Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-05-24
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
6T1HE drifting smoke was still 80
dense that not even the floor of
the valley could be discerned.
~ jerks dared not leave Iris at
such a moment.
He called to Mir Jan:
"Take off your turban and hold 1t
above your head if you think they can
see you from the warship."
ut is all right, sahib," came the
cheering answer. zone boat is close
inshore. I think, from the uniforms,
they are English sahibs, such as 1
have seen at Garden Reach. The Dy-
AXIS have all gone"
Nevertheless jerks waited. There
was nothing to gain by being too pre-
cipitate. A false step now might undo
the achievements of many weeks.
Mir Jan was dancing about beneath
in n state of wild excitement.
"They have seen the Dyaks running
to their sampans, sahib," he yelled,
land the second boat is being pulled in
that direction! Yet another has Just
left the ship"
A translation made Iris excited, ca
ger to go down md see these wonders.
The boom of cannon came from the
sea. Instinctively the girl ducked for
safety, though her companion smiled
at her fears, for the shell would have
long preceded the report had it trav-
eled their way.
zone of the remaining sampans has
got under way" he explained, "and the
warship is firing at her"
"Poor wretches!" murmured Iris.
Cannot the survivors be allowed to
escapeW
"Well, we are unable to interfere.
Those caught on the island will proba-
bly, be taken to the mainland and
hanged for their crimes SO the manner
Of their end is not Of much 'conse-
quence."
To the girls manifest relief, there
nounced that. n number Of sailors were
actually on shore. Then her thoughts
turned to matter of concern to the
feminine mind even in the gravest mo-
ments Of existence She laved her face
with water and sought her discarded
skirt.
Soon the steady tramp of boot clad
feet advancing at the double was
heard on the shingle, and an officers
voice, speaking the crude Hindoostanee
of the engine room and forccaStle,
shouted to Mir jan:
"Hl, you black fellow! Arc there
any white people hereT"
jerks sang out:
"Yes, two Of us! Perched on the
rock over your heads. We are coming
down."
He cast loose the rope ladder. Iris
was limp and trembling.
"Steady, sweetheart" he whispered.
Don't forget the slip between the cup
and the lip. Hold tight, but have no
fear. will be just beneath"
1t was well he took this precaution.
She was now so unnerved that IN I'M
guarded movement might have led to
On accident. But the knowledge that
her lover was near, the touch Of his
hand guiding her feet on to the rungs
Of the ladder, sustained her They had
almost reached the level when a loud
exclamation and the crash Of heavy
blow caused jerks to halt and look
downward.
A Dyak, lying at the foot OF one Of
the scaling ladders and severely wound
ed by a shell splinter, witnessed their
descent. In his left hand he grasped o
pnrang; his right arm was bandaged.
Though unable to rise, the vengeful
pirate mustered his remaining strength
to crawl toward the swaying ladder. 1t
was Taung sab, inspired with the
hate and venom Of the dying snake.
Even yet he hoped to deal mortal
stroke ut the man who had defled him
and all his cutthroat band. He might
have succeeded, as jerks was SO taken
up with Iris, were 1t not for the watch.
full eyes Of Mir Jan. The Mohammedan
sprang Mt him, with an oath, and gave
him such murderous whack with the
butt Of rifle that the Dyak chief col.
lapsed and Dreathed out his fierce spirit
In groan.
AT the first glance jerks did not rec.
ognize Taung sab owing to his change
of costume. Through the thinner smoke
he could see several sailors running up
But, with the passing Of the chief,
their last peril had gone. The next III.
slant they were standing on the firm
ground, and British naval lieutenant
was saying eagerly:
I'VE seem to have turned up In the
nick of time. Do you, by any chance.
belong to the Slrdar?"