The independent-reporter., 1910-03-17

He was looking eagerly. intently to-
ward the long. low headland beyond
the town of Arafat.
1.-The smoke See? Close inshore
too! BY heaven, Genevra, there's a
steamer off there. She's a small one
or she wouldn't run In so close. lit
may be the yacht! Wait! Well soon
see. She'll pass the point In few
minutes"
Already the citizens Of the town
were rushing to the pier. Even before
the vessel turned the point the watch
ers at the chateau witnessed q most
amazing performance on the dock.
Half hundred natives dropped down
as II stricken. scattering themselves
along the naFrow pier.
The people were Stimulating death!
They were posing as the victims of
the plague that infested the land! As
he was explaining the ruse to his mys
titled companion the nose Of the vessel
came out from behind the tree covered
point.
An instant later they were sending
wild cries of Joy through the chateau,
and people were rushing toward them
from all quarters.
The trim white thing that glided
across the harbor. graceful as bird.
was the marquis yacht!
1t is needless to describe the joyous
gale that swept the chateau into a
maelstrom Of emotions.
They saw the tug put out to meet the
small boat; they witnessed the same
old maneuvers; they sustained a chill
of surprise and despair when the
bright white and blue boat from the
yacht came to a stop at the command
from the tug.
There was an hour of parleying.
The beleagured ones signaled with de-
spairing energy. The flag. limp in the
damp air above the chateau, shot up
and down In pitiful eagerness.
But the small boat edged away from
close proximity to the tug and the
nearby dock. They spoke each other
at long and ever widening range At
last the yachts boat turned and fed
toward the trim white hull.
Almost before the startled, daZed
people Oh the balcony could grasp the
full and horrible truth the yacht had
lifted anchor and was slowly headed
out 10 sea
Chase looked grimly about him into
the questioning. stricken faces Of his
companions He drew his hand across
his moist forehead
Ladies and gentlemen" he said Sc.
riously and without the faintest intent
to jest. 1--WE are supposed to be dead"'
There was a single shrek from the
bride Of Thomas Saunders. No sound
left the dry lips Of the other watchers.
who stood as II petrifed and kept
their eyes glued upon the disappearing
yacht.
"They have left me here to diew
came from the stiffened lips of the
Princess Genevra. "They have desert
ed me! God in heavenw
"Lookw cried Chase, pointing to the
dock. Half a dozen glasses were turn
ed in that direction.
The dying and the dead were leaping
about In the widest exhibition of glee.
ful triumph.
The yacht slipped into the unreacha-
BILE horizon, the feathery cloud from
its stack lying over against the leaden
sky. shaped like hnger that pointed
mockingly the way to safety.
White faced and despairing. the
watchers turned away and dragged
themselves into the splendid halls of
the building they had now come to re-
gard as their tomb.
All day long the islanders rejoiced.
Their shouts could be plainly heard by
the besieged. Their rifles cracked sar-
castle greetings from the forest Bull
lets whistled gay accomplishments 10
the ceaseless song: "Allah Is great!
Allah is goodr'
No man In the despised house OF
TasweIl Skaggs slept that night. The
guard was doubled at all points open
to attack. At 2 In the morning Dep
bingham. Browne and Chase came up
from the walls for coffee and an hours
rest. They were wet and cold. They
had heard Rasula's minions shouting
derisively all night long: "Where is the
warship? Where Is the warship?"
"It will come. l am positive" said
Chase, insistent in spite Of his dejec-
ton. They drank their coffee In ST.
lence. He knew that the others, In
Guiding the native who served them,
were regarding him with the pity that
one extends to the vainglorious brag-
CART who goes down with flying colors.
He went out upon the west gallery
and. utterly tagged. threw himself into
an unexposed chair and stared through
tired eyes into the inscrutable night
that hid the sea from view-the faith
less, moaning. jeering sea!
When he aroused himself with q
start the gray. drizzly dawn was upon
him. He had slept.