The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-09-09

! sure, and Saad co;i'a come cutie 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; il 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 fred at her first the
traveller would have a chance at him
while he was reloading his old gun.
She understood why he had not killed
her yet, il 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 no farther
down. He was standing with both his
heels on ledge so narrow that more
! than half the length of his brown feet
stood over it; he was leaning back.
nat against the sloping cliff, and he
bad 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"
II killed him in his Sleep" she said,
"and 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
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 I
may see it,"
Il tell you I buried it. l 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
took shelter"
why did you come out again. If
you were in fear?"
After l had run in was ashamed,
for felt sure that you would not kill
me without hearing the truth. So l
came out to speak with you. Get
down, and l will show you the mans
grave"
Have I wings? I 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 sharp
report, not very loud, and more like
the swapping of strong but very dry
stick than the explosion of firearms.
She instinctively sprang to the left,
keeping her eyes on Saad.
For a moment he did not move. But
he was already dead as he slowly bent
forward from the rock, making a
deep obeisance with both arms hang
ing down before him, so that his body
shot down perpendicularly to the
sand, where it struck head first, rolled
over and lay motionless in heap.
The travellers was a Mauser pistol
that would have killed as surely at
500 yards as so; and the bullet had
gone through the Tartar's brain.
Baraka sprang up the sandy slope
and ran along the narrow beach to the
body. In an Instant she had detached
the large brown water-gourd from the
thong by which he it had hung over
Saad's shoulder, and she felt that it
was full. Without thought for her
self she fastened back to the mouth
of the cave where the traveller was
now standing. His face was dripping
with perspiration that ran down into
his matted golden beard, his eyes
were wild, his hands were bleeding.
Drink" cried Baraka joyfully, and
she gave him the gourd.
He gripped it as greedy dog snaps
at bit Of meat, and pulling out the
wooden plug he set the gourd to his
lips, with an expression Of beatitude.
But he was an old traveller and only
drank a little, knowing that his lie
might depend on making the small
supply last. A gourd Of water was
worth more than many rubies just
then.
"Are you very thirsty yet?" he
asked in harsh voice.
mo" answered Baraka bravely;
keep it for yourself"