Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-04

have told you now am quite sure you
"Ah, then you do trust me?" she almost
WHISPERED.
He forced back the words trembling for
utterance. He event strove weakly to as
sumo an air of goodrhumored bandinage.
See how you have tempted me from work.
Miss Deane," he cried We have gossiped
here until the fire grew tired of our COM
pany. To bed, please at once"
Iris caught him by the arm.
II will pray tonighta and every night" she
said solemnly, that your good name may
be cleared in the eyes of all men as it is in
mine. And am sure my prayer will be an
swered'
She passed into her chamber. but her an
gelic influence remained. In his very soul
the man thanked God for the tribuiation
which brought this woman into his life. He
had traversed the wilderness to find an oasis
OF rare beauty. What might lie beyond he
neither knew nor cared. Through the re-
mainder of his existence, be it day or
many a year, he would be glorified by the
knowledge that in ore incompatible heart
he reigned supreme, unchallenged. if only
Tor the hour. Fatigue anxiety bitter recol-
lection and present danger were overwhelm-
ed and forgotten in the nearness, the in
tangible presence of Iris. He looked up to
the starry vault. and,l yielding to the spell,
he, too, prayed.
1t was beautiful night. After a baking
hot day the rocks were radiating their
stored up heat but the plea SAINT sout hweSt
erly breeze that generally set in aft sunset
tempered the atmosphere and made sleep
refreshing. jerks could not settle down to
rest for little while otter Iris left him. She
"a ald not not bring forth hef lamp. and. unwilling
to disturb her, he picked up resinous
branch. lit it in the dying fire, and went into
the cave.
He wanted to survey the work already
Done, and to determine whether it would be
better to resume operations in the morning
from inside the excavation or from the
ledge. Owing to the difficulty of construct
ing vertical upward shaft, and the danger
or sudden fall of heavy material, he de-
c:ded in favor of the latter course although
1t entailed lifting all the refuse out of the
hole. To save time therefore he carried
his mining tools into the open, placed in
position the cheval de frise long since con-
structed for the defense of the entrance
and poured water over the remains of the
fire ~
This was his final care each night before
stretching his weary limbs on his couch of
branches. 1t caused delay in the morning
but he neglected no Drecaution and there
was possible chance of the Dyaks failing
TO discover the Eagles Nest If they were
persuaded by other indications that the
island was deserted.
He entered the hut and was in the act of
pulling off his boots, when a distant shot
rang sharply through the air. 1t was mag
nified tenfold by the intense silence For a
Few seconds that seemed to be minutes he
listened. cherishing the quick thought that
perhaps turtle, wandering far beyond ac-
customed limits, had disturbed one of the
spflng-gun communications on the sands A
sputtering volley, which his trained ear rec
ognized as the firing of muzzle-loaders.
sounded the death-knell of his last hope.
The Dyaks had landed Coming silently
ana mysteriously in the dead of night they
were themselves the victims of a stratagem
they designed to employ. Instead of taking
the occupants of Rainbow Island unawares
they were startled at being greeted by a
sEot the moment they landed. The
alarmed savages at once retaliated by
"rinss their antiquated weapons point blank
at the trees, thus giving warning enough to
wake the seven sleepers
Iris, fully dressed, was out in a moment
They have comet" she whispered
Yes was the cheerY7 answer, for jerks
face to face with danger was a. very diff
ferent man to jerks Wrestling with the in
sldious attacks of Cupid up the ladder,
Be lively! They will not be here for half
an hour if they kick up such a row at the
first difficulty Still. we will take no risks.
Cast down those spare lines when you
reach the top and haul away when l say
Ready! You will find everything to hand
up there"
He held the bottom of the ladder to steady
1t for the girls climb. Soon her voice fell,
Like a message from star:
All right. Please join me soon!'
The coiled-up ropes dropped along the
face of the rock. Clothes, pick, Ratchet,
hammer, crowbars and other useful odds
and ends We're swung away into the dark
llcsS, ici tile HooH dS Yet did DOt Diumlne
the crag- The sailor darted into Belle Vue
castle and kicked their leafy beds about
the floor Then he slung ali the rifles now
five in number, over his shoulders and
mounted the rope ladders~which, with the
spare cords, he drew up and coiled with
careful method.
by the way he suddenly asked, have
you your sou western
Yes
And your Bihle?"
Yes. 1t rests beneath my head every
night. ! even brought our Tennyson."
.Ah,'' he growled fiercely, this is where
the reality differs from the romance. Our
troubles are only beginning now"
''They will end the sooner. For my part
i have utter faith in you. II it be God S
will we will escape, and no man is more
worthy than you to be His agent
ITO he continued founorrowl