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:;.\V U:;:y-v-.rvv:l;-.V:^ 1 S6e Win | Mornin Tv u~akc her he kissed her; he knew not, perchance it might he their last kiss on earth. Not yet dawn, there was morning In the air, for the first faint shafts of light were not visible from their eyrie owing to Its position. But there was much to be doue. The canvas awning was rolled back and the stores built into a barricade inv tended to shelter Iris. \ "What Is that for?" she asked when she discovered lis nature. He told her. She definitely refused to avail herself of uny such protection. "Robert, dear," she said, "if the nttnck comes to our very door, so to speak, surely I must help you. Even my slight aid may stem n rush in one place while you arc busy In another." He explained to her that if hand to hand fighting were necessary he would depend more upon a crowbar than n rifle to sweep the ledge clear. She might be in the way. "Very well. The moment you tell me to get behind that fence I will do so. Even there I can use a revolver." That reminded him. Ilia own pistol was unloaded. He possessed only five more cartridges of small caliber. He placed them in the weapon and gave it to her. "Now you have eleven men's lives in i. your hands," he said. "Try not to miss "If you must shoot." In the dim light he could not see the , spasm of pain that clouded her face. No Dyak would reach her while he lived. If lie fell, there was another use for one of those cartridges. The sailor had cleared the main floor of the rock nqd was placing his four rifles and other implements within easy reach when a hiss came from beneath. "Mir Jan!" exclaimed Iris. "What now?" demanded Jenks over the side. "Snliib, they come!" "I am prepared. Let that snake get back to his hole in the rock, lest a mongoose seize him by the head." Mir Jan. engaged in a scouting expedition 011 his own account, understood that the ofllccr sahib's orders must be obeyed. He vanished. Soon they heard a great crackling among the bushes on the right, hut Jenks knew even before he looked that the Dynks had correctly estimated the extent of his fire zone and would keep out of it. The first physical intimation of the enemy's design they received was a pungent but pleasant smell of burning pine, horuo to them by the northerly breere and filling the air with its aroma. 'J lie Dyaks kindled a huge five. The heat was perceptible even on the ledge, but ilio minutes passed and the dawn broadened into day without any other result being achieved. Iris, a little drawn and pale with sus peusc, said, with a timid giggle: "This does not seem to lie so very serious. It reminds me of my efforts to cook." "There is more to follow. I fear, dear one. Hut the Dyaks are fools. They should have waited until night fell again after wearing us out by constant vigilance nil day. If they Intend to employ smoke It wcuhl be far worse for us at night." Phew! A volume of murky vapor arose that nearly suffocated them by the first whilT of lis noisome fumes. It curled like a black pall over the face of the rock and blotted out sea and sky. They coughed incessantly and nearly choked, for the Dyaks had thrown wet seaweed on top of the burning pile of dry wood. Mir Jan, born in interior India. knew little about the sea or its products, and wlieu the savagc3 talked of seaweed lie thought they meant green wood. Fortunately for hltni the ascending clouds of smoke missed the cave or Infallibly he must have been stilled. "Lie fiat on the rock!" gasped Jcnks. Careless of waste, he poured water over a coat and m.'de Iris bury her mouth and nose iu the wet cloth. This gave her immediate relief, and she showed her woman's wit by tying the sleeves of the garment behind her neck. Jcnks nodded comprehension and followed her example, for by this means iiiuir iiuhuh were icri rree. The black cloud grew more deuse each few seconds. Nevertheless, owing to Qie slope of the ledge and the tendency of the smoke to rise, the south side was far more tenable than the north. Quick to note thic favorable circumstance. the sailor deduced a further fact from It. A barrier erected on the extreme right of the ledge would be a material gain. lie sprang up, dragged the huge tarpaulin from Its former location nnd propped It 011 the handle of the pickax, driven by one mighty stroke deep Into a crevice of the rock. It was no mean feat of strength that he performed. He. swung the heavy nnd cumbrous canvas into position as If It were a dust cloth. He emerged from the gloom of the driven cloud red eyed, but triumphant. Instantly the vapor on the ledge lessened, and they could breathe, even talk. Overhead nnd in front the smoke swept In ever increasing denshy, but once again the sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' maneuvers. "We have won the flrsf T.bber," he whispered to Iris. Above, beneath, beyond, thfly conki *x> noUiigfc tur tW bj^tbaa SMlMri gsoftheg , By LOUIS I O TRACY frjgy 1 / % Copyright, 1903, by i?