The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, March 09, 1906, Page 3, Image 3
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most careful scrutiny did not-re- '
veal any arms of precision. They all '
carried muzzle loaders, either antlquut- j
ed flintlocks or guns su'Hcieutly modern
to be fltted with nipples for percussion
caps.
Each Dyuk, of course, sported a parang
and dagger-like creese; a few bore
spears, and about a dozen shouldered
a long straight piece of bamboo. The
nature of this implement the sailor
could not determine at the moment.
^ In tli? .neighborhood of the fire nn
nninu.t?^liscu3slou took place. Though
it was easy to see that the chief was
nil paramount, his fellow tribesmen exercised
a democratic right of free
speech and outspoken opinion.
Flashing eyes and expressive hands
were turned toward the cave and hut.
Once when the debate grew warm the
chief snatched up a burning branch
and held it over the blackened embers
of tlie fire extinguished by Jcuks. He
eecmcd to draw some definite conclusion
from an examination of the charcoal,
and the argument thereforth proceeded
with Jess emphasis. Whatever
It was that he said evidently carried
conviction.
Iris, nestling close to the sailor, whispered:
"Do you know what he has found
out?"
"I can only guess that he can tell by '
the appearance of the burned wood
how long It Is since It was extingulshed.
Clearly they agree with him."
"Then they know we are still here?"
"Either here or gone within a few
hours. In any case they will make a
thorough search of the island at daybreak."
"Will it be dawn soon?"
"Yes. Are vou tiredV"
"A liltlo crumped?that is nil."
"Don't think I nin foolish. Can you
manage to sleep 7"
"Sleep! With those men so near!"
"Yes. We do not know how long
they will remain. Wc must keep up
our strength. Sleep, next to food and
drink. Is a prime necessity."
"If it will please you I will try," she
Mid, with such sweet readiness to
?bey his slightest wish that the won?"cr
is l:e did not kiss her then and
there. Py previous instruction she
know exactly what to do. She crept
quietly back until well ensconced in
the niche widened and hollowed for
lier accommodation. There so secluded
was she from the outer world of
horror and peril that the coarse voices
beneath only reached her In a murmur.
Pulling one end of the tarpaulin over
her, she stretched her weary limbs on
a litter of twigs and leaves, comiuomU
cd herself and the man she loved to
God's keeping and, wonderful though
it may seem, was soon slumbering
peacefully.
The statement may sound passing
strange to civilized ears, accustomed
only to the routine of daily life and
not inured to danger and wild sur- |
roumilngs. lsut tno soldier wlio has
snatched a hasty doze in the trenches,
the sailor who ha3 hoard a fierce gale
buffeting the walls of his frail ark.
can appreciate the reason why Iris,
weary and surfeited with excitement,
would have slept were she certain that
the next sunrise would mark her last
hour on earth.
Jenks, too. composed himself for a
? brief rest. lie felt assured that there
was not the remotest chance of their
lofty perch being found out before
daybreak, and the first faint streaks of
dawn would awaken him.
When the morning breeze swept over
the ocean and the stars were beginning
to pale before the pink glory filing
broadcast through the sky by the yet
invisible sun, the sailor was aroused
by the quiet fluttering of a bird about
to settle 011 the rock, but startled by
the sight of him.
Ills faculties were ut once on thealert,
though he little realized the danger
betokened by the bird's rapid dart
iuto the void. Turning first to peer at
Iris, he satisfied himself that she was
still asleep. Her lips were slightly
parted in a smile. She might he
dreaming of -sununer and England. lie
. noiselessly wormed his way to the
ft verge of the rock and looked down
through the grass roots.
The Dyaks were already stirring.
Some were replenishing the fire, others
were drawing water, cooking, eating.
smoking long tliiu stemmed pipes with
absurdly small bowls or. oiling their
limbs nnd weapons with impartial energy.
