The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-27

expect much DVeller times.
Along toward the gray of dawn they
found a sort of crevice in the rocks,
which offered the refugees safe shelter
for the day. The prince wandered away
after unloading the beast and leaving
Dorothy with the provisions, to tcther
the camel an a secure spot He fed her
from the water skirs. and the grateful
animal lay down in the shelter, and
seemed thankful for the respite from
the hard march.
BardOn turned back, and suddenly the
, blood surged 20 his heart at the sound
of a rifle shot in the direction of Doro-
thy's ambush. Ledping over the ragged
boulders sword in hand, he caame upon
her cr0uching behind a rock.
What has happened?" he whispered
hoarsely. What did you shoOt?"
Dorothy pointed at a shapeless heap
sprawled out upon the deciivity before
the little refugee.
Bardoh advanced with caution, and
was quite beside the dark object, when
suddenly with sharp yelp. what now
proved to be a young panther. spTang
up and landed a blow with its full
weight upon the astonished man.
Bardofr was taken so by surprise that
he stumbled backward, and then there
was a hand to claw tussle for a moment
before the prince could get free his right
arm and use his sword with effect But
with a sudden backward lurch and a
weird scream the panther broke away
and carried with him the sword, ripped
from the hunters hand by main force
and which had been plunged clean
through the beast. coming out in a red
CLEAN in the starlight near the shoulder
Bardon fell, and Dorothy was At his
| side.
Are you hurt?" she gasped
Mono was the painting reply. but
this thing & dangerous-oh, you do not
realize That shot of yours might bring
down upon us "A hundred cursed fanat-
] les or robbers"
But ! couldn't help it, pleaded Dor
/ othy. 1t was either shoot or be killed
1 was never cornered like that before
| The beast lay back in the crevice of the
rock; and when / crept In, he confront
I ed me. ] shot 10 save myself / thought
] that l had killed him"
only "a wound" said the prince
/ They are clever villains. IL is well
/ that you d. not go near him, for he
knew how To play his game and turn
when you least expected. But here;
this will never do. 1 must up and mil-.c
! scouting tour about here, 10 make
sure that we are not watched IA
/ take no chances. We are in the devils
/ own country now"
! He rose. took up his rife. then went
l 10 the panther and snatched the sword
/ from the PROSTATE carcass. Even in this
act the beast. in the last agony Of
death. turned and gave an inenectual
snap. game TO the end.
/ 'Harkr said Dorothy. Il thought /
heard"
WHAT" was the GREATNESS interro-
/ cation.
II don't knew. was the whisper.
/ "YOnder-gO down and see
/ Without hesitation, even though his
/ wounds and bruises panied him. the
prince started off in the direction in
I dictated. scanning the dense shadows,
/ ready To fire upon the first sign OF life.
/ There was a stir in the little clump
I of reeds under low nabok tree at his
I left, and the prince advanced with lev
/ eled rifle upon the dark form which
lifted itself from the silent ambush.
"Enta MINI" cried the prince. Who's
| there
For q moment there was no stir or
! sound; then the stranger seemed 10
/ realize his peril. "A friend, came a
/ quivering voice at last
The prince lowered his weapon with
/ caution.
1t was almost thy last moment on
/ earth" ne said. How many are there
of you?'
None ether. master am alone
And who are you? What do you want
here?"
A tail man stepped forward. DO
you not know me. MASTER he said,
half beseechingly.
No"
Look again. pray you. / am the
man who sold you the camel. master.
The prince was frantic with sudden
/ rage. well. what do yau want2"
| Il came 20 give you your money
back, master. and TO take the camel
The prince came closer, where. IN
the starlight. he could see the whites
OF the others eyes
You ask something that is unreas-
ona ble-that is impossible, in fact he
replied.
but il must be done" burst in the
ether. firmly thrusting out a skin bag
which. as il struck the sword hilt OF
the traveller gave forth ringing
Chink Look ne persisted. throwing
of his clubhouse, and turning about
so that his broad back was exposed
do you see those stripes, masters?
Il see them" said the prince. shud-
derlng for the raised an dirregulaI
ridges looked as II a red hot iron had
been drawn across the swarthy flesh
zone hundred lashes with the rhinoc-
erous hide, master. ! tainted with the
sixty-hrst. but they dashed on still
They said 1 was lucky not to lose a
hand and foot. / promised them thai
] would run into the desert and inter
ceut the khalifa's guard on his way &c
Su9kim, and that 1 would return with
the camel, SO they gave me no bastina
do, which the kadi said ] deserved"
$50 YOU told them everything. die
ycu?" said the prince. with the calm
ness Of terrible apprehension. Come
now! what were your exact eXplana
uons a.. your master?'
81 told him all ! i:new. In the mean
time Their arrived four dahebcah'
, from Khartoum, searching for dos
Of a Russian prince. who had run away
with a guuboaL taking with him q
white slave - the Mahdi. They saiC
b that the khalifa sent no messenger Il
p q 1 b.. IL.