Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1905 — THE Wings of the Morning [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE Wings of the Morning

By LOUIS TRACY

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—The Sirdar, having among her passengers Iris Deane, daughter of the owner of the ship, and Robert Jenks, who is working as 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 on the island is titled 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 aud 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. 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 Musselman. They discover the hiding place, but are defeated by the “How Is ft,” she asked, “that we feel the heat so much today? I had hardly noticed it before.” “For two good reasons—forced idleness and radiation from this confounded rock. Moreover, this Is the hottest day we have experienced on the island. There is not a breath of air, and the hot weather has just commenced.” “Don’t you think,” she said huskily, “that our position here is quite hopeless?” They were talking to each other sideways. The sailor never turned ills gaze from the southern end of the valley. “It is no more hopeless now than last night or this morning,” he replied. “’But suppose we are kept here for several days?” “That was always an unpleasant probability," “We had water then. Even with an ample supply it would be difficult to bold out As things are, such a course becomes simply impossible.” Her despondency pierced his soul. A slow agony was consuming her. “It is hard, I admit” he said. “Nevertheless you must bear up until night falls; then we will either obtain water or leave this place.” “Surely we can do neither.” “We may be compelled to do both.” “But bow?” In this his hour of extremest need the man was vouchsafed a shred of luck. Before he could frame a feeble pretext for his too sanguine prediction a sampan appeared 800 yards from Turtle beach, strenuously paddled by three men. The vague hallooing they had heard was explained. The Dyaks, though to the manner born, were weary of sun scorched rocks and salt water. The boat was coming in response to their signals, and the sight inspired Jenks with fresh hope. Like a lightning flash came the reflection that if be could keep them away from the well and destroy the sampan now hastening to their assistance, perhaps conveying the bulk of their stores, they would soon tire of slaking their thirst on the few pitcher plants growing on the north shore. “Come quick!” be shouted, adjusting the back sight of a rifle. “Lie down and aim at the front of that boat, a little short If anything. It doesn’t matter if the bullets strike the sea first.” He placed the weapon in readiness for her and commenced operations himself before Iris could reach his side. Soon both rifles were pitching twenty shots a minute at the sampan. The result of their long range practice was not long in doubt. The Dyaks danced from seat to seat in a state of wild excitement. One man was hurled overboard. Then the craft lurched seaward in the strong current, and Jenks told Iris to leave the rest to him. Before he could empty a second magazine a fortunate bullet ripped a plunk out and the sampan filled and went down amid a shrill yell of execration from the back of the cliff. The two Dyaks yet living endeavored to swim ashore, half a mile through shark invested reefs. The sailor did not even trouble about them. After a few frantic struggles each doomed wretch flung up bis arms and vanished. In the clear atmosphere the onlookers could see black fins cutting the pellucid sea. They were quieting down—the thirst flend was again slowly salting their veins—when something of a dirty white color fluttered into sight from behind the base of the opposite cliff. It was rapidly withdrawn, to reappear after an Interval. Now it was held more steadily and a brown arm became visible. As Jenks did not fire, a turbaned head popped Into sight It was the Mohammedan. “No shoot It” he roared. “Me English speak it.” “Don’t you speak Hindoostanee?” shouted Jenks In Urdu of the higher proficiency. “Yes, sir!” was the Joyful response. “Will your honor permit bls sen ant to come and talk with him?” “Yes, If you come unarmed.” "And the chief, too, sahib?” “Yes, but listen! On the first sign of treachery I will shoot both of you!” “We will keep faith, sahib. May kites pick our bones if we fail.'” Then there stepped into full view the yenegade Mussulman and his leader.

