Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-15

The first physical intimation Of the
enemy's design they received was n
pungent but pleasant smell of burning
pine, borne to them by the northerly
breeze and filing the air with its aro-
ma. The Dyaks kindled 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, little drawn and pale with sus.
pense, said, with timid giggle:
This does not seem TO he so very
serious. 1t reminds me of my efforts
to cook"
There is more to follow, 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 it's noisome fumes. 1t
curled like black pail over the face Of
the rock and blotted out sea and sky.
They coughed necessarily and nearly
choked. for the Dyaks had thrown wet
seaweed on top of the burning pile OF
dry wood Mir Jan, born in interior In
dia. knew little about the sea or its
products, and when the savages talked
of scawecd he thought they meant
green wood. Fortunately for him, the
ascending clouds Of smoke missed the
cave or infallibly he must have been
sti1ed.
Lie fat on the rock gasped jerks
Careless of waste. he poured water
over coat and made Iris bury her
mouth and nose in the wet cloth. This
gave her immediate relief. and she
showed her womau'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 We're left free
The black cloud grew more dense
each few seconds. Nevertheless. owing
to the slope Of the ledge ana the tend
/ ency of the smoke 10 rise. the south
side was far more tenable than the
north. Quick 10 note this favorable cir
! cumstance, the sailor deduced Il fur
Their fact from it. a barrier erected on
the extreme right of the ledge would
! be Il 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 it We're Il 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. even talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept in ever
increasing density. but once again the
sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' ma
neuvers.
I'VE 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 fired at them. A voley of an
swering bullets crashed into the rock
on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their
plans we'll this time. A firing squad
stationed beyond the smoke area and
supplied with all the available guns
commenced and kept up smart fusil-
lade in the direction Of the edge in
order to cover the operations of the
scaling party.
jerks realized that to expose himself
was to court serious wound and
achieve no useful purpose He fell
back out of range, laid down his rifle
and grabbed the crowbar. At brief in
tervals a deep hollow boom came up
from the valley. AT first it puzzled
them until the sailor hit upon an ex-
PLANTATION. Mir Jan was busy.
The end of strong, roughly made
ladder swung through the smoke and
banged against the ledge. Before
jerks could reach it those hosting it
into position hastily retreated. They
were standtng in front of the cave, and
the Mohammedan made play on them
with a rife at thirty feet.
jerks. using his crowbar as a lever.
toppled the ladder clean over. 1t fell
outward and disconnected q section of
the muSkcteers
well done" cried Iris.
The sailor astounded by her tone,
gave her tleeting glance She was
very pale now, but not with fear. Her
eyes We're slightly contracted, her nos
trils quivering, her lips set tight and
her chin dmpled. Resting on one knee,
with a revolver in each hand, she seem
ed no pulling mate for the gallant man
who fought for her.
There was no time for further speech.
Three ladders We're reared against the
TAD