Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-02
XIII.
The Making Of a Man.

'S~N-'
engaging in fishing and pearling off the
coast of Arabia, sighted a black speck on
the smooth surface OF the waters. and
coming up to it found the body OF a man
dashed to small and rudely constructed
raft.
The man was apparently dead, and the
fishermen. fierce. callous orientals. were
for casting him into the sea after they
had appropriated his clothes. watch and
the few sovereigns that they found In his
waistcoat pocket. But one of them. who
was cunning rather than humane. sug-
gested the possibility of a reward, and
said that If heaven thought fit to spare
the strangers life 1t would be as we'll
to participate in the benefits bestowed by
a merciful Providence. These white in
fdels were rich and able to pay well for
any services rendered to them.
So they took Richard Gaunt on board
their dhow and set sail for the coast,
which was forty miles distant.
They used every means in their power
to restore him to life. but it was not until
they were within mile of their destina-
ton that he opened his eyes and cried out
for water.
A draught of strong, bitter wine put
life into his wasted body. and he greedily
devoured some dates that were offered
him. Then he asked a few questions, but
finding that he was not understood he re-
lapsed into silence. The men jabbered
away in an unknown tongue and made
signs, which conveyed nothing to his
mind He made no effort to comprehend
what they were saying. He had no wish
to know who they were or where they
the affairs of the world did not interest
him. He could only think Of his escape
from death and of that last agony in
which he had prayed to God for life.
The vessel sailed down narrow chan
mel between two black walls Of rock and
anchored in blue and sunlit pool. On
either side of 1t were more rocks. so high
that they overtopped the masts. but the
shore itself was stretch of smooth.
white sand. Two hundred yards inland
there was a small oasis. covered with
green heritage and date palms. but be-
yond that there was nothing but an undu-
lating plain of sand, extending as far as
the eye could reach. A few tents and
shade of the tres. and some children
were playing on the sand and building
castles, just for all the world like English
children at Margate. Some women, close
ly yelled, came leisurely down to the edge
of the water and stared at the vessel.
as though they had not seen 1t before.
Richard Gaunt was rowed ashore In a
fat-bottomed boat, and at once BECAME
the center of a: small crowd. The chill
dren left their heaps of sand. and the
women turned away from their contem-
plation of the vessel. But one of the
men. who appeared to have some author
ity over the others. spoke a few sharp
words and the crowd dispersed. Two
strong swarthy fellows laid hold of Gaunt
and carried him up the slope. for he was
still too weak to walk They took him to
the door Of large hut. built of branches,
and laid him on the threshold. Then one
of them cried out something, and they
both stood aside and waited.
In few moments the door Of the hut
opened and an old man came out and
supporting himself with the aid of two
sticks. gazed flxedly at the PROSTATE fig
ure. 1t seemed to Gaunt that this was
the oldest man he had ever seen. The
brown face was wrinkled like the shell
of walnut The body. once of more
than average height. was so bowed by
age that the long white beard fell below
the knees. The hands were all veins and
muscles. and looked almost like designs
for an anatomical student. Only the eyes
retained the vigor and sparkle Of youth
They were dark. piercing and full of life
For more than a minute the little grouI
remained motionless. then the old mar
asked q question. and received long and
voluble reply. Then he pointed with g
stick to q small hut and hobbled back
into his house.
The two men picked up Gaunt from the
ground and carried him to the small hut
many months.
He was treated with every kindness un.
til he had recovered his health and
strength. Then 1t was made clear to him
that he must either work or starve. He
worked willingly, and the hard, simple