Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-28

which had the effect of taking the
conceit out Of one. have never con-
sidered myself quite an ordinary trav-
eler.
You see, MustaphaF' he said in tri-
umph.
The man addressed looked at me tx
eddy, but did not speak. He had sprung
excitedly from his seat at my en-
trance.
u want to stay here tonight I went
on. Tomorrow 1 may 60 farther, or
the next day. or It may be next week.
1t all depends what I find 10 interest
me. There is a fine waterfall near
Brayle, have heard"
'Is it only for this you have come 20
asked Mustapha, with some contempt.
Yes" I answered, throwing down
my knapsack and spreading out my
hands to the blaze. What else should
I have come for?"
The disappointment IN the mans face
was quite comicaI, and his companions
burst out laughing.
Take no notice Of what be says"
laughed the landlord. "Mustepha is q
dreamer. He sees armies along the
mountain tops when others see only
snow. He hears the ring of steel in
every tinkling goat bell and the shout
Of war In the bark Of every dog A
wonderful dreamer is Mustapha''
Il said nothing Of armies; I said
armed men" the dreamer returned
sUIIenly.
81 am not armed" I observed
90 ha man ora
not armed" he returned, but they are
no ordinary travellers. They all go the
same way-yonder."
His attitude was unconsciously dra-
matte as he stretched out his arm,
pointing toward the mountains to the
north.
Where IS yOnder?" 1 asked, more
for the sake of saying something than
because wanted TO know.
Il only know the legend which every
body knows and which everybody
laughs at, but I am wiser than every
body, because 1 don't laugh"
A roar of merriment greeted this
assertion. 1 could not help joining
in IT,
Let me eat first, and then well
have the story. The story viii wait,
and my hunger IS too ripe TO keep"
OF necessity in this history l must
talk Of myself. I am the hero of 1t,
and he's poor hero indeed who isn't
worth talking about I was a wan
derSr by inclination, not of necessity,
and, although not actually seeking ad-
venture. I was not unwilling to enjoy
some mild form of enterprise should
such come my way. but little thought
Of the strange experiences which lay
before me. Few people even IL they
are interested viii believe the story
and viii say OF me, as was said Of
MuStapha. "Fe Is n stupid dreamer
To these l can honestly confess that I
should sometimes doubt the history
myself had 1 not always before me
one incontestable proof of the truth
of it. For my personal appearance
stand over six feet, am broad Shout
dered and athletic, have fair hair and
am clean shaver, and / believe there
are less well favored men in the world
than myself.
Brayle lies, If indeed there IS still a
village there. at the foot Of one OF the
southern spurs of the great Caucasian
range. II Is an out Of the way place
which probably few tourists have dis
covered. 1t is enough TO say that,
while the slopes Of the western range
are clad in verdure, the central range.
as II may be called, is arid. rocky and
desolate. OF comparatively uniform
height, the mountain tops rise males
cicaIy into the region of perpetual
snow. There are. practically speak
Ing, no passes. only here and there a
goat track. dizzy enough TO contem-
plate, OF & mountaineer's ZigZaE path
which leads nowhere IN particular.
and IN the neighborhood Of BrsyIe
sheer rock rises perPendicularly from
he mountain road which runs through
the village. So 10 my story
Supper finished and brier pipe set .
going. I suggested another log on the
ire. more wine-It was very thin wine
md harmIess-sad Mustapha's tale
The man had drunk at my expense or .
do not think he would have told the
ecend
Its little l know" he said Every
ne knows nearly as much, only they
10 not believe. Long ago, long before
3-ayle existed. somewhere nesr here
here was pass from this side OF the
TO country beyond There
Eas constant intercourse between the
PEOPLE on this side OF the mountains
M that country. whose Inhabitants,
hough different. were friendly The
nen were strong and wsrIfke and the