Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-08
not sufficiently modernized to attack us

somewhat. So Iris knew of the court
 martial, nor was she afraid to pro-
 claim to all the world that this man
 was her lover. As for Captain Fitz-
 roy, his bushy eyebrows disappeared into his peaked cap when he heard the
 manner of their speech. <. Nevertheless ventnor smiled again. |. "Even the Dyaks respected Miss Deane," he said.
 r But Anstruther, sorry for the mani fest uneasiness of the shipowner, re- pressed the retort on his lips and forthwith suggested that they should walk to the north beach in the first ] instance, that being the scene of the wreck
 During the next hour he became audi tor rather than narrator. 1t was Iris who told of his wild fight against wind land waves; Iris who showed them where he fought with the devilfish; Iris who expatiated on the long days of ceaseless toll, his dauntless corr- age in the face of every difficulty, the way in which he rescued her from the clutch of the savages. the skill of his preparations against the anticipated attack and the last great achievement of all, when time after time he foiled the Dyaks best laid plans and flung them off, crippled and disheartened, during the many phases of the thirty hours battle.
 There were tears in her eyes when she ended, but they were tears of thankful happiness, and Lord Ventnor, silent listener who missed neither word nor look. felt deeper chill in his cold heart as he realized that this wo- mans love could never be his. The knowledge excited his passion the more. His hatred of Anstruther now became a mania, an insensate resolve to mortally stab this meddler who al- ways stood in his path.
 Robert hoped that his present ordeal was over. It had only begun. He was called on to answer questions without number. Why had the tunnel been made? What was the mystery of the valley of death? How did he manage to guess the dimensions of the sundial? How came he to acquire such an amaz- ing stock of out of the way knowledge of the edible properties of roots and trees? How? Why? Where? When? They never would be satisfied, for not even the British navy. poking its nose into the recesses of the world, often comes across such an amazing story as the adventures of this couple on Rainbow island.
 He readily explained the creation of quarry and cave by telling them of the vein of antimony imbedded in the rock near the vault. Anthony is one of the substances that covers a multitude of doubts. No one, not excepting the doc tors who use it, knows much about it, and in Chinese medicine it might be chief factor of exceeding nastiness.
 Inside the cavern the existence of the partially completed shaft to the ledge accounted for recent disturb ances on the face of the rock, and new corners could not. of course. distinguish the bones of poor "J. S." as being the remains of a European.
 Anstruther was satisfied that none of them hazarded the remotest guess as to the value of the gaunt rock they were staring at, and chance helped him to baffle further inquiry.
 A trumpeter on board the Orient was blowing his lungs out to summon them to luncheon when Captain Fitzroy put ! a final query.
 q can quite understand" he said to . Robert, that you have an affection for [ this weird place, but I am curious to krow why you lay claim to the island. ! You can hardly intend to return here" |
 He pointed to Roberts placard stuck . on the rock
 Anstruther prs,sed before he an swered. He felt that Lord yentnor's dark eyes were fixed on him. Every: body was more or less desirous to have this point cleared up. He looked the questioner squarely in the face.
 'In some parts of the world" he said 'there are sunken reefs. unknown, un- charted, on which many a vessel has been lost without any contributory fault on the part of her officers"
 Undoubtedly.
 Well. Captain Fitzroy. when I was stationed with my regiment in Hong kong I encountered such a reef and wrecked my life on it. At least that is how it seemed to me then. Fortune threw me ashore here after a long and bitter submergence. You can hardly e!ame me If cling to the tiny speck of land that gave me salvation" f No" admitted the sailor He knew there was something more in the al- legory than the text revealed, but it was no business of his.
 Moreover" continued Robert smil- ingly, you see have partner"
 There cannot be the slightest doubt about the partner" was the prompt re- ply.
 Then every one laughed. Iris more than any. though Sir Arthur Deane's gayety was forced. and Lord ventnor could taste the acidity of his own smile
 iateE III ibe uat tue nIst heutebahe told his chief of Anstruther's voluntary concerning the court martial Captain Fitzroy was naturally pained by this unpleasant revelation. but he took exactly the same view as that ex- pressed by the first lieutenant in Rob ert's presence.
 Nevertheless he pondered the matter