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"Did Captain Courtenay leave any e! Why, he will be away only a couple of hours"

The chief officer's tone was gruff, conveying the idea that woruffness did not hoodwink Elsie He had

prepared his replies beforehand

"Surely you will tell me, Mr Boyle?" she pleaded wistfully

"Well, I happen to know there's a letter in the doctor's hands But

that is to be given to you in case of accident alone Isn't that so,

doctor? And there's no sign of any accident yet, thank goodness!"

Boyle sighed, like a ineered Christobal into the conversation

The Spaniard drew near He had heard all that had passed, and tried a

new line

"I was rather hoping that you would not put that aard query," he

said,the very

topic which offered so many thorns "Of course, none of us, least of

all Courtenay hiuises the difficulties which confront hiht the Alaculofs in two serious battles without

learning their tenacity of purpose, and the mere fact that the men

hidden in that cleft are couered 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