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

sturdy young trees together with ropes.
Iris helped him to raise it against the
face OF the precipica end he at once
climbed to the ledge.
Here he found his observations of the
previous night abundantly verified. The
ledge was even wider than he dared to
hope, nearly ten feet deep in one part,
and it sloped sharply downward from
the outer lip of the rock. By lying fat
and carefully testing all points of view
he ascertained that the only possible
positions from which even a glimpse
OF the interior floor could be obtained
We're the branches of a few tall trees
and the extreme right of the opposing
precipice, nearly ninety yards distant.
There was ample room to store water
and provisions, and he quickly saw
that even some sort Of shelter from the
herce rays of the sun and the often
piercing cold of the night might be
achieved by judiciously rigging up a
tarpaulin.
This Is a genuine bit of good luck"
he unused. "Here, provided neither of
us is hit, we can hold out for a week
or longer at a pinch. How can it be
possible that should have lived on
this island so many days and yet hit
upon this nook of safety by mere
chance, as it Were?''
Not until he reached the level again
could he solve the puzzle. Then he
perceived that the way in which the
cliff bulged out on both sides prevent
ed the ledge from becoming evident in
profile, while, seen in the glare of the
sunlight, it suggested nothing more
than a slight indentation.
He rapidly sketched to Iris the de-
fensive plan which the, eagles nest
suggested. Access must be provided
by means Of a rope ladder, securely
fastened inside the ledge and capable
of being pulled up or let down at the
will of the occupants. Then the place
must be kept constantly stocked with
judicious supply of provisions, water
and ammunition. They could be cov-
cred with a tarpaulin and thus kept in
fairly good condition.
eve ought to sleep there every
night he went on and his mind was
SO engrossed with the tactical side of
the preparations that he did not notice
how Iris blanched at the suggestion.
"Surely not until danger actually
threatens ?" she cried.
Danger threatens us each hour after
sunset. 1t may come any night, though
l expect at least a fortnight's reprieve
Nevertheless 1 intend to act as if to-
night may witness the first shot Of
the siege''
do you mean that?' she sighed
"And my little room is becoming so
very cozy!'
jerks always accepted her words lit
orally.
"Well," he announced, after a pause,
1T may not be necessary to take up
our quarters there until the eleventh
hour. After I have hoisted up our
stores and made the ladder will en-
deavor to devise an efficient Gordon of
sentinels around our position. We will
see'
Not another word could Iris get out
of him on the topic. Indeed, he provided
her with plenty Of work. BY this time
she could splice a rope more neatly
than her tutor, and her particular bust
ness was to prepare no less than sixty
rungs for the rope ladder. This was
an impossible task for one day, but
after dinner the sailor helped her
They toiled late, until their fingers
were sore and their backbones creaked
as they sat upright.
Meanwhile jerks swarmed up the
Il;
croWbar, the sledge hammer and the
pickax. With these implements he set
to work to improve the accommo dation
OF course he did not attempt seriously
to remove any large quantity of rock,
but there were projecting Jumps here
and inequalities of floor there which
could be thumped or pounded out Of
existence.
1t was surprising to see what
clearance he made in an hour. The ex-
istence Of the fault helped him a good
deal, as the percolation Of water at this
point had oxidized the stone to rotten
ness. To his great joy he discovered
that few prods with the pick laid
bare q small cavity which could be
easily enlarged. Here he contrived
niche where Iris could remain in alb
solute safety when barricaded by
stores, while, with a squeeze, she was
entirely sheltered from the one dan
gerous point on the opposite cliff, nor
need she be seen from the trees.
Having hauled into position two
boxes of ammunition-for which he had
scooped out a special receptacle-the
invaluable water kegs from the strand
ed boat, several tins of biscuits and
all the tinQed meats, together with
three bottles Of wine and two Of bran
dy, he hastily abandoned the ledge and
busted himself with fitting a number
of gunlocks to heavy fagots.
Iris watched his proceedings in 81
lence for some time. At last the inter-
val for luncheon enabled her to de-
mand an explanation.
IF you don't tell me at once what
into 70 II 81,