Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-24

Il
Dyaks yet living endeavOred to swim
ashore, half a mile through shark In
vested reefs. The sailor did not even
trouble about them. After a few fran
tic struggles each doomed wretch flung
up his arms and vanished In the clear
atmosphere the onloOkers could see
black fms cutting the pellucid sea.
They were quieting down-the thirst
fiend was again slowly sailing their
veinS-when something OF a dirty white
color fiuttered into sight from behind
the base Of the opposite clid. 1t was
rapidly withdrawn. to reappear after
| an interval Now IL was held more
steadily and a brown arm became visi-
be. As jerks did not FIRE. a turbaned
head popped into sight II was the No
hammedan
mo shoot it," he roared. NE Eng
lish speak It"
Don't you speak Hindoostanee?"
shouted jerks in Urdu Of the higher
proficiency.
Yes. sirr' was the Joyful response
"Will your honor permit las servant to
come and talk with him."
Yes. IL you come unarmed"
And the chief. too. sahib2"
Eyes. but listen, ON the first sign OF
treachery I Will shoot both of your
we will keep faith. sahib. May kites
pick our bones IL we fair
Then there stepped into full view the
| renegade MusSulman and his leader
! They carried no guns; the chief wore
his creese
Tell him 20 leave that dagger be
hindr' cried the sailor imperiously As
the enemy demanded a parley he re
solved 10 adopt the cOnquerors tone
from the outset The chief obeyed. with
n scowi. 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 desire 20 sink on
her knees and pray.
The two halted some ten PAGES in
| front OF the cavern. and the belliger-
| ents surveyed each other IL was a fas-
| cinating spectacle. this drama Ia real
lie. The yellow faced Dyak. gaudily
attired In n crimson jacket and sky
blue pantalO0ns OF Chinese silk. a man
young and powerfully built. and the
brown skinned. white clothed NOLAN
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 tie six foot
sailor. but her face was blood stained.
and jerks wore a six weeks stubble
OF beard. Holding their rides with
alert ease. with revolvers strapped 10
their sides. they presented a warliSe
and imposing tnbleau in their inaccessi-
bic 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 10 have
any more OF his men killed in foolish
quarrel about a woman Give her up.
he says. and he will either leave you
here in peace or carry YOU safely 20
some place where you can find a ship
manned by white men,"
"A wOman" said jerks scornfully
That is idle talk, What woman il
herel"
This question nonpiused the native.
The woman whom the chief saw
half a month back. sahib"
"Taung SAL was bewitched. / slew
his men so quickly that he saw spirits"
The chief caught his name and broke
in with n question. \ vOlley OF talk
between the two was enlivened with
expressive gestures by Taung sail.
who several times pointed TO Iris, and
jerks now mathematical his thought
less folly in permitting the Dyak to APP
proach so near. The Mohammedan, OF
course, had never seen her aud might
have persuaded the other that in truth
there were two men only on the rock.
His fears were only too well founded
The Mussulman salaamed respectfully
and said:
Protector of the poor, / cannot gain
say your word. but Taung sab says
that the maid stands by your side and
is none the less the woman he seeks In
that she wears a mans clothing"
lie has sharp eyes. but his brain is
added" retorted the sailor "Why
uOcc ne tOuc mere TO St'tk a woman
who n not OF his racer Not only has
he brought death TO his people and mar
rowly escaped il himself. but he must
know that any violence offered to us
will mean the determination of his
whole tribe by an English warship
Tell him to take away his boats and
never visit this isle again. Perhaps l
will then forget his treacherous at
tempt 10 murder US while we slept last
night"
The chief glared defiantly. while the
Mohammedan said
"Sahib, il Is best not to anger him
too much. He says he means TO have
the girl lie saw her beauty that day,
and she infamed his heart She has
cost him many lives. but she is worth
a sultan's ransom He cares not for
warships They .snnot reach his vii
iase in the hills BY the tomb or
Nizam-ud-din. sahib. he Will not harm
yo'. II you give her up, but II you re-
fuse he viii XII you both. And what