The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-08-03
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY, MD. FRIDAY AUGUST g. 1900

A queer look came over Captain Ket
ties face. "And you'd still marry this
woman II she had another husband liv.
ingW
"Of course. Haven't told you that
I've thought the whole thing thorough
ly over already, and I'm not inclined tc
stick at triflesY'
''Very well," said Kettle. "Now, lei
me tell you, sir, for the last time that
don't like what you're going to do
TO my mind it's a dirty thing-marry.
ing a woman that you evidently
despise just for her money"
Wenlock flushed. Look here" he
said. II refuse to be lectured, espe.
cially by you. Aren't you under prom.
ise to get ESQ from me the moment
I'm safely married? And didn't you
fairly jump at the chance of lingering
it?"
Captain Kettle merely smiled grim
ly and said, Get down into the boat,
you and your case Of rifles"
For the moment Wenlock started
and hesitated. He seemed to detect
something omlnous In this order. But
then he took brace on his courage,
and, after couple of deckhands had
lowered the rifles into the dancing
boat, he clambered gingerly down aft
er them and sat himself beside 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 the cluster
of ragged shipping swaying at the an
chorage, and Wenlock might have
stared with curious eyes, had he been
SO minded. on real dhows which had
even then got real slaves ready for
market in their stuffy tween decks.
Over the arch of the water gate, for
which they were heading, was what
at first appeared to be frieze of
small. rounded balls; but a nearer
view resolved these into human heads,
in various stages of desiccation. Wen
lock stared at the gate, with its Dress
ing Of heads. as though they fascinated
him.
"And Teresa will have been brought
up within sight of all this" Wenlock
murmured TO himself. .'and will be ac-
customed to 1t. Fancy marrying a
woman who has spent "a years of her
life in the neighborhood of all this say.
agery."
They passed in through the gate, the
sentries staring at them curiously, and,
once inside. in the full heat and smell
Of the narrow street beyond, Wenlock
said: Look here. skipper; you're re-
sourceful, and you know these out of
the way places. How had we better
start to find the grip
Kettle glanced coolly round at the
grim buildings and the savage Arabs
who jostled them. and said with fine
sarcasm: well, sir. If you'll take the
tip from me. you'll crowd back to my
steamboat as fast as you can 60. You'll
find it healthier"
I'm going on with it," said Wenlock
doggedly. And ask you to earn
your ESQ and give me help"
"Then, If you distinctly ask me to
help you on into trouble like that, of
course the best thing to do is to 60
straight on to the palace"
"Show the way. then." said Wenlock
curtly.
Kettle gave the word to the white
robed pilot. and together they set of
down the narrow winding streets, with
an ever increasing train of Arabs and
negroes following in their wake. Wen
lock said nothing as he walked, but 1t
was evident from the working of his
face that his mind was very full. But
Kettle looked about him with open in
terest and thoughts in verse about this
eastern town came to him with pleas
ant readiness.
The royal residence was the large
building encinctured with gardens
which they had seen from the sea, and
they entered with little formality.
There was no trouble either about OBJ
an audience. Armed guards to
the number of some 40 men were post
ed round the walls. and at the farther
end. apparently belonging to the civil
population. were some dozen other men
on the floor. In the center of
the room was a naked wretch In
chains, but sentence was hurriedly pro-
nounced on him, and he was hustled
away as the two Englishmen entered,
and they found themselves face to face
with the only woman In the room, the
supreme ruler Of this savage south
Arabian coast town.
She was seated on a raised diyan.
by cushions, and In front of
her was q huge water pipe at which
she occasionally took meditatiye pull.
She was dressed quite In oriental FASH
Ion, In trousers. zouave jacket, sash
and all the rest Of 1t, but she was un-
English in features. though
strongly suggestive of the Boadicea.
She was large. heavily boned woman,
covered with flesh, and she
dandled across her knees that very un-
feminine scepter. an English cavalry
mans sword. But the eye neglected
these details and was irresistibly
drawn by the strongness Of her face.
Even Kettle was almost awed by II.
But Captain Owen Kettle was not q
man who could be kept In awe for long.
He took of his helmet. marched brisk |
y up toward the divan and bowed.
Good afternoon. your ladyship," he |
said. II trust see you well. I'm Cap
tain Kettle. master of that steamboat |
now lying In your roads, and this is |
Mr.. Wenlock. a passenger OF mine. who |
heard that you were English and has |
come to put you In the way Of some
at home"