Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1905 — The Wings of The Morning [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Wings of The Morning

By LOUIS TRACY

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—The Sirdar, having among her passeugers Iris Deane, daughter of the owner of the ship, and Robert Jenks, who is working bb a waiter, is wrecked. ll All are lost save 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 oh 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 riles from the wreck of the Sirdar. Vl—Jenks tells Iris that his real name is Anstruther 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 affiaticed to Iris. Vll—lris is attacked by a party of fierce Dyaks tPolynesian natives). They are beaten off by Jenks, three, however escaping in their boat. The castaways dread their return. Vlll—Anstruther prepares to defend Iris and himself, fortifying a ledge of rock above their cave. IX—A rich gold mine, indicated on the mysterious chart of the island, is discovered in the cave. X and Xl—The Dyaks attack the Island. Among them is an escaped convict, an Indian Musselmun. They discover the hiding place, but are defeated by the Englishman.

CHAPTER XII. m HOUGH his eyes, like live coals, glowered with sullen fire at the strip of sand and the rocks In front, his troubled brain paid perfunctory heed to his task. The stern sense of duty, the ingrained force of long years of military discipline and soldierly thought, compelled him to keep watch and ward over his fortress, bnt he could not help asking himself what would happen if Iris were seriously wounded. There was one enemy more potent than these skulking Dyaks, a foe more Irresistible in his might, more pitiless in his strength, whose assaults would tar to the utmost their powers of resistance. In another hour the sun would be high In the heavens, pouring his ardent rays upon them and drying the blood in their veins. Hitherto the active life of the island, the shade of trees, hut or cave, the power of unrestricted movement and the possession of water in any desired quantity robbed tbe tropical heat of the day of its chief terrors. Now all. was changed. Instead of working amid grateful foliage they were bound to tbe brown rock, which soon would glow with radiated energy and give off scorching gusts like unto the opening of a furnace door. This he had foreseen all along. The tarpaulin would yield them some degree of uneasy protection, and they both were in perfect physical condition. Rut—if Iris were wounded! IT the extra strain brought fever in its wake! That way he saw nothing but blank despair, to be ended for her by delirium and merciful death, for him by a Berserk rush among the Dyaks and one last mad fight against overwhelming numbers. Then the girl’s voice reached him. self reliant, almost cheerful: “You will be glad to hear that th<L cut has stopped bleeding. It is only a scratch.” So a kindly Providence had spared them yet a little while. The cloud passed from his mind, the gathering mist from his eyes. In' that instant lie thought he detected a slight rustling among the trees where the cliff shelved up from the house. Standing as lie was ou the edge of the rock, this was a point he could not guard against.' When her welcome assurance recalled his scattered senses he stepped back to speak to her, and in the same Instant a couple of bullets crashed against the rook overhead. Iris laid unwittingly saved him from a serious, perhaps fatal, wound. He sprang to the extreme right of the ledge and boldly looked into the trees beneath. Two Dyaks were there, belated wanderers cut off from the main body. They dived headlong into the undergrowth for safety, but one of them was too late. Jenks’ rifle reached him, and its reverberating concussion, tossed back and forth by the echoing rocks, drowned his parting scream.

In the plenitude of restored vigor the sailor waited for uo counter demonstration. He turned and crouchingly approached the southern end of his parapet. Through his screen of grass he could discern the long black hair and yellow face of a man who lay on the sand and twisted his head around the base of the farther cliff. The distance, oft measured, was ninety yards, the target practically a six Inch bullseye. Jeuks took careful aim, fired, and a whiff of sand flew up. Ferhaps he had used too fine a sight aud plowed a furrow beneath the Dyak’s ear. He only beard a faint yell, but the enterprising head vanished, and there were no more volunteers for that particular service. He was still peering at the place when a cry of unmitigated anguish came from Iris: “Oh, come quick! Our water! The casks have burst!” It was not until Jenks had torn the tarpaulin from off their stores and lie was wildly striving with both bands to scoop up some precious drops collected in the small hollows of the ledge that he realised the full magnitude of the disaster which had befallen them. During the first rapid exchange of fire before the enemy vacated the diff several bullets had pierced the tarpaulin. By a stroke of exceeding bed fortune two of them had struck each of

