Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09

lean, saturnine Arab who mathematical all
his assistants Unfortunately, varying his
epithets only according to the nationality of
the man under the lash of his tongue at the
moment.
"Bestir yourself, illegitimate one! Are we
to await the setting sun ere the tents are
fixed! he shouted at negro who was bothered
by lknotted rope crash behind him told
the 6 gTou Vou owl, what ev; have YOU done,"
roared the sheik, trans6xing the culprit with a
glittering eye.
40! loosened strap. honored one, and
the accused thing fell" was the explana-
ton.
at fell, Ell? So shall my whip fall,
Sidi Hassan. if thou art not more pains
taking!" He rushed toward a group of Somali
sizes.
Pigs, and children of pigs!" he cried, for
what does the Effendi pay ye? Is there no
occupation, ye black dogs!,, May your fathers
graves be def1ed by cursl"
Stump, whose rubicund visage was burned
brick red by the desert, took keen interest
in Abdur Kad'r's daily outpourings. He had
no Arabic, but he appreciated the speakers
fuency. He'd make bully good bosn.
his favorite comment, and he would add
sorrowfully II wish l knew wat he was
sayin'. 1t 'ud do me treat
In an astonishingly short space of time the
camp would be in form. fires lit with parched
shrubs gathered during the last stage of the
y,
down to rest until sunset when, if there was
no evening march. the Arabs and negroes
would sing and perhaps indulge in amazingly
realistic sword play. while the dozen sailors
brought from the yacht would watch the COM
batants or engage in singsong on their own
account.
A BOUT four o'clock Irene was sitting in her
tent making some belated jottings IN
diary Being thirsty she called servant, and
o1d TO hrin hot Of A
few minutes later she heard stumble, crash,
and loud exclamation in Arabic The man
had fallen over one of the heavy stones to
which the guy ropes were fastened. Then she
found that the Somali had risen to his knees,
and was gazing skyward with every token of
abject terror At the same instant strange
commotion broke out in camp Through the
open side of the tent she saw Europeans and
natives all looking in the one direction north
ward The Britons and Arabs had an air of
profound astonishment They pointed and
gesticulated, but otherwise showed self control.
But the negroes were in panic. For the most
part they were kneeling few Frustrated
themselves at full length, and howled dolo-
rously.
The girl was alone. and she naturally felt
alarmed Royson was not far away, and he,
like the rest. was held spellbound by some
spectacle the nature of which she could not
removed from Irene, because he turned and
looked at her
Come quickly, Miss Fenshawe!" he shouted.
Here is the most wonderful mirage ever
seen!'
Conscious of thrill of fear she ran toward
Royson. What in the world"
Then she saw, and was stricken dumb with
the sight. for she was looking at spectacle
which the desert seldom provides even to those
who pass their lives within its bounds A thin
haze had taken the place of the remarkable
clearness of the morning hours Away to the
north it had deepened almost into fog. low
lying and luminous mist like the white pail
which often shrouds the sea on calm, bright
day in summer. The sky was losing its bur-
nished copper hue and becoming blue again,
and on the false horizon supplied by the crest
of the fog bank stood brilliantly vivid piano.
rama
There were military tents. lines of pcketed
camels and horses, a great number OF Arabs
and blacks. and some fifty Italian soldiers. all
magnifed to gigantic proportions. but so
clearly defined that the trappings of the ami
mails the military uniforms. and the gay
colored burnooses of the Arabs were readily
distinguishable 1t could be seen too that they
were working Mounds of rock and earth
showed that considerable excavations had been
made While those gathered round the well
were yet gazing at this bewildering and lifelike
picture. the moving ghosts in the sky under
went change which enhanced their realism
One squad of soldiers and natives marched off
toward the tents. while another took their