Connecticut western news., 1910-04-07
A NARROW
 ESCAPE By B. CRITTENDEN LITTLE Copyright. 1910, by American Press
 Association.

that kind is coming those who are not in the secret either know nothing about 1t or have only vague suspi- cions. heard some ugly rumors as to what was about to happen, but did not know how much dependence could be placed upon them. To all outward ap- pearances everything was moving on as usual.
 l was obliged to go to Ismailia on business. If l had known the condi- tion of the people of the country l should not have trusted myself out of Port Said, where Europeans were com paratively safe. To make a journey into the interior was madness, but l did not know 1t. Indeed, 1 only real ized that under the circumstances would rather not go. X matter of or dinary gain and being murdered were the alternatives.
 went on d night train. Being some what finical about my diet, took with me Il hamper filled with as succulent eatables us l could get together and on the top placed a box of cigars from which only few of the weeds had been taken. got into my cumpart- ment, put my hand baggage on the rack and settled myself for Il journey. Being in a smoking compartment, I lit cigar.
 The compartment was filled with na. tives, I being the only European in it. This in itself was not encouraging. The train had hardly got under way when an old Arab shelk sitting oppo- site me leaned forward and calmly took my cigar from between my lips and, placing it between his own, smok- ed 1t himself.
 To have resented the insult would have been equivalent to inviting the man to stab me. 1 therefore paid no attention to him and taking Il news paper from my pocket, began to read that is. l pretended to read, but l had no idea of what was on the sheet be- fore me, my mind being taken up with the fact that l was in compartment with seven Arabs and utterly at their mercy. My eyes appeared to be fixed upon the paper, but l was casting quick glances sidewise at the natives and knew by their chatter and occa- sional looks at mo that was the sub ject of their conversation.
 Then u lucky thought occurred to me. reached up to the rack. got my box of cigars from my hamper, took out one for myself and handed the box to the sheik who had robbed me of the one had been smoking. He took it, Al . and passed 1t to the others. who did i the same, and the box was returned ! to me empty.
 Notwithstanding my peace offering I expected every moment to feel cold steel entering my vitals. Most of the Arabs wore long knives where they could be seen, and knew not what other weapons they had concealed. As for me, 1 was unarmed, and even if I had been armed my oponents were seven to one.
 l cannot describe the agony of that night, expecting. us l did, death at any moment. The Arabs in my com partment paid no attention to any thing that was going on in the rest of the train, but l had vague feeling that something very important might ! be going on. l can't account for this feeling, for I heard no sound to pro- duce 1t. I only knew that 1 felt that there was murder in the air.
 Finally their looks and acts were so suspicious that bethought myself of 1 some other way similar to my offer of cigars to placate them. Then my luncheon occurred to me. Reaching up again to the rack, l brought down my hamper. opened 1t and displayed the eatables. Every mans eyes were on them, but not a man moved to l touch any of them. 1 offered the ham, l per to the man who sat next me, but he declined In turn l handed it to every man in the compartment; but though they all looked with eager eyes upon the viands, not man would ac' cept morsel.
 l At first I was astonished at this. ] Then remembered that no Arab will break bread with m enemy. The moment this occurred to me knew was doomed. put my hamper back on the rack and, wrapping myself in my overcoat, lay back in my seat,  with my eyes closed, to await what ever was in store for me.
 I heard a great deal of wrangling on the part of the Arabs but l thought l would rather rely on my weakness than on being prepared for resistance that would be useless. So 1 did not open my eyes. Presently l felt hand on my arm. Thinking my time had come, I looked, and there was the sheili who had taken my cigar from my mouth holding out piece of dry bread. I took it and, biting from it, chewed vigorously.
 A flood of relief and joy seemed to have been poured over me. l knew from that moment l was safe. Reach ing up for my hamper, l took it down and handed it to the sheik. He helped himself, then passed 1t around to the others. each man partaking plentifully of the contents.
 Now that they had broken bread | tvitb mo and having no more to fear