The chief yet lay stretched on
the sand, but when the first beams of
the sun gilded the waters a man
stooped over the prostrate form and
said something that caused the sleeper
to rise stifll.v, supporting himself on
his uninjured arm. They at once went
off together toward Eurcpa point.
"They have found the boat," thought
Jcnk8. "Well, they are welcome to all
the information it affords."
The chief gave some order, at which
they all hung hack sheepishly. Cursing
* ' them In choice Malay, the chief seized
a thick faggot and strode In the direction
of the cavo. Goaded into activity
by his truculent demeanor, some fol^
lowed him, and Jenks, unable to see,
ft hut listening anxiously, knew that they
were tearing the cheval dc frlse from
its supports. Nevertheless none of the
working party entered the excavation.
'Xlicy foiyred the parolwd bouos tbet
j$-:y *;?
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gscfthef!
, By LOUIS fell!
O TRACY &
Copyright. 1903, by z\-?
^ Ldward J. C'odo
BEt^4Sbs^S7vay q
shone by n'gbt.
As lie hml not been able to complete
the communicating shaft it was not
rf ^ /V~ ^
V. ^ rf ~
The monstrous object crouching In luminous
horror.
now of vital importance should the
Dyoks penetrate to the interior. Yet
ho thanked the good luck that had
showered such a heap of rubbish over
the spot containing his chief stores and
covering the vein of gold. Wild as
these fellows were, tlioy -mill k$crw the
value of the precious metal, and if by
chance they lighted upon such a well
defined lode they might not quit the
island for weeks.
At last on a command from the chief
the Dyaks scattered in various dime
tlons. Some turned toward Europa
point, but the majority went to the
east along Turtle beacli or by way of
the lagoon. Prospect park was deserted.
They were scouring both sections
of the island in full force.
TliiTjcjniet Watcher 011 the ledge took
no needless risks. Though it was impossible
to believe any stratagem had
been planned for bis special benelit, an
accident might betray him. With the
utmost circumspection lie rose 011 all
fours and, with comprehensive glance,
examined trees, plateau and both strips
of beach for signs of a lurking foe. lie
need have no fear. Of all places in the
island the Dynks least imagined that
their quarry had lain all night within
earshot of their encampment.
Jenks slid back down the ledge and
/.cntly wakened Iris. She sat up instantly
and gazed at him with wondering
eyes.
Fearful lest she should forget her
surroundings, lie placed a warning finger
011 his lips.
"Oh," she said in a whisper, "are
they still hero?"
lie told her what had happened and
suggested that tlicy should have something
to eat while the coast was clear
beneath. She needed 110 second bidding,
for the long vigil of the previous
night had made her very hungry, and
the two breakfasted right royally on
biscuit, cold fowl, liani and good water.
Iu this, the inner section of their ref
uqc, iuuj cjum ut* ftt'cu uuiy uy u iiirn
or by a man standing on the distant
rocky shelf that formed the southern
extremity of tlie opposite cliff, and the
sailor kept a close lookout in that direction.
Iris was about to throw the remains
of the feast into an empty oil tin provided
for refuse when Jenks restrained
her.
"No." he said smilingly. "Scraps
should be th(> first course next time.
We must not waste an atom of food."
"How thoughtless of me!" fflie exclaimed.
"Please tell me you think
they will go away today."
llut the sailor flung himself fiat on
the ledge and grasped a rifle.
"He still, on your life!" he said.
"Squeeze into your corner. There is a
Dyak on the opposite cliff."
True enough, a man had climbed
to that unhappily placed rocky table
and was shouting something to a confrere
high on the cliff over their heads.
ah yet 110 bad not soon tlieni nor even
noticed the place where they were concealed.
The sailor imagined from the
Dyak's gestures that lie was communicating
the uselessness of further
search on the western part of the island.
