The Red Cloud chief., 1905-07-14

breeze kept its canvas tuut, and the
sailor knew that no rust was Intended.
The DyakS were flying from the island
In fear and rage. Tacy would return
with n force sufficient - 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 Il prolonged defense i'm
possible. Would help come first?-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
%slngularly at variance with his cool de-
meanor during the fight. lie was ut
terly unconscious that his left arm en-
circled the shoulder of the girl until
she gently disengaged herself and said
appealingly:
please, Mr.. jerks, do not be angry
with me. | could not help it.. | could
not bear to see you shoot them"
Then he abruptly awoke to the real
tiles of the moment.
Come" 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"
Something must be said or done to
reassure her. She was still grievously
disturbed, and he naturally ascribed
her agitation to the horror Of her cap
ture. He dreaded a complete collapse
il any further alarms threatened ut
once. Yet he was almost positive
though search alone would set at rest
the last mi~sgiving-that only n sam-
pan had visited the island. Evidently
the Dyaks were unprepared as he for
the events Of the preceding half hou-
phey were either visiting the island to
procure turtle and beche-de-mer or had
merely called there Ell route to some
other destination, and the change in
the wind had unexpectedly compelled
them to put ashore. Beyond all doubt
they must have been surprised by the
warmth of the reception they encoun.
tered.
Probably when he went to Summit
rock that morning the savages 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 ut 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 owe
tract leading to the valley Of death
instantly determined this point. The
Dyaks knew of this affrighting hollow
and would not approach any nearer &c
1t than was unavoidable. Could he
twist this circumstance to advantage
IL Ira I'M. - acre sAA stranded there
when the superstitlous sea rover mex,
put in an appearancef lie would see
All depended on the girls strength. II
she gave way now; If, instead of tax
ing instant measures for safety, he
were called upon to nurse her through
II 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 natura.
buoyancy to her step. 1t Is the fault
of all men to underrate the marvellous
courage and constancy of woman IL
the face Of difficulties and trials
jerks was no exception to the rule.
"You do not ask me for any account
of my adventures she said quietly
after watching his perplexed expires
sion in silence for some time.
Her tone almost startled him, its un
assumed cheerfulness was so unlocked
for.
NO" he answered. II thought yor
were too overweight to talk of then
at present"
"Overwrought! Not a bit Of 1t!
was dead beat with the struggle anG
with screaming for you, but please
don't imagine that l am going to faint
or treat you to a display of hysterii
now that all the excitement has ended
l admit that | cried a little when you
pushed me aside on the beach and rails
ed your gun to fire at those poo
wretches flying for their lives. Yet
perhaps | was wrong to hinder you"
"You 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? NJ
matter what | ask you to do you en-