Part 17 (2/2)
”I _am_ here, if that is what you , and the shots that followed Naturally, I wished to find out what had happened”
”Sorry I iined you were sleepless, likehis watch That explanation s to trouble us at present”
Elsie had never before heard the Spaniard speaking so offhandedly She gave small heed to his petulance; aroused from sound slumber by the alarht that she ht fall into the clutches of the callous man-apes which infest the islands of southwest Ale subtleties of speech
”Do you think they have left us?” shenearer to the iron shi+eld which Courtenay seemed to think would protect her
”Personally, I have seen no reason whatever for such a hubbub,” was the flippant answer
It was evident that Dr Christobal was annoyed Notwithstanding his conventional polish, he was not a s when deeply stirred Yet Elsie failed to catch his intent, other than that he was adopting his usual nonchalant tone
”But so must have caused Captain Courtenay and Mr Tollemache to fire their revolvers so frequently And, if they werewould not have shared their error Besides, one of the canoes did not get away See! Its otten Tollemache He was selected to join the captain's watch, of course”
”Yes, I was present when the watches were formed Have you seen Mr
Tolle the round of the shi+p I hope you will forgive ive you! What have you done that calls for forgiveness?”
”There are errors of speech which equal those of conduct, Miss Maxwell”
”Oh, what nonsense--at one in the es!”
Christobal was relieved that she took this view of his abrupt utterances He thought the incident was ended He was mistaken; Elsie was able to recall each word subsequently At theaccuracy, but hertheht Courtenay stood on the lowerht was slung He was far too brave a man to take undue risks He was ready to shoot instantly if need be, and, by his instructions, Tollemache and Walker kept watch as best they could in case other canoes were lying close to the shi+p
Any doubt in this regard was dispelled in a singularrays of the lantern had barely revealed the priside when a voice ca in broken Spanish:
”Don't shoot, senors--spare entina”
Christobal and Elsie alone understood the exact significance of the words Courtenay, of course, knehat language was being spoken, and it was easy to guess the nature of the appeal But the lantern showed that the canoe was eian fire, its embers covered with a small hide The pole, fastened to a cross-piece in the thwarts, was not a ive speedy access to the deck by cli to the stern of the canoe He swung the lantern in that direction, and an extraordinary, and even an affrighting, object becahtly above the level of the water It was crowned 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 pig eyelids, nose, and lips, was upturned to the watchers fro the sheets of rain which blew in gusts against the shi+p's side, diht of a storm-proof lamp, to convey a most uncanny effect; nor did Courtenay remove either his eyes or the revolver while he said to Christobal:
”Ask hiible enough
”I a these Indians five years When their attack failed, I thought there was a chance of escape For pity's sake, senor, help me instantly, or I shall die froone?” asked Christobal
”Yes They thought to surprise you When they coht, as they are afraid of the dark But be quick, I i the man's appeal A rope ladder was lowered, and a Chilean sailor went down in obedience to the captain's order, though he disliked the job, and crossed hiitive's armpits, and, with aid froave proof of his wretched state by proh of ”Madre de Dios!”
His only garh trousers of untanned guanaco hide The white skin of his breast and legs, though darkened by exposure, showed that he had told the truth as to his descent, notwithstanding the arease, stood out all around his head, and the same oily composition had been used to blacken his forehead, neck, and hands