Part 36 (1/2)
A whiff of suspicion crossed Christobal's mind, but he brushed it aside as unworthy At five o'clock that day he certainly would not have granted her request But now, since the new hope had sprung up that Courtenay was alive, it was absurd to doubt herasleep in his bunk, aith a start to find a shrouded figure bending over him
”Is that you, Senor Suarez?” asked a voice, which he recognized instantly as belonging to the Senorita Maxwell
”Yes,” said he, drowsily
”Have you the witch-doctor's clothes you hen you came on board the shi+p?”
”But yes, senorita”
A hand, slight but strong, grasped him by the shoulder He felt the riainst his forehead
”Get up, then! Dress quickly in those clothes, and come out on deck
By the side of your bunk you will find tins of black and white paint to shtest refusal on your part to do as I bid you--if you utter a cry or make any noise to attract attention--I shall kill you without another word”
The soft voice had a steely ring in it which persuaded the entina that he had better obey In less than five ed from the doorway The corridor in which his cabin was situated led into the saloon Elsie awaited hiway, revealed her face Suarez thought he had to deal with a erly, but a muttered ”Be quiet, Joey!” prevented any outburst, every fox-terrier being a born conspirator
”What do you wishto placate her until he could obtain assistance
”You must obey me in silence,” she whispered tensely ”You must not even speak One syllable aloud on deck will mean your death Walk in front of ht to the shi+p's side”
”But, senorita!--”
The haan to rise under the pressure of Elsie's finger on the trigger The man's hair rose eventhe corridor in front of her, not knowing the instant a bullet irl followed so closely that she al would have trotted in front, but she recalled him
When Suarez reached the port rail of the proo down into the canoe by the rope ladder you will find there”
”The canoe!” gasped he
”Quick! One, two,--”
Up went Suarez over the rail He found the top-s of the ladder As he descended, the revolver followed his eyes When his head was level with the deck the order cao down”
”I cannot, senorita”
”Youdown, dead or alive”
He did try Joey scuffled a little, but Suarez caught him by the neck, andladder when Boyle's voice rang out sharply from the spar-deck:
”Below there! Who is there?”
”I, Mr Boyle,” she answered
”You, Miss Elsie? Where are you?”