The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19
Thrilling Tale of shipwreck and Adventure
By Louis Tracy, Aa1thor of The Final War.''
J..

brief absence he reported all safe,
yet no man had ever been nearer
death and escaped it than he during
that reconnaissance. He, too forgot
that the Dyaks were foxes, and foxes
can lie close when hounds are a trifle
stale.
Mir Jan returned the revolver.
Sahlb," he said with another sal
aam, Il am disgraced man, but if
you will take me UP there with you,
l will fight by your side until both
my arms are hacked off. I am weary
of these thieves. Ill chance threw me
| into their company. I will have no
| more of them. If you will not have
me on the rock, give me a gun.
will hide among the trees, and
promise that some of them shall die
tonight before they find me. For
| the honor of the regiment, sahib do
not refuse this thing. All I ask is. If
write to Kurnal I-shpence-sahib, and
tell him the last act of Mir Jan, naik
in B troop"
There was an intense pathos in the
| mans words. He made this self-sac-
rificing offer with an utter absence of
any motive save the old tradition Of
| duty to the colors. Here was Ans
truther-sahib, Of the Belgium Rissala,
in dire peril. Very well, then, Cor
poral Mir Jan. late Of the 10th Ben
! gal Lancers, must dare all to save him.
jerks was profoundly moved. He
reflected how best to utilize the ser
vices of this willing volunteer without
exposing him to certain death in the
manner suggested. The native mis-
interpreted his silence. -
II am not a budmash,*+ sahib," he
exclaimed proudly. II only killed a
| man because 80
Listen, Mir Jan. You cannot well
mend what you have said. The Dy-
axis, you are sure, will not come be-
fore morning"
"They have carried the wounded to
the boats and are making the ladders.
Such was their talk when left them"
| will they not miss you?'
They will miss the mussak, >** sa-
hib. 1t was the last full one"
Mir Jan, do as bid, and you shall
see Delhi again. Have you ever used
a Lee-Metford? %
II have seen them, sahib; but bet
ter understand the Mahtini.'
IT will give you rifle, with plenty
of ammunition. Do you go inside the
cave, there, and~'
Mir Jan was startled. ~
/ where the ghost is. sahib?' he
said.
} "Ghost! That is tale for children.
There is no ghost, only a few bones Of
a man murdered by these scoundrels
long ago. Have you any food?"
Some rice, sahib: sufficient for a
day, or two at a PINCH
Good! We will get water from the
well. When the fighting begins at
dawn, fire at every man you see from
the back Of the cave. On no account
come out. Then they can never reach
: you if you keep full magazine.
Wait here!"
1T thought you were never COM
, Ing" protested Iris when jerks
reached the ledge. "I have been quite
creepy. I am sure there is some one
, down there. And, please, may I have
3 another drink"
I The sailor had left the crowbar be-
meath. He secured a rife, a spare
8 clip, and a dozen packets Of cart
e ridges, meanwhile briefly explaining to
Iris the turn taken by events so far
. as Mir Jan was concerned. She was
t naturally delighted, and forgot her
s fears in the excitement caused by the
: appearance of so useful an ally. She
i drank his health in a brtmming
: beaker Of water.
IA rascal. = -
**"A goatskin. IL. -
(To Be Continued Monday