When Elsie heard of the duplicity practised by Suarez it was good to

see the hot indignation which reddened her brow. She realized that the

man was unscrupulous enough to remain silent concerning the captured

sailors, whose unhappy fate had contributed, in no small degree, to the

chance which brought him to safety. She instantly fastened on to the

theory that the Indians paid their first nocturnal visit to the ship in

the belief that the vessel would prove as easy a prey as the castaways,

whereas Suarez must have fallen beneath their stones and rude hatchets

if he had attempted to board the Kansas in broad daylight. With all

a woman's single-mindedness, she regarded the Argentine miner as being

directly responsible for Courtenay's hazard, nor would she listen to

Christobal's mild protest that nothing could have been done earlier, no

matter how outspoken Suarez chose to be.

The Spaniard encouraged her to debate this point--anything was better

than the dumb pain of thought--but their talk ceased abruptly when a

muttered exclamation from Gray sent Walker flying to the charthouse.

Forthwith the trumpet shriek of the siren sent its wild boom across the

silent waters. Elsie needed no explanation of this tumult. Otter

Creek was not so far distant that canoes quitting its shelter could not

be seen with the naked eye. She counted sixteen putting forth in a

cluster, and they all made for the adventurous life-boat.

"That is exactly what our captain expected," Christobal was ready to

assure her. "He was certain he would reach the head of the bay before

the Indians awoke to the meaning of his scheme. By this time, unless

his plan fails, the men on shore should have joined him, no matter what

number of savages may seek to oppose their passage to the boat. The

only doubtful question is-- Will he be able to beat off the rascals

who are now cutting his line of retreat?"

"Huh!" growled Boyle, "the skipper's out of sight now. Gone into a

small creek or something of the sort. Hope he heard the horn. Let her

rip!" he added in a loud shout over his shoulder, and again the siren

flung a warning to the foot of the mountain range.

It was evident that the wonderful eyesight of the Indians practically

equalled the range of the telescope. The men in the canoes were aware

of the lifeboat's disappearance, and their wet paddles flashed in the

sun as they tore across the three miles of open water which separated

the southern promontory from the inner shore of the island. After a

phenomenal spell of fine weather in that storm-swept latitude, the

atmosphere was transparent and bright as that of Stornoway on a clear

day in December. The rays of the sun were reflected from many a blue

glacier and ice-covered slope. Even the green of the higher belt of

firs was dazzling in its emerald luster, and the copper-hued beeches

beneath shone in patches of burnished gold. Elsie was sick at heart

with the knowledge that red-eyed murder was stalking its prey under the

resplendent mantle spread by nature over a scene of rare beauty. In an

agony of apprehension she followed the progress of the canoes.

Creeping nearer Boyle, she whispered: "For Heaven's sake, say the life-boat is visible again!"




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