The Washington times., 1904-10-23
CHAPTER VI
Captivity.

Captivity.
Moving through the crowded camps Of
the emirs and the dervishes, the prince
managed early TO gain a place of wor-
ship near The Mahdis tent, where he
was untiriug In his monotonoUs invoca-
lions in the solemn sing song of the
peniJents. sWayiHg TO ana FRO after the
manner or those rapt In divine mediJa-
tons
Though the guards had not seen him
before, nor looked upon him as one OF
the holy men of the neighboring tribes.
the mumed face. the torn and ragged
gibbeh. the sword. the spear and the
mud smirched hands and dust sprinkIed
form proclaimed him one of the most
abject OF the NIahdi's adorers.
Once or twice, when he managed TO
crawl, in his contoruons OF reverence.
very close TO the hut of the master. the
guard. with a prick Of his spear point,
warned him away. commanding him not
10 disturb the holy one with his droOn-
ing iuvoCaJions. But soon he fell with
his face TO the ground, feiguing sIum-
her, ana the guards sank down. draw
ing their knees up and resting their
Javelins across them so that their chins
rested there I'm sleep that was none
the less ever wstelful.
IT was midnight now. The low muir
murluEs of The dervishes sounded
through the valley fainter and fainter.
the naggaras beat less regularly, and
the sHriu yelp of the hyenas along the
Nile banks came sharply up from the
depths, as If these grave ghOuIs were
calling TO one another 10 come and en-
JOY the feast after the battle.
BaTd0n arose cautiously and crept
along the shadows until he had gained
the edge OF the Mahdis tent. There.
crUucled down breathlessly. ne peered
into the gorgeous place. and beheld a
startling sight.
In the very center was silk draped
augarib. upon which the Mahdi lay. sur
rounded by his council. They were In
deep whispered converse and the light
from the two altar lamps, which iuu-
mined the place, threw weird glow
over the solemn scene
The Mahdl was evidently in the throes
OF fever
About him. lying upon beautiful rugs.
were the wives and suryas Of the mas
Ter, fast asleep. But one remained
awake and that was the angel OF light
who reclIued in most betting state at
the further end OF the dTaped chamber
being quite separate from the rest
Arrayed In spOtless white, the lovely
stranger had sort of bower to herself.
and a slave girl was nOdding beside
her. swinging 20 and fro peacock
feather fan.
There she sat. with her head half
thrown back upon her mountain OF pill
lows, silent and motiouless, vet her eyes
We're wide and there was "a look of
mystery and longing in the deep orbs
that helC the Qulveriug watcher spell
bound
Who was she? Whence had she Gomez
Ii was beyond all conjecture.
The Mahdi had raised his hands and
baekoued the council to come closer
'I am about 10 embark upon IL three
days Journey through heaven he said
cit may be tonight, it may not be tu
tomorrow. or for some days; but / go.
f0r Allah calls. I shall return 20 YOU.
even as the prophet OF Nazareth re-
turned from the tomb. Swear. then.
that while / am gone, o my faithful,
you viii carry out the edicts of
my successor. who stands here before
you EI KhaHfal Fl Mahdi. Abdulla the
Wise. Swear, swear by Allah and the
AsLdfH'
The khaHfahs and the emirs Joined
hands. each repeating the oath OF ale
legiauce. Then in solemn reverence
they bowed about the couch. while the
mahdi began the Instructions for the
carrying out or his policy for the three
days or absence. II was plain that his
three days meant three eternitles.
During this solemn scene the prince
had managed 20 make his way around
10 the side OF the tent iu dense shadow
where. peeriug through a tiny crevlce.
he caught a glimpse of the angel or $40
manned almost within arm s length.
Long and earnestly he studied that
fair face. trying 90 solve the mystery
of her nationality Then, feeling that
she must be a being OF his own race
even if not Of his language, the prince
sLyLy drew forth O. cigarette paper and
wrote upon b. iu large capital letters q
single phrase in French: Whoever Won
are. III you are "a captive. / can save
you. Trust metz
DeftIE folding RardofF bided