The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-29
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MISSION OF THE DAHABEAR.

| THE MISSION OF THE DAHABEAR.
When Mynheer Joe and his two
friends, having secured a cup Of coffee
and q bite of breakfast at the hotel,
pass down toward the river the very
first CLEAN of daylight is abroad,
though as yet kept in the background
by the moon, which shines on the land
of the Pharaohs with peculiarly dull
radiance, unlike the food Of light
poured upon the earth when the Queen
of Night is at her full.
Knowing the way they experience
no trouble in reaching the point where
they have been informed the two
boats will be in readiness. This time
there is no attempt made to rob them.
Perhaps the rascally Arabs who prowl
about the narrow streets during the
night looking for victims have retired,
like beasts Of prey, to their various
dens at the approach Of dawn. AT
any rate, the three men meet with no
adventure as they advance to the Nile
Here we are" says Sandy, when
they bring up at the designated spot.
Sure enough, two boats are seer
upon the water, both Of trim model
Voices can be heard, as though the
sailors are on deck. and all Is in readi-
ness for casting off.
Sandy takes one look into the face
Of Mynheer Joe as they come upon the
boats. 1t is enough to reassure him,
for the man does not show the least
emotion. If he were made of ice Myn-
heer Joe could not take the situation
in cooler manner than he does. This
satisfied the newspaper man that the
Russian duellist is about to be sur
prised. He may have had plain sail
ing in past affairs Of the kind, but
when he run across Mynheer Joe he
certainly struck mag that now gives
promise Of wrecking his bark.
Mr.. Grimes halls and voice an
swers-the voice Of the French officer
who met him as the baron's represen-
tative. They are to take the daha-
beah nearer the shore. The others
have just arrived, and If all their
party can be counted there Is nothing
to be done but to push off and get up
sail.
Captain, one question:" says Mr..
Grimes.
"At your service" replies the polite
Gaul, whom they can just indistinctly
see standing on the roof Of the second
cabin in a brave attitude, such as
French officers delight to assume, al
though those of other nations are not
far behind them in this respect.
"You spoke Of a doctor-the family
doctor of the baron, who understands
his constitution and knows how to
treat him. Pardon me, but is he on
board with you?"
Silence follows this cool question, as
though the Frenchman has been stag
gered by it; then, in bis courteous way
he would be polite even If thrusting
his sword through an enemy-the Off
Ger of the Khedive replies:
"He is with us, sir"
"Good. Then we consent to start" "
says Grimes, conscious that the ba-
ron's ears have caught all that has
been uttered, and willing to let him
know that there is no such thing as
scare in their party.
No more is said.
Orders ore given and the two Nile
River boats gotten under way with
the rapidity that distinguishes the Pc
culiar model common to this country.
Mynheer Joe clasps the hand Of his
second and gives it squeeze.
Thanks, my good friend. That dig
is worth something to me, you Under
stand" he says in his quiet but ear
nest way.
"Of course, sir. You know, my in.
terests are bound up in yours. I am
determined that this story shall end
in the proper way, and it can hardly
do that if the baron spits you on his
sword like a fowl before the fire. 1
have confidence in you, Mynheer Joe"
replied Mr.. Grimes.
No more is said just now, Tor the
boat is being gotten under way. The
breeze chances to be favorable, and
there is more Of it than usual at this
time in the morning. 1t comes from a
quarter not far removed from north
east, and the three-cornered sails Of
the dahabeah are peculiarly fitted to
catch a quartering current Of air.
Both boats are speedily rushing
through the water at lively rate.
The situation is rather romantic, with
the moon nearly overhead, day begin
ming to break in the east, and the
great sails Of the rival river boats
catching the fresh breeze that has
worked in acros; the intervening
delta Of the Nile from the Mediterra-
mean.
Was ever a duel fought under SINH
lar circumstances as those which
promise to mark this one? Probably
not.
ITO be Continued
A Painters Practical joke.