Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-07-21
By R. W. keenan,


/ was lounging one afternoon In the
eastern part OF Tripoli. city in north
cru Africa aud on the Mediterranean,
looking at the ancient castle OF the
Bashaws. when l was startled to see
the wall of a corner bastion Of the
fortress open where II Joined the
ground and a figure emerge and come
running toward me On he came. stag
gering under the weight Of heavy iron
shackles. I'll he reached point within
few yards Of me. when he sank
down. evidently not knowing which
way to turn He was blinking his
eyes as il blinded by the Hight VI lhe
sun.
Then saw pu1f Of smoke on the
rampnrts of the castle. heard a report
and saw evidences Of stirring in and
about the stronghold. 1t was evident
that prisoner had escaped The mnn
was a skeleton. and the agony Oh his
face at knowing that be must be taken
was distressing. Darling toward him.
began to heap sand over him aud.
having some knowledge of bis Ian
guage. told him that was trying to
conceal him. He suffered me to do
so. aud 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 pun. looking out with feigned
interest on the Mediterranean.
never knew who gave the alarm.
but il must either have been the fugi-
tiyes Iniler who had noticed his dun
geon vacant or some one on the out
side who ran in TO communicate what
he had seen AT any rate. whoever
told ofithe 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. M,fit Of them ran
toward the shore, doubtless thinking
he would naturally go there in hope OF
escaping by boat. He certainly couldn't
swim out TO any Of the ships. loaded as
he was with irons.
Several persons came near where l
was. but they were too excited by the
chase to pay much attention to me.
for ! was In European dress and evi-
IDENTIFY not the man they sought One
fellow was heading for me when
pointed voclferating wildly at the
same time. to pearl divers boat
lying near the shore. This probably
saved the man was hiding. for II 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 had
interfered with the law and if de
tected would probably occupy a dun.
geon such ms the fugitive had left
From the moment I realized my posi-
ton | shivered whenever saw any
one coming In my direction. The sun
was sinking in the west. and prayed
earnestly that II might set and leave
darkness behind It, Gradually the
searchers thiIned out. not supposing
that the fugitive could be near at
hand. and finally the search was given
up in my immediate vicinity.
When 1t grew dark enough to war
rant my uncoyering 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 n dungeon. told
him TO go where he liked. but he
pleaded with me so eagerly to help
him get rid Of his chains that ! could
not refuse him Besides. | considered
him in sense as Robinson Crusoe
looked upon the man he had saved
from the cannihals. his own man Fri
day. So covered him again. went up
into the town bought coarse file and.
returning. cnt off his shackles. which
buried In the sand Then. giving him
what money had in my pockets.
told him TO go his way.
I could not see his features. but
could feel his gratitude In the pressure
of his hand and hear what be said
Translated into English. II 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 / walked past the
point in the wall from which he bad
made his escape saw Il nale just
large enough for lean tasi, such as
MANAGED 10 se,ure snne sharn iulnle-