The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-07-06

hind it the wall of rock sloped dark
~ inward, suggesting a recess extend
ing by haphazard computation at least.
a couple of yards. 1t occurred to him
that perhaps the fault in the interior
Of the tunnel had it's outcrop here, and
the influences Of rain and sun had ex-
tended the weak point thus exposed in
the bold panoply Of stone
He surveyed the ledge from different
points of view. It was quite inacces-
sible and most difficult to estimate ac-
curately from the ground level. The
sailor was a man Of action. He chose
the nearest tall tree and began to
climb. He was not eight feet from the
ground before several birds flew out
from its leafy recesses, filling the air
with shrill clucking.
"The devil take themv he growled.
for he feared that the commotion
would awaken Iris. He was still la
boriously worming his way through
the inner maze of branches when a.
we'll known voice reached him from:
the ground
"Mr. jerks, what on earth are you
doing up there?'
ooh! So those wretched fowls arous-
ed you?" he replied.
eyes, but why did you arouse them?'
Il had fancy to roost by way of a
change"
''PleaSe be Serious
II am more than serious. This tree
grows a variety of small sharp thorn
that induces maximum of gravity
before one takes the next step''
but why do you keep on climbing?"
1T is sheer lunacy, admit Yet on
such a moonlit night there is some rea-
sonable ground for even a mad ex-
cuse"
"Mr. jerks, tell me at once what YOU
are doirg.''
Iris strove to be severe, but there was
touch of anxiety in her tone that in
stantly made the sailor apologize. He
told her about the ledge and explained
his half formed notion that here they
might secure a safe retreat in case Of
further attack, a refuge from which
they might defy assault during many
days. 1t was, he said, absolutely i'm
possible to wait until the morning. He
must at once satisfy himself whether
the project was impracticable or wor-
thy of further investigation
So the girl only enjoined him to be
careful, and he vigorously renewed the
climb. At last, some twenty-five feet
from the ground, an accidental parting
in the branches enabled him to get
good look at the ledge. One glance set
his heart beating joyously. It was at
least fifteen feet in length. It shelved
back until it's depth was lost in the
blackness of the shadows, and the floor
must be either nearly level or sloping
Slightly inward to the line of the fault.
Ihe place was perfect eagles nest.
A chanols could not reach it from any
direction. 1t became accessible to man
only by means of ladder or balloon.
More excited by this discovery than
he cared for Iris to know, he endeav-
ored to appear unconcerned when he
regained the ground.
well" she said, ''tell me all about
it,"
he described the nature of the cavity
as well as he understood it at the mo-
ment and emphasized his previous ex-
PLANTATION of it's virtues Here thew
might reasonably hope to make a sue
cessful stand against the Dyaks.
'Then you feel sure that those awful
creatures will come back?" she said
slowly.
only too sure, unfortunately
How remorseless poor humanity is
When the veneer is stripped off! Why
cannot they leave us in peace? Per-
haps if 1 had not been here they would
not have injured you. Somehow seem
to be bound up with your misfortunes."
Il would not have it otherwise were
II IN my power" he answered. For an
instant he left unchallenged the girls
assumption that she was in any wav
responsible for the disasters which
mad broken up his career. He looked
INTO her eyes and almost forgot him
Sell. Then the sense of fair dealing
That dominates every true gentleman
rose within him and gripped his waver-
Ing emotions with ruthless force. Was
his 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, striving to
laugh, lest his 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 a
solution of the special varnish they
carry on every foreign expedition
"And yet these men are human be-
ingsv'
For purposes of classification, yes.
Keeping to strict fact, it was lucky for
me that you raised the alarm and gave
me- a chance to discount tho oda..c