The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-29
CHAPTER XIII.
RTALITY VS.. ROMANCE - THE
CASE, EOIl TIL, nI-E,I,N-IlA NJ,

NAOE FUR HE DEr ENO<AN q.
Residents In tropical countries know
that the heat is greatest, or certainly
least bearable. between and 4 O'Clock
In the afternoon.
At the conclusion of not very
luscious rep2st, jerks suggested that
they should rig up the tarpaulin in
such wise as TO gain protection from
the sun and yet enable him to cast
watchful eye over the valley. Iris
Inelped to raise the great canvas sheet
Ton the supports he had prepared. Once
shut off from the devouring sun rays,
the hot breeze then springing into Mt
full existence cooled their blistered but
perspiring skin and made life some
what tolerable.
Still adhering to his policy o. COM
batting the first enervating attacks OF
thirst, the sailor sanctioned the con-
sumption of the remaining water. As
a last desperate expedient, TO be re-
sorted TO only in case of sheer necessi-
ty, he uncorked 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 pc
tency were she not promptly with
held.
jerks explained to her that when
the wine became quite fiat and insipid
they might use it TO moisten their
parched lips. Even so, in their pres
ent super-heated state, the liquor was
unquestionably dangerous, but he
hoped it would not harm them if
taken in minute quantities.
Accustomed now to implicitly accept
his advice, she fought and steadily
conquered the craving within her. odd
ly enough, the 'thawing' of their
scOrched bodies beneath the tarpaulin
Drought a certain degree of relief
Ifhey were supremacy uncomfortable
Z but that was as naught compared with
the relaxation from the torrents pre-
Viously 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
II would, of course, be a matter of su-
preme Importance were the, Indian to
be faithful TO his promise. Here the
prospect was decidedly hopeful The
man was an old sowar, and the ex-
officer of native cavalry knew how en-
during was the attachment of this Door
convict to home and military service
Probably at that moment the MahOm-
Inedan was praying to the prophet and
his two nephews to aid him in rescuing
the sahib and the woman whom the sa-
hub held so dear, for the all-wise and
all-powerful Sirkar is very merciful to
OFFENDING natives who thus cOndOne
their former crimes.
Z But, hoWsOever willing he might be-
what could one man do among so
! many? The Dyaks were hostile to him
in race and creed, and assuredly infu-
rated against the foreign devil who
had killed or wounded, in round num-
bers One-fifth of their total force Very
hn h1v, J
lose his life that night in attempting
TO bring water to the foot of the rock
Well. he. jerks might have some
filing TO say in that regard. By mid
might the moon would illumine nearly
the whole of Prospect Park. If the Ma
hommedan We're slain in front of the
cavern his sould would travel to the
next world attended by a Nizam's CO.
hort of slaughtered slaves.
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 ali likelihood the Dyaks
had a store in the remaining sampans.
but TIE native ally of the belea guered
pair would have task of exceeding
difficulty in obtaining one of the jars
or skins containing il.
Again. granting all things went well
that night. what would be the final
outcome of the struggle? How long
gould Iris Withstand the exposure, the
Srain. the heartbreaking misery of the
fOck? The future was blurred. crowd
ed with ugly and affrighting fiends
passing in fantastic array before his
vision, and mounting dumb threats of
madness and death.
He shook restlessly, not aware that
the girls sOrrOwful glance, luminous
with love and pain, was fixed upon
him. Summarily dismissing these
srisly phantoms of the mind. he asked
himself what the Mahommedan exact
ly 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 little while" she said
RNone of the Dyaks Will venture into
Ore open until night falls. And l have
something to say TO you"
There was a quiet solemnity in heI
voice that jerks had never heard be-
fore. 1t chilled him. His heart &C
knowledged a quick sense of evil omen
He raised himself slightly and turned
towards her. Her face. beautiful and
serene beneath its Disagreement. wore
IN expression of settled purpose. Foi
the life of him he dared not question
her.
That ma the interpreter" she
said, told yOu that if 7 were given III
to the chief. he and his followers would
go away and modest you no more
His forehead scanned with sudden an
ger.
"A mere bait" he protested. "Ir
any event it is hardly worth discus
sion"
And the answer came, clear and reso.
sste-
81 think / viii agree to those terms d
~ first he regarded her with undis.
gJised and wOrdless amazement Their
the appalling thought darted through
his brain that she contemplated thi.
supreme sacrifice in order to save him
clammy sweat believed his brow. bu
by sheer NH power he contrived tc
-iay-
You must be mad To even dream o.
such a thing. Don't you understand
what il means to yOu-and to me? Il
is a ruse TO trap us. They are ungov-
erned savages. Once they had you il
their power they would laugh at Z
promise made to me-"