“There does not appear to be so much stone-throwing now, but I suppose I ought not to go on deck?” she cried. “It is not to be thought of, Miss Maxwell. Indeed, the captain asked me to come and bear you company.” “Just fancy those horrid Indians venturing to approach the ship to-night after the dreadful lesson they received this afternoon! And what will poor Señor 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 meant to meet grim fate with a jest on his lips. He had seen Suarez lying dead or insensible close to the rails. In fact, the unlucky Argentine was only separated by the thickness of the ship’s deck from the table near which Elsie was standing. 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, moving suddenly towards the center of the saloon. She had caught the fierce hiss of steam, and she was well aware that steam would only be brought into use if the Indians were endeavoring to climb the ship’s sides: not yet had it occurred that they could possibly be on board. “Some of our friends the enemy have come near enough to be scalded,” said the man, coolly. “That should soon drive them away. You are not frightened, 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 ship 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 my thoughts as accurately.” His right hand went to the pocket in which he had placed the revolver. The stock appeared to have a peculiar clamminess as his fingers closed around it. Though he was proud of the iron nerve which had won him repute in his profession, he almost prayed now that it might not fail him at the last. What a horror, to be compelled with his parting glance to see this bright and gracious woman crumple up on the deck! “But I know you are a brave man,” she said with a confidant smile. “It demanded a higher 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 makes my blood boil to find that there are wretches who regard our distress as their opportunity to murder us and pillage the ship. What have we done to them? If they are poor and hungry, and they would only come to us in a peaceful way, Captain Courtenay would give them all the stores he could spare.”