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

lips were slightly parted in q smile; she
might be dreaming OF summer ana q. Eng 3
the verge of the rock and looked down
through the grass roots.
The Dyaks were already stirring. Some
were replenishing the fire, others were
drawing water. cooking, eating. smoking
long, thin-stemmed pipes with absurdly
small bowls, or oiling their limbs and weap-
ons with impartial energy. The chief yet
lay stretched on the sand. but, when the
first beams of the sun gilded the waters.
man stopped over the PHOSPHATE form and
said something that caused the sleeper to
rise stifHy. supporting himself on his unin-
5ured arm. They at once went off to-
gether towards Europa Point.
They have found the boat" thought
jerks. Well. they are welcome to all the
information 1t Affords
The pair soon returned. Another Dyal
advanced to exhibit one of jerks spring.
gun attachments. The savages had sense
OF humor. Several laughed heartily when
revealed. The chief alone preserved a
gloomy and saturnine expression.
He gave some order at which they all
hung back sheepishly. Cursing them in
faggot and STROBE in the direction CT
the cave. Goaded into activity by his
truculent demeanor, some followed him,
ng to t t 6ut
tearing the cheval de frise from its
supports. Nevertheless none of the
working party entered the excavation.
They feared the parched bones that shone
by night.
Poor J. ST. murmured the sailor. eff
his spirit still fingers near the scene of
his murder he will thank me for drag
g1ng him into the fray. He fought them
living and he can scare them dead"
AS he had not been able to complete the
communicating shaft it was not now of
vital Importance should the Dyaks pene-
trate to the interior. Yet he thanked the
ha ShOverad bo4
of rubbish over the spot containing his
chief stores and covering the vein of gold.
Wild as these fellows were, they we'll hnew
the value of the precious metal, and If by
chance they lighted upon such well-de
fined lode they might not quit the island
for weeks.
At last, on a command from the chief,
the Dyaks scattered in various directions.
Some turned toward Europa Point, but
the majority went to the east along Tur-
tie Beach or by way of the lagoon. Pros
pect Park was deserted. They were scour-
ing both sections of the island In tull
force.
The quiet watcher on the ledge took
no needless risks. Though 1t was i'm
possible to believe any stratagem had been
planned for his special benefit an ncd-
dent might betray him. With the utmost
CircumsDection he rose on all foHrs and
with comprehensive glance examined trees,
plateau and both strips of beach for signs
of lurking foe. He need have no fear.
OF all places in the island the Dyaks least
imagined that their quarry had lain all
night within earshot of their encampment
At this hour when the day had finally
conquered the night, and the placid sea
offered turquoise path to the infinite,
the scene was restful, gently bewitching.
He knew that, away there to the north.
P. and o. steamers, Messageries Maritimes
and North German Lloyd liners were stead
lily churning the blue depths en- route TO
Japan or the Straits Settlements. They
carried hundreds of European passengers
men and women, even little children who
were far removed from the knowledge that
tragedies such as this Dyak horror lay
almost in their path. People In London
were just going to the theater. lie re-
called the familiar jingle of the hansoms
scampering along Piccadilly, the more
stately pace of the private carriages cross
ing the park. Was it possible that In the
world of today-the world of telegraphs
and express trains, of the newspaper and
the motor car-two inOffenSive human be-
fngs could be done to death so shamefully
and openly as would be the fate of Iris
and himself If they fell into the hands OF
these savages! 1t was inconceivable. in
tolerable! But it was true!
And then, by an odd trick of memory
his mind reverted, not to the Yorkshire
manor he learnt to love as boy. put TO
little French inland town where he once
passed a summer holiday intent on i'm
proving his knowledge of the language.
Interior France is even more remote, more
secluded. more provincial, than agricui-
tural England. There no breath of the
outer world intrudes. All Is laborious,
circumspect, triie poverty stricken. but
beautified by an Arcadfan simplicity 1et
one memorable day, when walking by the
banks Of 4 river he came upon three men
dragging from out pool the water
soaked body of a young girl into whose
fair forehead the blunt knob often seen on
the back Of an old-fashioned axe had been
tiny old-world hamlet. murder and lust
cOuId stalk hand in hand.
He shuddered. Why did such hateful
vision trouble him? Resolutely banning the
specter. he slid back down
the ledge and gently Weakened Iris. She sat
up instantly and gazed at him with Won
dering eyes.
Fearful lest she should forget her sur
he placed warning finger on
his lips.
oh" she said in a whisper, "are they
still here?"
He told her what had happened, and sug
gested that they should have something to
eat whilst the coast was clear beneath. She
needed no second bidding, for the long vigil
of the previous night had made her very
hungry, and the two breakfasted right roy
ally on biscuit cold fowl. ham and good
water.
In this the inner section of their refuge,
they could be seen only by a bird or by
man standing on the distant rocky shelf
that formed the southern extremity of the
cliff and the sailor kept a close
Iris was about to throw the remains of
the feast into an empty oiltin provided for
refuse when jerks restrained her.
NO" he said, smilingly. Scraps should
be the first course next time. We must not
waste atom of food
How thoughtless of mer' she exclaimed.
please tell me you think they will go away
today"
But the sailor flung himself fiat on the
ledge and grasped a Lee-Metford.
BE still, on your life" he said Squeeze
into your corner. There is Dyak on the
opposite cliff
True enough a man had climbed to that
unhappily placed rocky table, and was
shouting something to a confrere high on
the cliff over their heads. AS yet he had
not seen them. nor even noticed the place
where they were concealed The sailor
ina gined. from the Dyak's gestures that
he was communicating the uselessness of
further search on the western part of the
island.
When the conversation ceased he hoped
the loud-voiced savage would descend. But
no! The scout looked into the valley, at the
well. the house. the cave. Still he did not
see the ledge. At that unlucky moment
three birds. driven from the trees on the
crest by the passage of the Dyaks flew
down the face of the cliff and began cir
cling quest for some safe perch on which