Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
|lHE drifting smoke was still 81
dense that not even the floor Of
the valley could he dlscerned
jerks dared not leave Iris al
such Il moment.
He called to Mir Jan:
"Take off your turban and hold Il
above your head If you think they car
see you from the warship."
TT is all right, sahib." came the
cheering answer. lone boat Is close
inshore l think, from the uniforms
they are Eng'r.h sahibs, such as
have seen at Garden Reach. The Dy
axis have all gone"
Nevertheless jerks waited. There
was nothing to gain by being too pre-
cipitate. \ false step now might undo
the achievements of many weeks.
Mir Jan was dancing about beneath
in a state of wild excitement.
"They have seen the Dyaks running
to their sampans. sahib." he yelled
"and the second boat is being pulled il
that direction. Yet another has just
left the ship
\ translation made Iris excited. ell
ger to go down and see these wonders
The boom Of cannon came from the
sea. Instinctively the girl ducked FOL
safety though her companion smiled
at her fears. for the shell would have
long preceded the report had it trar'
eled their way.
"One Of the remaining sampans has
got under way" he explained, "and the
warship is firing ut her.
Poor wretches"' murmured Iris
Cannot the survivors be allowed u
escape"
"WeIl, we are unable to interfere.
Those caught OH the island will proba.
bly, be taken to the mainland and
hanged for their crimes. so the manner
of their end is not Of much conse,
quence."
To the girls manifest relief, there
was no more firing, and Mir Jan an
nOunced that number of sailors were
actually OH shore. Then her thoughts
turned to Il matter of concern to the
feminine mind even in the gravest mo-
ments Of existence. She laved her face
with water and sought her discarded
skirt.
Soon the steady tramp of boot clad
feet advancing ut the double was
heard OH the shingle, and IN officers
voice, speaking the crude Uindoostanee
of the engine room and forecastle,
shouted to Mir Jan:
Hi, you black fellow! Are there
any white people here"
jerks sang out:
"Yes, two Of us. Perched on the
rock over your heads. We are coming
down"
He cast loose the rope ladder. Iris
was limp and trembling.
STEADY, sweetheart" he whispered.
Don't forget the slip between the cup
and the lip. Hold tight, but have no
fear. | will he just beneath"
1t was well he took this precaution.
She was now so unnerved that an un-
guarded movement might have led to
an accident But the knowledge that
her lover was near, the touch OF his
hand guiding her feet on to the rungs
Of the ladder, sustained her. They had
almost reached the level when loud
exclamation and the crash Of 4 heavy
blow caused jerks to halt and look
downward.
A Dyak. lying 1T the foot Of one OF
the scaling ladders and severely wound
cd by shell splinter, witnessed their
descent. In his left hand lie grasped a
parang; his right arm was bandaged.
Though unable To rise, the vengeful
pirate mustered his remaining strength
to crawl toward the swayins ladder. 1t
was Taung SAli. inspired with the
hate and venom of the dying snake.
Even yet he hoped TO deal mortal
stroke ut the man who had defied him
and all his cutthroat band. He might
have succeeded, rs jerks was so taken
up with Iris, were it not for the watch
full eyes Of Mir Jan. The Mohammedan
sprang ut him. with IN oath, ana gave
him such murlerous whack With the
butt of rifle that the Dyak chief col
lapsed and breathed out his fierce spirit
In II groan.
At the first glance jerks did not rec
ognlze Taung S'Ali owing to his change
of costume. Through the thinner smoke
he could see several sailors running up.
But. with the passing of the clief,
their last peril had gone. The next in
stant they We're standing on the firm
ground. and British nava! lieutenant
was saying eagerly:
I'VE seem to have turned up In re
nick of time. DO you. by any chance,
belong to the Sirdar"
I'VE are the sole survivors" answer
ed the sailor.
You two only?
Yes. She struck OH the northwest
reef of this island during Il typhoon
This lady. Miss Iris Deanc. and were
flung ashore
Miss Deane. Can it be possible!
Let me congratulate you Lost heart
ily. Sir Arthur Deane is on board the
Orient at this moment
"The Orient"
Iris was dazed. 1t was all too Won
derful to be quite understood yet. She
turned to Robert:
"Do YOU hear? They say my father
is not far away. Take me to him.
NO need for that, miss" interrupted
warrant officer. Here lie is coming
ashore. He wanted to come with US
but the captain would not permit It
as there seemed to be some trouble
ahead"
Sure enough. even the girls swim
ming eyes could distinguish the gray
bearded civilian seated beside an OH
Ger in the stern sheets Of small gie
now threading a path through the bro
ken reef beyond Turtle beach. In five
minutes father and daughter woul(
meet.
Meanwhile the officer, intent on duty
addressed jerks again.
MAY ask who you are!
"My name Is Anstruther-Robert An
struther."
Iris, clinging to his arm, heard r.
reply.
ll ,h,ndonad all DretenSe