Part 26 (1/2)

If these painted devils really et hurt, and then your services will be of greater value than in the fighting line And, if I do not see Miss Maxwell before the trouble begins, please tell her she need fear no alarm We shall be able to beat off our assailants with comparative ease”

When the captain of the _Kansas_ spoke like that there was no gainsaying him Even Christobal, whose jealous suspicions were ever ready to burst into flaallantry

But, ere the Spaniard turned to go, a disturbing thought forced its way to his lips

”We have every confidence in you,” he said, ”and I ades fro the upper hand

Yet, accidents happen Suppose they e to rush your defense?”

”They will not do that while I and every other man on deck are alive

If the worst comes to the worst, you have a revolver--”

”Yes,” said Christobal

”It will suffice for two, but not for a hundred” The twotheonism, looked into each other's eyes

”Is that your last word?” asked Christobal

”It is”

”I feel sure that you are right Good-by!”

They shook hands They were nearer a real friendshi+p then than either of theht possible, and the bond which held thelasses again, saw that a nu the canoes si five or six men, or men and women--at the distance, nearly three miles, he could not be certain whether or not they all wore the distinguishi+ng head-dress of feathers Against wind and current they could not possibly reach the shi+p under half an hour, and the smallness of the fleet surprised him

He stooped and patted Joey, as at peace with the world after a good dinner

”We are in luck's way, pup,” he said ”These rascals et the better of us by sheer force of numbers, but there are not fifty of thehter!”

The news that the Indians were advancing ran through the shi+p like wildfire Including Mr Boyle, Frascuelo, and those a the Chileans whose wounds were not serious, there were fourteen men available for the defense Unfortunately, the supply of firearun and five revolvers constituted the armory, and one of the pistols was in Christobal's pocket The supply of ammunition was so small that the revolvers could not be reloaded more than three tiainst naked men, an ounce of shot is far more effective than a bullet

The captain hoped to terrify the Indians before they attempted to scale the shi+p's sides If various ruses failed, and the attack was pressed, he had decided not to split up his small force in the effort to repel boarders A scattered resistance would surely break down at one point or another: there would be a rush of savages along the decks, a panic a the Chileans, and all would be ended On the other hand, when fighting collectively under European leadershi+p, and well aware that the Indians would kill and spare not, the half-breeds ht be trusted to acquit the constituted a flimsy citadel in the center of the vessel Six men were stationed on the starboard side of the promenade deck, and six on the port side Tollemache and a Chilean, who said he could shoot well, were told to frustrate any attempt to climb the after part of the shi+p, while Courtenay, with his fowling-piece, would have the lion's share of this work from the spar deck, as he undertook to keep the rails clear forward and help the revolver practise if necessary With hiuage difficulty offered no apparent hindrance once the fight began Finally, if the Indians , the defenders were to rally towards the saloon co blasts along the corridors

It was a good plan, and her valor than the Alaculofs, provided they were not ar could be done If Suarez did not exaggerate, therein lay the real danger Courtenay wished to uns carried by the savages; it was also important to knohether their ether in one or two canoes If the latter, he would give those warriors his special attention

His binocular glasses were not strong enough so he walked back towards the chart-house to procure a telescope Catching Joey under his left ar to the spar deck, and pulled it up after hi been already re tight the door of the engine-roouard the fireman in attendance on the donkey-boiler Now that the screw-driving was actually in operation, it very unpleasantly re of a coffin lid Neither Walker nor the ruesorip for an instant; indeed, the engineer looked up with a grin

”I suppose it's twue, sir, the-aw's goin' to be a fight?” he asked

”There's a fair chance of one, Walker”