-,:Y* Edward J. Ctode k . . , . .. . >.v.vQ wns hot and fetid. It was like helug immured lu a foul tunnel, and almost as dark. Jenks looked over tlie parapet. lie thought he could distinguish some vague figures on the sands, so he fired at them. A volley of answering bullets crashed into the rock on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their* plans well this time. A llrfng squad stationed beyond the smoke area and supplied with nil the available guns commenced and kent nn n smnrt lade fn tlio diroction of the ledge In order to cover the operations of the scaling party. Jenks realized that to expose himself was to court a serious wound and achieve no useful purpose. He fell j back out of range, laid down his rifle and grabbed the crowbar. At brief intervals a deep hollow boom came up from the valley. At first it puzzled theui until the sailor hit upon an explanation. Mir.Tan was busy. The end of a strong, roughly made ladder swung through the smoke and banged against the ledge. Before Jenks could reach it those hoisting it Into position hastily retreated. They Were standing In front of the cave, and the Mohammedan made play on them with a rifle at thirty feet. Jenks, using his crowbar as n lever, toppled the ladder clean over. It fell | outward and disconcerted a section of the musketeers. i"Well done!" cried Iris. The sailor, astounded by her tone, gave lier a fleeting glance. She was j very pale now. but not with fear. Her eyes were slightly contracted, her nostrils quivering, her lips set tight and i her chin dimpled. Resting on one knee, . with a revolver in each hand, she seemed no puling mate for the gallant man who fought for her. There was no time for further speech. Three ladders were reared against the Now both crowbar and revolver were needed. rock. They were so poised and held below that Jenks could uot force them backward. A fourth appeared, its coarse shafts looming into sight like the horns of some gigantic animal. The four covered practically the whole front of the ledge save where Mir Jan cleared a little space on the level. The sailor was standing now, with the crowbar clinched iu both hands. The firing in the valley slackened and died away. A Dyak face, grinning like a Japanese demon, appeared at the top of the ladder nearest to Iris. "Don't fire!" shouted Jenks. And the iron bar crushed downward. Two oth "I J IIIIV1IVU IUI-UI3L-I ? VII mill Ull III lim ledge. Now both crowbar and revolver were needed. Three ladders were thus cumbered somewhat for those beneath, and Jeuks sprang toward the fourth and most distant. Men were crowding It like ants. Close to his feet lay an empty water cask. It was a crude weapon, but effective when well pitched, and the sailor had never made a better shot for a goal in the midst of a hard fought scrimmage than he mado with that tub for the head of the uppermost pirate. Another volley came from the sands. A bullet plowed through his hair and sent his sou'wester flying. Again the 9UUIIIIUU IU lll? UllUCU. UUO way or the other they must succeed. A man and a woman?even such a. man and such a woman?could not keep at bay an Infuriated liqrde of fifty savages flghtlng^t close quarters and uuder these grierous conditions. Jcnks knew what would happen. IIo would be shot while repelling the scaling patty. And Iris! Dear heart! She was thinking of him. "Keep back! They enn never gain the ledge!" she shrieked. And then, above the din of the fusillade. the yells of the assailants and the bawling of the wounded, there came through the air a screaming, tearing, ripping sound which drowned all others. It traveled with Incredible spcod, and before the sailor could beJieve h(l ears?for he well knew what jpaot-g tipl) b?$tt Ja L 85s L ? front of the ledge and drenched the valley with flying lead. Jeuks was just able to drag Iris flat against the rock ere the time fuse oporated and the bullets flew. He could form no theory, hazard no conjecture. All be knew was that a twelve pounder shell had flown toward them through space, scattering red ruin among the amazed scoundrels beneath. Instantly lie rose again, lest pere'iance any of the Dynks should have gained n foothold on the ledge. The ladders were empty. He could hear a good deal of groaning, the footsteps of running men and some distant shouting. "Sahib!" yelled Mir Jan, drawn from his retreat by the commotion without. | "Yes." shouted Jenks. The native. In a voice erncked with excitement, told him something. The sailor asked a few rapid questions to make