Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-13
'"That was always an unpleasant

ample supply it would be difficult tc
bold out. AS things are, such course
becomes simply impossible"
Her dependency pierced his soul. A
slow agony was consuming her.
1T is hard I admit" lie said. 'Nev'
erthe,ess you must bear up until night
fails: tLen we will either obtain water
Or leave this place"
Surely we can do neither"
I'VE may he compelled to do BOTH"
"Rut how?"
I'm this Lis hour of EXTREMIST need
the man was vouclisafed II shred of
luck. Before he could frame feeble
pretcxt for his too sanSuine prediction
saripan appeared 500 yards from
Turtle beach. strcnuously padded by
three men. The vague hallOOing they
had heard WIS explained.
The Dyaks. though to the manner
born. were weary Of sun scorched
rocks and salt water. The boat was
coming in response to their signals, and
the sight inspired jerks with fresh
hope. Like Il lightning fash came the
reflection that If he could keep them
away from the well and destroy the
sampan now Fastening to their assist
ance, perhaps conveying the bulk Of
their stores. they would soon tire Of
shaking their thirst on the few pitcher
plants growing Oh the north shore.
Come quick" he shouted, adjusting
the hack sight of rifle. Lie down and
aim at the front of that boat. Il little
short If anything. 1t doesn't matter If
tie bullets strike the sea first"
He placed the weapon in readiness
for her and commenced operations him.
self before Iris could reach his side.
Soon both rifles were pitching twenty
shots minute at the sampan. The re-
suit of their long range practice was
not long in doubt. The Dyaks danced
from seat to seat in Il state of wild ex-
citement. One man was hurled over
board. Then the craft lurched sea-
ward in the strong current. and jerks
told Iris to leave the rest. TO him.
Before he could empty n second mag
azine fortunate bullet ripped Il plank
out and the sampan filled and went
down amid a shrill yell Of execration
from the back Of the cliff. The two
Dyaks yet living endeavored to swim
ashore, half mile through shark in
vested reefs. The sailor did not even
trouble about them. After Il few fran
tic struggles each doomed wretch flung
up his arms and vanished. In the clear
atmosphere the onlookers could see
black fins cutting the peliucid sea.
They were quietlng down-the thirst
fend was again slowly sailing their
veins-when something of dirty white
color futtered into sight from behind
the base of the opposite cliff. 1t was
rapidly withdrawn, to reappear after
an interval. Now it was held more
steadily and brown arm became vis!-
BILE. AS jerks did not fire, a turbaned
head popped into sight. 1t was the Mo-
h8mmedan.
mo shoot It," he roared. "Me Eng
lish speak It."
Don't you speak Hindoostanee"
shouted jerks in Urdu Of the higher
proficiency.
eyes, sirw was the joyful response.
"Will your honor permit his servant to
come and talk with him?'
Eyes, if you come unarmed."
"And the chief, too, sahib"
"Yes, but listen! On the first sign OF
treachery will shoot both Of you"
"We will keep faith, sahib. May kites
pick our bones II we fail!'
Then there stepped into full view the
renegade Mussulman and his leader.
They carried no guns; the chief wore
his creese.
"Tell him to leave that dagger be-
hindr. cried the sailor imperiously. AS
the enemy demanded parley he re-
solved to adopt the conqueror's tone
from the outset. The chief obeyed, with
q scowl, and the two advanced to the
foot Of the rock.
STAND close to me-" said jerks to
Iris. LET them see you plainly, but
pull your hat we'll down over your
eyes,"
She silently followed his instructions.
Now that the very crisis Of their fate
had arrived she was nervous, shaken
conscious only of desire to sink on
her knees and pray.
The two halted some ten PAGES In
front of the cavern. and the Delliger-
ents surveyed each other. 1t was II fas-
cinating spectacle. this drama In real
life. The yellow faced Dyak. gaudily
attired in a crimson jacket and sky
blue pantaloons of Chinese silk, man
young and powerfully built. and the
brown skinned, white clothed Moham-
medan. bony, tall and gray with hard
ship, looked up at the occupants of the
ledge. Iris. slim and boyish in her male
garments. was dwarfed by the six foot
sailor. but her face was blood stained,
and jerks wore six weeks stuDDle
of beard. Holding their rifles with
alert ease, with revolvers strapped TO
their sides, they presented warlike
and imposing tableau in their inaccessi-
BILE perch. In the path of the emlssa-
ries lay the bodies Of the slain. The
Dyak leader scowled again US he pass
ed them.
"Sahib," began the Indian. my chief.
Taung SAli, does not wish to have
any more of his men killed In foolish
quarrel about woman. Give her up-
he says. and he will either leave you
here in peace or carry you safely to
some place where you can find snip
manned by white men,"
"a woman" said jerks scornfully.
..That is idle talk! What woman Is
here"
This question nonplused the native.
"The woman whom the chief saw
half month back. sahib."
"Taung S'Ali was bewitched. slew
his men so quickly that he saw spirits
The chief caught his name and broke
in with a question. A volley OF talk
between the two was enlivened with
expressive gestures by Taung SAl,
who several times pointed to Iris. and
.Ienks now mathematical his Thought
less folly in permitting the Dyak to ap,
proach so near. The MOhammedan. OF
course, had never seen her and might
have persuaded the other that In truth
there were two men only on the rock.
His fears were only too well founded.