His binocular glasses were not strong enough so he walked back towards

the chart-house to procure a telescope. Catching Joey under his left

arm, he climbed the short ladder leading to the spar deck, and pulled

it up after him, the bolts having been already removed to permit of

that being done. Walker was screwing tight the door of the

engine-room, in order to safeguard the fireman in attendance on the

donkey-boiler. Now that the screw-driving was actually in operation,

it very unpleasantly reminded Courtenay of the fastening of a coffin

lid. Neither Walker nor the man inside could guess the gruesome notion

which held the captain in its chilly grip for an instant; indeed, the

engineer looked up with a grin.

"I suppose it's twue, sir, the-aw's goin' to be a fight?" he asked.

"There's a fair chance of one, Walker."

Walker winked suggestively.

"That chap inside thinks he's out of it," he said, "so that's all

wight." An energetic turn of the screwdriver signified that the man

from Newcastle held the opposite view. Much as he loved his engines,

he preferred to be on deck when the trouble came.

It happened that during this slight delay Courtenay glanced at the

northern headland, which Elsie had christened Cape Templar, owing to

the somewhat remarkable profile of a knight in armor offered by its

seaward crags. Possibly, had he gone straight to the chart-house, he

might not have noticed a signal fire which was in full blast on the

summit of the cliff. It had not been many minutes in existence, and it

struck him at once that it was a vehicle of communication between the

savages in the approaching canoes and others, yet invisible, who were

expected to share in the attack.

He was quick to perceive how seriously this new peril affected his

calculations. By the time the nine canoes he had counted were

alongside the ship, there might be dozens of others ready to help them.

He leaned over the rail.

"Did you test those flexible pipes this morning?" he inquired.

"Yes, sir, they-aw in fine condition," said Walker.

"Try them again, will you? I want to make sure. Our lives may depend

on them very soon."

He saw Suarez watching the oncoming canoes. By a touch on the shoulder

he called the man's attention to the smoke signal on Cape Templar. A

voluble and perfervid explanation in Spanish was useless. Here arose

the unforeseen need of an interpreter. Without troubling to analyze

his feelings, Courtenay was glad of the excuse which presented itself

of obtaining a momentary glimpse of Elsie.

"Bring the señorita," he said, and Elsie, wondering why she had been

summoned from the saloon, ran up the bridge companion. Her face was

aglow with excitement, her heart going pit-a-pat. She hoped that

Courtenay meant to keep her near him during the fight; she almost

doubted Christobal's statement that the captain had given specific

orders that she was to remain in the saloon. It was one thing that she

should wish to avoid him, but why should he wish to avoid her?




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