Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-21

stared, and again they decided that it
might be either.
IF you very knowing people, said
Violet Chesterman, will bring your
eyes nearer home and take a look at
the cartridges again, you'll see they're
all tending to run one way, and that's
north. And those dotty little things
among them are quail, l suppose"
"And by CAD. Skipper, look there,
did you see that? And he was heading
north, too" .
II saw big animal, sir"
Moroccan wild boar, and boiling
like q good-un, wasn't he? Now his
eminence, the pig, doesn't run out Of
the way Of one man, nor, IL he's that
way out, will he sometimes shift for
forty. should say there's distinct rea-
son to expect visitors presently down
at the southern end of the beach
there" ..
That's at the back of the Norman
Towers, sir. where they were before.
Almost looks as II the first corners
had padded good hard road to that
point, and late callers stick to the
same track, Well, it will simplify mat
tiers II they make rule Of that"
"The range from here to there is
say, four hundred and fifty-or per-
haps five hundred yards. Shooting will
be bit difficult across sand in this
heat, because Of the refraction, but we
ought to get on to the target after a
shot or two. What do you say If we
point out when they begin to arrive
that we regard this section of the
continent as part of the British EN-
|pire, and that this isn't our at-home
day." ,...,...
II want you to remember, sir, as
I'm remembering" said Captain Ket-
tie patiently, that we've got ladies on
board and cant afford to make mis-
takes. know 1t means we shall miss
some fun. But I want them to be al
lowed to make the first moves"
Then" said Sir George, that puts
my rifle out Of action for the time be-
ing, and. by the speakers eye, there's
the mark"
There cantered out from behind the
shoulder Of a dune, twenty splendid
barbaric cavalrymen. OF the two who
rode first, one, obviously an inferior,
carried a white napkin blowing out
from the end of his long gun-barrel.
and the other alongside him was In
command. They halted, and for mo-
ment regarded the rusting Norman
Towers. Captain Kettle with some
quick instinct of defiance Tin spite Of
the words he had just uttered) laid
hold of the Wangaroo's siren string,
and after preliminary cough or two.
to clear It's throat, blew out a deep
sonorous blast The troop leader
turned to his men, and through tho
glasses Sir George could see him
laugh. Then he touched his horse
with the sharp corners Of his stirrup-
irons and galloped north up the beach
escort
Abreast the Kangaroo he reined up,
and his black stallion stood with fore
feet at the waters edge. and hind
hoofs straddled out backward, as
though it had been trained for the
show ring. The rider brought up a
hand to his head-gear in salute,
dropped it, dropped his reins, and sat
there under the sunshine like a man
carved out of iron. '5' "h %''i
Wants to talk, guess" said Cap
tain Kettle. 81 wonder what's his little
game Doesn't seem to have any idea
we might shoot him, either"
"well. you can't bawl at him across
this distance. Besides, It's too hot for
shouting It would be interesting to
hear what he's got to say. I lay a
pound to brick he'll start to prove
that he's got no connection with the
other darkies who whanged at us with
the brass gun" ..a. ~.
| Hes very splendid-looking man, -
said Violet, from behind a pair of
binoculars. And, anyway. there's only
one of him, so you needn't be afraid
Eyes, I'm afraid all right, miss.
said Captain Kettle grimly. "But we'll
interview the gentleman for all that, If
we can rake up any language among
us that the other can understand. Mr..
Smith,"
"Sir?"
Call away that port quarter-boat,
and fetch off that man from the
beach" ~
aye aye, sir"
During the interval. captain
ilet me give you a cup Of tea, V
said Violet. 1.-THE steward :. makes
it himself now, so can guar.
antee it's not been boiled more
than half an hour. You needn't
look anxious, George. That's an am
bassador on the beach there. and while
negotiations last there'll be truce.
Afterward it may possibly be battle
continued So let's drink tea while we
may, and be thankful for the cooks
new biscuit" -.....a
It was on this domestic scene that
the ambassadors eye first fell when
he came up over the side. Captain
Owen Kettle. as the complete ship cap;
tain, went to meet him, with his best
air, and his best Arabic.
Stamina" said Kettle.
"Aleikoom Stamina said the Wis
itor.
Captain Kettle reeled off sentence
or two to the effect that the day was
fine, hospitality was waiting, and
Allah was in his heaven. In the
original it was fine sonorous phrase,
but as the little sailor had picked it
up from the Mecca pilgrim touts in
Jeddah, half the words were very
much debased Arabic, and the rest
we're made up of assorted unknown