The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-07-20
THE PRINCEToN ONION: THURSDAY, JULY 50. 19o5.

ed. They were securing both sections
Of the island in full force. a
The quiet watcher on the ledge took
no needless risks. Though it was i'm
possible to believe any stratagem had
been planned for his special benefit, an
accident might betray him. With the
utmost ,circumspection he rose on all
fours anu, with comprehensive glance.
examined trees, plateau and both strips
OF beach for signs of lurking foe. He
need have no fear OF all places in the
island the Dyaks least imagined that
their quarry had lain all night within
earshot of their encampment.
jerks slid back down the ledge and
| gently Weakened Iris. She sat up in
stantly and gazed at him with wonder
ing eyes,
Fearful lest she should forget her
surroundings, he placed a warning fin
! ger on his lips.
'Oh," she said in whisper, "are
they still here?"
He told her what had happened and
suggested that they should have some
thing to eat while the coast was clear
beneath. She needed no second bid
ding, for the long vigil of the previous
night had made her very hungry, and
the two breakfasted right royalty on
biscuit, cold fowl, ham and good water.
| In this, the inner section of their ref
uge, they could be seen only by bird
or by man standing on the distant
rocky shelf that formed the southern
extremity of the opposite cliff, and the
sailor kept close lookout in that di-
rection.
of the feast into an empty oil tin pro.
vided for refuse when jerks restrained
her.
"No," he said smilingly. Scraps
| should be the first course next time.
We must not waste an atom of food"
How thoughtless of me!' she ex-
claimed. "Please tell me you think
they will go away today"
But the sailor flung himself fat on
the ledge and grasped rifle.
BE still, on your lifev' he said.
squeeze into your corner. There is a
Dyak on the opposite Cliff
True enough, man had climbed,
to that unhappily placed rocky table
and was shouting something to a con-
frere high on the cliff over their heads.
AS yet he had not seen them nor even
noticed the place where they were con-
cealed. The sailor imagined from the
Dyak's gestures that he was commu-
nicating the uselessness Of further
search on the western part of the is.
| land.
| When the conversation ceased he
hoped the loud voiced savage would
descend. But no! The scout looked
into the valley, at the well, the house,
the cave. Still he did not see the
ledge. At that unlucky moment three
Birds driven from the trees on the
crest by the passage of the Dyaks,
few down the face of the cliff and be-
gan a circling quest for some safe
perch on which to alight.
jerks swore with an emphasis not
the less earnest because it was mute
and took steady aim at the Dyaks left
breast. The birds futtered about in
ever smaller circles. Then one of them
dropped easily on to the lip Of the
rock. Instantly his bright eyes encoun-
tered those of the man, and he darted
off with scream that brought his
mates after him.
The Dyak evidently noted the behav-
ior of the birds-his only lore was the
reading of such signs-and gazed in
tently at the ledge. jerks he could
not distinguish behind the screen Of
grass. He might perhaps see some
portion Of the tarpaulin covering the
stores, but at the distance it must re-
semble a weather beaten segment Of
the cliff. Yet something puzzled him.
After steady scrutiny he turned and
yelled to others on the beach.
The crucial moment had arrived
jerks pressed the trigger, and the
Dyak hurtled through the air, falling
headlong out of sight.
The sound of this, the first shot Of
real warfare, awoke Rainbow island
into tremendous activity. The winged
life of the place filled the air with rau-
cous cries, while shouting Dyaks sour
ried in all directions. Several came in
to the valley. Those nearest the fallen
man picked him up and carried him to
the we'll. He was quite dead, and, al
though amid his other injuries they
soon found the bullet wound, they evil
IDENTIFY did not know whence the shot
came, for those to whom he shouted
had no inkling of his motive, and the
slight haze from the rifle was instantly
swept away by the breeze.
Iris could hear the turmoil beneath,
and she TREMENDOUSLY asked:
care they going to attack us?''
'Not yet" was the reassuring an
swer. II killed the fellow who saw us
before he could tell the others
1t was bold risk, and he had taken
it, though now the Dyaks knew for
certain their prey had not escaped
there was no prospect Of their speedy
departure. Nevertheless the position
was not utterly hopeless. None of the
| A~Y1 4. Z. 4