"If--"

There was a world of belief in that one word. Could any one doubt the

ultimate hap of that thrice fortunate ship? Had not Mr. Boyle said her

captain was a lucky man? Elsie laughed aloud in her joy, for the queer

notion occurred to her that her grumpy friend would surely have some

remarkable story of the one-legged skipper of the Flower of the Ocean

brig, wherewith to point the moral and adorn the tale of the Kansas

and her commander.

Though Courtenay did not allow ten seconds to pass without a glance at

the charming face by his side, he, nevertheless, had a sharp eye for

events elsewhere. He saw smoke rising from the funnel of the ship; a

line of flags dancing from the foremast told him that Boyle had

discovered them as soon as they were clear of the deep shadow of

Guanaco Hill. But there were anxious moments yet in store. A fleet of

canoes put off from Otter Creek. There was every prospect of a fight

before they reached their fortress. They had a long two miles to

travel, and the Indians could attack them ere they covered half the

distance.

Gray and Tollemache were sitting together in the fore part of the boat.

When they had met in the cañon they had merely exchanged a hearty grip,

and Gray's inquiry if his friend was O.K. had elicited the information

that his general state was "Fair." But the sight of the sparkling bay

had unlocked even the Englishman's lips, for he was telling his friend

some of the adventures of the previous afternoon, when he viewed the

black dots darting forth from behind Point Kansas.

"Here they come again," he growled. "I never have seen such persistent

rotters. And this time we're in a fix."

A long blare from the ship's siren thrilled their hearts, but the

excitement became frantic when three short, sharp blasts followed, and

every sailor knew that the chief officer had signalled: "My engines are

going full speed astern."

That was a pardonable exaggeration, but the Kansas was certainly

moving. They could see the white foam churned up by her propeller.

With one accord they cheered madly, and the oars, double-handed now,

tore the life-boat onward at a pace which outstripped even the shallow

canoes.

Then the Indians did a wise thing. They spared many of their own

lives, and, perchance others of greater value to the world, by ceasing

to paddle. The unlooked-for interference of the great vessel was too

much for them. They merely stared and cackled in amaze, while the

small flotilla dashed towards the towering black hull, and Boyle

lowered the gangway in readiness to receive the captain, his bride

elect, and a good half of the passengers and crew.




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