Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-03
CHAPTER XXI.
THE HOUSE AT TETUAS.

In those days the railroad did not run
from Tunis 10 the Moorish frontier
and to reach Tctuan rs quickly as pos
sible, they had to embark in one of the
swiftest boats of the Antekirtta flotilla.
Before midnight Electric No. . had
been got ready for sea, and was on her
way across the Syrtic Sea.
On board were the Doctor, Pierre,
Luigi, Point Pescade and Cape Matifou.
Pierre was known to Sarcanv. the others
were not. When they reached Tetuan
they would consult as TO their proceed
ings. Would it be better TO act by
stratagem or force: That would depend
on Sarcanys position III this absolutely
Moorish town, or his arrangements in
Namirs house, and on the following he
could command. Before everything,
they must get to Tetuan
From the end Of the Svrtcs TO the
Moorish frontier is about two thousand
five hundred kilometres nearly thirteen
hundred and fifty nautical miles. At
full speed Electric No . could DO her
twentv-seven miles an hour. How many
railway trains there arc that are not rs
fast That long steel tube, Offering no
resistance 20 the wind, could slip through
the waves without hinderance. and
reach It's destination in fifty hours
Before daJbIeak the DeXt morning,
the Electric had doubled Cape Bon.
Then, having crossed the Gulf Of Tunis,
it only took her few hours to lose
sight of Point Bizertc, La Gale Bone,
the Iron Cape, whose metallic mass is
said TO disturb the compasses, the
Algerian coast Stora Bougi, Dellys,
Algiers Cherchell, Mostaganem. Oran,
Nemons then the shores of Riff the
Point of Mellelah which, like Ceuta, is
Spanish, Cape Tres Forcas, whence the
continent rounds of TO Cape Negro all
this panorama OF the African coast-line
was unrolled during the Goth and 21st
of November without either incident or
accident Never had the machine,
worked by the currents from the accu-
mulators, had such run. If the Elcc-
trio had been perceived either along
the shore or crossing the CULTS from
cape To cape, there would have been
kilograms rs TO the appearance of n
Nill ~ VI iNi ~ a. " tsNtsNii
of extraordinary power that no steamer
had vet exceeded in speed in the Medi-
terranean waters.
About eight o'clock in the evening the
Doctor, Pierre, Luigi. Point Pescade
and Cape Matfou landed at the mouth
of the small river of Tetuan, in which
their rapid vessel had dropped anchor.
A hundred yards from the bank, in
the middle of small caravanseria, they
found mules and a guide to take them
into the town. which was about four
miles distant. The price asked was
agreed TO instantly and the party set
of,
In this part of the Riff, Europeans
have nothing to fear from the indigenous
population, nor even from the noma s
of the district. The country is thinly
peopled and almost uncultivated The
road LAYS across n plain dottcd with
struggling shrubs-and it is road made
by the feet of the beasts rather than by
the hand of man. On one side is the
river with muddy banks, alive with the
croak of frogs and the chirp of crickets,
and bearing few fishng-boats moored
in the centre or drawn up on the shore.
On the other side, to the right, Is the
outline OF the bare hills running off to
join the mountain masses OF the south.
The night was magnificent. The
moon bathed the whole country in its
light. Reflected by the mirror of the
river, the moonlight seemed TO soften
the heights on the northern horizon.
In the distance, white and cleaning. lay
the town of Tetuan-a shining patch III
the dark clouds OF mist beyond.
The Arab did not waste much time.
Twice or thrice he had TO pull up before
isolated houses. where the windows on
the side not lighted by the moon threw
yellow beam out into the shadow and
from them would come two or three
Moors with lantern, who after hur-
ried conference with the guide, would
let them pass.
Neither the Doctor nor his COM
panions spoke n word Absorbed in
their thoughts, they left the mules to
follow the road, which here and there
was cut through 10y gullies strewec with
boulders, or numbered with roots which
they avoided with sure feet. The
largest of the mules was, however, very
often in the rear. This might have
been expected. for it bore Cape Matifou.
1t was that that led Point Pescade TO
reflect
Perhaps il would have been better
for Cape Matifou to carry the mule
instead Of the mule carrying Cape
Matifou -