Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-03

failed to dislodge the occupants. Ev- cry minute one or more ounces of lead pitched right into the ledge, damaging the stores and tearing the tarpaulin. while those which struck the wall of rock were dangerous to Iris by reason of the molten spray.
 He could guess what had happened. By lying fiat on the sloping plateau or squeezing close to the projecting shoul- der of the cliff the Dyaks were so little exposed that idle chance alone would enable him to hit one of them. But they must be shifted. or this night bombardment would prove the most serious development yet encountered.
 Are you all right, Iris? he called out.
 Yes. dear" she answered
 Well. want you to keep yourself covered by the canvas for little while. especially your head and shoul- ders. l am going to stop these chaps. They have found our weak point, but can baffle them."
 She did not ask what he proposed to do. He heard the rustling of the tar paulin as she pulled if. Instantly he cast loose the rope ladder and, armed only with revolver, dropped down the rock. He was quite invisible to the en- emy. On reaching the ground he lis- tened for moment. There was no sound save the occasional reports nine ty yards away. He hitched up the low CT rIngs of the ladder until they were six feet from the level and then crept noiselessly close to the rock for some forty yards
 He halted beside a small poon tree and stopped to find something imbed- ded near it's roots. At this distance he could plainly hear the muttered con versation of the Dyaks and could see several of them prone on the sand. The latter fact proved how fatal would he an attempt on his part to reach the well. They must discover him instant i ly once he quilted the somber shadows of the cliff. He waited perhaps few seconds longer than was necessary, endeavoring to pierce the dim atmos- phere and learn something of their dis position.
 vigorous outburst of firing sent him back with haste Iris was up there alone. He knew not what might hap pen. He was now feverishly anxious to he with her again. to hear her voice ! and be sure that all was we'll
 To his horror he found the ladder swaying gently against the rock. Some one was using it. He sprang forward. careless of consequence. and seized the swinging end. which had fallen free again. He had his foot on the bottom rung when Iris voice. close at hand and shrill with terror. shrieked:
 Robert. where are youf"
 Here" he shouted. The next in. stant she dropped into his arms. A startled exclamation from the vi- cinity of the house and some loud cries from the more distant Dyaks on the other side of Prospect park showed that they had been overheard.
 "rp- he whispered Hold tight and 20 as quickly as you csn."
 Not without you-'
 Up. for Gods sake. I follow st your heels-'
 She began to climb. He took some article from between his teeth. string apparently. and drer it toward him. mounting the ladder ct the same time. The end frightened He ws. then about ten feet from tbs~groundL Two ! Dyaks. yelling sercely. rushed from the cover of the house
 GO oD.- he said to Iris. Don't lose your nerve. vhstever hsppens- I sm close behind you-"
 T am quite safe she Essped
 Turning and eIinxinz on with one hand. he drew his revolver and fired { sf the pair brnesth- who -culd re~ f7intlr discern them and v>r> slm~f -i.hin r-s~h cf she ladder The ehc1<- inc made them Bah He did ncf knc~