The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-05


the rock.
1t was no mean feat Of strength that
he performed. He swung the heavy
and cumbrous canvas into position as
if it were a dust cloth. He emerged
from the gloom of the driven cloud red
eyed, but triumphant. instantly the
vapor on the ledge lessened, and they
could breathe, even talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept IN ever
increasing density, but once again the
sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' ma
neuvers.
1--WE have won the first rubber" he
whispered to Iris.
Above, beneath, beyond. they could
see nothing. The air they breathed
was hot and fetid. 1t was like be-
ing immured in a foul tunnel, and al
most as dark. jerks looked over the
parapet. He thought he could distin-
guish some vague figures on the sands,
so he fired at them. A volley Of an
swering bullets crashed into the rock
on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their
plans we'll this time A firing squad
stationed beyond the smoke area and
supplied with all the available guns
commenced and kept up a smart fusil-
lade in the direction Of the ledge In
order to cover the operations Of the
scaling party.
jerks realized that to expose himself
was to court serious wound and
achieve no useful purpose. He fell
back out of range, laid down his rifle
and grabbed the crowbar. At brief in
tervals a deep hollow boom c;ime up
from the valley. At first it puzzled
them until the sailor hit upon an ex-
planation. Mir Jan was busy.
The end Of a strong, roughly made
ladder swung through the smoke and
banged against the ledge. Be-ore
jerks could reach it those hosting it
into position hastily retreated. They
were standing in front of the cave, and
the Mohammedan made play on them
with a rife at thirty feet.
jerks, using his crowbar as lever,
toppled the ladder clean over. 1t fell
outward and disconnected section OF
the musketeers.
"Well donew cried Iris.
The sailor, astounded by her tone,
gave her q feeting glance. She was
very pale now, but not with fear. Her
eyes were slightly contracted, her nos
trils quivering, her lips set tight and
her chin dimpled Resting on one knee,
with revolver in each hand, SIZE seem
ed no pulling mate for the gallant man
who fought for her.
There was no time for further speech.
Three ladders were reared against the
rock. They were so poised and held
below that jerks could not force them
backward. A fourth appeared, its
coarse shafts looming into sight like
the horns of some gigantic animal.
The four covered practically the whole
front Of the ledge save where Mir Jan
cleared a little space on the level.
The sailor was standing now, with
the crowbar clinched in both hands.
The firing il the valley slackened and
died away. A Dyak face, grinninS like
a japanese demon, appeared at the top
of the ladder nearest to Iris.
Don't fire. shouted jerks. And the
iron bar crushed downward. Two 9TH
ers pitched themselves half on to the
ledge. Now both crowbar and revoly-
er were needed. Three ladders We're
thus numbered somewhat for those be-
meath, and jerks sprang toward the
fourth and most distant. Men We're
crowGing it like ants. Close to his feet
lay an empty water cask. 1t was
crude weapon, but effective when well
pitched, and the sailor had never made
a better shot for i goal in the midst
of a hard fought scrimmage than he
made with that tub for the head of the
uppermost pirate.
Another volley came from the sands.
4 bullet plowed through his hair and
sent his sou'wester flying. Again the
besiegers swarned to the attack. One
way or the other they must succeed.
A man and woman-even such man
and such woman-could not keep at
bay an infuriated horde Of fifty say
ages fighting at close quarters and un-
Ger these grievous conditions.
jerks knew what would happen. He
would be shot while repelling the seal
ing party. And Iris! Dear heart! She
+1,io1-ir,u of him
keep back! They can never gain
the ledger she shrieked.
And then, above the din Of the fu-
sillade, the yells Of the assailants and
the bawling of the wounded, there
came through the air screaming, tear
ing, ripping sound which drowned all
others. 1t travelled with incredible
speed, and before the sailor could be-
lieve his ears-for he well knew what
it meant-a shrapnel shell burst in
front of the ledge and drenched the
valley with flying lead.
jerks was just able to drag Iris fat
against the rock ere the time fuse op-
Grated and the bullets flew. He could