the water barrels and started the staves. The contents quietly ebbed away beneath the broad sheet and, flowing Inward by reason of the sharp slope of the ledge, percolated through the fault. Iris and be, notwithstanding their frenzied efforts, were not able to save more than a pint of gritty discolored fluid. The rest, Infinitely more valuable to them than all tbe diamonds of De Beers, was now oozing through the natural channel cut by centuries of storm, dripping upon the headless skeleton in the cave, soaking down to the very heart of their buried treasure. Jenks was so paralyzed by this catastrophe that Iris became alarmed. As yet she did not grasp its awful significance. That be, her hero, so brave, so confident In the face of many dangers, should betray such sense of irredeemable loss frightened her much more tliau the incident itself. Her lips whitened. Her words became incoherent _ “Tell me,” she whispered. “I can bear anything but silence. Tell me, I implore you. Is it so bad?” The sight of her distress sobered him. He ground his teeth together as a man does who submits to a painful operation and resolves not to flinch beneath the knife. “It is very bad,” he said; “not quite the end, but near It.” “The end,” she bravely answered, “Is death! We are living ahd uninjured. You must fight on. If the Lord wills It we shall uot die.” ne looked In her blue eyes and saw there tbe light of heaven. Her glance did not droop before his. In such moments heart speaks to heart without concealment. "We still have a little water,” she cried. “Fortunately we are not thirsty. You have not forgotten our supply of champagne and Iwandy?” lie could only fall In with her unreflectlve mood and leave the dreadful

truth to Its own evil time. In their little nook the power of the sun had hot yet made itself felt. By ordinary computation it was about 9 o’clock. Long before noon they would bo grilling. Throughout the next few hours they must suffer the torture of Dives with one meager pint of water to share between them. Of course the wine and spirit must, be shunned like lence, To touch either under such conditions would be courting heat, apoplexy and death. And next day! He tightened his jaws before he answered: “We will console ourselves with a bottle of champagne for dinner. Meanwhile I hear our friends shouting to those left on this side of the island. I must take an active interest in the conversation.” He grasped a rifle and lay down on the ledge, already gratefully warm. There was a good deal of sustained shouting going on. Jenks thought he recognized the chief’s voice giving instructions to those who had come from Smugglers’ cove and were now standing on the beach near the quarry. "I wonder if he is hungry,” he thought. "If so, I will interfere with the commissariat.” Iris peeped forth at him, "Mr. Jenks!” "Yes,” without turning his bend. He knew it was an ordinary question. "May I come too?” "What, expose yourself on the ledge!” “Yes, eveu that. I am so tired of sitting here alone.” "Well, there is no danger at present. But tliey might chance to see you, and you remember what I” “Yes, I remember quite well. If that is all” There was a rustle of garments. “I am very mannish in appearance. If you promise not to look at me I will join you.” “I promise." Iris stepped forth. She was flushed a little, and, to cover her confusion, maybe, she picked up a rifle.

“Now there are two guns,” she said as she stood near him. He could see through the tall of his eye that a slight but elegantly proportioned young gentleman of the seafaring profession had suddenly appeared from nowhere. He was glad she had taken this course. It might better the position were the Dyaks to see her thus. “The moment I tell you you must fall flat,” he warned her. “No ceremony about it. Just flop!” “I don’t know anything better calculated to make one flop than a bullet,’’ she laughed. Not yet did the tragedy of the broken kegs appeal to her. “Yes, but It achieves its purpose in two ways. I want you to adopt the precautionary method.” “Trust me for that. Good gracious!” The sailor’s rifle went off with an unexpected bang that froze the exclamation on l),«r lips. Three Dyaks were attempting to ruu the gantlet to their beleaguered comrades. They carried a Jar and two wicker baskets. He with the Jar fell and broke It. The others doubled back like hares, and the first man dragged himself after them. Jenks did not fire again. Iris, watched the wounded wretch crawling along the ground. Her eyes grew moist, and she paled somewhat. When hewanished she looked into the valley and at the opposing ledge; three men lay dead within twenty yards of her. Two others dangled from the rocks. It took her some time to control her quavering utterance sufficiently to say: “I hope I may not have to use a gun. I know It cannot be helped, but if I were to kill a human being I do not think I would ever rest again.” “In that case I have Indeed murdered sleep today,” was the unfeeling reply. “No, no! A man must be of sterner stuff. We have a right to defend ourselves. If need be, I will exercise that right. Still, It is horrid, oh, so horrid!”

