Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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gs I ??fe Wi: t? Morni " Before the light failed Jeaks ga %red all the ^poisoned arrows a fctouud "their venomed points to pow( beneath his heel. Gladly would I .^od he have dispensed with the friei $y protection of the tarpaulin when 1 t?ooi evening breeze came from t South. But such a .thing might not feven considered. Several noars of da] bess-must elapse before the moon ro fend during that period, were their fe "ff fco minded, they would oe absolutely the mercy of the sumpitan shafts if r hovered by their impenetrable budd* The sailor looked long and earnest Itt the well. Their own bucket, impi Vised out of a dish cover and a roi te& close to the brink. A stealthy era' ?teross the sandy valley, half a minn t>f grave danger, and he would be \ : the ladder again with enough water Serve their imperative needs for da; toc?me. Hiere was little or.no risk in d fccending the rock. Soon after suns lt was wrapped in deepest gloom, fi bight succeeds day in the tropics wil wondrous speed. The hazard lay j twice crossing the white sand, wei feny of the Dyaks hiding behind tl -house or among the trees. He held ao foolhardy view of h Swn powers. The one sided nature < the conflict thus far was due solely 1 ids possession of modern rifles as O] fcosed to muzzle loaders. Let him I Surrounded on the level at close qua tera by a dozen determined men an he i?ust surely _succumb. ~"TPere lt not ]fer pie presence of Iri tie would have given no second though to the peril. "To act without consult fcngher was impossible, Sb they dis bussed the project Naturally sh Scouted it" "The Mohammedan may be able t h&p us," she pointed out "In an; tevezrt let us wait until the moon wanes tChat is the darkest hour. We do no know what may hitppen meanwhile." ' "g&e words had hardly left her mo?t] Vhen an irregular1 volley was fired a them from the right flank of the en arny's position. . Every bullet strucl ^ards above their heads, the commoi ?ft?ifig of musketry at night being tc ^fcake too high an aim. But the impac & the missiles on a rock so highly im ^regnated with minerals caused sparks to fly, and Jenks saw that the ?yaki Vouid obtain by this means a mos1 dangerous index of their faulty prac t?ee. Telling Iris to at once occupj safe corner, he rapidly adjusted a tt?e \>n the wooden- rests already pre #ared in anticipation of an attack from that quarter and fired three shots at the opposing crest whence came the toajority of gun flashes. One at least of the three found a ba? taan billet There was a shout of sur? prise and pain, and the next volley ?p?rted- from the ground level. This ?ould do no damage owing to the angle, tsot ne endeavored to disconcert the teaxksmen by keeping up" a steady fire t& their direction. He did not dream \ attaining other than a moral effect there is a lot of room to miss when fetramg in the dark. Soon he imagined that the burst of flame from his rifle feelped the Dyaks. because several bul? lets whizzed close to his head, and febout this time firing ; recommenced trom the crest Kotwithstanding all his skill and ma? nipulation of the wooden supports he ?ailed to dislodge the occupants. Ev ^ry minute one or more ounces of lead pitched right into the ledge, damaging the stores and tearing the tarpaulin, . \rbile those which struck the wall of fcock were dangerous to Iris by reason t>? the molten spray. He could guess what had happened, lying flat oa the sloping plateau or Squeezing close to the projecting shoul? der of the cliff the Dyaks were so little Exposed that idle chance aioi/.e would Enable him to hit one of them. Bat they must be shifted, or this night bombardment would prove the most Serious development yet encountered. **Are you all right Iris':" he called *nt ^es, dear." she answered ^TTell. I want you to keep yourself hovered by the canvas for a little "While, especially your head and shoul? ders. I am going to stop these chaps. IChey ia ve fotmd our weak point but t tjan baffle them." She did not ask what he proposed to <lo. He heard the rustling of the tar &atulti as she pulled it. Instantly he ^ast loose the rope ladder and. armed ^aly with a revolver, dropped down the tock. He was quite invisible to the en ^jay. On reaching the ground he lis? tened for a moment There was no ssound save the occasional reports nine ty yards away. He bitched up thc low ^r rungs of the ladder until they wore iSix feet from the level and then crept Noiselessly close to the rock for some forty yards. He halted beside a small poon tree 4iad stooped to find something imbed <Sed near its roots. At this distance he ^ould plainly hear the muttered con? versation of the Dyaks and could see Several of them prone on the sand. The latter fact proved how fatal would be Sin attempt on his part to reach the % Veil. They must discover him instant? ly once he quitted the somber shadows t>f the cliff. He waited perhaps a few Seconds longer than was necessary. Endeavoring to pierce the dim atmos? phere and learn something of their dis - tuition.. - ... 4 By LOUIS TRACY Copyright. 