The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-12-24

Captain San Benavldes must accom-
pany us. He says the soldiers will
shoot him If they capture him. 1, too,
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 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 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 q good deal of promiscuous
rifle shooting after the departure of
the launch, but warships use cannon
to enforce their demands, and the
boom of 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 a frenzy of activity.
There was not moment to be lost.
The squall had spent itself, and peep
through the chinks of the door showed
that the moon would quickly be in evil
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
small boat was being pulled cautiously
1 toward them from the opposite side
Of the rock.
! Iris gasped She heard Hozier NUT
: ter under his breath, while San Bena-
h vides revealed his dismay by an oath
and convulsive tightening Of the
e hands that rested on the girls shoul-
d ders.
It Hozier strove with few desperate
e strokes of the paddle to reach the shad-
u ows of the passage before the cata'
u maran was seen by the boats occu
. pants. He might have succeeded. Blu,
q there was even greater probability
l. that the unwieldy catamaran might b'
/ caught by the swell and dashed side
s long against one of the half submerged
~ rocks that thrust their black fang
above the water.
y Happily they were spared either al
Tentative. At the very instant tina
v their lot must be put to the test
Up chance Cokes hoarse accents came +
le their incredulous ears.
As "Let her go, Olsen," he was grow
'p ing. "We've clear course now, ar
IN that Internal moon will spile every
thing if we're spotted"
'e. In this instance hearing was belie'
re ing, and Philip was the first to CUES
10 what had actually occurred.
"Boat ahoy, skipperg he sang out
,e- joyous hail.
no Coke stood up. He glared hard {
TN the reef.
he "Did ye ear itT he cried to L
lr- sylvia. "Sink me, 'ope amt a-cop
tut in pore ole Watts, but II that WASH
to Hozier's voice I'm goin' dotty."
Is 'It's all right, skipper" said Phil
I'd: sending the catamaran ahead with
1t mighty sweep. Miss Yorke Is here
Captain San Benavides too. W
OTIS sure you would look for US II y
air cleared the harbor safely"
zen Then Coke proclaimed his sentimer
In the approved ritual Of the high SCI
an while the big Norseman at the oa
BY swung the boats head round un
Jn- both craft were travelling In compa
Do to the waiting launch. Before al
no thing in the nature Of an explanati
ped was forthcoming from the occupal
to Of either the boat or the catamarar
be broad beam of white light swept o.
left the crest Of the island from north
APPS south. 1t disappeared to return IN
nd slowly until 1t rested on Rat isla
i've at the extreme northwest OF the gro
gns 1t remained steady there, showing
wild panorama Of rocky heights
ited tumbling sea.
lrse "a searchlighty groYled Coke.