Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 223, 9 September 1906 — Page 6

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'age Six. fhe Richmond Palladium, Sunday, Sept. 9, 1906. A Romance of Love and Adventure That Is Ordinarily Told and Will Hold the Read er's Attention From the Opening Chapter SfoWm3:.sfthe The People in the Story are Real and Wot Puppets, and the Plot Mr. Tracy Has By LOUIS TRACY ji Wcven About Them is Most Ingenious Copyright. 1903. by . ... . . . m : . Edward J. Clode k ; -,1. .Mg..

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Still adhering to his policy of combatting the first enervating attacks of thirst, the sailor sanctioned the 'con

sumption of the remaining water. As a last desperate expedient to be reported to only in case of sheer necessity, he uncorked a bottle of champagne and filled the tin cup. The sparkling wine, with its volume of creamy foam, looked so tempting that Iris would then and there have risked its potency were she not promptly withheld. Jenks explained to her that when the Svine became quite flat and insipid they might use it to. moisten their parched lips. Even so, in their present superheated state, the liquor was unquestionably .dangerous, but he hoped it would not harm them if taken in minute quantities. . Accustomed now to implicitly accept his advice, she fought and steadily conquered the craving within her. Oddly enough, the "thawing" of their scorched bodies beneath the tarpaulin brought a certain degree of relief. They were supremely uncomfortable, but that was tl3 naught compared with the re"ai:atlon from the torments previously borne. For a long time the best part of an hour, perhaps they remained silent. The sailor was reviewing the pros and cons of their precarious condition. It would, of course, be a matter of supreme importance were the Indian to be faithful to his promise. Here the prospect was decidedly hopeful. The man was an-old soldier, and the exofficer of native cavalry knew how enduring was the attachment of this poor convict to home and military service. Frobably at that moment the Mohammedan was praying to the prophet and his two nephews to aid him in rescuing the sahib and the woman whom the sahib held so dear, -for the all wise and all powerful Indian government is very merciful to offending natives who thus condone their former crimes. But, howsoever willing he might be, what could one man do among.'' so many? The Dyaks were hostile to him in race and creed, and assuredly infuriated against the foreign devil who had killed or wounded in round numbers one-fifth of their total force. Very likely the hapless Mussulman would lose his life that night in attempting to bring water to the foot of the rock. .Even if the man succeeded in eluding the vigilance of his present associates, where was the water to come from? There was none on the island save that in the well. In all likelihood the Dyaks had a store In the remaining sampans, but the native ally of the beleaguered pair would have a task of exceeding difficulty F in obtaining one of the jars or skins containing it. Again, granting all things went 'well that night, what would be the final outcome of the struggle? How long could Iris withstand the exposure, the strain, the heartbreaking misery of the rock? j He shook restlessly, not aware that the girl's sorrowful glance, luminous with love and pain, was fixed upon him. Summarily dismissing these grisly phantoms of the mind, he asked himself what the Mohammedan exactly meant by warning him against the trees on the right and the "silent death" that might come from them. He was about to crawl forth to the lip of die rock and investigate matters in that locality when Iris, who also was busy with her thoughts, restrained him. "Wait a little while," she said. "None of the Dyaks will venture into the open until night , falls. And I have something to say to you." There was a quiet solemnity In her voice that Jenks had never heard before. It chilled him. His heart acknowledged a quick sense of evil omen. He raised himself slightly and turned toward her. Her face, beautiful and serene beneath its disfigurements, wore an expression of settled purpose. For the life of him he dared not question her. ."That man, the interpreter," she said, "told you that if I were given up to the chief he and his followers would go away and molest ypu no more." His forehead seamed with sudden anger. "A mere bait." he protested. "In any event it is hardly worth discussion." And the answer came, clear and resolute: ' "I think I will agree to those terms." At first he regarded her with undisguised and wordless amazement. Then the appalling thought darted through his brain that she contemplated this supreme sacrifice in order to save him. A clammy sweat bedewed his brow, but by sheer will power he contrived to say: t "You must be mad to even dream of such a thing. Don't you understand what it means to you and to me? It is a ruse to trap us. They are ungoverned savages. Once they had you in their, power they Would laugh at a rromise made to me." "You may be mistaken. They must have some sense of fair dealing. Even . assuming that such was their intention, they may depart from it They have already lost a great many men. Their chief, having gained his main object, might not be able to iersuade them, to take further risks. I will make It a part of the bargain that they first supply you with plenty of water. Then you. unaided, could keep them at bay for many days. "We lose nothing; Ave can gain a great deal by endeavoring to pacify them." "Iris." he gasped, "what are you saying?" The unexpected sound of her name on his lips almost unnerVed her. But no martyr ever .-went to the stake with more settled purpose than this pure woman, resolved to immolate herself for the sake of the man she loved.. , He had dared all for her. faced death In many shapes. Now It was her turn. Her eyes were lit with a seraphic fire, her sweet face resigned as that of an angel. "I have thought it out," she mur?5rred. zzrAv? nt him steadily, vet

