Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1905 — the Wings of the Morning By LOUIS TRACY Copright, 1905. by Eduward J. Clode [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

the Wings of the Morning By LOUIS TRACY Copright, 1905. by Eduward J. Clode

By LOUIS TRACY

Otoyrifibt. 1903. by Edward J. Clod.

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I-The Sirdar, haying among her passengers Iris Deane, daughter of the owner of the ship, and Robert Jenks, who is working as a waiter, is wrecked. lI—AU are lost eave Miss Deane and Jenks, who are cast ashore on an islet in the Pacific. Jenkins recovers stores and weapons from the wrecked vessel. He finds the skeleton of a European on the island. IV—A cave on the island is fitted up as a habitation. A chart of the island, mysteriously marked. Is found on the skeleton. V—Jenks finds a hollow filled with human skeletons, the remains of a mining party. He is rescued from an octopus by Iris while recovering rfles from the wreck of the Sirdar. Vl—Jenks tells Iris that his real name is Anstrutber and that, through the machinations of Lord Ventnor, he has been unjustly dismissed in disgrace from the English army. Lord Ventnor has been mentioned on the Sirdar as affianced to Iris. Vll—lris is attacked by a party of fierce Dyaks (Polynesian natives). They are beaten off by Jenks, three, however escaping in their boat. The castaways dread their return. Vlll—Anstrutber prepares to defend Iris and himself, fortifying a ledge of rock above their cave. “Then you feel sure that those awful creatures will come back?” she said slowly. “Only too sure, unfortunately.” “How remorseless poor humanity is when the veneer is stripped off! Why cannot they leave us in peace? Perhaps if I had not been here they would not have injured you. Somehow I seem to be bound up with your misfortunes.” “I would not have it otherwise were it in my power,” he answered. For an instant he left unchallenged the girl’s assumption that she was in any way responsible for the disasters which had broken up his career. He looked into her eyes and almost forgot himself. Then .the sense of fair dealing that dominates every true gentleman rose within him and gripped his wavering emotions with ruthless force. Was .his a time to play upon the high strung sensibilities of this youthful daughter of the gods, to seek to win from her a confession of love that a few brief days or weeks might prove to be only a spasmodic but momentarily all powerful gratitude for the protection he had given her? And he spoke aloud, striving to laugh, lest his words should falter: “You can console yourself with the thought, Miss Deane, that your presence on the Island will in no way affect my fate at the hands of the Dyaks. Had they caught me unprepared today my head would now be covered with a solution of the special varnish they carry on every foreign expedition.” “And yet these men are human beings I” “For purposes of classification, yes. Keeping to strict fact, it was lucky for me that you raised the alarm and gave me a chance to discount the odds of mere numbers. So, you see, you really did me a good turn.” “What can be done now to save our lives? Anything will be better than to await another attack.” “The first thing to do is to try to get some sleep before daylight. How did you know I was not in the castle?” “I cannot tell you. I awoke and knew you were not near me. If I wake in the night I can always tell whether or not you are in the next room. So I dressed and came out” “Ah!” he said quietly. “Evidently I snore.” Iris retreated, and the sailor, tired out at last, managed to close his weary eyes. Next morning he hastily constructed a pole of sufficient length and strong enough to bear his weight by tying two sturdy you»g trees together with ropes. Iris helped him to raise it against the face of the precipice vnd he at once climbed to the ledge. Here he found his observations of the previous night abundantly verified. • The ledge was even wider than he dared to hope, nearly ten feet deep In one part, and it sloped sharply downward from the outer lip of the rock. By lying flat and carefully testing all points of view he ascertained that the only possible positions from wbicb even a glimpse of the interior floor could be obtained were the branches of a few tall trees 'and tbe extreme right of the opposing precipice, nearly ninety yards distant. There was ample room to store water and provisions, and he quickly saw that even some sort of shelter from the fierce rays of tbe sun and the often piercing cold of the night might be achieved by judiciously rigging up a tarpaulin. ‘JTliis is a genuine bit of good luck,” he mused. “Here, provided neither of us is hit, we can hold out for a week or longer at a pinch. How can It be possible that I should have lived on this island so many days and yet hit upon this nook of safety by mere chance, as It were?” Not until he reached the level again could be solve the puzzle. Then be perceived that the way In which the cliff bulged out on both sides prevented the ledge from becoming evident in profile, while, seen in the glare of the sunlight, it suggested nothing more than a slight indentation. , • He rapidly sketched to Iris the defensive plan which the eagle's nest suggested. Access must be provided by means of a rope ladder, securely fastened inside the ledge and capable of being pulled up or let down at tbe will of the occupants. Then tbe place must be kept constantly stocked with a judicious supply of provisions, water ■nd ammunition. They could be covI ered with a tarpaulin and thus kept in fairly good condition.

