The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-08

the flowing robes of an Arab, and not In
the close fitting Khaki of a soldier. He
was very tall. and a high turban made
him seem gigantic. He strode swiftly
along. with head erect and the bearing Of
a man who knows no fear.
Who could he be, this formidable giant
coming out of the unknown? The precur-
ser possibly of a horde Of savage spear
men. And where could he have walked
from? The nearest well was long hun
dred miles down the track. At any rate
the frontier post of kurkur could not af-
ford to receive casual visitors. Hilary
Joyce whisked round his horse, galloped
into camp and gave the alarm. Then. with
twenty horsemen at his back, he rode out
again to reconnoiteT
The man was still coming on In spite Of
these hostile preparations. For an in
slant he had hesitated when first he saw
the cavalry, butrescape was out OF the
question, and he advanced with the air Of
one who makes the NEST of bad job. He
made no resistance, and said nothing
when the hands of two troopers clutched
at his shoulders but walked quietly be-
tween their horses into camp. Shortly
afterward the patrols came in again.
There were no signs Of any Dervishes.
The man was alone. splendid trotting
camel had been found dead lying a little
way down the track. The mystery of
the strangers arrival was explained. But
why, and whence, and whittier? These were
questions for which a Jealous officer must
find an answer.
Hilary Joyce was disappointed that there
were no Dervishes. 1t would have been
a great start for him in the Egyptian
army had he fought little action on his
own account. But even as it was, he had
rare chance OF impressing the authort-
ties He would love to show his capacity
to the head OF the Intelligence, and even
more to that grim chief who never forgot
what was smart, or forgave what was
slack The prisoners dress and bearing
showed that he was Of Importance. Mean
men do not ride pure bred trottlng camelS.
Joyce sponged his head with cold water,
drank a cup OF strong coffee, put on an
imposing official tarboosh instead of his
sun helmet and formed himself into
court of inquiry ana judgment under the
acacia tree.
He would have liked his people to have
seen him now, with his two black order
lies in waiting, and his Egyptian native
officer at his side. He sat behind a
camp table, and the prisoner, strongly
guarded, was led up to him. The man
was a handsome fellow, with bold gray
eyes and long black beard.
'Whyr' cried Joyce, 1.-The rascal is
making faces at me-
curious contraction had passed over
the mans features, but so swiftly that it
might have been a nervous twitch. He
was now a model of Oriental gravity.
Ask him who he is, and what he
wants"
The native officer did SO. but the
stranger made no reply, save that the
| same sharp spasm passed once more over
his face.
well I'm blessedl" cried Hilary Joyce.
"Of all the impudent scoundrelsl He
keeps on winking at me. Who are you,
you rascal? Give an account of yourselfI
Dye hear?"
But the tall Arab was as impervious to
English as to Arabic. The Egyptian tried
| again and again. The prisoner looked at
| casionally tWitched his face at him, but
| never opened his mouth. The Bimbashi
scratched his head. In bewilderment.
Look here, Mahomet ALI. we've got to
get some sense out of this fellow. You say
there are no papers on him?"
mo sir; we found no papers,.
mo clue Of any kind?"
HE has come far, sir. A trotting camel
does not die easily. He has come from
| Dongola, at least"
wen we must get him to talk"
cit is possible that he is deaf and
dumb.
mot he. I never saw a man look more
all there is in life.
ssYou might send him across to As
souan"
and give some one else the credit7
No thank you This 10 my bird But
how are we going to get him to ind his
tongue?''
The Egyptians dark eyes s1irted the
encampment and rested on the cooks fire.