The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-06-23
A Man In Wolf's
Clothing
" .
Bv DONALD CHAMBERLIN
Copyright by American Press Asso-

xAuNluk OlOEoIldAS SASoSS~
strait and landed in Tangier. The
transition from an English army post
to an Arab town is about as marked
as any that can be made. At Tangies
one finds about him the swarthy ma
tive, wearing the baracan, q long
white cotton garment-probably the
toga Of the Romans, who once con-
quered his country, handed down to
the present day-and Of a different re-
ligion from what he has left on the
other side Of the strait, If his system
of superstition can be called religion.
At Tangier l QUILTED for q trip to
the great desert Of Sahara, aiming to
penetrate as far south as Tuat, thence
northeastward to Trpoli. I had e v
eral camels and a dozen men as serv.
ants and guards.
There is no lonelier place on the face
Of the earth than the desert, though ]
will admit that on q starlight night
there is a solemn grandeur about 1t.
When we were not moving at night In
stead Of the day I established a guard
about my camp just as II we were an
army marching through an enemy's
country, and, strange to say, this Wig
ilance was simply exercised against
thieves and robbers. The ingenuity
of these lying rascals Is remarkable
They are natural spies. They would
come into our camp in the most friend
" way for the purpose of theft, If they
could get their hands on anything. and,
If not, to gather information as to how
they could rob us at another time.
One day a ba-d of Tuaregs, as they
are called, ans into camp for the
purpose, l felt sure, of observation.
They numbered about us many as We,
but as my force was under the COM
mand of a European and we'll armed
they would not think of attacking US.
That same night my sentinel put
one man on guard-was shot dead. l
heard the distant crack of a rifle and,
calling several of my men, hurried them
out in different directions after the
murderer. I went myself, but saw moth
ing, only the great sandy pillows. Oneof
my men reported seeing a wolf running
away, but no human being was found.
The lex day we buried the MUIR
dered man and proceeded on our way.
That night while every one except the
man on guard was asleep there was
another crack, and a sentry was killed.
Again l deployed my men, proceeding
farther than before, but not even a
wild animal was found. There was
ample opportunity for any n to hide
among the sand pillows, and by cover
ing himself with his baracan he was
not likely to be seen. At any rate, we
were obliged to give up the search.
I surmised that the party of Tua
regs who had visited our camp were
lowering near us, intending to pick of
q man every night till our number
should be so reduced as to render US
an easy prey. Then camels, our
tents. our supplies, our arms and am
munition would fall into their hands.
The outfit would be a fortune to them.
I concluded that l must stop their
game at all hazards.
The next night I planted a tent pole
in the ground, fixed a %crosspiece to
1t, and, tying some esparto grass
about the two, I made the body OF a
manikin. This l covered with a bara-
can and put a fez on the head. Thus
I had a dummy sentinel who might be
shot to pieces without being hurt. j
had taken care to fx our camp on the
edge of an oasis, where I could elimi-
nate the approach in n direction, and
noted a convenient place Of conceal
ment-a hole in the ground-a few
hundred yards from the camp. Soon
after dark, taking q rife. I went out to
my hole. The moon gave SUFFICIENT
light for me to see any n approach
the camp.
had q long wait, for It was near
dawn before I saw any living thing,
and then nothing more than Q wolf
psowling arou.d In ssarch Of some
thing to eat. Bnt, having nothing
else to watch, watched the wolf
He would stop here aud thess and dil
up ths sand, then 80 on. With biz noai
to the ground. to another 3pat~and dii
asain. All the while he was nearing
tbs camp. Presently be stopped AMI
after tufning in q circle lay down. II
WAS lost to view, but I kept my eye
dxed On the spot where ] had last re,
him.
suddsaly 1t-a point still nearer th
camp NV q lash, heard . cracl
and the wolf, raising himself on hl
hind legs, ran away like q deer. Z
had 4 good view Of the creature
silhouette against a line Of dawn. 81
I Am q good shot on the wing. Raj
ing my rifle, I achieved an exceller
aim and fred. The wolf pitched TO
ward and lay still.
had Instructed my foreman
Hamet, that IL he heard q shot to wal
the men and II he heard . second or
, to bring them out. In q few minuta
they came running toward me.
called to them and Joined them. The
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