The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-12-03


rs it safe for us to 60 the other
way?"
Il think SO. But you must be care
full not to slip"
She caught his arm, little knowing
the thrill her clasp sent through his
frame. This simple gesture of her
confidence was bittersweet. He reso-
lutely closed his eyes to the knowledge
that this might be their last talk.
They climbed down. Neither spoke
until they stood ON the curving ledge
that had proved their salvation. They
reached the place from which the Bra
Zilians had thrown the rope. They
could hear the quiet plash of the water
in the cleft. Piled against a low ly-
ing rock were the funnel and other
debris Of the Andromeda. The black
hull was plainly visible beneath the
surface.
eff we follow the others, will the
soldiers throw our dead bodies into
the sea?" she asked.
II want you to believe that you will
be absolutely safe if we escape being
discovered during the crossing of the
narrow strip of water that separates
this rock from the island" he hastened
to say. '"That is your only risk, and it
is light one. Senior de Sylvia is sure
that the troops will not keep the keen
es, lookout tonight. They are still con-
yinced that the insurgent steamer is
sunk. Our chief danger will Date from
tomorrow's dawn. Marcel reports that
systematic search of the island was
begun today. 1t will be continued to-
| morrow, but on new lines, because by
that time they will have learned the
truth. The Andros-y-Mela is not lying
in pieces at the foot of this rock, the
president has not escaped, and every
practicable inch of Fernando Noronha
and the adjacent islands will be scour-
ed in the hope of finding him. At first
sight that looks like being in our favor.
In reality it means the end if we are
| discovered here. The soldiers will shoot
first and inquire afterward. / have not
the slightest doubt but that plenty of
evidence will be Forthcoming that we
were set of desperadoes who had un-
lawfully interfered in the affairs of
foreign state.'
81 want to do that which is for the
good of ALL she said at length. "Do
you ask me to go to this convict's
house. Mr.. HozierP
Il urge it on you with the utmost
conviction. With you off our hands
we can act freely. We must deliver
an attack tonight. God in heaven, you
cannot think that we would expose you
to the perils of a desperate fight"
His sudden outburst was unexpected,
even by himself. He trembled in an
agony Of passion. Iris placed timid
hand on his shoulder.
81 will GO" she whispered. "Please
do not be distressed ON my account. l
brought you. here not to discuss my
own fate, but yours. These Brazilians
will not scruple to make use Of you
and then throw you aside If it suits
their purpose. That man De sylvia
does not care how he attains power,
and know that he and the officer en-
tertain some plan which they have not
revealed to you"
"You--knoww
eyes. / understand little of their
language. / have a mere glimpse OF
its sense, as one sees q landscape
through mist. When De Sylvia told
you today that San Benavides was
with you heart and soul, he was lying
There were things said about ship
and midnight and boat. / watched
the officers face. He was wholly op
posed to the landing tonight. My mind
is not so vague now. | think l can
grasp his meaning. Was it not to-
night that the Andros-y- -Mela was tc
appear"
"Yes."
"Well, may they not hope secretly
that she will keep to the fixed hour
Once you and l and the others are
on the island and an alarm is given
the Brazilians could slip away unno
ticed. Yes, that is it. i do not trust
them any more than trusted Captain
Coke. Don't you realize that hs
brought the Andromeda to this place
in order to wreck her more easily? II
was to supply a pretext for the visit
that he made undrinkable the water
In the ships tanks"
That appealing hand still rested OF
Philips shoulder. Its touch affected
him profoundly. With lightning dar
of memory his thoughts went back t
the moment when she lay, inert ant
half fainting, in his arms on the bridge
after he had taken her from the laz
arctic. But he controlled his voice
sufficiently to say:
"You may be right. Indeed, l know
you are right so far as Coke is con
cerned. When l went aft to find ou
If one of the boats could not be cleared
| noticed that a steering gear box hat
been pried open again. had tim,
for only seconds glance, but l wa.
sure the damage had not been done b,
a bullet. So the Andromeda was doom
ed to be lost, no matter what hap
pened."
"Coke will stand by the rest Of u,
In our struggle for life, at any rate
But the Brazilians"--.
Have no fear of them. l, too. hay,
watched San Benavldes. don't lik,
the fellow and wouldn't place an ounc,
of faith in him. but De sylvia ha.
brains. and he knows well enough tha
| M oh frA, .x.tlI =.