River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-04-25
CHAPTER vll.-(continued.)

CHAPTER Vll.-(Continued.)
BY dawn they were ready to start;
and so, in the level rays OF sun that
seemed a dazzling sphere of intoler-
able light, posing itself in the eastern
rim of the world as II Undecided
whether or no to take up It's hlght
across the armament, the little cara
van rocked out into the fastness OF
the desert, the Irishman in the van
sitting a blooded mehari as one to the
wilderness born.
On the seventh night they bivouack-
ed hard on the heels of the flying col
umn, having for seven days pursued
it this way and that, zigzagging into
the heart of the parched land.
Now, when they were come within
six hours of their goal, reluctantly,
long after nightfall, O'Rourke gave
consent to halt, conceding the ne
cessity; for WEAKNESS weighed upon
their shoulders great burden, ana
the camels had become unusually sui
len and evil tempered; If rest were
denied them presently they would
the road.
O'Rourke closed his eyes and lost
consciousness with sensation OF fall
ing headlong into great pit OF OBJ
livion, bottomless, eternal. Yet 1t
seemed no more. than a moment ere
ne was sitting up and rubbing sight
into his eyes, shaken out of slumber
by his guide.
He stumbled to his feet and lurched
toward the camels, still but half
awake. When his senses cleared ir-
ritation possessed him. His guide had
been overzealous. He turned upon the
man and seized him roughly by the
arm.
What the divvle!" he grumbled an
grily, between a yawn and chatter
of teeth-for the air was bitter cold.
1.-THE moons not yet up!"
flush, Sidi!" Something in the
guides tone stilled his wrath. "The
Touaregg are all about us. They have
been passing us throughout the
night"
"Ye knew this and did not wake
me?'
There was no need; we could not
have moved ere this without detection.
Now, they are all a-stir, and we in
the night, may pass for them-until
moon-up."
The guide turned away to rouse the
mehara, prodding them up, mutinous,
snarling and ugly. In another five
minutes they were again moving for
ward. BY the time the silver rim of
the moon peered over the edge Of the
east they were pelting on at full speed,
as yet, apparently, undetected by the
Touaregg.
An hour passed, and the chill in the
air became more intense; dawn was
at hand. A sense of security, Of dan
gers left behind, came to the Irish
man; he began to breathe more free
~, though still the polished butt of a
repeating rifle swinging from the sad
die remained a comfort to his palm.
He grew more confident, mentally at
ease. seeing the desert take shape
in the moonlight and show itself DESC
late on every hand
Even as he gained assurance from
this thought, the guide turned in his
saddle and cried warning: 1.-THE Tou-
aregg!" From that moment on both
welded merciless whips. For out of
the moonlit wastes behind them had
shrilled voice. cruel and wild, an
nouncing discovery and the inception
Of the chase The fugitives had need
Of no sharper spur.
A rifle shot rang sharp on the echoes
Of that cry, but the bullet must have
fallen far short. A moment later, in
deed, they opened a brisk, scattering
fre-naturally Intellectual. though the
bullets dropping right and left in the
sand proved that the chase had got
within range.
Even with that warning, the end
was nearer than he had dreamed or
hoped. 1t came in twinkling and as
unexpected as bolt out of clear
aky: a flash of fire ahead. a spitful
snap and-pttt.-the song of a bullet
speeding past his head.
The guide pulled Gp with a jerk
aRourke, refining in desperately,
,wurg his camel wide to avert the
threatened collision simultaneously
be sharp "Qui vive?" of a French
entry rang out. loud and sweet to
ear
Thank God," said the adventurer
his heart And aloud, "Friends!"
ie cried. driving past the sentry In .
loud of dust.
BY blessed miracle the man was
quick of wit. and swift to grasp the
situaHon-of which. however. he