Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01


impracticable or worthy of further investi-
cation.
So the girl only enjoined him to be care
full, and he vigorously renewed the climb.
At last, some twenty-five feet from the
ground, an accidental parting in the
branches enabled him to get good look at
the ledge. One glance set his heart beating
joyously. 1t was at least fifteen feet in
length; it shelved back until it's depth was
lost in the blackness of the shadows, and
the floor must be either nearly level or
sloping slightly inwards to the line of the
fault.
The place a perfect eagles nest. A
channels could not reach it from any direc-
ton; 1t became accessible to man only by
means of a ladder or a balloon.
More excited by this discovery than he
cared for Iris to know, he endeavored to
appear unconcerned when he regained the
ground
well" she said, tell me all about it,
He described the nature of the cavity as
we'll as he understood It at the moment,
and emphasized his previous explanation
of its virtues Here they might reasonably
hope to make a successful stand against
the Dyaks
Then you feel sure that those awful
creatures will come back?" she said slowly.
Only too sure. unfortunately"
How remorseless poor humanity is when
the veneer is stripped off! Why cannot they
leave us in peace? 1 suppose they now
cherish a blood feud against us. Perhaps,
If had not been here, they would not have
injured you. Somehow l seem to be bound
up with your misfortunes."
i would not have it otherwise were it in
my power he answered. For instant
he left unchallenged the girls assumption
That she was in any way responsible for the
disasters which had broken up his career.
He looked into her eyes and almost forgot
himself. Then the sense of fair dealing
that dominates every true gentleman rose
within him and gripped his wavering emo
lions with ruthless force. Was this a time
to play upon the high-strung sensibilties of
this youthful daughter of the gods, to seek
to win from her a confession of love that a
few brief days or weeks might prove to be
only a spasmodic, but momentarily all
powerful gratitude for the protection he had
given her?
And he spoke aloud, striving to laugh lest
his words should falter-
You can console yourself with the
thought, Miss Deane, that your presence on
the island will in no way affect my fate at
the hands of the Dyaks. Had they caught
me unprepared today my head would now
be covered with solution of the special
varn1sh they carry on every foreign expe-
dition."
''Varnish?" she exclaimed
YES. as preventative, you understand"
And yet these men are human beingsv'
For purposes of classification, yes. Keep
ing to strict fact. 1t was lucky for me
that you raised the alarm and gave
me a chance to discount the odds of
mere numbers. So, you see, you really did
me a good turn"
What can be done now to save our lives?
Anything will be better than to await an
other attack"
The first thing to do is to try to get
some sleep before daylight. How did you
know was not in the castle?'
Il cannot tell you. l awoke and knew
night I can always tell whether or not you
are in the next room. So | dressed and
came out
"Ah!" he said, quietly Evidently
snore"
This explanation killed romance.
Iris retreated and the sailor tired out at
last, managed to close his weary eyes
Next morning he hastily constructed a
pole OF sufficient length and strong enough
to bear his weight, by tying two sturdy
young trees together with ropes. Iris
helped him to raise it against the face of
the precfpice, and he at once climbed to the
ledge.
Here he found his observations Of the
previous night abundantly verified. The
ledge was even wider than he dared to
hope, nearly ten feet deep in one part, and
1t sloped sharply downwards from the outer
lip OF the rock. By lying fat and carefully
testing all points of view he ascertained
that the only possible positions from which
even glimpse of the interior floor could be
obtained were the branches of a few tall
trees and the extreme right of the opposing
precipice. nearly ninety yards distant.
There was ample room to store water and
provisions, and he quickly saw that even
some sort of shelter from the fierce rays of
the sun and the often piercing cold of the
night might be achieved by judiciously rig
ging UP tarpaulin.
This is genuine bit of good luck" he
unused. Here, provided neither of US is
hit, we can hold out for a week or longer.
at a pinch How can 1t be possible that l
should have lived on this island so many
days and yet hit upon this nook Of safety
by mere chance, as it were?"
Not until he reached the level again could
he solve the puzzle. Then he perceived that
the way In which the cliff bulged out on
both sides prevented the ledge from becom-
ing evident in profile, whilst. seen en- plein
face in the glare of the sunlight, it suggest
ed nothing more than slight indentation.
He rapidly sketched to Iris the defensive
plan which the Eagles Nest suggested. Ac-
cess must be provided by means of rope
ladder, securely fastened inside the ledge
and capable of being pulled up or let down
at the will of the occupants Then the
place must be kept constantly stocked with
a Judicious supply of provisions, water and
They could be covered with
tarpaulin, and thus kept in fairly good con-
dition.
1--WE ought to sleep there every night"
he went on. and his mind was so engrossed
with the tactical side of the preparations
that he did not notice how Iris blanched at
the suggestion.
Surely not until danger actually
she cried
Danger threatens us each hour after
sunset. 1t may come any night,
though i expect at least fortnights
reprieve. Nevertheless, 1 intend to act as
II tonight may witness the first shot of
the siege"
DO you mean that?" she sighed. "And
my little room is becoming SO very cozy,'
Belle Vue Castle, their two-roomed hut,
was already home to them
jerks always accepted her words liter
ally.
We'll, he announced, after pause. "it
may not be necessary to take up our
quarters there until the eleventh hour.
After | have hoisted up our stores and
made the ladder l will endeavor to devise
an efficient Gordon of sentinels around
our position. We will see"
Not another word could Iris get out of
him on the topic. Indeed. he provided her
with plenty of work. BY this time she could
splice rope more neatly than her tutor.
and her particular business was to pre-
pare no less than sixty rungs for the rope
ladder. This was an impossible task for