1903. by Edvard J. Clode I A vigorous outburst of firing sent ! him back with haste. Iris was up there j alone. He knew not what might hap j pen. He was now feverishly anxious i to be with her again, to hear her voice i . and be sure that all was well. I 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 nest in? stant she dropped into his arms. ( A startled exclamation from the vi ; cinity of the house and some loud cries from the more distant Dyaks on the other side of Prospect park showed that they had been over*1 eard ~Up!" he whispered. ^Hold tight and go as quickly as you can!" "Not without your' "Up, for God's sake! I follow at your heels!" 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." "I am quite safe," she gasped. Turning and clinging on with one hand, he drew his revolver and fired at the p?dr beneath, who could now faintly discern them, and were almost within reach of the ladder. The shoot? ing made them halt He did not know QT care if they were hit To frighten them was sufficient Several others A tremendous explosion. were running across the s/nds to the cave, attracted by the noise and the cries of the foremost pursuers. Then he gave a steady pull to tb* 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,?illum? inating the vicinity like a meteor. It lit up the rock, showed Iris just van? ishing into the safety of the ledge and revealed Jenks and the Dyaks to each other. There followed instantly a tre? mendous explosion that shook earth and air. dislodging every loose stone in the southwest pile of rocks, hurling from the plateau some of its occu? pants and wounding the remainder .nth a shower of lead and debris. Thc sailor, unmciested further, reached th*. Icdge. In a tall tree near the valley of dc:;th Le had tightly fixed a loaded ri?e wi ich pointed at a loose stone in ti;e reek overhanging the ledge hohl by the Dyaks. This stone rested agains? i number of precussion caps extracte: from cartridges, und these were in di rect communication with a train ol' powder ie;:ding io a blasting charge placed at the end of a twenty-four inch hole drilled with a crowbar. The im? pact of the bui?et against the stone could not fail to explode some of the caps. Ile had used the contd ts of 300 cartridges, to secure a suflh .ency of powder, and the bullets were crammed int;> the crillee, being tamped with clay and wei sand. The ride was fired by means of the string, the loose coils of which were secreted at the foot of the poon. P.$ springing this novel mine he i had effectually removed every Dyak ! from the ledge, over which its contents > would spread like a fan. Further, it would probably deter the survivors from again venturing near the fatal j spot. Iris listened, only half comprehend ! ing. Her mind was tilled 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 j CHAPTER XIV. *' Z y OU are a dear unreasonable 1 Y tie girl." be said. '-Have y | breath enough to tell nie w I, I you came down the ladder "When I discovered j ou were go I became wild with fright. Don't y see. I imagined you were wound and had fallen from the ledge. WL else could I do but follow, either help you, or, if that were not p< sible" He found her hand ar.d pressed it his lips. "I humbly crave your pardon," said. "That explanation is more th; ample. It was I who behaved u reasonably. -'Of course I should ha warned you." "May I ask how many more wild a ventures you undertook without n knowledge?" "One other, of great magnitude, fell in love with you." '"Nonsense!" she retorted. "I kne that long before you admitted it yourself." "Date, please?" "Well, to begin at the very begi ning, you thought I was nice'on boa' the Sirdar. Now, didn't you?" And they were safely embarked on conversation of no interest to any ot er person in the wide world, but whi< provided- them with the most deligh ful topic imaginable. Thus the time sped until the risir moon silhouetted the cliff on the whii ; carpet of coral strewn sand. The blac shadow line traveled slowly closer 1 the base oT the cliff, and Jenks, guide i also by the stars, told Iris that mi night was at hand. They knelt on the parapet of ti ledge, . alert to catch any unusu; sound and watching for any indicatic of human movement. But Rainbow i .land was now still as the grave. Tl wounded Dyaks had seemingly bee removed from hut and beach. The dea lay where they had fallen. The se sang a lullaby to the reef, and th fresh breeze whispered among th palm fronds-that was all. If the Mussulman kept his compac the hour was at hand. Then the ligl hiss of a snake rose to them from th depths. That is a sound never forgol ten when once heard. It is like unt no other. Indeed the term "hiss" is ; misnomer for the quick sibilant expul sion of the breath by an alarmed o angered serpent Iris paid no heed to it; but Jenks who knew there was not a reptile o the snake variety on the island, leane< over the ledge and emitted a tolerabl: good imitation. The native was be neath. "Sahib!" The girl started at the unexpectec call from the depths. "Yes," said Jenks quietly. "A rope, sahib." The sailor lowered a rope. Some thing was tied to it beneath. The Mo hammedan apparently had little feai of being detected. 