The Detroit times., 1912-12-03
cNAPT ER Xxx.
(CoatInne6l
A ROMANCE OF THE

IL the length O. the Atlas which
lies between the Atlantic shore and
the Algerian border IL IL quite pos
sib.e thsse may be glaciers and per
potusl ic+felds. No white man has
explored them--or, 10 be more pre-
else. nc white man who has gone into
hat upper country has ever returned
70 report his observations, and the
Berber who lives in the neighborhood.
and presumably knows, Is a reticent
creature and will not tell. The pres
ent writer, who records only what he
has seen, has felt the sun up there
drilling through his head-gear at MID
day, and has at that time stood In the
middle OF his own small circular
shadow. And yet on the same spot.
? and only IL hours later, the whole
camp has been whitened by steadily
falling snow, and the chill or II was
paralyzing. AS ali the world knows,
there Is nothing so bitter as snow in
the tropics. The temperature, as tenn
peratures 20, may not be anything re-
markable, but In these things II Is
contrast that uips.
Capt. Kettle slept throughout the
baking day tho sleep OF utter wcari-
ness. without dream. without stir.
Insects hummed and plnged above
him. and some Of them browsed on
him undisturbed.
An investigating jackal got wind
Of him about supper-time. and trotted
a mile grlnning at the thought OF a
meal. But he turned tail after a
brief inspection. and left a bad smell
behind him 10 mark hts displeasure.
The pioneers OF an adjacent colony
OF ants. too, came ard marched over
him; but discovering that he was still
alive, retired with a resolve TO call
later on.
II was the chill that woke him.
He was stiff from head to foot. his
bones ached, and his skin prinkled.
this being the ordinary way that
frost affects one In the tropics. But
the sea life raises one above grumb-
ling at TRIES like these. He looked
at his watch, drowned at the moon,
shook himself warm, and set out. He
had all his plan OF campaign mapped
out, and after a brief reconnaissance.
to make sure that the disposition OF
the enemy remained unchanged. he
commenced the action.
He chose one OF the larger pickets
in the valley below. where the white
clothed men lay in starfsh pattern,
with their feet pointing toward CEN
trail camp fire. and shouldering the
Winchester, commenced steady
bombardment at the blaze. He fred
no two bullets from the same spot,
but after letting of one cartridge, ran
swiftly for ten yards along the ridge
before discharging the next After
the first few shots he wassindinerent
about inaecurate aim. The Berbers
had scattered from the fire when the
first bullet hit a log. and sent up a
rocket of sparks, and had rolled on,
like the experts they were at the snip-
ing game. into cover; and alter that
a bullet at random vas as good, or rs
harmless, as a outlet aimed.
Captain Kettles ruse de guerre was
to make the enemy think that they
were attacked by considerable num-
Der OF rifiemen strung out along the
ridge, who had an order for Individual
FIRE; and In this he succeeded very
pleasantly. Kettle splashed In 20
shots from a front OF 200 Yards, and
then there was a cessation OF nrlils
as he sprinted back TO his starting
point. To the Berber this represent
ed the interval necessary TO reload
and reprime a Misunderstanding, mint
locked musket. He repeated the dose
over the same 200 yards OF front. and
convinced them that ,hey were at
tackled by 20 men. Well. they were
200 The strung-out sentries ana
supports had run in by this, and the
whole crew OF them were packed To-
gether in the bush. They we're sons
OF Islam all. and a frontal attack APP
pealed to them as one OF the surest
snort cuts to Paradise for the lucky
ones.
so word was passed with shout OF
Allah" They broke cover. all 2Oo
OF them. and charged up over the
burnt hillside.