scarce seeing mm. "it is worth trying as a last expedient. We are abandoned by all save the Lord, and it does not appear to be his holj- will to help us on earth. We can, struggle on here until we die. . Is that right when one of us may live?" Her very candor had betrayed her. She would go away with these monstrous captors, endure them, even flatter them, until she and they were far removed from the island, and thenshe would kill herself. In her innocence she imagined that self destruction under such circumstances was a pardonable offense. She only gave a life to s-ave a life, and greater love than this is y.ot known to God or man. The sailor, In a tempest of wrath and wild emotion, had it in his mind to compel her into reason to shake her as ore shakes a wayward child. He rose to his knees with this half formed notion in his fevered brain; then he , looked at her, and a mist seemed to shut her out from his sight. Was she lost to him already? Was all that had gone before an idle dream of joy and grief, a wizard's glimpse of mirrored happiness and vague perils? Was Iris, the crystal souled, thrown to him by the storm lashed wave, to be snatched away by some irresistible and malign influence? In the mere physical effort to assure himself that she was still near to him he gathered her up In his strong hands. Yes, she was there, breathing, wonderr ing, palpitating. He folded ber closely to his breast and, yielding to the passionate longings of his tired heart, whispered to her: "My darling, do you think I can survive your loss? You are life itself to me. If we have to die, sweet one, let us die together." Then Iris flung her arms around his neck. "I am quite, quite happy now," she sobbed brokenly. "I didn't imagine it would come this way, but I am thankful it has come." For a little while they yielded to the glamour of the divine. knowledge that amid the chaos of 'eternity each soul had found its mate. There was no need for words. Love, tremendous in its power, unfathomable in its mystery, had cast Its spell over them. They were garbed in light, throned in a palace built by fairy hands. On all sides squatted the ghouls of privation, misery, danger, even grim death; but they heeded not the inferno; they had created a paradise in an earthly hell. Then Iris withdrew herself from the man's embrace. She was delightfully shy and timid now. "So you reallj' do love me?" she whispered, crimson faced, with shining eyes and parted lips. He fondled her hair and gently rubbed her cheek with his rough fingers. The sudden sense of ownership of this fair woman was entrancing. It almost bewildered him to find Iris nestling close, clinging to him in utter confi

