Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-05

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Cayley, sis why they haven't attacked
US already. Why have they waited
until We are fortified and secure? Why
didn't they attack US yesterday morn
ing when they would have found us
helplsss?"
Surely" said Jeanne. "he couldn't
have hoped for better opportunity to
attack me than he had when I was
alone there in the twilight. before you
came flying down out Of the sky; and
you said he was quite near. Why do
you suppose he didn't? Why do you
suppose he waited?"
"And even after I came down." said
Cayley. Il was helpless for . minute
while was getting clear Of my planes.
Yes, that was his chance, and yet he
waited. After We had gone, he ap-
parently scaled the cliff. for his tracks
led right up to it. and then disap-
peared. It's not quite so precipitously
steep there as it is here, but would
hardly have dreamed that q human
being could climb it."
Hes afraid said Jeanne after
little thoughtful silence, Simply
afraid. But IL he's the man We think
he 10. It wouldn't be = human fear. 1t
must be suDerstitious in some way. 1t
wouldn't be wonderful II he felt that,
after the two glimpses he had OF you.
I remember how felt at first when
you alighted on the noe beside me.
He's seen you twice. remember. The
first time at night in the fog; the
second time In broad day. with the
sun on your wings. No. 1t isn't
strange IL he thinks Of you. not as
man ct all, but as . sort Of terrible
angel keeping guard over me. When
I 90 very long without seeing you. or
when see you in flight, get to think
ing Of you in that way myself"
IT that's the way he thinks Of NO."
said Cayley, "we'll try not to disabuse
him. A belief like that is an item on
our side OF the ledger. certainly. And
We haven't any such balance in our
favor that we can afford to throw an
advantage away, even small one.
Really the balance of advantage be-
tween them and their enemy was
amazingly even. They had the hut.
the enemy the stores. They had Cap
tain Fielding's journal. their enemy
the experience and practical knowi
edge Of the country. They were two.
with but . single weapon between
them. Their enemy, for auSht they
knew, might be one or half . dozen;
and how armed. they did not know.
Fortunately. no prophetic vision en-
abled them to anticipate. On that first
evening. the length Of time that that
precarious life and death balance
would maintain itself. They had
agreed. Philip and Jeanne. that the
only thing to do was to wait and to
maintain an unwinking vigilance. But
both Of them thought Of the duration
Of this wait In terms Of hours. or. at
most. days. Had they foreseen that
II would stretch itself out into weeks
paired.
There were two things that kept
them from succumbing to despair.
The first was that they never really
permitted themselves to hope. to in
dulge in any thoughts Of . summers
day when their horizon should be cut
by the spars and tunnels Of . ship
bringing relief. They were simply
going to live one day at time. For
every day that they could snatch out
Of the hand Of death, they would give
thanks. It was the only attitude pos
sible for people In their condition.
And the thing that helped them to
maintain II was the abundance Of nee
essary routine occupation. They d.
vided their day into watches. Cayley
slept from four o'clock in the aft.sr-
aeon until midnight and then kept
watch alone, 40 the girl had done. un-
I'll eight. During that period they re-
mained inside the hut. The day. from
eight until four. they spent out Of
doors. when tho condition of the
work or merely tramping up and down
for exercise.
At FIRST there was q good deal Of
work to do. Tearing down the sheds
which clustered about the hut. and
reducing their frames and planking
to nre-wood vas An nrduous task, but
he worked at 1t until It was done.
Jeanne standing sentinel all the time.
When It was done. they were prac-
tically secure against surprise. for
from their windows. with the aid Of a
Aeld-Ilass which Cayley had found
in the observatory, they were able to
sweep the whole beach absolutely
clean. in both directions.
And almost every day while the
light lasted. with Jeanne. armed with
the revolver, keeping watch before the
hut, Cayley took to his wings and
patrolled the beach. from tho glacier
to the promo1tory. high up above the
level Of tho crest Of the cliff. His
flight was always along the same
track. He never winged his way In.
land nor out to sea.
There were two reasons for this.
He dared not 60 % far away from
Jeanne that . fash and q swoop would
not bring him to her side. The other
reason was. that II . superstitious fear
of this great man-bird were really
what d0tefred their enemy from at