Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-06-06
n II h
MYSTERY
OF the Great
Desert of
Sahara

~
3 Sahara F.:
(: BY R. W. keenan, 4:
Copyright by American Press Asso- 9
citation. ls1l =
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/ was lounging one afternoon In the
eastern part Of Tripoli. city in north
ern Africa and on the Mediterranean.
looking at the ancient castle Of the
Bashaws. when was startled to see
the wall of corner bastion Of the
fortress open where It Joined the
ground and a figure emerge and come
running toward me. On he came, stag.
gering under the weight Of heavy iron
shackles. till he reached point within
few yards Of me. when he slnk
down. evidently not knowing which
way to turn. BE was blinking bis
eyes as II blinded by the light Of the
sun.
Then l saw a 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 a skeleton. and the agony on his
face at knowing that he must be taken
was distressing. Darling toward him.
! began to heap sand over him and.
having some knowledge Of bis Ian
guage, told him that I was trying to
conceal him. He suffered me to do
so. and partly covered him with sand.
partly with an overcoat wore, for a
chilly sen wind was blowing. Then |
sat down on him. lighted pipe and
began to puff. looking out with feigned
interest on the Mediterranean.
never knew who gave the alarm
but It must either have been the fugi
tive's jailer who had noticed bis dun
geon vacant or some one on the out
side who ran In to communicate what
he had seen. At any rate. whoever
told Of the 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
evidently none Of them knowing which
direction to take. Mast Of them ran
toward the shore. doubtless thinking
he would naturally 60 there In hope OF
escaping by bout. He certainly couldn't
swim out to any of the ships. loaded as
be was with irons.
Several persons came near where ]
was. but they we're too excited by the
chase to pay much attention to me.
for I was In European dress and evi
IDENTIFY not the man they sought. One
fellow was heading for me when !
pointed. vociferating wildly at the
same time. 10 pearl divers boat
lying near the shore. This probably
saved the man was hiding. for 1t was
likely that had ! permitted the search
er to come nearer he would have no
ticed 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. bad
interfered with the law and II de
tected would probably occupy a dun
geon such rs the fugitive had left
From the moment I realized my posi-
ton I shivered whenever | saw any
one coming In my direction. The sun
was sinking 10 the west. and I prayed
earnestly that II might set and leave
darkness behind H. Gradually the
searrhers thinned out. not supposing
that the fugitive could be near at
hand. and finally the search was given
up In my immediate vicinity.
When Il grew dark enough 10 war
rant my uncoverlng the man ! did so.
His eyesight was now far better than
mine. for. rs | had supposed. he had
become used 10 what little light might
make It's way into dungeon told
him TO 20 where he liked. but he
pleaded with me so eagerly 10 help
him set rid Of his chains that ] could
not refuse him Besides. ] considered
him iu q sense ~ Robinson Crusoe
looked upon the man he had saved
from the cannibals. his own man Fri
day. So covered him again. went up
into the town. bought coarse tlle and
returning. cut or his shackles. which |
buried in the sand Then. giving 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 bis hand and hear what be said
Translated into English. It Is this:
"Allah Is great. When you are In
trouble he will send me to help you"
With that he disappeared In the
darkness.
The next day I walked past the
point In the wall from which be bud
made his escape I saw a hole just
large enough for a lean body such az
his to pass through. BE had doubtless
managed to secure some sharp imple
ment. with which be had dug bis way
ont through crumbling places. In
deed. visited bis 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 bis escape. I did not lin.
-er longer than to satisfy my curios'
:ty. Indeed, whenever Turkish off,
..ial looked at me I felt that I was
inspected.
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
very day to my lodgings to ask II !
we're still there. What ! feared was
icing spirited away and put in dun
-eon without any Of my countrymen
showing what had happened. was
r.Iannlng for a trip down into the des,
;rt. but I had my outfit to purchase
and my attendants to hire. SO It was
impossible for me to get away for
some time.
confess l felt relief when one
morning with thrre camels and half
dozen men. including my servant,
Hadji, who had attended me while In
Tripoli. l started on my journey. l
had tried In vain t. secure the serv-
ices of some trustworthy Bedouin who
knew the desert and would make