Evening star., 1909-03-15
CHAPTER XIX.-Continued.
SWITZERLAND.

. IL was very strange journey. and al
though she did not seem to take much
note Of them at the time, its details
and surroundings burned themselves deep
ly in Rachers mind. The hush of the
infinite desert, the white moonlight gleam-
ing upon the salt, white sand; the tall
rocks which stood up here and there
like unfinished obelisks and colossal stat
ues, the snowy clouds of dust that rose
beneath the feet of the company; the
hoarse shouts Of the guides, the close
heat the halts for water which was
greedily swallowed in great gulps; the oc-
casional cry and confusion when man
fell out exhausted, or because he had
been bitten by one of the serpents- All
these things, among others, were very
strange.
Once Rachel asked vaguely what be-
came Of these out-worn and snake poison
ed men, and Mole only shook her head In
answer. for she did not think fit to tell
her that they were left to find their way
back or 10 perish, as might chance.
All that night and for the first hours
OF the day that followed they went for
ward swiftly, camping at last to eat and
sleep In the shadow of mass OF rock
that looked like a gigantic castle with
walls and towers. Here they remained
in the burning heat until the sun be-
gan to sink ore more. and then went
on again. leaving some of the bearers
behind them. because there was no longer
water for so many. There the great
men sat in patient resignation and watch
cd them CO. they who knew that hav-
ing little or no water. few OF them could
hope to see their homes again. Still, so
great was their dread Of the ghost-priests
that they never dared to murmur or to
ask that any of the stores of water
should be given to them. they who We're
but cattle to be used until they died.
The second nights journey was like the
first, for this desert never changed its
aspect, and On the following morning
they halted beneath another pile of fan
tastic sand-burnished rocks. from some
OF which hung salt-like icicles. Here
one of the bearers. who had been denied
water as a punishment for lazi
ness. although in truth he was
sick. begun TO suck the salt-icicles
Suddenly he went raving mad, and rush
ing with knife at Eddo. Pani and
Hama where they sat under their cane
umbrellas that. for the sake OF GOODNESS
were damped with this precious water
he tried to kill them.
Then as they saw the knife cleaning
all their imperturbable calm departed
from these dwarfs. They squeaked IL
terror with thin voices as rats squeak
they rolled upon the ground yelling tt
the slaves to save them from "ret
DEATH The man was seized and. though
he fought with all his giant strength. hell
down and choked in the sand Once
however. he twisted his head free, howl
ing a curse at them. Also he manage,
to hurl his knife at Eddo. and the poin
of it scratched him the hand. caus
ing the pale blood to flow. sight a
which Eddo and the other priests brok
into tears and lamentations, that con
tinued long after the Umkulu was dead
why are they such cowards?' aske
Rachel dreamly. for she had not seel
the murder of the slave. and though
that Eddo had only scratched himself.
Because they fear the sight of blood
Zoola" answered Mole. which is a YER
evil omen to them. Death they do not fea