The Abilene Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 8, 1908 Page: 3 of 12
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THE W1FKLY REPORTER FRIDAY MAY fl W7.
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1 The Captain of
the Kansas.
By LOUIS TRACY.
Author of "The Wing of (ha MofftlflA"
"ThB FllUr of Light." Elc
Copyright 1008 by Edward J. Clodo.
JTTTfTVVTTTTVTfTTn'TTTTrT
oHAPTElt X.
ELSIE had slept long and Round-
ly. She found herself In n
new world of sunshine and
culm. Her brain lmd been
cleared restored to tho norninl by re-
freshing sleep. With a moro ncth'c
perception of the curious difficulties
which besot the Kansas came a feeling
akin to despair. Tho brightness of na-
ture served rather to convert the ship
Into a prison. Storm and stress wheth-
er of the elements or of the less Candid
foes who lurked unseen on the neigh-
boring shores made the Kansas n veri-
table fortress a steel refuge seemingly
impregnable. But the knowledge or
the vessel's helplessness and of the
equally desperate hazard which beset
her Inmates was rendered only more
poignant by the smiling aspect of land
and sea.
But she was hungry and that was a
saving sign. She guessed that many
of the men after mounting watch until
broad daylight "Were asleep. Others
wore nt work below as was testified
by a subdued sound of hammering
with tho sharp clinic of metal against
pietnh Walker was tinkering nt the
engines. With him In all likelihood
were the enptulu and Tollemnchc She
and Sunrez were the drones of the
ship and Suarez poor fellow had earn
ed nn idle hour If cmly On account of
tho scrubbing he had given himself to
wnsh away the tokens of Ave years of
slavery.
Before going In search of the cook
she walked a few steps toward the
bridge. At tho top of the companion
she saw Joey sitting disconsolately on
his tall a sure Indication that Courte-
nay was occupied in depths approach-
able only by steep Iron ladders whith-
er the dog could not follow
She whistled softly to her little
friend knowing that Chrlstobal and
perhaps Mr. Boylo would be on the
bridge keeping tho lookout and she
was not Inclined for talk nt the mo-
ment Joey sprang down tho stairs
barking joyously and leaped into her
outstretched arms.
Ho honored no other person on board
except his master with such extrnvaT
gant friendship and as the girl carried
him rift to the cook's galley she asked
herself why the dog had taken such a
liking to her.
She blushed a little as she thought:
ft may be that I resemble tho lady
' A lazy Liver
May be inly a tired Ilvor or a starred
liver. It would bo a stupid as well as
eavago thing to beat a weary or starved
man becauso ho lagged In his work. So
In treating tho lagging torpid liver it la
a great mistako to lash it with strong
drastic drugs. A torpid Jlver is but an
Indication of an Ill-nourished onfeobled
body whoso organs aro weary with over
work. Start vith tho stomach and allied
organs of digestion and nutrition. Put
them in working order and seo how
quid ly youi liver will becomo active.
Dr. 'force's Golden Medlrnl TlIar-nvorTr
has i ado mtny marvelous cures of "Uvo
troui o " by ls wonderful control of the
orgai 3 of digestion and nutrition. Drc-
etorc tho normal activity of tho stomach
Incro sos tho secretions of tho bloocj-mak-Ing
g inds cleanses tho system from pol-
sonoi i accumulations and so Jelloves tho
liver f tho burdens lrapojBBnrfcta it by
too a section or other mans
Ify j havo bitter or 1
Wfctolnthol
bur.
rorroriabioa:
Jell to coated
pr trretrular !
foul
(eel
athycchstlpa
aslljt tl
jspondent fr
faeadu
ivamar
"small ol
smaw
or dlslre
off In
macb.
pert a:
nausea.
Intra" In
throat
eat
and kino
ymptoma
ot
weak'
toma
d torpid It
edl-
cine -will'
vary. Perhaps
partofMle
symptoms will be present
it point to torpid llvor or
at ono tBho and
felllousrfbss and
Stomach. Avoid all
faot bfbad and
'Cults griddle cakes and
othaflndlccstlbl
rood and tako the "Golden
Mealcnl Discard
regularly and stick to Its
lure until you at
lcorous and strontr.
