o many thorns. "Of course, none of us, least of
all Courtenay himself, disguises the difficulties which confront him.
We have not fought the Alaculofs in two serious battles without
learning their tenacity of purpose, and the mere fact that the men
hidden in that cleft are compelled to remain invisible shows that they
are beleaguered. But the last thing the Indians will expect is the
appearance of a boat-load of armed men at this hour, and to take the
enemy unawares is the essence of good generalship."

"When am I to have my letter?" she persisted, clinging tenaciously to
one clear thought amid the phantasms which thronged her dazed mind.

"Oh, come, now! That is not the hopeless view I want you to take. In
writing to you, Courtenay was only providing against a mishap. He
would not go to certain death. He has too high a sense of what is due
to his position as captain of a ship like the _Kansas_, loaded with a
valuable cargo and carrying so many lives. Nor does Tollemache impress
me as a would-be suicide. Both men think they will succeed, and they
had not any trouble in obtaining a boat's crew of Chileans. So you
see, there is a general belief in success, not failure."

She felt that the doctor was talking against time. He had instructions
not to give her that letter until there could be no doubt of the fate
which had befallen the rescuers. A mist came over her eyes, but she
bit her lower lip fiercely, and the white teeth left their deep
impress. The dog squirmed uneasily in her arms, and endeavored to lick
her face. Joey's anxiety rivaled her own; had he, too, a premonition
of evil?

Christobal was watching her intently. It was evident he feared the
outcome of any sudden overthrow of her self-control.

"I think," he suggested, with a real sympathy in his voice, "that it
would be better if you went to the saloon, or your cabin. Believe me,
I shall come to you with every scrap of news. Boyle will see all that
happens and we shall know the best, or the worst, within an hour."

"If you would help me," she answered dully, "please take the dog away.
He is tearing my heart-strings. Poor little fellow, he makes no
pretence."

So Joey was fastened up, much against his will, and his piteous
protests no longer added to the girl's agony. She clung to the after
rail, and watched the boat, now a tiny dot hard to discern amidst the
ripples caused by the inflowing tide. Her intimate acquaintance with
the dail