Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-29

IL Ill my puNe.i, le answered. For all instant he left unchallenged the girls assumption that she was in any way responsible for the disasters which had broken up his career. He looked into her eyes and almost forgot him. self Then the sense of fair dealing that dominates every true gentleman rose within him and gripped his waver- ing emotions with ruthless force. Was his time to play upon the high strung sensibilities of this youthful daughter of the gods. to seek to win from her a confession of love that a few brief days or weeks might prove to be only a spasmodic but momentarily all pow erful gratitude for the protection he had given her?
 And he spoke aloud, striving to laugh, lest his words should falter: You can console yourself with the thought, Miss Deane. that your pres ence on the island will in no way affect i my fate at the hands of the Dyaks. Had they caught me unprepared today | my head would now be covered with a solution of the special varnish they , carry on every foreign expedition
 And yet these men aee human be- ings..'
 For purposes of classification. yes. Keeping to strict fact, it was lucky for me that you raised the alarm and gave me a chance to discount the odds of mere numbers. So, you see, you really did me good turn'
 What can be done now to save our lives? Anything will be better than to await another attack
 "The first thing to do is to try to get some sleep before daylight. How did you know was not in the castle:'
 "I cannot tell you. awoke and knew you were not near me. If wake in the night I can always tell whether or not you are in the next room. So 1 1 dressed and came out.'
 "Ahr' he said quietly. Evidently I snore"
 Iris retreated, and the sailor, tired out at last. managed to close his weary eyes.
 Next morning he hastily constructed a pole of sufficient length and strong enough to bear his weight by tying two sturdy young trees together with ropes. iris helped him to raise it against the face of the precipice, and he at once climbed to tke ledge.
 1 Here he found his observations of the previous night abundantly verified. The | ledge was even wider than he dared to hope. nearly ten feet deep in one part, and it sloped sharply downward from the outer lip of the rock. By lying fiat and carefully testing all points of view he ascertained that the only possible positions from which even glimpse of the interior floor could be obtained were the branches of a few tall trees and the extreme right of the opposing precipice. nearly ninety yards distant. | There was ample room to store water and provisions. and he quickly saw that even some sort of shelter from the | fierce rays of the sun and the often piercing cold of the night might be achieved by judiciously rigging up a tarpaulin.
 This is genuine bit of good luck, " he unused. Here provided neither of us is hit, we can hold outfor week or longer at a pinch. How can it be possible that l should have lived on this island so many days and yet hit upon this nook of safety by mere chance, as it wereT | Not until he reached the level again could he solve the puzzle. Then he perceived that the way in which the cliff bulged out on both sides prevent ed the ledge from becoming evident in profile. while. seen in the glare of the sunlight. it suggested nothing more than a slight indentation.
 He rapidly sketched to Iris the de- fensive plan which the eagles nest suggested. Access must be provided by means of rope ladder. securely fastened inside the ledge and capable of being pulled up or let down at the WI of the occupants. Then the place must be kept constantly stocked with judicious supply of provisions. water and ammunition. They could be GOV cred with a tarpaulin and thus kept in fairly good condition.
 We ought to sleep there every night" he went on, and his mind was so engrossed with the tactical side of the preparations that he did not notice how Iris blanched at the suggestion.
 Surely not until danger actually threatens she cried .aE
 Danger threatens us each hour after sunset. It may come any night. though ! I expect at least a fortnight's reprieye. Nevertheless I intend to act as if to. night may witness the first shot of the siege
 Do you mean thatT she sighed. And my little room is becoming so very cozy-'
 l Jenks always accepted her words lit. orally.
 We'll he announced. after a pause "it may not be necessary to take up our quarters there until the eleventh hour. Afte- l have hoisted up our stores and made the ladder 1 will en. deavor to devise an efficient cordon of sentineIs around our position We will sec
 Not another word could Iris get ou, of him on the topic. Indeed. he provided her with plenty of work. By this time she could splice rope more neatly than her tutor. and her particular busi ness was to prepare no less than sixty rungs for the rope ladder. This was ! .n impossible task for one day. bu,