Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-10

He could guess what had happened
By lying fat on the sloping plateau OF
squeezing close to the projecting slouI
der of the cliff the Dyaks We're so little
exposed that idle chance alone would
enable him to hit one of them. But
they must be shifted, or this night
bombardment would prove the most
serious development yet encountered.
Are you all right, Iris?" he called
out
Yes, dear" she answered.
We'll, want you to keep yourscl;
covered by the canvas for little
While, especially your head and shonl
ders. am going to stop these chans
They have found our weak point, but
/ can battle them.'
She did not ask what he proposed t
do. he heard the rustling of the tai,
paulin as she pulled it. Instantly H.
cast loose the rope laddcr and. armcl
only with revolver, dropped down thu
rock. lie was quite invisible to the on
envy. On reaching the ground he lis
tened for 4 moment. There was no
sound save the occasional reports nine
ty yards away. He hitched up the low
or rungs of the ladder until they were
six feet from the level and then crcpt
noisclessly. close to the rock for some
forty yards.
He halted beside a small pooh tree
and stopped to find something imbcd
dcd near its roots. AT this distance he
could plainly hear the muttered con
versation of the Dyaks and could sec
several of them prone on the sand. The
latter fact proved how fatal would be
an attempt on his part to reach the
well. They must discover him instant
ly once he quilted the somber shadows
of the cliff. He waited perhaps few
seconds longer than was necessary.
cndcavoring to pierce the dim atmos-
pherc and learn something of their dis
position.
| a vigorous outburst of firing sent
him back with haste. Iris was M there
alone. He knew not what might hap.
| pen. He was now fcverishly anxious
to be with her again, to hear her voice
and lie sure that all was we'll
To his horror he found the laddc,
swaying gently against the rock Sc.nt
one was using it. He sprans forward
careless of consequence, and seized tho
swinging end, which had fallen free
again. He had his foot on the bottom
rung when Iris voice, close Mt han(
and slrill with terror, shriekcd:
"Robert, where are you?"
'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 erie.
from the more distant Dyaks on th'
other side of Prospect park showet
that they had been overheard.
up" he whispered. Hold tigh
and go as quickly as you cam"
Not without your
up, for Gods sake! 1 follow a
your heels!'
She began to climb. lie took som
article from between his teeth, strin,
apparently. and drew it toward him
mounting the ladder at the same time
The end tightened He was thei
about ten feet from the ground Tw,
Dyaks, yelling flercely, rushed iron
the cover of the house.
go on he said to Iris. "Don'
lose your nerve, whatever happens.
am close behind you"
II am quite safe" she gasped
| Turning and clinging on with on
hand, he drew his revolver and fire.
at the pair beneath, who could nov
family discern them, and were almos
within reach of the ladder. The shoot
ing made them halt. lie did not know
or care if they We're hit. To frightcl
| them was sufficient Several other