The Washington times., 1910-11-06
The Shadow of the Sphinx

tral space near the door, l faced the
dais and touched my breast. lips and
brow IN salute to the emir; I=Tning.
then, slightly, and making a similar
greeting 10 HafiZ. To my amaze
neither Salutation was returned.
HaflZ In fact. turned his back on me
with gesture whose thorough con-
tempt was unmistakable. II brought
the angry blood not 10 my cheek.
The Hnes Of dark faces viewed me
with equal dearJh of welcome. The
emT's stern visage was set. as though
nSnJlng back an anger that was Wet
nigh uncomfortable.
AT motion of his head the Cairene
came forward 10 where 1 stood alone
The eN-dragOman showed queer mix
ture OF respect and OstentauOus horror
as ne began 70 speak.
Listen nOwardji, said he, in fair
Caro- Engnsn. His hlghnesS Emlr
BasraOul-may ne lie where rose leas es
shall rail- upon his tOmb,-his highness
makes me interpret. He
Look here" 1 Interrupted. What
does ali thiS mean2 l came here as the
emIr's guest lie accepted me as such
ana sent me gifts, yet now he and his
HrpneW won't return my salute. And
from the appearance Of things IN here II
looks almost as II / We're on trial for
something What is the meaning OF
it?"
May roses drape his highness; torIb,"
began the interpreter. May he
shut up you IDIOT l broke in, an
SrlIy. lie can't understand your silly
liattery when you speak in English.
You Re wasting breath. Answer my
question. What am / here fOr2 Spea
up, man! II you don't, the roses will
have chance 10 drape your tomb be-
fore I'm done with you"
"HowadJi!' sruttered he, divided be-
tween his fear OF the emir and of nv
fTlf Il ID oh D,
deadly insult with. smashing laws Of
host and guest, with
What crazy detail OF Oriental cit
Iuette have 1 overlooked ?" mused !, be-
Wildered.
Then 10 the Interpreter ! said:
Tell his Eighness that am a
stranger in his land; that l know moth
ing OF ms customs or language. II /
nave onendeG against any Of his laws
Ir against the rules that bind grateful
guest 10 gracious host. my offense was
,mhlntenuonal. and 1 ask pardon for It.
TranSiatev'
The fellow turned to the waiting emir,
bowed and began his Interpretation of
my apology.
My head felt queer. Ever since ,,Ir
ARRIVAL al the encampment I had had
strange sensation In mind and body. I
idu seemed anOther man rather than nay
Old self / could not explain the feeling
Bat now IL came on me with a rush
balance. i should have thought IL a
sudden rise OF the fever were il not
mat my forehead was moist and corl.
Yet / knew myself all at once IN the
grip Of some stark emotion that utterly
mastered me. Something seemed 10
snap in my brain With a mighty ef-
Tort 1 forced my attention back to my
own plight and 20 the words Of the
smlrl<lng. bowling ex-dragoman
He was Stlll translating my words TO
the eInir' speaking in cultural coast
Arabic.
And then, mightiness.'' the man was
proceeding, he saws he is an ignorant,
rough feiow-the dirt at your highness'
teet-that he knows no Arabic, because
he Is too stupid to learn even that. He
says this ignorance IS the excuse for the
ledrIul crime that he now sees is merit
ing Of instant death. He
That is a lie,'' 1 shouted. I said
uOthlnS OF the sort. The fellow is twist
Ing my words aDOminably, your high
ness Let me speak for myself"
gasp, rustic, an indescribable sell
Sation swept through the council so
intense wds II that IT stopped the words
on my lips For, miracle OF miracles!
these people verify seemed 10 under
stand me.
While the mCmentary hush OF sur-
prise still endured a Bedouin entered
the tent. He was dusty from a long
ride, and had evidently just returned
10 camp after some absence. As he
entered / chanced to be nearest him
His eyes, dazZled by the light, did
not at first distinguish my foreign
dress Taking me for the emir's
household or guest, he saluted me-
Nay your day be happy said 1.
May yours be happier" he replied
1t Is already happier for seeing
you" / answered.
In the East every conversation must
begin with a compliment or blessing.
ana each speaker must seek To orItdo
the other by Gaping his particular
blessing or compliment with a better.
This / had just done But, wonder
or wonders. / had done il in Arabfcl
Not IN the coast doggerel whereof
some tourists pick up a Smattering.
but in pure BedOuin Arabic I had
him,
Yes. and all at once I had under
stood the dragOman's whining mis-
translation of my apology: had un-
derstOCd and had interrupted it Small
marvel my words had produced a SEN
SatiOn-
Now, had never in my life made
study Of Arabic; I had never learned
more than one or two phrases OF il
In former meetings with natives their
words had been the veriest jargon to
me.
Yet now 1 found myself gifted in a
flash with perfect comprehension OF
what was said, with fluent power OF
reply.
a miracle2 Or stiu part Of my fever
nightmare? Which was real and which
vision? 1 felt strangled by the mystery
OF il all.
7 was given scant time to dwell on the
:ntracla- From, the time when I had IL
terrupted the Interpreter 20 that of my
amazing discovery OF my gift Of