Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-04


 searching among the slain with sor- rowful heart"
 The Mohammedan's voice came from some little distance on the left.
 "The slain. you say. How many?"
 Five. sahib.'
 Impossible! I fired blindly with the revolver and only hit one man hard with the iron bar. One other dropped near the wood after obtained rife"
 'Then there be six, sahib, not reckon ing the wounded. have accounted for one, so the miss sahib must have
 What is he saying about mel? in- ouired Iris, who had risen and joined her lover
 'sHe says you absolutely staggered the Dyaks by opening fire the moment they appeared"
 How did you come to slay one. Mir Jan? he continued.
 "A son of black pig followed me into the cave. I waited for him in the darkness. have just thrown his body outside"
 W ell uOuC. l6 lduuS S All AS0NA Oy any lucky chance?'
 "No, sahib. if he be not the sixth. l will go and sec"
 "You may be attacked"
 q have found sword, sahib. You left me no cartridges"
 Jenks told him that the clip and the twelve packets were lying at the foot of the rock, where Mir Jan speedily discovered them. The Mohammedan gave satisfactory assurance that he un- derstood the mechanism of the rife by filling and adjusting the magazine. Then he went to examine the corpse of the man who lay in the open near the quarry path.
 The sailor stood in instant readiness to make a counter demonstration were the native assailed But there was no sign of the Dyaks Mir Jan returned | with the news that the sixth victim of the brief yet fierce encounter was a renegade Malay. He was so confident | that the enemy had enough of 1t for the night that, after recovering Jenks' revolver, he boldly went to the well and drew himself supply of water. 1 During supper Jenks told Iris so much of the story as was good for her that is to say, he cut down the casu- alty list.
 It was easy to see what had hap pened The Dyaks. having missed the Mohammedan and their water bag, searched for him and heard the con- yersation at the foot of the rock. Knowing that their presence was sus- l pected, they went back for re-enforce- ments and returned by the shorter and more advantageous route along Turtle beach,
 Iris would have talked all night, but Jenks made her go to sleep by pillow ing her head against his shoulder and smoothing her tangled tresses with his hand.
 He managed to lay her on com fortable pile of ragged clothing and then resumed his vigil. Mir Jan of fered to mount guard beneath, but Jenks bade him go within the cave and remain there, for the dawn would soor be upon them. st1
 Left alone with his thoughts, he won I dered what the rising sun would bring in its train. He reviewed the events of the last twenty four hours. Iris and he-Miss Deane, Mir. Jenks, to eacf other-were then undiscovered in theil refuge. the Dyaks were gathered around roaring fire in the valley, ant Mir Jan was keen in the hunt as thu keenest among them Now Iris was his affianced bride, over twenty of thu enemy were killed and many wounded and Mir Jan. a devoted adherent, wal seated beside the skeleton in the gloom of the cavern.
 A period of reflection could hardl! pass without a speculative dive int the future. If Iris and he were res cued, what would happen when the. went forth once more into the bus. world? Not for one instant did h. doubt her faith. She was true a steel, knit to him now by bonds O triple brass. But what would Sir Al thur Deane think of his daughter
 marriage to discredited and cashiere'
 officer? What was it that poor Nil Jan called himself-"a disgraced man Yes, that was it. Could that stain b
 removed? Mir Jan was doing 1t. Wh not he-by other means. for his goo name rested on the word of per1ure woman? Wealth was potent, but no all powerful. He would ask Iris t, wait until he came to her unsoiled b, islander, purged of this odium cast up | on him unmerited.
 To awake her he kissed her: he knev not. perchance it might be their las ! kiss on earth. Not yet dawn. there wa morning in the air. for the first fain shafts of light were not visible iron their eyrie owing to it's position. Blu there was much to be done.
 The canvas awning was rolled bacl and the stores built into barricade in tended to shelter Iris. What is that for?' she asked wher she discovered it's nature He told hel . She definitely refused to avail hersel of any such protection.
 Robert. dear" she said. 'if the a' tack comes to our very door. 90 [ - speak. surely I must help you Eve |. my slight aid may stem rush in on place while you are busy in another" 1" . He explained to her that if hand | hand fighting were necessary he woul depend more upon a crowbar than rife to sweep the ledge clear. Sh