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

cNlVuSiN 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 unpleas-
ant CLEAN in his deep set eyes and a
lower jaw prOtruding. noticed their
preparations
ITO the leftr he shouted. Run to-
ward the trees"
Iris heard him and strove TO obey.
but her strength was failing her. and
she staggered blindly. After a few de
spairiug efforts she lurched feebly to
her knees and tumbled face downward
on the broken coral that had tripTed
her faltering footsteps.
jerks was watching her. watching
the remaining Dyaks. from whom
spluttering volley came picking out
his quarry with the murderous ease OF
n terrier in a rat pit. Something like a
bee in violent hurry hummed past
his ear. AMI q rock near his right foot
was struck a tremendous blow by an
unseen agency. lie liked this. Il would
be battle not battue
The NTH Dyak crumpled into the
distortion OF death, and then their
leader took deliberate aim NJ the kneel-
ing marksman who threatened 20 vine
him and his baud out Of existence.
But his deliberation. though skillful.
was too profound The sailor fired first
and was professionally astonished to
see the gaudily attlred Individual
tossed violently backward for many
yards. finally pitching beadleng 10 the
earth Had he been charged by a bull
ia full career he could not have been
more utterly discounted. The incident
was sensational. but iuexplicable.
Yet another member OF the band was
Frustrated ere the two as vet unscath-
ed thought 1T To beat "a retreat. This
they now did with celebrity. but they
dragged their chief with them. II was
no part OF Jerks programme 70 allow
them 10 escape. He aimed again at
the man nearest the trees. There was
a sharp click and nothing more The
cartridge was mishrc He hastily
sought 10 eject IL. and the rife jammed
Springing 10 his feet. with a yell. he
ran forward. The flying men caught n
glimpse OF him and accelerated their
movements. Just as he reached Iris
they vanished among the trees.
Singing the rifle over his shoulder.
be picked up the girl in his arms. She
was conscious. but breathless.
You are not hurt :" he gasped. his
eyes blazing into her face with an in
tensity that she afterward remembered
as appalling
NO" she whiSperp-l
Listen" he continued in labored
Jerks. Try and obey exactly. l
will carry ypu-to the cave. stop there.
Shoot any one you See-till | come"
she heard him wonderincly. Was he
going 10 leave her now that he had
her safely clasped TO his breast? I'm.
possible, All. she understood. Those
men must have landed in boat. He
Intended to attack them again. lie
was going 10 hght them single handed.
and she would not know what happen
I'd TO him until il was all over. Grad
unily her vitality returned. She almost
smiled AT the fantastic conceit that she
would desert him.
jerks placed her on her feet at the
entrance 10 the cave.
you understand" he cried. and with
out waiting for an answer ran TO the
house for another rifle. This time 10
her amazemcnt he darted back through
Prospect park toward the south beach.
The sailor knew that the Dyaks had
landed at the sandy bay Iris had chris
tened Smuggiers' cove. They were ac-
Quainted with the passage through the
reef and came from the distant islands.
Non fhaN~ -.
by the same channel. They must be
prevented at all costs.
He was right. As they came out into
the open he saw three men, not two.
pushing OF a large sampan. One OF
them was the chief. Then jerks IN
derstood that his bullet had hit the
lock OF the Dyak's upllfted weapon.
with the result already described. BY
a miracle he had escaped.
He coolly prepared To Stay the three
OF them with the same calm purpose
that distinguished the opening phase
OF this singularly one sided conflict
The distance was much greater. per
haps 500 yards from the point where
the boat came into view He knelt and
fired. He Judged that the missile struck
the craft between the trio.
Il didn't allow for the sun on the
side OF the fore sight" he said, "or per
haps l am a bit shaky after the run. In
any event they can't 20 far"
A hurrying step on the coral behind
him caught his ear Instantly he
sprang up and faced about-to see Iris.
They are escaping" she said.
mo fear Of that" he replied, turning
away from her
"Where are the othersT'
Dead
do YOU mean that you killed nearly
ali those meny
''Six of them. There were nine In
all"
He knelt again, lifting the rife IRIS |
threw herself on her knees by his side |
There was something awful 10 her in /
this chill and businesslike declaration |
OF fixed purpose.
Mr.. jerks" she said. clasping her
hands in an agony Of entreaty, do not