Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-25

| then sprlnging into ntful existence cooled
| their blstered but perspiring skin and made
life somewhat tolerable.
stu adhering TO his policy of combating
the first enervating attacks OF thirst, the
eailor sanctioned the consumption of the re-
naming water. As n last desperate ex-
| pedient. 90 be resorted 20 only in case OF
sheer necessity, 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.
Jenks explained to her that when the
, wine became quite fiat and insipid they
might use II TO moisten their parched lips.
| Even So in their present superheated state.
the liquor was unquestionably dangerous.
but he hoped II would not harm them II
taken In minute quantities.
Accustomed now TO implicitly accept his
advice. she fought and steadily conquered
the craving within her oddly enough. the
'thawing" of their scorched bodies beneath
the tarpaulin brought a certain degree Of
relief They were supremely uncomfortable,
but that was as naught compared with the
relaxation from the torments previously
borne.
For 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 supreme
Importance were the Indian TO be faithful
to his promise. Here the prospect was de-
cidedy hopeful The man was an old SOW
ar, and the ex-ofiicer of native cavalry knew
how enduring was the attachment of this
| poor convict TO homo and military service.
Probably at that moment the Mohammedan
was praying to the Prophet and his two
| nephews TO aid him in rescuing the sahir
and the woman whom the sahib held 80
| dear. for the all-wise and all-powerful Sir
kar 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 manyI The
| Dyaks were hostile to him in race and creed.
and assuredly ipfuriated against the foreign
| devil who had killed or wounded In round
numbers, one-ffth Of their total force.
Very likely. the hapiess Mussuiman would
lose his life that night in attempting to
| bring water to the foot of the rock
Well, he. Jenks might have something
| to say In that regard. BY midnight the
| moon would illumine nearly the whole OF
| Prospect Park II the Mahommedan were
slain in front of the cavern his soul would
| travel to the next world attended by n
| Nizam's cohort OF slaughtered slaves.
Even II 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
| we'll In all likelihood the pyaks had q
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 con-
tanning II.
Again. granting all things went well that
night, what would be the final outcome
| OF the struggle7 How long could Iris
withstand the exposure, the strain, the
heart-breaking misery Of the rock7 The
future was blurred. crowded with ugly
and affrighting hends passing in fantastic
array before his vision and mouthing 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 grisly phantoms of the
| mind, he asked himself what the Ma
hommedan exactly 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 I have something
| to say TO you"
There was quiet solemnity IN her voice