Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-07

range practice was not long in doubt The
of wild excitement One man was hurled
overheard. Then the craft lurchea sea-
ward in the strong current, and jerks toio
Iris to leave the rest to him.
Before he could empty second magazine
a fortunate bullet ripped plank out. ana
the sampan filled and went down. AMIDST
shrill yell of execration from the back. OF
the cliff. The two Dyaks yet living en-
deavored to swim ashore, half a mile
through shark-invested reefs. The sailor
did not even trouble about them After
few frantic struggles each doomed wretch
flung up his arms and vanished. In the
clear atmosphere the onlookers could see
black fins cutting the pellucid sea.
This exciting episode dispelled the gath
erfng mists from the girls brain. Her eyes
danced and she breathed hard. Yet some
thing worried her.
I hope didn't hit the man who fell out
Of the boat" she said.
Oh came the prompt assurance. II
took deliberate aim at that chap. He was
a most persistent scoundrel.'
Iris was satisfied. jerks thought it better
to lie than to tell the truth, for the bald
facts hardly bore out his assertion. Judg-
ing from the manner of the Dyak's fnvol-
untary plunge, he had been hit by rico
Chef bullet, while the sailors efforts were
wholly confined to sinking the sampan.
However, let it pass. Bullet or shark the
end was the same.
was again slowly sailing their veins-when
something of a dirty white color futtered
into sight from behind the base of the OPP
posite cliff. 1t was rapidly withdrawn. to
.reappear after an interval. Now it was
held more steadily and brown arm became
visible. AS jerks did not fire, a turbaned
head popped into sight. 1t was the Ma
.hommedan.
mo shoot it, he roared. ME English
speak it.
r. irdr OF mi CHI cd
jerks in Urdu of the Higher Proficiency.
Han, sahib!'* was the joyful response.
will your honor permit his servant to
come and talk with him?"
Yes, If you come unarmed.
And the chief, too, sahib?'
Yes. but listen, On the first sign of
treachery | will shoot both of youH'
I'VE will keep faith, sahib. May kites
pick our bones if we fall"
Then there stepped into full view. the rem
egade Mussulman and his leader. They
carried no guns; the chief wore his krisS.
Tell him to leave, that dagger behind.
demanded a parley he resolved to adopt the
conquerors- tone from the oueset. The
chief obeyed with scowl and the two adj,
yanced to the foot of the rock.
Stand close to me, said jerks to Iris.
Let them see you plainly, but pull your
hat well down over your eyes.
She silently followed his instructions.
Now that the very crisis of their fate had
only of desire to sink on her knees and
pray.
One or two curious heads were craned
round the corner of the rock.
Stop cried jerks. IF those men do
not instantly go away | Will fire at them.
The Indian translated this order and the
chief Tociferated some changing syllables
which had the desired effect. The two
halted some ten PAGES in front of the cav
ern and the beliigerents surveyed each
nt II w ia SDpctacIe this
drama in real life The yellow-faeed Dyak,
gaudiIy attred in a crimson Jacket and sky
blue pantaloons of Chinese siiF-a man
with the beaute du diable. young and pow
erfully bult-and the brownskinned white
clothed Mahommedan. bony, tail and gray
with hardship. looked up at the occupants
of the ledge. Iris. slim and boylSh In her
male garments. was dwarfed by the six
foot sailor. but her face was blOod-Sta1ned,
and jerks wore a six weeks stubble of
beard Holding their Lee-Metfords with
alert ease. with reyolvers strapped to their
sides. they presented a warlike and 1mpoS-
ing tableau in their inaccessible perch. In
the path Of tive emissaries lay the bodies
of the slain. The Dyak leader scowled
again as he passed them.
'.Sa hib' began the Indian, my chief,
Taung sab. does not wish to have any
more of his men killed in foolish quarrel
about woman. Give her UP. he says and
he will either leave you here in peace, or
carry you safely to some place where you
can find ship manned by white men.
"a woman! said jerks. scornfully.
That is idle talk. What woman IS here?'
This question nonplussed the native.
THE woman whom the chief saw half "a
month back. sahib.'
''Taung s. Ali was bewitched. l slew his
men SO quickly that he saw spirits
The chief caught his name and broke in
with a question. volley of talk between
the two was enlivened VITA expressive ges-
lures by Taung SAIL, who several times
pointed to Iris. and jerks now anathema-
tized his thoughtless folly in permitting the
Dyak to approach so near. The Mahomma-
dan. of course. had never seen her, and
might have persuaded the other that in
truth there were two men only on the rock.
His fears We're only too well founded.
The Mussulman sa1aamed respectfully and
said
Protector of the poor. cannot gainsay
your word. but Taung SAli says that the
maid stands by your side and Is none the
less the woman he seeks in that she wears
a mans clothing
..He has sharp eyes, but his brain is
added retortsd the sailor. why
does he come here to seek woman
who is not of his race? Not only has he
brought death to his people and narrowly
escaped it himself. but he must know that
any violence offered to us will mean the
determination of his whole tribe by an
English warship. Tell him to take away
his boats and never visit this isle again.
Perhaps I will then forget his treacherous
attempt TO murder us WHIST we slept last
night
The chief glared back defantly, whilst
the Mahommedan said:
''Sahib. it is best not to anger him too
much. He says he means to have the girl.
He saw her beauty that day and she in
famed his heart. She has cost him many
lives. but she is worth sultans ransom.
He cares not for warships. They cannot
reach his village in the hills. BY the tomb
of Nizam-ud-din, sahb. he will not harm
you if you give her up, but if you refuse
he will kill you both And what is one
woman more less in the world that sh.
should cause strife and blood-ietting?'
The sailor knew the eastern character too
well rot to understand the mans amaze
ment that he should be SO solicitous about
the fate of one of the weaker sex. 1t was
seemingly useless to offer terms, yet the
native was clearly so anxious for an AMIGA
bile settlement that he caught al a straw.
You come from Delhi?' he asked.
.Honored one. you have great wisdom"
None but Delhi man swears by the
tomb on the road to the Kutub. You have
escaped from the Andamans?''
'Sahib. l did but Stay a man in self
defense.
Whatever the cause. you can never again
see India Nevertheless. you would give
many years of your life to mix once more