y grip for an instant; indeed, the
engineer looked up with a grin.

"I suppose it's twue, sir, the-aw's goin' to be a fight?" he asked.

"There's a fair chance of one, Walker."

Walker winked suggestively.

"That chap inside thinks he's out of it," he said, "so that's all
wight." An energetic turn of the screwdriver signified that the man
from Newcastle held the opposite view. Much as he loved his engines,
he preferred to be on deck when the trouble came.

It happened that during this slight delay Courtenay glanced at the
northern headland, which Elsie had christened Cape Templar, owing to
the somewhat remarkable profile of a knight in armor offered by its
seaward crags. Possibly, had he gone straight to the chart-house, he
might not have noticed a signal fire which was in full blast on the
summit of the cliff. It had not been many minutes in existence, and it
struck him at once that it was a vehicle of communication between the
savages in the approaching canoes and others, yet invisible, who were
expected to share in the attack.

He was quick to perceive how seriously this new peril affected his
calculations. By the time the nine canoes he had counted were
alongside the ship, there might be dozens of others ready to help them.
He leaned over the rail.

"Did you test those flexible pipes this morning?" he inquired.

"Yes, sir, they-aw in fine condition," said Walker.

"Try them again, will you? I want to make sure. Our lives may depend
on them very soon."

He saw Suarez watching the oncoming canoes. By a touch on the shoulder
he called the man's attention to the smoke signal on Cape Templar. A
voluble and perfervid explanation in Spanish was useless. Here arose
the unforeseen need of an interpreter. Without troubling to analyze
his feelings, Courtenay was glad of the excuse which presented itself
of obtaining a momentary glimpse of Elsie.

"Bring the senorita," he said, and Elsie, wondering why she had been
summoned from the saloon, ran up the bridge companion. Her face was
aglow with excitement, her heart going pit-a-pat. She hoped that
Courtenay meant to keep her near him during the fight; she almost
doubted Christobal's statement that the captain had given specific
orders that she was to remain in the saloon. It was one thing that she
should wish to avoid him, but why should he wish to avoid her?

The joy in her eyes died away when she found that the captain merely
required a translator.