'Tull, 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 hoi and sour wine out of the tin cup and was about to hand the thrice wel? comed 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 things had happened. What if the wa? ter 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. "Xo 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 ill." Iris waited until he could speak again. "Why did you"- she began. But he bent over the parapet. "Hello !" "Sahib!" "You have not been followed?" "I think not sahib. Do not talk too loud. They are foxes in cunning. You ?ave a ladder, they say, sahib. Will not your honor descend? I have much to relate." Iris made no protest when Jenks ex? plained the man's request. She only stipulated that he should not leave the ladder, while she would remain within easy earshot The sailor, of course, carried his revolver. He also pickea np a crowbar, a most useful and silent weapon. Then he went quietly down? ward. Xearing. the gror.nd. he saw the native, who salaamed deeply and was unarmed. The poor fellow seem? ed to be very anxious to help them. "What is your name?" demanded the sailor. "Mir Jan, sahib, formerly corporal in the Kumaon regiment" "When did you leave the regiment?" "Two years ago, sahib. I killed" "What was the name of your colo? nel?" "Kurnal I-shpence-sahib, a brave ! man, but of no account on a horse." Jonks well remembered Colonel Spence-a fat, short legged warrior, who rolled off his charger if the ani? mal so muc!i 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 part His men are frightened. He wanted them to try once more with the tubes that shoot poison, but they refused. Ho could not come alone, for he could not j use his right hand, and he was wound- j ed by the blowing up of the rock. You ? nearly killed me, too, sahib. I was | . there with the bazaar-born whelps. By j . the prophet's beard, it was a fine "Are tiley going away, then?*' -Wo. lb. Tho dogs Lave been whipped so sore that they snarl for re? venge. They say there is no use in firms at jon. but they are resolved to kill you nnd the miss sahib or carry her oil if she escapes the assault." "What assault?" "Frotector of the poor, they are build? ing scaling ladders-four in all. Soon after dawn they intend to nish your position. You may slay some, they say, but you cannot slay threescore. Taung S'Ali has promised gold to every i man who survives if they succeed. They have pulled down your signal on the high rocks and are using the poles for the ladders. They think you have a charm, sahib, and they want to use your own work against you." This was serious news. A combined attack might indeed be dangerous, though it had the excellent feature that if it failed the Dyaks would certainly leave the island. But his sky sign de? stroyed! That was bad. Had a vessel chanced to pass the swinging letter would surely have attracted attention. Now even that faint hope was dis? pelled. "Sahib, there ls a worse thing to tell," said Mir Jan. "Say on, then." "Before they place the ladders against the cliff they will build a fire of green wood so that the smoke will be blown by the wind into your eyes. This will help to blind your aim. Otherwise you .never miss." "That will assuredly be awkward, Mir Jan." . "It will, sahib. Soul of my father, if we had but half a troop with us" But they had not, and they were both so intent on the conversation that they were momentarily off theil' guard. Iris was more watchful. She fancied there was a light rustling amid the under? growth beneath the trees on the right And she could hiss, too, ii that were the correct thing to do. So she hissed. Jenks swarmed halfway up the lad? der. "Yes, Iris," he said. "I am not sure, but I imagine some? thing moved among the bushes behind the house." "All right dear. I will keep a sharp lookout Can you hear us talking?" "Hardly. Will you be lorg?" "Another minute." He descended and told Mir Jan what the miss sahib said. The native was about to make a search when Jenks stopped him. "Here"-be handed the man his re? volver-"I suppose you can use this?" 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 the 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. He, 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 sa? laam. "I am a disgraced man. but if you will take me up there with you I will fight by your side until both my arms are hacked off. I am weary of these thieves. Ill chance threw me in? to their company. I will have no more of 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 es? capes 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. He reflected how best to utilize the serv? ices of this willing volunteer without exposing him to certain death in the manner suggested. The native misin? terpreted his silence. "I am not a rascal, sahib," he ex? claimed proudly. "I only killed a mari because" "Listen. Mir Jan. You cannot well mend what you have said. The Dyaks. you are sure, will not come before morning?" "They have carried the wounded to the boats and are making the lad? ders. Such was their talk when I left them." "Will they not miss you?" "They will miss the goatskin, sahib. It was the last full one/' "Mir Jan, do as I bid and you shall see Delhi again. Have you ever used a Lee-Metford?" "I have seen them, sahib., but