Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-30
CHAPTER v11-tcontinued.)


we have exhausted the unpleasant sur
prises Of the island. Anyhow, now for
a splash"
She was hardly in the water before
she began to be afraid on account Of
jerks. Suppose anything happened to
him while she was thoughtlessly enjoy
ing herself here! SO strongly did the
thought possess her that she hurriedly
dressed again and ran off to find him.
He was engaged in fastening mum
Der OF bayonets transversely to a long
piece of timber.
What are you doing that for7" she
asked.
"Why did you return so soon? Did
anything alarm you?"
II thought you might get into mis-
chief" she confessed.
mo. On the other hand. am trying
to make trouble for any unwelcome
visitors" he replied. II intend to set
this up in front Of our cave in case we
are compelled to defend ourselves
against an attack by savages. With
this barring the way they cannot rush
the position"
On the nineteenth day of their resi-
dence on the island the sailor climbed,
as was his invariable habit. to the
Summit rock while Iris prepared break
fast. At this early hour the horizon
was clearly cut as the rim of a sap
phire. He examined the whole arc of
the sea with his glasses. but not sail
was In sight According to his calcu-
lations the growing anxiety MS to the
fate Of the Sirdar must long ere this
have eliminated In the dispatch from
Hongkong or Singapore of special
search vessel, while British warships
In the China sea would be warned to
keep close lookout for any traces Of
the steamer. to visit all islands on their
route and to question fishermen whom
they encountered. So help might come
any day or 1t might be long deferred.
He could not pierce the future, and 1t
was useless to vex his soul with ques-
tionings as to what might happen next
week. The great certainty of the hour
was Iris--the blue eyed. smiling divin-
fly who had come into his life-wait-
ing for him down there beyond the
trees, waiting to welcome him with q
sweet voiced greeting, and he knew,
with a fierce devouring joy, that her
cheek would not pale nor her lip trem-
bic when he announced that ut least
another sun must set before the ex-
necfed RELIEF reached them
He replaced the glasses in their case
and dived into the wood, giving pass
ing thought to the fact that the wind,
after blowing steadily from the south
for nearly week, had veered round to
the northeast during the night. Did
the change portend storm? Well,
they were now prepared for all such
eventualities, and he had not forgot
ten that they possessed among other
treasures, a box of books for rainy
days. And rainy day with Iris for
company! What gale that ever blew
could offer such compensation for en-
forced idleness?
The morning sped In uneventful
work. Iris did not neglect her cherish
ed pitcher plant. After luncheon 1t
was her custom now to carry dish
full of water to It's apparently arid
roots. and she rose to fulfill her self i'm
posed task.
"Let me help you" said jerks. Il
am not very busy this afternoon"
"No, thank you. simply won't al
low YOU to touch that shrub. The dear
thing looks quite glad to see me. 1t
drinks up the wnter as greedily as a
thirsty animal"
Iris had been gone perhaps five min
utes when he heard distant shrek,
twice repeated, and then there came
family to his ears his own name, not
"Jenks." but Robert" in the girls
voice. Something terrible had hap
pened. 1t was cry Of supreme dis
tress. Mortal agony or overwhelming
terror alone could wiring that name
from her lips Precisely in such mo-
ments this man acted with the deci-
sion, the unerring judgment, the In
Simultaneous acceptance Of great risk to
accomplish great results. that marked
him out as born soldier.
He rushed into the house and
snatched from the rack one Of the n
fles reposlng there in apple pie order,
each with filled magazine attached
and cartridge already in position.
Then he ran with long strides not
through the trees, where he could see
nothing. but toward the beach. whence
in fort; yards the place where Iris
probably was would become visible.
At oncu he saw her struggling In the
grasp of two ferocious looking Dyaks,
one by his garments person Of conse-
uuence, the other half naked savage,
hideous and repulsive in appearance.
Around them seven men armed with
guns and parangs were dancing with
excitement.
Iris captors were endeavoring to tie
her arms, but she was strong and ac-
tive Englishwoman, with muscles well
knit by the constant labor Of recent
busy days and frame developed by
years of horse riding and tennis play
ing. The pair evidently found her a
tough handful, and the inferior Dyak,
either to stop her screams-for she was
shrieking, Robert, come to mew with
all her might-or to stitie her into sub
mission, roughly placed his huge hand
over her mouth.