The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-05

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No4o both croacbar and reUOlUer aoere
needed.
hand lighting were necessary he would
depend more upon crowbar than a
rife to sweep the ledge clear. She
might be in the way.
every well. The moment ycu tell
me to get behind that fence I will do
so. Even there I can use revolver"
That reminded him. His own pistol
was unloaded. He possessed only five
more cartridges Of small caliber. He
placed them in the weapon and gave it
to her.
"Now you have eleven mems lives in
your hands," be said. 'Try not to miss
if you must shoot
In the dim light heeould not see the
spasm of pain that clouded her face
No Dyak would reach her while he
lived. If he fell, there was another use
for one of those cartridges.
The sailor had cleared the main floor
Of the rock and was placing his four
rifles and other implements within easy
reach when a hiss came from beneath
"NIir JAM" exclaimed Iris.
"What now?' demanded jerks over
the side
"Sahib, they Gomez
81 am prepared. Let that snake
get back to his hole in the rock. lest
mongoose seize him by the head
Mir Jan, engaged in scouting expe-
dition on his own account, understood
that the officer sahib's orders must be
obeyed. He vanished. Soon they heard
great cracking among the bushes on
the right, but jerks knew even before
he looked that the Dyaks had correctly
estimated the extent of his fire zone
and would keep out oftit.
The first physical intimation Of the
enemy's design they received was
pungent but pleasant smell of burning
pine, borne to them by the northerly
breeze and filing the air with its arc
ma. The Dyaks kindled huge fire.
The heat was perceptible even on the
ledge, but the minutes passed and the
dawn broadened into day without any
other result being achieved.
Iris, a little drawn and pale with sus-
pense, said, with timid giggle:
This does not seem to be so very
serious. It reminds me Of my efforts
to cook"
..There is more to follow, fear, dear
one. But the Dyaks are fools. They
should have waited until night fell
again after wearing us out by constant
vigilance all day If they intend to en-
ploy smoke it would be far worse for
us at night
Phew! A volume of murky vapor
arose that nearly sufocated them by
the first Whit Of its noisome fumes. 1t
curled like black pail over the face of
the rock and blotted out sea and sky.
They coughed necessarily and nearly
choked, for the Dyaks had thrown wet
seaweed on top of the burning pile OF
dry wood. Mir Jan, born in interior In
dia. knew little about the sea or it's.
products, and when the savages talked
Of seaweed be thought they meant
green wood. Fortunately for him. the
ascending clouds Of smoke missed the
cave or infallibly he must have been
stided.
Lie fat on the rockr' gasped 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 were 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 tenable than the
north. Quick to note this favorable cir
cumstance, the sailor deduced a fur
ther fact from it 4 barrier erected on
the extreme right Of the ledge would
be a material gain. He sprang up,
dragged the huge tarpaulin from its