The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-16


To awake her ne kissed her; he knew
not. perchance it might be their last
kiss on earth Not yet dawn, there was
morning III the air, for the first faint
shafts of light We're not visible from
their eyrie owing to its position But
there was mich to be done.
The canvas awning was rolled back
and the stores built into barricade in
tended 10 shelter Iris.
What is that for?" she asked when
she discovered its nature. He told her.
She definitely refused to avail herself
Of any such protection.
Robert, dear" she said, IF the at
tack comes to our very door, so to
speak, surely | must help you. Even
my slight aid may stem a rush in one
place while You are busy in another.
He explained to her that if hand to
hand lighting We're necessary he would
depend more upon q crowbar than
rife to sweep the ledge clear. She
might be III the way.
Very Well The moment you tell
me to get behind that fence l will DO
So Even there l can use a revolver
That reminded him. His own pistol
was unloaded. He possessed only five
more cartridges of small caliber. He
placed them in the weapon and gave it
to her.
Now you have eleven mems lives in
your hands," he said. TRY not to miss
If you must shoot
In the dim light he could not see the
spasm of pain that clouded her face
No Dyak would reach her while he
lived. If he fell, there was another use
for one of those cartridges.
The sailor had cleared the main floor
of the rock and was placing his four
rifles and other implements within easy
reach when a hiss came from beneath.
Mir JAM exclaimed Iris.
''Jyhat now?" demanded jerks over
the side
"Sahib, they Gomez
81 am prepared. Let that snake
get back to his hole in the rock, lest a
mongoose seize him by the head"
Mir Jan, engaged in scouting expe-
Clition on his own account, understood
that the officer sahib's orders must be
obeyed. He vanished. Soon they heard
a great cracking among the bushes on
the right, but jerks knew even before
he looked that the Dyaks had correctly
eSIllntlcu TIE eAIcilt Oh Ills lilS ZOiiC
and would keep out of it.
The first physical intimation of the
enemys design they received was
pungent but pleasant smell of burning
pine, borne to them by the northerly
breeze and filling the air with its arc
ma. The Dyaks kindled Il huge fire.
The heat was perceptible even on the
ledge. but the minutes passed and the
dawn broadened into day without any
| other result being achieved.
Iris, a little drawn and pale with sus-
pense. said, with q tiInid giggle:
This does not seem to be so very
serious 1t reminds me of my efforts
! to cook
There is more to follow l 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, 4 volume of murky yapor
/ arose that nearly suffocated them by
/ the first whiff of its noisome fumes. 1t
/ curled like Il black pail over the face of
1 the rock and blotted out sea and sky.
| choked. for the Dyalzs had thrown wet
I seaWeed on top of the burning pile OF
i dry wood Mir Jan, born in interior In
i dia knew little about the sea or its
products. and when the sayages 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
stided
Lie aat on the rock!'' gasped jerks.
I Careless of waste, he poured water
over Il 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.
jerks 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
side was far more tenable than the
north. Quick to note this favorable cir
. cumstance, the sailor deduced a fur
Their fact from it. 4 barrier erected on
+ the extreme f1ghl OF TIE IedSe Noulu
be 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
I mighty stroke deep into a creyice of
the rock.
1t was no mean feat of strength that
lie performed. He swung the heavy
and cumbrous canvas into position as
If it were dust cloth. He emerged
/ froInsshe gloom Of tie driven cloud red
eyed. but triumphant. Instantly the
vapor on the ledge lessened, and they
could breathe, even talk. Overhead
and ii 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 TIE air they breathtu
was hot and fetid. 1t was Ike be
ing fmmured in foul tunnel, and al
Z rr0Sf - dark JanLS Iankai over the