The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-07


once he made up his mind to thing,
He paused . few minutes to take
his bearings He had little pocket
compass with him, and by that alone
he could hope to guide himself Once
he decided which direction to take he
marched forward without hesitation.
Walking In the desert is slow work.
BY o'clock Cleland calculated that
he had walked 10 miles; but he was
NO nearer the moving brigade for any
thing he could make out,
At sundown a sandstorm arose. Gle
land had been in one before. but this
seemed to be the most terrible sxps-
rience he had yet been through. Tho
sand blew in his face. and soon formed
hard crust over 1t, which cracked
painfully with every muscular motion;
his eyes were bloodshot, and he could
hardly see; his throat felt as II 1t
we're filled with gravel. He was chok-
ing with thirst, and his mouth was
parched like bit Of cinder.
The blue sky was hid from his view;
the plain beneath was mere whirling
mass--he could see nothing but sand.
Presently 1t thinned a little. The
night was now coming down rapidly.
Looking right ahead, through the
whirling clouds Of black dust-like
cayenne pepper in appearance, ana
quite as disagreeable Cleland saw
something which made his heart leap.
1t was a long line of stationary
lights!
He had no doubt now but that he
had come in sight Of the English
camp. He spurred on. hope lending
him strength and swiftness.
In half an hour he was quite close
to the encampment. Then he paused,
strange. uneasy feeling possessing
him.
Could this be his own camp? II
consisted in the center. of a long rare
ba, protected by what seemed like
jungle OF mimosa and palm. thickly
interspersed with half-grass and creep
ers. AS he approached he saw that in
front there was q deep trench and
stockade. At either end there were
few tents. not unlike those to which
Cleland was accustomed.
He stood still. a chilly fear creep
Ing over him. Suddenly, as IL they
had sprung out Of the ground, two tall
figures stood. one on either side of
him. and two immense brown hands
gripped each one of his arms.
Cleland turned quickly towards one
of his assailants, and saw tall, dusky
figure. clad in dark and dirty Glib
beh," or upper garment, loose draw
ers. and on its head piece OF rolled
cloth. somewhat resembling the Turk
ish turban. The face beneath was
dark and sinister.
Cleland could no longer have any
doubt on the subject He was in tho
hands of the enemy!
He had suficient knowledge Of the
language to explain.
Where are you taking me? am
an innocent mani"
Cursed be all Christian dogs and
infidels!" exclaimed one of his cap
tors. Allah IL Allah! You are a spy,
and the Khalifa will hang you, as he
has hung others!"
Are you taking me to the Khalifa ?"
exclaimed Cleland. only able to under
stand half of what was said.
The man made brief assent. and
then. pointing his lance at Cleland's
breast, made him come on.
There was really nothing else for 1t
but to allow himself to be led forward,
and Cleland submitted without any
resistance.
He was dragged on by his captors.
whose savage looks and tones showed
clearly that they had no feeling save
that OF bitter hatred against the man
who wore the dress OF the hated Eng
lish infidel. In few moments Gle
land found himself entering the zareba
by means Of an opening concealed be-
hind brushwood and mimosa- thorn.
Inside the zareba he was dragged
across pits and trenches, between lines
Of fierce-faced. gloomy-eyed dervishes,
who sprang to their feet, lance in
hand. past huts, donkeys and tethered
camels. on to central hut, which he
guessed must be that Of the Khalifa.
The door was open, and the next
moment he found himself in the pres
ence OF the ruler Of the Soudan, the
man who had such terrible reason to
hate the accursed white race-ac-
cursed both for their unbelief and for
their determined attempts to over
throw his power.
A straw mat lay on the floor in the
center of the hut; on this reclined the
Khalifa. He looked up as his soldiers
entered with their prisoner. but made
no attempt to rise.