Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-28


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his pinnacle. She wondered at this,
and her eyes searched every point
and crevice of the rock as far as she
could see, for she knew that the evil
bird could only have been frightened
away; and though II fears neither
bird nor beast, but only man, she
could not believe that any human be-
ing could find a foothold near to
where it had perched.
For some seconds, perhaps for
whole minute, she saw lothing. though
she gazed up steadily, then she saw
that small patch of snowy white was
moving slowly on the face Of the cliff,
at some distance above the place
where the vulture had been. She bent
her brows in the effort to see more
by straining her sight, and meanwhile
the patch descended faster than it
seemed possible that man could
climb down that perilous steep. Yet
1t was man, she knew from the FIRST,
and soon she saw him plainly, in his
loose shirt and white turban, and with
a long gun slung across his back.
Nearer still, and he was down to the
Jutting pinnacle where the vulture had
sat, and she saw his black beard; still
nearer by few feet and she knew
him, and then her glance darted to
the mouth of the cave, at the other
end Of which the man she loved was
toiling desperately alone in the dark
to pierce the dam of earth and stones.
It was. only a glance, in 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 fair chance at them,
when they were standing still, and she
knew that he was 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 fiat rock
where there was not foothold for q
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
traveller would have chance at 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 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 gun!" 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 II even he could get no farther
down. He was standing with both his
heels on a ledge so narrow that more
than half the length of his brown feet
stood over Il; he was leaning back.
nat against the sloping cliff, and he
had his gun before him, for he was
just able to use both his hands with.
out falling. He pointed the gun at her
and spoke:
Where is the MANI"
"He is dead" Baraka answered
without hesitation.
Dead? Already"
Il killed him in his Sleep" she said,
and I 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 l will tell all.
Then you shall shoot me or take me
home to be your wife, as you will, for
/ 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,
II tell you buried 1t. I killed him
the night before last; cannot dig him
up now"
why did you run to the mouth of
the cave whom you saw me, IL the man
is dead?"
Because at first l was afraid you
would shoot me from above, therefore
1-took shelter"
why did you come out again, II