When the conversation ceased he
hoped the loud voiced savage would
descend. But 110! The scout looked
Into the valley, at the well, the house,
the cave. Still he did not see the
ledge. At that unlucky moment three
birds, driven from the trees 011 the
crest by the passage of tho Dyaks,,
flew down the face of the cliff and began
a circling quest for some safe
perch on which to alight.
Jenks swore with an emphasis not
tho less earnest because it was mute
and took steady aim at the Dyak's left
breast. The birds fluttered ftbout iu
e.v? swaJlcc sirens, Tl)cu gue of tl^ern
L...., .. v.,,
??5??BL Sf*
. dropped easily on to the lip of tho '
I reek. Instantly his bright eyes encountered
those of the man. and he darted
off with a scream that brought his
mates after liim.
| The Dynk evidently noted the beliav- j
lor of the birds?his only lore was the
reading of such signs?and gazed intently
at the ledge. Jenks ho could
not distinguish behind tho screen of
grass. lie might perhaps see some
portion of the tarpaulin covering tho
stores, but at the distance it must resemble
a weather beaten segment of
the cliff. Vet something puzzled liim.
After a steady scrutiny he turned and
yelled to others on the beach.
The crucial moment had arrived.
Jenks pressed the trigger, and the
Dynk hurtled through the air, falling
headlong out of sight.
The sound of this, tiie first shot of
real warfare, awoke Ilniubow island
into tremendous activity. The winged !
life of the place filled the air with rau- !
cons cries, while shouting Dynks scur- ;
ried in all directions. Several came in- !
to the valley. Those nearest the fallen
man picked him up and carried liim to
the well. lie was quite dead. and. although
amid his other injuries they
soon found the bullet wound, they evidently
did not know whence the shot
came, for those to whom lie shouted
had no inkling of his motive, and the
slight haze from the rifle was instantly i
swept a way by the breeze.
Iris could hoar the turmoil beneath,
and she tremulously asked:
"Are they going to attack us?"
"Not yet," was the reassuring answer.
"I killed the fellow who saw us \
before he could tell the others."
It was a bold risk, and he had taken '
it. though now the Dyaks knew for
certain their prey had not escaped
there was no prospect of their speedy
departure. Nevertheless the position j
was not utterly hopeless. None of the i
enemy could toll how or by whom their |
companion had been shot. Many j
among the excited horde jabbering be- j
neath actually looked at the clilT over
and over again, yet failed to note the
potentialities of the ledge, with Its few
tufts of grass growing where seeds had
apparently been blown by the wind or
dropped by passing birds.
.Tenks understood, of course, that the
real danger would arise when they v.sIted
the scene of their comrade's disaster.
Even then the wavering balance
of chance might cast the issue in
his favor. He could only wait, with
ready ritie, with the light of battle
lowering in his eyes. Of one thing at
least lie was certain?before they conquered
him be would levy a terrible
toll.
He glanced back at Iris. Iler face
was pale beneath Its mask of sun
brown.
The ehlef was listening intently to
the story of the Dyak who saw the
dead man totter and fall. He gave
some quick order. Followed by a score
or more of bis men, he walked rapidly
to the foot of the eliff whore they
found the lifeless body.
.Tenks stole one more hasty glance at
Iris. The chief and the greater number
of his followers were out of sight
behind the rocks. Some of them must
now bo clinching to that fatal ledge.
Was this the end?
Iris bent forward suillciently in her
sheltering niche to permit l'or to gaze
with wistful tenderness upon Jeuks.
She knew ho would dare all for her
sake. She could only pray and hope.
Suddenly a clamor of discordant yells
fell upon her ears. Jenks rose to his
knees. The Dyaks had discovered their
refuge and were about to open lire. He
offered them a target lest perchance
Iris were not thoroughly screened.
"ICccn close." lie snWl "Tliov l?n\-e 1
found us. Lead will be flying around
soon."
She flinched back Into tbe crevice;
the sailor fell prone. Four bullets spat
into the ledge, of which three pierced
the tarpaulin and one flattened itself
against the rock.