They carried 'no~guns; ’fEie cKlef wore his creese. “Tell him to leave that dagger behind!’’ cried the sailor imperiously. As the enemy demanded a parley he resolved to adopt the conqueror’s tone from the outset. The chief obeyed, with a scowl, and the two advanced to the foot of the rock. “Stand close to me,” said Jenks to Iris. “Let them see you plainly, but pull your bat well down over your eyes.” She silently followed his instructions. Now that the very crisis of their fate had arrived she nervous, shaken, conscious only of a desire to sink on her knees and pray. The two halted some ten paces in front of the cavern, and the belligerents surveyed each other. It was a fascinating spectacle, this drama in real life. The yellow faced Dyak, gaudily attired In a crimson jacket and sky blue pantaloons of Chinese silk, a man young and powerfully built, and the brown skinned, white clothed Mohammedan, bony, tall and gray with hardship, looked up at the occupants of the ledge. Iris, slim and boyish Id her male garments, was dwarfed by the six foot sailor, but her face was blood stained, and Jenks wore a six weeks’ stubble of beard. Holding their rifles with alert ease, with revolvers strapped to their sides, they presented a warlike and imposing tableau in their Inaccessible perch. In the path of the emissaries lay the bodies of the slain. The Dyak leader scowled again as he passed them. “Sahib,” began the Indian, “my chief, Taung S’Ali, does not wish to have any more of his men killed in a foolish quarrel about a woman. Give her up, he says, and he will either leave you here In peace or carry you safely to some place where you can find a ship manned by white men.” “A woman!” said Jenks scornfully. “That is idle talk! What woman is Tiere?*’ This question nonplused the native. "The woman whom the chief saw half a month back, sahib.” "Taung S’Ali was bewitched. I slew his men so quickly that he saw spirits.” The chief caught his name and broke in with a question. A volley of talk between the two was enlivened with expressive gestures by Taung S’Ali, who several times pointed to Iris, and Jenks now anathematized his thoughtless folly in permitting the Dyak to approach so near. The Mohammedan, of course, had never seen her and might have persuaded the other that in truth there were two men only on the rock. His fears were only too well founded. The Mussulman salaamed respectfully and said: “Protector of the poor, I cannot gainsay your word, but Taung S’Ali says that the maid stands by your side and is none the less the woman be seeks In lhat she wears a man’s clothing.” “He has sharp eyes, but bls brain is qddled,” retorted the sailor. “Why does be come here to seek a woman who Is not of bls race? Not only has he brought death to his people and narrowly escaped It himself, but he must know that any violence offered to us will mean the extermination of bls whole tribe by an English warship. Tell him to take away hfs boats and never visit this isle again. Perhaps 1 will then forget hfs treacherous attempt to murder us while we slept last night.” The chief glared defiantly, while the Mohammedan said: “Sahib, it Is best not to anger him too much. He says he means to have the girl. He saw her beauty that day, and she Inflamed his heart. She has cost him many lives, but she Is worth a sultan's ransom. He cares not for warships. They cannot reach bis vll-

(age in the hills. By the tomb of Nlzam-ud-din, sahib, he will not harm you if you give her up. but If you re-

