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

paled on the bayonetS of the cheval de frlse,
learning too late It's formidable nature.
their cries were drowned in a torrent of
amazed shouts from their companions
forthwith there was 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 far
over the edge of the rock as the girls ex-
postulations would permit. heard a couple
OF men grooming beneath. whilst third
hmped 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 box of
matches and a few dried bones," he an
swered.
There was no time for further speech. He
was absorbed in estimating the probable
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 a 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 at the further end of the
cave creeping under the cheval de frise for
the purpose.
Though not vivid as he wished, the
pale-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 pyak who caught glimpse
of the monstrous object crouching In lumin-
Gus horror within the dismal cavern.
Not even the stirring exhortations of the
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 bullet through the Dyaks
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
leadel'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 APP
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 a fire
near the well. Soon its 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 it's vicinity.
They spoke 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-
cursions 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 were 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 antiquated fintlocks,
or guns sufficiently modern to be fitted with
nipples for percussion caps.
Each Dyak, of course, sported parang
and dagger-like kriss; a few bore spears,
and about a 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
cd 4 M so ia
was saved from many earlier hours of
abiding dread, for one of those innocuous-
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 acknowledgment exercised
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 a burning branch and held it over the
blackened embers of the fire extinguished
by jerks. He seemed to draw some definite
conclusion from an examination of the
charcoal, and the argument thenceforth
proceeded with less empL asis Whatever it
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
il is since 1t was extinguished. Clearly
they agree with him."
'"Then they know we are still here?"
EITHER here or gone within a few hours
In any case they will make a thorough
search of the island at daybreak.''
"Will 1t be dawn soon?"
Eyes. Are you tired?"
"a little cramped-that is ALL
Don't thi,.k l am foolish-can you man
age to sleep?'
"Sleep! With those men so nearp'
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"
"If it will please you, l 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 a murmur. Pulling
one end of the tarpaulin over her, she
stretched her weary limbs on a litter Of
twiggs and leaves, commended herself and
the man she loved to Gods keeping, and
wonderful though 1t may seem, she was
soon gluunharip0 paacefirliv