The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-08
CHAPTER VIII


 Ruth's hopes for rescue dwindled rapidly as the little cabin began tc fill up with water. Suddenly the tide caused the ship to list to the other side, a giant wave smashed open the porthole, and the rush of the mad waters against the cabin door burst 1t open. The girl was swept out into the passageway and thrown against an iron ladder leading to the deck above. Half climbing and half wad- ing through the rushing water she found her way into the wireless room
 As Ruth at one time had been a student of the wireless she now de- term1ned to make use of her knowl- edge. Looking at the chart on the table, she found her latitude and longitude and sent out an sos. The girl heard the wires buzzing-she was about to receive an answer! Sudden ly the water which had been steadily rising about her put the apparatus out of commission and the girl struggled to leave the room
 Entering the hatchway she saw that the decks were more than half awash. Taking a desperate chance, she stumbled forward to the mast and started climbing the rope ladder to the crows nest. When she reached the top she looked down and saw that the ship had almost submerged Slowly but surely the mast was drawn under the water, and Ruth leaped from her place of safety to tie sea to keep from being drawn under by the suction. Grasping a piece of wreckage, she clung to 1t, hoping that help would soon reach her.
 Ruth had not been mistaken. Her message had been received by the White Rider aboard the Dragon, and the little yacht was already hasten ing to her under full steam. In an other hour she was lifted out of the water and carried aboard.
 The Hfeboats from the Queen Esther arrived safely on the island of Siburo AS the boat with Phil aboard was beached. the young man ran up the sandy shore looking for Ruth. He saw that the figure he had imagined to be his sweetheart was Julia Wells.
 Where is Miss Randolph?" he de- manded.
 q haven't seen the dear girl" re- pied Julia. When the ship started sinking I ran to the boats without thinking of looking for her."
 we must start inland at once and find the native village" Phil heard Loomis saying. we have no provi- s:ons or water" Phil refused to go with them. Sitting dejectedly on the shore he gazed to see the girls spirit coming toward him.
 Suddenly Stanton sprang to his feet. yacht was approaching. His heart was filled with hope, mingled with fear. There was the slight pos sibility that Ruth might be aboard The yacht seemed to fairly crawl tC- ward shore. Finally he heard the anchor chains rattle and a small boat put off from the ship. Phil shouted with joy as he saw the girl
 
 He waded out into the sen lifted her bodily from the craft and carried her. ashore.
 "Oh, my dearest,' he cried, half laughing, half crying. 'I had given you up as lost" The rest of the youne peoples conversations was mingled with kisses
 ''I am sorry to interrupt" said the White Rider, with 3 smile. but we must overtake Loomis and the others. Then Chief Lame Elk must be found to decipher the Sacred wampum.''
 Somehow" replied Ruth. "I fear that we are counting danger. No one seems to know anything about these natives"
 Have no fear" interrupted the White Rider "the natives here con- slider the Wampum Belt as sacred as do the Canyon Indians. In fact, they were originally Canyon tribe who long ago became discontented and emigrated from the Golden Can yon and settled on this island. I have sent for four sailors to go inland with you and take provisions. I will an- chor the yacht here for the time be-, ing and await you return.
 But why can't you come alonE?" asked Ruth. | Because returned the mysterious | man. "S the natives were to recog- | HNrir1 d 1cyearl to us an." The girl decided to ask no | more questions, but to follow his in- | structions Consequently, with Phil | and the sailors. she started inland.
 Meanwhile, the Loomis party. weary and hungry. plodded along the | inland trail. After about an hour | they reached the edg of the trail and | were not aware of the fact that they | were walking into danger. A tall | young Siburo warrior at that nome nt | peered through the brush and smiled | grimly as he saw the white tntrud CTS Shouting an order to his tribes men, Brown Panther descended upon the newcomers.
 We tolerate no intruders," he told the white folks who were now his captives. And now, since you have | landed, you must not leave By the Siburo law, you cannot be injured, 1 but you will be conducted to the tur- | quoise quarry, and there you will re- Tl.lin without food and water until | your souls are free to leave-your bodies will remain" The faces of the Loomis party be- | came terror stricken As the natives | were about to take them prisoners. | Hendrix lunged a terrific blow to | Brown Partners jaw, knocking him | down. That was the signal for u ! general fight. But the whites were | several times outnumbered and their | cause was hopeless. Ii was not long | before the captives were brought to l the Turquoise Quarry The spot was l like an enormous hole in a rock, with | smooth rock sides rising up straight | from the bottom of the quarry, on | the edge of which stood Indnan war |