TO CUES
d what had actually occurred.
"Boat ahoy, skipperw he sang out I
E joyous hail.
% Coke stood up. He glared hard Q
d the reef.
Ie "Did ye ear itr he cried to D
r sylvia. "Sink me, | 'ope | amt a-cop!
1t in pore ole Watts. but II that WASH
10 Hozier's voice I'm gOln' dotty."
g "Its all right, skipper" said Phili
j: sending the catamaran ahead with
1t mighty sweep. Miss Yorke is here
Captain San Benavides too. ! ws
is sure you would look for us If yo
ir cleared the harbor safely"
IN Then Coke proclaimed his sentimen
in the approved ritual Of the high sea
n while the big Norseman at the Ga
'y swung the boats head round uni
n both craft were travelling In compar
o. to the waiting launch. Before an
40 thing IN the nature Of an explanatiC
ed was forthcoming from the occupaD
to of either the boat or the catamaran
be broad beam Of white light swept ov
'ft the crest of the island from north
ps south. II disappeared to return mo
d. slowly until It rested on Rat islam
We at the extreme northwest Of the grou
rs II remained steady there, showing
Wild panorama Of rocky heights al
ed tumbling sea.
Sc "a searcbljGhtp groMled Coke,