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


sumption of the remaining water. AS
last desperate eXpedient to be re-
sorted to only in case of sheer necessi-
ty. he uncorked a bottle of champagne
and filled the tin cup. The sparkling
wine, with its volume of creamy foam.
looked so tempting that Iris would
then and there have risked its potency
were she not promptly withheld.
jerks explained TO her that when the
wine became quite fat and insipid they
might use it to moisten their parched
lips Even SO, in their present super
heated state, the liquor was unques-
tionably dangerous, but he hoped it
would not harm them if taken in mi
mute quantities.
Accustomed now to implicitly accept
his advice, she fought and steadily con-
auered the craving within her. Oddly
enough. the ''thawing" of their scorch-
ed bodies beneath the tarpaulin brought
a certain degree of relief. They were
supremacy uncomfortable but that was
ss naught compared with the relaSa-
ton from the torments previously
borne
For a long time-the best part of an
hour, perhaps-they remained silent.
The sailor was reviewing the pros
and cons of their precarious condition.
1t would. of course, be a matter of SUI
preme importance We're the Indian to
be faithful to his promise. Here the
prospect was decidedly hopeful. The
man was an old soldier, and the ex-
officer of native cavalry knew how en-
during was the attachment of this poor
convict to home and military service.
Probably at that moment the Moham-
medan was praying to the prophet and
his two nephews to aid him in rescuing
the sahib and the woman whom the
sahib held so dear, for the all wise and
all powerful Indian government is very
merciful to offending natives who thus
condone their former crimes.
But, howsoever willing he might be.
what could one man do among so
many? The Dyaks We're hostile to him
in race and creed, and assuredly in
furiated against the foreign devil who
had killed or wounded in round num-
bers one-fifth of their total force. Very
likely the hapless Mussulman would
lose his life that night in attempting
to bring water to the foot of the rock.
Even if the man succeeded in eluding
the vigilance of his present associates,
where was the water to come from?
There was none on the island save
that in the well. In all likelihood the
DyakS had a store in the remaining
sampans. but the native ally of the
beleaguered pair would have a task OF
exceeding difficulty in obtaining one
of the jars or skins containing it.
Again. granting all things went well
that night. what would be the final
outcome of the struggle? How long
could Iris withstand the exposure, the
strain, the heartbreaking misery of
the rock?
He shook restlessly, not aware that
the girls sorrowful glance, luminous
with love and pain. was fixed upon
him. Summarily dismissing these girls
~ phantoms of the mind, he asked
what the Mohammedan exact
" meant by warning him against the
trees on the right and the silent
death that might come from them. He
was about to crawl forth to the lip of
The rock and investigate matters in
that locality when Iris, who also was
busy with her thoughts, restrained him.
wait a little WHILE she said. None
of the Dyaks will venture into the open
until night falls. And / have some
thing TO say to YOU
There was a quiet solemnity in her
voice that jerks had never heard be-
fore. 1t chilled him. His heart ac-
knowledged Il quick sense of evil omen.
He raised himself slightly and turned
toward her. Her face, beautiful and
serene beneath its disfigurements, wore
an expression of settled purpose For
the life OF him he dared not question
her
THAT man, the interpreter she said,
told you that if l were given up to the
chief he and his followers would go
away and modest you no more
His forehead scanned with sudden
anger.
"A mere bait he protested. I'm any
event it is hardly worth discussion"
And the answer came, clear and res
dilute:
Il think 1 will agree to those terms.''
AT first he regarded her with undis-
guised and wordless amazement Then
the appalling thought darted through
his brain that she contemplated this
supreme sacrifice in order to save him.
n clammy sweat believed his brow,
but by sheer viii power he contrived
TO say:
You must be mad to even dream of
such thing. Don't you understand
what it means to you-and to me? 1t
is ruse to trap us. They are ungov-
erned savages. Once they had you in
their. power they would laugh at a
promise made to me-"
You may be mistaken. They must /
have some sense of fair dealing. Even
assuming that such was their inten- |
ton. they may depart from il. They /
have already lost great many men.
Their chief. having gained his main
object, might not be able TO persuade
them TO take further risks. l viii make
1t part of the bargain that they first
supply You with plenty of water. Then
you. unaided. could keep them at bay
for many days. We lose nothing: we
can gain a great deal by endeavoring
TO pacify them
Iris, he gasped. what are you
sayingE''
The unexpected sound of her name
on his lips almost unnerved her But