The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-07


Gazette-young, inexperienced and
rather simple-lOOking. He had droop
of the lip which some of his more inti-
mate friends regarded as a libel upon
his character, and his eyes were so slow
and SO sleepy that they suggested an
affectation. A leaning toward soldier
ing had sent him twice to autumn ma
neuvers. and a touch of color in his
descriptions had induced the proprie-
tors of the Gazette to give him trial
as war special. There was pleasing
diffidence about his bearing which rec
commended him to his experienced COM
panions. and if they had smile some
times at his guileless ways, it was
soothing to them to have a comrade
from whom nothing was to be feared.
From the day that they left the tele-
graph wire behind them at Sarras. the
man who was mounted upon Ia
guinea "a Syrian was delivered over
into the hands of the owners of the two
fastest polo ponies that ever shot down
the Ghezireh ground.
The three had dismounted and led
their beasts under the welcome shade.
In the brassy yellow glare every
branch above threw SO black and solid
shadow that the men invOluntarily
raised their feet to step over them.
''rhe palm makes an excellent hat
rack" said Scott, singing his revolver
and his water-bottle over the little up
ward-pointing pegs which bristled from
the trunk. LAS shade tree. however.
it isn't an unqualified success. Curious
that in the universal adoption of means
to ends something a little less flimsy
could not have been devised for the
tropics"
Like the banyan in India"
"Or the fine hardwood trees in Ashan-
tee. where whole regiment could pic
mic under the shade"
'"rhe teak tree isn't bad in Burmah
either. BY Jove. the baccy has all come
loose in the saddle bag. That long-cut
mixture smokes rather hot for this eli
mate. How about the baggles, Amer
ley?'
They'll be here in five minutes"
Down the winding path which curved
among the rocks the little train of bag
gage-camels was daintily picking its
way. They came mincing and undulat-
ing along, turning their heads slowly
from side to side with the air of self
conscious woman. In front rode the
three Berberee body-servants upon
donkeys and behind walked the Arab
camel boys. They had been travelling
for nine long hours ever since the first
drag of two and half miles an hour.
but now they frightened. both beasts
and men. at the sight of the grove and
the riderless horses. In IA few minutes
the loads We're unstrapped the animals
tethered. fire lighted fresh water car
ried up from the river, and each camel
provided with his own little heap of
tibbin laid in the center of the table
cloth, without which no well-bred Ara
ban will condescend to feed. The daz-
zlng light without, the subdued half
tones within. the green palm-frondS
outlined against the deep blue sky. the
fitting silent footed Arab servants, the
cracking of sticks. the reek of light
ing fire, the placid supercilious heads
of the camels. they all come back in
their dreams to those who have known
them.
Scott was breaking eggs into a pan
and rolling out love-song in his rich
deep voice. Anerley, with his head and
two arms buried in Il deal packing-case.
was working his way through strata of
timed soups, bully beef. potted chick
en- and sardines to reach the jams which
lay beneath. The conscientious Morti-
mer, with his notebook upon his knee,
was jotting down what the railway en-
gineer had told him at the line end the
day before. Suddenly he raised his
eyes and saw the man himself on his
chestnut pony, dipping and rising over
the broken ground
"Hullo, here's Merryweather!'
"a pretty lather his pony is in! He's
had her at that bard gallop for hours
by the look of her. Hullo, Merryweath-
er. hullo!''
The engineer, a small compact man
with pointed red beard. had made as
though he would ride past their camp
without word or halt. Now he
swerved, and easing his pony down to
a canter he headed her towards them.
For Gods sake. drink" he croaked.
"My tongue is stuck to the roof of my
mouth"
Mortimer ran with the water-bottle,
Scott with the whisky flash, and Amer