Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-19

Dyaks head. Again he resisted the
impulse. And so passed that which is
vouclsafed by fate to few men-a sec
ond opportunity.
Another vehement harangue by the
chief goadcd some venturesome spirits
into carrying their wounded comrade
out of sight, presumably to the hut.
Inspired by their leaders, fearless eX-
ample, they even removed the third in
jured Dyak from the vicinity of the
cave, but the celebrity of their retreat
caused the wretch to bawl in agony.
The next undertaking was no sooner
appreciated by the sailor than he hur-
riedly caused Iris to shelter herself be-
meath the tarpaulin, willie he covered
close to the floor of the ledge, looking
only through the screen of tall grasses.
They llindlcd Il fire near the well. Soon
its ruddy glare lit up the dark rock
with fantastic chickering's and drew
scintillations from the weapons and or
naments' of the hideously picturesque
horde gathered in its vicinity.
They spoke language of hard
vowels and nasal resonance and ate
what he judged to be dry fish, millets
and strips OF tough preserved meat,
which they cooked OH small iron skew
ers stuck among the glowing embers.
His heart sank as he counted siXty-one,
all told, assembled within forty yards
Of the ledge. Probably several others
were guarding the boats or providing
about the island. Indeed, events prov
ed that more than eighty men had
come ashore in three large sampans,
roomy and fleet craft, well fitted for
piratical excursions up river estuaries
or along coast
They were mostly barelegged rascals,
wearing Malay hats, loose jackets
reaching to the knee and sandals. one
man differed essentially from the 9th
ers. He was habited in the conven-
tional attire of an Indian Mohnmme-
dan, and his skin was brown, while the
swartly Dyaks We're yellow beneath
the dirt. jerks. thought from the man
ner in which his turban was tied that
he must he a Punjabi Mussulnan-very
likely an escaped convict from the An
damans
The most careful scrutiny did not re-
veal any arms Of precision. They all
carried muZzle leaders, either antiquat.
ed flintlocks or guns sufficiently mod.
ern to be fitted with nipples for per-
cussion caps.
Each Dyak, of course, sported a pa
rang and dagger-like creese; Il few bore
spears, and about u dozen shouldered
long straight piece of bamboo. The
nature of this implement the sailor
could not determine at the moment.
In the neighborhood of the fire an
animated discussion took place. Though
it was easy to see that the chief was
all paramount, his fellow tribesmen ex-
ercised democratic right of free
speech and outspoien opinion.
Flashing eyes and expressive hands
were turned toward the cave and hut
Once when the debate grew warm the
chief snatched up a burning branch
and held 1t over the blackened embers
Of the fire cXtinguished by jerks. He
seemed to draw some definite conclu.
sion from an examination Of the char.
coal, and the argument thereforth pro.
ceeded with less emphasis. Whatever
1t was that lie said evidently carried
conviction.
Iris, nesting close to the sailor, wills.
pered:
"Do you know what he has found
out?"
Il can only guess that he can tell by
the appearance of the burned wood
how long it is since it was eNtlngulsh.
ed. Clearly they agree with him."
"Then they know we are still here?''
either here or gone within a few
hours. In any case tney Will MAKE .
thorough search of the Island ut day
bs.ak.'
"Will 1t be dawn sooni"
"Ycs. Are you tired?"
"a little cramped-that Is ALL"
"Don't think | am foolish. Can you
manage to slecp?"
"Sleep! With those men so near!"
eyes. We do not know how lone
they will remain. We must keep VI
our strength. Sleep, next to food ant
drink, Is prime necessity"
"If it will please you / will try" she
said, with such sweet readiness tc
obey his slightest wish that the won
der is he did not kiss her then and
there. By previous instruction SHE
knew exactly what to do. She crept
Il,
the niche, wldcned and followed fol-
her accommodation. There so seclud
ed was she from the outer world OF
horror and peril that the coarse voices
beneath only reached her In a murmur
Pulling one end of the tarpaulin over
her, she stretched her weary limbs Oh
a litter of twigs and leaves commend
ed herself and the man she loved to
Gods keeping and, wonderful though
1t may seem, was soon slumberine
peacefully.
The statement may sound passing
strange to civilized ears, accustomed
only to the routine of daily life and
not Injured to danger and wild sur.
roundings. But the soldier who has
snatched a hasty doze In the trenches
the sailor who has heard fierce gale
buffeting the walls of his frail ark
can appreciate the reason why Iris
weary and surfeited with excitement
would have slept We're she certain that
the next sunrise would mark her last
hour on earth.
jerks, too, composed himself for n
brief rest. He felt assured that there
was not the remotest chance of their
lofty perch being found out before
daybreak, and the first faint streaks of
dawn would awaken him.
When the morning breeze swept over
the ocean and the stars were beginning
to pale before the pink glory flung
broadcast through the sky by the yet
invisible sun, the sailor was aroused
by the quiet fluttering of n bird about