The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-12

science. Fortunately the fumes Of the
sulphur fed on the bony substance.
They endured a sufficient time to
glimpse Of the monstrous object
crouching in luminous horror within
the dismal cavern.
Not even the stirring exhortat1ons
of the chief, whose voice was raised in
furious speech, could induce his ad-
affrighting spot. At last the daring
scoundrel himself, still welding
his naked sword, strobe right
up to the very doorway. Strick-
en- with sudden stupor, he gazed at
the fltful CLEANS within. He prodded.
the cheval de frise with the parang.
Here was something definite and solid.
men out into the moonlight.
Again jerks experienced an itch
Ing desire to send bullet thru the
Dyak' head; again he resisted the
Impulse. And SO passed that which is
|Vouchsafed by fate to few men-a
second opportunity.
"a Another vehement harangue by the
chief goaded some venturesome spirits
into carrying their wounded comrade
out Of sight, presumably to the hut.
inspired by their leaders fearless ex-
ample, they even removed the third in
cave, but the celebrity of their retreat
caused the wretch to bawl in agony.
AZ Their next undertaking was no SOON
er appreciated by the sailor than he
hurriedly caused Iris to shelter her
self beneath the trapaulin, whilst he
covered close to floor of the ledge,
| looking only thru the screen of tall
grasses. They kindled fire near the
we'll. Soon it's ruddy glare lit up the
dark rock with fantastic chickering's,
| and drew scintillations from the
weapons and ornaments of the hid
eously picturesque horde gathered in
| it's vicinity.
They spoke q language Of hard VOW
els 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 counted 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
river estuaries or along a coast.
4 They were mostly bare-legged ras-
Gals wearing Malay hats. loose jack
cts reaching to the knee, and san
dals. One man differed essentially
I from the others. He was habited in
the conventional attire Of an Indian
Mahommedan, and his skin was
brown. whilst the swarthy Dyaks
were yellow beneath the dirt. jerks
thought, from the manner in which
his turban was tied, that he must be
a Punjabi Mussulman-very likely ar
escaped convict from the Andamans
The most careful scrutiny did MOI
reveal any arms of precision. They al
carried muzzle-loaders, either anti.
quated f1intlocks, or guns sufficient,
modern to be fitted with nipples fol
percussion caps.
!. Each Dyak, of course, sported {
parang and dagger-like kriss; few
bore spears, and about dozen Shout
dered a long straight piece of BAN
boo. The nature of this implemen
the sailor could not determine at tn,
moment. When the knowledge dit
come, it came so rapidly that he wa
saved from many earlier hours o
abiding dread, for one of those in
, demonstrating weapons was fraugh
| with more quiet deafness than a Cat
: ling gun.