The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-05-03

diminished to a mere speck on
the smooth sea. The even
breeze kept its canvas taut, and the
sailor knew that no ruse was intended.
The Dyaks were flying from the island
sn fear and rage They would return
with a. force sufficient to insure the
wreaking Of their vengeance.
That he would again encounter them
at no distant date jerks had no doubt
whatever They would land in such
numbers as to render any resistance
difficult and a prolonged defense I'M
possible. Would help come frst?-a
distracting question to which definite
answer could not be given. The sail
or's brow frowned in deep lines; his
brain throbbed now with an anxiety
singularIy at variance with his cool de
meanos during the fight. BE was ut
fery unconscious that his left arm en-
eircied the shoulder Of the girl until
she gently disengaged herself and said
appeaEngly:
Please, Mr. jerks, do not be angry
with me- could not help it. I could
not bear to see yoa shoot them"
Then he abruptly aWoke to the real
tiles Of the moment.
Come, 2 he said, his drawn features
relaxing into a wonderfully pleasing
smile We Will return to our castle.
We are safe for the remainder Of this
day, at any rate
Is Something must be said or done to
reassure her. She was still grieVously
disturbed, and he naturally aseribed
her agitation to the horror of her cap
tare He dreaded complete collapse
&c any further alarms threatened at.
once Yet he was almost positive
though search alone would set at rest
fhe last misgiying only one sam
pan had visited the island. Evidently
the Dyaks were unprepared as he for
the events Of the preceding half hour.
They were either visiting the island to
procure turtle and beehe-de-mer or had
merely called there en- route to some
other destination, and the change in
The wind had Unexpectedly compelled
them to put ashore. Beyond all doubt
they m1sst have been surprised by the
MarYnth af the reception they encoun-
tered.
Probably when he went to Summit
rock that morning the saTages had
lowered their sail and were steadily
padding north against wind and cur
rent. The most careful scrutiny Of the
sea would fail to reveal them beyond
a distance Of six or seven miles at the
utmost.
After landing in the hidden bay on
the south side they crossed the island
through the trees instead Of taking the
more natural open way along the
beach. Why? The fact that he and
Iris were then passing the grown over
tract leading to the valley Of death
Instantly determined this point. The
sDyaks knew of this afsrighting hollow
and would not approach any nearer to
ft than was unavoidable. Could he
twist this circumstance to advantage
if Iris and he were still stranded there
when the superstitious sea rovers next
put in an appearance? he would see.
All depended on the girls strength. If
she gave way now; if, instead Of tax
ing instant measures for safety, he
were called upon to nurse her through
fever, the outlook became not only
desperate, but hopeless.
And, while he bent his brows in
worrying thought, the color was re-
turning to Iris cheeks and natural
buoyancy to her step. It is the fault
OF all men to underrate the marvellous
courage and constancy of woman in
the face Of difficulties and trials.
jerks was no exception to the rule.
ssYou do not ask me for any account
OF my adventures" she said quietly.
after watching his perplexed express
sion in silence for, some time.
Her tone almost startled him, its un-
assumed cheerfulness was so unlocked
for.
"No,'' he answered 81 thought you
were too oyerwrought to talk of them
at present"
ACyerwrought! Not bit Of it! l
was dead beat with the struggle and
with screaming for you, but please
don't imagine that am going to faint
or treat you to a display of hysteria
now that all the excitement has ended.
I admit that cried little when you
pushed me aside ON the beach and rails
ed your gun to fire at those poor
wretches flying for their lives. Yet
perhaps was wrong to hinder you
ssYou were wrong" he gravely inter
rupted.
.'Then you should not have needed
me. no, don't mean that. You al
ways consider me first, don't you? No
matter what ask you to do you en-
deayor to please me, even when you
know all the time that 1 am acting OF
speaking foolishly.'
The unthinking naivete Of her words
sent the blood coursing wildly through
Y,iS voinS