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

a great cracking among the bushes on
the right, but jerks knew even before
ne looked that the Dyaks had correctly
estimated the extent Of his fire zone
and would keep out Of it.
The first physical intimation Of the
enemy's design they received was a
pungent but pleasant smell Of burning
pine, borne to them by the northerly
breeze and filling the air with it's aro-
ma. The Dyaks kindled a huge FIRE.
me heat was p%erceptible even on the
ledge, but the minutes passed and the
dawn b%roadened into day without n
other result being achieved,
Iris, a little drawn and pale with sus-
pense, said, with a timid giggle:
This does not seem to be 90 yery
serious. 1t reminds me Of my efforts
to cook"
There is more to follow, 1 fear, dear
one. But the Dyaks are fools. They
should have waited until night fell
again after wearing us out by constant
vigilance all day. If they intend to en-
ploy smoke it would be far worse for
us at night"
PheW! A volume Of murky vapor
arose that nearly %suffocated them by
the first Whit Of its noisome fumes. It
curled like a black pail wei the face Of
the rock and blotted out sea and sky.
Ihey coughed incessantly and nearly
clloked, for the Dyaks had thrown wet
seaWeed on top of the burning pile OF
dry wood. Mir Jan, born in interior In
Ola, knew little about the sea or its
products, and when the savages talked
OF seaweed he thought they meant
green wood. Fortunately for him, the
ascending clouds of smoke missed the
cave or infallibly he must have been
stifed.
Lie dat on the rock" gasped jerks.
careless of waste, he poured water
over a coat and made Iris bury her
mouth and nose in the wet cloth. This
gave her Immediate relief, and she
showed her woman's wit by tying the
sleeves of the garment behind her neck,
nodded comprehension and fol-
lowed her example, for by this means
their hands were left free.
The black cloud grew more dense
each few seconds. Nevertheless, owing
to the slope Of the ledge and the tend
ency OF the smoke to rise, the south
Il was far more tenable than the
north. Quick to note this favorable cir
cumstance, the sailor deduced a fur
Their fact from it. A barrier erected on
the extreme right Of the ledge would
be a material gain. He sprang up,
dragged the huge tarpaulin from its
former location and propped it on the
handle Of the pickax, driven by one
mighty stroke deep into a crevice of
the rock.
1t was no mean feat of strength that
he performed. He swung the heavy
and cumbrous canvas into position as
If 1T We're a dust cloth. He emerged
from the gloom Of the driven cloud red
eyed, but triumphant. Instantly the
vapor on the ledge lessened, and they
could breathe, ever talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept in ever
increasing density, but once again the
sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' ma
neuvers.
"We have won the first rubber" he
whispered to Iris.
Above, beneath, beyond, they could
see nothing. The air they breathed
was hot and fetid. 1t was like be-
ing immured in a foul tunnel, and al
most as dark. jerks looked over the
parapet. He thought he could distin-
guish some vague figures on the sands.
so he fred at them. A volley Of an
swering bullets crashed into the rock
on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their
plans well this time. A firing squad
stationed beyond the smoke area and
supplied with all the available guns
commenced and kept up a smart fusil-
lade in the direction of the ledge in
....Er.