" Is non-secret non-alco-
Tho "Dlscovci
hollc. Is a clyroj
oxtract or natlvo modlcl-
nal roots with
ull list of Its Incrcdlcnts
printed on each
ttle-wrapnor and attestM
under oattoH
lnirrodlonts are endorsed
ana oxtolltid b
io mot eminent medical
writers otithe at
and are recommended to
cure tho diBUtmcs
r which It ! advised.
Don't accent
substitute of unknown
composition for
Is non-secret uxoicura
Cm KHOWH COM!
ION.
ARKANSAS STATE SENATORS
INDICTED FOR BRIBERY.
LITTLE ROCK ARK. May 2. In-
dictments returned by the grand Jury
today charging state senators with bri
bery and perjury aro being served over
tho Btate. George Floyd member of
tho senate from 1903 to 1007 has been
arrested at his home in Danville. He
gave bond. Warrants aro out for Ave
other senators charging them with
bribery.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
DEEDS FILED FOR RECORD.
H. H and L. D Cobb to Vivian R.
Rollins lots 1 2 3 and 4 block 7
Lakeside addition to the city of Abi-
lene 7S9.
8. T Landera and wife to' John R.
Landers part of northeast quarter of
A. L. Voil survey 427 is Taylor coun-
ty; J2.348.
WMOni Captain COUrtcnay Is going ie
unu'ry. I wondor why ho did not Bhov
us her photograph that day when Iso-
bcl nnd t visited his cabin and looked
nt the filatures of his mother ami sis-
ter I should Ilka to sec her but how
can t manngo It? I Blmply date not
tell htm I rend that scrap of a letter
even by chance"
'Tho dog apparently found her nn ex-
cellent substitute. Ho licked her cnt
contentedly. That tickled her and
she laughed.
"I fear you- aro n flcklo lover Joey"
Bho said aloud. "But you will simply
bo compelled to remain constant to mc
while wo nrc In this horrid place nnd
that may bo for tho remainder of oui
lives dear."
Joey tried to lick her again to show
thnt he didn't care. What could any
reasonable dog want moro than fine
wenther enough to ent and tho pros-
pect of nn occasional scrimmage?
When Elsie did ultimately climb to
tho chart houso tho fit of despondency
had fled. Boylo was there having
been carried up in a deck chair early
In the day. lie was alono.
"Huhl" he growled pleasantly.
"You're lookln' as bright nB a new pin
Miss Maxwell. Now If I had been
nmong the pirates I'd havo taken you
with me."
"Do you mean to say that you nrc
actually paying mo compliments?" said
she.
"Am I? Iluh-dtdn't mean it. I'm
an old married man. But pirates cspo-
' dally Spanish ones are supposed to be
very handy with knives an' other fel
lows' girls."
"You seo they did not consider mo a
prize."
"The rascalsl Good Job you missed
that boat. Chrlstobal has been tcllln'
me all abput It. They've gone under."
"Do you really think so?"
"Can't see any chanco for them Miss
Maxwell."
"But wo are almost as badly situated
hero?"
"Huh not a bit of It. Lucky chap
Courtenny. He couldn't lose a ship if
he tried. She'd follow him 'cross coun-
try like that pup. Look at me; lost
three all brand new from tho build-
ers. So I'm first mate an' first mate
I'll remain till .my ticket gives out."
"Why do you consider Captain Cour-
tenay so fortunate?" asked Elsie flush-
ing somewhat at the guile which lay
behind the question.
"Huh I" snorted Boyle amnzed thnt
even a slip of a girl should need iu
forming on so obvious a fact. "Don't
you call it Juck to be given command
of a ship like the ICansas at his age
an' to get 500 an' a gold chronometer
because the skipper of the Florida was
too full to hold on to the bridge? You
mark my words he'll be made com-
modore of the fleet after he pulls the
Kansas out of this mess."
"What happened to the Florida?"
"Haven't you heard that yarn-? Bless
my soul she was our crack ship. She
broke her shaft In a gale an' the
skipper was washed overboard you
always tell lies about deaders you
know so A. C. Just waded in an"
saved the whole outfit passengers an'
alt."
"But ho hns had reverses too. He
was in tho royal navy I bavc been
told nnd ho had to give It "up because
his people"
"More luck. The royal navy I Huh
all gold braid "an buy your own vlt-
tais There's no money In that game."
"Money Is not everything In the
world. A man's career may be more
to him than the mere monetary aspect
of It."
