The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-12-08

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 tw~enty-seven sur
vivors out Of a 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
1t 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.
"Please don't mind me-" she said
quietly. II know all about the loss of
the Emu. If we fall into the hands of
the Alaculof tribe we shall be not only
killed, but eaten"
Each Of the men admired her cool
ness, but Tollemache, who had been
quietly scrutinizing the nearer hills,
gave painful emphasis to this grew
some topic by exclaiming:
There they are now-smoke sig
nals!"
Sure enough, thin columns Of smoke
were rising from several points on the
land. 1t could not be doubted that
these were caused by human agency.
They were not visible when the party
sat down to breakfast. The appear
ance of the ship was their obvious e
%planation, but not a or a soil
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 seward; 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-
mer in this desolate region, heavy
showers of hail and sleet alternated
with drenching rain. At low water,
though the Kansas floated securely in
a depth of twenty fathoms, a 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
n or two fair sized streams at the
head of the bay contributed this food
of fresh water.
To Elsie and the doctor were IN
trusted the daylight watch on deck and
the care of the sick. For the latter
there was not much to be done. The
cook undertook to feed them, and Fras-
cuelo, the wounded stevedore who had
been discovered in a state Of collapse,
Dol revived and was practically able
to look after himself. The others, I'M
work in the engine room and stoke
hold, for there alone lay the chance of
ultimate escape.
The two sentinels conversed but lit
tie. The outer war Of the elements was
disturbing, and Christobal, though un.
failingly optimistic in his speech, was
nevertheless a prey to dark forebod.
ings. Elsie. worn out by the strain of
the preceding twenty-four hours and
Notwithstanding her brief sleep in the
morning thoroughly exhausted for
want Of rest, was persuaded to retire
early to her cabin. She lay down al
most fully dressed. Somehow it was
Impossible to think of q state Of un'
preparedness for any emergency.
She was soon sound asleep. She
awoke with a start, with all her nerves
a-quiver. Joey was tearing along the
deck, barking %furiously. She heard two
men run past her door with ominous
haste. Then, after a heartbreakine
pause, there was some shooting. Some
one-she thought it was Courtenay-
roared down the salon companion:
"On deck, all hands, to repel board
ers!'
With a confused rush, men mounted
the stairs and raced forward. She
knew that nearly all Of those o or
watch We're sleeping with the injured
men in the salon, and now she under
stood the reason. The ship was being
attacked by Indians and not altogethel
unexpectedly. The savages had stole1
alongside in their canoes under the
cloak of night. Perhaps they We're al
ready on board in overwhelming num-
bers. Poor girl! She murmured a pray
err while she hurriedly drew on hel
boots and ulster.
ITO be Continued
A Hummer.