Evening star., 1898-07-23

like a log, and ahother figure rise imme-
diately at the same spot. The welcome
Bending low, QuA daahed across the in
tervening space. He found the sentry ly-
ing dead in pool, of blood.
His back was turned sooloo whispered
eagerly, and I struck him through the
heart. He had no time to cry OUT
by Jove, it was neatly donep' replied
Quin. Come, we must be off. All is quiet
now, but our escape is bound to be discov-
cred before long
Yes, for other sentffes are about said
Soooo. tt
Quin took the dead mans rife and led the
way to a small gate, on one side of the
large one. The heavy bars that secured it
were easily removed, and the fugitives
passed out, closing the gate behind them.
Hastily, but carefully. they picked their
course over the crop of sharp bamboos and
reached the jungle beyond the clearing.
7 hey pushed on to the north in high spirits,
guided by the twinkling stars.
Half an hour passed, increasing their
confidence and hope. They had covered
| more than a mile, and the silence of the
forest was unbroken. But a little later, to
their dismay, they heard shouts far in the
rear. a~e
THE sentry has been found" exclaimed
Sooloo land our escape is discoveredn'
Yes, and the rascals have been in pur-
suit for some time" replied Quin They
will follow the trail like bloedkounds. We
must keep our present adVantage-that is
the only chance"
1t proved futile hope. Bio Shalah's
rebels were not to be matched at running.
For an hour the fugitives pushed through
the dense jungle as rapidly. as possible,
while the sounds of pursuit swelled louder
and nearer behind them, ana then breath
and strength began to fail them. They
kept on dosgedly, until the Slimmer of
torches was actually visible in the rear
"lts no use" painted Quin. I'VE must
pull up presently and light
'Look! look" Sooloo interrupted just
then. He was pointing ahead through the
bush, at red glow of light in the distance
by Jove, it must be The English camp!'
cried Quin.
Cheered and strengthened, they dashed
on. and five minutes later they broke into
cleared space where sentry was pacing
to and fro, and scores of men IN British
uniforms, reused from sleep 10y the noise In
the jungle, Were preparing to resist an at
tack. A young English officer greeted the
fugilives, who narrowly missed being hred
at He listened to their brief story, and
then sent d detachment Of soldiers ahead
TO meet the rebels. But the latter getting
wind of the situation, they beat a nasty re-
treat, and the party soon returned 10 camp.
AS dawn was now breaking the COM
manding officer, Captain Jarvis, decided TO
push on at once. Gum gave MIN 1ulIer
report Of his adventures and received an
assurance that the case of Gunpat Slnsh
should have every consideration. Inc
ayenging force consisted of 200 Dyak troops
had one small gun, a 1-pounder owing
to the rugged nature of the country IL mao
been impossible to transport machine guns.
After a hasty breakfast the column started
and three hours march brought 1t Wlthln
sight of Bio Sallah's stronghold.
The proceedings that followed, which
demonstrated the truth of Gunpat Singhs
report, Were tedious and agSraVat1ng- Inc
200 DyakS were posted in a Gordon around
the fort at a considerable distance from
it. Then the SikhS and Pathons, with the
gun, took up a position 100 yards from the
main gate, but under cover of the jungle.
The attack began at 10 O'Clock, and until
an hour past noon shells We're thrown into
the inclosure. They killed some of the
rebels, to judge from the outcry, but they
made no impression on the fort, and not
a single breach in the massive wall. The
enemy, with the exception of few strag-
Cling shots, did not return the fire.
This won't do, Captain Jarvis said,
finally. only three shells left, and the
place is absolutely intact. We must take it
by rush There is other way
Brief orders were given, and the storm
ing party of Sikhs and Pathans-Quin and
Sooloo were included at their own request
prepared for the desperate attempt. They
waited until another shell was fired, which
fortunately made a gap in the stockade.
Then, at the word CT command they broke
from cover and dashed gaantly forward,
led by English officers and a couple of
officials of the North Borneo Company.
The sharp bamboos disabled several men,
who had to fall back The rest quickly
gained the wall, where only slight re-
sistance was offered. With ringing cheers
they poured through the breach in the
stockade, and, having taken the inclosure
they found themselves almost unopposed.
A weak Voiley was delivered from the out
er circle of the little forts, but these were
easily taken. and the inmates were shot
down to man as they attempted to es-
cape
Forward, my brave fellows" shouted
tnif, Tor
hold! We shall find the enemy in force
thereu'
IT'S going to be a stiff bit of work.
cried Quin.
And it was. Little did the storming
party dream of the terrible surprise that
awaited them-of the murderous coup that
Bio Sallah and his followers had planned.
AS they ran to the central fort, or watch
tower ram OF bullets was poured from
score of loophoIes They came thicker
ana faster. Seven men fell dead including
two officers and a civilian The storrners
nred, but with no effect. They wavered
aashed ei on plucklly, and pulled up in con-
fusion as more of their number fell under
the steady yolleys.
We can't take it," exclaimed Quin.
No; the place is too strong" Captain
JARVIS cried, hoarseiy. We must retire
Fail back, men!'
But even as he gave the command the
enemys fire slackened and nearly stopued
ana at the same moment, from the Interior
>AS ioit, ioSS d i0Ud and frightened
clamor, mingled with shrin, outIandtsh
yeiis of rage. What could it mean?
Halt! Forward again. cried the can
tam. There's a row of some sort going
on inside. 1t gives us the advap1arrn'
carry the place with a rush, menu
Nobly the little force responded forest-
ing the horrors of their recent rennIse
they dashed on, trampling the dead and
dylng, and losing two men by a weak fII
shade from the loopholes The tunnIt
WITHIN still continued but it was drownad
by hearty cheers. Now they had reachsd
the very walls, and now the door vieIdad ~
furious assault. 1t came down with a
crash, and into the tower through curlin~
smoke and flying bullets, poured Sikhs
Pathans and Englishmen The enemy
realizing that all was lost, abandoned fur,
ther resistance and fled by the rear eyits
utterlng hows of terror that were caused
ny more than human agency.
Quin was in the lead with Cart Jarvis
ana When the sharp hand-to-hand hrnsb
with the rearmost of the fleeing rebels was
over, and the powder smoke had Hfted 10
discovered what had demoralized tba Dc
lenders and won the fort. In a corner ~ m,
room, over the body of one of Bho Saiah,s
men, crouched the gigantic orang-omtana
the picture of frenzied rage Two move
iuckless victims, frightfully mangle1 could
be picked out among those who had fallen
by bullets. Aei
Not yet was the creatures thirst for