Thci^Jenks took up the tale. So curiously
constituted was this man that,
K 11 1
The Duuli hurtled through the air.
although ho ruthlessly shot the savngo
who first spied out their retreat, ho
was swayeu oniy uy me uictates or
stern necessity. There was a l'eeble
chance that further bloodshed might
he averted. That chance had passed.
Very well. The enemy must start the
dreadful game about to be played.
They had thrown the gage, and he unswered
them. Four times did Jenks'
rifle carry death, unseen, almost unfelt,
aeross the valley.
Ere tho fourth Dyak collapsed limply
Where be .wej# tfesre,
* ^ ?. .*""1 * #?
M TRADE MARK
REGISTERED
ir? a r wt^i
our compelitoi
Eggy original Fish (
&asB buyers should
PSf This is the on
I FsiPi
Bj& Ji. 11 .
I 33
SB Norfolk, Va.
hHl Columbia, S.C. (
firing ;it the little pun' of smoke above
the grass. They got in a few shots,
most of which sprayed at various i
angles off the face of the cliff. Hut
they waited for no more. When the j
lever of the Lee-Met ford was shoved i
home for the fifth time the opposing j
erort was hare of all opponents save . 1
two, and they lay motionless. 1
The fate of the flanking detachment j 1
was either unperceivcd or unheeded by |
the Dyaks left in the vicinity of the j I
house and well. Astounded by the fir- I i
ing that hurst forth in midair, Jenks ' I
had cleared the dangerous rock before i
they realized that here, above their
heads, were the white man and the
maid whom they sought. i
.With stupid zeal they blazed away
furiously, only succeeding in showering
fragments of splintered stone into
the eagle's nest. And the sailor smiled.
He quietly picked up an old coat, rolled
it into a hall and pushed it into sight
amidst the grass. Then he squirmed
round on his stomach and took up a
position ten feet away. Of course those
wllrt ct ill - .11?1
ed tliem at tlic bundle of rags, whereupon
Jenks thrust his rifle beyond the
edge of the rock and leaned over.
Three Dyaks fell before the remainder
made up their minds to run. Ouee eonvini
cd. however, that running was good ,
for their heallh, they moved with much '
celerity. The remaining cartridges In '
the magazine slackened the pace of two ,
of their number. Jenks dropped the j
empty weapon and seized another. lie ;
stood up now and sent a quick remind- '
or after the rearmost pirate. The others
had disappeared toward the locality
where their leader and his diminished
troop were gathered, not during to
again come within range of the whistling
dumdums. The sailor, holding his
rifle as though pheasant shooting, bent
forward and sought a belated opponent,
but in vain. There was no sound
save the wailing of birds, the soft
sough of the sea and the yelling of the
three wounded men in the house, who
knew not what terrors threatened and
vainly bawled for succor.
Acrnfn nonld * y..t? tt.?
?4DUiti umu\o V-WIIIU IUUU ill ill^. ilt'r
face was bleeding. The sight maddened
him.
' My God!" he groaned. "Are yon
wounded?"
She smiled bravely at him.
"It is nothing," she said ?"a mere
splash from the roek which cut my
forehead."
lie dared not go to her. lie could
only hope that it was no worse, so ho
turned to examine tlie valley once moro
for vestige of a living foe. I
CHAPTER XII. I
H-?*! 1IOUGII ids eyes, like live coals,
| | I glowered with sullen tire at the
JL I s^r'l) san<l nnil the rocks in
1 I 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 j
watch and ward over his fortress, but
lie could not help asking himself what
would happen if Iris wore seriously
wounded.
