Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
CHAPTER XIII.
Reality VS.. Romance-The Case for thu
Defendant

Neatly VS.. hOulduCe-1uc SdSc Ao1 InO
Defendant.
Residents in tropical countries know that
| the heat is greatest, or certainly least
bearable, between and o'clock in the
afternoon.
At the conclusion of not very luscious
repast jerks suggested that they should rig
up the tarpaulin in such wise as to gain
protection from the sun and yet enable him
to cast a watchful eye over the valley. Iris
helped to raise the great canvas sheet on
the supports he had prepared. Once shut
off from the devouring sun rays, the hot
breeze then springing into fltful existence
cooled their blistered but perspiring skin
and made life somewhat tolerable.
Still adhering to his policy of combating
the first enervating attacks of thirst, the
sailor sanctioned the consumption of the
remaining water. AS last desperate eX-
pedient, to be resorted 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 it's potency
were she not promptly withheld.
jerks explained to her that when the
Wine became quite fiat and insipid they
might use it to moisten their parched lips.
Even so, in their present superheated state
the liquor was unquestionably dangerous,
pul Tic IiOped IL WOulQ not harm them II
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 tarpaulln brought certain degree of
relief. They were supremely uncomfortable
but that was as naUght compared with the
relaxation from the torments previously
borne.
For a long time - the best part of an
hour perhapS-they remained silent
Inc sailor was reviewing the pros and
cons of their precarious condition. 1t would
OF course be matter of supreme impor-
lance were the Indian to be faithful to his
promise. Here the prospect was decidedly
hopeful. The man was an old sowar and
the ex-off1cer of native cavalry knew how
enduring was the attachment of this poor
convict to home and military service. Prob
ably at that moment the Mahommedan was
praying to the Prophet and his two neph-
eWS 10 aid him in rescuing the sahib and
the woman whom the sahib held so dear
for the all-wise and all-powerfuI sirkar ia
very merciful to offending natives who thus
condone their former crimes
But howsoever willing she might be- what
could one man do among so many? The
DyakS were hostile to him in race and
creed, and assuredly Infatuated against the
foreign devil who had killed or wounded
IN IN round numbers, one-fifth of their total
force. very likely the hapess Mussulman
would lose his life that night in attempting
TO bring water to the foot of the rock
We'll he, jerks, might have something
to say in that regard. BY midnight the
moon would illumine nearly the whole of
Prospect Park. If the Mahommedan were
siam In front of the cavern his soul would
.ravel to the next world attended by a
NlZam cohort of slaughtered slaves
Even II 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 hut Lo
native ally of the beleaguered pair would
have task of exceeding difficulty in OH
tanning one OF the jars or skins contain
ing 1t.
Again, granting all things went well
that night what would be the final out
come of the struggle? How long could
ltis Withstand the exposure, the strain,
the heart-breaking misery of the rock
The future was blurred, crowded with
ugly and affrighting fiends passing in
fantastic array before his vision and
mounting dumb threats of madness and
death. N
He shook restlessly, not aware that the
girls sorrowful glance. luminous with
love and pain, was fixed upon him Sum-
| marty d1smissing these grisly phantoms
OF the mind, he asked himself what the
Mahommedan exactly meant bv WARMING
MIN 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 the rock and investigate matters in
that locality when Iris who also was
pusy with her thoughts, restrained him.
wait little while" she said None
OF the Dyaks Will venture into the open
| until night falls. And 1 have sometime
to say to YOU.
Ihere was quiet solemnity in her
voice that jerks had never heard before.
1t chilled him. His heart acknowledged a
quick sense of evil omen He raised him
self slightly and turned toward her Her
race, beautiful and serene beneath it's dis
| tgurements- wore an expression of settled
purpose. For the life of him he dared not
question her.
| Ihat man, the interpreter" she said.
| told you that if 1 were given up to the