Page 82 (1/2)

She thought that the men should be made aware of her presence, so she

leaned over and said: "May I ask what you four are plotting?"

They looked at her in surprise They were so engrossed in their

discovery that they had eyes for nothing else Walker straightway

plunged the sausage-shaped gray stick into the water again

"What are you doing with that dynamite?" she demanded "Do you intend

to visit the Valley of the Golden Sands? If so, please take me I am

very poor"

It was Courtenay who answered

"Are you alone?" he asked

"Mr Boyle is in the chart-house"

"I know; but is any one else up there?"

"No"

"Then we shall join you at once"

Notwithstanding the serious de what had happened But she was soon enlightened

"In which bunker was the coal placed which we shipped at Valparaiso?"

Courtenay asked Boyle

"In the forrard cross bunker," was the instant answer

"And that was the first coal used in the furnaces?"

"Yes, sir"

The captain's tone was official, exceedingly so, and the chief officer