Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-04-22
H'The Wings
of the Morning
Copyrighted by E. ]. Clode)
BY LOUIS TRACY

moonlight, whilst jerks explained the
action of the Lee-Metford. Fortunate
Nv Iris was now much recovered from
the fatigue and privatiOn OF the earll-
er hours. Her senses were sharpened
to a pitch little dreamed OF by stay
at-home young ladies OF her age, ana
she deemed it her province to act as
sentry whilst the two men conferred
Hence. she was the first to detect, or
rather to become conscious OF, the
stealthy crawl of several DyakS along
the bottom of the cliff from Iurtle
Beach. They advanced in Indian hle,
moving with the utmost care, ana
crouching in the murky shadows IKE
so many wild beasts stalking their
prey.
"Robert!" she screamed. "The Dy-
aks On your left"
But Iris was rapidly gaining some
knowledge of strategy. Before she
shrieked her warning she grasped
rife. Holding it at the Ready =
about the level of her waist-and de-
pressing the muzzle sufficiently, she
began firing down the side of the rock
as fast as she could handle lever and
trigger. Two of the nickel bullets
struck a projection and splashed the
leading savages with molten metal.
Unfortunately the Lee-Metford be-
meath was unloaded, being in MIR
JAMS possession for purposes OF IN
struction. jerks whipped out his re-
volver.
sTo the cave!" he roared, and Mir
Jams unwillingness to face goblm
could not withstand the combined I'M
netus of the sahib's order and the on
ward rush of the enemy. He darted
headlong for the entrance.
jerks, shooting blindly as he, too,
ran for the ladder, emptied the re-
volver lust as his left hand clutched
q rung. Three Dyaks were so close
that it would be folly to attempt TO
climb. He threw the weapon into the
face of the foremost man, effectually
stopping his onward progress, Tor the
darkness made it impossible to dodge
the missile.
The sailor turned to dive into the
cave and secure the rifle from Mlr
Ian. when his shin caught the heavy
crow-bar resting against the rock. Inc
main of the blow lent emphasis TO the
swing with which the implement oe-
seconded upon some portion OF Dy-
axis anatomy. jerks never knew where
he hit the second assailant, but the
place cracked like an egg-shelI.
He had not time to recover the par
for another blow, so he gave the polht
in the gullet of a gentleman VINO was
about to make vicious sweep at MN
with a parang. The downfall OF tnls
worthy caused his immediate success
sor to stumble, and jerks saw ms OPP
portunity With the agility or cat
he jumped up the ladder. once starteu'
he had to go on. He afterwards con-
fessed to an unpleasant sensation OIL
pins and needles along his PACK our
ing that brief acrobatic display; DuC
he reached the ledge without further
injury, save an agon1z1ng tWlhge "nen
the unprotected quick of his damaged
finger was smartly raped against
the rock. =, 49,
THESE things happened with the
sneed of thought. Within forty SECONDS
Of Iris's shrill cry the sailor was
breast high with the ledge and Gaining
to her =,
GAIL right. old girl. Keep it up"
THE cheerful confidence of his words
had a wonderful effect on her. Iris,
like every good woman, had the ma
ternal instinct strong within her
the instinct that inspires alike the
mild-eyed Sister of Charity and the
tigress fighting Dor her cubs. Wnen
Jerks was down below there, IN I'M
minent danger of being cut to pieces,
the gentle, lovable girl, who would not
willingly hurt the humblest OF coos
creatures, became terrible, majestic IN
her frenzied purpose. Robert must be
saved. If a Maxim were planted on
the rock she would unhesltatlngly
have turned the lever and sprayed the
Dyaks with bullets.
But here he was close to her, I'M
hurt and calmly jubilant, as was ms
way when a stiff fight went well. He
was by her side now, firing and AIM
ing too, for the Dyaks broke cover
recklessly in running for shelter, and
one may do fair work by moonlight,
as MANY a hunter of wild duck can
testify by the rheumatism in his
bones.
She had strength enough left to
place the rife out of harms way be-
fore she broke down and sobbed, not
tearfully, but in paroxysm OF react1on.
Soon all was quiet beneath, save for
the labored efforts of some wounded
men to get far away from that ac-
cursed rock. jerks was able to turn
to Iris. He endeavored to allay her
agitation, and succeeded somewhat, for
tears came, and she chung to him. IL
was useless to reproach him. The
whole incident was unforeseen: she
was herself party to it. But what an
escape!
He lifted her in his arms and car
ried her to a seat where the tarpaulln
rested on a broken water-cask.
"You have been a very good little
girl and have earned your supper, he
said.
"Oh, how can you talk so callously
after such an awful experience" she
expostulated brokenly.
The Jesuits, say their opponents,
teach that at times white lie," is
permissible. Surely this was an in
stance.
at was small thing to trouble