The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-31
M | M A..
A TALE OF THE SUDAN.
BY ULYSSES ROGERS.
Copyrighted. 1897 by Ulysses Rogers

II was an OHer that nine hundred ana
ninety nine out of every thousand women
placed in a similar position would have
accepted at once, but Mma's answer was
prompt and 10 the point.
Il am my lords slave she had said
land ! VIII never leave him till he drives
me hence"
Tonight Steiner again preached the
question Of her freedom. There was d
special reason for it. He had a big ana
a dangerous project in hand, none less
than dash for freedom and home, and
he wished to have the girl well provided
for.
"A pretty song, Nina" he said, as he
leaned against the wall; land well sung.
too. It has quaint meter. Where do
you learn it?'
My lord is gracious" she replied, with
true femiulnity acknowledging the com
pliment before answering the interroga-
ton. 1T is often sung by the women
of my land, and was a favorite among
the ladies' of my fathers court"
You would like TO return to your faith
ers country"
No" she cried eagerly. "My life is
now my lords, and 1 desire nothing but
to stay near him to serve him"
THAT is foolish on your part, Nina
Besides, think you, is there none among
The young men Of Omdurman upon whom
your affection has been set. ! Will will
moreover, will add some slight dowry."
There is none in Mimas eyes'-the girl
hesitated, then in a fit of holiness she
spoke what she had longed that he might
know-"save my lord. Find l no favor in
his sight? My heart is his, as my body"
by Jove! Is IL, thought Steiner NUT
tered to himself But that would never
do!' he said aloud. II am already mar
ried, and my wife has been waiting to see
me these eight years in far-off England,
thousands of leagues from here. l am de-
sirOus of going to her You can keep a Sc
cret, Nina. You are to be trusted?"
For reply the girl hastily picked up a
knife that was lying at hand, and before
Steiner could interfere. with one stroke
had cut a deep cash in her bare arm.
Il swear it," she said, by the sign of
my race. My life's blood is forfeit if ever it
be revealed"
Sterner took out his handkerchief and
bound the wound.
You are a foolish girl" he said. Il was
assured of your sincerity without that
But the secret is this: l am escaping from
this town with the other white pasha to-
night You understand. We never return
alive, unless in many years to fight the
Khalifa. You may be helpful TO me if you
will. But l wanted to see you comfortably
arranged for before | left. l will send you
as a present TO any lord whom you may
with favor"
The tears had started to the girls eyes
during this speech of Sterner's She was
deeply moved. Her breast heaved tumultu-
ously When he had finished she threw
herself at his feet, sobbing bitterly.
THE words of the pasta tear my heart"
she cried. The sun will set for ever there
is nought but darkness ana hopelessness
Let but my lord say that Nina may go,
too care not for hardship. | can work
There will be dangers in the desert; l am
used 10 danger; maybe | can be of service
Let me be among the wives of my lord; l
am content to be the humbest handmade
en- of them all"
THAT won't quite do, my girl, said
Sterner, smilingly. Il belong to a nation
which counts IL Illegal for man to have
more than one wife"
"Then l am your slave" she interrupt
ed passionately.
For a time that may be-" he acceded.
IF you will, you shah run your risk
with us, of being delivered from this city
of fanatic desperadoes. Then if God ever
favors us enough to get free of the cut
threats, I will see you comfortably set
ted at Assouan. Come, girl, dry your
eyes. You shall go with meat least, till
we get out of this. Now as to the help
you can render?"
Il am anxious. Spare me not"
Your part will be no light one All our
plans are completed except one. A boat
with guns and provisions will await us
two miles below the town. You know the
place You turn to the river when you
set to the mimosa clump: To get free
of the town Is our greatest difficulty. The
white pasta and 1 must go through the
eastern gates where the Vindictive Amak-
ku keeps guard. Should he detect us ali
is over Here your aid must come in.
AS you know Amakku loves you, and
would wed you. He has never forgiven
the night when l kicked him through the
court yard for persisting in making love
10 you without my leave, and to your an
noyance."
Say what your slaves shall do with him.
and it shall be done,' the girl said, with
a hidden expression and a meaning glance
that BODIED no good to the love-lorh
Amakku.
"You must so to him with soft words
tonight. Take two bottles of my best
araki as a present. Let him drink deep
and long. Feed him with honeyed words
and detain him till we pass. When the
palace gong signals the hour for the Kha-
lifa's return from his nightly prayers at
the mosque, you will know that we have
escaped. Then contrive to leave him. If
ne be well drunken, as 1 anticipate, it
will be an easy matter for you to deceive
him and pass through the gate instead
OF returning to the town. We will wait
for you two hours after the striking OF
the gong in the boat among the rushes
to the left of the landing palce. Will you
run the risk and leave this place with
us?"
The girl knelt and kissed his hand. My
life is in my masters keeping" she said.
Where there is most danger in serving
him there is the greatest pleasure"
An hour later, when silence had settled
over the city, and just before the blowing
of the ombeija signaled that the Khalifa
was making his course to the mosque for
the final service of the day she set off
with her present of aral1i, which no black
soldier was ever known to refuse or to
cease drinking until every available drop
was drained.
Whilst the lord of all the Soudan. from
his niche in the mosque. was leading the
prayers of the thousands of the faithful
Steiner and his friend arrived at the east
ern gate. There was no guard on duty
Inside the watch-house a light was burn
ing, and through the half-open window
came the soupds of a Sudan refrain sung
in maudlin tones. Nina was carving
out her part well Softly the Englishman
slipped out of the city, and. keeping un-
der the shadow of the high wall. gradually
followed 1t as it curved northwards in