Part 30 (1/2)
”There does not appear to be so o on deck?” she cried
”It is not to be thought of, Miss Maxwell Indeed, the captain asked me to come and bear you co to approach the shi+p to-night after the dreadful lesson they received this afternoon! And ill poor Senor Suarez say? He was so positive that they would never come near us after dark”
”I saw him, also, on the promenade deck,” answered Christobal quietly
”He had very much the semblance of a false prophet”
The Spaniard ri dead or insensible close to the rails In fact, the unlucky Argentine was only separated by the thickness of the shi+p's deck fro Unless he were speedily rescued he would bleed to death
”Ah, I heard Joey barking He has gone aft,” cried Elsie ”And what is that?” she added,suddenly towards the center of the saloon
She had caught the fierce hiss of steaht into use if the Indians were endeavoring to climb the shi+p's sides: not yet had it occurred that they could possibly be on board
”Soh to be scalded,”
said the man, coolly ”That should soon drive thehtened, I hope?”
”Not a bit My only regret is that I am not permitted to help in the defense It must be irksome for you, Dr Christobal, to be stationed here when the shi+p is in danger I am certain you would prefer to be up there with the others”
”Thank you for saying that I wish you were able to read all ht hand went to the pocket in which he had placed the revolver
The stock appeared to have a peculiar clah he was proud of the iron nerve which had won hiht not fail hi glance to see this bright and gracious woman crumple up on the deck!
”But I know you are a brave her courage to pass undaunted through the ordeal of the storm than to face these ill-armed Indians Please don't think I am a warlike person, but it ard our distress as their opportunity to e the shi+p What have we done to thery, and they would only coive them all the stores he could spare”
Christobal heard ominous sounds fro had ceased, for the convincing reason there were nofired as quickly as he could reload it, and the sharp snap of one of the rifles in the Indians' possession was recognizable as co preferred to fire wildly frole was in progress on the fore deck Tolleed in a hand-to-hand fight with nearly a score of savages; the doctor could distinguish the cries of the co of boot-shod feet
He wondered why the girl, with her acute senses, did not grasp the significance of the yells and tra on the deck, until it occurred to hi for one voice alone; owing to her ignorance of the desperate nature of the conflict raging overhead she had ears for nothing further
He placed a hand on her shoulder She turned and looked at hiravity in his eyes, which startled her
”Elsie,” he said, ”you believe in the efficacy of prayer, don't you?
Well, then, pray now a little I shall be glad to think, when this ti to your invocation”
It was in his mind that he ony of the thought reflected itself in his face He had no notion that she would give his words a nificance than he intended thee, hoarse yell of triumph, the war-cry of an Alaculof leader who had hauled hie and found it undefended, warned her in the same mo towards the saloon stairs
”Do you hear that?” she cried in a ringing voice ”There are Indians on board Co for their lives”
Christobal knew that this active girl would readily outstrip him in a race to the deck She was already several feet distant, but he must detain her, no houls then over-running the _Kansas_, she s would be inconceivable ere the end ca vehemence ”But, if you wish to see for yourself, at least allow , he ran forward She thought he ht arm firmly in his left hand
”Let us wait here anow You shall not hold me back You don't understand The es
LetI shall die by his side Let o! Would you have ry Goddess, and strove to wrest herself frorip At that instant Tollele forward, were driven back by a rush of Indians They caught sight of others leaping down the bridge companion