The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-04-02
A NARROW
ESCAPE
By B. CRITTENDEN LYLE
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

/ was in Egypt before the fanatical
outbreak of 1882. When trouble of
that kind is coming those who are not
in the secret either know nothing
about it 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 APP
pearances everything was moving on
as usual
/ was obliged to go to Ismailia on
business. If | had known the condi-
ton of the people of the country !
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
did not know it. Indeed, | only real
lied that under the circumstances
would rather not go. & matter of or
binary gain and being murdered were
the alternatives.
! went on Il night train. Being some
what finical about my diet, took with
me a hamper filled with as succulent
eatables as 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 compart
ment, put my hand baggage ON the
rack and settled myself for journey.
Being in smoking compartment, l lit
cigar.
The compartment was filed with ma
tives, being the only European in it.
This in itself was not encouraging.
The train had hardly got under way
when an old Arab sheik sitting oppo-
site me leaned forward and calmly
took my cigar from between my lips
and. placing it between his own, smok-
ed it himself.
To have resented the insult would
have been equivalent to inviting the
man to stab me. | therefore paid no
attention to him and. taking a news
paper from my pocket, began to read
that is. pretended to read. but had
no idea of what was on the sheet be-
fore me. my mind being taken up with
the fact that | was in a compartment
with seven Arabs and utterly at their
mercy. My eyes appeared to be fixed
upon the paper, but | was casting
quick gances sidewise at the natives
and knew by their chatter and occa
sional looks at me that was the sub
ject of their conversation.
Then lucky thought occurred to
me. l 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.
appropriated handful of the contents
and passed it to the others. who did
the same and the boxiwas returned
to me empty.
Notwithstanding my peace offering
/ expected every moment to feel cold
steel entering my vita1s. Most of the
Arabs wore long knives where they
could be seen. and l knew not what
other weapons they bad concealed.
AS for me, was unarmed, and even
if l had been armed. my Oponents
were seven to one
l cannot describe the agony Of that
night. expecting, as / 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 heard no sound to pro-
duce it. / only knew that felt that
there was murder in the air.
Finally their looks and acts were so
suspicious that l bethought myself of
some other way similar to my offer of
cigars to pIacate them. Them my
luncheon occurred to me. Reaching
up again to the rack, / brought down
my hamper. opened it and displayed
the eatables. Every mans eyes were
on them. but not a man moved to
touch any of them. ! offered the hang
per to the man who sat next me. but
he declined. In turn ! handed it to-
every man in the compartment; but.
though they all looked with eager eyes
upon the viands, not a man would ac-
cept mOrsel.
At first | was astonished at this.
Then l remembered that no Arab will
break bread with an enemy.
The moment this occurred to me l
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.
heard great deal of wrangling on
the part of the Arabs. but l thought
would rather rely on my weakness
than on being prepared for resistance
that would be useless. So / did not
open my eyes. Presently felt hand
ON my arm. Thinking my time had
come. l looked. and there was the
sheik who had taken my cigar from
my mouth holding out a piece of dry
bread. | took it and. biting from it.
chewed vigorously.
A food Of relief and joy seemed to