Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-07-13
A Mystery of the Great Desert.

corner bastion OF the fortress open where
it joined the ground and figure emerge
and come running toward me. On he
came, staggering under the weight Of
heavy iron shackleS, till he reached a
point within few yards OF me, when he
sank down. evidently not knowing which
way TO turn. He was blinking his eyes
as if blinded by the light OF the sun.
Then | saw puff of smoke on the
ramparts of the castle, heard report and
saw evidences of stirring in and about
the stronghold. II was evident that a
prisoner had escaped. The man was
skeleton, and the agony on his face at
knowing that he must be taken was dis
tressing. Darling toward him, | began
to heap sand over him and, having some
knowledge of his language, told him that
was trying to conceal him. He suffer-
ed me TO do so, and | partly covered him
with sand, partly with an overcoat |
wore, for chilly sea wind was blowing.
Then | sat down on him, lighted pipe
and began TO puff, looking out with feign-
ed interest on the Mediterranean.
Inever knew who gave the alarm, but
it must either have been the fugitive's
iailer who had noticed his dungeon vacant
or some one on the outside who ran into
communicate what he had seen. AT any
rate whoever told ofthe escape must have
lost sight of the fleeing man, for when
party ran out from the fortress TO follow
him they scattered in all directions, evi-
dently none of them knowing which di-
rection to take. Most of them ran to-
ward the shore, doubtless thinking he
would naturally 60 there in hope OF eS-
Gaping by boat He certainly couldn't
swim out to any of the ships, loaded as
he was with irons.
Several persons came near where was
but they were too excited by the chase to
pay much attention to me, for ! was in
European dress and evidently not the
man they sought. One fellow was head
ing for me when pointed, vociferating
wildly at the same time, TO apearl divers
boat lying near The shore. This probably
saved the man was hiding, for it was
likely that had permitted the searcher
to come nearer he would have noticed
that the sand had been disturbed
For half an hour sat on my man, and
while sat thought. My act had been
the result Of an impulse. had interfered
with the law and if detected would prob
ably occupy dungeon such as the fugi-
tive had left. From the moment realiz-
ed my position ! Shivered whenever |
saw any one coming in my direction. The
sun was sinking in the west, and pray
ed earnestly that it might set and leave
darkness behind it. Gradually the search
erS thinned out, not SuppoSing that the
fugitive could be near at hand, and finally
the search was givenu up in my immediate
vicinity.
When it grew dark enough to warrant
my uncovering the man did so. His
eyeSight was now far better than mine,
for, as | had supposed, he had become
used to what little light might make its
way into a dungeon. told him to go
where he liked, but he pleaded with me
so eagerly 10 help him get rid OF his
chains that could not refuse him. Be
sides, considered him in sense as
Robinson Crusoe looked upon the man
he had saved from the cannibalS, his own
man Friday. So | covered him again,
went up into the town, bought coarse
file and, returning, cut off his ShackleS,
which buried in the sand. Then, Civ
ing him what money had in my pockets,
told him to 60 his way.
could not see his features, but could
feel his gratitude in the pressure OF his
hand and hear what he said. Translated
into English, it is this:
"Allah is great. When you are in trou-
BILE he will send me to help you"
With this he disappeared in the dark
ness.
The next day walked past the point
in the wall from which he had made his
escape. saw a hole just large enough
for lean body such as his to pass
through. He had doubtless managed to
secure some sharp implement, with which
he had dug his way out through crumb-
ling places. Indeed, visited his prison
and was shown the cell in which he had
lived for twenty years and the passage he
had dug. But, conscious OF the part !
had taken in his escape, did not linger
longer than 10 satisfy my curiosity. In
deed, whenever a Turkish official looked
at me felt that was suspected.
Not feeling sure that might not, after
all, come to be known as having hidden
the prisoner, went TO the United States
consul and told him that feared arrest
for an infringement OF Turkish law and
asked him to send every day to my lodg-
ings to ask if were still there. What
feared was being spirited away and put
in dungeon without any OF my country
men knowing what had happened. Twas
planning for trip down into the desert,
but had my outfit to purchase and my
attendants TO hire. So it was impossible
for me to get away for some time.
| confess | felt relieved when with
three camels and half dozen men, in
Guiding my servant, Hadii, who had at
tended me while in Tripoli, started on
my Journey. | had tried in vain to secure
the services of some trustworthy Bed
ouin who knew the desert and would
make a safe guide. But whenever
found man who knew the country was