The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24

the chiefs eyes. and then DE appeared 10
ponder. Near by rife leaned against
the trunk Of a palm. and he picked il up
and examined it critically, finally pointing
20 30 ana holding up four fingers, as
though 20 signify that four rifles would
be accepted in lieu OF the gold dust The
supply Of rifles was however. limited.
the party's reserve supply having been
lost By the overturniug Of one Of the
bOats. and again Capt. Macdonald shook
his head.
Quietly the chief replaced the rife
against the tree trunk. and with another
grave bow turned and strobe away from
the camp, straight out over the desert
For a long time those on the camp could
see the tall figure passing on out into the
silent vastness. but it presently disap-
peared in the distance
whole Desert Is Moving"
This incident was not OF a nature TO
promote an idea Of security in the minds
Of men at all familiar with the desert
tribes. and one OF the Englishmen as
suIhed the duty Of sentry for the night, in
place of the natives BY I O'Clock. how
ever. nothing had occurred. Cap Mac
donald and the remaining white man were
sitting near the FIRE. which had burned
low, talking and occasionally laughing at
some aHecdoJe Suddenly the man on
guard. who had been standing at the land
ward edge OF the palm clump. called 10
them ia d low voice, and they hurried 20
his side.
What Is ito" Macdonald whispered.
Watch "a moment" was the low reply.
In silence they waited. and then
lips.
My God, The whole desert is moving
he gaSped. and il indeed seemed as if il
was. What d moment before had ap-
peared 10 be thorn bushes had silently
advanced ten feet. From one came the
CLINT of moonlight on a spear blade. The
ruse was plain. An army was creeping
upon the camp, each Of the desert war
riOrS screening himself with "a thorn bush
which ne carried. The only chance for
life lay in flight. for the attackers evil
IDENTIFY numbered at least a hundred. and
the Englishmen knew that little or no de-
pendence could be placed in the courage
Of their native attendants. To attempt TO
stop q rush by the force approaching with
only three rifles would have been folly.
Started the Machine.
Get the bearers to work quickly and
silently. Macdonald ordered. Leave
the tents standing. but get the luggage
into the boats. They can reach them
unobserved under cover Of the rushes
along the water edge"
The other two men hurried to execute
this direction, and Macdonald slipped
quickly back TO his tent He did not be-
lieye that the final rush would come so
long as the attackers thought the ex-
plOrers were awake and on guard, and
an idea for gaining few minutes time
IN which to push the boats off from the
shore and beyond the spear cast had oc-
CURED to him. He hastily drew the pho
nograph from its box and adjusted the
horn.
Among the records was one OF a vaude-
vile dialogue turn, the words being from
time to time interrupted by peals of
laughter. ard this be placed IN the ma
chine. BY the time he had finished his
arrangements one of the other English
men came creeping back from the boats
ana informed him that all but one had
already pushed of. Macdonald started
the machine, and then the two, crouch
ing low under the shelter of the rushes
and wading to their knees in the water,
hurried to where the last boat was wait
lnSs iettlnS TIE puDnOBTdpn ming the
deserted camp with jest and laughter
The boat was pushed off from the shore,
and for few minutes allowed to drift
down stream. the voice OF the machine
growing fainter in the distance. Then
the paddles were dipped vigorously and
the boat headed for the middle of the
river and deep water
Then from the clump OF palm on the
shore arose fierce battle cries, which a
moment later sank into a confused shout
ing. Evidently the rush had come a
very few minutes after the photograph
had reached the end of the record.
The desert warriors soon grasped the
fact that they had been tricked, and wild
with rage and disappointment, they
rushed down to the rivers edge and
shoulder deep into the water, but the
last boat had now reached a safe dis /
lance and the spears that were cast
fell harmlessly short. The war party
made no attempt 20 keep pace with the /
boats and was soon lost 10 sight and /
hearing.