San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-17


Between this and the nearest tent
stood sleepy, low nosed pack camel;
while farther of another kneeled and
busy hands piled tents and baggage in
his saddle. The Arab mares, each pick
eted to a long spear driven in the sand,
and with bag of barley tied about the
nose, stood quiet and docile.
Loosening tho pistol in his holster,
Latour checked his horse by word, the
great stride slackening to swinging
gallop, then coming to u stand at easy
hail.
''Peace Be with thee. o sieik!' La
tour cried.
''And with thee also peace" the Arab
answered. He rose and stood silent as
Latour advanced slowly within two
PAGES of his mat. Then, he added:
''Alight, 0 warrior Of Ismail the
Pasha, and eit beneath my tent"
The whirl and heat had gone from
Latour's brain now, replaced by cool,
quick resolve. Ho felt craft must meet
craft, aa1 this Arab was an adept.
Quiet as though on parade he sat, reach
ing over to caress the grand neck of the
steed that bore him SO gallantiy, but
really listening 10 his breathing.
The three mile race over the sand, un-
Deg that blazing sun. had scarcely tested
the endurance Of the Apeyzeh blood.
Two iorG, deep breaths he took. then
his sides scarce moved, and the man
knew be could rely upon his horse if he
could but trust his own GOODNESS and
sagacity.
''Littlo time have to sit, o sheik Mo
hammed-ben-Zizi." he answered slowly.
Neither have yet como on my wish to
thee. Only on my way to other duties
have CHANGED near thy tents"
The Arabs brow clouded, and his dull
eye grew brighter, as he answered:
''As thou slyest, o warrior, SO shall it
be. Mohammed-ben.Z izi forceth not his
salt upon the unwilling. who careth not
to eat it, but prefers to stand like q
fakeer doing penance, rather than smoke
beneath his tent"
Again the Creole answered very slow
ly; but his quick ear aud quicker eye
were busy. and when he finished his
plan was formed upon the information
both gave him.
Thou, o son of the desert, he said
low and quietly, "art free to do thy ways,
but In our army there are rules that none
may break. One Of these commands that
foot may not leave stirrup till duty be
accomplished. Still, much do / marvel,
y sheik, to see thy tents folded and thy
people prepared for travel, while the an
swer Of our sovereign unto the sheik OF
the Beni-Ali is yet unheard"
So speaking, Latour noted three things.
Before the nearest tent sat an aged Arab,
who had risen with tho sheik. His OK
tended arm, lean and black, grasped his
spear, the bournous falling from it like
q curtain before the tent. Moreover, the
camel's pack saddle had been replaced by
mats strapped on him for a seat. And
at last he noticed one mare, picketed
apart, bournous strapped around her.
hiding head and sides While he spoke
she whinnied loud beneath this hood.
Said raised his head, pricked his ears for
ward and nickered in reply, but his rider
appeared not to note as the sheik replied:
Yesterday said to thee, o warrior
Of Isnail-ben- Ibrahim, that thy ruler Of
Mitsraim is no king of the Beni-Aii
For what thou seest here, the way OF
the Bedouin is the way of the wind.
He goeth-even as he cometh-howso
he listeth."
"Then. ere thou goest. q shsik," La
tour said gravely and quietly, lin the
name of my king, Ismail Khedive of all
Egypt, speak these words| he paused
an instant. Thus far all had been spoken
in the low, cultural Arabic. Backing
Said two PAGES, Latour now raised his
clear voice, crying in resonant EnSlish:
Courage, Edith! Speak no word, but
como-quickly"
''What Sheitan's gibberish" The
sheik's exclamation of wonder was cut
short. For. gliding by the old Arab,
Edith raised her pround head in the
sunshine. The bloodless olive face spoke
nothing of fear; the defiant eyes softened
only as they met Latour's, and her heav-
ing bosom forced the whisper:
"Adrien! Then | am safe"
Latour felt she was close to him, but
bis eyes never left the shiek's.
Knowing well the dual Arab nature.
he watched eagerly which Of it's moods
would sway the chief. and his breath
came easier as he saw that craft, not
force, would first be tried. For instead
of snatching his spear Zil only stared a
moment at the woman.
"What jugglery is this o WARRIOR"
he asked, with cunninsly simulated
wonder. "Truly might deem thee one
of the wicked Jinns, that dost summon