"If ever you meet my missus j-ou'll
hear the other side of the question
Miss Maxwell. S'posln' Courtenuy was
In the navy nn had n wife an' family
to keep could bo do It oil his pay?
N6t he. As It Is he's sure to marry a
girl with a pile an' wind up n managln'
owner."
"Perhaps ho is engaged to some such
young lady already?" .
Haven't henrd so. You may bo sure
there's one waltin' for him Bomewhere
I know. There's no dodgln' luck good
or bad. I thought It was goin' to be
that friend of yours but she's off tho
register poor lass. There! I didn't
mean that. I'm nn idiot for sure.
You see I don't talk much as n rule
Miss Maxwell or I should know hotter
than to chin-wag like a blazln' huh
like a babbIn' fool."
Elsie turned her face asldo when ho
mentioned Isabel. It seemed to her
sensitive soul nn almost unfair thing
thnt sho should bo gossiping about
trivialities when the girl who had
commenced this unlucky voyage in
Buch high spirits was lying benenth
that grim sen behind tho smiling hend-
land. Yet Bho know that Boylo meant
no harm by his chatter ne wob weak
from his wound and perhaps a trifle
light hended ns tho result of being
brought from tho stuffy salon to the
airy and sunlit chart room. So she
crushed a sorrow that was unavailing
and strove to put the sailor at his
case again.
"I do not find any harm in your re-
mark" she said resolutely. "Were it
possible I should havo boon very plenH-
cd to seo Mfss Baring married to a
man of strong character llko Cantaln
uourtenny By tho way who is keep-
ing watch on deck?"
"Tho doctor was hero with me until
a fow minutes ngo. Then the skJppor
telephoned him. I guess there Is some
one on tho lookout but you might Just
cast an oye shoreward. I'm not sup-
posed to more yet"
ne wriggled uneasily In hlB chslr
for the spirit was willing but Elslo
made him He quiet. She rearrnngea
bis pillow and stepped on to the bridge.
By walking from port to starboard
and traversing the short Jenf th of tho
spar deck she could command a view
of the bay and of most parts of tho
ship. She beard the dog scuttling down
the companies On reaching the after
Mil she saw the captain engaged In
earnest law toned ceaversatlo with
Tollcmacho and Walker. They were
standing on the main deck near tho
ongltio rooni door and examining some
thliig which resembled n lump of conl.
Sho Bnw tho engineer tnko throe simi-
lar lumps from a pocket.
Chrlstobal appeared carrying a buck-
et of Water Into which the lumps wore
placed by Walker who bandied them
very gingerly. After n slight delay
he 'began to crumble oho in his Augers
still keeping It in tho water until
finally ho drew forth what Elslo rec
ognized at onco ns n Btlck of dynamite.
Though it was blackened by contact
With tho conl Bho wns certain of its
real unturo. Sho had visited n great
many mines and tho officials always
scared tho ladles of tho party by tell-
ing them what would happen if tho ox-
plosives wcro to blow up. Sho had
even seen dynamite placed In the
sun t6 dry as it is very susceptible to
moisture and sho wondered naturally
enough why such a dangerous agent
should be hidden in or disguised as a
piece of coal.
She thought that the men should bo
made nware of her presence so she
leaned over nnd said:
"May I ask what you four are plot-
ting?" They looked at her In surprise. They
wcro so engrossed in their discovery
"Jh which bunlter was the coal phiccd
which uc shipped at Valparaiso t "
that they had eyes for nothing else.
Walker straightway plunged the sau-
sage shaped gray stick into the wnter
again.
"What are you doing with thnt dyna-
mite?" sho demanded. "Do you Intend
to visit Senor Suarez's mines? If so
pleaso take me. I am very poor."
It was Courtenay who answered.
"Are you alone?" he asked
"Mr. Boyle is in the chart house."
"I know but is uny One else up
there?"
"No."
"Then wo shall join you nt onco."
Notwithstanding the serious demean-
or of the men Elsie wns far from
guessing what had happened. But she
was soon enlightened.
"In which bunker was tho coal placed
which we shipped at ValparnlsoV"
Courtenay asked Boyle.
"In tho forrard cross bunker" was
the Instant answer.
"And that was the first coal used in
the furnnces?"
"Yes sir."
Tho captain's tone was official ex-
ceedingly so and the chief officer took
the cue from his superior in rank
"Did wo get up steam with it?"
