New-York tribune., 1908-03-01

sole difficulty that remained was % decide
whether the should march when the trst
streaks Of light showed in the sky. or await the
hour fixed for the interview with Alher1- Ihey
resolved to leave HussaIn and a few trust
worthy men at the oasis, with instructions %
remain there till eight o clock. II Ai1ler1 kept
his trvst thew were TO give him a letter. WIT
ten bv Irene, which asked him 20 follow and
ioin the expedition. Otherwise. they were %
ride after the caravan at top speed. and report
his nOn-arrIval-
60 Dick and Irene missed that agreeable
~ watch under the stars. and their thoughts.
instead of being given TO each other. were
centered on the unluckv fortune hunters
whom accident or design had separated from
them.
Yet when the sun rose over the desert. It
was exhIlaratIng enough TO ind themselves
riding side by side once more. The order OF
march was simple but well designed Ahll'T
kad'r. in command OF several Arabs on BIS
harm CanelS, provided mounted screen haI
a mile in front. Fenshawe, ROysOn. and Irene
with some OF the sailors, formed the advance
guard. Then came the katIla proper. with the
remainder OF the AphrodIteS crew. under
StumPs charge, as a rear guard They had
halted for breakfast. and were preparing for
another long march before the heat Of the sun
enforced a rest, when HuSsain overlook them
At eight o'clock Alfieri had not visited the
rendezvous. nor was he TO be seen an hour
later from the summit OF the last h1L which
gave a view of the oasis.
III news is little the better because It is ex-
peCted. and everyone wished 70 push on as
quickly as possible But the desert was in
eXorable III its limitations. Great speed means
great exhaustion and consequently greater
demand for water Nevertheless. thew rIS1ei
the chance OF a dry spell at the journeys end
and finally despite lrene'S protests against
being left behind. Rovson and AbtuIiah. with
SIX of the APhrodite's men, and Abdur kad'r
at the head OF thirty picked Arabs. Went on aC
a spanking pace They counted on reaching
the ancient camping ground about half-past
five Abdullah was the first 20 discover
recent signs OF large kati-a having passed
that way He it was too who raised a
warning hand when they emerged from a
wide valley and crossed a plateau which
roughly speaking. wss three miles from the
we'll
They halted and strained eyes and ears
They could see nothing, owing 10 a few scat
tered hurnmoCks m front; but they caught
distinctly the irregular thud> of distant rife
firing. That was enough Careless of the
rough going or the condition of their carneIs
at the close, they raced ahead madlv. There
was no question now OF the odds they might
have to face
How long could the unequal contest be
maintained That was the question that tor
tured Dick Many times during that Wild
ride he asked II. and the only answer he re
ceived given by despair. 1t came 70
him through a spume Of dust and fivIrg sand.
and the rattle of aCCOutrerucutS and the
plants OF frenzied carnels. and the wells and
curses OF the strangely assorted company of
deIlvererS, as they plunged across the desert
toward the Well of the Seven Hills. And It's
dlScordant shrek was " Too late Too Late .
The gods have frowned the pilIdgcrs of
Shaba, and the wrath of the gods Is ever
lasting
To b r's-h,dsi rsu Ssr1I