Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-05

trains OF MS own country, SlOgged forward III
the midst of their drivers, bringing other
cannon whose carriage wheels chung to the
sand of the road.
There was another fanfare of bugles assem-
bled, and from out the group trotted num-
Der of officers, who pulled their horses to
their launches in a display of military pre-
cision when less than ten yards from the lit
tie hill where the Kaid stood. The ranking
officer, at a slow signal from the Kaid, dis
mounted and climbed upward, carrying a
heavy saber in both hands and raising it
above his head to his superior officer, where
he stood before him.
Dick felt that to follow the Kaid and the
newcomer into the headquarters tent would
be an intrusion; so he remained quiet for the
few minutes of their absence. When they
emerged the Kaid was still talking and the
American was able to understand him:
lon this side of the river" he was saying,
with all guns in the center, ammunition
wagons parked close by for tonight. All
outposts we'll out. Second line of sentries
to intervene. All fires out early. Usual
report to me in the morning"
The officer saluted and went back to his
waiting staff. and the Kaid by Dicks side
watched their departure. 1t was as if, in the
dust, city was springing into existence.
There were sharp, confused calls, babble of
shouting the cries of mule and camel drivers,
the clank of accouterments, and under all
the heavier clash of cannon being limbered
and brought into position. Hundreds of
fires sprang up. The shadowy outlines of
horses being led into the shallow stream
massed themselves together and were regu
larly disintegrated, and still, from the far
distance, the rear guard of this strange army
moved in as though extending indefinitely
from Mekinez, from which it had come
about twenty-five hundred altogether"
said the Kaid softly. "a thousand regulars
from Mekinez and fifteen hundred tribesmen
who are always itching for fight, but this
time are coming because they want to whip
the Berbers. These fellows from the plains
don't like the mountain men. Got several
old grudges to settle. We ought to have a
very pretty fight. Supper's ready. Let's 60
in. You'll see something worth while little
later on And the American was not sure,
but thought he caught a chuckle of salts
faction.
THE Kaid was pleased to resume his tact
turnity during the meal, and Dick rose
from the table and went outside, with his
mind vaguely interested in what else was
coming forth He looked round the little
encampment in vain for Sidi Suleyman and
was told by one of the troopers that his scar
faced trend was visiting the other camp,
which was spread out before him like soft
panorama. The eminence on which the
Kaid's camp was located was not more than
forty feet high; but. standing in its isolation,
afforded an excellent view of the surrounding
plain. Dick sat half resting on his elbows
and watched the coming of the moon. The
camp6res below were dying out under the
white light of the night and glamour of
mystery was enshrouding the distant view,
when Sidi Suleyman, hurrying noiselessly,
passed by him toward the Kaid S tent
AS if his arrival had communicated some
interesting news, the camp below stirred in
sudden excitement and the men around him
began asking one another what had hap
pened. They were not kept long in doubt.
Suleyman emerged to hurry away again, and
before Dick realized it another army was
sweeping up through the night. 1t came
painfully, as if utterly worn out with haste, |
and seemed to move like a huge disnem-
bered serpent of white.
Dick needed no explanation other than
the camp gossip around him to know that |
some three thousand men, soldiers and fol- |
lowers were arriving from Marrakesh to swell |
the Kaid' forces. Now he understood what |
the couriers had accomplished and how |