"There might havo been a hundred-
weight or two lying loose In the stoke-
hold but for all practical purposes we
have used nothing but the Valparaiso
bunker since wo loft port."
"The rest of our coal was shipped at
Coronel?"
"Yes sir."
"You hpnr? It is exactly as I have
told you" said Courtenay glancing at
tho others. "I must explain to you
Mr. Boyle thnt I wished you to state
tho facta In fiont of witnesses beforo
I gave you my reasons for cross ex-
amining you on the matter. Mr. Wal-
kor and I havo. been certain nil along
mat tuo rurnaces wore blown up will-
fully. Now our suspicions aro proved.
This morning after n careful scrutiny
wo camo across a number of lumps of
coal cleverly constructed out of small
pieces glued together. In tho center of
each lump was a stick of dynamite
protected by an nsbestus wrapper. It
was undoubtedly tho intent of some
miscreant that a number of these
lumps should bo fed Into tho furnaces.
This actually occurred as wo know
but by tho mercy of Providence tho
ship did not experience tho ful power
of tho explosion or she must havo sunk
llko a stone"
"Huh" grunted Boyle. "Who holds
the insurance?"
"Tho shippers of tho enrco. of
course Messrs. Baring Thompson &
Miguel."
"Worth n quarter of a million stor-
ling ain't It?"
"Yes."
"nub It's a lot of monoy."
There wns a momentary silence.
Elsie's eyes grow larger and sho bo-
came rather pale. As was her habit
when puzzled she placed a finger on
her lips. Chrlstobal noted her action
Indeed he inkwed few of her charnc-
terigtlc habits or expressions He
laughed quietly
"I think you are quite right Miss
Maxwell" hp said. "This ts ope of the
many Instances In which silence is
gtfltlen."
Taken by surprise she blushed and
gJ J WRNOER.
dropped her hand. But Courtenay said
promptly:
"Thero nro some Instances In which
sllcnco may bo misinterpreted Let
mo Btate at onco that tho shlpp6rs of
tho valuable cargo on board tho Kan-
sas twlll suffer a serious flunnclal re-
verso if the ship Is lost. Two thou
sand tons of copper mny bo w6rth u
considerable fixed sum but tho lack'of
tho metal on the London market nt tho
end of January will havo far reaching
consequences in a fight against tho bull
clique In rails and that Jswhy Mr.
Baring nindo this heavy shipment."
"Those consequences could bo fore-
s6en nnd discounted" put In Tollc-
macho dryly.
"Exactly. But by whom. by tho
man who sent his only dnughter as n
passenger on this vessel?"
Every ono scouted' that notion. But
Tollemnchc though disavowing any
thought of Mr. Baring ns n party to
the scheme stuck to his guns.
"Somebody will mnko n pllo when
tho Knnsns is reported missing" ho
said.
"The Insurance money will not bo
paid for a long time" Courtenny ex-
plained. "No but tho copper mnrkot will re-
spond instantly."
"Then the process hns commenced
already. The Kansas should have been
reported yesterday from Sandy Point.
The news that she has not arrived will
soon reach the nearest cablo station.
Thero will be terrific excitement nt
Lloyd's when that 'becomes known.
By tho wny does any ono hero know
a man named Ventann?"
"It Is a name common enough In
Chile" snld Chrlstobal.
"If you mean Sqnor Pedro Ventann
who is associated with Mr. Baring in
mining matters I am acquainted with
him" said Elsie.
They nil looked nt her nnd Some of
them wondered perhaps why her smil-
ing eyes had lost their mirth. Yet
there wns nothing unreasonable In tho
mere fact that a certain Chilean nam-
ed Ventann who had business rela-
tions with Mr. Baring should mnko
the acquaintance of Isobol Baring's
friend. As quickly ns it had arisen
the feeling of strangeness passed.
Courtenay even laughed. Elslo ns
the Jonah of the ship was n quaint
conceit.
"I mentioned Vcntnna becaufio I was
told ho took Borne part ot the insur-
ance on his own nccount" bo explain
ed. "But he was a member of Baring's
copper syndicate and indeed was spo-
kcu of- as a mining engineer of high
repute. Bellevo mo I wns not jump-
ing to conclusions on that account."
"I know him to bo a very bad man"
said EIbIo slowly. Her faco was whlto
and her eyes downcast. It wns evi-
dent that tho BUddcn Introduction of
Vcntana's personality was distressing
to her but Courtenay preoccupied
with the dastardly attempt made to
sink his ship did not observe this fea-
ture of a peculiar discussion.
