The independent-reporter., 1909-12-23
CHAPTER xIX.

NlHE next morning steamship
II flying the English flag came to
I'LL anchor of Arafat. delivered
IL and received mail bags and
after an hours stay steamed away In
the drift of the southeast trade winds
Bombay to Cape Cololy. The men
at the chateau gazed longingly, help
lessly through their glasses at this
black hulled visitor from the world
they loved. They watched 1t until
nothing was left to be seen except the
faint cloud Of smoke that went to a
pin point In the horizon. There had
been absolutely no opportunity to COM
municate with the officers of the ship.
They sailed away hurriedly. as II in
alarm. Their haste was significant.
"Perhaps Bowles succeeded in get
ting a word with the officer who came
ashore" said Browne hopefully. "He
knows the danger we are in."
my dear Browne, Bowles hadn't the
ghost of a chance to communicate with
the ship" said Chase. HE can't bully
'em any longer with his Tommy Atkins
coat. They've outgrown it, just as he
has. 1t was splendid while 1t lasted,
but they're no more afraid Of 1t now
than they are Of my warships. l wish
there was some way to get him and his
English assistants into the chateau.
It's awful to think Of what Is coming
to them sooner or later"
"Is there no way to help them?"
groaned Deppingham.
an never forget poor Bowles the
first time l saw him in his dinky red
Jacket and that hooligan cap Of his"
Deppingham's remark. "He put them
on and tried to overawe the crowd that
night when l was threatened In the
market place. He did his best, poor
chap. and r.
"Lookr' exclaimed Britt suddenly,
pointing toward one Of the big gates
in the upper end Of the park. II be-
lieve they're making an attack
The next instant the men In the bal
cony were leaving 1t pellmell. picking
up the ever ready rides as they dashed
of through the halls and out into the
park. They kept themselves as well
covered as possible by the boxed trees,
although up to this time there had
been no shooting.
Chase. In advance, suddenly gave
vent to loud cry and boldly dashed
out into the open. disregarding all
shelter. Two of the native park patrol
were Fastening toward the gate from
another direction. Outside the huge.
barred gate throng Of men and
women were congregated. Some Of
the men were vigorously slashing
away at the bars with sledges and
crowbars: others were crouching with
rifles leveled-in the other direction!
"It's Bowlesw shouted Chase eagerly.
The situation at once became clear
to those inside the walls. Bowles and
his friends. score all told. had man.
aged to reach the upper gate and were
now clamoring for admission, beset on
all sides by the enemy's pickets.
"For Gods sake. be Quickw shouted
Bowles. There's thousand of them
coming up the mines road!r'
The gates were unlocked by the pa
troll. and the panic stricken throng
tumbled through them and scattered
like sheep behind the high. sheltering
walls. Once more the massive gates
were closed and the bolts thrown
down just in time to avoid fusillade
of bullets from the outside.
Once inside the chateau the fugi-
tives, shivering with terror. fairly col
lapsed. There were three Englishmen
In the party besides Bowles. and
Chase recognized the Persian wives
Of Jacob Won Blitz among the women
who had been obliged to cast their lot
with the refugees from Arafat. The
sister Of Neenah and Eve or six other
women who had been sold into the
island made up the remainder Of the
little group Of trembling females.
The remainder Of the men In the
party, fourteen or fifteen In all. were
Of many castes and nationalities and
Of various. ages. There were brown
skinned fellows from Calcutta, a cou
pie or sturdy Greeks, an Egyptian and
a Persian. three or four Assyrians and
as many Maoris. As to their walks in
life, among them were clerks and
guards from the bank. members Of the
native constabulary, Indian takers and
showmen and venders Of foreign gew
gaws.
Bowles. his thin legs still shaking
perceptibly, although he strove might
fly to hold them at strict attention"
was the spokesman. A valiant heart
thumped once more against the seams
of the little red jacket. If his hand
trembled and his voice shook 1t was
because Of the unwonted exertion to
which both had been put In that STIR
ring flight at dawn.
''For some time We have been pre-