quite sure that Mir Jan was not mistaken. Then he threw his arms round Iris, drew her close and whispered: "My darling, we are saved! A warship has anchored just beyond the south reef, and two boats filled with u?ii.N.u ouinu? mf now puuiiig ashore." CHAPTER XV. mllE drifting smoke was still so dense that not even the floor of the valley could be discerned. Jonks dared not leave Iris at I such a moment. He called to Mir Jan: "Take off your turban and hold It ; above your bead if you thick they can see you from the warcliip." "It Is all right, saliib,'* came the cheering answer. "One boat is close 1 inshore. I think, from the uniforms, they are English sahibs, such as I have seen at Garden Reach. The Dynks have all gone." Nevertheless Jenks waited. There was nothing to gain by being too pre| cipitate. A false step now might undo the achievements of many weeks. Mir Jan was dancing about beneath in a state of wild excitement. "They have seen the Dynks running to their sampans, sahib," he yelled, "and the second boat is being pulled in that direction! Yet another has just left the ship." , A translation made Iris excited, ea- ' ger to go down and see these wonders. The boom of a cannon came from the sea. Instinctively the girl ducked for safety, though her companion smiled at her fears, for the shell would have long preceded the report had it traveled their way. "One of the remaining sampans has got under way," lie explained, "and the warship is firing at her." "Poor wretches!" murmured Iris. "Cannot the survivors be allowed to escape?" "Well, we are unable to interfere. Those caught on the island will probably bo taken to the mainland and hanged for their crimes, so the manner of their end is not of much consenuence." r To the girl's manifest relief, there i was no more firing, anil Mir Jan an- 1 nounceil that a number of sailors were i actually 011 shore. Then her thoughts 1 turned to a matter of concern to the feminine mind even in the gravest mo- 1 ments of existence. She laved her face with water and sought lier discarded skirt. 1 Soon the steady tramp of hoot clad feet advancing at the double was ' heard on the shingle, and an officer's voice, speaking the crude Ilindoostauee ] of the engine room and forecastle. 1 shouted to Mir Jan: 1 "III, you black fellow! Are there any white people here?" < Jcnks sang out: j "Yes, two of us! Perched on the t rock over your heads. We are coming l down." < lie cast loose the rope ladder. Iris was limp and trembling. t "Steady, sweetheart," he whispered. 1 "Don't forget the slip between the cup t and the Hp. Hold tight, but have 110 1 fear. I will be just beneath." It was well he took this precaution. ( She was now ?r> Hint on .m_ ? guarded movement might have led to f. an accident, llut tlic knowledge that n her lover was near, the touch of his t hand guiding her feet on to the rungs n of the ladder, sustained her. They had t almost reached the level when a loud i exclamation and the crash of a heavy f blow caused Jenks to halt and look t dov\jjward. A Dyak, lying at the foot of one of ? the scaling ladders and severely wound- 1 ed by a shell splinter, witnerrrmt ttirTr c descent. In his left hand he grasped a c parang; his right arm was bandaged, r Though unable to rise, the vengeful c pirate mustered his remaining strength to crawl toward the swaying ladder. It was Tnung S'Ali, Inspired with the f hate and venom of the dying snake. Even yet he hoped to deal a mortal stroke at the man who had defied him and all his cutthroat band. lie might j have succeeded, as Jenks was so taken i up with Iris, were It not for the watch- i ful eyes of Mir Jan. The Mohammedan sprang at him. with an oath, and gave j him such a murderous whack with the t butt of a rifle tlint the Dyak chief collapsed and breathed out bis fierce spirit t j In n groan. At the first glance Jenks <lld not rcc- 1 ognize Taung S'All owing to his change of costume. Through the thinner smoke i I he could see several sailors running up. But. with the passing of the chief, i their last peril had gone. The next instant they were standing on the firm 3 ground, and a British naval lieutenant 1 was saying eagerly: j "We seem to have turned up in the t nick of time. Do you, by any chance, 1 belong to the Sircar?" I "We are the sole survivors," answer- c ed the sailor. ] "You two only?" [ "Yes. She struck on the northwest j reef of this island during a typhoon. This lady. Miss Iris Denne, and I were t flung ashore"? 1 4 & TRADE MARK J?fM; SL REGISTERED Fish scrap is use under all crop c 1 for the Royster t W hi ^ XI Norfolk, Va. 2 ijgSlgi Columbia, S.C. Let me congratulate you most heart ily. Sir Arthur Deane is on board the Orient at tliis moment." "The Orient!" Iris was dazed. It was all too worn derful to be quite understood yet. She turned to Robert: "Do you hear? They say my fathei Is not far away. Take me to him." "No need for that, miss," interrupted n warrant oliiecr. "Here he is coming ashore. lie wanted to come with us, Kilt tlio n'AttU ** V..