"Bad! In what sense Miss Max-
well?" he asked unguardedly.
r-"ln the most loathsome roiiro. TTo 1m
eVll minded vicious altogether dotestn-
ble. If Mr. Baring know his charac-
ter ns I know It Ventnna would not bo
nllowed to enter his office."
"Pedro Ventnna?" Interrupted Chrls-
tobal "Is he n half caste( a tall brown
skinned man who nffects ml American
drawl when ho speaks English a man
prominent In Santiago society and In
mining circles generally?"
"Yes" said Elslo.
"That is odd exceedingly so. I onco
heard a rumor but perhaps It is un-
fair to mention it In this counectlou.
Yet It cannot hurt any ono if X state
that Isobel Baring nud ho werowcll
how Bhall I put it? at any rate there
was a lively summor hotel sort of at-
tachment between them."
"Isobel has never told mo thnt" said
Elsie nerving herself for a porspnal
disclosure which was obviously dis-
agreeable. "I own n small ranch near
Qulllota and as there Was n chanco of
copper being located there Mr. Baring
advised mo to employ Ventana as an
expert prospector Indeed Mr. Bnrlng
himself sent Ventana to examlno the
property and report on it. Ho camo to
see me. no told mo thero woro no
minerals of value on my land but I
could never freo myself from him aft-
erward. In fact I nra running away
from him now."
Sho uttered tho concluding words
with a genuine indignation which
forthwith evaporated in its uncon-
scious humor. Everybody laughed
oven the girl herself and Boylo grunt
ed:
"Huh -shows tho beggar's good tasto
anyhow"
Courtenny porhaps thought that If ho
encountered Voutnun again ho would
tako tho opportunity to reason with
him In tho approved mnnnor of thri
high seas. And as thero was no need
to prolong a topic which caused Elslo
any sort of embarrassment ho hasten-
ed to say:
"I havo brought names into tho dis-
cussion largely to show what a doubt-
ful Held Is opened onco we begin to
Buspect without i-oal cause The only
witness of nny value wo have on bonrd
Is Frascuolo nnd his oyldonce merely
goes to prove a secret design to inter
fere with or control the trimming of
the bunker Thnt particular hatch
must be sealed and. tho specimens wo
have secured put away under lock and
key. I feel assured that tho remainder
of our coal Is abovo suspicion. Wo
can carry the inquiry hp further while
we remain here Now Mr Walker
you have something of a more efeer
Ing nature to communicate I thlnkr'
Tho engineer grinned genially
"I don't wish to bind myself to n
day or so.' Miss Maxwell and gentle-
men" he said "but I've had a good
look at thp damage un' I feel pwltty
ahu-aw I'll get up steam In one boll-aW
wlthla ten days or n fawtnlght. It'll
be a Makeshift Job at the beet be
caw I have so few afa-aw aula's an'
no chance of makin' a cnstln' but 111
bet a yo'nw's pay tho Knnsns gots a
move on her Undaw her own Bteam
Boon nf taw Now' Yo-nw's day."
Now Year's dayl What a lump In
tho throat tho words brought! In thrco
days It would bo Christmas In soven
moro tho new year! Though from tho
beginning of tho voyage they wcro pre.
pared to pnss both festivals nt son
thero wob nil tho difference In tho
World between a steady progress to-
ward home nnd friends and tho pres-
ent plight of tho Kansas. Death too
had thrown Its shadow over them.
Soma thero wcro to whom the passing
of tho years would moan no moro in
this world. Others' tho grcnt majority
of tho ship's company wcro probnbly
hidden by tho snmo eternal silence.
Tho Inst sight they had of thorn was a
dim vision ot boats rushing Into a
chnos of angry sens and sheeted spray.
But Courtenny would hnvo hono of
these mournful memories. "Isn't that
glorious nows?" ho cried. "Now Chris
tobnl that motor trip In Juno through
tho Pyrenees looks fcnsiblo onco moro
And you Miss Maxwell though yon
havo never quailed for an Instant can
hopo to bo in England In tho Bprlng.
As for you Tollcmacho suroly you
will Bay that our prospects aro 'fair' at
tho least."
"I would say more than thnt If It
wero not for theso poisonous Indians"
replied Tollcmacho. "Here they como
now a wholo ennoo load of 'em. I
havo never scon suah rotters.
