The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-05-24

a lie VIE a4,er lr.s lett Ii N. she
did not bring forth her lamp, and, Tn
willing to disturb Ler, he picked up
resinous branch. lit it in the dying fire
and went into the cave.
He wanted to survey the work al
ready done and to determine whether
it would be better to resume operations
in the morning from inside the exca-
vation or from the ledge. Owing to
the difficulty Of constructing vertical
upward shaft and the danger of sud-
den fall Of heavy material he decided
in favor Of the latter course, although
it entailed lifting all the refuse out Of
the hole. To save time, therefore. he
carried his mining tools into the open.
placed in position the cheval de frise
long since constructed for the defense
Of the entrance, and poured water over
the remains Of the fire.
This was his final care each night
before stretching his weary limbs on
his couch Of branches. 1t caused delay
in the morning, but he neglected no
precaution, and there was a possible
chance Of the Dyaks failing to discover
the eagles nest if they were persuad-
ed by other indications that the island
was deserted.
He entered the hut and was in the
act Of pulling off his boots when dis
tant shot rang sharply through the air.
It was magnifed tenfold by the in
tense silence. For few seconds, that
seemed to be minutes, he listened, cher
ishing the quick thought that perhaps
a turtle, wandering far beyond accus-
toned limits, had disturbed one Of the
spring gun communications on the
sands. A sputtering volley, which his
trained ear recognized as the firing Of
muzzlesloaders, sounded the death knell
Of his last hope.
The Dyaks had landed! Coming 81
lently and mysteriously in the dead Of
night, they were themselves the vic
TINS Of stratagem they designed to
employ. Instead Of taking the occu-
pants of Rainbow island unawares
they were startled at being greeted by
a shot the moment they landed. The
alarmed savages at once retaliated by
firing their antiQuated weapons point
blank at the trees, thus giving warning
enough to wake the seven sleepers.
Its, ruI1y dressed, was out in a mo-
ment.
'They have come" she whispered.
''Yes," was the CHEEKY answer, for
jerks face to face with danger was q
very different man from jerks wres-
ting with the insidious attacks of Gu
pid. Cup the ladder! Be lively! They
will not be here for half an hour if they
kick up such row at the first difficult
y. Still, we will take no risks. Cast
down those spare lines when you reach
the top and haul away when l say
Ready You will find everything to
hand up there"
He held the bottom Of the ladder to
steady it for the girls climb. Soon her
voice fell, like message from star:
'All right! Please join me soon!'
The coiled up ropes dropped along
the face of the rock. Clothes, pick,
hatchet, hammer, crowbars and other
useful odds and ends were swung away
into the darkness, for the moon as yet
did not illumine the crag. The sailor
darted into Belle Vue castle and kicked
their leafy beds about the floor. Then
he slung all the rifles, now five in num-
ber, over his shoulders and, mounted
the rope ladder, which, with the spare
cords, he drew up and coiled with
careful method.