Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-11-10
IT Will drink 1t, master, on ono con-

that as you say 1t Is not hurtiul, you iet
me have bottle or two for my noxt jour
ney."
"By all MEANS" was tho ready re-
sponsc.
Null took the glass and said he would
drink it outside before starting on the
intended journey, leaving the apartment
as he spoke.
The spirit Of inquiry was now excited
in him for purpose he had in view.
"Say o friend" said he to the aged
man who stood at the door of the bazaar,
"what effect will tho drinking of this
wine produce on me9"
'It will make thee merry, and it will
make thee sad. Thy tongue will be on
thy sleeve, and the thing thou shouldst
not say will be spoken before thou art
aware that the word is uttered"
This was sufficient for Null; he simply
smcared his face and drcnchcd his
clothes with part of the liquor and
spilled what remained on the ground.
When the hour came for loading the
camel, Null found the two English Off
GERS ready with their paper. 1t was
written in cipher and was to be carried
in the fold of his turban. Few words
passed between them, True to their
promise as gentlemen" they handed
Null two bottles of champagne, while
he returned them the empty glass with
profound thanks, again wiping his lips.
The camel kneelcd, and tho driver
mounted its back while both officers
stood by.
"Now Null mako haste, and mind"-
said Major Brett putting his finger to
his mouth to enjoin secrecy and wari-
ness.
Judge Of the CONSERVATION Of the two
diplomats, when Null, scarcely had the
camel started, gave utt erancc to an un-
earthly yell and waved his turban in
which the dispatch was concealed, high
in the air. Both Brett an d Villicrs
looked at each other for moment in
speeches. horror, and then shouted
after Null to stop. TWAS too late, "thc
ship of the desert" was going at pace
that deficd either OF them, even if
mounted on race horses, to come abreast
of him.
"Thc fellow is rs drunk as a fiddle"
said Villicrs, mournfully.
"Unqucstionably, you sec, he wasn't
used to liquor. What's to be donc9
Everything is spoiled if he looses the dis
patch, or blabs out where it's hidden"
Null stopped when he got about half
mile on his journey, and lcisurely dis
mounted from his camel. The officers,
prccciving this, hurried along till they
reached him. They found the camel
driver seated, legs crosswisc, on the sand,
cndeavoring to open one of the bottles;
but the complex mechanism of the wire
and capsule was too much for him.
"You drunken scoundrcl," beloved
Villicrs, nearly out of puff, as he applied
q riding whip, which he carried, to the
poor fellows shoulders. "What do you
mean? Show me the paper l gave you"
Null with a vacant stare, took off his
turban, but the dispatch was no where
to be found in it,
81 have it in my heart" exclaimed
Brett, "to murder you on the spot. Give
me back that bottle"
81 thought" stammcrcd Null, "you
told me it would do me good"
lie then fumblcd about his breast and
pulled out the dispatch, which he had
transferred from his turban as he was
squattcd on the grouud, while screened
by the camel.
"Can we trust him to proceed on the
journcyp
Certainly not; he'll hand the paper
over to the first scout he meets, and tell
where it came from. And now, unfor-
tunatcly, every hour is Of Importance.
What mess to be in!'
Null did not understand the convcr-
sation rs it was carried on in English;
but untutorcd as he was lie read the
distrust of him in the conntcnance of
both officers. Getting astride the camel,
and looking with his wontcd intelligence
at the Englishmcn, he said, addressing
Maj Brett.
"Eircndi, am ready and able to do
your bidding. tas ed not the unhal-
lowed cup to partake of which would in
the case OF your humble slavc have been
greater evil to him than the loss of
that paper to you. You knew no: what
you were doing when you placed the
temptation in my way of giving me first
tho gassfuI and next these two bottles.
Your message would not have been sac,
for the Koran says that "a drunken
mouth is as babbling brook. Take
them back, for BesmilIah! shall never
again. as the wise Abu Ben EIadar
warned me, touch or handle. Taste /
never will.
"Wc arc nice pair of diplomats
truly" said Villicrs, reddcning at the
rcbukc, and handing back the document
to the camel driver, "to bring drink into
business"
'.Ayc, whether in or out of it." said
the Major, laying about him on the two
bottles with the butt end of his whip,
"Nnd when we get back we ought to
smash every bottle we have. I'm total
abstaincr as Chinese Gordon was, for
lifc.'
Vil'icrs placed his hand inside the
Majors to signify that he was one with
him in the resolution.
"Allah be praised" exclaimed Null
Ihraham, as he watched the breaking Of