Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-07-14

We're turned toward the cave and hut.
once when the debate grew warm the
chief snatch"d UP II burning branch
and held it over the blacliencd embers
of the fire cXtinguishcI by jerks. lie
seemed 10 draw some definite eonclu-
sion from an examination of the char
coal, and the argument thereforth pro-
Cccded with less emphasis. Whatever
IT was that he said evidently carried
conviction.
Iris. nesting close to the sailor. whis
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 1t IS since 1t was eXtinguish-
ed Clearly they agree with him"
Then they know we are still heref"
Either here or gone within a few
hours. In any case they will make q
thorough search of the Island at day.
break"
will 1t be dawn SOON"
Yes Are you tlred?"
"A little cramped-that is ALL"
Don't think l am foolish. Can you
manage to sleep"
sleep. With those men SO near"
Eyes. We do not know how long
they will remain We must keep up
our strength. Sleep. next to food and
drink. is prime necessity"
IF 1t will please you l will try" she
said, with such sweet readiness to
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 crcpt
quietly back until well ensconced in
the niche widened and followed for
her accommodation. There so seclud-
ed was she from the outer world Of
beneath only reached her In murmur.
Pulling one end of the tarpaulin over
her. she stretched her weary limbs on
litter of twigs and leaves, commend.
cd herself and the man she loved to
Gods keeping and, wonderful though
1t may seem, was soon slumbering
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 were she certain that
the next sunrise would mark her last
hour on earth.
jerks. too, composed himself for a
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 swep. 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 a bird about
to settle on the rock, but startled by
the sight Of him.
His faculties were at once on the
alert, though he little realized the dan
ger betOkened by the birds rapid dart
into the void. Turning first to peer at
Iris. he satisfied himself that she was
still asleep. Her lips were slightly
parted in a smile. She might be
dreaming Of summer and England. He
noiselessly wOrmed his way to the
verge Of the rock and looked down
through the grass roots.
The Dyaks were already stirring.
Some were replenishing the fire. others
were drawing water, cooking. eating.
smoking long thin stemmed pipes with
absurdly small bowls or oiling their
limbs and weapons with impartial en-
ergy. The chief yet lay stretched on
the sand, but when the first beams Of
the sun gilded the waters man
stopped over the PROSTATE form and
said something that caused the sleeper
to rise stiffiy. supporting himself on
his uninjured arm. They ut once went
of together toward Europa point
'They have found the boat" thought
jerks. 'Well. they are welcome to all
the information 1t affords"
The chief gave some order. at which
they all hung back sheepishly. Cursing
them in choice Malay, the chief seized
thick faggot and strobe In the direc-
tiOn Of the cave. GOaded into activity
by his truculent demeanor. some fol-
lowed him. and jerks. unable to see.
but listening anxiously. knew that they
were tearing the cheval de frise from
its supports. Nevertheless none Of the
working party entered the excavation.
They feared the parched bones that
shone by night.
AS he had not been able to complete
the communicating shaft It was not