The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-10-27
"But howr

'eiote ne COulQ frame q feeble
pfetext for his too sanguine prediction
a sampan appeared 800 yards from
iurtle beach. strenuously padded by
tnree men. The vague hallooing they
nad heard was explained.
The Dyaks, though to the manner
oorn' were weary Of sun scorched
rocks and salt water. The boat was
coming in response to their signals, and
tne sight inspired jerks with fresh
nope. Like a lightning flash came the
rejection that If he could keep them
away from the we'll and destroy the
sampan now fastening to their assist
ance, perhaps conveying the bulk Of
'neir stores. they would soon tire of
stalking Thea thirst on the few pitcher
plants growing on the north shore.
come quick!" he shouted, adjusting
u pack sight Of a rifle. "Lie down and
aih at the front Of that boat, a little
snort if anything. 1t doesn't matter if
the bullets strike the sea first"
ne placed the weapon in readiness
lor her and commenced operations him
sen before Iris could reach his side,
soon Doth rifles We're pitching twenty
snots a minute at the sampan. The re-
sui Oh their long range practice was
no' long IN doubt. The Dyaks danced
from seat to seat in q state of wild ex-
siteileht. One man was hurled over
BOARD. Then the craft lurched sea-
"aru Ill the strong current, and jerks
told Iris to leave the rest to him.
be1ore he could empty a second mag
azlne a fortunate bullet ripped a plank
out ana the sampan filed and went
Gown amid a shrill yell Of execration
from the back Of the cliff. The two
Dyaks vet living e%ndeavored to swim
ashore, half a mile through shark in
vested reefs. The sailor did not even
trouble about them. After a 1ew fran
nc struggles each doomed wretch flung
up his arms and vanished. In the clear
atmosphere the onlookers could see
black fins cutting the pellucid sea.
They were quieting down-the thirst
lend was again slowly sailing their
velns-when something Of a dirty white
color huttered into sight from behind
d base of the opposite cliff. 1t was
rapidly withdrawn, to reappear after
an interval. Now it was held more
steadily and a brown arm became visi-
ole. AS jerks did not fire, a turbaned
head popped into sight. It was the Mo-
hammedan.
mo shoot it." he roared. "Me Eng.
Hsh speak it."
Don't you speak Hindoostanee?"
shouted jerks in Urdu of the higher
proficiency.
Eyes, sir" was the joyful response.
will your honor permit his servant to
come and talk with him?"
Yes, If you come unarmed."
"And the chief, too, sahib?"
Yes, but listen! On the first sign of
treachery I will shoot both of your
I'VE will keep faith, sahib. May kites
pick our bones if we fail!'
Then there stepped into full. yiew the
They carried no guns; the chief wore
his creese.
"Tell him to leave that dagger be-
htnd" cried the sailor imperiously. AS
the enemy demanded a parley he re-
solved to adopt the conqueror's tone
from the outset. The chief obeyed, with
a scowl, and the two advanced to the
foot of the rock.
"Stand close to me-" said jerks to
Iris. LET them see you plainly, but
pull your hat we'll down over your
eyes,"
She silently followed his instructions.
Now that the very crisis Of their fate
had arrived she was nervous, shaken,
conscious only Of a.. desire to sink on
her knees and pray.
The two halted some ten PAGES in
front Of the cavern, and the belliger-
ents surveyed each other. 1t was q fas.
cinating spectacle, this drama In real
life. The yellow faced Dyak, gaudily
attired in a crimson Jacket and sky
blue pantaloons of Chinese silk, a man
young and powerfully built, and the
brown skinned, white clothed Moham-
medan, bony, tall and gray with hard
ship, looked up at the occupants of the
ledge. Iris, slim and boyish in her male
garments, was dwarfed by the six foot
sailor, but her face was blood stained,
and jerks wore a six weeks stubble
of beard. Holding their rifles with
alert ease, with revolvers strapped to
their sides, they presented a warlike
and imposing tableau in their inaccessi-
BILE perch. In the path of the emissa-
ries lay the bodies of the slain. The
Dyak leader scowled again as he pass
ed them.
"Sahib," began the Indian, my chief,
Taung sab, does not wish to have
n more of his men killed in a foolish
quarrel about a woman. Give her up,
he y and he will either leave you
here in peace or carry you safely to
some place where you can find Il ship
manned by white men"
"a woman!" said jerks sco.afully.
'That is idle talk! What woman Is
hereY
This question nonplused the native.
1.-THE woman whom the chief saw
half q month back, sahib."
"Taung SAIL was bewttched. slew
his men so quickly that he saw spirits
The chief caught his name broke
in with a question. A volley OF tax
L.