The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-22
"All right" commented jerks. 81
you don't want q drink, 1 do"

AhS Sohoh heutaiiS Expressed dis in
ability to grasp the complexities of
feminine nature, but Iris ratified on:
II carried my tin Of water to the
pitcher plant and vas listening to the
greedy roots gurgling away for lear
life when suddenly four men sprang
out from among the trees and seized
my arms before l could reach my re-
volver."
"Thank heaven you failed!"
"You think that If l had fired at them
they would have retaliated. Yes, espe-
cially If l had hit the chief. But it was
he who instantly gave some order, and
I suppose it meant that they were not
to hurt me. AS a matter Of fact, they
seemed to be quite as much astonished
as l was alarmed. But If they could
hold my hands they could not stop my
voice so readily. Oh, didn't l yell?'
"You did"
81 suppose you could not heal me
distinctly
quite distinctly"
Every word?"
"Yes."
She bent to pick some leaves and bits
rf dry grass from her dress. Well,
you know" she continued rapidly, Sin
such moments n cannot choose ones
words. l just shouted the first thing
that came into my head"
"And l." he said, picked up the first
rife l could lay my hands on. Now,
Miss Deane, as the affair, has ended so
happily, may | venture to ask you to
remain in the cave until l return?"
ooh, please she began.
"RealIy, l must insist. would not
leave you if it We're not quite impera-
tive. You cannot come with me-"
Then she understood one ut least of
the tasks he must perform. and she
meekly obeyed.
He thought it best to go along Turtle
beach to the cove IND thence follow
the Dyaks' trail through the wood. as
this line of advance would entail prac-
> tically a complete circuit Of the island.
He omitted no precautions in his adj
vance. Often he stopped and listened
) ~intently. Whenever he doubled a point
! or passed among the trees he crept
back and peered along the way he had
come to see if any lurking foes We're
i breaking shelter behind him.
t The marks on the sand proved that
e only one sampan had been beached.
l. Thence he found nothing of special in
terest until he came pom the chief
1t gun lying close to the trees on the
d north side. 1t vas a very ornamental
y weapon, a muzzle loader. The stock
was inlaid with gold and ivory, and
le the piece had evidently been looted
d from some mandarin's junk surprised
le and sacked in a former foray.
The lock was smashed by the impact
Of jerks rifle bullet, but close in
n vestigation of the trigger guard anC
10 the discovery of certain unmistakablt
10 evidences on the beach showed tina
n the Dyak leader had lost two If no
or three fingers Of his right hand.
th $50 he has something more than hi
40 passion to nurse" unused jerks. THAT
~ at any rate. is fortunate. He will b
RI In no mood for further enterprise TO
ne some tins to come
He dreaded lest any of the Dyak
should be only badly wounded and Xix
~ to live. 1t was an actual relief
his nerves to find that the improvise
~ dumdums had done their work too we
n to permit anxiety on that score.
ba He gathered the guns, swords an
oh creeses of the slain, with all their VI
In cOuth belts and ornaments. In purs'
ance OF a vaguely defined PLAN of f
u ture action he also Invested some
-. ~ 81 - ao, r.,, r, rt,,n1fS ar
collected six queer looking hats shape
,,lt like inverted basins. These things
y. placed in 4 heap near the pitch
~ plants. Thenceforth for half an ho
10 the placid surface Of the lagoon w
disturbed by the black dorsal II
many sharks.
-lv His guess at the weather condltlo
heralded by the change of wind W
right. AS the two partook of their eve
IN. ing meal the complaining surf lash
I'D the reef, and the tremulous branches
the taller trees voiced the approach
-, q gale. A tropical storm-nota typhot
- but q belated burst Of the perlo(
rains-deluged the island before II
night. Hours earlier Iris retired, UT
" worn by the events of the q;
The gale chanted a wild melody
mournful chords, and the noise OF
watery downpour on the tarpaulln r.
OF Belle Vue castle was such as 10 I
.,a- der conversation impossible save
worrying shouts.
90 Luckily jerks carpentry was ell
yat tive, though rough. The building Y
. water tight. and he had calked ev
-. creyice with unraveled rope until |
apartment was free from the TN
draft.
=. The very fury of the external turn
~ acted as a lullaby to the girl. she
~ soon asleep. and the sailor was lei
-, his thoughts
-. Sleep he could not. He smoked ste
y lily, with a magnificent ~prodlgailty'
his small stock of tobacco was las'
m~inishing. He ransacked his BRAN
~-e4lr,l -nf nca.fn9 Il