The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-11-24

ken reef beyond Turtle beach. In ava
inute father and daughter wonldl
meet.
Meanwhile the officer. intent on duty.
addressed jerks again.
"May I ask who you are?'
My name is Observation-Disclosures An
struther.'
Iris, clinging to his arm, heard the
reply. -
80 he had abandoned all pretense.
He was ready to face the world at her
side. She stole a loving glance at hin
as she cried:
Yes; Captain A%nstruther Of the In
dian staff corps. II he will NOT tel,
you all that he has done, how he has
saved my life twenty times, how he
has fought single handed against
eighty men, ask mel"
Captain Anstruther does not appear
to ave left much for us to do, Miss
Deane,' the officer said. Indeed"
turning to Robert, lis there any way
IN which my men will be useful?"
Il would recommend that they drag
the green stuff off that fire and stop
the smoke. Then a detachment should
go round the north side of the island
n drive the remaining Dyaks into
the hands of the party you have landed.
as understand, at the farther end Of
the south beach. Mir Jan, the Moham-
medan here. who has been a most faith
ful ally during part of our siege, will
act as guide"
Inc other man cast a comprehensive
glance over the rock, with its scaling
ladders and dangling rope ladder, the
cave, the little groups Of dead or un-
conscious pirates-for every wounded
man who could move a limb had.
crawled away after the first shell burst
and drew a deep breath.
How long We're you up there?" be
asked.
"Over thirty hours"
ut was q great tightw
somewhat worse than it looks" said
Anstruther. "This is only the end Of
1t Altogether we have accounted for
nearly twoscore Of the poor devils"
Robert looked toward the approach
Ing boat. She would not land vet for
q couple ofminutes.
"By the way" he said, will you
tell me your name?"
"Playdon - Lieutenant Philip n
Playdon."
DO you know to what nation this
island belongs?"
1T Is no mans land, I think. It is
marked .u%ninhabited' on the chart"
"Then." said Anstruther, II call upon
you. Lieutenant Playdon, and all others
here present to witness that 1. Robert
Anstruther. late Of the Indian army,
acting on behalf Of myself and Miss
Iris Deane, declare that we have taken
possession of this island in the name
Of his Britannia majesty the king of
England, that we are the joint occu-
piers and owners thereof and claim all
property rights vested therein"
These formal phrases. coming at such
Q moment, amazed his hearers. Iris
alone had an inkling Of the underlying
motive.
II don't suppose any one will dispute
your title" said the naval officer grave
". he unquestionably imagined that
suffering and exposure had slightly dis
turbed the other mans senses.
.sThank you," replied Robert with
equal composure, though he felt in
clined to laugh at Playdon's mystifca-
ton. II only wished to secure a suffi.
Client number Of witnesses for a verbal
declaration. When l have q few min
!. utes to spare l will aftix a legal notice
: on the wall In front Of our cave"
Playdon bowed silently. There was
. . something In the speakers manner that
puzzled him. He detailed a small guard
to accompany Robert and Iris, whc
: now walked toward the beach, and
asked Mir Jan to pilot him as suggest
: ed by Anstruther.
: The boat was yet many yards from
shore when Iris ran forward ani
! stretched out her arms to the man Wit
/. was staring at her with wistfu de
: SPAR.
Father! Father!' she cried. "Don'
: you know meY
= Sir Arthur Deane was looking at tn
/. two strange figures on the sands, ant
= each moment his heart sank lower
! This island held his final hope. Durin!
y many weary weeks, since the day whel
= Z kindly admiral placed the cruise
Orient at his disposal, he had secure
i Z the China sea, the coasts of Borneo an
9 Java for some tidings Of the i'll fate
8 0ifdAr.
J. TO examine every sand patch an
y tree covered shoal in the China sea wa
IN impossible task. All the Orien
could do was to visit the principal Is
= lands and institute inquiries among tn
= Fishermen and small traders. At las
3 - previous night, a Malay, temple
8 81 hope Of reward, boarded the vess'
when lying at anchor of the large II
2 land away to the south and told IL
y 5ceptain q wondrous tale OF a dey
haunted place inhabited by two whit
= spirits, q male and a female. whith'
aslocal pirate named Taung san ha
eone By chance with his men and su
go wronf 1nca Ruf Taunp S'Alt WI