Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-03

/ ..
Hal doHc thor trork too tUcU.
The feature which so earnestly claim
ell his attention was "A deep ledge di-
! rectly over the mouth OF the cave. but
some forty feet from the ground. Be
hind it the wall OF rock sloped dark
| ~ inward. suggesting recess extend
ing by baphazsrd computation at least
a couple Of yards. IL occurred to him
that perhaps the fault in the interior
OF the tunnel had it's outcrop here. and
| the influences of rain and sun had ex-
tended the weak point thus exposed IN
the bold pnnoply OF stone.
He surveyed the ledge from different
points Of view. IL was quite inacces-
sible and most difficult TO estimate ac-
curately from the ground level. The
sailor was u man of action lie chose
the nearest tall tree and began to
climb. He was not eight feet from the
| ground before several birds few out
4 from its leafy recesses. filling the air
with shrill clucking
The devil take Them he Crowled.
| for he feared that the commotion
would awaken Iris. He vas still la
boriously worming his way through
the inner maze OF branches when a
well known voice reached him from
the ground
Mr.. jerks. what on earth are you
doing up thereF"
"Oh, So those wretchoSl fowls arous.
ed your he replied
Yes. but why did YOU arouse them =
4 had fancy 20 roost by way OF
change"
PLEASE be serious"
Il am more than serious. This tree
grows IA variety OF small sharp thorn
that induces maximum OF gravity
before one takes the next step"
But why do YOU keep on climbingf"
1T is sheer lun0cy, admit Yet Oh
such moonlit night there is some rea-
sonable ground for even d mad ex.
cuse."
Mr.. jerks, tell me at once what you
are doing"
Iris strove 10 be severe, but there was
touch OF anxiety IN her tone that in
stantly made the sailor apologize. He
told her about the ledge ana explained
his half formed notion that here they
might secure safe retreat in case OF
further attack, "a refuge from which
they might defy assault during many
days. 1t was, he said absolutely i'm
possible 10 wait until the morning. He
must at once satisfy himself whether
the project was impracticable OF wor-
thy OF further investigation.
So the girl only enjoined him to be
a ffrn a -. Z.
climb. At last some twenty-five feet
from the ground. an accidental parting
In the branches enabled him TO get a
good look at the ledge One glance set
his heart beating joyously. Ii was at
least fifteen feet In length. 1t shelved
back until its depth was lost in the
blackness OF the shadows, and the floor
must be either nearly level or sloping
slightly inward TO the line OF the fault.
The place was a perfect eagles nest.
chamois could not reach II from any
direction. IL became accessible to man
only by means or ladder or a balloon.
More excited by this discovery than
he cared for Iris to know. he endeav-
ored TO appear unconcerned when ne
regained the ground.
"WelF' she said. "ten me all about
it."
he described the nature OF the cavity !
as Wen as he understood it at the mo-
ment and emphasized his previous ex-
PLANTATION OF its virtues. Here they
might reasonably hope 10 make a sue |
eessfui stand against the Dyaks.
Then you feel sure that those awful
creatures Will come back?" she said
slowly.
only TOO sure, unfortunately"
How remorseless poor humanity is /
"hen the veneer is stripped on why |
cannot they leave US In peace? Per
maps II had not been here they would
not have injured you. Somehow seem
10 be bound up with your misfortunes."
would not have 81 otherwise were
II IN my power" he answered. For An
instant he left unchallengsd tho girls
assumption that she was in any way
responsible for the disasters which
mad broken up his carees. 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 sripped his waver-
Ing emotions with ruthless force. Was