fuse he will klli you both. Arfd v?hat Is one woman more or less in the world that she should cause strife and bloodletting?” The sailor knew the eastern character too well not to understand the man’s amazement that he should be so solicitous about the fate of one of the weaker sex. It was seemingly useless to offer terms, yet the native was clearly so anxious for an amicable settlement that he caught at a straw. “You come from Delhi?” he asked. “Honored one, you have great wislom.” “None but a Delhi man swears by the tomb on the road to the Kutub. You have escaped from the Andamans ?” • “Sahib, I did but slay a man iu self Jefense.” “Whatever the cause, you can never again see India. Nevertheless you would give many years of jour life to mix once more with the bazaar folk.” The brown skin assumed a sallow tinge. “That is good speaking,” he gurgled. “Then help me and my friend to escape. Compel your cliief to leave the Island. Kill him! Plot against him! I will promise you freedom and plenty of rupees. Do this, aud I swear to you I will come in a ship and take you away. The miss sahib's father is powerful. He has great influence with the Imliau government” Taung B’Ali was evidently bewildered and annoyed by this passionate appeal which he did not understand. He demanded an explanation, and the ready witted native was obliged to invent some plausible excuse. Yet when he raised his face to Jenks there was the look of a hunted animal In his eyes. “Sahib,” be said, endeavoring to conceal his agitation, “I am ono among many. A word from me, and they would cut my throat. If I were with you there on the rock I would die with you, for I was In the Kumaon regiment when the trouble befell me. It is of no aval) to bargain with a tiger, sahib. I suppose you will not give up the miss sahib. Pretend to argue with me. I will help in any way possible.” Jenks’ heart bounded when this unlooked for offer reached his ears. The unfortunate Mohammedan was evidently eager to get away from the piratical gang into whose power he had fallen. But the chief was Impatient, if not suspicious, of these iong speeches. Angrily bolding forth a rifle, the sailor shouted: “Tell Taung S’Ali that I will slay him and all his men ere tomorrow’s sun rises. He knows something of my power, but not all. Tonight at the twelfth hour you will find a rope hanging from the rock. Tie thereto a vessel of water. Fall not In this. I will not forget your services. I am Anstrutber Sahib of the Belgaum regiment” The native translated his words Into a fierce defiance of Taung S’Ali and his Dyaks. The chief glanced at Jenks and Iris with an ominous smile. He muttered something. “Then, sahib, there is nothing more to be said. Beware of the trees on your right. They can send silent death even to the place where you stand. And I will not fail you tonight, on my life,” cried the interpreter. “I believe you. Go! But inform your chief that once you have disappeared round the rock whence you came I will talk to him only with a rifle.” Taung S’Ali seemed to comprehend the Englishman’s emphatic motions. Waving his hand defiantly, the Dyak turned, and, with one parting glance of mute assurance, the Indian followed him. Iris touched his arm and he told her all that had taken place. Iris became very downcast when she grasped the exact state of affairs. She was almost certain when the Dyaks proposed a parley that reasonable tertns would result. It horrified her beyond measure to find that she was the rock on which negotiations were wrecked. Hope died within her. The bitterness of death was in her breast. “What an unlucky Influence I havehad on your existence!” she exclaimed. “If It were not for me this trouble at least would be spared you. Because I am here you are condemned. Again, because I stopped you from shooting that wretched chief and his companions they are now demanding your life as a forfeit It is all my fault. I cannot bear It” She was on the verge of tears. The strain had become too great for her. After indulging in a wild dream of freedom, to lie told that they must agam endure the Irksome confinement, the active suffering, the slow horrors of a siege in that rocky prison, almost distracted her. Jenks was very stem and curt in his reply. “We must make the best of a bad business,” he said. “If we are in a tight place the Dyaks are not much better off, and eighteen of their number are dead or wounded. You forget, too, that Providence has sent us a most useful ally in the Mohammedan. When ail is said and done, things might lie far worse than they are.” Never before had his tone been so cold, his manner so abrupt, not even iu the old days when he purposely endeavored to make her dislike him. She walked along the ledge and timidly bent over him. “Forgive me!” she whispered. “I did forget for the moment not only the goodness of Providence, but also your self sacrificing devotion. I am only a woman, and I don't want to die yet, but I will not live unless you, too, are saved.” Once already that day she had expressed this thought in other words. Was some shadowy design flitting through her brain? Suppose they were faced with the alternatives of dying from thirst or yielding to the Dyaks. Was there another way out? Jenka

shivered, though the rock was grilling him. He must divert her mind from this dreadful brooding. “The fact Is,” he said, with a feeble attempt at cheerfulness, “we are both hungry and consequently grumpy. Now, suppose you prepare lunch. We will feel ever so much better after we have eaten.” The girl choked back her emotion and sadly essayed the task of providing a meal which was hateful to her. A few tears fell now and made little furrows down her soiled cheeks. But they were helpful tears, tears of resignation, not of despair. Although the “destruction that wasteth at noonday” was trying her sorely, she again felt strong and sustained. She even smiled on detecting an involuntary effort to clear her stained face. She was about to carry a biscuit and some tinned meat to the sailor when a sharp exclamation from him caused her to hasten to his side; The Dyaks had broken cover. Running in scattered sections across the sands, they were risking such loss us the defenders might be able to inflict upon them during a brief race to the shelter and food to be obtained in the other part of the island. Jenks did not tire at the scurrying gang. He was waiting for one man, Taung S’Ali. But tlpit redoubtable person, having probably suggested this dash for liberty, had fully realized the enviable share of attention he would attract during the passage. He therefore discarded hfs vivid attire and by borrowing odd garments made himself sufficiently like unto the remainder of his crew to deceive the sailor until the rush of men was over. Among them ran the Mohammedan, who did not look up the valley, but waved bls hand. When all had quieted down again Jenks understood how he had been fooled. He laughed so heartily that Iris, not knowing either the cause of his merriment or the reason of his unlooked for clemency to the flying foe, feared the sun had affected him. He at once quitted the post occupied during so protracted a vigil. "Now,” he cried, “we can eat in peace. I have stripped the chief of his finery. His men can twit him on being forced to shed his gorgeous plumage In order to save his life. Anyhow, they will leave us in peace until night falls, so we must make the best of a hot afternoon.” But he was mistaken. A greater danger than any yet experienced now threatened them, for Taung S’Ali, furious and unrelenting, resolved that if he could not obtain the girl he would slay the pair of them, and he had terrible weapons in his possession. [to be continued.)

The belligerents surveyed each other.