The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-05-03

reGalnCQ Jne ground.
We'll" she said, tell me all about
it,
He described the nature of the cavity
as we'll as he understood it at tie mo-
ment and emphasized lis previous e:l
PLANTATION Of its virtues. Here they
might reasonably hope to make 4 sue
cessful stand against the Dyaks.
'.Then you feel sure that those awful
creatures will come back:" she said
slowly.
"Cnly too sure, unfortunately
Glow remorseless poor humanity is
when the veneer is stripped OF. Why
cannot they leave US in peace? Per
haps if I had not been here they would
not have injured You. Somehow l seem
to be bound up with your misfortunes.'
81 would not have it otherwise were
it in my poweg" he answered. For an
instant he left unchallenged the girls
assumption that she was in any way
responsible for the disasters which
had broken up his career. He looked
into her eyes and almost forgot him.
self. Then the sense Of fair dealing
that dominates every true gentleman
rose within him and gripped his waver-
ing emetions with ruthless force. Was
his a time to play upon the high strung
sensibilities Of this youthful daughter
of the gods, to seek to win from her a
confession of love that a few brief
days or weeks might prove to be only
a spasmodic but momentarily all pow
erful gratitude for the protection he
had given her?
And he spoke aloud, .sstriying to
laugh, lest bis words should falter:
"You can console yourself with the
thought, Miss Deane, that your pres
ence on the island will in no way affect
my fate at the hands Of the Dyaks.
Had they caught me unprepared today
my head would now be covered with
solution Of the special varnish they
carry on every foreign expedition
"And yet these men are human be-
ingsp'
"For purposes of classification, yes.
Keeping to strict fact, it was lucky for
me that you raised the alarm and gave
me chance to discount the odds Of
mere numbers. So, you see, you really
did me a good turn"
"What can be done now to save our
lives? Anything will be better than to
await another attack
'The first thing to do is to try to
get some sleep before daylight. How
did you know was not in the castle"
81 cannot tell you. I awoke and
knew you were not near me. # l wake
in the night can always tell whether
or not you are in the next room. So
I dressed and came out"
"Ahr' he said quietly. Evidently
snore"
Iris retreated, and the sailor, tired
out at last, managed to close his weary
eyes.
Next morning he hastily constructs!
a pole Of sufficient length and strong
enough to bear his weight by tying two
sturdy young trees together with ropes.
Iris helped him to raise it against the
face of tie precipice. and he at ooce
climbed to the ledge.
Here he found his observations OF the
previous night abundantly verified. The
ledge was even wider than he dared to
hope, nearly ten feet deep in one part,
and it sloped sharply downward from
the outer lip of the rock. BY lying fiat
and carefully testing all points of view
he ascertained that the only possible
positions from which even q glimpse
of the interior floor could be obtained
were the branches of few tall trees
and the extreme right Of the opposing
precipice. nearly ninety yards distant.
There was ample room to store water
and provisions, and he quickly saw
that even some sort Of shelter from the
fierce rays Of the sun and the often
piercing cold Of the night might be
achieved by judiciously rigging up
tarpaulin.
This is a genuine bit of good luck"
he mused. Here, provided neither Of
us is hit, we can hold out for a week
or longer at a pinch. How can it be
possible that I should have lived on
this island so many days and yet hit
upon this nook Of safety by mere
chance, as it were?''
Not until he reached the level again
could he solve the puzzle. Then he
perceived that the way in which the
cliff bulged out on both sides prevent
ed the ledge from becoming evident in
profile, while, seen in the glare OF the
sunlight, it suggested nothing more
than a slight indentation.
He rapidly sketched to Iris the de-
fensive plan which the eagles nest
suggested. Access must be provided
by means Of rope ladder, securely
fastened inside the ledge and capable
Of being pulled up or let down at the
will Of the occupants. Then the place
must be kept constantly stocked with
a judicious supply Of provisions, water
and ammunition. They could be COW
cred with a tarpaulin and thus kept in