The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-04

this desert this in
saint his formal notice bit
nowhere be found all the dreary outskirts
of Sahara
All long journeyed thru the wateress plain, and
halted desert well and prepared to biyouac
under the stars of heaven Our first task was to set up
chief of the with pavilion alongside
for the Arabian whom he was solemn escorting
the home of her master few of US were told off
by the shek to do this honorable piece OF work.
happened to be included the recommendation OF the
the camels.
you," he with of his stick what
do you call yourself, stranger from Algerian
"Abdulah- Abderrhaman. M'zabite of Algers.'
answered gby fell into the order he pointed with MS
finger -, aar, Sow,
Abdullah that take great care of the
slave of the Keep shut to what you
needn't know and don't pryng into high matters that
he spoke-was it fancy?I somehow imagined that
girl the ground in bundle Of rugs
glanced with strange and frightened
nquiring look half curiosity, half appealing terror
One judge little from the eyes alone They need
the aid of the other features to exc out their win
yelled woman nothing Perhaps was mis-
taken. After all she only Arabian slave-grl
We pitched the tent and then prepared our own
the dreay desert In few minutes the baskets OF
bread brought out and opened by
the noisy crowd the cames waered from the well oy
waysde; voices resounded thru the camp
forgetting but business Of the moment
turned in silence to eat frugal supper OF cheese ana
konskons.
night they called more-sus-
pcousy fanciedinto chiefs tent The shek himself
long his of Temcen carpet on the bare
ground Intercepted length name and
origin "a Mzabe' he said, with curious look 'Oho
Mzabe Abdulah Abderrhaman, are light for that
The Benz Mzab mostly much darker than Son OF
the children of the broad oasis let arm! don't
like the look of Mzabte light and fairhaired as the
infde1s. Especially the road to Keronan
lifted my robe and showed him 1t was brown,
like face, for dark Cornshman. He nodded and
let cit is wel!' he muttered 1.-THE man is indeed
Stay tent, tho I
may you tonight when it BELTS all
Mosens guard themselves carefully from the wes
of the infde." ~.
retired to the corner and lay nervousy,
where he pointed place the blankets My
heart began to hutter little with danger
its leaders
against failed in prayer in washing, in ges
really follower Of
the prophet?
AS Law and looked saw with perfect certainty this
that the girl still rveted in
deem attenon more landed once that she tried
with parted lips alone thru the folds Of
her yashma But failed to make out the words And
all Arab such born ntriguers! - r.
Some minutes later the gong at the door OF the tent
sounded 1t the signal for rose at once and
knocking head thrice against the ground in the direction
of Mecca Frustrated myself in the fashion prescribed by
Mohammedan ritual for the customary hany OF the third
hour.
1ae put IN the hurry OF the moment IN splte Oh an my
careful rehearsal made fatal mistake of detail which
the chief of the would surely have noticed had he
it occurred in his
devotons glanced around me anxousy to see if was
to perceive it, But sharper eyes
STILL sudden start and glance that seemed not
much like horror surprise showed at beyond
the shadow of doubt that the saveg had noted in second
my fatal omission
would leader keeper:
is Mussuman at ALL, and destroy me? turned
rembed. 1t anxious moment But the slave-g
moved muscle vsby know not how. vaguely
felt thru veil yashma that strange passion
sweeping terrible dropped
and mechanically continued gobbng
looked again had the veil inscruaby
her head and sat mute statue in the
opposite.
"Stop there watch!' the shek murmured sulenly,
looking at again, he finished his and he
sat down himself in solemn silence his dirty with the
mpassive face of the true Arab traveller
In few minutes two yelled old women led away
savegirl to night in the
separate spite Of doubts composed myself for
where rather couched, the
half whether should reach
safety It quaint adventure rather enjoyed
bold uncertainty The chief snoring regularly
woke of his heavy breath he
uneasly his long form the floor beside
wrapped burnous round body well able.
sleep, spite obvious dis
comfort Of present position.
About two in the morning something stirred. I awoke
with start conscious Of touch left shoulder Hap
ply presence of mind keep quite
fair well
the of the tent and held towards
intense SURPRISE of written read
it in formed Arabic letters the single sentence written