And Indeed FrnnclsCo Sunrez detail"
cd to keep watch uud wnrd over tho
ship until noon ran up tho companion
nnd cried excitedly:
"Four bondmen hnvo Just pulled qtt
from Otter creek. They have missed
me I oxpect. Thoy will want me to
go bnclc. r beseech you senor cnptnlu
not to give mo up to wthom but rnthor
to send a bullet threugh my mlsorablo
heart."
"Tell him to calm himself" snld
Courtenny coolly when Chrlstobal had
translated tjila flow of guttural Span-
ish. "He has no causo to fear them
now. Lot him nervo himself nud Bhow
n bold frnt. A palaver 19 tho best
thing that can happen. Wo must dis-
play nil tho arms wo possess Bid any
of your invalids who.cnn stand upright
show themselves Chrlstobal. Wo must
lift you outside Boyle. Bring your
camera Miss Maxwoll. If we could
give these follows a good picture of
thomsolYos it would scaro them to
death."
Courtenny infected them all with his
splendid optimism. It Wns with curi-
osity rnthor than dread that they
watched tho rapid approach of tho ca-
noe and its almost naked occupants.
CHAPTER XL
C
OUBTENAY wns mistaken In
thinking- that tho savages
Bought a parley. Tho canoe
was paddled by two women.
Thoy changed Its course with n dex-
terous twist of tho blndos when within
a cable's length of tho ship and then
circled slowly round her. Tho four
mon Jnbbored In nstonlshlngly loud
volcbs. Sunrez who gothored tho pur-
port of their talk cxplnined that they
were discussing the best method of at-
tack. "The throe younger men belong to
mo triws I lived with" ho snld. "Thq
old man Hitting between the Womon Is
n Htrnngcr. I think ho must hnvo como
from tho north of the Island with Homo
of his friends attracted by tho snioko
signnlsj"
"From tho north? Is there n rontl?"
nsked Courtenny when ho learned what
Sunrez was saying
"Ho would nrrlvo in a ennoo." was
tho nnswer "Tho Indians vOnturo out
to sen in very bad weather. Ho prob-
ably passed tho shin late last nlcht.
and now I como to think of It tho cn-
noe which you captured Is not familiar
to mo wherous I know by sight every
craft owned by tho Fonthorcd People."
"How many do they possess?"
"Twenty-threo."
Theso statements woro disconcerting
Not only was it possible for the na-
tives to surround tho Knnsns with n
wholo swarm of mon but tho more
number of their boats would render it
exceedingly difficult to ropol n com-
bined nssnult. And nothing could bo
moro truculont than tho domennor of
tho seminudo warriors. Thoy pointed
nt each person they saw on tho decks
and macle n tremendous row when
they passed tho ennoo fastened along
Bide Despite their keen sight they
evidently did notv recognize Suarez
who now woro a cap and n suit of
clonics taken from tho locker of ono of
tho missing Htowards
Tho impudonco of tho Indians oxas-
porated Courtonny. Tho sheer size of
tho Kansas should hnvo awed thorn
ho thought.
At that moment tho rowers permit-
ted tho cunoo to swing round with tho
tide Ono of tho mon stood up nnd
Elsie who seized tho chance of snap-
shotting tho party ran to tho upper
dock so sho did not overhear Courte-
nny'a smothered ejaculation. Ho was
scrutinizing tho savages through his
glasses and ho had distinctly seen tho
ship's namo painted on a small wn-
tor cask on which the Indlnn had been
sitting Tollomacho mndo the samo
dramatic discovery.
"Out of ono of tho ship's lifeboats I
Bupposo?" ho said In a low tone to tho
captain.
"Yes Did you boo tho number?"
"No. 3 1 think."
"I agrco with you That was tho
Irat llfobout which got away"
Chrlstobal startled out of his wout-
ed aang frold whispered In his turn
"Do you mean to say that oae ef tho
boats has fallen Into the bands of
theee Heads?"
"I am afraid so" replied Courtenay
f'Of course that particular keg nay
have drifted ashere la any case It
UiUt the fate of ee aectlea of the
MUtlaeers. Kither the heat ta swaaB-
cd or the crew 1m now on the Island
and vto know what that signifies."
"Is there no chanco of bribing these
peoplo Into friendliness or at least Into
n temporary truco?"
