The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19

his head, and about this time firing
recommended from the crest.
Notwithstanding all his skill and
manipulation of the wooden supports,
he failed to dislodge the occupants.
Every minute one or more ounces of
lead pitched right into the ledge, dam
aging the stores and tearing the tar
raulin, whilst those which struck the
wall of rock were dangerous to Iris
by reason Of the molten spray.
He could guess what had happened.
BY lying fiat on the sloptng plateau.
or squeezing close to the projecting
shoulder Of the cliff. the Dyaks were
so little exposed that idle chance alone
would enable him to hit one of them.
But they must be shifted, or this night
| bo.nbardment would prove the most
serious development yet encountered.
Are you all right, Iris?' he called
out
| Yes, DEAR" she answered.
well, I want you to keep yourself
covered by the canvas for a little while
especially your head and shoulders.
T am going to stop these chaps. They
have found our weak point, but can
| battle Them 10y :,
She did not ask what he proposed
to do. He heard the rustling Of the
tarpaulin as she pulled it. Instantly
he cast loose the rope-ladder, and,
armed only with a revolver, dropped
down the rock. He was quite Invisible
to the enemy. On reaching the ground
I he listened for a moment. There was
no sound save the occasional reports
ninety yards away. He hitched up the
lower rungs of the ladder until they
were six feet from the level, and then
crept noiselessly, close to the rock, for
some forty yards.
He halted beside small poon-tree
and stopped to find something embed
ded near its roots. At this distance
he could plainly hear the muttered
! see several Of them prone on the sand.
The latter fact proved how fatal would
be an attempt on his part to reach the
we'll. They must discover him in
stantly once he quilted the somber
shadows Of the cliff. He waited, per-
haps a few seconds longer than was
necessary, endeavoring to pierce the
dim atmosphere and learn something
of their disposition.
A vigorous outburst Of firing sent
him back with haste. Iris was up
there alone. He knew not what might
| happen. He was now feverishly anx-
ious to be with her again, to hear her
voice, and be sure that all was well.
To his horror he found the ladder
swaying gently against the rock
Some one was using it. He sprang
LII " Oh ~, SebA SASoo VI SOhA w.
seized the swinging end which had
fallen free again. He had his foot
on the bottom rung when Iris's voice.
close at hand and shrill with terror
sErieked-
Robert, where are your"
'Here!" he shouted; the next in
slant she dropped into his arms.
A startled exclamation from the vi.
cinity Of the house, and some loud
cries from the more distant Dyaks or
the other side of Prospect Park
showed that they had been overheard
"Up!' he whispered. Hold tight
and go as quickly as you cam"
mot without you'll"
up, for Gods sake! I follow a
your heels.
She began to climb. He took some
. article from between his teeth, a string
apparently, and drew it towards him
, mounting the ladder at the same time
. The ends frightened. He was thel
; about ten feet from the ground. two
Dyaks. yelling flercely, rushed from
the cover OF the house. s.
| go on he said to Iris. Don
}. lose your nerve whatever happens. :
am close behind you" N=.
, II am quite safe" she gasped.
Turning, and clinging on with on
} hand, he drew his revolver and free