Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-03-18
''The Wings
of the Morning.
Copyrighted by E. ]. Clode)
BY LOUIS TRACY

ail-OaTamOunLy MS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
exercised a democratic right of free
speech and 0utspOken opinion.
Flashing eyes and expressive hands
were turned towards the cave and
hut Once, when the debate grew
warm, the chief snatched up burn
ing branch and held it over the black
ened embers of the fire extingu1shed
nv Tenks. He seemed to draw some
definite conclusion from an exam1na-
ton of the charcoal, and the argu-
ment thenceforth proceeded with less
emDhasis. Whatever it was that he
said evidently carried conviction.
Iris. nesting close to the sailor
whispered
"Do you know what he has found
out?"
81 can only guess that he can tell
nv the appearance of the burnt wood
how long it is since it was eXtin-
guished Clearly they agree with
,him." -,
''Then they know we are still here?
Either here or gone within few
hours. In any case they will make a
thorough search of the island at day
break"
'"Will it be dawn soon?"
Eyes Are you tired?
"A little cramped-that is all"
Don't think l am foolish-can you
manage to sleep?"
"Sleep! With those men so near!"
eyes. We do not know how long
they will remain. We must keep up
our strength. Sleep, next to food and
drink, is a prime necessity"
'If it will please you, I will try" she
70
obey his slightest wish that the won
der is he did not kiss her then and
there. By previous instruction she
knew exactly what to do. She crept
quietly back until well ensconced in
the niche widened and followed for
her accommodation. There, so Sc
cluded was she from the outer world
of horror and peril, that the coarse
voices beneath only reached her in q
murmur. Pulling one end of the tar
paulin over her, she stretched her
weary limbs on a litter of twigs and
leaves, commended herself and the
man she loved to Gods keeping, and
wonderful though it may seem, was
soon slumbering peacefully.
The statement may sound passing
strange to civilized ears, accustomed
only to the routine of daily life anC
not Injured to danger and wild sur
rOundings. But the soldier who has
snatched a hasty doze in the trenches
the sailor who has heard fierce gale
buffeting the walls of his frail ark
can appreciate the reason why Iris
weary and surfeited with excitement
would have slept were she certain
that the next sunrise would bark hel
last hour on earth.
jerks, too, composed himself for {
brief rest He felt assured that there
was not, the remotest chance of theil
lofty perch being found out before
daybI eak, and the first faint sereaks
of dawn would awaken him.
! These two, remote, abandoned, hope
lessly envirOned by a savage enemy
closed their eyes contentedly anC
awaited that which the coming day
should bring forth.
When the morning breeze swept ov.
er the ocean and the stars were be-
flung broadcast through the sky by the
yet invisible sun, the sailor was
aroused by the quiet futtering of {
bird about to settle on the rock, bu
startled by the sight of him.
alert, though he little realized the
danger betokened by the birds rapiC
dart into the void Turning first tt
peer at Iris, he satisfied himself tina
she was still asleep. Her lips were
slightly parted in a smile; she Nigh
be dreaming of summer and England
He noiselessly wormed his way to the
verge of the rock and looked down
through the grass-roots.
The Dyaks were already stirring
Some were replenishing the fire, 9th
ers were drawing water, cooking, eat
ing, smoking long thin-stemmed pipes
with absurdly small bowls, or oilins
their limbs and weapons with impair
tial energy. The chief yet lay
stretched on the sand, but, when the
first beams of the sun gilded the wa
terS, man stopped over the pros
trate form and said something thai
caused the sleeper to rise stiffly, sup
porting himself on his uninjured arm
They at once went off together
towards Europa Point.
'They have found the boat" thought
jerks. well, they are welcome to al
the information it affords"
The pair soon returned. Another Dy.
ak advanced to exhibit one of Jenks's
Spring-gun attachments. The savages
had sense of humOr. Severa
laughed heartily when the cause Of
their overnight alarms was revealed
The chief alone preserved a gloomy
and Saturnine expression.
He gave some order at which they
all hung back sheepishly. Cursing
them in choice Malay, the chief seized
thick faggot and strobe in the direc-
ton of the cave. Goaded into activity
by his truculent demeanor, some fol
lowed him, and Jenks-unable to see
but listening anXiously-knew thai
they were tearing the cheval de frise
from its supports. Nevertheless none
of the working party entered the exca-
Walton. They feared the parched bones
that shone by night.
Poor j. 81" murmured the sailor
IF his spirit still fingers near the
scene of his murder he will thank me
for dragging him into the fray. He
fought them living and he can scare
them dead"
AS he had not been able to complete
the communicating shaft it was not
now of vital Importance should the
DyakS penetrate to the interior. Yet
he thanked the good luck that had
showered such a heap of rubbish over
the spot containing his chief stores
anu covering the vein of gold. Wild
as these fellows were. they we'll knew
the V3lnp Of fhh :,