Evening star., 1904-02-29

wiring that name from her lips Precisely
in such moments this man acted with the
decision, the unerrins Judgment. the in
Simultaneous acceptance of great risk to ac-
complish great results. that marked him
nut as a born soldier.
He rushed into the house and snatched
from the rifle rack one of the six Lee
Netfords reposing there in apple-pie order,
each with a filed magazine attached and
a cartridge already in position.
Then he ran, with long swift strides,
not through the trees, where he could see
nothing, but toward the beach, whence,
in forty yards, the place where Iris proba-
bly, was would become visible.
At once he saw her, struggling in the
grasp of two ferocious-looking Dyaks, one,
by his garments a person of consequence
.repulsive in appearance. Around them
seven men, armed with guns and parangs,
were dancing with excitement.
Iris captors were endeavoring to tie her
arms, but she was strong and active Eng
hshwoman, with muscles well knit by the
constant labor of recent busy days and a
frame developed by years of horse riding
and tennis playing. The pair evidently
found he'd tough handful, and the inferior
Dyak, either to stop her screams-for she
was shrieking Robert, come to me!' with
all her might-or to stifle her into SUBJ
mission, roughly placed his huge hand over
her mouth.
These things the sailor noticed instantly.
Some men, brave to rashness, ready as he
to give his life to save her, would have
raced madly over the intervening ground,
scarce a furlong, and attempted heroic
combat of one against nine
Not SO jerks.
With the methodfcal exactness of the pa
rade ground he settled down on one knee
end leveled the rifle. At that range the Lee
Mettord bullet travels practically point
blank Usually 1t is deficient in stopping
power but he had provided against this
little drawback by notching all the car
tridges In the six rifles after the effective
manner devised by an expert named
Ihomas Atkins during the Tirah campaign.
None of the Dyaks saw him. All were
intent on the sensational prize they had Sc
cured, young and beautiful white woman
so consentediy roaming about the shores
advised by the Roman philosopher. the
backsight and foresight of the Lee-Metford
came into line with the breast of the coarse
brute clutching the girls face.
Then something hit him above the heart
and simultaneously tore half Of his back
into fragments. He fell, with a queer Sob
and the others turned to face this unex-
pected danger
that hateful grasp. wrenehed herself free
from the chiefs hold. and ran with all her
might along the beach, to jerks and safety.
Again. and yet again. the rife gave
ITS n., short, so,a sharp snari. and two more
were left, their leader being still uncon-
sciously preserved from death by the figure
Of the flying girl.
fourth Dyak dropped.
The survivors, cruel satages. but not
coWards' unsiung their guns. The sailor,
whate-faced1 grim, with AN unpleasant
gieam in his deep-set eyes and lower jaw
protruddng. noticed their preparations.
ITO the left! he shouted Run toward
the trees!'
Iris heard him and strove to obey; but
her strength was failing her, and she stag
gered biindly, After few deapairing efforts
she lurched feebly to her knees and tum-
bled face downward on the broken coral
that had tripped her -altaring footsteps.
jerks was watching her, watching the
remaining Dyaks. from Hlbm spluttering
voiley came, picking out his quarry with
the mrrderous ease of allerrier In rat-pit
Something like bee IS d violent hurry
hummed past his ear. aad rock near his
right foot was struck 4 tremendous blow
would be battle. not battue.
/. The NTH Dyak crumpaed into the distor-
ton OF death, and then their leader took de-
hberate aim at the kneeling marksman
who threatened to wipe him and his band