Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-18


trees, waiting TO welcome him with q
sweet voiced greeting. and he knew,
win a ferce devourng Joy, that her
cheek would not pale nor her lp trem.
Die when he announced that at least
announcer sun must set before the ex.
pccted relief reached them.
lie replaced the glasses in their case
and Owed into the wood, giving a pass.
Ing thought to the fact that the wind
after blowing steadily from the south
for nearly week, had veered round t,
the northeast during the night. Did
the change portend a storm? Well.
they were now prepared for all such
eventualities. and he had not forgot.
ten that they possessed, among other
treasures. a box of books for rainy
days. And a rainy day with Iris for
company! What gale that ever blew
could offer such compensation for en-
forced idleness?
The morning sped in unevcntfu
work. Iris did not neglect her cherish.
ed pitcher plant. After luncheon II
was her custom now to carry a dish
full Of water to its apparently arid
roots. and she rose to fulfill her self i'm
posed task.
Let me help you," said jerks. II
am not very busy this afternoon"
mo, thank you. I simply won't al.
low you to touch that shrub. The dear
thing looks quite glad to see me. 1t
drinks up the water as greedlly as
thirsty animal"
1ris had been gone perhaps five min
utes when he heard a distant shrek,
twice repeated. and then there came
family to his ears his own name. not
jerks" but Robert" in the girls
voice. Something terrible had hap
pened. 1t was n cry OF supreme dis
tress. Mortal agony or overwhelming
terror alone could wiring that name
from her lips. Precisely In such mo-
ments this man acted with the deci-
sion. the unerring judgment, the in
Simultaneous acceptance of great risk to
accomplish great results, that marked
him out as born soldier.
He rushed into the house and
snatched from the rack one Of the ri.
fies reposng there in apple pie order,
each with a filed magazine attached
and cartridge already in position.
Then be ran with long strides not
through the trees, where he could see
nothing. but toward the beach. whence
in forty yards the place where Iris
probably was would become visible
AT once he saw her struggling in tho
grasp of two ferocous looking Dyaks,
one by his garments a person Of conse-
quence, the other a half naked savage
hideous and repulsive in appearance.
Around them seven men armed with
guns and parangs were dancing with
excitement.
Iris captors were endeavoring to tie
er arms. but she was a strong and ac-
live Englishwoman, with muscles well
knit by the constant labor of recent
busy days and frame developed By
years Of horse riding and tennis play
ing. The pair evidently found her a
tough handful. and the inferior Dyak,
either to stop her screams--for she was
shrieking, Robert. come to me-" with
all her might-or to stife her into sub
mission. roughly placed his huge hand
over her mouth.
These things the sailor noticed in
stantly. Some men, brave to rashness,
ready as he to give his life to save her.
would have raced madly over the inter.
vening ground, scarce n furlong, and
attempted a heroic combat of one
against nine.
Not SO jerks
With the methodical exactness of the
parade ground he settled down on one
knee and levelcd the rifle
None of the Dyaks saw him. All
were intent on the sensational prize