‘‘We ought to sleep there every night,” he went on, and his mind was so engrossed with the tactical side of the preparations that he did not notice how Iris blanched at the suggestion. “Surely not until danger actually threatens?” she cried. “Danger threatens us each hour after sunset. It may come any night, though I expect at least a fortnight’s reprieve. Nevertheless I intend to act as if tonight may witness the first shot of tbe siege.” “Do you mean that?” she sighed. “And my Jittle room is becoming so .very cozy!” Jenks always accepted her words literally. “Well,” be announced, after a pause, “It may not be necessary to take up our quarters there until tbe eleventh hour. After I have hoisted up our stores and made the ladder I will endeavor to devise an efficient cordon of sentinels around our position. We will see.” . Not another word could Iris get out of him on the topic. Indeed, he provided her with plenty of work. By this time she could splice a rope more neatly than her tutor, and her particular business was to prepare no less than sixty rungs for the rope ladder. This was •n impossible task for one day, but after dinner the sailor helped her. They tolled late, until their fingers were sore and their backbones creaked as they sat upright. Meanwhile Jenks swarmed up the pole again and drew up after him a crowbar, the sledge hammer and the pickax. With these implements he set to work to improve the accommodation. Of course he did not attempt seriously to remove any large quantity of rock, but there were projecting lumps here and inequalities of floor there which could be thumped or pounded out of existence. It was surprising to see what a clearance he made in an hour. The existence of tbe fault helped him a good deal, as the percolation of water at this point had oxidized the stone to rottenness. To his great joy he discovered that a few prods with the pick laid bare a small cavity which could be easily enlarged. Here he contrived a niche where Iris could remain in absolute safety when barricaded by stores, while, with a squeeze, she was entirely sheltered from the one dangerous point on the opposite cliff, nor need she be seen from the trees.

Having hauled into position two boxes of ammunition—for which he had scooped out a special receptacle—the invaluable water kegs from the stranded boat, several tins of biscuits and all the tinned meats, together with three bottles of wine and two of brandy, he hastily abandoned the ledge and busied himself with fitting a number of gunlocks to heavy fagots. Iris watched his proceedings in silence for some time. At last tbe interval for luncheon enabled her to demand an explanation. “If you don’t tell me at once what you intend to do with those strange implements,” she said, “I will go on strike.” “If you do,” he answered, “you will create a precedent.” “I withdraw tbe threat and substitute a more genuine plea—curiosity,” she cried. “Then you will be gratified promptly. These are our sentinels. Come with me to allot bis post to tbe most distant one." He picked up a fagot with its queer attachment, shouldered a rifle and smiled when be saw the businesslike air with which Iris slung a revolver around her waist. They walked rapidly to Smugglers’ cove, and the girl soon perceived the ingenuity of bis automatic signal. He securely bound the block of wood to a tree where it was hidden by the undergrowth. Breaking the bullet out of a cartridge, he placed the blank charge In position in front of the hammer, the case being* firmly clasped by a bent nail. To the trigger, tbe spring of which he had eased to a slight pressure, be attached a piece of unraveled rope, and this be carefully trained among tbe trees at a height of six inches from the ground, using as carriers nails driven Into the trunks. The ultimate result was that a mere swish of Iris’ dress against the taut cord exploded the cartridge. “There!” he exclaimed exultantly. “When I have driven stakes Into the sand to the water’s edge on both sides of the cove, I will defy them to land by night without giving us warning.” "Do you know,” said Iris, in all seriousness, “I think you are the cleverest man In the world.” He was manifestly pleased by the success of his ingenious contrivance and forthwith completed the cordon. To make doubly sure he set another snare farther within the trees. He was certain tbe Dyaks would not pass along Turtle beach if they could help it. By this time the light was failing. “That wlli suffice for tbe present,” he told the girl. “Tomorrow we will place other sentries in position at strategic points. Then we can sleep in the castle with tolerable safety.” By the meager light of the tiny lamp they labored sedulously at the rope ladder until Irts’ eyes were closing

wifETsheeKweariness.' Neither ofThem bad slept milch during the preceding night, and they were both completely tired. The figst streaks of dawn were tipping the opposite crags with roseate tints when the sailor was suddenly aroused by what he believed to be a gunshot. He could not be sure. He was still collecting his scattered senses, straining eyes and ears intensely, when there came a second report. Then he knew what had happened. Tho-Sentries on the Smugglers’ cove post were faithful to their trust. The enemy was upon them. At such a moment Jenks was not a man who prayed. Indeed, he was prone to Invoke the nether powers, a habit long since acquired by the British army—in Flanders, it is believed. There was not a moment to be lost. He rushed into Iris’ room and gathered her in his arms. He explained to the

girl as he ran with her to the foot of the rock that she must cling to his shoulders with unfaltering courage while he climbed to the ledge with tbe aid of the pole and the rope placed there the previous day. It was a magnificent feat of strength that he essayed. In calmer moments he would have shrunk from Its performance if only on the score of danger to the precious burden he carried. Now there was no time for thought. Up he went, hand over hand, clinging to the rough pole with the tenacity of a limpet and taking a turn of the rope over his right wrist at each upward clutch. At last, breathless, but triumphant, he reached the ledge and was able to gasp his instructions to Iris to crawl over his bent back and bead until she was safely lodged on the broad platform of tock. Then before she could expostulate he descended, this time for the rifles. These he hastily slung to the rope, again swarmed up the pole and drew the guns after him with infinite care. “Now we are ready for them,” he growled, lying prone on the ledge and eagerly scanning both sides of Prospect park for a first glimpse of their assailants. For two shivering hours they waited there until tbe sun was high over the cliff and filled sea and land with its brightness. At last, despite the girl’s tears and prayers, Jenks insisted on making a reconnoissance iu person. Let this portion of their adventures be passed over with merciful brevity. Both watch guns had been fired by a troop of tiny wou-wou monkeys. Iris did not know whether to laugh or cry, when Jenks, with much difficulty, lowered her to Mother Earth again and marveled the while how he had managed to carry forty feet Into the air a young woman who weighed so solidly. They sat down to a belated breakfast, and Jenks then became conscious that the muscles of his arms, legs and back were aching hugely. It was by that means he could judge the true extent of his achievement

Up he went, hand over hand.