dence and trust. "But I knew, I knew," she murmured. "You betrayed yourself so many times. You wrote your secret to me, i and, though you did not tell me, I found your dear words on the sands and have treasured them next my heart." ' What girlish romance was this? Ha held her away gingerly, just so far that he could look into her eyes. "Oh. it is true, quite true," she cried, drawing the locket from her neck. "Don't you recognize your own handwriting, or were you not certain, just then, that you really did love me?" Dear, dear! How often would she repeat that wondrous phrase! Together they bent over the tiny slips of paper. There it was again, "I love you," twice blazoned in magic symbols. With blushing eagerness she told him how, by mere accident, of course, she caught sight of her own name. It was not very wrong, was it, to pick up that tiny scrap or those others, which she could not help seeing and which unfolded their simple tale so truthfully? Wrong! It was so delightfully right that he must kiss her again to emphasize his convictions. They grew calmer, more sedate. It was so undeniably true they loved one another that the fact was becoming venerable with age. Iris was perhaps the first to recognize its quiet certainty. "As I cannot get you to talk reasonably," she protested, "I must appeal to your sympathy. I am hungry, and, oh, so thirsty." The girl had hardly eaten a morsel for her midday meal. Then she was despondent, utterly broken hearted. Now she was filled with new hope. There was a fresh motive in existence. Whether destined to live an hour or half a century she would never, never leave him, nor, of course, could he ever, ever leave her. Some things were quite impossible for example, that they should part. Jenks brought her a biscuit, a tin of meat and that most doleful cup of champagne. "It is not exactly frappe," he said, handing her the insipid beverage, "but, under other conditions, it is a wine almost worthy to toast you in." She fancied she had never before noticed what a charming smile he had. " Toast' is . a peculiarly , suitable word," she cried. "I am simply frizzling. In these warm clothes" She stopped. For the first time since that prehistoric period when she was -Miss Deane" and ha "Mr. Jenks" she remembered the manner of her garments. "It is not the warm clothing you feel so much as the want of air," explained the sailor readily. "This tarrfaulin has made the place very stuffy, but we must put up with it until sundown. By the way. what is that?" A light tap on the tarred canvas di rci:ly over his head bad caught 15ear. Iris, glad of the diversion, tolC fciiu &h iuui Hoajrd. tiui noise three or

. . CONTINUED

lour times, Dut fancied It was caused by the occasional rustling of the sheet on the uprights. ' . . . - Jnks had not allowed his attention to wander altogether from external events. Since the Dyaks last escapade there was no sign of them in the valley or on cither beach. Not for trivial cause would they -come again within range of Jenks rifle. They waited and listened silently. Another tap sounded on the tarpaulin in a different place, and they both concurred in the belief that something had darted in curved flight over the ledge and fallen on top of their protecting shield. "Let us see what the game is," exclaimed the sailor. He crept to the back of the ledge and drew himself up until he could reach over the sheet. He returned, carrying In his hand a couple of tiny arrows. - "There are ' no less than seven of these things sticking in the canvas," he said. -"They don't look very terrible. I suppose that is what my Indian friend meant by warning me against the trees on the right.'' ' He did not tell Iris all the Mohammedan said. There was no . need to alarm her causelessly. Even while they examined the curious little missile another flew up from the valley and lodged on the roof of their shelter. The shaft of the arrow, made of some extremely hard wood, was about ten Inches in length. Affixed to it was a pointed fish bone, sharp, but not barbed and not fastened in a manner suggestive of much strength. The arrow was neither feathered nor grooved for a bowstring. Altogether It seemed to be a childish weapon to be used by men equipped with lead and steel. Jenks could not understand the appearance of this toy. Evidently the Dyaks believed in its efficacy or they would not keep on pertinaciously dropping an arrow on the ledge. "How do they fire it?" asked Iris. "Do they throw it?" "I will soon tell you," he replied, reaching for a rifle. "Do not go out yet," she entreated him. "They cannot harm us. Perhaps The last arrow fell, and he sprang to the right of the ledge. we may learn more by keeping quiet They will not continue shootiug these things all day." Again a tiny arrow traveled toward them In a graceful parabola. This one fell short. Missing the tarpaulin, it almost dropped on the girl's outstretched hand. She picked it up. The fish bone point had snapped by contact with the floor of the ledge. She sought for and found the small tip. "See," she said. "It seems to have been dipped in something. It is quite discolored." Jenks frowned peculiarly. A startling explanation had suggested itself to him. Fragments of forgotten lore were taking cohesion In his mind. "Fut it down. Quick!" he cried. Iris obeyed him, with wonder in her eyes. He spilled a teaspoonful of champagne into a small hollow of the rock and steeped one of the fish bones in the liquid. Within a few seconds the champagne assumed a greenish tinge and the bone became white. Then he knew. "Good heavens," he exclaimed, "these are poisoned arrows shot through a blowpipe! I have never before seen one, but I have often read about them. The bamboos the Dyaks carried were sumpitans. These fish bones have been steeped in the juice of the upas tree. Iris, my dear girl, if one of them had so much as scratched your finger nothing on eaTth could save you." She paled and drew back in sudden horror. Another tap sounded on their thrice welcome covering. Evidently the Dyaks would persist in their efforts to get one of those poisoned darts home. Jeiiks debated silently whether it would be better to create a commotion, thus inducing the savages to believe they had succeeded in inflicting a mortal wound, or to wait until the next arrow fell, rush out and try conclusions with dumdum bullets against the sumpitan blowers. He decided in favor of the latter course. He wished to dishearten his assailants, to cram down their throats the belief that he was invulnerable and could visit their every effort with a deadly reprisal. Iris, of course, protested when he explained his project But the fighting spirit prevailed. Their love idyll must yield to the needs of the hour. He had not long tD wait The last arrow fell, and he sprang to the extreme rizht of Ihe ledge. First' be

