The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-03-18

what Of his story. The sheik's caravan
had successfully resisted attack upon
the march, but the two had become
separated from the company, and be-
ing overtaken were robbed and left
to die. All this had taken place more
than three days since; and the slave
had kept up the lonely and maddening
| vigil by his dead master with almost
| sublime heroism. Knowing that my
| comrades would soon be retreating to
| recover me dead or alive, as soon as
the slave was able to walk we took the
burnouse from the dead sheik and
started back toward the trail. The way
was very difficult and slow, and ! was
compelled almost to carry the ema-
ciated lad bodily. On we plodded till
the darkness settled about us, and then
making ourselves as comfortable as
possible, we lay down side by side and
watched out the night.
THE next morning, although the
slave boy was in much better physi-
cal condition. felt that myself was
fast succumbing. arose once or twice
and tried to make a little circle over
the sand mounds to get my bearings.
but soon gave up the enigma. | figured
matters out with the calculation OF
physician. had water enough to last
us another day or, for myself alone,
two days. | almost wished l had not
happened upon the slave now, for II
might be that my own life would be
sacrificed in this deed of charity. Then
i 4
heart. II one perished, we should both
perish. He had been a godsend, giving
me companionship, and how did l not
know that he had not saved me from
something worse than death-from
madness. With brotherly care | divided
the water drop by drop-water more
precious than blood. The slave was
grateful-pitifully SO at what he per-
ceived to be my sacrifice. When he
saw that was going to pieces, how
ever. he not only refused to lap up
these precious drops of salvation, but
actually thrust out his arms to me
with the offer of his own blood to
save me. This touched me very deep
| ly. had opened my canteen and saved
his life for little while, and now he
was ready to open his veins to save
mine!
"On the morning Of the second day
I gave up hope, and began a rambling
letter to my friends in case they should
ever find me. Even this little exertion
| overcame me; and after a few scrawls
| gave up the task. Hours of complete
/ col In thn hrnil nf n
sun came oftener now. Again the
slave lads long suffering on the desert
served him well. | realized that he
would survive me by a day, or perhaps
more. I gave him my effects, weapons
and all, making him understand that
in case my friends came my belongings
were to be turned over to them, and
that the slave himself should be re-
wardcd. Then l sank in my dust bed
falling into sort of coma.
Il was aroused by the crack Of a
rifle. The lad had used my weapon
we'll, bringing down small antelope
with single shot. Too weak to rise, |
turned my head and watched the boy
crawl over to his prize. After what
seemed to be the struggle of his life,
he dragged the deer toward me. Then
thankfulness, and soon felt the warm
blood of the gazelle, dropping from
the bullet wound on its breast, bathing
my swollen lips. The effect was magi-
cal, revived-I lived again! The slave
was now saving my life even as had
saved his. The gratitude he showed
gave me renewed courage.
But, strange as it may seem, the
happy incident of the shooting Of the
young deer exercised rather a depres
sing than a hopsful influence upon the
spirits of my staunch champion. The
poor little lad refused to partake of
the saving grace which he had vouch-
safed me. Hourly he grew weaker. De-
lirium followed, and | was compelled
to use my poor strength to force the
raw food into his mouth, and all to no
purpose. Can any one realize how my
heart was now pricked by conscious
ness of the heroism Of this Nubian
slave during these terrible hours? All,
the vigil was long and bitter-through
torrid days, and nights black as only
Nubia knows them, with death and
desolation encompasslng us on every
hand, the prowlng jackals and the
starving tigers calling fiercely to one
another at the smell of blood, only
awaiting my sinking into sleep to
plunge into the carnival which should
end all for me. In order to rob the
night of its terrors and the day Of its
madness, strove with my poor pa
tient, who was fast ebbing into the
last slumber, with none to succor, none
to restore. | felt that with him gone
/ should lose all hope. all wish to live.
We seemed like the last two surviving
human beings of earth, and | chose
that he, the child of Nubian darkness,
and /, the son of Western day, might
go hand in hand together.
ION that last day Of my desolate
watch the sun was sinking over the
| lfn1itIacc Sand ocaan and I thought