Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-01


lie decided In favor OF the latter
course. He wished TO dishearten his
asSailants, TO cram down their Threats
the belief that he was invuinerable
and could visit their every effort with
deadly reprisal
Iris. of course. protested when he ex-
planned his project. But the lighting
spirit prevailed. Their love idyII must
yield TO the needs OF the hour
lie had not long to wait. The last
arrow fell. and he Sprang TO the ex-
IRENE right OF the ledge First he
looked through that invaluable screen
OF grass. Three DyakS were on the
ground and fourth I'm the fork OF a
tree. They We're each armed with a
blOwpipe. He In the tree was lust fit-
ting an arrow into the bamboo tube
The Others were watching him.
jerks raised his rifle fired. and the
warrior in the tree pitched headlOng TO
the ground. 4 second shot stretched
a companion on top of him. One man
jumped into the bushes and GOT away.
but the fourth tripped over his uEwieldy
sumpitan. and bullet tore large
section from his skull. The sailor then
amused himself with breaking the bam-
boos by firing at them. lie came back
to the white faced girl
Il fancy that further practice with
blowpipes will be at a discount on
Rainbow island" he cried cheerfully.
But Iris was anxious and district.
1T Is very sad" she said. that we
are obliged 20 secure our own safety
by the ccaseleSs slaughter Of human
beings. Is there no Offer we can make
them. no promise OF future gain. TO
tempt them to abandon hostilities?"
"None whatever. These Borneo Dy-
AXIS are bred from infancy to prey on
their fellow creatures. To be strangers
and defenSeless is TO court pillage and
massacre at their hands. | think no
more OF shooting them than Of smash
ing clay pigeon. Killing a mad dog
is perhaps better smile
But. Robert dear. how long can we
hold outT'
what! Are you growing tired of
me- already?"
He hoped 10 divert her thoughts from
this constantly recurring topic. Twice
and dismissed, but Iris would not per-
NIT him TO shirk 1t again. She made
no reply, simply regarding him with a
wistful smile.
SO jerks sat down by her side and
rehearsed the hopes and fears which
perpleXed him. He determined that
there should be no further concealment
between them. IL they failed 10 secure
water that night. IL the Dyaks main
tained strict siege OF the rock
throughout the whole OF next day. we'll
they might survlve-it was profile
NAUTICAL. Best leave matters In Gods
hands.
With feminine perslstency she chung
20 the subject. detecting his unwilling
ness 60 discuss possible final stage I'm
their sufferingS.
Robert" she whispered fearfuIly.
you will never let me fan into the
power OF the chief. will your"
Not while live"
you must live. Don't YOU under
stand; l would 20 with them TO save
you. But ! would have died by my
own hand. Robert. my love. you must
do this thing before the end. l must be
the first to die"
The sailor wrestled with the great
problem. He may be pardoned IL his
heart qualled and he groaned aloud.
Iris" he said sOlemnly. whatever
happens. unless 1 am struck dead at
your feet, promise you that we shall
pass the boundary hand In hand. BE
fac I'll.
cided wrongly. And now" he cried.
tossing his head in a defisnt access OF
energy. "let us have doLe with the
mOrgue. For my part l refuse TO ac-
knowledge l am inside until the gates
clang behind me-"
They chatted in lighter vein with
such pendulum swing back 10 nOnCha-
lance that none would have deemed il
possible for these two 10 have already
determined the mOmentous issue Of the
pending struggle should il 20 against
them.
And so the sun sank TO rest in the
sea, and the stars pierced the deepen
Ing blue Of the celestial arch, while the
man and the woman awaited patiently
the verdict of the fates.
Before the light failed jerks gath
cred all the poisoned arrows and
ground their venOmed points to powder
beneath his heel. Gladly -Ould Iris
and he have dispensed with c-ie friend
ly protection Of the tarpaulin when the
cool evening breeze came from the
south. But such thing might not be
even considered. Several hOars Of dark !
ness must elapse before the moon rose.
and during that period, were their foes !
so minded, they would be absolutely at
the mercy OF the sumpitan shafts IL not /
covered by their impenetrable buckler. |
The sailor looked long and earnestly 1
nj the well. Their own bucket impro- /
Vised out Of a dish cover and rope.
lay close TO the brink \ stealthy crawl
across the sandy valley. half a minute
OF grave danger, and he would be I'D
The ladder again with enough water TO
serve their imperative needs for DAYS
10 come.
There was little or no risk in de-
scending the rock. soon after sunset
I was wrapped in deepest gloom. for