Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29

| get some sleep before daylight. How
did you know was not in the castle?"
II cannot tell you. awoke and
knew you We're not near me- If wake
in the night l can always tell whether
or not you are in the next room. So
dressed and came out"
"hh!' he said quietly. Evidently
snore."
Iris rctreated, and the sailor, tired
out Mt last managed to close his weary
eyes.
Next morning he hastily constructed
a pole of sufficient length and strong
enough to bear his weight by tying two
sturdy young trees together with ropes.
Iris helped him to raise it against the
face of the precipico snd lie 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 1t 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 glimpse
of the interior floor could be obtained
were the branches of Il 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 lie quickly saw
that even some sort of shelter from the
fierce rays of the sun and the often
piercing cold of the night might be
achieved by judiciously rigging up
tarpaulin.
This is genuine bit of good luck"
he unused. Here, provided neither of
us is hit, we can hold out for a week
or longer ut a pinch. How can it be
possible that l should have lived on
this island so many days and yet hit
upon this nook Of safety by mere
chance, as 1t were?"
Not until lie reached the level again
could he solve the puzzle. Then he
perceived that the way in which the
cliff bulsed 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 slight indentation.
He rapidly sketched to Iris the de-
fensive plan which the eagles nest
suggested. Access must be provided
by means of rope ladder, securely
fastened inside the ledge and capable
of being pulled up or let down at the
viii of the occupants. Then the place
must be kept constantly stocked with
a Judicious supply Of provisions, water
and ammunition. They could be COW
cred with tarpaulin and thus kept in
fairly good condition.
I'VE ought to sleep there every
night" lie 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 fortnight's reprieve.
Nevertheless intend to act as il to-
night may witness the first shot of
the siege"
do you mean thatY" she sighed.
"And my little room is becoming so
very cozy!"
jerks always accepted her words lit
orally.
WELL" he announced, after pause,
ut may not be necessary to take up
our quarters there until the eleventh
hour. After l have hoisted up our
stores and made the ladder will en-
deavor to devise an efficient Gordon of
sentinels around our position. We will
snn .
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 tile sailor helped her.
They toiled late, until their fingers
We're sore and their backbones creaked
as they sat upright.
Meanwhile jerks swar1ned up the
pole again and drew up after him n
crowbar, the siedge hammer and the
piclaX. With these implements lie set
to work to improve the accommodation.
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 a
clearance he made in an hour The eX-
istence of the fault helped him good
deal. as the percolation of water ut this
point had oSidlzed the stone to rotten
ness. To his great JOY he discovered
that few prods with the pick laid
bare small cavity which could he
easily enlarged. Here lie contrived
niche where Iris could remain In alb
solute safety when Darrlcaded by
stores, while, with squeeze, she was
entirely sheltered from the one dan
gcrous 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
scoopcd out special rcceptacle-the
invaluable water kegs from the strand
| ed boat, several tins of biscuits and
I'LL tue luIleu meats, together Will
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
you intend to do with those strange
Implements" she said, II will go on
strike"
"If you do" he answered, you will
create n precedent"
81 withdraw the threat and substi-
tute n more genuine plea-curlosity,"
she cried.
"Then you will be gratlflcd promptly.
These are our sentinels. Come with
me to allot his post to the most dis
tant one"
He picked up fagot with its queer
attachment, shouldered a rifle and
smiled when he saw tho businosSIil;e