The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-05-05
CHAPTER XIII-Continued.


the conflict thus far was due solely to
posed to muzzle leaders. Let him be
surrounded on the level at close quar-
tiers by dozen determined men and
he must surely succumb.
Were it not for the presence of Iris
he would have given no second thought
to the peril To act without consult
ing her was impossible, so they dis
cussed the project. Naturally she
secuted it.
1.-THE Mohammedan may be able to
help u.s." she pointed out. SIN any
event let us wait until the moon wanes
That is the darkest hour. We do not
know what may happen meanwhile"
The words had hardly left her mouth
, when an irregular volley was fred at
them from the right flank of the en-
emys position. Every bullet struck
yards. above their heads, the common
failing of musketry at night being tc
take too high an aim. But the impact
Of the missiles on rock SO highly i'm
pregnated with minerals caused sparks
to fly, and jerks saw that the Dyaks
would, obtain by this means a most
dangerous index Of their faulty prac-
tice. Telling Iris Ito at once occupy
her safe corner he rapidly adjusted
rifle on the wooden rests already pre-
pared in anticipation of an attack from
!, that quarter and fired three shots at
the opposing crest whence came the
majority Of gun flashes.
, One af least of the three found hui
man billet. There was shout of sur
prise and pain, and the next voliey
spurted from the ground level. This
could do no damage owing to the angle,
but he endeavored to discomfort the
marksmen by keeping up a steady fire
in their direction. He did not dream
>!pf attaining other than a moral effect
S:as there is a lot of room to miss when
aiming in the dark. Soon he imagined
that the burst of flame. from his. rifle
helped the Dyaks, because several bull
lets whizzed close to his head, and
about this time firing recommended
from the crest.
Notwithstanding all his skill and ma
nipulation of the wooden supports he
failed to dislodge the occupants. Ev-
cry minute one or more ounces of lead
pitched right into the ledge, damaging
the stores and. tearing the tarpaulin,
while those which struck the wall of
rock We're dangerous to Iris by reason
of tho molten spray
He could guess what had Happened
BY lying fat on the slipping plateau or
Squeezing close to the projecting shout
y.der of the cliff the Dyaks were so little
exposed that idle chance alone would
enable him to hit one of them. But
they must be shifted, or this night
s-bom bardment would prove the most
serious development yet encountered,
I, .'Are you all right IrisT' he called
\ out : ~. =
S-ssyes, DEAR she answered.
I well, L, waHI sga to keep yourself
covered. by the canvas for a little
while, especially your head and Shout
ders. am going to stop these chaps.
Z They have found our weak point, but
! / can battle them"
She did not ask what he proposed to
do. He heard the rustling of the tar
paulin as she pulled it. Instantly. he
cast loose the rope ladder and, armed
only with d revolver, dropped down the
rock. He was quite invisible to the en-
+ ,emy On preaching the ground he lis
/" tened Afdr q moment. There was no
sound save the occasional reports nine
sty'yaYls; away. He hitched up the low
er Fhnasiof the ladder until they We're
4 six feet ffou The level and then crept
noiselessly close to the rock for some
forty yards.
ne halted beside small poon tree
,3apd stopped to find something imbed-
& ded near IT'S roots. At this distance he
!. could plainly hear the muttered con-
.-.Tersatioh of the 'Dyaks and could see
several of them prone on the said. The
hitter facttproved how fatal would be
an Attempt on his part to reach the
I well. They must discover him Instant
\ " once he quilted the somber shadows
of the. cliff He waited perhaps a few
seconds longer than was necessary,
er1deavori1ig to pierce the dim atmos-
sbbere and learn something Of their dis
/ position
IA vigorous OutDuTSt VI uIlnB Scht
<. him back with, haste Iris was up there
Alone. He knew not what might hap
< peh. He was NOW feverishly anxious
to be with her again, to hear her voice
add be sure that all was well.
~ 70 his horror he found the ladder
swnying gently against the rock. Some
one was using it. He sprang forward,
coreless Of consequence, and seized the
;<eyrInging end, which had fallen free
az <nln. He had his foot on the bottom
1ne when Iris voice, close at hand
z \ <l1 ehrill with terror. shrieked
Robert, where are your
n <fIerer' he shouted. The next In
1tnrit she dropped into his arms.
4 81 startled exclamation from the vi
4 11Ikv of the house and some loud cries
he more distant Dyaks on the
1ide of Prospect park showed
4 (bev had been overheard.
|||6r< be whispered. Hold tight
8 - quickly as you cAnp
& rs without your
81 cor Gods sakel follow at