Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
CHAPTER XII.
The Fight.

Of his reliable sentinels that he could fol-
low each phase of the imaginary conflict
on the other side of the island. The irst
outbreak of desultory firing died away
amidst chorus of protest from every
feathered inhabitant of the isle, so jerks
assumed that the Dyaks had gathered
again on the beach after Kidding the scare
crews with bullets or slashing them with
tEeiI heavy razor-edged parangs, Malay
sv ords with which experts can fell a stout
Eapling at a single blow.
a hasty council WAS probably held and,
notwithstanding their fear of the silen.
company in the hollow. advance was
ultimately made along the beach. Within
few yards they encountered the invisible
cord of the third spring gun. There was
a report, and another fierce outbreak of
musketry. This was enough. Not man
would move a step nearer that abode OF
TIE dead. The next commotion arose on
The ridge near the North Cape.
AT this rate of progress said jerks TO
the girl. they will not reach ou1 house
until daylight"
II almost wish they were here" was~the
quiet reply. Il find this waiting and listen
ing to be trying to the nerves"
They were lying on number of ragged
garments hastily spread on the ledge. and
oeering intently into the moonIt area o.
shrouded in somber shadows. Even II they
stood up none could see them from the
ground so dense was the darkness cnveiop-
,ng them.
He turned slightly and took he- hand.
T. was cool and moist. 1t no more tr=n-
5lcd than his own
THE Dyaks are far more scarc1 than
Tou.'' he murmured with laugh. 'Cruel
md coura geous as they are, they dare not
lace a spook.
"Then what a pity it is we canrot con-
lure up a ghost for their benefit! All ne
spirits / have ever read about We're ridic-
llous. Why cannot one be useful occa-
sonally?'
The question set him thinking. I'm
known to the girl. the materials for dra-
matte apparition were hidden amidst the
bushes near the we'll He cudgeled bis
brains to remember the stage effects or
juvenile days: hut these needed limeitght,
blue flares mirrors, phosphorus:
The absurdity of hoping to devise any
such accessories whilst perched on iedge
II remote island-a larger reef OF the
thousands in the China sea-tickled kim.
What is it?" asked Iris.
He repeated his list of missing stage
properties. They had nothing to do bit to
wait and people in the very crux and
maelstrom of existence usually discuss
trivial things.
II don't know anything about phosphor-
GUS" said the girl but you can obtain
queer results from sulphur, and there Is
an cid box of Norwegian matches resting
at this moment on the shelf in my room
Don't you remember? They were in your
pocket and you were going to throw them
away. Why, what are you doinS?
For jerks had cast the rope-ladder loose
and was evidently about to descend.
Have no fear" he said; Il will not be
away five minutes
eff you are going down must come with
you. l will not be left here alone"
please do not stop me-. he Whispered
earnestly. You must not come. Will
til hot ION
YOU can warn me instantly. With botn OF
us on the ground we will incur real danger:
I want you TO keep a sharp lookout TOWARD
Turtle Beach in case the Dyaks come ina,
Way. Those who are crossing the island
will not reach US for a long time"
She yielded. though unwillingly. she was
tremulous with anxiety on his account.
He vanished without another word. She
next saw him in the moonlight nea- the
we'll He was rustling among the shrubs,
and he returned to the rock with something
white in his arms. which he seemingly de-
posted at the mouth OF the cave he Went
back to the we'll and carried another sim
liar burthen. Then he ran toward the
house The doorway was not visible from
tho ledge and she passed a few horrible
moments until a low hiss beneath caugnt
her ear She could tell by the creak of the
rope ladder that he was ascending. at iast
he reached her side. and she murmured,
with a gasping sob
Don't go away again l cannot staho
It."
He thought 1t best to soothe her agitation
by arousing interest. Still hauling IN the
ladder with one hand, he held out the
other on which luminous wisps were with
ing like glow-worms' ghosts.
You are responsible he sad YOU
gave me an excellent idea, and l was
obliged to carry ii out
What have you done? .
Arranged fearsome DOGGY IN me cave
But how?"
1T was not exactly a pleasant operation,
but the only laws of necessity are those
which must be broken"
She understood that he did not wish her
to question him further. Perhaps curiosity,
now that he was safe, might have vanquish-
ed her terror. and led to another demand
for enlightenment, but at that instant tle
sound of an angry voice and the crunchlrs
of coral away to the left drove all else
from her mind.
''They are coming by way of the beach,
after ALL" whispered jerks.
He was mistaken, in a sense- Another
outburst of intermittent firing among the
trees on the north of the ridge showed that
some at least, of The Dyaks were adVahc-
ing by their former route The appearance
o. the Dyak chief on the fiat belt Of single
with his right arm slung across his breast,
accompanied by not more than half dozen
followers, showed that a few hardy spirits
had dared to pass the Valley or Death win
all its nameless terrors.
They advanced cautiously enough, as
though dreading a surprise. Ine
chief carried a bright parans in his
left hand: the others were armed with guns,
their swords being thrust through belts
Creeping forward on tiptoe, though their
distant companions were making tremen-
dous gow. they looked a murderous gang
as they peered across the open space, now
brilliantly Illuminated by the moon.
jerks had a sudden intuition that the
right thing TO do was to shoot the whole
party. He dismissed the thought at once.
All his preparations were governed by the
hope that the pirates might abandon their
quest after hours of fruitless search. 1t
would be most unwise. he told himself. to
precipitate hostilities. Far better avoid a
conflict altogether. If that were possible,
than risk the immediate discovery of his
Inaccessible retreat.
In other words he made n grave mistake,
which shows how a man may err when
over-agonized by the danger of the woman
he loves. The bold course was the right
one BY killing the Dyak leader he would
have deprived the enemy of the dominating
influence in this campaign of revenge. When
the main body, already much perturbed by
the unseen and intangible agencies which
opened fire at them in the wood arrived In
Prospect Park to find only the dead bodies
OF their chief and his small force. their con-
eternation could be turned into a mad panic
by a vigorous bombardment from the rock.
Probably. in less than hour after their