Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-22
IN The grasp of t,ro tcrocious looking
DunkS,

~ ~
In The grasp of t,co tcrocious looking
Dydhs.
they had secured, young and beauti-
full white woman SO contentedly roam
ing about the shores of this fetish is
land. With the slow speed advised
by the Roman philosopher the back
sight and fore sight of the rifle came
into line with the breast of the coarse
brute clutching the girls face.
Then something bit him above the
heart and simultaneously tore half of
his back into fragments. He fell, with
queer sob, and the others turned to
face this unexpected danger.
Iris, knowing only that she was free
from that hateful grasp, wrenched her
self free from the chiefs hold and ran
with all her might along the beach to
jerks and safety.
Again and yet again the rifle gave
its short, sharp snarl, and two more
Dyaks collapsed on the sand. Six We're
left, their leader being still uncon-
sciously preserved from death by the
figure of the flying girl
A fourth Dyak dropped.
The survivors, cruel savages, but not
towards, unslung their guns. The sail
or, white faced, grim, with an unplcass
ant CLEAN in his deep set eyes and n
lower jaw protruding, noticed their
preparations.
l Lea I, x,1,1 ,AN1 -
ward the trees!'
Iris heard him and strove to obey,
but her strength was failing her, and
she staggered blindly. After few de-
spairing efforts she lurched feebly to
her knees and tumbled face downward
on tile broken coral that had tripped
her faltering footsteps.
jerks was watching her, watching
the remaining Dyaks, from whom n
spluttering yolley came, picking out
his quarry with the murderous ease of
terrier in rat pit Something like a
bee in violent hurry hummed past
his ear, and rock near his right foot
was struck tremendous blow by an
unseen agency. He liked this. 1t would
be a battle. not battue.
The fifth Dyak crumpled into the
distortion of death, and then their
leader took deliberate aim at the kneel-
ing marksman who threatened to wipe
him and his band out of existence.
But his elaboration, though skillful,
was too profound. The sailor fired first
and was professionally astonished to
see the gaudily attired individual
tossed violently backward for many
yards. finally pitching headlong to the
earth. Had he been charged by bull
in full career he could not have been
more utterly discounted. The incident
was sensational, but inexplicable.
Yet another member of the band was
Frustrated ere the two as yet unscath
ed thought fit to beat retreat. This
they now did with celebrity. but they
dragged their chief with them. 1t was
no part of jerks programme to allow
them to escape. He aimed again o!
the man nearest the trees There was
n sharp click and nothing more. Tho
cartridge was mistirc He hastil,
sought to eject 1t, and the rifle jammed
Sprnging to lis feet. with yell, he
ran forward. The flying men caught q
glimpse of him and accelerated theil
movements. Just as he reached Iris
they vanished among the trees.
Singing the rifle over his shoulder.
he picked up the girl in his arms. Sh
was conscious, but breathless.
"You are not hurt? he gasped, hi
eyes blazing into her face with an IL
tensity that she ufterward remembers
as appalling.
NO" she whispered.
Listen" he continued in lahore
Jerks. 'Try and obey me-exactly.
will carry you-to the cave. Stop tier,
Shoot any one you see-till come"
She heard him wondcringly. Was Ii
going to leave her, now that he la
her safely clasped to his breast? In
possible! All, she understood. Thos
men must have landed in bout II
intended to attack them again. II
was going to fight them single handed
and she would not know what happier
ed to him until 1t was all over. Grad
ually her vitality returned. She almos
smiled at the fantastic conceit that sh
would desert him.
jerks placed her on her feet at til
entrance to the cave.
"You understand" he cried, and will
out waiting for IN answer ran to til
house for another rifle This time, t
her amazement he darted back throug
Prospect park toward the south beacl
The sailor knew that the Dyaks ha
landed at the sandy bay Iris had chris
tened Smugglers' cove. They were az
quainted with the passage through til
reef and came from the distant island.
g Now they would endeavor to escap
!, by the same channel. They must b
prevented at all costs.
, He was right. AS they came out int
. the open he saw three men, not two
pushing off u large sampan. One Q
them was the chief. Then jerks III
derstood that his bullet had hit til
2 lock Of the Dyak's uplifted weapon
with the result already described. B.
miracle he had escaped.
He coolly prepared to Stay the tire
of them with the same calm purpos
that distinguished the opening phas
of this singularly one sided conflict
, The distance was much greater, pei
; haps 500 yards from the point wher
! the boat came into view. He knelt an
fired. He judged that the missile strucl
the craft between the trio.
II didn't allow for the sun, on tn
side of the fore sight," he said, COR pei
haps am bit shaliy after the run. Il
any event they can't go far"
A hurrying step on the coral behin'
him caught his ear Instantly Ii
, sprang up and faced about-to see Iris
] "They are escaping" she said.
mo fear Of that" he replied, turning