Evening star., 1899-02-04

bands early as a general thing, and you'd
have thought they'd married her to some
one about the town, whether she liked it or
not. But 1t seems they didn't. because she
said she'd certainly poison any man if they
sent her into his Zenana. Guess there
wasn't any man about the place white
enough to suit her taste"
Kettle went out then under the awnings
of the bridge deck and told Wenlock that
he would probably be able to earn his fee
for helping on the marriage, and Wenlock
stood the situation.
Shippers bit of Methody" thought
Mr. Hugh Wenlock: but if he gets me
snugly married to that little girl. he'll be
cheap at the price"
Dunkhot stood on an eniuence snuo1,,
walled, and filled with cool square houses
AT one side the high minaret of a mosque
stood up like bayonet. and at the Other,
t'iiIis Htdiullls IN ring OF garden, was a larger
DulIdlng, which seemed to call itself palace
me Parakeet lay to- rolling outside the
entrance, flying pilot jack and waiting de-
VelopmentS. 49,
Capt. Kettle might have his disuuieting
thoughts, still outwardiy he was cool But
MI. Hugh Wenlock was on deck in the
sprucest of his apparel, and was visibIv
anxious and fidgety, as befitted a man who
of matrmony.
A double-ended boat came off presently.
manned by naked Arabs, and steered by a
man IN white burnOus. She swept up
II.
ana the man in white introduced himself
as pilot.
The pilot spoke some English. He could
guide them through the reefs in the most
complete safety, he said, and he could
side -
Il dare say" grunted Kettle, under his
Gated for my taste"
Then he turned to Murray Now, look
mere. Mr.. Mate, III leave you in charge
Don Don let any of these niggers come on
noafd on any pretense whatever, and if
they try 1t on. steam out to sea I'll get
throuGh Mr.. Wenlocks business ashore as
quick as | can, and perhaps pick up a ton
OF TWO OF cargo for ourselves
Below, the pilot camored that ladder
might be thrown to him, SO that he might
como on board to take the Parakeet forth
WIZ WIN INTO the anchorage; and to him again
Kettle turned and temDorized He must
go ashore himself first he said and soc
What offer there was of trade before he
took the steamer in. To which the piIot
though Nlsibly disappointed saw fit to
agree ~
Now, sir. said Kettle to Wenlock, Unto
the boat with YOU. The less time that's
wasted, the better | shall be pleased
'All right" said Wenlock, pointing 10 =
Dig package on the deck. Just tell some
OF your men to shove that case down into
the boat, and I'm ready"
..Ikeoit kettle eyed the the bulky box with disfavor
Nnat in it?' he asked-''a present?"
Wen, If you must know, captain. it's
occurred to me that Teresa is probably an
occupant of somebody's harem, and that 7
Shall have to buy her off from her hus-
oand. Hence, the case of rifles"
A queer look came over Capt Kettles
lace. And you'd still marry this woman
II she had another husband livng?"
OF course. Haven't 1 told you that I've
thought the whole thing thoroughly over
already. and am not inclined to stick AT
trifes % ~ a.
Very WELL said Kettle. Now LET mo
tell you. sir, for the last time, that 7 don't
like what you're going to do. To nv mind
1t S dlrty thing, marrying woman that
you evidently despise. just fer her money !"
Wenlock flushed. Look here he said
Il refuse to be lectured especially by Won
Aren't you under promise to get ESQ from
me the moment I'm safely married? And
didn't you fairly jump at the chance If
lingering it?" "
Capt Kettle merely smiled grimlv. and
said: Get down into the boat. YOU and
your case of rifles
For the moment Wenlock started and
hesitated. He seemed to detect sonnet hin@
ominous in this order. But then he took a
brace on his courage, and. after a co,rnle
OF deck hands had lowered the rifles into
the dancing boat, he clambered gingerIv
down after them and sat himself heside
the white-robed man in the stern sheets
Kettle followed, and the boat headed off
for the opening between the reefs.
The boat passed between a cluster of
ragged shipping, swaying at the anchora %
and Wenlock might have stared with curl
Gus eyes chad he been so minded) on real
dhows which had even then got real slaves
ready for market in their stuffy tween