The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1911-08-17
WHEN | WAS
YOUNG
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

al OulHl Oh seNeIdl CduelS' "ulNh 1
owned, and score Of blacks, whom |
hired, | started southwark from Tripo-
Ii to do a little exploring of the great
desert Of Sahara | certainly couldn't
explore much OF it, for 1t is larger in
area than the United States and only
parts are ordinarily traversed. l chose
to make an expedition straight south
TO the Sudan, along the route Of cara
vans trading with that region. 1t is
an ocean OF sand, with pillows of land
except in spots where there are GASES.
On the route we fell in with an Arab
wanderer named MOhammed Not all
orientals are named MOhammed. but q
large numbe- are. He said be was a
trader, but one Of my men said that
the way he traded was one sided. He
gave nOthing-unless bullets-for some
thing. In other words, he was a rob-
Der.
But, like most Of these people, he
was very smooth spoken. He pretend
ed TO take a great fancy to me; said
that he had heard that America was
the greatest country in the world, and
he was quite sure ] was the greatest
American. To prove his admiration for
and confidence In me, he invited me
to his camp and introduced me to his
wives. There was one young and
| quite pretty fOr an Arab woman
among them who. it seemed TO me,
was especially cordial TO me. l could
only judge by the looks she gave me,
for she did not know nv language nor
l hers. Salam, my chief man, remark
ed to me that he had noticed the wo-
mans preference for me. But, having
no desire TO get myself murdered OH
account Of an Arabs wife. | did not
propose to encourage the lady.
Mohammed journeyed beside us for
several days. camping when We camp
ed and moving when we moved. Had
1t not been for Salam | would have
considered that the man had conceived
a great regard for me. so naturally did
be feign IT. Salam said that he was
familiarizing himself with our strength.
our arms aud the value Of the loot to
be acquired In case Of successful at |
tack. Salam also ventured the opinion
that the wife who was so favorably |
disposed toward me was probably in |
tending. by her husbands order, to lure |
me into some position by which | |
could he put out Of the way. Then my |
belongings would easily fall into Mo- |
hammeds hands. This view Of the |
case did not favor the conceit Of q
man Of twenty-five. and I did not be-
lieve him.
One evening my Bedouin admirer
came to my camp to announce the
fact that the next morning at dawn he
would separate from us, going of to
the east toward Marzuk. my intention
being to proceed on my way to Chat.
He invited me to sup with him. Being
young-as ! have said before-I had q
fancy to see once more the woman
who had apparently conceived a re-
gard for me. | desired to form an
opinion as to whether Salam or | was
right as TO the genuineness of her
| supped with her
husband, but he kept his wives out Of
the way. This seemed to me to prove
that there was nothing in Salam's
theory. The trader Toasted me royalty
and when left embraced me with
tears in his eyes.
whoever says" I remarked to Sa-
lam when returned to my camp. that
an Arab is incapable Of friendship
doesn't know your race"
Salam made no reply. but did not
seem especially impressed with my ap-
probation Of the guileless natures Of
his brother Bedouins.
Two days after this we encamped
one evening on the desert. 1t was a
lonely spot. though no more lonely
tran all other spots on the Sahara. I
was standing after dark admiring the
bright stars above. contrasting with
the monotonous scene below, when l
heard the faintest kind Of a sound
within few feet Of me. 1t was like
q spent bullet hitting soft earth. Turn
Ing. ] saw an object a few feet from
me. Going to 1t. found an arrow
sticking in :ae sand. Taking il I'D, l
discovered "a bit Of wood tied to 1t.
Taking it into my tent. where I had a
light. saw Arabic writing on one
tide. called Salam and asked him
to interpret II. He read it to himself |
and looked up at me with fear in his
lace
What is II ?" I asked.
at says. Make the fonduk.'"
The fonduk is a caravansary where !
may get food. water and.
what Is often more desirable. safety.
From whom did 1t Gomez? asked.
There Is no one near u.s."
"MOhammed is near. I suspect that
lie intends to fall upon us tonight. He
will probably kill you. then give the
est of us baksheesh TO keep silent"
"But who could have sent this warn
mgr" !
Il think I have been wrong. The
woman who saw you has really been
aptivated. 1t is She"
/ told Salam to break camp, load the
amels. and we would proceed on our
Quincy.
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