I suppose Suarez told you what to expect?"
"You might as well be talking Alaculof yourself for all I can follow
what you are saying," murmured Elsie happily.
"Then how did _you_ know where to tie up? _We_ went too far. We lost
the boat that way, and my gun as well. We had to jump for it, and it
was only the boat's stout timbers which enabled her to live through
that boiling pot in the volcano. The native girl said that no
Indian-built craft ever came back."
"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.
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