The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-28
I. v--I.
81. re they going away, then -

|
venae They say there is no use in
firing at you. but they are resolved to
kill you and the miss sahib or carry
Ler OF if she escapes the assault"
What ASSAULT"
Protector of the poor, they are build
ing scaling ladders-four in all. Soon
after dawn they intend to rush your
position. You may slay some they
say, but you cannot slay threescore.
Taung Sail has promised gold to every
! man who survives if they succeed.
They have pulled down your signal on
the high rocks and are using the poles
for the ladders. They think you have
charm, sahib, and they want to use
your own work against you"
This was serious news. a combined
attack might indeed be dangerous,
though it had the excellent feature that
if it failed the Dyaks would certainly
leave the island. But his sky sign de
stroyed! That was bad. Had vessel
chanced to pass the swinging letters
would surely have attracted attention.
Now even that faint hope was dis
PEELED.
"Sahib, there Is worse thing to tell"
said Mir Jan.
"Say on, them
Before they place the ladders against
the cliff they will build fire Of green
wood so that the smoke will be blown
by the wind into your eyes. This will
help to blind your aim. Otherwise you
never miss
."That will assuredly be awkward,
Mir JAM
.'.It will, sahib Soul Of my father, If
we had but half a troop with u.s.
But they had not, and they were both
so intent on the conversation that they
were momentarily off their guard. Iris
was more watchful. She fancied there
was a light rustling amid the under
growth beneath the trees on the right.
And she could hiss, too, If that were
the correct thing to do.
So she Kissed.
Jenhs swarmed halfway up the lad
der.
Eyes, Iris" he said.
II am not sure, but I imagine some
thing moved among the bushes behind
the house"
"All right dear. will keep sharp
lookout. Can you hear US talking?'
Hardly. Will you be lorg?"
another minute"
He descended and told Mir Jan what
the miss sahib said. The native was
about to make a search when jerks
stopped him. !.
"Eere'-tle handed the man his re-
volver-I suppose you can use this?"
Mir Jan took it without d word, and
jerks felt that the incident atoned for
previous unworthy doubts Of his dark
friends honesty. The Mohammedan
cautiously examined the back Of the
house, the neighboring shrubs and the
open beach. After a brief absence he
reported all safe, yet no man has ever
been nearer death and escaped it than
he during that reconnaissance. He, too,
forgot that the DyakS were foxes, and
foxes can lie close when hounds are
trife stale.
Mir Jan returned the revolver.
"Sahib." he said, with another sa-
laam, 81 am q disgraced man. but if
you will take me up there with you I
will fight by your side until both my
arms are hacked off, am weary Of
these thieves. III chance threw me IL
to their company. will have no more
Of them. IF you will not have re on
the rock, give me gun. l will hide
among the trees, and l promise that
some Of them shall die tonight before
they find me. For the honor Of the
regiment, sahib, do not refuse this
thing. All ask is if your honor es-
capes that you will write to Kurnal
I-shpence-sahib and tell him the last
act Of Mir Jan, corporal in 3 troop
jerks was profoundly raoyed. He
reflected how best to utilize the serv-
ices Of this willing volunteer without
exposing him 10 certain death in the
manner suggested. The native miSin
terpreted mis- Silence.
81 am not rascal. sahib,'' he ex-
claimed proudly. 81 only killed man
because
Listen. Mir Jan. You cannot wei,
mend what you have said. The Dya!ls-
you are sure. will not come before
morning."
They have carried the wounded to
the boats and are making the lad
ders. Such was their talk when left
them"
Will they not miss you?"
They will Miss the goatskin, sahib.
1t was the last full one.
Mir Jan. dc as l bid and you shall
see Delhi again. Have you ever used
a Lee-Metford?
Il have seen them, sahib- but l bet
ter understand the Mahtini.''
Il will give you a rife, with plenty
of ammunition Do you go inside the
cave, there, and
Mir Jan was startled.
Where the ghost is, sahib?" he said.
"Cbocti That iS q tala for children