The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-06-30
WHEN / WAS
YOUNG
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright BY American press Asso-
citation, 1871.
By F. a. Mitchell

When was young, having procured
an outfit OF several camels, which /
owned, and a score OF blacks, who's !
hired, started southwark from Tripo-
Ii to do little exploring Of the great
desert Of Sahara. / certainly couldn'i
explore much OF It, for 1t is larger in
area than the United States and only
parts are ordinarily traversed. chose
10 make an expedition straight south
to the Sudan along the route Of cara
vans trading with that region. It is
an ocean of sand. with pillows OF land
except in spots where there are oases.
On the route we fell in with an Arab
wanderer named Mohammed. Not all
orientals are named Mohammed, but a
large number are He said be was a
trader, but one Of my men said that
the way he traded was one sided He
gave nothing unless bullets-for some.
thing. In other words, he was rob
ber
But, like most Of these people. be
was very smooth spoken. He pretend
ed to take great fancy to me; said
that he had heard that America was
the greatest country in the world. and
he was quite sure ] was the greatest
American. TO prove his admiration for
and confidence ia me, he invited me
to his camp and introduced me to his
wives. There was one young and
quite pretty (for an Arab woman
among them who. it seemed to me.
was especially cordial to me- I could
only Judge by the looks she gave me-
for she did not know my language nor
l hers. Salam, my chief man. remark
ed to me that he had noticed the wo-
mans preference for me- But, having
no desire 70 get myself murdered on
account OF an Arabs wife, | did not
propose to encourage the lady.
Mohammed journeyed beside us for
several days. camping when we camp
ed and moving when we moved Had
it not been for Salam / would have
considered that the man had conceived
a great regard for me. so naturally did
he feign it. Salam said that be was
familiarizing himself with our strength.
our arms and the value Of the loot TO
be acquired in case Of successful at
tack. Saiam also ventured the opinion
that the wife who was SO favorably
disposed toward me was probably In
tending. by her husbands order, TO lure
me into some position by which
could be put out Of the way. Then my
belongings would easily fall into Mo
hamr eds hands. This view OF the
case did not favor the conceit OF
man Of twenty-five. and did not be-
lieve him.
One evening my Bedouin admirer
came to my camp 10 announce the
fact that the next morning at dawn be
would separate from us, going or TO
the east toward Marzuk, my intention
being to proceed on my way to Chat.
He invited me to sup with him. Being
young-as have said before-I had
fancy to see once more the woman
who had apparently conceived a re-
gard for me. l desired to form an
opinion as to whether salam or | was
right as to the genuineness Of her
demonstrations. supped with her
but he kept his wives out Of
the way. This seemed to me to prove
that there was nothing in Saiam's
theory The trader feasted me royalty
and when | left embraced me with
tears in his eyes.
whoever says" I remarked to Sa-
lam when returned to my camp, that
an Arab is incapable Of friendship
doesn't know your race
SaIam made no reply, but did not
seem especially impressed with my APP
preciation vf the guiIeless natures Of
his brother Bedouins
Two days after this we encamped
one evening on the desert 1t was a
lonely spot. though no more lonely
than all other spots on the Sahara.
was standing after dark admirIng the
bright stars above. contrasting with
he monotonous scene below. when !
beard the faintest kind OF a sound
within a few feet Of me. II was like
! spent bullet hitting soft earth Turn
nc, saw an object few feet from
me. Going to 1t. found an arrow
sticking in the sand Taking it up.
discovered a bit Of wood tied to It.
Taking it into my tent. where I bad a
light. ! saw Arabic writing on one
,ide. I called Salam and asked him
% interpret It. He read it to himself
md ,ooked up at me with fear IN bis
lace.
What is ifr' | asked.
III saws. Make the fonduk"
The fonduk IS a caraFansary where
caravans may get food water and.
what Is often more desirable safety
"F'rom whom did It Gomez ] asked
There is no one near us"
"Mohammed IS near suspect that
he Intends to fall upon us tonight He
viii probably kiIl you. then give the
'est Of MS baksheesh to keep silent
"But who could have sent this warn
ng7
II think have been wrong. The
woman who saw you has really been
,aptiynted II Is che"
fold gaIam 70 break camD. load the I