|/vit?u H V/Ulfl UUL |JCi lUll 11 ns there seemed to be some trouble ihcad." Sure euwigh. even the girl's swim into* eyes could distinguish the gray L)carded civilian seated beside an ofll ?er in the stern sheets of a small gip aow threading a path through the bro ken reef beyond Turtle beach. In flvi minutes father and daughter would meet. Meanwhile the officer, intent on duty, addressed Jenks again. "May I ask who you are?" "My name is Anstruther?Robert Anitruther." Iris, clinging to his arm, heard the reply. So he had abandoned all pretense. [Ie was ready to face the world at her side. She stole a loving glance at him is she cried: "Yes; Captain Anstruther of the Inllau staff corps. If lie will not tell rou all that he has done, how ho has awed my life twenty times, how he ins fought single handed against ilghty men, ask me!" "Captain Anstruther docs nut appear ;o have left much for us to do, Miss Dcane," the officer said. "Indeed," urnlug to Robert, "Is there any way n which my men will be useful?" "I would recommend that they drap he green stuff oft' that tire and stor he smoke. Then a detachment should ;o round tne north side of the island intl drive the remaining Dynks intc he hands of the party- you have lo.uO.wl is 1 understand, ati the farther end o he south head). IVEir Jan, the Moham aedan here, who lias l)een a most faith >ul ally during part of our siege, wll ict >jp? guide." TM .'other man east a coinprclmnsivt ;lanoe over the rock, with its Vjhlim adders and dnngling rope ladder, tlx itve* the little groups of dead or un onrffious pirates?for every woundec nanj who could move a limb line irawtied away after the first slieil burst -and drew a deep breath. "IIow long were you up there?" he isked. "Over thirty hours." "It was a great fight!" "Somewhat worse than it looks." said Vnstrutlier. "This Is only the end ol t. Altogether we have accounted foi learly twoscore of the poor devils." Itohert looked toward the approach' ug boat. She would not land yet for i couple of minutes. "By the way." lie said, "will you ell mo your name?" "Playdon ? Lieutenant Philip II, Playdon." "Do you know to* what nation tlm alnrwl holnmroV' "It Is no ronn'g land, I think. It is narked 'uninhabited' on the chart." "Then," said Anst rather, "I call upor 'on, Lieutenant Playdon, and nil others lore present to witness that I, Robert Vnstrutlier, late of the Indian army icting on behalf of myself and Miss rls Denne, declare that we have taker rossession of this island in the name >f his Britannic majesty the king ol Sng'und, that we arc the joint oceu lievs and. owners thereof niul claim ai iroporty lights vested therein." These formal phrases, coining at sucl i moment, amiv;?i his hearers. Irh done had an Intr.llng of the nnderlylnt nntiva \ * Fewer acres, lighter labor, 1< combination secured with FAF Ttilizer proved perfect by twent from Southern soil. Farmers i food for every stage of plant ; larvesting, and is suited to a gr to corn, wheat to small truck. IVlacJe with F"isF :d in every ton of Farmers' Bone, in onditions and making it famous as a rade mark. 2RE'S THE SALES REC IINK OF THE CROP REC / \ 1885-250 TONS X 1890-1,500 TONS / 1895-12,000 TONS ' 1900-58,455 TONS 1905-130,091 TON S. ROYSTER GUANO I "I don't suppose any one will dispute , your title," said the naval officer gravely. ITc unquestionably imagined thai suffering and exposure had slightly dis. turbed the other man's senses. , : "Thank you," replied Uobcrl with ' equal composure, though he felt in. clined to laugh at I'laydon's mystitlcation. "I only wished to secure a sulliI cient number of witnesses for a verbal , declaration. When I have a few minutes to spare 1 will affix a legal notice on the wall in front of our cave." Playdon bowed silently. There was something in the speaker's manner that puzzled him. lie detailed a small guard to accompany Robert and Iris, who now walked toward the beach, and asked Mir Jan to pilot him as suggest' cd by Anstruther. I Tlirt I-, * ?