Some of the
Alaculofs had dragged a couple of canoes from beneath the trees and
raced off toward the village; others had followed a coast path known
only to them, while, if there were watchers by the side of that
mysterious river which flowed both ways with the tide, they kept a
silent vigil, awed by the force arrayed against them.
As the life-boat emerged into the estuary under the vigorous sweep of
six ash blades, Elsie's wondering glance rested on the brown plumpness
of a three-quarters naked girl who was gazing at Suarez with wistful,
glistening eyes, much as Joey was regarding his master. In the
intense, penetrating light of sunrise, the bedaubed and skin-clothed
Argentine was the most unlovely object that ever captivated woman. Yet
he satisfied the soul of this Fuegian maid, so what more was there to
be said?
Courtenay caught the happy little sigh, half laugh, half sob, with
which Elsie announced her discovery of the idyl in the canoe.
"We owe a lot to that young person," he said. "None of us could make
out a word she uttered when first we saw her. She loses what small
amount of Spanish she can speak when she becomes excited, and it was
sheer good fortune that some of the crew were with her when she swung
herself down the side of the cliff to warn us of our danger; otherwise
she might have been shot.
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