Part 18 (1/2)

It was a desperate situation The boys were too far away to be of aid

It was i the life of the girl Twice Jim raised his rifle and let it drop, while the Senorita's call for help rang in his ears

The Irishman continued to hold the Senorita as a shi+eld, and the wo the oars of the boat, which was headed toward the lugger

In a few moments Jim and his party were at the shore, where the Senor in desperation raged now that it was all too late, be his over-confidence and its result

”What shall we do?” cried To as quick as we can,” cried Jiet her if we have to follow them to the end of the world Come on!”

The boys, headed by Jim, started off on the run, when they were halted by a shout from Juarez

”Here's a boat!” he cried

Half hidden in the bushes which fringed the shore was the little dinghy of the lugger

To seize the boat and rush it down to the water was but the work of a moment

”But we haven't any oars!” cried Tom

”Here is one Yes, a pair!” exclaio with you,” pleaded the Senor

”I am sorry,” replied Jim, ”but the boat will only hold three, and some will have to stay on shore There is serious work ahead of us We don't kno er”

”Then let me be of the party, I implore you! I am an expert marksman, and can hit the eye of the bull at a hundred yards”

”Good!” cried Jist us Will you give the Senor your rifle and run as fast as you can back to the shi+p and tell the professor to co?”

Without a word, Juarez handed his rifle to the Senor and was off with a speed that carried hiallop

Leaving Jo and To party with their rifles if there was opportunity, and with Berwick at the oars, the dinghy was headed for the lugger

Barely had they covered a third the distance when they were surprised to hear a call fro in the direction of the sound they discovered her standing alone on board the lugger

Her captors had disappeared, as they were soon to learn Having first run under the lea of the lugger, they had aided the Senorita to cliht of Jim's party, had rapidly rowed the boat around a point of land and were nowhere to be seen

That they were to board the Sea Eagle, which was still to be observed dropping down the harbor was doubtless their intent, but why had they surrendered the Senorita? Why taken all the trouble and risk to recapture and put her on board the lugger? It was an enigma for which they were later to find a solution

Jier The , and Jim was covered with confusion by the profuse thanks of the young lady He beat a hasty retreat to the dinghy, where he was held in conversation for a fewashore, he picked up Toe to the Senor's h no fault of his own He was now ordered to take the horses back to the inn

On Jier he had a further conference with the Senor and told hi the afternoon he had run across a party of three, bandits he took the unobserved to their conversation, he had learned of their intention to capture someone

”Do you know of a Captain Beauchamp?” Jim asked