* ' , -?UUIIV Itua Jti lllllIIV jarus Il'OlH ' shore when Iris ran forward and stretched out her arms to the man who was staring at her with wistful de spall*. "Father! Father!" she cried. "Don't you know me?" Sir Arthur Deane was looking at the two strange figures on the sands, and 1 each moment his heart sank lower. This island held ids final hope. During many weary weeks, since the day when 1 a kindly admiral placed the cruiser Orient at his disposal, he had scoured the China sea, the coasts of Borneo and Java for some tidings of the ill fated Sirdar. i To examine every sand patch and > tree covered shoal in the China sea was an impossible task. All the Orient could do was to visit the principal is> lands and institute inquiries among the ( fishermen and small traders. At last, ' the previous night, a Malay, tempted - by hope of reward, boarded the vessel when lying at anchor off the large is; land away to the south and told the , captain a wondrous tale of a devil [ haunted place inhabited by two white [ spirits, a male and a female, whither > n local pirate ivAvattl Taung S'All had fcOYio by chance with his men and suff fered great loss. But Taung S'All was . bewitched by the female spirit and had . returned there with a great force, j swearing to capture her or perish. The spirits, the Malay said, had dwelt upon } the island for many years. Ills father , and grandfather knew the place and ? feared It. Taung S'All would never be . seeu again. j This queer yarn was the first indieaI tlon they received of the whereabouts , of any persons who might possibly be shipwrecked Europeans, though not , survivors from the Sinlar. Anyhow, , the tiny dot lay in the vessel's northI ward track, so a course was set to urj rive off the island soon after dawn. ^ I Events on shore, as seen by the orti. cer on watch, told their own tale. . Wherever Dyalcs are fighting there is mischief on fyot, so the Orient took a hand In the proceedings. . | But Kir Arthur Deane, after an ago| ntzed scrutiny of the weird looking persons escorted by the sailors to the 1 \rnfnn'o aiIcta ? a/I 1?? ' 41 4 ? CU^IT, niiui; IICMIUWIfU^ni mill neither of these coulil he tlioNdaughter whom ho sought. lie bowed his head in humble resignation, and he thought j lie was the victim of a cruel hallucination when Iris' tremulous accents * I reached his ears: "Father, father! Don't you know ' me?" ' I He stood up, amazed and trembling. "Yes. father, dear, it is I, your own ' little girl given back to you." ' They had some difficulty to keep him 1 In the boat, and the uian pulling stroke ! smashed a stout oar with the next r , Jfrcnch. I And so they met at last, and the sail1 ors left them alone to crowd round Anstruther and ply him with a linn1 drcd questions. Although lie fell in with 1 their humor and gradually pieced toI gather the stirring story which was ' nuclj to*wnt toe m | ^ A rttlizer Crops creage M arger yields?a happy ggfg IMERS' BONE, the M y-one years of great Bone is richest in |g|| growth from planting eat diversity of crops, jy| "? || A1VU1 tOI&UlVllV crop saver. Look iRsS ORD ||?i ORD ||| SO Tarboro, N. C. lw?!j **** Macon, Ca. JWB rival of ?:. :: olate Dynks and the comments of the men who returned from cave and heaeii. his soul was filled with the sight of Iris and her father r.nd the happy, inconsequent demands with which ouch sought to ascertain : nil relieve the extent of the other's anxiety. Then Iris called to hint: "Robert. 1 want you." The use of his Christian name created something akin to a sensation. Sir Arthur Donne wfcs startled, even in his immeasurable delight at finding his child uninjured, the picture of rude health and happiness. Anstruther advanced. ri.!.~ ? ... j i:n is my miner. sue cried, shrill with Joy. "And, father darling, this Anil so Ihcy met at last. is Captain Robert Anstruther, to whom alone, under God's will, 1 owe my lifo many, many times sinee the moment the Sirdar was lost." It was no time for questioning. Sir Arthur Deane took off his hat and held out his hand. "Captain Anstruther," he said, "as I owe you my daughter's life I owe you that which 1 can never repay. And I owe you my own life, too, for I could not j have survived the knowledge that she was dead." Itobert took the proffered hand. "I think, Sir Arthur, that of the two I am the more deeply indebted. There are some privileges whose value cannot be measured, and among them tho privilege of restoring your daughter to your arms takes the highest place." Then he turned to Iris. "I think," he said, "that your father should take you on board the Orient, Iris. There you may perhaps lind - - some suitable clothing, eat something and recover from the exciting events of the morning. Afterward you must bring Sir Arthur ashore again, and wo will guide him over the island. I am sure you will lind much to tell him meanwhile." The baroneU could not fail to noto the mnnner^n which these two addressed each other, the fearless love I which leaped from eye to eye, the calm acceptance of a relationship not to be questioned or gainsaid, itohcrt and Iris, without spoken word on the subject, had tacitly agreed to avoid the slightest semblance of subterfuge as unworthy alike of their achlevementa and their love. CottUuwvi WW