The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-05
By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1908. by
Edward J. Clode

said.
'Oh, how can you talk so callously
1 after such an awful experienced" she
expostulated brokenly.
cit is a small thing to trouble about,
! sweetheart he explained. you spot
I! ted the enemy so promptly and blazed
away with such ferocity that they new
er got within yards of me-
| care you sure?"
"I VOW and declare that after we
| have eaten something and sampled our
remaining bottle of wine 1 will tell you
! exactly what happened"
why not now:"
Because must first see to Mir Jan.
! bundled him neck and crop into the
cave. hope did not hurt him"
"You are not going down there
again?"
..No need, I trust"
He went to the SIDE of the ledge, re-
covered the ladder which he had has
hly hauled out Of the Dyaks' reach aft
er his climb, and cried:
mir Jan"
"Ah, sahib! Praised be the name of
the Most High, you are alive. was
searching among the slain with sor-
rowful Leart."
The Mohammedan's voice came from
some little distance on the left.
4The slain, you say. How many"
give, sahib."
Impossible! fred blindly with the
revolver and only hit one man hard
with the iron bar. One other dropped
near the wood after obtained rifle"
"Then there be six, sahib, not reckon
ing the wounded l have accounted
for one, so the miss sahib must have
What is he saying about me?' in
quired Iris, who had risen and Joined
her lover.
aHe says you absolutely staggered
the Dyaks by opening fire the moment
they appeared"
Glow did you come to siay one, Mir
Jan?" he continued
"a son Of q black pig followed me
into the cave. I waited for him in the
darkness. have just thrown his body
outside
swell done! Is Taung Sail dead by
any lucky chance?
"No, sahib, if he be not the sixth. /
will go and see"
ssYou may be attacked
ssI have found a sword, sahib. You
left me no cartridges"
jerks told him that the clip and the
twelve packets were lying at the foot
Of the rock, where Mir Jan speedily
discovered them. The Mohammedan
gave satisfactory assurance that he un-
derstood the mechanism Of the rifle by
filing and adjusting the magazine.
Then he went to examine the corpse OF
the man who lay in the open near the
quarry path.
The sailor stood in instant readiness
to make counter demonstration were
the native assailed. But there was no
sign of the Dyaks. Mir Jan returned
with the news that the sixth victim of
the brief yet fierce encounter was
renegade Malay. He was so confident
that the enemy had enough of it for
the night that, after recovering jerks
revolver, he boldly went to the we'll
and drew himself supply of water.
During supper jerks told Iris SO
much of the story as was good for her
that is to say. he cut down the casu-
atty list.
It was easy to see what lad hap
pened. The Dyaks, having missed tie
afohammedan and their water bag.
searched for. him and heard the con-
yersation at the foot of the rock.
Knowing that their presence was sus-
pected. they went back for reinforce
ments and returned by the shorter and
more advantageous route along Turtle
beach.
Iris would have talked all night, but
jerks made her go to sleep by pillow
ing her head against his shoulder and
smoothing her tangled tresses with his
hand.
He managed to lay her on COM
Portable pile of ragged clothing and
then resumed his vigil. Mir Jan Of
fered to mount guard beneath. but
yenks bade him go within the cave and
remain there, for tie dawn would soon
5e upon them.
Left alone with his thoughts, he Won
Tered what the rising sun would bring
N its train. He reviewed the events
IF tie last twenty-four hours. Iris anc
he-NEiss Deane. Mr. jerks, to eac!!:
other-were then undiscovered in their
refuge. the Dyaks were gatherea
around a roaring fire in the valley. and
Mir Jan was keen in the hunt as the
t1eenest among them. Now Iris was
LIS aiianced bride. over twenty Of the
enemy were killed and many wounded.
ard Mir Jan, devoted adherent. was
seated beside tie skeleton in the gloom
Of the cavern.
A period Of reflection could hardly
pass without a speculative dive into
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