Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-13
! wings Of the
5 ~ . By LOUIS
: "nffN Nn q TRACY /:
i 4 AVA Il AAAA%1 Copyright 1905. by
!. ~ Edward j.. Clode

nation Oh lie: lips. Three Dyaks were
attempting to run the gantlet to their
bc.eague"ed comrades. They carried
Il Jar and two wicker baskets. He with
the jar fell and broke it. The Others
doubled back like hares, and the first
man dragged himself after them. jerks
did not fire again.
Iris watched the wounded wretch
crawling along the ground. Her eyes
grew moist. and she paled somewhat.
When lie vanished she looked into the
| valley and ut the opposing ledge; three
men lay dead within twenty yards of
her. Two others dang.ed from the
rocks. 1t took her some time to con-
| troll her quavering utterance sufficient
ly to say:
Il hope | may not have to use Il gun.
/ know it cannot be helped. but If l
were to kill human being l do not
think would ever rest again"
"In that case have indeed murdered
sleep today" was the unfeellng reply.
NO. no! A man must be made Of
sterner stuff. We have right to de-
| fend ourselves. If need be. l will eXer-
else that right. Still. it is horrid, oh,
so horrid!"
She could not see the sailors grim
smile. 1t would materially affect his
rest for the better were he able to
slay every Dyak on the island with a
single shot. Yet her gentle protest
| pleased him. She could not at the
same time be callous to human suffer
ing and be Iris. But he declined the
discussion of such sentiments.
"You were going to say something
when brief disturbance took place"
he inquired.
"Yes. was surprised to find how
hot the ledge has become"
"You notice it more because you are
obliged to remain here"
After a pause she said:
81 ttink l understand now why you
were so upset by the loss of our wa
ter supply. Before the day ends we
will be in great straits, enduring ago.
nies from thirst
"Let us not meet the devil halfway"
he rejoined. He preferred the unfair
retort- to Il confession which could only
foster dismay.
But. please, am thirsty now"
He moved uneasily. He was only too
conscious of the impish weakness, COM
mon to all mankind, which creates a
desire out of sheer inability to satisfy
it. Already his own throat was parched.
The excitement of the early struggle
was in itself enough to engender an
acute thirst. He thought it best to
meet their absolute needs as far as
possible.
Bring the tin cup" he said. LET
us take half our store and use the re-
mainder when we eat. Try to avoid
breathing through your mouth. The
hot air quickly affects the palate and
causes an artificial dryness. We can
not yet be in real need of water. 1t Is
largely imagination"
Iris needed no second bidding. She
carefully measured out half pint Of
the unsavory fluid-the dregs OF the
casks and the scourings of the ledge.
81 will drink first" she cried.
"No, no." he interrupted impatiently.
"Give it to me-"
She pretended to be surprised.
"As q mere matter Of politeness"-
Il am sorry, but I must insist"
She gave him the cup over his shoul-
der. He placed it to his lips and
gulped steadily.
"There." he said gruffiy. II was in
hurry. The Dyaks may have another
rush at any moment"
Iris looked into the vessel.
"You have taken none ut ALL" she
said.
Nonsense"
"Mr. jerks, be reasonable! You need
it more than l. d-dont want to-live
w-without-you."
His hands shook somewhat. 1t was
well there was no call for accurate
shooting just then.
IL assure you / took all l required"
he declared, with unnecessary vehe-
mence.
"At least drink your share to please
me-" she murmured.
"You wished to humbug me-" he
grumbled. "If you will take the drst
half will take the second"
And they settled it that way. The
few mouthfuls Of tepid water gave
them new life. Nevertheless by high
noon they were suffering again. The
time passed very slowly. The sun
rose to the zenith and filled the earth
and air with his ard0r. 1t seemed to be
a miracle now appreciated for the
first time in their lives-that the sea
did not dry up and the leaves wither
on the trees. The Silence, the deathly
inactivity Of all things, became intol-
erable. The girl bravely tried to con-
fine her thoughts to the task Of the
hour. She displayed alert watchful-
ness. an instant readiness to warn her
companion of the slightest movement
among the trees or by the rocks to the
northwest, this being the arc Of their
periphery assigned to her.
Looking at sunlit space from cover
and looking at the same place when
sweltering in the direct rays of trop-
ical sun are kindred operations strange
ly diverse In achievement. Iris could
not reconcile the physical sensitiveness
Of the hour with the careless hardi-
hood Of the preceding days. Her eyes
ached somewhat, for she had tilted her
sou'wester to the back of her head In
the effort to- cool her throbbing tenn
pies. She put up her right hand to
shade the too vivid reflection Of the
glistening sea and was astounded to
find that In few minutes the back Of
her hand was scOrched. A faint sound
of distant shouting disturbed her pain
| full Ieverie.
"How is It," she asked, "that we feel
the heat so much today? / had hardly
noticed it before"
"For two good reasons-forced idle
| ness and radiation from this cOnfOund-
| ed rock. Moreover, this is the hottest
day we have experienced on the island.
: There is not breath of air, and the
hot weather has just commenced"
Don't you think" she said huskily,
"that our position here is quite hope