Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-17
ploy smoke it would be far worse for


us at night"
Phew! A volume of murky vapor
arose that nearly suffocntcd them by
the first Whit of its nosome fumes. 1t
curled like Il black pail over the face of
the rock and blottcd out sea and sky.
They coughed necessarily and nearly
cholsed, for the Dy;iks had thrown wet
seaweed on top of the burning pile of
dry wood Mir Jan, born in interior In
din, knew little about the sea or its
products, and when the savages talked
Of seaweed he thought they meant
green wood. Fortunately for him, the
ascending clouds of smoke missed the
cave or infallibly he must have been
stiled.
Lie Aat on the rocls!" gaspcd jerks.
Careless of waste, he poured water
over coat and made Iris bury her
mouth and nose in the wet cloth. This
gave her immediate relief, and she
showed her woman's wit by tying the
sleeves Of the garment behind her neck.
jerks nodded comprehension and fol
lowed her example, for by this means
their hands We're left free.
The black cloud grew more dense
each few seconds. Nevertheless, owing
to the slope of the ledge and the tend
ency of the smoke to rise, the south
| side was far more tenablc than the
| north. Quick to note this favorable cir
cumstancc, the sailor dcduccd a fur
tler fact from it. A barrier erected on
1n nyt .;rr1t 90
be material gain. He sprang up,
dragged the huge tarpaulin from its
former location and propped it on the
handle Of the plckaX, driven by one
mighty stroke deep into crevice of
| the rock
1t was no mean feat of strength that
he performed. He swung the heavy
| and cumhrous canvas into position as
If it were a dust cloth. Tie emerged
from the gloom of the driven cloud red
| eyed, but triumphant. Instantly the
vapor on the ledge lesscned, and they
could breathe, even talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept in ever
increasing density, but once again the
sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' ma
neuvers.
I'VE have won the first rubber" he
whispered to Iris.
Above, beneath, beyond, they could
see nothing. The air they brcathed
was hot and fetid. 1t was like be-
Ing immured in foul tunnel, and al
most as dark. jerks looked over the
parapet. He thought he could dist;n-
| y11tcl Gu,1 l,a do
SO he fired at them. a volley of an
swerlng bullets crashed into the rock
on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their
plans we'll this time. 4 firing squad
stationed beyond the smoke area and
supplied with all the available guns
commenced and kept up smart fusil-
lade in the direction of the ledge in
CIDER to cover the operations Of the
scaling party.
jerks realized that to expose himself
was to court serious wound and
achieve no useful purpose. lie fel
back out Of range, laid down his rifle
and grabbed the crowbar. At brief in
tervals deep hollow boom came III
from the valley. AT first it puzzled
them until the sailor hit upon an ex
PLANTATION. Mir Jan was busy.
The end of a strong, roughly made
ladder swung through the smoke anG
banged against the ledge. Before
jerks could reach it those hoisting II
into position hastily retreated. They
We're standing in front of the cave, ant
the Mohammedan made play on then
with n rife at Thirty feet.
l jerks, using H.; crowbar rs lever
toppled the lai:.l.e:. clean ever. 1t fel
outward and disconnected asscction o
the musketeers.
well done!" cried Iris.
The sailor, astoundcd by her tone
gave her n fleeting glance. She wa:
very pale now, but not with fear. He
eyes were slightly contracted, her nos
trils quiver!ng, her lips set tight ant
her chin dimpled. Resting on one knee
with revolver in each hand, she seem
ed no pulling mate for the gallant MAJ
who fought for her.
There was no time for further speech
Three ladders We're reared against thu