She could not see the sailor’s grim smile. It would materially affect his rest for the better were he able to slay every Dyak on the island with a single shot. Yet her gentle protest pleased him. She could not at the same time be callous to human suffering and be Ms. But he declined the discussion of such sentiments. “You were going to say something when a brief disturbance took place,” he inquired. “Yes. I was surprised to find how hot the ledge has become.” “You notice it more because you are obliged to remain here.” After a pause she said: “I think I understand now why you were so upset by the loss of our water supply. Before the day ends we will be in great straits, enduring agonies from thirst!”

"Let Us not meet the devil halfway,” he rejoined. He preferred the unfair retort to a confession which could only foster dismay. “But, please, I am thirsty now.” He moved uneasily. He was only too conscious of the impish weakness, common to all mankind, which creates a desire out of sheer inability to satisfy it. Already his own throat was parched. The excitement of the early struggle was in itself enough to engender an acute thirst. He thought it best to meet their absolute needs as far ns possible. “Bring the tin cup,” lie said. “Let us take half our store and use the remainder when we eat. Try to avoid breathing through your mouth. The hot air quickly affects the palate and causes an artificial dryness. We cannot yet be in real need of water. It Is largely imagination.” Iris needed 'no second bidding. She carefully measured out half a pint of the unsavory fluid—the dregs of the casks and the scourings of the ledge. “I will drink first,” she cried. “No, no," lie interrupted impatiently. “Give It to me.” She pretended to be surprised. “As a mere matter of politeness”— “I am sorry, but I must insist.” She gave him the cup over his shoulder. He placed it to his lips and gulped steadily. “There.” he said gruffly. “I was in a hurry. The Dyaks may have another rush at any moment.” Iris looked into the vessel. ‘“You have taken none at all,” she said. “Nonsense!” “Mr. Jenks, fte reasonable! You need It more than I. I d-dont want to—live w-without—you.” His hands shook somewhat. It was well there was no call for accurate shooting just then. “I assure you I took all I required,” he declared, with unnecessary vehemence. “At least drink your share to please me,” she murmured. “You wished to humbug me,” he grumbled. “If you will take the first half I will take the second.” And they settled It that way. The few mouthfuls of tepid water gave them new life. Nevertheless by high noon they were suffering again. The time passed very slowly. The sun rose to the zenith and filled the earth and air with his ardor. It seemed to be a miracle now appreciated for the first time in their lives—that the sea did not dry up and the leaves wither on the trees. The silence, the deathly Inactivity of all things, became intolerable. The girl bravely tried to confine her thoughts to the task of the hour. She displayed alert watchfulness, an lnstaut readiness to warn her companion of the slightest movement among the trees or by the rocks to the northwest, this being the arc of their periphery assigned to her. Looking at a sunlit space from cover and looking at the same place when sweltering In the direct rays of a tropical sun are kindred operations strangely diverse In achievement. III? could

not reconcile the physical sensitiveness of the hour with tbe cafeless hardihood of the preceding days. Her eyes ached somewhat, for she bad tilted her sou’wester to the back of her head in the effort to cool her throbbing temples. ' She put up her right hand to shade the too vivid reflection of the glistening sea and was astounded to find that In a few minutes the back of her hand was scorched. A faint Bound of distant shouting disturbed her painful reverie. [to be continued.]

The satlor's rifle went off with an unexpected bang.