The Tupelo journal., 1909-11-26

to pierce the dam of earth and stones.
It was only a glance, in a second OF
time, but when she looked up the
black-beared man had already made
another step downwards. Baraka
measured the distance. If he spoke
loud now she could understand him.
She knew him well, and she knew why
he had come, with his long gun. He
was her fathers brothers son, to
whom she was betrothed; he was
| Saad, and he was risking his life to
come down and kill her and the man
whom she had led to the ruby mines
for loves sake.
He would come down till he was
within easy range, and then he would
wait till he had a fair chance at them,
when they were standing still, and she
knew that he was a dead shot. The
travellers revolver could never carry
as far as the long gun, Baraka was
| sure, and Saad could come quite near
with safety, since he seemed able to
climb down the face of a fiat rock
where there was not foothold for a
cat. He was still descending, he was
getting very near; if the traveller were
not warned he might come out of the
cave unsuspiciously and Saad would
| shoot him. Saad would wish to shoot
him first, because of his revolver, and
then he would kill Baraka at his
leisure. If he fired at her first the
Two ua1or would howe q nhonpn ar him
while he was reloading his old gun.
She understood why he had not killed
her yet, if indeed he wanted to, for it
was barely possible that he loved her
enough to take her alive.
After hesitating for a few moments,
not from fear but in doubt, she gath
cred herself to spring, and made a
dash like an antelope along the sand
for the mouth of the cave, for she
knew that Saad would not risk vast
ing his shot on her while she was run
ming. She stopped just under the
shelter of the rock and called inward:
"Saad is coming down the rock with
his gum" she cried. Load your
weapon!"
When she had given this warning
she went out again and stood before
the mouth of the cave with her back
/ to it. Saad was on the rock, not SO
feet above the ground, at the other
side of the natural wall, but looked
as if even he could get 10 farther
down. He was standing with both his
hno1C IN n 1od0o ca norrnyyE that mora
than half the length of his brown feet
stood over it; he was leaning back,
flat against the sloping cliff, and he
had his gun before him, for he was
just able t use both his hands with
out falling. He pointed the gun at her
and spoke:
Where is the man."
"He is dead Baraka answered
without hesitation.
Dead? Already"
81 killed him in his Sleep" she said,
"and l dragged his body into the cave
for fear of the vulture, and buried it
in the sand. Be not angry, Saad,
though he was my fathers guest.
Come down hither and | will tell all.
Then you shall shoot me or take me
home to be your wife, as you will, for
l am quite innocent"
She meant to entice him within
range of the strangers weapon.
There is no foothold whereby to
get lower" he answered, but he
rested the stock Of his gun on the mar
row ledge behind him.
Drag out the mans body, that !
may see it."
81 tell you l buried it. / killed him
the night before last; l cannot dig him
up now
Why did you run to the mouth OF
the cave when you saw me, if the man
is dead?'
Because at first l was afraid you
would shoot me from above, therefore
l took shelter"
why did you come out again, II
you were in fear?"
after | had run in / was ashamed,
for l felt sure that you would not kill
me without hearing the truth. So
came out to speak with you. Get
down, and l will show you the mans
grave"
Have / wings? cannot come
down. 1t is impossible"
Baraka felt a puff of hot air pass
her, just above her right ankle, and
at the same instant she heard a sharp
report, not very loud, and more like
the swapping of a strong but very dry
/ stick than the explosion of firearms.
She ~instinctively sprang to the left,
Looninp hor eves on Saad