Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-07-13


with sandstorm that overlook us, and
the sandstom was not so dangerous as
man hired for guide from one oasis to
another, who tried TO pilot me into an
ambush where band OF robbers were
waiting TO kill me.
Not being satisfied with hiring guides,
| determined to 60 through to the next
oasis without one. The distance was
three days travel, but at the end of the
third day looked in vain on the horizon
for that bunch OF fauna which indicates
an oasis. | camped, and the next day
we travelled in the burning sun without
seeing any sign ola pointfor refreshment,
nor did we meet caravan. The sand
storm had obliterated any tracks OF the
greatroute between Tnpoli and the Sudan
on which we had started. All about us
was an unmarked wilderness of sand.
The desert is so immense that when one
loses his position there is no hope OF
finding il again. One on that bouudleSS
sea without knowing what direction TO
take can only 90 on day after day, hoping
to strike an oasis.
That is what we were compelled to do.
The sensation OF being lost in wilder
ness Of sand was frightful enough in il
self, but to see the stock OF provisions
day by day growing smaller, the skin
pouches holding the water growing thin
ner, with the hot sun pouring down on
ones brain, is maddening.
So we toiled on, hoping each day for
some end TO this frightful journey. Either
a distant caravan, an oasis or even a band
OF robbers would have been welcome.
And now the humps on the camelS' backs
became shrunken. We had no water to
give them, for we were using ourselves
what remained in one OF the pouches.
We killed one OF the camelS for the water
in its hump. Then we killed another.
One OF my men died, then another and
another, most OF them mad, till about all
were dead and was left alone, a human
being with a camel. Alas, | must sacri-
flee my only campanion for what water
was left in him. killed him and was
alone on the great desert Of Sahara.
Ifell asleep that evening praying that
| might never awaken. But was awak
ened by a touch. There, by the light
of full moon that had arisen perhaps an
hour before, saw a skeleton OF a man
in Bedouin costume bending over me.
"Allah has sent me-" he said.
He took me up in his arms and carried
me away. knew not where, for to me
there was no north, south, east or west.
Most of the time was unconscious.
When | was not was looking up into
the dome OF the heavens, whose stars
seemed to be glaring at me. Then sud-
denly thought was in boat in chop
by sea, but soon recognized the motion
OF a camel. put out my hand and telt
hair. Straps were about me so that !
could not fall. felt cup OF water placed
TO my lips and saw the face of the man |
had saved at Tripoli holding it while |
drank Then | slept.
In the morning found myself lying on
green grass in an oasis.
have told my story. | shall not al
tempt to explain it. Nor am going to
ask any one TO believe it. ! certainly do
not expect persons 10 believe what !
would not believe myself had it been told
me instead Of having happened to me.
One thing occurred to me the moment !
was conscious OF having been saved. !
was seized with a desire TO know whether
had been saved by the quick or the
dead.
Joined a caravan passing through the
oasis northward of Tripoli. On reaching
there, after rest and having satisfied my
self that the escaped prisoner ! had hid
den no longer occupied either the pop
ular or official mind, went to the cas-
tie for any information ! might pick up.
interviewed those in charge as to what
had become OF the man who had escaped
and found that his iailers telt considerable
superstition as to his disappearance,
claiming that in his chains and hunted by
so many persons he could not have es-
capped without the interposition OF Allah.
| asked them who he was, but was
told that he had been in prison so long
that his identity had been forgotten. !
was greatly disappointed at this, for it
precluded the possibility ofmy ever hunt
ing up the man through his relatives and
discovering whether he was living or
had died. So reluctantly sailed away
from Tripoli, feeling that must wait for
an explanation until | had entered that
existence where all things will be made
0laiu