Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-29

spirited and threatening: yet twitchine
about the lips, barely perceptible shift
ing OF the eyes. betrayed some anxiety
mingled with his holiness. The other ma
tives-ail but three, who sauatted pa
had at first flocked out from the pavilion
like q bevy Of gorgeous and excited para
keets: but now they stood withdrawn
from the jetty, watching their spokesman.
Every face showed intent and eager; yet
frown Of indignation. bore q wavering as
pect. The whole band might have tbeen
conspirators overtaken.
David saw and promptly chose his
course.
"Tbat man is not my servant, but a
thief" He pointed at tho paddler labor
ing In tho heavy dugout. then turned upon
the strutting chieftain with a calm, we'll
feigned severity. II come on the part of
one who is tar greater than regent. resi-
dent or sultan
He threw in tho nnal word merely to
round his sentence The effect surprised
him.
The comedy Mohammedan youth stepped
aside and lowered his primrose turban in
q profound bow. his face. meanwhile.
transformed by a lively interchange Of
CONSERVATION. anger and sullen respect.
"Of course you may have q boat. sir"
With constrained politeness he picked his
way over jumbled stones to where the
jetty slun,ped among reeds and shallow
water: then waving courteously his slim
brown hand, he installed David in the
craft which waited there-a rude cata-
maran, or fragmentary pontoon, Of three
duGouts dashed together with areng fiber,
deoked amidships and covered by scant
dlers sufnce you. sirf Amatl'' he called
ashore. "Amat! Ali! Bring fresh mat
ting for this gentleman and row him
weliv'
Two humble natives came running to
obey. They hoped aboard. caught up
and . On the sdss Of
ably under the little matched marque,
was still wondering at this strange and
fortunate reversal Of policy. when his
helper stopped toward him for a parting
word.
IF this matter" murmured the quiet
voice, III this should come to the ears of
his high the man coughed-of our
friend. you Will tell him what my atti-
His level tone. his gentle brown eyes.
refinement, could not hide tho fact that
the young Mussulman was worried.
You will not fail. sirf' he begged.
above all things. our friend wishes not
to displease the Nail Of the Universe!"
David's nod was benign as q monarch'e.
BE content he answered.
AS the two broad paddles struck the
water he went gliding past the tetty.
calm and cross-legYed, like a Buddha.
Yet fairly launched he caught himself
grinning.
False pretenses somewhere" he chuc-
killed.. "I'm g friend to his highness ana
dear old chuins with the Nail OF the Uni
verse!"
Turning. David glanced astern. The
proud young chieftAin watched him doubt
fully-a splendid figure in the misty light.
The still though passionate face. now
darkened with perplexity: his glowing tur-
ban. his silk skirt patterned In ripples OF
dull blue and mellow brown: his jeweled
hilt in q gold sheath; the mans speech,
of purest Malay-these, but above all.
his unaocountable change Of front. gave
to the whole scene a droll, Arabian air
Of mystery.
Cant be helped" David dismissed the
puzzle and faced toward the bow. ''FAlse
pretenses or not I'll catch this fellow"
The chase, indeed. would soon be over.
or the port bow thin white smoke
irifted to join a rolling cumulus hank Of
vapor Elsewhere the lake stretched in
shallow, aerial blue under the sunrise.
The fugitive's cleaning headpiece rose
Ind fell with every beat Of his paddle, In