Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-26
The Yelled Idol of kOr

''Hassan.' said my companion,
Frank Uenviers, to our Arab guide,
what is your candid opinion of that
curious yarn which Kass, our chief
Wadigo follower, told us by the camp
fire last night?'
1.-The story which Kass told US is as
true as the koran, sahib," answered the
Arab, closing the book and glancing
reprovingly at Denviers.
I'VE agree with you there assented
my companion with such emphasis
that Hassan quickly retorted:
What sweet we'll in the desert is
to the thirsty, so is believing listener
among men; the mighty Mahomet him
self has SO declared"
Never mind about Mahomet and his
wonderful adventures, I interrupted.
"Kass does not know the entire
story" responded the Arab gravely.
eff the sahibs so desire I will tell it to
them
Every well, Hassan" said Denviers,
smiling at the Arabs persistence, Ego
in less than half an hour we must
start on our days march. Don't ex-
aggerate more than you can help, for
Kass is approaching the tent He has
mixed too much with Arab slaves not
to understand every word you say
A shadow fell upon the waste of sun
dried grass which stretched before our
tent, and, glancing up as Denviers
spoke, I saw Kass, the Wadigo, 'front.'
ing us.
In his right hand he held a heavy
spear, the butt Of which rested on the
ground, while in his left hand he
grasped the centerpiece of great shield
of hide, above which rose the hats Of
a number of splendidly balanced as
segais.
On completing an extended tour in
Asia, under the guidance of Hassan,
Denviers, my companion, who had long
projected a journey across Africa, per-
suaded me to accompany him.
The natives whom we engaged for
the expedition, on reaching the African
coast, deserted us when a convenient
opportunity presented ITSELF
Entering a Wadigo village we
CHANGED to be of service in leading the
natives against some Arab slavers in
Testing the district.
In return for this Kass and num-
Der of his tribesmen volunteered to
join our expedition; the usual exchange
of presents took place, and so we pro-
ceeded on our way through the dark
continent.
''In the fifth year of the great
prophets mission, sahibs,' began
Hassan, "his daughter Rokaia and her
husband were sent into Abyssinia to
escape the perils which surrounded
Mahomet.
AS the years went by the Moslems
increased and became a power in the
land of their voluntary exile, until the
time came when the reigning Najashee
sought the hand of certain Ayesha
the Fair. in marriage. She refused
the alliance, whe1eupon the enraged
Najashee decreed that every Moslem
should be driven from his kingdom.
'sDespoiled of all their wealth, with a
supply of food sufficient only for few
days, the miserable Moslems passed
out by the great gates to wander aim
lessly through desolate wastes and
hostile tribes. At their head walked
Abu, the lover of Ayesha, behind
whom his beloved was borne upon a
litter.
"One night, when the condition OF
those who still survived was at its
worst, a certain Moslem had strange
dream, which so impressed him that
he rose and set off in the moonlight to
test it's truth. At dawn he returned.
and, hastily rousing the rest, gathered
them about him to listen to the sub
stance of MS dream and how it had
been verified.
'His gaunt, famished listeners
thought the Moslcm's utterance5 only
the rawlings Of a mailman, but he
grasped his beard and affirmed by 1t
that every word he had uttered was
true.
Led by him the exiles passively fol-
lOW0u- hey lOlIlG SiAISA
ing an excavated way which led
through the heart OF mountain. Fol
lowing their guide they at last emerged
from the rock-hewn way, to see facing
them"
The yelled idol, suppose, Hassan? p
said Denviers, irreverently interrupt
ing the Arabs story.
Not SO, sahib," replied our guide,
"but something almost as strange.
Hemmed in by mountain spurs, whose
sides rose rugged and grand, they saw
before their wondering eyes a vast
colonnade, whose every pillar was
carved with the grotesque heads of
giant men and gods, and nameless
beasts, which stared and gaped askance
in stone, till awe and fear held each
Moslem spell-bound.
Pass on and fear not. Allah and
the prophet have led our feet hitherr'