FROM LAST SUNDAY

iooKea tnrougn tnat mvaiuaoie screen of grass." Three Dyaks were on the ground and a fourth in the fork of a tree. They were each armed with a blowpipe. He in the tree was just fitting an arrow into the bamboo tube. The others were watching him. Jenks raised his rifle, fired, and the warrior in the tree pitched headlong to the ground.. A. second shot . stretched a companion on top of him. One man jumped hnto the bushes and got away, but the fourth tripped over his unwieldy sumpitan, and a bullet tore, a large section from his skull. The sailor then amused himself with breaking the bamboos by firing at them. He came back to the white faced girl. "I fancy that further practice with blowpipes will be at a discount on llainbow island," he cried "cheerfully. But Iris was anxious and distrait. "It is very sad," she said, "that we are obliged to secure our own safety by the ceaseless slaughter of human beings. Is there no offer we can make them, no promise of future gain, to tempt them to abandon hostilities?" " "None whatever.' These Borneo Dyaks are bred from infancy to prey on their fellow creatures. To be strangers and defenseless is to court pillage and massacre at their hands. I think no more of shooting them than of smashing a clay pigeon. Killing a mad dog is perhaps a better simile." "But, Robert dear, how long can we hold out?" "What! Are you growing tired of me already?" Tie hoped to divert her thoughts from this constantly recurriivf topic. Twice within the hour had it been broached and dismissed, but Iris would not permit him to shirk it again. She made no reply, simply regarding him with a wistful smile. So Jenks sat down by her side and rehearsed the hopes and fears which perplexed him. He determined that there should be no further concealment between them. If they failed to secure water that night, if the Dyaks maintained a strict siege of the rpek throughout the whole of next day, well they might survive it was problematical. Best leave matters in God's hands. With feminine persistency she clung to the subject, detecting his unwillingness to discuss a possible final stage in their sufferings. "Robert," she whispered fearfully, "you will never let me fall into the power of the chief, will you?" "Not while I live." "You must live. Don't you understand? I would go with them to save you. But I would have died by my own hand. Robert, my love, you must do this thing before the end. I must be the first to die." The sailor wrestled with the. great problem. He may be pardoned if his J heart quailed and he groaned aloud. "Iris," he said solemnly, "whatever happens, unless I am struck dead at your feet, I promise you that we shall pass the boundary hand in hand. Be mine the punishment if we have decided wrongly. And now," he cried, tossing his head in a defiant access of energy, "let us have done with the morgue. For my part I refuse to acknowledge I am inside until the gates clang behind me." They chatted in lighter vein with such pendulum swing back to nonchalance that none would have deemed it possible for these two to have already determined the momentous issue of the pending struggle should it go against them. And so the sun sank to rest In the sea, and the stars pierced the deepening blue of the celestial arch, while the man and the woman awaited patiently the verdict of the fates. Before the light failed Jenks gathered all the poisoned arrows and ground their venomed points to powder beneath his heel. Gladly would Iris and he have dispensed with the friendJy protection of the tarpaulin when the cool evening breeze came from the south. But such a thing might not be even considered. Several hours of darkness must elapse before the moon rose, and during that period, were their foes so minded, they would be absolutely at the mercy of the sumpitan shafts if not covered by their impenetrable buckler. The sailor looked long and earnestly at the well. Their own bucket, Improvised out of a dish cover and a rope, lay close to the brink. A stealthy crawl across the sandy valley, half a minute of grave danger, and he would be up the ladder again with enough water to serve their imperative needs for days to come. There was little - or no risk in descending the rock. Soon after sunset it was wrapped in deepest gloom, for night succeeds day in the tropics with wondrous speed. The hazard lay in twice crossing the white sand, were J any of the Dyaks hiding behind the house or among the trees. He held no foolhardy view of his own powers. The one sided nature of. the conflict thus far was due solely to his possession of modern rifles as opposed to muzzle loaders. Let him be surrounded on the level at close quarters by a dozen determined men and he must surely succumb. Were it not for the presence of Iris he would have given no second thought to the peril. To act without consulting her was impossible, so they discussed the project Naturally she scouted it "The Mohammedan may be. able to help us," she pointed out. "In any event let us wait until the moon wanes. That is the darkest hour. We do not know what may happen meanwhile." The words had hardly left her mouth when an irregular volley was fired at them from the right flank of the enemy's position." Every bullet struck yards above their heads, the common failing of musketry -at night being, to take too high an aim. But the Impact of the missiles on a-rock so hichly Im

