New-York tribune., 1908-02-09

end.
If | tell your grandfather what little
know of these people, l break my word" he
said harshly That is the only reply | can
make. Miss Fenshawe. May add the Ignoble
argument that any such breach of faith on my
part would probably be useless, You ought
to sympathize with me-
Why?" she said coldly.
Because it IS not often that man IS tor
tured A., am by conflict between duty and
and desire
There is our palm grove she cried, point
ing to a few stunted trees whose frOnds showed
above the rock strewn bank of a small wadi,
or ravine. which cut through the center OF the
shelving plateau they were crossing. The
ground is fairly clear here. Shall we try
Canter?'
Without waiting for a reply she pressed her
pony into a steady gallop. RoysOn responded
to her wayward mood, and followed her lead
The camel path they followed had the distinct
ness Of daily use though no recognized katila
had passed that way during the previous year
Soon it turned up the side OF the raVlne- The
SdyGH bushes began to grow more densely. and
the wadi spread to great width Beyond
patch OF pebbles lay a brown carpet of
tough grass. In the center stood seven
date trees and q considerable number OF
stunted bushes. The camping place appeared
to be untenanted.
First come, first served" Royson cried
ioyously. &C. We have the forage to ourselves,
Miss Fenshawe | shall he sorry for any Others
who come this way after our host has passed.
Look at it now it Is an absolute army. We
shall strip this poor little garden OF the desert
as locuSts are said TO eat up a cornteld-
Irene slipped from the saddle loosened the
girths and then glanced at the distant caravan,
which had Just become visible again on the sky
line OF the plateau. Ii was more than likely
that no such mixed gathering OF men and ami
mails had taken that road since the destruction
OF forests converted the country into wilder
ness. The party from the yacht numbered
eighteen; there fifty Bedouin Arabs in
attendance a hundred cdmels: eight horses.
Arabs or SOmah ponies, each requiring a SiCe.
while the shelk who had brought the caravan
from PaJura was overlord OF a score OF hangers
on who figured in his list Is servants.
The girl watched the approaching caravan
silently for q time, How far distant are they
nGW,' she asl.'
Nearly two mix II looks more like two
flrlongs,' said he, dI lining her thought; for
it was easy to discern Mrs. Haxton, wrapped IN
gray dust cloak on a splendid riding camel
IN advance ot the main body Beside her. on
Arab horses. were Fenshawe and Won kerber.
the latter having Just ridden up from the rear.
The woman in question was bending toward
Feushawe.
FIVE weeks previously the Aphrodite dropped
anchor off Pajura after crossing from Aden,
where Fcushawe had despatched his cable
grams and obtained a portion of the equip
ment needed for the desert tour The arrival
ot such large party OcCasIoued no little excite
had not seen many white faces at one time
since its establishment
The French officers At PAjura thought he
was rather cracked to take women with HIM
Vet they were obliged To admit that desert
travel was healthy and enjoyable, provided
supplies were ample. and on this score the
skilled explorer of Sudan byways showed that
he had lost none of his cunning. Before the
caravan started news came from Alden that
the Cigno had been dragged of her Sandspit
This gave an added value TO the land route
As the coast of Eritroa was aSsuredly closed
to them The French authorities, on the
other hand rendered every assistance in their
power
And now. after "A month OF steady marching
the caravan was we'll within Italian territory
The route lay parallel with the sea. but nearly
a hundred miles distant from II Thus far no
unexpected difficulties had cropped up. The
few nomais encountered were only too anxious
10 he friendly. The weather scorchIng by d4v
and intensely cold by night was quite bearablc
Indeed. 70 anyone in good health. 1t supplied q
marvellous tonic Travellers less admirably
equipped might have suffered annoyance from
the snakes and scorpions which seem q thrive
n the midst OF sun burnt jeSJlation; but these
voy4scrs ts !nrG slept IN hammocks slung III
roouy tents, and aSSiduaUS servants diSlodged