Evening star., 1909-03-15

who are already almost ghosts, but II 1t
is a red death their souls are split with
their life. or so they believe
Toward noon that day the sky banked
up with lurid-colored clouds; She sun
which should have shone so hotly, went
out, and hush that was almost fearful
In its heat and intensity fell upon the
desert The Umkulu bearers became dis
turbed, and gathered together into knots,
talking in low tones. E,ddo and his
brother priests who, either because of the
adventure of the morning or the OPP
pressive air, could not sleep. as was usual
with them, were also disturbed. They
crept from beneath their umbrellas which,
as the sun had vanished, were Of no use
to them and stood together staring at the
sally plain, which under that leaden and
lowering sky looked white as snow. and
at the brooding clouds above. They
even sent for their bowls to read in
them pictures of what was about to
happen, but there was no dew left. so
these could not be used
Then they consulted with the captains
of the bearers. who told them what no
magic was needed to guess-that a mighty
storm was gathering, and that IL 1t over
took them in the desert they would be
buried beneath the drifting sand. Now
this was a white death which the
dwarfs did not seem to desire. so they
ordered an instant departure, instead of
delaying the start until sunset. as they
had intended for then, II all went we'll
they would nave dTTlNcu dL tuSii hoIiCS
bv dawn, and not in the middle of the
night so the litters were made ready.
| and they went forward through the over
| powering heat. that caused the bearers
! to hang out their tongues ana reel as
they walked
. Toward evening the storm began to stir.
Little wandering puffs of wind blew upon
| them and died away. the lightnings flick
| cred internationally. Then not breeze
| sprang up that gradually Increased IN
4 hn nd rolled rlDDleQ
| before It. now enc way and now another,
| for this breeze seemed to blow in turn
| from every quarter OF the heavens. Suo.
! denly however. after trying them all IL
| settled in the west. and drove straight
| inTo their faces with ever-fncreasing
| force. Now Eddo thrust out his head
between the curtains OF his litter ano
| called to the bearers to hurry, as lhey
| had but little distance OF desert left
to pass, after which came the grass
| country where there would be no danger
| from the sand. They heard ana obeyeo.
| changing the pole gangs frequently, as
| those who carried the litters became eH-
| hausted.
| But the storm was quicker than they;
| It burst upon them while they were still
| in tie waste. though not In It's fuli
| strength. Then the darkness came, utter
| darkness. for no moon or stars could be
seen. and salt and sand drove down on
| them like hail. Through 1t all, the bear
ers fought on, though how they found
| their way Noie. who was watching them
could not guess. since no landmarks were
left to guide them They fought on
blinded. choked with the salt sand
that drove into their eyes and lungs. till
man after man. they fell down and per.
| ished Others took their places, and yet
they fought on
1t must have been near to midnight
when the company. or those who were
left of them. staggered 10 the edge of that
dreadful wilderness which was but q
vast plain of stone and sand. bordered or
the west the east by slopes oi
fertile soil. For a while the fierce tenn
pest lifted a little, and the light of the
:. stars which struggled through break.