Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-29
soon asleep, and the sailor was left to

soon asleep, and the sailor was left to
his thoughts.
Sleep lie could not. He smoked stead
lily, with magnificent prodigality, for
his small stock of tobacco was fast di-
minishing. He ransacked his ETains to
discover some method of escape from
this enchanted island, where fairies
jostled with demons and hours of utter
happiness found their bane in moments
of frightful peril.
OF course lie ought to have Filled
those fellows who escaped. Their sam
pan might have provided last desper-
ate eXpedient if other savages effected
Il landing. Well, there was no use in
being wise after the event. and, scheme
as he might, he could devise no way to
avoid disaster during the next attack.
This, he felt certain, would take
place at night. The Dyaks would land
in force, rush the cave and hut and
overpower him by sheer numbers. The
fight, if fight there was, would be
sharp, but decisive. Perhaps If he re-
ceived some warning Iris and he might
retreat in the darkness to the cover Of
the trees. last stand could be made
among the powders on Summit rock.
But of what avail to purchase their
freedom until daylight? And then
If ever man wrestled with desperate
problem, jerks wrought that night.
lie smoked and pondercd until the
storm passed, ond, with the changeful-
"a f,,ll
flooded the island in glorious radiance.
lie rose, opened the door and stood
without, looking steadily at the bril-
liant luminary for some time; then his
eyes were attracted by the strong
lights thrown upon the rugged face of
burrowcd. Suddenly he uttered star
tied exclamation.
"By Jovew he murmured. 81 never
noticed that before"
The feature which so earnestly claim.
ed his attention was deep ledge di.
rectly over the mouth Of the cave, but
some forty feet from the ground. Be
hind it the wall of rock sloped dark
ly inward, suggesting recess extend
ing by haphazard computation at least
a couple of yards. 1t occurred to him
that perhaps the fault in the interior
of the tunnel had its outcrop here, and
the influences of rain and sun had eX-
tended the weak point thus exposed in
the bold panoply of stone.
he surveyed the ledge from different
points of view. 1t was quite inacces
sible and most difficult to estimate &C
curately from the ground level. Tho
sailor was man of action. He chose
the nearest tall tree and began tc
climb. lie was not eight feet from tho
ground before several birds flew out
from its leafy recesses, filling the all
with shrill clucking.
"The devil take them!" he growlcd
for he feared that the commotiol
would awaken Iris. He was still III
boriously worming his way through
the inner maze of branches when q
well known voice reached him from
the ground.
"Mr. jerks, what on earth are you
doing up there?"
"Oh! So those wretched fowls arous
ed you?" he replied.
"Yes, but why did you arouse them p
81 had a fancy to roost by way of Il
change"
"Please be serious"
Il am more than serious. This tree
grows Il variety of small sharp thorn
that induces Il maximum of gravity
before one takes the next step"
But why do YOU keep on climbing?'
1T is sheer lunacy, admit. Yet on
SuSis AAIOoiihe -.
sonable ground for even mad eX
cuse."
"NIr. jerks, tell me ut once what YOU
are doing"
Iris strove to be severe, but there was
touch of anxiety in her tone that in
stantly made the sailor apologize. He
told her about the ledge and explained
his half formed notion that here They
might secure safe retreat in case OF
further attack, refuge from which
they might defy assault during many
days. 1t was. he said, absolutely i'm
possible to wait until the morning. He
must at once satisfy himself whether
the project was impracticable or wor
thy of further investigation.
So the girl only enjoined him to be
careful, and he vigorously renewed the
climb. AT last, some twenty-five fee
from the ground, an accidental parting
in the branches enabled him, to get {
good look Mt the ledge. One glance Sc
his heart beating joyously. 1t was al
least fifteen feet in length. 1t shelyel
back until its depth was lost In the
blackness of the shadows, and the flool
must be either nearly level or slopine
slightly inward to the line of the fault
The place was n perfect eagles nest
A chamois could not reach 1t from an,
direction. 1t became accessible to mar
only by means of n ladder or balloon
More excited by this discovery than
he cared for Iris to know, he endeay.
ored to appear unconcerped when he
regained the ground.
We'll" she said, tell me all about
It,"
lie described the nature of the cavity
as well as lie understood it at the mo.
ment and emphasized his previous ex.
PLANTATION of Its virtues. Here they
might reasonably hope to make sue
cessful stand against the Dyaks.
Then you feel sure that those awful
creatures will come back?" she said
slowly.
only too sure, unfortunately"
How remorseless poor humanity is
When the veneer is stripped off! Why
cannot they leave us in peace? Per
haps If had not been here they would
not have injureA you. Somehow l seem
to be bound up with your misfortunes."
II would not have 1t otherwise were
1t In my power" he answered. For an
instant he left unchallenged the girls
assumption that she was In any way
responsible for the disasters which
had broken up his career. He looked
into her eyes and almost forgot him
self. Then the sense Of fair dealing
that dominates every true gentleman
rose within him and gripped his wavcr-
ing emotions with ruthless force. Was
his time to play upon the high strung
I.