Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24
" But"

But"
IF you need help there'1l be hundred
picked men within hearing" the Kaid an
swered incisively, and the American loved him
for his brevity.
He began to understand why this man was
General in the Moorish army. He peered at
him through the darkness: but saw nothing
but a set face outlined against the light of the
night. He put the piece of metal into his
pocket and his lips had parted to speak when
the Kad turned his head.
would you mind" he said in a low voice.
watching him-Buhammei, / mean? He's a
rum dog, that"
THE Captain Strengthened up and felt amused
at the continued reticence, the stilted Eng
lish accent, and the unperturbed exterior OF the
adventurer before him. He began to think
that his ridiculc of the stage Englshman as
seen in American dramas was i'll founded: but
was surprised by a sudden change that came
over his companion. The Kaid leaned toward
him and in voice scarcely above whisper and
in tone grown suddenly sharp. incisive, and
trenchant. said:
Captain Whitney, Morocco is on the verge
of an outbreak, the most serious perhaps in a
century of i'll fated wars, century of intrigue,
of corruption and cruel suppression. I'm going
to stand by the Sultan because he's good man,
but weak need all the information | have
so far failed to get. You can help me, and
what's more you will, because you're thor
oughbred and unafraid. 1t is for you and me
to stand shoulder to shoulder unless want
to see the civilization of which we are a part
trampled beneath the feet of a lot of robb1ng.
thieving, numbering barbarians. l have so
much confidence in you and your American
readiness, that intrust my sister and the-ah-
Miss Marshall, my dear friend, to your keeping,
hoping by your observations to learn more. |
am not wrong?"
He held out his hand. and the American.
startled by the sharp change in his manner, did
not see it for moment. but then catching its
whiteness in the night, extended his own and
they clutched palms with a grip of alliance.
The Captain felt that the hand which gripped
his own was like a thing of steel which frightened
strongly and gave sense of untold reserve and
power and the Kaid chung to the other for a
moment as if there had been added to his side
in any crisis power that could be depended
upon to the very last when all Others had failed.
They stood up. the trim square figure IN its
flowing robes and the black clad, sinewy form
of the alien who had been drawn into the cause
by accident, and still held hands, each feeling
without reason that sometime they were to do
as the smaller man had said, fight shoulder to
shoulder" for the preservation of their own and
of that civilization of which they were an in
finitesimal but potent part. The American
was like one to whom revelation of suppressed
fires had been made and wanted to hear his
companion say something more: but the kald
released his hand, looked toward him for mo-
ment, and then in the direction of the laughing
voices
All" he said resuming his habitual slow
ness of speech. Nice garden this, isn't it?
say. isn't it,"
AS if his inconsequential remark ended their
interview, he turned toward the distant group,
and the American followed.
REHIND them the aloes parted. and into the
shade of an arbor stepped the fierce Arab
gardener. His lean body was tensed, his lean
face lighted with fanatcal fires, and his lean
hand in a sudden swiftness of hatred slipped
into the folds of his garments and jerked forth
a damaskeened dagger, whose bright edge and
curved blade caught wandering ray of light.
He slipped stealthily after the Kad concealing