Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-15
6be Wings Of the
Morning. 81. :, ~. ~ &; J,
Edward 10
copyrisha 1903. BY
Edward J. Clods

My name ~ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES An
struther"
Iris. clinging to his arm. heard the
reply.
So he had abandoned all pretense
He was ready to face the world at her
side. She stole loving glance at him
as she cried:
Yes; Captain Anstruther Of the In
dian stan corps. If he viii not tell
you all that he has done. how he has
saved MY life twenty times. how be
has fought single handed against
eighty men. ask met
Captain Anstruther does not appear
TO have left much for us to do. Miss
Deane." the officer said. Indeed
turning to Robert. lis there any way
in which my men will be usefuly'
II would recommend that they drag
the green stun OF that fire and stop
the smoke. Then a detachment should
80 round the north side OF the island
and drive the remaining Dyaks into
the hands Of the party you have landed.
as l understand, at the farther end OF
the south beach. Mir Jan. the NOLAN
medan here. who has been a most faith
full ally during part OF our siege. will
act as guide"
The other man cast a comprehensive
glance over the rock. with it's scaling
ladders and dangling rope ladder. the
cave. the little groups or dead or an
conscious pirstes-for every wounded
man who could move limb had
crawled away after the tirst shell burst
and drew deep breath.
How long were you up the=eT" he
asked
"Over thirty hours"
1T was a great fightr'
Somewhat worse than IL looks" said
Anstruther. This Is only the end OF
II. Altogether we have accounted for
nearly twoscore OF the poor devils"
Robert looked toward the approach
Ing boat. She would not land yet for
a couple OF minutes.
by the way" be said. will you
tell me your name?'
"Playdon - Lieutenant Philip II.
Playdon"
do you know 10 what nation this
island belongsy'
1T II no mans land. l think. IL is
marked 'uninhabited' on the chart"
Then" said Anstruther. II call upon
you, Lieutenant Playdon. and all others
here present To witness that |. Robert
AnStruther. late OF the Indian army.
acting on behalf OF myself and Miss
Iris Deane. declare that we have taken
possession OF this island in the name
OF his Britannia majesty the king of
England. that we are the Joint occu-
81.
property rights vested therein"
These formal phrases coming at such
moment. amazed his hearers. Iris
alone had an inkling OF the underlying
motive
Il don't suppose any one will dispute
your title" said the naval officer grave
iy. He unqueStiOnably imagined that
suffering and exposure had slightly dis
turbed the other mans senses
THANK YOU" replied Robert with
equal composure. though he felt In
clined 70 laugh az Playdon's mystitca-
ton. Il only wished 10 secure a sufn-
cient number OF witnesses Tor a verbal
| declaration. When | have a few min
utes To spare / Will affix a legal notice
on the wall In front of our cave"
PlaydOu bowed silently There was
| something in the speakers manner that
puzzled him. He detailed n small guard
TO accompany Robert and Iris. who
now walked toward the beach. and
asked Mir Jan 10 pilot him as suggest.
! Ell by Anstruther.
The boat was yet many yards from
shore when Iris ran forward and
| stretched out her arms TO the man who
was staring at her with wistful de-
spair.
Father, Father she cried. Don't
| you know me?"
Sir Arthur Deane was looking at the
two strange figures on the sands, and
each moment his heart sank lower.
This island held his final hope Daring
many weary weeks. since the day when
kindly admiral placed the cruiser
Orient at his disposal. he had secured
the China sea. the coasts of BOrneo and
Java for some tidings Of the i'll fated
! Sirdar
To examine every sand patch and
| tree covered shoal in the China sea was
an impossible task All the Orient
could do was TO visit the principal is
lands and institute inquiries among the
fishermen and small traders At last.
the previous night, a Malay. tempted
by hope OF reward. boarded the vessel
when lying at anchor OF the large is
land away TO the south and told the
captain wondrous tale of a devil
haunted place inhabited by two white
spirits. male and a female, whittier
local pirate named Taung S'Ali had
gone by chance with his men and suf-
| fered great loss. But Taung S'Ali was
bewitched by the female spirit and had
returned there with a great force,
swearing TO capture her or perish. The
spirits. the Malay said. had dwelf upon
the island for many years. His father
and grandfather knew the place and
feared il. Taung sab would never be
seen again.
This queer yarn was the first indica-
ton they received Of the whereabouts
OF any persons who might possibly be
| shipwrecked Europeans. though not
survivors from the Slrdar. Anyhow,
Il Tho ffnw lot lar L.