Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-07-16
handful Of mud and literally daubed

handful Of mud and literally dHubed
my face.
1.-The sahib Is too white he explnin-
ed. The olu blind priest was always
black and dlrty-so kick off your boots,
sahib, and let me daub your feet on
went my boots and In minute or two
my legs from the knee down were as
brown and as dirty as they wei! might
be.
You are all right, now, efrendi,'
said Ibrahlm, let US make for the Cairo
gate
with all my heart thanked the boy;
| but he would listen TO no thanks. You
saved my life; I'll save yours he said.
Remember effendl, the mouse and the
lion. Let us hasten to the gate
but you are not coming | be-
gan; when my protest was interrupted
by a troop of black Mahdists surging
into the little bystreet where we stood.
Never shall forget the sight they pre-
sented, in the false light of the burning
city, with their huge piles Of hair,
their ferocious faces and their spears
and scimeters a-drlp with blood. had
given myself over for lost, when Ibra-
him, gripping my hand, led me onward,
calling in sing-song tones: Room for
the blind priest. Room for Amed, son
of Ali, the soothsayer. The light of
Allah is upon the blind priest
Taking the hint plucked up cour-
age enough to shout the war-cry of the
Mahdi. The 'fuzzy-wuzzies,' entirely
deceived, joined in my cry. 'Bide your
time, holy father said one of them;
we'll give you plenty of Christian heads
later on Then they left us
whoOping like demons down the street.
but lbrahim plucked at my sleeve and
mechanically l followed him. Many
times we met parties of the Mahdists
but In the darkness our ruse succeeded
beautifully, and we reached Cairo gate
in safety.
Around the gate, despite the con-
fusion, a strong guard had been posted
In the open space without many scores
of camels were sprawling.
A camel for the Mahdis messen-
ger! cried Ibrahim in his shrill voice
'Ho, brothers! A camel for the blind
sOothsayer, AIMED, son of Ali, who bears
the Mahdfs defiance across the desert
"A dozen dusky warriors surrounded
us, and as many awkward camels were
prodded to their feet. One of these un-
calmly beasts was made to kneel, while
lbrahim made great show Of helping
the supposed blind priest to a seat upon
his back.
Just then tall fuzzy-wuzzy-clear
ly an officer-rushed forward. Who is
this? he demanded. Where does this
man go? The orders are that no man
shall leave the gates before daybreak.'
My heart sank, but fortunately for
us the natural superstition of the Arab
came to our aid. Have a carer cried
one of the soldiers. 1t is blind priest
"a soothsayer. He may curse you
The officer stepped back involuntar-
lily, eying me with fear. Give us your
blessing, holy father, cried a dozen on
lockers.
Here was n new predicament.
could not remember enough Arabic at
the moment to give the desired blessing;
but a whisper from Ibrahim recalled to
my mind a simple form of words,
which, eked out by discreet mumbling,
on my part and the loud responses of
the boy, suited the Arabs we'll enough,
They prostrated themselves-the Off
Ger with the rest-amid a great cry of
Allah Ackbar.' Then Ibrahim smote
our camel soundly, and away we went.
through the outposts, speeding fast
from the CORY City of Khartoum.
".
The perils and adventures of the
journey were too numerous to be told
at one sitting but it was nearly
month after that awful night that our
camel limped into Cairo. CARRYING on
back two emaciated fugitives who
had once been an officer of the line and
an Arab boy
"lbrah him has been all around the
world with me since, and will probably
continue to be my comrade until one of
us twain departs this life forever. ell.
lbrahim, old friend?"
The Arab lad smiled and spread ont
MS hands. MY fate is thine effendi,"
he said. you saved my life"
'On that score. Ibrahim." answered
capt. Grimshaw II think we are quits.
remember khartoum. Atlanta Con.
stitutiCn.