pregnated witn minerals caused, spares to fly. and Jenks saw that the Dyaks would obtain by this means a most dangerous index of their faulty practice. Telling Iris to at once occupy her safe corner, he rapidly adjusted a rifle on the wooden rests already prepared in anticipation of an attack from that quarter and fired three shots at the opposing crest whence came the majority of gun flashes. One at least of the three found a human billet. There was a shout of surprise and pain, and the next volley spurted from the ground level. This could do no damage owing to the angle, but he endeavored to disconcert the marksmen by keeping up a steady fire in" their direction. He did not dream of attaining other than a moral effect as there is a lot of room to miss when aiming in the dark. Soon he imagined that the burst of flame from his ri5 helped the Dyaks, because several bullets whizzed close to his head, and about this time firing recommenced from the crest. Notwithstanding all his skill and manipulation of the wooden supports he railed" fo 'Tfslodge the occupants. Every minute one or more ounces of lead pitched right into the ledge, damaging the 'stores and tearing the tarpaulin, while those which struck the wall of rock were dangerous to Iris by reason of the molten spray. He could guess what had happened. By lying flat on the sloping plateau or squeezing close to the projecting shoulder of the cliff the Dyaks were so little exposed that idle chance alone would enable him to hit one of them. But they must be shifted, or this night bombar.dment would prove the most serious development yet encountered. "Are you all right. Iris?" he called out. "Yes, dear," she answered. "Well, I want you to keep yourself covered by the canvas for a little while, especially your head and shoulders. ' am going to stop these chaps. Thej.. have, found our. weak point, but I can; baffle them." She did not ask what he proposed to do. He heard the rustling of the tarpaulin as she pulled it. Instantly he cast loose the rope ladder and, armed only with a revolver, dropped down the rock. He was quite invisible to the enemy. On reaching the ground he listened for a moment. There was no sound save the occasional reports ninety yards away. He hitched up the lower rungs of the ladder until they were six feet from the level and then crept noiselessly close to the rock for some forty yards. He halted beside a small poon tree and stooped to find something imbedded near its roots. At this distance he could plainly hear the muttered conversation of the Dyaks and could see several of them prone on the sand. The latter fact proved how fatal would be an attempt on his part to reach the well. They must discover him instantly once he quitted the somber shadows of the cliff. He waited perhaps a few seconds longer than was necessary, endeavoring to pierce the dim atmosphere and learn something of their disposition. A vigorous outburst of firing sent himbaek with haste. Iris was up there