"It Is hard to decide Tollemnche!
and Sunrez aro best ablo to form an
opinion. What do you say Tolle-
mncho?"
"Not n bit of ubo. They nro lnsatla
bio. Tho moro you give tho moro thoy
want. Tho only wny to deal with
those rotters Is to' stir them Up with a
lintllng or n twelve pounder."
Sunrez when appealed to shook his
bead.
"You might as well try to fondlo a
hungry punin. I am the only mnn thoy
have ever spnrcd and they spnrcd me
BOlciy becauso thoy thought I gavo
them power over their enemies. If
you hnd a cannon you might drive
thorn off. As It Is wo shnll bo com-
pelled to fight for our lives. They are
bravo enough In thqlr own way"
Tho experience of tho miner from
Argentina was not to bo galnsntd.
Courtenay glanced up nt Elsie. If
aught wcro needed to cOmplcto the
contrast between civilization and sav-
agery It was given by tho comparison
which tho girl offered to tho women In
tho canoe Tho hot buu nnd tho ab
sence of wind bad chnnged tho tem-
perature from winter to summer. Aft-
er. breakfast Elsie had donned n mus-
lin drcsB nnd n broad brimmed straw
lint. Exposnro to tho weather had
bronzed her skin to n delightful tint.
Her nut brown hair framed a sweetly
pretty face and her clear bluo eyes
Elsie seized the chance of snapthotllA
iic pariu
and red lips slightly parted smiled
bewitclilngly at tho men benenth. The
camera In her hands added a holiday
aspect to her appearance an aspect
wuicn wns unuttornbly disquieting In
Its relation to tho muttered forebod-
ings she had broken in on.
"l find tho get-up of our visitors din
tinctly humorous" ho said "and 1
hopo they nro a bit scared of us Wo
would prefer their room to their com'
pnuy."
"I thought that Souor Suarez would
hall them ns he can sjienk their lan-
guage. Porhaps ho does not wish theffl
to know ho Is on bonrd?"
Now Elsie had henrd the mini's im
passioned nppcitl when tho Indians
woro first sighted so Courtenny felt
that she too wns noting.
A now direction was given to Elslo's
thoughts by tho somewhat scowling
aspect of Christobal's face. Ho was
looking at Courtenay In a maimer
which betokened certain dlspleaauro
Tho Spaniard's cultivated cynicism
was subjugated by a moro powerful
sentiment. It scorned to Elslo that ho
envied Courtenny his youth nnd high
spirits
Elsie dared not meet Courtenny's
eyes. A flood of untleratandliig hnd
suddenly poured ltn mhwuiluiis wntors
over her. Incident! unimportant In
themselves utterances which seemed
to hnvo no veiled Intent nt thq time
rushed In upon hor with overwhelming
conviction Tho middle aged physician
suspected her of flirting with Courte-
nny nnd disapproved of It us strongly
ns sho lici-HOlt' lint) condemned Isabel's
admitted efforts In tho tmme direction.
Tho proi'LMHllugH of thu Indians put n
stop to any further conversation. Tho
ennou hud drifted closer to tho ship.
It was about eighty yards distant when
tho Indian who wns on his feet sud-
denly whirled a sling and sent n stonu
crashing through tho window of the
musle room. Tho heavy missile which
whon picked up wns fouml to weigh
nearly half a pound Just missed Tollo-
macho. Tho captain raised a double bnrrolcd
fowling ploco tho only gun ou board
and fired point blank at tho savages.
But the women wcro paddling away
vigorously and tho shot splashed la
tho water on all sides of tho canoe
though a howl and a series of yiolent
contortions showed thnt oue at least
of tho KHetH had stung tho wlieiied
Indian whom Sunrez believed to be a
newcomer.
There was no second shot cartridge
were too precious to be wasted at an
mposslblo range but the undeniable
fact remained that the Indians meant
to be aggressive. For a little time no
ono spoke. They heard the echoes of
tho gunshot faintly throws back by
tho nearest wall of rock. The regular
plash of the paddle as the canoe sped
fhoroward was distinctly audible. They
watched the tiny craft until It ranlsht
id round the wooded point which coo-
:ealed Otter creek.
The mu Med claag at a hawser brefce
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Shook, L. B. The Abilene Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, May 8, 1908, newspaper, May 8, 1908; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth314493/m1/3/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.