There was one enemy more potent
than these skulking Dynks, a foe more
utcsisuuio in nis niigui, more pitiless |
In Lis strengtli, whoso assaults would (
tax to the utmost their powers of re- I
sistance. 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, tlie
power of unrestricted movement and
the possession of water in any desired
quantity robbed the tropical heat of '
the day of its chief terrors. Now all
was changed. Instead of i working j
T.??l
\
]
pp
Jr ^ im il
7 - is
Ineeresf F
he unprecedented popul
RS' BONE fertilizer he
*s to advertise Fish Gua
as good." FARMER
Guano, and, to prevent b
be sure that our trade-m*
ly guarantee that you are
*
svjaacdes with h is
, s, rsysier guano
tn the brown rock, which soon won
glow with radiated energy and gi
off scorching gusts like unto the ope
ing of a furnace door.
This he had foreseen all along. T
tarpaulin would yield them some <1
gree of uneasy protection, and lh<
both were in perfect physical com
liou. Itut?if Iris were wounded!
the extra strain brought fever in i
wake! That way he saw nothing l>
blank despair, to be ended for her I
delirium and merciful death, for hi
by a Berserk rush among the I)ya
and one last mad fight against ov?
whelming numbers.
Then the girl's voice reached hii
self reliant, almost cheerful:
"You will be glad to hear that t
cut has stopped bleeding. It is on
a scratch."
So a kindly Providence had spar
them yet a little while. The do
passed from his mind, the gather!
mist from his eyes. In that instant
thought he detected a slight rustli
among the trees where the dill she
ed up from the house. Standing as
was on the edge of the rock, tins waf
point he could not guard against.
Whnil lio.. Il-nlnnnm
ed his scattered senses lie stepp
back to speak to her, and in the nai
instant a couple of bullets crash
against the rock overhead. Iris h
unwittingly saved him from a serioi
perhaps fatal, wound.
He sprang to the extreme right
the ledge and boldly looked into 1
trees beneath. Two Dyaks were the
belated wanderers cut off from t
main body. They dived headlong h
the undergrowth for safety, hut o
of them was too late. .Tenks' ri
reached him, and its reverberating et
eussion, tossed back and forth by t
echoing rocks, drowned his parti
scream.
In the plenitude of restored vigor t
sailor waited for no counter denu
stration. He turned and crouching:
approached the southern end of 1
parapet. Through his screen of grr
lie could discern the long black la
and yellow face of a man who lay
the sand and twisted his head arou
the base of the farther cliff. The d
tnnce, oft measured, was ninety yan
the target practically a six inch bill
eye. Jenks took careful aim, tired, a
a wliilT of sand flew up.
rerhaps be bad used too fine a siji
and plowed a furrow beneath the I
nk's ear. He only heard a faint y<
but the enterprising head vanished, a
tliero were no more volunteers for tii
particular service.
lie was still peering at the pla
when a cry of unmitigated angui
came from Iris:
"Oh, come quick! Our water! T
casks have burst!"
It was not until Jenks bad torn l
tarpaulin from off their stores and
was wildly striving with both bands
scoop up some precious drops collect
In the small hollows of tlie lodge tli
lie realized the full magnitude of t
disaster which laid liofnllpii ilictn
During tlio lirst rapid exchange
fire before the enemy vacated tlie cl
several bullets had pierced the tarpn
lin. I'.y a stroke of exceeding bad f<
tune two of them had struck each
the water barrels and started t
staves. The contents quietly ebb
away beneath the broad sheet ar
flowing inward by reason of the sha
slope of the ledge, percolated throu;
the fault. Iris and he, notwithstamli
their frenzied efforts, were not able
save more than a pint of gritty disc
ored fluid. The rest, Infinitely nit
valuable to them than all the diamon
of De r.cors, was now oozing throu
the natural channel cut by centuries
storm, dripping upon the headless sk
oWu ia tUo tjuvo, .jmwUUmj 4uwu to 4
tatton 1
lattery" I
arity of Royster's EB
1 -f
lO U1UULCU ?>UU1C UI 9SB
no, claiming theirs 9g
IS' BONE is the Kj
eing imposed upon, jK
irk is on every bag. gag
getting the genuine 9H
3h 9
a fjjtffc Tarboro, N.C. BflB
9 tSJWi Macon, Ca.
