The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-29

deavor to devise an efficient Gordon of
sentinels around our position. We will
see."
NOT another word could Iris get out
or 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
ruhgs for the rope ladder. This was
an impossible task for one day, but
after dinner the sailor helped her.
They toiled late, until their fingers
were sore and their backbones creaked
as they sat upright.
Meanwhile jerks swarmed up the
pole again and drew I'D after him n
crowDar, the sledge hammer and the
plchaX. With these implements he set
10 work to improve the accommodate ton.
VI course he did not attempt seriously
10 remove any large quantity of rock,
there We're projecting Jumps here
II inequalities of floor there which
could be thumped or pounded out of
existence.
IL was surprising to see what "a
clearance he made in an hour. The ex-
lstence or the fault helped him a good
deal. as the percolation of water at this
point had oXidized the stone to rotten
ness. To his great joy he discovered
that a few prods with the pick laid
pare a small cavity which could be
easily enlarged. Here he contrived a
niche where Iris could remain in alb
solute safety when barricaded by
stores, while, with a squeeze, she was
entirely sheltered from the one dan
gerous 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
scooped out a special rcceptacle-the
Invaluable water kegs from the strand
ed boat, several tins Of biscuits and
all the timed meats, together with
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 ST.
lence for some time. At last the inter
val for luncheon enabled her to de-
mand an explanation.
III 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 a precedent"
~ u-Sf11r1 III tho fIpcot 1-l ~,,1,~%
tute a more genuine plea-curiosity,"
she cried.
Then you will be gratified promptly.
These are our sentinels. Come with
me to allot his post to the most dis
tant one"
He picked up a fagot with it's queer
attachment, shouldered a rifle and
smiled when he saw the businesslike
air with which Iris slung a revolver
around her waist.
They walked rapidly to Smugglers'
cove, and the girl soon perceived the
ingenuity Of his automatic signal. He
securely bound the block Of wood to a
tree where it was hidden by the under
growth. Breaking the bullet out Of a
cartridge, he placed the blank charge
in position In front Of the hammer, the
case being: firmly clasped by a bent
nail. To the trigger, the spring Of
which he bad eased to a slight pres
sure, he attached a piece of unravele1
rope, and this he carefully trained
among the trees at a height Of six
inches from the ground, using as car
riers nails driven into the trunks.
The ultimate result was that a mere
swish Of Iris dress against the tuut
cord exploded the cartridge.
There" he exclaimed eXultantly.
"When l have driven stakes into the
sand to the waters edge on both sides
Of the cove, l will defy them to land by
night without giving us warning"
do you know" said Iris, In all Sc
robustness, II think you are the clever
. est man in the world"
He was manifestly pleased by the
], success Of his ingenious co%ntrivance
and forthwith completed the Gordon.
!, To make doubly sure he set another
snare farther within the trees. He was
certain the Dyaks would not pass
along Turtle beach if they could help
it. By this time the light was falling.
"That will suffice for the present" he
a told the girl. Tomorrow we will place
, other sentries in position at strategic
+ points. Then we can sleep in the castle
q with tolerable safety
BY the meager light of the tiny lamp
they labored sedulously at the rope
ladder until Iris eyes were closing
with sheer WEAKNESS. Neither of them
had slept much during the preceding
n night, and they were both completely
tired.
o The first streaks of dawn were tip
ping the opposite crags with roseate
tints when the sailor was suddenly
# aroused by what he believed to be a
a gunshot. He could not be sure. lie
Y was still collecting his scattered senses,
% straiping eyes and ears intensely, when
"a there came a second report.
Then he knew what had happened
h The s~entries on the Smugglers cove
,r most were faithful to their trust. 1he
=. ononv vas uDOn them.