alone. lie knew not what might happen. He was now feverishly anxious to be with her again, to hear her voice and be sure that all was well. To his horror he found the ladder swaying gently against the rock. Some one was using it. He sprang forward, careless of consequence, and seized the swinging end, which had fallen free again. He had his foot on the bottom rung when Iris' voice, close at hand and shrill with terror, shrieked: "Robert, where are you?" "Here!" he shouted. The next instant she dropped into his arms. A startled exclamation from the vicinity of the house and some loud cries from the more distant Dyaks on the other side of Trospect park showed that they had been overheard. "Up!" he whispered. "Hold tight and go as quickly as you can!" "Not without you!" "Up, for God's sake! I follow, at your heels T' She began to climb. He took some article from between his teeth, a string apparently, and drew it toward him, mounting the ladder at the same time. The end tightened. He was then about ten feet from the ground. Two Dyaks, yelling fiercely, rushed from the cover of the house. "Go on," he said to Iris. "Don't lose your nerve, whatever happens. I am close behind you." T am quite safe," she gasped. Turning and clinging on with, one hand, he drew his revolver and fired at the pair beneath, who could now faintly discern them, and were almost within reach of the ladder. The shooting made them halt He did, not know or care if they were hit To frighten them was sufficient Several others were running across the sands to the cave, attracted by the noise and the cries of the foremost pursuers. Then he gave a steady pull to the cord. The sharp crack of a rifle came from the vicinity of the old quarry. He saw the flash among the trees. Almost simultaneously a bright light leaped from the opposite ledge, illuminating the vicinity like a meteor. It lit up the rock, showed Iris just vanishing into the safety of the ledge and revealed Jenks and the Dyaks to each other. There followed instantly a tremendous explosion that shook earth and air, dislodging every loose stone in the southwest pile of rocks, hurling from the plateau some of its occupants and wounding the remainder with a shower of lead and debris. The 6ailor, unmolested further, reached the ledge. In a tall tree near the valley ' of death he had tightly fixed a loaded rifle which pointed at a loose stone in the rock overhanging the ledge held by f)'a T)rah" T3ii3 tC Tested aj

a number of precussion caps extracted from cartridges, and these were in direct communication with a train of powder leading to a blasting charge placed at the end of a twenty-four inch hole drilled with a crowbar. The impact of the bullet against the stone could not fail to explode some of the caps. He had used the contents of COO cartridges to secure a sufficiency of powder, and the bullets were crammed Into the orifice, being tamped with clay and wet sand. The rifle was fired by means of the string, the loose coils of which were secreted at the foot of the poon. By springing this novel mine he had effectually removed every Dyak from the lodge, over which its contents would spread like a fan. Further, it would probably deter the survivors from again venturing near the fatal spot Iris listened, only half comprehending. Her inind was filled with one thought to the exclusion of all others. Robert had left her. had done this thing without telling her. She forgave him, knowing he acted for the best, but he must never, never deceive her again In such a manner. She could not bear it.

