Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-17

Dyak on the opposite Cliff.
True enough. man had climbed
to that unhappily placed rocky table
and was shouting something to con
frere high on the cliff over their heads
As yet he bad not seen them nor even
noticed the place where they We're con
cealed- The sailor Imagined from the
Dyaks gestures that he was commu-
nicating the uselessness Of further
search on the western part OF the is
land
When the conversation ceased he
hoped the loud voiced savage would
descend. But no, The scout looked
into the valley. at the well. the house.
the cave Still he did not see the
ledge. At that unlucky moment three
birds. driven from the trees on the
crest by the passage OF the Dyaks.
flew down the face OF the cliff and be
( gan circling quest for some safe
| perch on which To alight
jerks swOre with an emphasis not
! the less earnest because It was mute
and took steady aim ut the Dyak's left
/ breast The birds iutferei about in
ever smaller circles. Then one Of them
dropped easily on to the lip Of the
rock. Instantly his bright eyes encoun-
tered those % the man. and ne darted
of with scream that brought his
mates after him
The Dyak evidently noted the behav-
Tor OF the birds-his only lore was the
reading OF such signs-and gazed in
tenuy at the ledge. jerks he could
not distinguish behind the screen OF
/ grass. lie might perhaps see some
/ Portion OF the tarpaulin covering the
stores. but AT the distance II must re-
semble a weather beaten segment OF
/ the cltf. Yet something puzzled him
/ After 4 steady scrutiny he turned and
/ yelled 10 others on the beach
The crucial moment had arrived
jerks pressed the trigger. and the
/ Dyak hurtled through the air. falling
headlong out OF sight
The sound Of this. the first shot OF
real warfare. awoke Rainbow island
into tremendous activity. The winged
life OF the place filed the air with rau-
/ cOus cries. while shouting Dyaks sour
ried In all directions. Several came in
10 the valley. Those nearest the fallen
man picked him up and carried him 10
the well. lie was quite dead. and. al
though amid his other Injuries they
soon found the bullet wound. they evil
IDENTIFY did not know whence the shot
/ came for those 20 whom he shouted
had no lnkling OF his motive. and the
slight haze from the rifle was instantly
swept away 10y the breeze.
,snVlT lDrr ft.. t,,-.,,..fr a.
and she TREMENDOUSLY asked:
Are they going 20 attack usY''
Not yet" was the reassuring an
swer. Il killed the fellow who saw rs
before he could tell the others"
II was bold risk. and he had taken
10. though now the Dyaks knew FOR
certain their prey had not cscnnel
there was no prospect Of their speedy
departure Nevertheless the position
was not utterly hopeless NOne OF the
enemy could tell how or 10y whom their
companion had boon shot. Many
among the excited horde iabbering bc.
meath actually looked az the clin over
and over again, Yet failed d note the
pOtentialltieS Of the ledge. with IT, few
I TUFTS Of grass growing where seeds had
apparently been blown by the wind or
dropped by passing birds.
jerks understood. ~ course. that the
real danger would arise when they Wis.
tied the scene ~ their comrades DIS
aster Even then the wa~r-inr bal
ance Of chance ini-ht east fhc issie I'm
his favor. lie could only witt. with
ready rifle. with TIE light - hqttle
lowering In his eyes. OF one sAlng M
least he was certain beror" they con.
quered him he would lew terrible
toll
He glanced back az Iris. Her face
was pale benenth It's mask OF sun
brown
The chief was listening intently 10
the story OF the Dyak who saw the
dead man totter ana fall He gave
some quick order. Followed by score
or more OF his men. lac walked rapidly
to tie foot Of tie ciI where they
found the hfeless holy.
jerks stole one m).e nasty glance at
Iris. The chief ami Tie greater mum.
Der Of his followers We.e 1ut Of sight
behind the rocks. Some OF them must
now be climbing 10 that fatal ledge.
Was this the eng
Iris bent forwaIvf sufficiently in her
sheiterias niC.e % permit her To gaze
with wistfUl tenderness upon jerks.
She know he would dare ~ for her
sake. She could Only pray anu hope.
Suddenly a clumor Of tliscordant wells
fell upon her ears jerks rose 10 his
knees. The DyakS had discovered their
refuge AMI were about to open fire. He
offered them Il target lest perchance
Iris were not thoroughly screened.
Keep close" be said. They have
found us Lead will be flying around
soon"
She iinched back into the creyice.
the sailor fell prone. Four bullets spat
into the ledge. OF which three pierced
the tarpaulin and one fattened itself
against the rock
Then jerks took up the tale. SO Gu
riously constituted was this man that.
although he ruthlessly shot the savage
who first spied out their retreat. be
was swayed only by the dictates OF
stern necessity. There was a feeble
chance that further bloodshed might