Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
was empty. ran towards the cave and thus
soTyAsstns3
~ vxNSD locs . 60
cc1vssesvIs9
~ fovxtRp > cloeR

most Trio OF the yeipng hOrue were I'M
paled on the bayonets of the cheval de frise,
learning too late It's formidable nature.
The wounded men shrieked In agony. but
their cries We're drowned in a torrent of
amazed shouts from their companions.
Forthwith there was a stampede toward the
WELL the cliff, the beaches. anywhere to
get away from that awesome cavern where
ghosts dwelt and men fell MANNED at the
very threshold. The sailor. leaning as far
over the edge of the rock as the girls ex-
postulations would permit. heard a couple
of men groaning beneath whilst third
limped away with frantic and painful haste.
What is it?' whispered Iris. eager her
self to witness the tumult. What has hap
pened?"
They have been routed by a box of
matches and few dried bones,'' he an
, swered.
There was no time for further speech. He
was absorbed in estimating the probable
number of the Dyaks. Thus far, he had
seen about fifty. Moreover, he did not wish
to acQuaint Iris with the actual details of
the artifice that had been so potent. Her
allusion to the box of water-sodden Tand-
stickors gave him the notion of utilizing as
an active ally the bleached remains of the
poor fellow who had long ago fallen vic
tim to this identical mob of cut-thrOats or
their associates. He gathered the principal
bones from their resting place near the
well, rubbed them with the ends of the
matches after damping the sulphur again,
and arranged them with CHASTITY effect on
the pile of rubbish al the further end of the
cave, creeping under the cheval de frise for
the purpose.
Though not so vivid as he wished, the
-glimmering headleSs skeleton in the
intense darkness of the interior was appall-
Ing enough in all conscience. Fortunately
the fumes of the sulphur fed on the bony
substance. They endured a sufficient time
to scare every Dyak who caught a glimpse
of the monstrous object crouching In 1umin-
Gus horror within the dismal cavern.
~ +1,<r tf,.~f, ! ,f{ I,n
chief, whose voice was raised in furious
speech, could induce his adherents to again
approach that affrighted spot. At last the
daring scoundrel himself, still welding his
naked sword, STROBE right up to the very
doorway Stricken with sudden stupor, he
gazed at the fitful CLEANS within. He prod
ded the cheval de frise with the parang.
Here was something definite and solid.
Then he dragged one of the wounded men
out into the. moonlight.
Again jerks experienced an itching de-
sire to send a bullet through the Dyak's
head; again he resisted the impulse. And
so passed that which is vouchsafed by Fate
to few men-a second opportunity.
Another vehement harangue by the chief
goaded some venturesome spirits into carry
ing their wounded comrade out of sight,
presumably to the hut. Inspired by their
leadei's fearless example, they even re-
moved the third injured Dyak from the
vicinity of the cave. but the CELEBRITY of their
retreat caused the wretch to bawl in agony.
Their next undertaking was no sooner ap-
preciated by the sailor than he hurriedly
caused Iris to shelter herself beneath the
tarpaulin, whilst he covered close to the
floor of the ledge, looking only through the
screen of tall grasses They kindled fire
near the well. Soon it's ruddy glare lit up
the dark rock with fantastic chickering's.
and drew scintillations from the weapons
and ornaments of the hideously picturesque
horde gathered in its vicinity
They spoke a language of hard vowels
and nasal resonance, and ate what he
judged to be dry fish, millets and strips of
tough preserved meat, which they cooked
on small iron skewers stuck among the
glowing embers His heart sank as he count
ed sixty-one, all told, assembled within
forty yards of the ledge. Probably
several others were guarding the boats or
prowling about the island. Indeed, events
proved that more than eighty men had
come ashore in three large sampans, roomy
and fleet craft, we'll fitted for piratical eX-
cursonS up river estuaries or along
coast.
They were mostly bare-legged rascals,
wearing Malay hats, loose Jackets reaching
to the knee, and sandals. One man differed
essentially from the others. He was hab-
tied in the conventional attire of an Indian
Mahommedan, and his skin was brown,
whilst the swarthy Dyaks We're yellow be-
meath the dirt. jerks thought, from the
manner in which his turban was tied, that
he must be a Punjabi Mussulman-very
likely an escaped convict from the Anda-
mans.
The most careful scrutiny did not reveal
any arms of precision. They all carried
muZzle-loaders, either Anticipated flintlocks,
or guns sufficiently modern to be fitted with
nipples for percussion caps.
Each Dyak, of course, sported parang
and dagger-lke kriss; a few bore spears,
and about dozen shouldered a long
straight piece of bamboo. The nature of
this implement the sailor could not de-
termine at the moment. When the knowl-
edge did come, 1t came so rapidly that he
was saved from many earlier hours of
abiding dread, for one of those fnnocuous-
looking weapons was fraught with more
quiet deadliness than Calling gun.
In the neighborhood of the fire an ami
mated discussion took place. Though 1t
was easy to see that the chief was all para
mount, his Acknowledgement exercised a
democratic right of free speech and out
spoken opinion.
Flashing eyes and expressive hands were
turned toward cave and hut. Once, when
the debate grew warm, the chief snatched
up burning branch and held it over the
blackened embers of the fire cxtinguished
by jerks. He seemed to draw some definite
conclusion from an examination of the
charcoal, and the argument thenceforth
proceeded with less emphasis. Whatever 1t
was that he said evidently carried ccnvic-
ton.
Iris, nesting close to the sailor, whisper
ed
do you know what he has found out?"
81 can only guess that he can tell by
the appearance of the burnt wood how long
it is since 1t was extiuguished. Clearly
they agree with him."
''Then they know we are still here?"
Either here or gone within few hours
In any case they will make a thorough
search of the island at daybreak."
'Will 1t be dawn soon?'
Yes Are you tired?"
"a little cramped-that is ALL"
r. i fnn1i -lA-
age to sleep?"
Sleep! With those men so nearr'
Yes We do not know how long they
will remain. We must keep up our
strength. Sleep, next to food and drink, is
a prime necessity"
eff it will please you, I will try" she
said, with such sweet readiness to obey his
slightest wish that the wonder is he did
not kiss her then and there BY previous
instruction she knew exactly what to do.
She crept quietly back until we'll ensconced
In the niche widened and followed for
her accommodation. There. so secluded
was she from the outer world of horror
and peril. that the coarse voices beneath
only reached her in murmur Pulling
one end of the tarpaulin over her. she
stretched her weary limbs on a Hitter of
twiggs and leaves, commended herself and
the man she loved to Gods keeping and