The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-12-29

dish tinge which BODIES no good to the
dweller in the desert. AT rare intervals
across the yellow hillocks would come
pirouetting diabolical little spirals OF
sand, moved by puffs of wind, like
breaths from a fuEkace.
ION the morning of the fifth day
Hamed, my Circassian slave, man OF
rare courage and singular personal
beauty, disappeared into the depths OF
the oasis in quest of fresh water, that
in the cistern being used for the beasts
only, and, from the length of time elaps-
ing, must have penetrated further than
usual. Suddenly we perceived him at
the edge of the jungle wildly gesticu-
lating. The Arabs rifles were at their
shoulders in an instant, but there was
mingled scream and roar, a'hash OF
tawny flanks, and Hamed, dragged down
from behind, disappeared in tie wood.
"'The rifemen who fad bee. nearest
10 him fell upon their faces, r2ralyzed
with some awful fear, and could not
be induced to stir. What they had seen
knew not. Drawing my scimitar and
grasping my pistol I babe huge black,
under threat of instant death, follow
with a lance, and plunged into the
tangled wood at the spot where Hamed
had disappeared. White fragments OF
cloth upon the broken twigs, borne
down by what must have been crea-
ture of unusual size and ponderous
-, 1-@1 <r,,,1a1 onward PAINTING
with the heat, bruised with falling,
and now feeling giddy with strange
odor which began to pervade the air,
we proceeded with the utmost caution
along a path grown steep and rocky.
"'The terrible odor had grown al
most sitting, and mingling with it
came a low, whining purr, apparently
at no great distance now.
'Crouching behind ragged mass
of rock which seemed to have been split
by the heat (the black calling inces-
sanity upon Allah with chattering
teeth) l peered through the crevice in
to the space beyond. Soul of Moham-
med! What sight met my gaze!
SPRAYING upon its belly at the en-
trance to a cavern, the 1.-the tail beat
ing the ground, was creature, the
sight of which caused my scimitar to
fall from my nerveless grasp. Out of
a tangled red name, rose a white neck
of columnar strength, surmounted by
couptenance of awful beauty. Be
meath netted eyebrows glowed eyes
;-ho br,, IN oil
the slit like pupils. The lips were a
venomous red arch, through which
flashed long canine teeth.
"'Before her, slightly propped
against bowlder, lay Hamed, white
and limp, but conscious and fas-
cinated. Ever and anon the great
furry paw was thrust forward caress-
ingly, the claws shcathed, and the eyes
of the dread creature became narrow
and tender, and the purring sound was
repeated.
Streaming with sweat, I had man
aged to level my pistol across a pro-
lection, when a shadow fell over us
which deepened, and murmur broke
upon our ears, increasing to roar.
springing to it's feet, its eyes blazing
greenly in the gathering gloom, the
Thing seized the shoulder of Hamed's
garments in its teeth, and with hor-
rid screaming snarl leaped past us, as
the SIMEON in all it's fury burst upon
u.s.
'The black had already clambered to
the highest rock and lay clasping the
base of large palm, face down, en-
veloped in his burnous. l did likewise,
and after period of Inconsistencies,
awoke, and painfully drawing myself
up to a sitting posture against what
remained of the palm tree, gazed about
me. The black lay rigid at my side,
stifed.
"'Around about among the rocks
and trees and across the plain
were great drifts and pillows of sand,
but of all my faithful people and val
liable beasts there was no trace. A
tent pole, with fragment of canvas
here and there, marked their graves.
was rescued in delirious condi-
ton by my partner, who came weekly
to visit the encampment
THAT am stopping in this vicinity
is owing to an irresistible fascination
the spot has for me, and to its being in
the direct road to the market town.
whittier go at intervals to trade. The
mystery that yonder sand heaps en-
velop will never be revealed until the
desert and the sea give up their dead,'"
IN. Y. Herald.