The Press., 1912-12-11
Between
A Tale of the s Desert
By cLARIssA r1AcKIB

mountainous pillow.
 Winding in and out among the bill lows were shallow indentations-came tracks in the sand.
 Ford Cameron turned to his compan' lon.
 "How long. Abdif"
 The Arab leaned from his horse uTl- til his face almost touched the sand. With a single movement of hlS 1.-the body he sat upright again. "'ren 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 othera hadn't stolen" he muttered
 'Thls is the same one, effendl," re' marked Abdi
 "How do you know thatr' Cam eron's tone was sharp,
 Again the Arab shrugged, "t knowi"
 "Let us go another way, then" sug' gested tho American impatiently, My Journey to the ancient ruins of Gib, where I am to join the archaeological expedition. has already been Inter rupted i've times by encounters with bandits and holdups by both Italian and Turkish scouting parties, Ia there no other route we may take-one that Is less freuuentedT"
 Abdi's fierce glance seemed to over leap, the bIllowed desert and became concentrated ol the far horizon. where something glittered for an instant and then vanished.
 There Is 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 eIude the thieving Arabs who had plundered their provisions and tried to steal their horses. A quick battle with automatic revolvers and repeating rife had put the. Arabs to flight But they lowered near: One days uninterrupted journey would bring him to the expedition camp on the site of ancient Gib. Urgent busi- ness had prevented his joining the psFs ty at the appointed place: consequent Iy he had to make this lonely trip | kHn certain loyalty of an Arab dragoman as his sole dependence.
 Cameron decided to be on the look out for treachery from his dragoman.
 What Is that?'' he asked suddenly.
 AbH inclined his ear respectfully. A talnt yapping sound broke the stiffness.
 "JackaIs,'' declared Abdi. shrugging his shoulders ;
 Cameron knew that the Arab Ned and felt that his suspicious were con- 6rmed. Therefore he said nothing. uA
 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 Abd might mur- der him with a shot from the silver mounted rife he carried slung over his burnoose
 Cameron propped his saddle against a sand hiNock 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 aD automatic revolver.
 The three horses. Abdfs, his own and the pack horse. which carried his luggage. were grouped near at hand. Once again there came the distant cry-of the jackals? Cameron believed otherwise. Abdi turned his head away and listened.
 ''N is a signal cry" thought Cam eron, who knew something of the wire less teIegraphy of the desert tribes. 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 meager equipment and silver watch"
 After awhile he arose and stretched himself. ofrefing splendid target for Abdi's rifle, but the tall Arab did not even turn his head. He was staring out into the fathomless gloom of the desert as if his falcon eyes would pierce its mysteries.
 Cameron remained standing. He felt vague uneasiness creeping over him. He thought he heard footsteps padding to and fro in the soft sand among the hillocks There seemed to be burden of whispering in the still air. but whenever he grew rigid and tense with listening there was noth- 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 Btif1ed 1t into silence.
 What was that. Abdi?'' asked Cam iron sharply.
 The Arab turned. That. +.1"ndif Thy servant sneezed ''
 A grim smile curved t'aniprun lips. Traitor" he mutterrd to himself a he listened.
 After that great silence fell upon the desert The wind ceased blowing. The horses dropped their heads and were quiet Abdi stood a dark statue throwing gigantic shadow On the sand.
 Camefon's eyes arhed with the watching and with longing for sleep to come to his burning ~eyeiids
 Suddenly tiny spark ;ilpeared at the top of a nearby hiIlock. It dis apeared.
 Instantly Abdi struck fusee and lighted cigarette Az his lean dark face was exposed in the glow of the brief light Cameron saw a look of eagerness spread over the grim fea- tures of his dFagbman. "A signal" decided Cameron, won- dering whether it would not be wiser tn hoxEll thh fraitor o.nar Szzfth ninn, ShoA