The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-11-17

The sailor, astounded by -hor tone
gave her a 1eeting glance. She was
very pale now, but not with fear. Her
eyes were slightly contracted, her nos.
tr1ls quivering, her lips set tight and
ner chin dimpled. Resting on one knee,
With a revolver in each hand, she seem
ed no pulling mate for the gallant man
who fought for her.
There was no time for further speech.
Three ladders were reared against the
rock. They were so poised and held
below that jerks could not force them
backward. A fourth appeared, it's
coarse shafts looming into sight like
the horns Of some gigantic animal.
The four covered practically the whole
front Of the ledge save where Mir Jan
cleared a little space on the level.
The sailor was standing now, with
the crowbar clinched in both hands.
The firing in the valley slackened and
died away, a Dyak face. grinning like
a Japanese demon, appeared at the top
OF the ladder nearest to Iris.
Don't fire." shouted jerks. And the
iron bar crushed downward. Two 9TH
ers pitched themselves half on to the
ledge. Now both crowbar and reyoly-
er were needed. Three ladders were
thus numbered somewhat for those be-
meath, and jerks sprang toward the
fourth and most distant. Men were
crowding it like ants. Close to his feet
lay an empty water cask. It was a
cruGe weapon, but effective when we'll
pitched, and the sailor had never made
a better shot for a goal in the midst
or a hard fought scrimmage than he
made with that tub for the head Of the
uppermost pirate.
Another volley came from the sands.
A bullet plowed through his hair and
sent his Southwestern flying. Again the
besiegers swarmed to the attack. One
way or the other they must succeed.
A man and a woman-even such a man
and such Il woman-could not keep at
bay an Infatuated horde Of fifty saw
ages fighting at close quarters and un-
DER these grievOus conditions.
jerks knew what would happen. He
would be shot while repelling the seal
ing party. And Iris! Dear heart! She
was thinking Of him.
keep back! They can never gain
the ledger she shrieked.
And then. above the din of the fu-
sillade, the yells Of the assailants and
the bawling Of the wounded, there
came through the air a screaming, tear
Ing, ripping sound which drowned all
others. 1t travelled with incredible
speed, and before the sailor could be-
lieve his ears-for he well knew what
it meant-a shrapnel shell burst in
front of the ledge and drenched the
valley with flying lead.
jerks was just able to, drag Iris fat
against the rock ere the time fuse op-
Grated and the bullets flew. He could
form no theory, hazard no conjecture.
All he knew was that a twelve FOUNDER
shell had flown toward them through
space, scattering red ruin among the
amazed %scoundrels beneath. Instantly
he rose again, lest perchance any Of the
Dyaks should have gained a foothold
On the ledge.
The ladders were empty. He could
bear a good deal of grooming, the foot
steps of running men and some dis
tant shouting.
"sahib" yelled Mir Jan, drawn from
his retreat by the commotion without.
Eyes" shouted jerks.
The native, in a voice cracked with
excitement, told him something. The
sailor asked a few rapid questions to
make quite sure that Mir Jan was not
mistaken.
Then he threw his arms round Iris,
drew her close and whispered:
my darling, we are saved! A war
ship has anchored Just beyond the
south reef, and two boats filled with
armed sailors are now pulling ashore"
ITO be continued.)