CHAPTER XIV. Y OU are a dear unreasonable lit tle girl," he said. "Have you breath enough to tell me why you came down the ladder?" "When I discovered you were gone I became wild with fright. Don't you see, I imagined you were wounded and had fallen from the ledge. What else could I do but follow, either to help you, or, if that were not possible" He found her hand and pressed it to his lips. "I humbly crave your pardon," he said. "That explanation is more than ample. It was I who behaved unreasonably. Of course I should have warned you." "May I ask how many more wild adventuresyou - undertook without , my knowledge?" : "One other, of great magnitude." I fell in love with you."; ; - ; "Nonsense!" she retorted. "I knew that long before you admitted it to yourself." ... "Date, please?" "Well, to-begin at; the very beginning, you thought I was nice on board the Sirdar. Now, didn't you?" ... And they, were safely embarked on a conversation of no interest to any other person in the wide world, but which provided them with the most delightful topic imaginable. , : Thus the time sped until. the rising moon silhouetted the cliff on the white carpet of coral strewn sand. The black shadow line traveled slowly closer to the base of the clnT, and Jenks, guided also by the stars, told Iris that midnight was at hand. - They knelt on the parapet of the ledge, alert to catch any unusual sound and watching for any indication of human movement. But Rainbow Island was now still as the grave. The wounded Dyaks had seemingly been removed from hut and beach. The dead lay where they had fallen. The sea sang a lullaby to the reef, and the fresh breeze whispered among the palm fronds that was all. If the Mussulman kept his compact the hour was at hand. Then the light hiss of a snake rose to them from the depths. That is a sound never forgot ten when once heard. It is like unto no other. Indeed the term "hiss" is a misnomer for the quick sibilant expulsion of the breath by an alarmed or angered serpent. Iris paid no heed to it; but Jenks, who knew there was not a reptile of the snake variety on the island, leaned over the ledge and emitted a tolerably good imitation. The native was beneath. "Sahib!" The girl started at the unexpected call from the depths. "Yes," said Jenks quietly. "A rope, sahib." The sailor lowered a rope. Something was tied to it teneath. The Mohammedan apparently had little fear of being detected. "Full, sahib." "Usually it is the sahib who says pull,' but circumstances alter cases. communed Jenks. He hauled steadily at a heavy weight, a goatskin filled with cold water. He emptied the hot and sour wine out of the tin cup and was about to hand the thrice welcomed draft to Iris when a suspicious thought caused him to withhold it "Let me taste first," he said. The Indian might have betrayed them to the Dyaks. More unlikely thing3 had happened. What if the water were poisoned or drugged? He placed the tin to his lips. The liquid was musty, having been in the skin nearly two days. Otherwise it seemed to be all right With a sigh of profound relief he gave Iris the cup and smiled at the most unladylike haste with which she emptied it "Drink yourself and give me some more," she said. "No more for you at present, madam. In a few minutes, yes." "Oh, why not now?" "Do not fret, dear one. You can have all you want in a little while. But to drink much now would make you very I1L" Iris waited until he could speak ajftin. "Why did you" she began. But he bent over the parapet. "Hello f "Sahib!" You have not been followed?" I think not. sahib. Do not talk too loud. They are foxes in cunning. Yon nave a ladder, they say, sahib.' Will, not your honor descend? I have much to relate." Iris made no protest when Jenks explained the man's request She only : stipulated that he should not leave the Ladder, while she. would, remaia with'

