Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-10

ton was not shaken. Neither the threats
of Namir nor the rage of Sarcany had
had any effect on her.
At its departure from Tetuan the cara
van already numbered fifty of the
brethren. or Khouans, under the leader
ship OF an imam, who had organized it
in military fashion There was no inten-
ton of crossing the provinces under
French influence, or the journey might
give rise to difficulties.
The coast of Algeria and TInis forms
an arc up 10 the western coast of the
grand Syrtes, where it drops abruptly to
the south. The most direct road from
Te;uan to Tripoli is along the chord of
this are and that does not run higher
than Laghouat, one of the most distant
French towns on the border Of the
Sahara
The caravan. on leaving the empire of
Morocco, skirted the boundary OF
Algeria and in Benz Matan, in Oulad
Nail. in Charfat- ell Hamel, secured
goodly number of recruits, SO that when
it reached the Tunisian coast at the
Syrtes Magma, it numbered more than
three hundred men. Then it followed
the coast, recruiting khouans in the
different villages. and on the Goth of
November, after six weeks journey, it
reached the frontier of Tripoh On the
day therefore that this feast of the
storks was taking place, Sarcany and
Namir had only been the guests of Sid
Hazam for three days.
The moqadden's house, which was
now Sava's prison, was surrounded by
slender minaret, and with it, white walls
pierced with loopholes, its embattled
terraces, its want of exterior windows,
and its low. narrow doorway, had very
much the appearance of small fortress.
1t was in reality regular zaouiya. stu
ated beyond the town, on the skirt Of
the sandy plain and the plantations Of
Menchie, with its gardens defended by
the high wall running up on 10 the
oasis.
It's interior was of the ordinary Arab
design, but with three courtyards instead
OF one. Around each of these court
yards was n quadrilateral OF galleries,
columns and arcades, on TO which opened
the rooms of the house, which for the
most part, were luxuriously furnished.
In the second courtyard the visitors or
guests found vast skifa n sort of
hall or vestibule, in which more than
one conference had been held by Sid
Hazam.
The house was naturally defended by
its high walls, and the defence was
further assured by the number of SER
wants who could be summoned in case
of an attack from the wandering tribes,
or even the recognized authorities Of the
province whose efforts were directed to
keeping the Senousists in check. There
were, in fact, fifty of the brethren, we'll
armed and equally ready for the defen
sive or the offensive.
There was only one door TO tho
zaouiya, but this door was very thick
and solid and bound with iron, and
could not be easily forced, and once
forced could not be easily entered.
,Sarcany had thus found safe refuge in
which he hoped TO end his work success
fully. His marriage with Sava would
bring him considerable wealth, and if
needed he could count on the assistance
of the brotherhood, who were directly
interested in his success
The brethren from Tetuan and the
vilayets on the road had been dispersed
in the oasis of Menchie. ready for action
ut the first signal The feast of the
storks, as the Tripolitan police knew
well, would be most convenient for the
Senousists Ga the plain of Soung-
Etteate, the Khouans of Northern
Africa could receive their orders from
the mufts rs TO their concentration in
the Cyrenaic. where they were TO found
a regular pirate kingdom under the all
powerful authority OF caliph Aud the
circumstances were highly favorable.
for il was in the vilayet of Ben Ghazi,
in the Cyrenaic, that the association
already had its greatest number OF
adherents.
On this day of the feast OF storks,
three strangers were strollinc through
the crowd on the plain of Soung Ettelate.
These strangers, these muzlffirs, would
not have been recognized as Europeans
under their Arab dress. The eldest of
them wore his with that perfect ease
which only long custom gives He was
Doctor Antekirtt, aud his companions
Pierre Bathory and Luigi Ferrato.
Point Pescade and Cape Matifou were
stopping in the town where they were
engaged in certain preparations. ana