I bet? ter understand the Mahtini." "I will give you a rifle, with plenty of ammunition. Do you go inside the cave, there, and" Mir Jan was startled. "Where the ghost is, sahib?" he said. "Ghost! That is a tale for children. There is no ghost, only a few bones of a man murdered by these scoun? drels long ago. Have you any food?" "Some rice, sahib; sufficient for a day or two at a pinch." "Good! We will get water from the well. When the fighting begins at dawn fire at every' nian you see from the back of the cave. On no account come out. Then they can never reach you if you keep a full magazine. Wait here." "I thought you were never coming," protested Iris when Jenks reached the ledge. "I have been quite creepy. I am sure there is some one down there. And, please, may I have another drink?" [TO BE CONTINUED.] 'r'lrr . -- They Were Playing T<o??ether. He (referring to music)-Don't you think rm slow and a little too soft? She (absently*-Yes. But, then, you have wealth and position, and that counts for something. Receiving a new truth is adding new sense.-Liebig. _____ BRAKEMAN HURT. From the Daily Item June 23. Prince Johnson, a negro train hand, who was painfully but not seriously injured at Lamar yesterday afternoon, was brought to this city today for treatment. Johnson was one of the crew of Xo. 25 and while the train was shifting at Lamar he attempted to couple two cars. The coupling was stiff and refused to work and he un? dertook to kick it into position. His foot became caught and was badly mashed when the cars came together. For Infants and Children. Ria Kind You Have Always Bough! Signature of I Promptly obtained or no fee. Write for our CONFIDENTIAL. LETTER before applying for patent ; it is worth money. We obtain PATENTS THAT PAY, and help inventors to success Send model, photo or sketch, and we send IMMEDIATE FREE REPORT ON PAT ENTABIMTY. 20yeaxsjJ)ractice. Regis? tered Patent Lawyers. Write or come to j ns at 505-507, 7th. St. WASHINGTON, D. C. DSWIFPMs 81 forra S3 I1^$SBiSH* TRACE M?HKS ^$3B|18SK^ DESIGNS 9vwr?^ COPYRIGHTS &C. Ar.vone sending a sketch and description mn? quickly ascertain our opinion free whether a.i invention )3 probably patentable. ComminlCR tior.s strictly confident ?al. Handbook on Patente Beut free. Oldest atrency for securing patents. Patents taken tiiroaih Mom & Co. receive tptc'ilnotice, without chadee, in the A handsomely ilhistrafd weefclv. IvWrsrest c?r jnlatiOii of any sotenti?lc Journal. "? i*rms, ?> a r??r: four months, $L Sold by al) newsdealers ?Wk & Co,3812***"* f?ew Tort TO flUALTY FOR GOOD POSITIONS GUARANTEED IN WRITING. 600 FREE !W?riB QA.-ALA. BUS. COLLEGE. MACON. QA I and M Ci M?iliMt M Geo. S. Hacker & 3or> -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASH, BLINDS, Moulding & Building Material. iSce?a?d Wdrerooro9, King, apposite Ca non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C. P^JPnrf?fau??- oar make, wbicfa we goarant superior ro any sold South, and thereby ?ave money. lindow and Fancy Glass a Specialty October 16 -c THE HEGE LOG BEAM SAW MILL WITH HEACOCK-KING FEED WORKS ENGINES AND BOILERS. WOOD WORKING MACHINERT, COTTON GINNING. BRICK MAKING AND SHINGLE AND LATH MACHINERY, CORN MILLS. ETC. ETC. GIBBES MACHINERY CO*? Columbia? S* C. THE GIBBES SHINGLE MACHINE DeLORfiE'S PHARMACY, 23 South Main St. Open from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. ; Sunday, 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. Having consolidated my two stores, 1 will be pleased to see all my customers at the above stand, where I am better pre? pared than ever to serve them Your prescriptions will be called for and delivered. Phone 45. Full line of Drugs, Garden Seed and Cigars. Your patronage solicited. Call bell for night work. is necessary for cotton to produce high yields and good fibre. Write for our valuable books on f?rtilization; they contain informa? tion that means dollars to the farmers. Sent free on request. Write now while you think of it to the GERMAN KALI WORKS New York- Atlanta, Ga. 93 Nassau St., or Q ^?ZJ? PICKED UP!! BY Writing Life Insurance In The Penn Mutual Insurance Go. I 1BERAL contracts to live agents *-* in unoccupied territory. ADDRESS PERRY HOSES, JR. General Agent, Sumter, S. C. $100,000.00 Capital. THE FIRST Ml?L BANK of Sumter, S. C. THE Comptroller of the Curroncy hav? ing approved the increase of the Capital of thi3 Bank to $100,000.00, depositors now have as security for th6ir deposits : . Capital, - - $100,000 00 Stockholders' Individual Lia- / bility, - - - :00,000 00 Surplus and Undivided Prof? its, ... 25.000 00 Total Security for Depositors, $225.000 00 ONLY NATIONLA BANK IN CITY OF SUMTES. Largest Capital of any Bank in this section of South Carolina. Strongest Bank in Eastern part of this State. Interest allowed on deposits to a limited amount. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A. J. CHINA, President NEILL O'DONNELL, Vice President. H. D. BARNETT, R. D. CEE, S. A. LEMMON, JOHN REID, E. P. RICKER. R. L. Et MUNDS, Cashier. R. D. LEE, Solicitor. BOOKKEEPERS. J. L. McCaJlum, D. J. Winn, Jr. _Oliver L. Yates._' THE BANK OF SUMTER, SUMTER, S. C. 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