Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-04-26

WIZ ID WOEhlu& db WdktoI. LIB WloChcus
lI-All are lost save Miss Deane and
jerks, who are cast ashore on an islet
In the Pacific. III-Jenks RECEIVERS
stores and weapons from the wrecked
vessel. He finds the skeleton of Eu-
ropean on the island. IVA cave on
the island is fitted up IS habitstion.
A chart of the island, mysteriously
marked, is found on the Skeleton. "
jerks finds hollow filled with human
skeletons, the remains of mining par
ty. He is rescued from an octopus by
Iris while recovering rifles from the
wreck Of the Sirdar. VI.-Jenks tells
Iris that his real name is Anstruther
and that, through the Vaccinations of
Lord Ventnor, he has heen unjustly dis
missed from the English army. Lord
Ventnor has been mentioned on the
Sirdar as aflianced to Iris. VII-fris is
attacked by party of fierce Dyacks
(Polynesian natives). They are beaten
off by jerks, three, however, escaping
in their boat. The eastaways dread
their return. VIII-Anstruthe pre-
pares to defend Iris and himself, forti-
flying ledge of the rock above their
cave. IX-A rich gold mine, indicated
on the mysterious chart of the island,
is discovered in the cave. X and XI--
The Dyaks attack the island. Among
them is an escsped convict, an Indian
Mussulman. They discover the hiding
place, but are defeated by the English
man.
The Dyak evidently noted the bchav-
ior Of the birds-his only lore was the
reading of such signs-and gazed in
tently at the ledge. Jerks he could
not distinguish behind the screen of
grass. He might perhaps see some
portion Of the tarpaulin covering the
stores, but at the distance it must re-
semble weather beaten segment of
the cliff. Yet something puzzled him.
After steady scrutiny he turned aud
yelled to others on the beach.
The crucial moment had arrived.
jerks pressed the trigger, and the
Dyak hurtled through the air, falling
headlong out of sight.
The sound of this, the first shot of
real warfare awoke Rainbow island
into tremendous activity. The winged
life Of the place filed the air With raul
cous cries, while shouting Dyaks sour
ried in all directions. Several came in
to the valley. Those nearest the fallen
man picked him up and carried him to
the well. He was quite dead, and, al
though amid his other injuries they
soon found the bullet wound, they evil
IDENTIFY did not know whence the shot
came, for those to whom he shouted
had no inkling of his motive, and the
slight haze from the rifle was instantly
swept away by the breeze
Iris could hear the turmoil beneath,
and she TREMENDOUSLY asked:
"Are they going to attack us?"
mot yet" was the reassuring an
swer. II killed the fellow who saw us
before he could tell the Others"
1t was bold risk, and he had taken
1t, though now the Dyaks knew for
certain their prey had not escaped
there was no prospect of their speedy
departure. Nevertheless the position
was not utterly hopeless. None of the
enemy could tell how or by whom their
companion had been shot. Many
among the excited horde jabbering be-
meath actually looked Mt the cliff over
and over again, yet failed to note the
potentlalitles of the ledge, with its few
tufts of grass growing where seeds had
apparently been blown by the wind or
dropped by passing birds.
jerks understood, of course, that the
real danger would arise when they Wis
tied the scene Of their comrades dis.
aster. Even then the wavering bal
ance Of chance might cast the issue In
his favor. He could only wait, with
ready rifle, with the light of battle
lowering in his eyes. OF one thing at
least he was certain-before they con-
quered him he would levy a terrible
toll.
He glanced back at Iris. Her face
was pale beneath Its mask of sun
brown.
The chief was listening intently to
the story of the Dyak who saw the
dead man tottcr and fall. He gave
some quick order. Followed by score
or more Of his men, he walked rapidly
to the foot of the cliff where they
found the lifeless body.
jerks stole one more hasty glance at
Iris. The chief and the greater num-
Der Of his followers We're out of sight
behind the rocks. Some of them must
now be climbing to that fatal ledge.
Was this the end?
Iris bent forward sufficiently In her
shelterlng niche to permit her to gaze
with wistful tenderness upon jerks.
She knew he would dare all for her
sake. She could only pray and hope.
Suddenly clamor of dlscordant yells
fell upon her ears. jerks rose to his
knees. The Dyaks had discovered their
refuge and were about to open fire. He
offered them target lest perchance
Iris were not thoroughly screened.
Keep close" he said. 'Thcy have
found us. Lead will be flying around
soon."
She flinched back into the crcvice;
the sailor fell prone. -Four bullets spat
into the ledge, of Which three pierced
the tarpaulin and one tlattened itself
against the rock.
Then jerks took up the tale. So Gu
rlouSly constituted was THIS man that,
although he ruthlessly shot the savage
who first spied out their retreat, he
was swayed only by the dictates OF
stern necessity. There was feeble
chance that further bloodshed might
be averted. That chance had passed.
Very well. The enemy must start tho
dreadful game about to be played.
They had thrown the gage, and he an
swered them. -Four times did jerks
rifle carry death, unseen, almost I'M
felt, across the valley.
Ere the fourth Dyall collapsed Imply
where he stood others We're there,
firing at the little puff of smoke above
the grass. They got In n few shots,
most of which sprayed ut various
angles Off the face of the cliff But
they waited for no more When the
lever of the Lee-Metford was showed
home for the fifth time the. opposing
crest was bare of all opponents save
two, and they lay motIonless.
The fate of the fanking detachment
was either unperceived or UNDECIDED by
the Dyaks left IN the vicinity of the
hoiIsa and wall ActnrpJaJ l,,. tla ia,