The Captain of the Kansas

ind and sleet. While she was hurrying forward as rapidly as the darkness permitted, the lights were switched on with a suddenness that made her gasp. The dog began to bark again, but it was e

et. In all probability, as the canoes bore down from windward, Joey had scented them. He also gave the highly important information as to the quarter from which attack might be expected. Three men, at least, had gained the deck, but the prompt use of a revolver had caused them to retreat as silently and speedily as they had appeared. That was all. There was no actual fight. The phantoms vanished as silently as they came. The only external lights on th

h men thought they heard the splashing caused by the leaping or falling of the Indians into the sea. By the same subdued radiance Courtenay made out the top of a pole or mast sticking up close to the ship's side. He leaned over, fired a coupl

the Indians were gone; it was manifest that none beyond those driven off at the first onset had secured a footing on deck. Then, taking the risk of

doing here?"

was no carpet knight, and men who carry their live

danger, so I came to

back to your

s the safety of my ca

ne expects a flight of arrows, or, it may be,

seizing her arm, and compelling her to shelter b

m all the more because he treated her quite roughly. Of course, the mere presence of a woman at such a time was a hindrance. But she was dete

ispatch a Chilean sailor for a lantern and a long

de the round of the pr

, too?" he asked,

I heard Joey barking, and the shots that followed.

ed Courtenay during his watch. That explanation must have suffic

d slumber by the alarm of an Indian attack-thrilled by the horror of the thought that she might fall into the clutches of

ed, shrinking nearer to the iron shield whic

eason whatever for such a hub

olish, he was not a man to conceal his feelings when deeply stirred. Yet Elsie fai

volvers so frequently. And, if they were mistaken, the dog would not have shared thei

he. He was selected to join t

en the watches were fo

he? Is h

the round of the ship. I

ave you done that ca

ech which equal those of

in the morning-when we a

He was mistaken; Elsie was able to recall each word subsequently. At the moment she was recording impressio

as slung. He was far too brave a man to take undue risks. He was ready to shoot instantly if need be, and, by his

ering rays of the lantern had barely revealed the primitive craft lyin

, for the love of heaven! I a

uess the nature of the appeal. But the lantern showed that the canoe was empty. In the center lay the Fuegian fire, its embers covered with a small hide.

ned by a shock of coarse, black, knotted hair, tied back from the brows by a fillet of white feathers. An intensely black face, crossed by two bars of red and white pigment, reaching from ear to ear, and covering eyelids, nose, and lips, was upturned to the watchers from the d

he is, and wh

was intelli

s. When their attack failed, I thought there was a chance of escape. Fo

ans gone?" ask

ain it will be by daylight, as they are afraid of the

gh he disliked the job, and crossed himself before descending. He passed a rope under the fugitive's armpits, and, with aid from the deck, h

arkened by exposure, showed that he had told the truth as to his descent, notwithstanding the amazing daubs on his face. His hair, stiffen

gerness of a man suffering from starvation; but he could not endure the heated atmosphere, although the temperature was bar

l make me ill. I only felt cold in the

ige them when he saw they were incredulous. Christobal brought him to the ch

cover the freer usage of a civilized tongue. At first his words had a hoarse, guttural sound, but Dr. Christobal's questions seemed to awaken dormant memories,

il they crossed the Cordillera, and sighted the gloomy shores of Last Hope Inlet, leading into Smyth Channel. They there found alluvial sand and gold-bearing quartz, yielding but poor results. Unfortunately, some natives

, they blundered into a gully where a brief analysis of the detritus gav

e gold than we could carry. We threw away food to make room for it, and then threw away gold to secure the food again. We called it the Gol

nd then, all precautions being relaxed, the nomad Indians, whom they despised, rushed the camp when they were sleeping. They were nearly a

hour, the mad idea seized me that I might please and astonish my captors by performing a few sleight-of-hand tricks. I began by throwing stones in the air, pretending to swallow them and causing them to disappear otherwise, but finding them again in the heel of my boot or

or fellow b

eat. They gave me roots and dried meat when they themselves were living on putrid blubber, or worse, because they kill all the old women as soon as famine threatens. The women are devoured long before the dogs; dogs catch otters, but old women cannot. In winter, when a long storm

ristobal put it into literal English, Courtenay l

t, but one does not fall in a faint merely because they cumber the earth. Perhaps you will not send me away next t

e displayed in the face of the new terror. She had given so many proofs of her natural courage that it must be equal to even so affrigh

he said those devils wou

ill not waste the cartridges on game, but keep them for tribal warfare, and they think a gun cannot shoot in the dark. To-night they only attempted a surprise, and made off the moment they were discovered. To-morrow, or next day, they will swarm round the sh

hip will not sail at on

rre enough under ordinary conditions, but laughter converted him into a fair semblance of one of those blood-curdling d

ting towards the locality of White Horse Island. "Even the Indians were astonished to see so big a ship anchored here safely. Th

sent a chill of apprehension down the spine of so

enter on the flood she can go out on th

n in Suarez's ey

o overcome them I am ready to do so; if not, I will die by your side. To-night I followed in a canoe unseen. When I heard the shooting, I leaped overboard and swam to the ship. It was lucky for me some one seized the canoe which I found

overcoat a little wh

ist

shion. My skin is hard. Wind or rain cannot harm me. But melt

ak the Alacu

men and heads of families wear these things," and he touched his head-dress. "Yes, I know nearly all their

e of the island. Have they deserted it? Why

mountains by a terrible road. I have been told that landslips and avalanches have closed the pass ever since. I do not know whether that is true or not, but if I had tried

of measured speech. He asked hoarsely for some hot water. When Courtenay next came across him in the saloon he was aslee

cent, and Elsie, who seemed to have read such rare books of travel as dealt with that little known part of the world, bore out the reasonableness o

thought of sleep. Then Elsie went to her cabin and dreamed of a river of molten gold, down which she was

ches to frame the picture. There was no pillar of smoke on the lower hills to bear silent testimony to the presence of the Indians; but the canoe lying alongside told her that the previous night's events were no p

e aboard. And I said things I should not have said in the presen