Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-04-01
CHAPTER XIII
REALITY V. ROMANCE-THE CASE
FOR THE DEFENDANT

CHAPTER XIII
REALITY V. ROMANCE-THE CASE
FOR THE DEFENDANT
Residents in tropical countries know
that the heat is greatest, or certainly
least bearable, between two and four
o'clock in the afternoon.
At the conclusion of a not very lus-
cious repast, jerks suggested that
they should rig up the tarpaulln in
such wise as to gain protection from
the sun and yet enable him to cast
watchful eye over the valley. IRIS
helped to raise the great canvas sheet
on 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 of COM
batting the first enervating attacks OF
thirst, the sailor sanctioned the con-
sumption of the remaining water AS
a last desperate eXpedlent to be re-
sorted to only in case OF sheer ne
cessity. he uncorked bottle of cham
pagne and filled the tin cup. me
snarkIing wine, with its volume OF
creamy foam. looked so tempting that
Iris would then and there have rlsked
it's potency were she not promptly
withheld.
Jenks explained to her that when
the wine became quite fiat and lnslpld
thew might use it to mOlsten their
marched lips. Even so, in their present
super-heated state, the liquor was I'M
ouestionabIy dangerous, but ne hopeu
if would not harm them If taken III
minute quantities.
Accustomed now to implicitly ac-
cent his advice, she fought ana steau-
ilv conquered the craving within her.
Oddly enough, the "thawing, OF thelr
scorched bodies beneath the tarpaulll
brought a certain degree OF rellel'
Tbav we're supremely uncomfortaple'
hut that was as naught compared Win
the relaxation from the torments prev
iously borne. - &c
For long time-the best part OF
an hour. perhaps-they remained 81
lent 49, nros
The sailor was reviewing the pros
and cons of their precarlouS conullloll:
II would. of course, be mattel VI
supreme Importance were the llql"ll
to he faithful to his promise. me-
fine prospect was decidedly hopeIul'
The man was an old sOWar' anu inc
ex-officer of native cavalry knew nov
enduring was the attachment vi thlo
moor convict to home ana mlllIdi
service. Probably at that moment tlle
Nohammedan were slam III front VI
PrOnhet and his two nepheWS 10 olu
him in rescuing the sahlb ana the W.
man the sahib held so dear, LOT tne
all-wise and all-powertul SlrkaI -
very merciful to offending natives VINO
thus condone their former crimes
But, howsoever willing ne might pe'
what could one man do among 50
many? The Dyaks were hostile 10 nm
in race and creed, and aSSureuly N
furiated against the foreign oeVll VIM
had killed or wounded, IN round num-
bers, one-fifth of their tota1 loIce.
Very likely, the hapless Mussulman
would lose his life that night III at.
tempting to bring water to the foot ol
the rock.
Well. he. jerks, might have some
thing to say in that regard. by nlIu-
night the moon would lllumlne neal
Nv the whole of Prospect PARK. III the
Mohammendan were slam IN front Vi
the cavern his soul would travel to
the next WORTH dIJGnuCu W q NNAN4NA -
cohort of slaughtered slaves.
Even if the man succeeded IN elud-
inc the vigilance of his present assoc
ciates, where was the water to come
FRONT There was none on the island
save that in the well. In all Likelihood
the Dyaks had store in the remain.
ing sampans, but the native ally OF
the beleaguered pair would nave
task of exceeding difficulty in OBTAIN
ing one of the jars or skins contain
ing it.
Again. granting all things went well
that night. what would be the final
outcome of the struggle? How long
could Iris withstand the exposure, the
strain. the heart-breaking misery of
the rock? The future was blurred,
crowded 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 girls
ly 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. "None
of the Dyaks will venture into the open
until night falls. And I have some
thing to say to you"
There was a quiet solemnity in her
voice that jerks had never heard be-
| fore. 1t chilled him. His heart ac-
knowledged quick sense of evil
omen. He raised himself slightly and
| turned towards her. Her face, beau
tiful and serene beneath its disfigure-
ments, wore an expression of settled
purpose. For the life of him he dared