Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-28

was in sigllr. According to hio caicu- lations the growing anxiety as to the fate of the sirdar must long ere this have eliminated in the dispatch from Hongkong or Singapore of special search vessel while British warships in the China sea would be warned to keep close lookout for any traces of the steamer. to visit all islands on their route and to question fishermen whom they encountered. So help might como any day or it might be long deferred. He could not pierce the future. and It was useless to vex his soul with ques- tionings as to what might happen next week. The great certainty of the hour was Iris-the blue eyed, smiling divin- ity who had come into his life-wait- ing for him down there beyond tho trees, waiting to welcome him with . sweet voiced greeting. and he knew. with fierce devouring joy, that her cheek would not pale nor her lip trem- ble when he announced that at least another sun must set before the ex. pected relief reached them
 He replaced the glasses in their case and dived into the wood. giving pass ing thought to the fact that the wind. after blowing steadily from the south for nearly week, had veered round to the northeast during the night. Did the change portend storm! Well. they were now prepared for all such eventualities. and he had not forgot ten that they possessed, among other treasures, a box of books for rainy days. And rainy day with Iris for company. What gale that ever blew could offer such compensation for en. forced idleness?
 The morning sped in uneventful work. Iris did not neglect her cherish ed pitcher plant. After luncheon it was her custom now to carry a dish- ful of water to its apparently arid roots, and she rose to fulfill her self im- posed task.
 Let me help you" said Jenks. T am not very busy this afternoon.
 No, thank you. I simply won't al- low you to touch that shrub. The dear thing looks quite glad to see me. It drinks up the water as greedily as thirsty animal"
 Iris had been gone perhaps five min utes when he heard a distant shriek, twice fepeated. and then there came faintly to his ears his own name. not "Jenks." but Robert" in the girls voice. Something terrible had hap pened. It was cry of supreme dis tress. Mortal agony or overwhelming terror alone could wiring that name from her lips Precisely In such mo- ments this man acted with the decf- sion. the unerring judgment. the in- stantaneous acceptance of great risk to accomplish great results, that marked him out as born soldier.
 He rushed into the house and snatched from the rack one of the ri- fles reposing there in apple pie order. each with a filled magazine attached and a cartridge already fin position.
 Then he ran with long strides not through the trees. where he could see nothing. hut toward the beach. whence in forty yards the place where Iris probably was would become visible.
 At once he saw her struggling in the grasp of two ferocious looking Dyaks. one by his garments person of conse- quence, the other half naked savage, hideous and rspulsire in appearances. Around them seven men armed with guns and parangs were dancing with excitement
 Iris captors were endeavoring to tie her arms. but she was a strong and ac- tive Englishwoman. with muscles well knit by the constant labor of recent busy days and frame developed by years of horse riding and tennis play ing. The pair evidently found her a 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 stife her into sub mission. roughly placed his huge hand over her mouth.
 These things the sailor noticed in- stantly. Some men. brave to rashness. ready as he to give his life to save her. would have raced madly over the inter vening ground. scarce furlong. and attempted a heroic combat of one against nine
 Not SD Jenks.
 With the methodical exactness of the parade ground he settled down on one knee and leveled the rife.
 None of the Dyaks saw him. All were intent on the sensational prize