_ _ '
very heart of their buried treasure.
xo j .Teaks was so paralyzed by Ibis ea11
tastropho that Iris became alarmed.
I ( As yet she did not grasp its awful significanee.
That he. her hero, so brave,
' | so confi lent in the face of many danl?
gers. should betray such sense of irrojj.
dccmablc loss frightened her much
more than the incident itself.
1 | Iler lips whitened. Iler words bc.
came incoherent.
"Tell me." she whispered. ' I can
j.s bear anything but silence. Toll me, 1
^ | implore yon. Is it so bad7"
| The sight of her distress sobered
1(1 ' him. He ground his teeth together as
I a man docs who submits to a painful
l10 I operation and resolves not to flinch holy
j noalh the knife.
"It is very bad," be said; "not quite
p,l tlso end, but near it."
ll(l "Tito end," she bravely answered, "is
n? loath! We are living and uninjured.
j,~ Von must light on. If the Lord wills it
U}r ve shall not die."
I*,. lie looked in her blue eyes and saw
lie .here the light of heaven. Iler glance
s a 'id not droop before his. In such moments
heart speaks to heart without
ill- onccalment.
ed "Wo slill have a little water," she
no I cried. "Fortunately we are not thirsty.
rwl I V/v?t 1? * " ' ** J' ' "
urn unit: mil iijrguuen our supply or
ad champagne and brandy?"
is. 11?* could only fall in with her unrcf.ective
mood anil leave (Ik* dreadful
j truth to its own evil time. In their lit
tie nook the power of the sun had not
l,e y?'t made itself felt. Hy ordinary com*
llo putatioii it was about 1) o'clock. Long
K0 before noon they would be grilling.
<j0 Throughout the next few hours they
m must suffer the torture of Dives with
j)C one meager pint of water to share ben<,
tween them. Of course the wine and
" spirit must be slumued like a pestij)0
lenee. To toueh either under such condilions
would be courting beat, apo,jy
l'l 'xy and death. And next day!
lie tightened his Jaws before he an.
' swered:
ISN
ir "We will console ourselvo; with a botQ
tie of champagne for dinner. MeanU)j
while 1 hear our friends shouting to
lln.oa 1 : -* * *
js iui/.-iv ii-ii. VII nun mui- Ill nil* 1.-1HHU. 1
V must take an active interest in l'?<y
ls' conversation."
u j lie grasped a rifle and lay down on
the ledge, already gratefully warm,
.jjj. There was a good deal of sustained
shouting going on. denies thought ho
,jl recognized the chief's voice giving in'
j structions to those who had come
rl( from Smugglers' cove and were now
standing .on the beach near the quarry.
c? "I wonder if he is hungry." he
. ' thought. "If so, 1 will interfere with
the commissariat."
Iris peeped fort It at him.
"Mr. Jenlcs!"
! "Yes," without turning his head. He
j know it was an ordinary question.
I "May 1 come too':"
( 1 I "What. e.\|)ose yourself on the ledge!"
"Yes, even that. 1 am so tired of
at .... , , ,,
. sitting here alone,
lie I
I "Well, there is no danger at present.
. But they might chance to see you, and
fl. you remember what I"?
' , "Yes, 1 remember quite well. If that
^ is all"? There was a rustle of gar
oj, iiii'ius. i nin very mannish in appear.
^ a nee. If yon premise not to look at mo
u> 1 will join you."
j "I promise."
u ' Iris stepped forlli. She was flushed
yj* a little, and, to cover her contusion,
" ' maybe, she picked up a riile.
'to "Now tliere are two puns," she 8:.Id
as she stood near him.
?" lie could see through the tail of his
da ?*e l'in* n *)Ut olegantly pro(
3 portioned young gentleman of the sea"
* faring profession had suddenly uppearel
he OU G,
i - v
i _ ^, jm&ti