The Washington times., 1903-04-26

I RafaIyLed. OF as II EoadeH weights were
fastened TO their feet. But along with
this was mingled an intense satisfaction
at finding themselves once more on ter
restriaI soil
Fatima expressed this feeling with
her usual ehildishness. Falling on her
knees she kissed the earth, saying, "My
mother!' 1t was the only parent she
/ knew. poor chIdl
| As TO the doctor. his professional
instincts never deserted him. and his
| first act was to feel for his case Of
Instruments; his second, to feel the
nearest pulse.
Good pulse!' he murmured .4echani-
| cally. Regular and fuil-eighty pulsa-
| tions- Keep to a regular and snourish-
ing diet."
"Eh. doctor?" exclaimed Norbert.
| laughing. 1T is easy to see thai you
come from the mooni"
From the moon? Well. 7 really
| think-but where are we now?''
i would willingly tell you II I knew.
All that 1 can say is that in all probg-
biiity We are in the Nubian desert. The
soil is sandy, certainly, and that may
have softened our fall We can't expect
TO find out more in this thick darkness.
Il never saw such black night, ex-
cept, indeed, just now on our way down
through the air. Well, one is thankful to
be once more on the ground How are
We all getting on? How is Gertrude?"
-'MademoiseHe Kersain says she is all
right"
"And you. Sir Bucephalus 90
Rather knocked about. but without
any vital injury. I trust
And you. Virgil?"
at your service. sir. and ready to go
back again if needs must.
"BTavo!" said the doctor. That's what
call pluck, Let ne see. now Fati1na Is
there And Smith? Where Is smitb7s
Yes, indeed. Where is. SMITH echoed
Sir Bucephalus.
a hollow groan answered this query
Il seemed to come from the ground.
Cropping on all fours. Virgil at last
knocked against a human form.
"HaIIoa, eomrade, what are you
about?" asked Virgil on finding that the
body did not move. but remained head
downward with feet bent back to the
ground
I don't know where + an answered
q sepuIchraI voice. x have sad ia
my eyes. in my nose. everywhere. And
feel so heavy that I really must have
broken all my limbs,"
Rubbish! You fell head foremost in
the sand, and you have still got your
nose in it," replied Virgil. who began
to understand the state Of affairs.
Come. come, Comrade. get up the
Nubian desert isn't a bath
suiting the action TO the word, Virgil
set Smith on his legs. and holding him
by one arm, brought him back 70 the
others. who were all seated On the bare
ground
They searched about for the provision
basket. and found it with the electric
light, under the folds of the parachute.
The repast gave them fresh strength.
and by the time it was concluded the
first streaks of dawn had appeared in
the east .7zaz z-a5sszz
They could make out that they we're
on vast sandy plain. over which every
here and there were scattered cIumps of
palm trees, while a dark line of foliage
in the distance evidently indicated the
presence of water.
Il shall be much surprised If il is
not the Nile said Norbert. "As soon
as it is quite daylight we viii go AMI
see"
why waltz" said Gertrude Let US.
go at once. Tt viii be nice change
to walk IN fresh air without those
f-ightfuI respirators-
You are rather hard upon the res
pirators. We owe them our safety. az
ter ALL
Well, you may cali NE ungrateful #
you like. bat all the sane. I must own
that greatly prefer the air OF earth TO
the puTest oxygen in the moon
Every one agreed with her, and with
out further ado they left the parachute
to its fate. and went toward the distant
trees
Il took them an hour to reach he
place, although II was only three miles
Of. They had forgotten what it was ID
have the sensation Of weight in the
limbs. having been accustomed 10 skim
along like birds on the lunar globe
Inc sun Udu IioFH dUUft kiE ubAtNbA
when our tired friends at length reach
ed the side OF yellow. muddy river.
and threw themselves down On its
banks.
1T is certainly the Nile, Norbert
said. There is no similar river in this
region OF the world. But I wonder what
part of the Nilel I cant say with cer-
tainty where we are. but I fancy VS.
must be below Dongola." "
We shall not have long 20 wait" ex-
claimed Gertrude. whose elear-sighted
eyes had just diseerned little black
spot far down in the stream rs not
that q dahabieh?" she asked.
Every one looked n the direction SIN
pointed. and perceived a tiny moving
speck on the waters
The black spot grew momentarily, and
before many minutes Gertrude announc-
ed that it was dahabieh. or Nile boat.
and moreover. that it contained red
coats
Red coats!" said the baronet. May
you be right. for. if so, they are Eng
lish soldiers"
-.Hurrah for old England" shouted
Smith. enthusiastically. subsiding AFT
er this one burst into his usual calm.