Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19
The Garden of Fate
Continued from page 7

following up the main BODY OF BerDer IN
surgents to prevent their concentrating for
another effort.
He resumed his march until another series
of shouts again took him to point where he
might see. Another body of men was head
ing outward and almost Immediately third
squadron swung abruptly off toward the
broad ford, taking with it two of the machine
guns, strapped on the backs of mules, while
an artillery wagon struggled behind. The
camp was being rapidly reduced. The bat
tleheld of the morning still looked CHASTITY
in the late afternoon sun. Men in the uni
form of the Sultan's army were moving over
the many acres strewn with victims. A
wounded horse was lifting its head, and Dick
saw one of the troopers, after glancing fur
lively around, put an end to the animals
misery and hurry away. He did not appre-
ciate this act of humanity until later, when
he was to learn that it is against the Moslem
creed to kill any dumb brute, and that his
tory was only too full of battles wherein
wounded animals were left to the mercy of
God alone
He returned to the immediate front of the
tent, where the subdued whisper continued,
and there was another long wait while the
sun dropped into the west. He heard shouted
commands outside and knew that some new
formation was being effected Even the
noise of movement ceased before the Kaid
reappeared. With him came four subordi-
nate Kaids, their shimmering silken gar
ments showing the effects of the days fierce
campaign, and each was leading a horse
Dicks orderly appeared with his mount Also
and, taking his example from the others, he
stood in readiness.
The tent door was slipped back by two
gorgeously clad slaves whom he surmised to
have been personal attendants of his Mai
esty. He gave a gasp of something ap-
preaching horror when, led by gigantic
Moor, white horse walked out carrying
none other than the Sultan. Beside him
rode a man who hoisted huge red UNI
brella. A slave ran beside him, waving a
silken scarf as if to keep the flies away, and
the officers sprang into their saddles as the
Grand Vizir promptly lowered his hood.
DICK, obeying a hurried gesture from
Clarke, mounted and spurred his horse
closely into the group. AS if the men at the
wall like Enclosure had previously been sta
toned at the guy ropes, it fell in one futter-
ing mass to the ground.
The royal band shrilled out into a weird
march suggesting some jubilant song of the
desert and they moved forward. The troops
had been massed into an immense hollow
square, leaving open, like broad channel,
Now they came to the regulation salute and,
unable to suppress their enthusiasm, burst
into loud shouts. Straight through this chan
mel the Sultan passed, his garments swaying
rhythmically with the stride of the horse
For what seemed to Dick an interminable
age, they passed down this lane of living
men, who saluted the rigid figure of what
but few hours before had been the Com
mander of the Faithful and the Sword of the
Prophet. His own horse was abreast the
Kaid's mount, and now and then pranced
restlessly to one side. The umbrella bearer.
the slave whirling the white scarf. and the
four veteran Moors. riding close beside the
dead Sultan, seemed all part of dream; the
Grand Vizir. bent and staring at his saddle
pommel, unreal. He glanced across at Kaid
Clarke, who rode with eyes rowing restlessly
from side to side as if seeking to surprise
some sign of knowledge in those who lifted
sabers as they passed.
1t was hard for him to appreciate in that
moment of tensity that the sinewy English
man, riding SO lightly in the rear of the ter
rible cortege, was for the moment master of
the Empire and, with inconceivable daring,
was moldng circumstances to his will. He
heard the pounding of hoofs behind him and