The Red Cloud chief., 1905-08-04
the house.

Retreutlng naStlly 10 the shade or the
opposite cliff. they seemed to await the
coming Of re-enforcements. The sailor
fancled that a messenger was dispatch.
ed by way OF the north sands to hur.
ry up the laggards. because the dis.
tant firing slackened. and FIVE minutes
later a fierce outbreak of yells among
the trees to the right heralded a com.
bined rush on the Belle vue castle.
The noise made by the savages was
so great, the screams OF bewildered
birds circling overhead so i%ncessant,
that jerks was compelled to speak
quite loudly when he said TO Iris:
They must think we sleep soundly
no to be disturbed by the volleys they
have fred already"
She would have answered, but he
placed a restraining hand on her shout.
der, for the Dyaks, quickly discovering
that the hut was empty, ran toward
the cave and thus came in full view.
AS well as jerks could judge the
foremost trio Of the vel, .nC horde were
impalcd on the bayoncts OF the chevaI
de frise. learning too late It's formlda.
BILE nature. The wounded men shrek.
ed In agony, but their cries were
drowned In a torrent Of amazed shouts
from their companions. Forthwith
there was Il stampede toward the well.
the cliff. the beaches, anywhere to get
away from that awesomc cavern where
ghosts dwelt and men fell manned ut
the very threshold. The sailor, lean
Ing as far yer the edge of the rock
as the girls ex%postulations would per.
NIT, heard a couple Of men grooming
beneath, while a third limped away
with frantic and painful haste.
what Is IT." whispered Iris, eager
herself TO witness the tumult. What
has happenedf"
They have been routed by a box OF
matches and n few dried bones" he
answered.
There was no time for further speech.
He was absorbed in estimating the
probable number Of the Dyaks. Thus
far he had seen about Atty. More
over, he did not wish to ~acquaint Iris
with the actual details of the artifce
that had been so potent. Her allusion
TO the box Of water sodden matches
had given him the notion OF utilizing
as an active ally the bleached remains
OF the poor fellow who had long ago
fallen a victim to this identical mob
OF cutthroats or their associates. He
had gathered the principal bones from
their resting place neal the well, rub.
bed them with the ends Of the matches
after damping the sulphur again and
arranged them with CHASTITY effect on
h pile Of rubbish at the farther end
OF the cave, creeping under the chevai
de frise for the purpose.
Though not so vivid as he wished.
the pale glimmering headless skeleton
In the intense darkness Of the interior
was appalling enough In all conscience.
Fortunately the fumes of the sulphur
fed III the bony substance. They en-.
dured a sufficient time to scare every
Dyak who caught a glimpse Of the
monstrous object c%rouching In luminous
horror within the dismal cavern.
Not even the stirring exhortations of
the chief, whose voice was raised in
furious speech. could induce his adher.
ents to again approach that affrighting
spot At last the daring %scoundrel him
self. still welding his naked sword,
strobe right up to the very doorway.
Stricken with sudden stupor. he gazed
at the titful CLEANS within. He prod.
ded the cheval de frise with the pa
rang. Here was something definite and
solid. Then he dragged one Of the
wounded men out into the moonlight.
Again jerks experienced an itching
desire to send a bullet through the
Dyak's head. Again he resisted the
impulse. And SO passed that which is
~ouchsafed by fate to few men-a sec
ond opportunity.
Another vehement h%arangue by the
chief gOaded some venturesome spirits
into carrying their wounded comrade
out Of sight, presumably to the hut.
Inspired by their leaders fearless ex.
ample, they ever 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, while he covered
close to the floor Of the ledge, looking
only through the screen Of tall grasses.
They kindled 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 q language of hard