But such
things leave abiding memories in men's souls, and Courtenay had heard
how twenty-seven survivors, out of a muster-roll of thirty who escaped
from the wreck, had been shot down by Indians ambushed in the forest.
Elsie, whose tears were dispelled by the doctor's amusing summary of
the Canoe Indians' theological views, was listening to the
conversation, so the captain did not carry it further, contenting
himself with the remark:
"That will be useful, if we are compelled to go ashore. You will have
some acquaintance with the ways of our hosts."
Tollemache, having nothing to say, was not given to the use of
unnecessary words. Elsie was conscious of a certain constraint in
their talk.
"Please don't mind me," she said quietly. "I know all about the loss
of the _Emu_. If we fall into the hands of the Alaculof tribe, we
shall be not only killed but eaten."
She was pouring out a second cup of tea for Walker when she made this
remarkable statement. Her eyes were intent on exact quantities of tea,
milk, and sugar, and she passed the cup to the engineer with a smile.
Each of the men admired her coolness, but Tollemache, who had been
quietly scrutinizing the nearer hills, gave painful emphasis to this
gruesome topic by exclaiming:
"There they are now: smoke signals.
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