The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-21

N
AxNf or certainly least bearable, be
tween 2 and 4 o'clock in the
afternoon.
At the conclusion of a not very lus-
&ious repast jerks suggested that they
should rig up the tarpaulin in such
wise as to gain protection from the
Sun and YET enable him to cast a
waschful eye over the valley. Iris help
ed TO raise the great canvas sheet on
Che supports he had prepared. Once
Shnt off from the deyouring rays, the
not breeze then springlng into ftful
existence cooled their .blistered but per-
Spiring skin and made life somewhat
Snlerable.
Still adhering to his policy Of COM
Batting the first eneryating attacks Of
Christ the sailor sanctioned the con-
Srmpton Of the remaining water. AS
p last desperate expedient to be re-
sorted to only in case Of sheer necessi-
", he uncorked a bottle Of champagne
and flled the tin cup. The sparkling
Wsne, with its volume Of creamy foam,
aooked so tempting that Iris would
Then and there have risked its potency
/ Were she not promptly withheld.
jerks explained to her that when the
wine became quite fat and insipid they
snight use 1t to moisten their parched
s Ups. Even so, in their present super
heated state, the liquor was .unques-'
Nonably dangerous, but he hoped it
would not harm them II taken in mi
Mute quantities.
Accustomed now to implicitly accept
his advice, she fought and steadily con-
sdEefeA the craving within her. Oddly
enough, the "thawing' of their scorch-
.Nd bodies beneath the tarpaulin brought
- certain degree Of relief. They were
saupremely uncomfortable. but that was
,as naught compared with the relaxa-
ieion from the torments previously
sossne.
Eor q long time the best part of an
aoW, perhaps-they remained silent.
he sailor was reviewing the pros
and cons Of their precarious condition.
&c would. of course, be matter of su-
Nreme importance were the Indian to
de faithful to his promise. Here the
prospect was decidedly hopeful. Tie
man was an old soldier, and the ex-
officer of native cavalry knew how en-
curing was the attachment Of this poor
convict to home and military service.
Probably at that moment the Moham-
I tnedan was praying to the prophet and
Ais twp nephews to aid him in rescuing
Ehe sahib and the woman whom the
Sahib held so dear, for the all wise and
all powerful Indian government is very
snerciful to offending catiyes who thus
ssondene their former crimes.
Bat, hewsoever willing be might be.
what could one man Go among so
many The Dyaks were hostile to him
On race and creed, and assuredly in
e1rsated against the foreign devil who
Cad eilled or wounded in round num-
Aers one-ffth of their total force. Very
akely the hapEess Afussulman would
lose ;hls life that night in attempting
60 bring water to the foot Of the rock.
Eyen if the man succeeded in eluding
@he vigilance Of his present associates.
where was the water to come from?
There was none on. the island save
chat in the we'll In all likelihood the
Dyaks had a store in the remaining
%aInpans, but the native ally Of the
&eseaguered pair would have task Of
exceeding difficulty in obtaining one
OF the jars or skins containing it.
Again. granting all things went well
Chat night. what would be the final
outcome of the struggle? How long
Sould IRIS withstand the exposure. the
&rais, the heartbreaking misery of
che rock?
Ge shook restlessly. not aware that
Eae girls sorrowful glance. luminous
with love and pain. was fixed upon
Ain. Summarily dismissing these girls
Ey phantoms Of the mind, be asked
Eirnsef what the Mohammedan exact
~ Saeant by warning him against the
erees on the right and the silent
&eotb' that might come from them. He
was about to crawl forth to the lip Of
>S1&S IOCh duO lUN SSIASdlC lldllCtS
Shst locality when Iris. who also was
Gusy with her thoughts. restrained him.
-Nait little while" she said None
ua tie Dyaks will venture into the open
Catil night falls. And have some
ching to say to YOU
There was a quiet solemnity in her
voice that jerks had never beard be-
Sere~ at chilled him. His heart ac-
Saswledged a quick sense of evil omen
k1e raised himself slightly and turned
0MStes her Her face. beautiful and
Serene Beneath its disfgurements. wore
an expression of settled purpose For
&he life of him he dared not question
Ger.
That man. the interpreter" she said,
told you that if were given up to the
chef he and his followers would go
away and molest you no more
His forehead scanned with sudden
anger.
"a mere bait" he protested. "In any