Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-15
6he Wings Of the
~ By LOUIS
rHN "a q TRACY
. a n ~ Il II II II u - Copyright 1908. by
Edward j. iode

By LOUIS
TRACY
Copyright. 1905. by
Edward J. Clode

ed by the blowing up of the rock. You
nearly killed me, too. sahib. was
there with the bazaarbo whelps. BY
the prophets beard. it was fine
stroke"
Are they going away. them"
"No, sahb. The dogs have been
whipped so sore that they snarl for re-
venge. They say there is no use in
firing at you, but they are resolved to
kill you and the miss sahib or carry
her off if she escapes the assault"
What ASSAULT
Protector Of the poor. they are build
ing scaling ladders-four in all. Soon
after dawn they intend to rush your
position. You may STAY some. they
say, but you cannot slay threescore.
Taung sab has promised gold to every
man who survives if they succeed.
They have pulled down your signal on
the high rocks and are using the poles
for the ladders They think you have
n charm. sahb. and they want to use
your own work against you"
This was serious news. a combined
attuck might indeed be dangerous
though il had the excellent feature that
if it failed the Dyaks would certainly
leave the island But his sky sign de-
stroycd. That was bad. Had vessel
CHANGED 10 pass the swinging letters
would surely have attracted attention
Now even that faint hope was dis
PEELED.
"Sahib, there is worse thing to tell"
said Mir Jan.
Say on, then"
Before they place the ladders against
the cliff they will build a fire of green
wood so that the smoke will be blown
by the wind into your eyes. This will
help TO blind your aim. Otherwise you
never miss
That will assuredly be awkward,
Mir Jan
ut will sahib. Soul of my father, il
We had but half Il troop with US
But they had not. and they We're both
so intent on the conversation that they
were momentarily off their guard. Iris
was more watchfu. She fancied there
was light rustling amid the under
And she could hiss, too, if that were
the correct thing to do.
So she hissed.
jerks swarmed halfway up the lad
der
Yes. Iris" he said.
Il am not sure. but l imagine some
thing moved among the bushes behind
the house"
"All right. dear | will keep sharp
lookout Can you hear us talking:"
Hardly. VIII you be long"
Another minute
He descended and told Mir Jan what
the miss sahib said. The native was
stopped him.
"Here"-he handed the man his re-
volver-"I suppose you can use this?"
Mir Jan took It without word. and
jerks felt that the incident atoned for
previous unworthy doubts of his dark
friends honesty. The Mohammedan
cautiously examined the back of the
house the nelghboring shrubs and the
open beach. After brief absence he
reported all safe, vet no man has ever
been nearer death and escaped it than
he during that reconnaissance. He too.
forgot that the Dyaks were foxes. and
foxes can lie close when bounds are a
trihe stale.
Mir Jan returned the revolver.
'Sahib,' he said. with another Sa-
laam. 81 am disgraced man. but il
you will take me up there with YOU |
will fight by your side until both my
arms are hacked off. ] am weary of
to their company. ! will have no more
Of them. II you will not have me on
the rock, give me a gun. will hide
among the trees, and | promise that
some Of them shall die tonight before
they find me. For the honor Of the
regiment, sahib, do not refuse this
thing. All | ask is If your honor es.
capes that YOU will write to Kurnal
I-shpence -sahib and tell him the last
act Of Mir Jan, corporal in 3 troop"
jerks was profoundly moved. He
reflected how best to utilize the serv-
ices of this willing volunteer without
exposing him to certain death in the
manner suggested. The native msin.
terpreted his silence.
II am not rascal. sahib," he ex,
claimed proudly. II only killed man
BECAUSE
Listen, Mir Jan. You cannot well
mend what you have said. The Dyaks
YOU are sure, will not come before
morning"
They have carried the wounded ia
the boats and are making the lad
ders. Such was their talk when l lef
them"
will they not miss your"
'"rhey will miss the goatskin, suhib
1t was the last full one"
Mir Jan, do as | bid and you shall
see teihi again. Have you ever uset
Lee Metford?'
Il have seen them, sahib. but bet
ter understand the Mahtini."
Il will give you n n.he, with plenty
of ammunition. DO you go inside tn,
cave, there, and
Mir Jan was startled,
Where the ghost is. sahibt' he said
Ghost! That is a tale for children
There is no ghost only few bones
Of man murdered by these scoun
dres long ago. Have you any foodf"
Some rice, sshib; sufficient for a da!