"Excellent!" said Elsie. "When we reach the ship I shall write down
everything you tell me. After a time I shall begin to understand."
Whereupon, Courtenay took thought, and explained that the channel which
flowed through that amazing cut in the cliff led to the crater of an
extinct volcano, into which the sea poured twenty feet of water each
tide. An almost everlasting maelstrom raged within, as the water
entered by a side-long channel, and sent a whirlpool spinning with the
hands of the clock until the enormous cistern was full, and against
them until it was empty. The sailors had taken refuge on a wide,
sulphur-coated ledge high above the vortex, and the presence of several
skeletons showed that many an unfortunate had sought a last shelter
there against pursuit. Every Alaculof knew of this retreat, but few
dared approach it, as the roar of the water far below appalled them.
There was only one path; when the hunters closed that their prey was
safe. The alternative to capture was death by starvation. The
Chileans, and he himself during the past fourteen hours, had subsisted
on a bag of dried berries stolen by the girl when she first led the
sailors thither.
"Didn't you see how eager we all were to search the lockers?" he asked.
"But the rascals had cleared every scrap when the boat fell into their
hands again with the falling tide."
She nestled close to him.
"I saw nothing," she whispered. "My mind held but one thought--that
you were alive, though, indeed, I was mourning you as dead. But now I
am restored to my senses. I think I can grasp what happened. Did Joey
find you?"
"Yes. You can guess my bewilderment when he sprang on top of me. I
was lying down; I heard our sentries shouting, but paid no heed. As a
matter of fact, Elsie, I, too, had abandoned hope. I could see no
chance of escape. Great Heaven! To think of your coming to my rescue!
What made you do it?"
"Please go on. Tell me all. You shall hear my story afterwards."
"Well, I jumped up, and Joey nearly fell into the crater with delight.
I was just in time to save Suarez from being shot. Luckily he was a
long way behind the dog, and I recognized his make-up. The guard, who
belonged to the original lot, naturally thought he was an Indian. And
you ought to have seen that blessed girl skipping around when she set
eyes on him. We must give her money enough to fix her up as his wife
if the Kansas gets off."