Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-10-31


no unusual .zest % Els craving 10
vow, forned Or th4 tang % the weed
,,noo his rrs. but ne held out mani
f,,liv u, would not touch cigar or
cigarette ,su nightiau. and Their ne
made I'D his mino TO smoke half OF
either. The touch. selfish and c1icur
Eating. OF the miser, stole over him@
IF Ryauna was without the soothor!
SO much the worse Tor him. The siE
cigars he would not share with the
archapgel Michael. surprising fhat
gentleman came down for smoke.
Forward. always forward. winding
In and out OF the valleys, trailing over
the hills. never faster, never slower
Noon came. aud the brilliance OF aft
crnoon dmmcd and faded inso the
short twilight Were they never go
ing 10 stopf One Hill more. and
GEORGE. 20 his infinite delight, saw =
cluster Of date-palns ahead. mile
or so: and he knew that this was TO
/ be the haven for the ship Of the des-
/ art The caravan came to it under
| the dim light OF the few stars that
| had not vet attained their refulgenco.
| Under the palms were few deserted
=aud-houses. huddled dejectedly to-
| cether. Ike outcasts seehng the near
ness rather than the companionship OF
the co-unfortunates. Men had dwelt
here once upon a time. but the plague
had doubtless counted them out, one
by one They made camp near the
well. which still contained water.
Prayers. wailing chanted forth
toward Mecca God is great There
ia no God but Cod"
George had witnessed prayers so
( | often that he no longer gave attention
20 the muezzin calling at eventioe
4 from the miuaret. But out here, in
/ | the blank wilderness, IL caught him
| egain. caught him as It had never
(. | done before. a shivor stirred the hair
: at the base OF his neck The lean
: bodies. one not distlnguishable from
tho other now, kneeling, standing,
q sweeping the arms. touching the fore
| head upon the rug. for even the low
L ! est camcl-boy had his prayer-rafss
J | ceasclessly intoning the set phrases
\ George felt shame grow IN his heart.
Was he as loyal 10 his God as these
N were 90 theirs?
A good fire was started. and the fu-
neroal aspect Of the oasis became
u quick and cheerful A little distance
h" from the blaze, George saw Fortune
bending over the inGnimate Ryanne
- She was bathing his face with wei
- handkerchief. After a time Ryanne
y. turned over and hung his arms limph
ACROSS his face. II was the first sigI
So OF lie he had exhibited since tn
- start. Fortune gently pulled asid
- his arms and continued her tende
mcrcies.
"Can I help7" asked George
/ rvfu 20 oh
answered.
X It seemed odd to him that the
i should begin in such matterof-faS
way. II would be only when the
"r had fully adjusted themselves to II
on situation that questions would p'
ula forth for answers. He knelt down
pn the other side OF Ryannc and ma
''i saped his wrists and arms. Once
%, paused. catching his breath
.Ho what is it?" she asked.
I'M "a nib seems 20 bother me. tn
all right tomorrow" He went
with his manipulations.
80 Us he badly hurt?"
ct can't say"
His knowledge Of anatomy was Z
wide; stin. Ryannes arms and lie
INNS worked satisfactorily. The trout
was either I'm his head or back Of
my ribs. lie put his arm under Ryann
-la-u shoulder and raised him. Ryan
ZION mumbIod some words. George b.
.siiis down 20 catch them. "Hit 'em up
lo"n this half. boys; we've got them goi
liitu Hell. Get of my head, you farm
'tNe. Two cards, please"
= - ! face puckercd into what was inten'
u 20 for smile. George laid him b
'u ne gently. Football and poker: "
re had this man not known or seen
ny life? Some one came between
- two men and the fire, casting i
;, ~" shadow athwart them. George loo
-, up and saw Mahomed standing G
'"D by His arms were folded and
face grimly inscrutable.
'al-. "Have you any Blankets as
George coony.
Nahomed gave an order A blal
and two saddle-bags were thr
az down beside the unconscious I
George made pillow OF the bags
O.-.. laid the blanket over Ryanne.
y P1, why do you waste your time
him ?" asked Mahomsd curiously.
as 10 Il would not let a dog die this v
he retorted.
"He would have let you die" re
UHl~ Mahomed, turning upon his heel.
uHueI George stared thoughtfully at
no" whilom accomplice. What did
IONS old villain insinuate?