The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-05-10

1sMell,' he announced, after pause,
ss.1t may not be necessary to lake up
SNur quarters there until the eleventh
hour. After have hoisted up our
stores md made the ladder will en-
deayor to devise an efficient Gordon OF
entlnels around our position. We will
see =
Not another word could Iris get out
ssf him ON the topic. Indeed. he provided
dher with plenty OF work. BY this time
laae could splice a rope more neatly
than her utor. and her particular busi-
ness was 60 prepare no less than sixty
Eungs for the rope ladder. This was
an Impossible task for one dag. but
after dinner the sailor helped her.
They teised late, until their fingers
were sore and their backbones creaked
sas they sat upright ss
Meanwhile jerks gwarmed up the
pole again and drew up after him
trawbar, the sledge hammer and the
niekax With these implements he set
70 work to Improve the aecommoda ton.
Df course he did not attempt seriously
b, remove any large quantity Of rock,
hut there we're projecting Jumps here
and inequalities OF floor there which
could he thumped or pounded out Of
existence
E was surprising to see what
clearance he made in an hour. The ex-
1stence OF the fault helped him a good
deal, as the percolation Of water at this
paint had oxidized the stone to rotten
ness 10 his great Joy he discovered
fhat few prods with the pick laid
hare q small cavity which could be
seas1iy enlarged. Here he contived
niche where Iris could remain In alb
saiuse safety when barricaded by
stores, while with squeeze, she was
entirely sheltered from the one dam
erous point on the opposite cliff, nor
need she be seen from the trees.
Having hauled into position two
boxes of ammunit tion-for which he had
scDoEed ont special receptacle the
fuyasuable water kegs from the strand
ed boat, several tins Of biscuits and
an the timed meats, together with
4lree bottles Of wine and two OF BRAN
iy, he hastily abandoned the ledge and
busted himself with fitting a number
OF glnlocks to heavy fagots.
q Iris watched his. proceedings in 81
Hence for some time. At last the inter-
val for luncheon enabled her to de
mand an explanation.
sen you don't tell me at once what
yCu intend TO do with those strange
fnp,ements." she said, q will go on
strike
eH you do,r he answered, you viii
create g preced
sT withdraw We thrat and substi-
fute more genuine plea-curscsity,
she cried.
Then you win be gratifed promptly.
These are our sentinels. Come with
me- to aIIot 6ls post to the most dis
tint one"
He picked up eagot with its queer
attachment. shouldered rife and
smiled when he saw the businesslike
air with which Iris slung revolver
arcund her waist.
They walked rapidly to Smugglers'
core. and the girl soon perceived the
Ingenuity Of his automatic signal. He
securely bound the block Of wood to a
tree where 1t was hidden by the under
growth. Breaking the bullet out OF
cartridge, he placed the blank charge
Ia position In front of the hammer. the
case being firmly elasped by a bent
nail. TO the trigger. the spring OF
which ne had eased to Slight pres
sare. he attached q piece Of unrayeled
rape, and this he carefully trained
among the trees at height OF six
inches from the ground, using as car
r7ess nails driven into the trunks.
The ultimate result was that mere
swish of Iris dress against the taut
cord exploded the cartridge.
There he exclaimed exuitantly.
When have driven stakes into the
sand to the waters edge on both sides
OF tie cove, will defy rhem to land by
might without giving Us warning"
I do you know" said Iris, in all Sc
riousness, Il think you are the clever
est man In the world"
He was manifestly pleased by the
success OF his ingenious contrivance
and forthwith completed the Gordon.
TO make doubly sure he set another
snare farther within the trees, He was
certain the Dyaks would not pass
along Turtle beach if they could help
IT. By this time the light was failing.
That will suffice for the present. he
fDld the girl. Tomorrow we will place
ether sentries in position at strategic
points. Then we can sleep in the castle
with teierable safety"
By the meager light of the tiny lamp
ftey labored sedulously at the rope
- Y,-;c /ync;nr