trasjF farrsiiot. iue sailor, or course, carried bis revolver. He also picked up a crowbar, a most useful and silent weapon. Then he went quietly downward. N earing the ground, he saw the native, who salaamed deeply auM wr.s unarmed. The poor fellow seemed to be very anxious to help them. "What is your name?" demanded the sailor. "Mir Jan, sahib, forraerlyi corporal in the Kumaon regiment." "When did you leave theregiment?" "Two years ago, sahib. I". killed" "What was the name of I your colonel?", , , "Kumal I-shpence-sahib, a brave man, but of no account on ahorse." Jenks well remembered Colonel Spence a fat. short legjed warrior, wha rolled off his charger-if the animal so much as looked sideways. Mir Jan was telling the truth. "You are right, Mir Jan. What Is Tuang S'Ali doing now?" "Cursing, sahib, for the most parti His men are frightened. ILe wanted them to try once more with cthe tube that shoot poison, but they refused. H could not come alone, for he uld not use his right hand, and he was wounded by the blowing up of the rock. You nearly killed me, too, sahib. I was there with the bazaar-born whelps. By. the prophet's board, it was a fine stroke." "Are they going away, then?" "No, sahib. The dogs have been whipped so sore that they snarlifor revenge. They say there is no use in firing at you, but they are resolved to kill you and the miss sahib or carry, her off if she escapes the assault" "What assault?" I "Protector of. the poor, they arebuild-, ing scaling ladders four in all. iSoon after dawn they intend to rushiiyour, position. You may slay some, J they say, but you cannot slay thretgjcore.1 Taung S'Ali has promised gold toievery( . man , who survives if they siKceed., They have pulled down your signal on, the high rocks and are .using.toenolos for the ladders. They thlntTyoutiiave' a charm, sahib, and they want toi useyour own work against you." t This .was 'serious news. s A combined attack might indeed Ik dangesrou though it had the excellent featureHhar if It failed the Dyaks would '.certainly, leave the island. But his sky sign destroyed! That was bad. Had a, vessel chanced to pass the swinging.letter would surely have attracted ",atttion.. Now even that faint hope waa. dispelled. ' '-" '' '-'7.'"" ".-".? V "Sahib, there is a worse thing totell,", said Mir Jan. , " "Say on, then." ' ! "Before they place tbeladders against the cliff they will build , a fire of ' greem wood so that the smoke' will .be blown by the wind into your eyes. t This will help to blind your aim. Otherwise you. never miss." s , "That will assuredly be awkward,, Mir Jan." "It will, sahib. Soul of mylfathcr. If we had but half a troop withus" But they had not and they were both so intent on the conversation that they, were momentarily off thir guard. Iris was more watchful. She fancied thero was a light rustling amidi the undergrowth beneath the trees on the right And she could hiss, too, iffctbat wero the correct thing to do. . So she hissed. , Jenks swarmed halfway uptbe lad-; der. T "Yes, Iris," he said. ; '

"I am not sure, but I Imagine something moved among the bushes behind' the house." ' "All right dear. I will keep asharpj lookout. Can you hear us talking!?" ' "Hardly. Will you be long?" "Another minute." He descended and told Mir Jan what the miss sabib said. The native was about to make a search when Jenks stopped him. "HereWhe handed the man his revolver "I suppose you can use tbisi?" . Mir Jan took it without a word, and Jenks felt that the Incident atoned for ' previous unworthy doubts of his dark friend's honesty. The Mohammedan cautiously examined the back of tho house, the neighboring shrubs and the open beach. After a brief absence he reported all safe, yet no man has. ever ' been nearer death and escaped it'than he during that reconnoissance. lie, too, forgot that the Dyaks were foxes, and foxes can lie close when hounds are a trifle stale. Mir Jan returned the revolver. "Sahib," he said, with another salaam, "I am a disgraced man, but if you will take me up there with u I will fight by your side until both my arms are hacked off. I am weary of these thieves. Ill chance threw me Into their company. I will have no mo roof them. If you will not have me on the rock, give me a gun. I will hide among the trees, and I promise that some of them shall die tonight before they find me. For the honor of the regiment sahib, do not refuse this thing. All I ask Is If your honor escapes that you will write to Kurnal I-shpence-sahib and tell him the last act of Mir Jan, corporal in B troop." Jenks was profoundly moved. Hb reflected how best to utilize the serrices of this willing volunteer without exposing him to certain death In th manner suggested. The native misinterpreted his silence. "1 am not a rascal, sahib," be exclaimed proudly. "I only killed a man because" "Listen. Mir Jan. You cannot well mend what you have said. The Dyaks, you are sure, will not come before morning?" "They hare carried the wounded to the boats and are making the lad.irs. Sucn was their tallTwhen I left them.".. .. .. ' (To be Continued Next Sunday.) Palladium Want Ads Pay