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Tracy, Louis, 1863-1928

"The Captain of the Kansas"

Bid any of your invalids who can stand upright show
themselves, Christobal. We must lift you outside, Boyle. Bring your
camera, Miss Maxwell. If we could give these fellows a good picture of
themselves it would scare them to death."
The captain of the _Kansas_ was not to be repressed that day. He
refused to look at the dark side of things. He even found cause for
congratulation in the threatened visit of cannibals whom Suarez feared
so greatly that he preferred death to the chance of returning to them,
although they had spared his life.
And Courtenay infected them all with his splendid optimism. It was
with curiosity rather than dread that they watched the rapid approach
of the canoe and its almost naked occupants.


CHAPTER XI
CONFIDENCES
Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a
dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable's length of the ship,
and then circled slowly round her. The four men jabbered in
astonishingly loud voices. Suarez, who gathered the purport of their
talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.


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