Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-09

INTO WaNeielS, WIFI AeIe duu tucEe
mountainous billow.
Winding in and out among the bill |
lows were shallow indentations-camel
tracks in the sand.
Ford Cameron turned to his compan-
ion.
How long, Abdi?"
The Arab leaned from his horse I'M
I'll his face almost touched the sand.
With a single movement of his 1.-THE
body he sat upright again. Ten min
utes, saire." he said, with a shrug OF
the shoulder
Cameron frowned.
The last caravan we ran into tried
to rob US Of what the others hadn't
stolen" he muttered.
This Is the same one. effendi." re-
marked Abdi.
How do you know thatT Cam
eron's tone was sharp.
Again the Arab shrugged. 81 know"
Let US go another way, then" sug-
gested the American impatiently. MY
journey TO the ancient ruins OF Glib.
where I am to join the archaeological
expedition. has already been inter
rupted FIVE times by encounters with
bandits and hoIdups by both Italian
and Turkish scouting parties. Is there
no other route we may take-one that
is less frequented?"
Adds fierce glance seemed to over
leap the billowed desert and became
concentrated on the far horizon. where
nj for I'M nd
then vanished.
There Is a different route that may
prove TO be safer" he said at last.
Lead the way. then" ordered Cam
eron impatiently.
Obediently the Arab wheeled his
horse to the left, away from the route
which they had chosen and which was
the same taken by the thieving cara
van whose camel tracks had momen-
tarily halted their journey.
As Cameron followed his guide he
occasionally threw a glance over to
the right. where one might reasonably
expect to glimpse some trace Of the
caravan which had passed only ten
minutes before. He was hoping that
they would elude the thieving Arabs
who had plundered their provisions and
tried to steal their horses. quick
battle with automatic revolvers and q
repeating rife had put the Arabs to
hight. But they lowered near. One
days uninterrupted journey would
bring him to the expedition camp on
the site Of ancient Glib. Urgent bust
ness had prevented his Joining the par
ty at the appointed place; consequent
ly he had to make this lonely trip
across northern Trlpoli with the IN
certain loyalty of an Arab dragomau
as his sole dependence.
Cameron decided to he on the look
out for treachery from his dragoman.
What Is that he asked suddenly
Abdi inclined his ear respectfully. A
faint yapping sound broke the stiffness
"Jackals," declared Abdi. Struggling
! his shoulders.
| Cameron knew that the Arab Ned
and felt that his suspicious were con.
firmed. Therefore he said nothing.
| He drank some strong coffee OF his
| own preparation and ate few timed
| biscuits from his own saddlebags. He
decided not to sleep that night In an
unguarded moment Abdi might muir.
! der him with a shot from the silver
/ mounted rifle he carried slung over
/ his burnOOse.
Cameron propped his saddle against
a sand hihock and. sitting down, lean
ed his head against the leather bags
His cartridge belt was buckled outside
his coat and in either hand he held an
automatic revolver.
The three horses. Adds, his owl
and the pack horse. which carried his
luggage, were grouped near at hand.
Once again there came the distant
cry-of the 1ackals? Cameron believed
otherwise. Abdi turned his head away
and listened.
1T is signal cry" thought Cam
eron, who knew something of the wire
less teIegraphy of the desert tribes
II wonder II 1t relates TO my affairs
or are they on the trail OF italian
scouts? Very likely they are on the
scent Of other game-sOmething big
ger than ! can offer with my meageI
equipment and silver watch"
After awhile he arose and stretched
himself. Offering a splendid target for
Adds rife. but the tall Arab did moi
even turn his head He was staring
out into the fathomless gloom OF the
desert as II his falcon eyes would
pierce its mysteries.
Cameron remained standing He
felt a vague uneasiness creeping over
him. He thought he heard footsteps
padding to and fro in the soft sand
among the hillOcks There seemed Il
be burden Of whispering in the still
air. hut whenever he grew rigid and
tense with listening there was moth
ing save the murmurinG breeze trou
bling the grains OF sand.
The horses stirred restlessly and one
OF them whinnied. Cameron caught
the beginning Of an answering whinny
it was never ended. Something
stifcd it into silence
What was that. Abdi?" asked Cam
erOn sharply.
The Arab turned THAT, efrendl
Thy servant sneeZed
grim smile curved Cameron lips