The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-12
CHAPTER XIV
EfHE drifting smoke was still SO
dense that not even the floor Of
4 the valley could be discerned.
jerks dared not leave Iris at
CHAPTER XIV

II dense that not even the floor or
the valley could be discerned.
jerks dared not leave Iris at
s such moment.
He called to Mir Jan:
ssTake of your turban and hold 1t
above yonr head if you think they can
zee you from the warship."
sIt is all right sahib," came the
cheering answer. Zone boat is close
tnshore. think, from the uniforms,
sAey are English sahibs, such as I
have seen at Garden Reach. The Dy-
aks have all gone"
Nevertheless jerks waited. There
was nothing to gain by being too pre-
cipitate. A false step now might undo
the achievements of many weeks.
Mir Jan was dancing about beneath
In "a state of wild excitement.
ssThey have seen the Dyaks running
90 their sampans, sahib," he yelled,
seand the second boat is being pulled in
that directioni Yet another has just
left the ship"
a translation made Iris excited, ca
ger to go down and see these wonders.
The boom of cannon came from the
sea. aInstinciYely the girl ducked for
safety, though her companion smiled
at her fears, for the shell would have
Dong preceded the report had it tray-
eled their way.
ssone Of the remaining sampans has
got under way" he explained, "and the
warship is firing at her"
.sPoor wretchesr' murmured Iris.
~Cannot the survivors be allowed to
eseapef''
seWell, ne are unable to interfere.
Those caught on the island will proba-
bIy be taken to the mainland and
banged for their crimes, so the manner
of their end is not Of much conse-
Quence."
40 the girls manifest relief. there
was no more firing. and Mir Jan an
nounced that number Of sailors were
actually ON shore. Then her thoughts
turned to matter Of concern to the
Feminine mind even in the grayest mo-
nents Of existence. She iaved her face
with water and sought her discarded
skirt.
Soon the steady tramp Of boot clad
sees advancing at, the double was
heard on the shingle, and an officers
voice, speaking the crude Hindoostanee
of the engine room and forecastle,
shouted to Mir Jan:
ssH, you black fellow! Are there
Any white people here?"
jerks sang out:
eyes, two of us! Perched on the
rock over your heads. We are coming
down"
He cast loose the rope ladder. Iris
was limp and trembling.
STEADY, sweetheart" he whispered.
~Don't forget the slip between the cup
and the lip. Hold tight, but have no
Tear. will be just beneath"
It was well he took this precaution-
She was now so unneryed that an un-
guarded movement might have led to
an accident. But the knowledge that
der lover was near, the touch OF his
hand guiding her feet ON to the rungs
of the ladder, sustained her. They had
almost reached the level when loud
exclamation and the crash Of heavy
blow caused jerks to halt and look
downward.
A Dyak, lying at the foot of one Of
che scaling ladders and severely wound
ed by shell splinter, witnessed their
descent. In his1eft hand he grasped q
parang; his right arm was bandaged.
Though unable to rise, the vengeful
pirate mustered his remaining strength
20 crawl toward the swaying ladder. 1t
was Taung SAL, inspired with the
Aate and venom Of the dying snake.
Even yet he hoped to deal a mortal
stroke at the man who had defed him
and all his cutthroat band. He might
have succeeded, as jerks was so taken
up with Iris, were it not for the watch
Rus eyes Of Mir Jan. The Mohammedan
eprang at him. with an oath. and gave
him such murderous whack with the
hutt of rife that the Dyak chief col
Sapsed and breathed out his fierce spirit
IN a groan.
AT tire first glance jerks did not rec
ognize Taung SAL owing to his change
az costume. Through the thinner smoke
be could see several sailors running up.
But, with the passing of the chief.
Nheir last peril had gone. The next in
slant they were standing on the firm
ground. and a British naval lieutenant
was saying eagerly:
I'VE seem to have turned up in the
Nsck of time. Do you, by any chance,
belong to the Sirdar?'
Eve are the sole survivors" answer
ed the sailor.
"You two only?'
eyes. She struck on the northwest
reef of this island during a typhoon.
This lady, Miss Iris Deane, and were
dung ashore
ssafiss Deane. Can it be possible?
lee me congratulate you most heart
Elm Sir Arthur Deane is on board the