Barton County democrat., 1912-10-04

pleased his fancy more than to see the
cloud-shadows scud away across the
sands. Once, toward the latter END
Of day, Fortune cried out and pointed
Far away, palely yet distinctly, they
saw an ocean liner. She stood out
against the yellowing sky as a magic
lantern picture stands out upon the
screen, and faded similarly. 1t was
the one and only mirage they saw, OF
at least noticed.
Once another caravan, composed
wholly of Arabs, passed. What hope
the prisoners had was instantly
snuffed out. Before the stranger!
came within hailing, Mahomed hustled
his captives into his tent and swor,
he would kill either George or Ryann,
II they spoke. He forgot Fortune
however. As the caravan passed sh,
screamed. Instantly Mahomed clappet
his hand roughly over her mouth. Tn,
sheik of the passing caravan looked
keenly at the tent, smiled grimly ant
passed on. What was 1t to him that ;
white woman lay in yonder tent? Hi,
one emotion was of envy. After thii
the prisoners became apathetic.
Upon the seventh day, they wit
messed the deserts terrifying anger
The air that had been cool, suddenl,
grew still and hot; the. blue abov,
began to fade, to assume a dusty, cop
perish color. The camels grew rest
less. Quickly there rose out of tn,
horizon saffron clouds, approachin,
with incredible swiftness. Littl,
whirlwinds of sand appeared her,
and there, rose and died as if 70,
want of air. Mahomed veered the car
avan toward kind of bluff composed
of sand and precipitous boulders. AL
the camels were made to kneel. TIL,
boys muffled up their mouths ant
noses, and Mahomed gave instuC
tions to his captives. Fortune buried
her head in her coat and nestled dowI
beside her camel, while George anC
Ryanne used their handkerehiefs
George left his camel and sought For
tunes side, found her hand and hell
it tightly. He scarcely gave thought t
what he did. He vaguely meant t
encourage her; and possibly he did.
The storm broke. The sun becam,
obscured. Pebbles and splinters o
rock sang through the pail of whirlin,
sand. A golden tone enveloped tn,
little gathering.
Had there been no natural proteC
tion, they must have ridden on, blind
ly and desperately, for to have re
mained still in the open would hav,
been to- await their tombs. It spen
its fury in half an hour; and tn
clearing air became cold again. Tn
caravan proceeded. The hair of ey
cry one was dimly yellow, their face
and their garments.
When camp was made that nigh
it found the captives untalkative. Tn
girl and the two men sat moodil
about the fire. Fatigue had dulle
their bodies and hopelessness thei
minds. The men were ragged nov
unkemVt; a stubble of beard covere
their faces, gaunt yet burned. Georg
had lost his remaining pump, and a
his stockings were now full Of hole.
he had, in the last flicker of persona
pride, wound about them some cas-
J on cloths he had found. There wa
not enough water for ablutions: ther
was scarcely enough to assuage thirs
By and by. Ryanne, without turnin
his head, spoke to George. "You sa
you questioned the COURIER"
"Yes."
He says he showed the note to n
one~
Yes"
! And so no one will try to find u.s.
NO"
Ryanne had asked these question
a dozen times and George had alway
given the same answers.
Up and away at dawn, for they mul
reach the well that night. 1t was
terrible day for them all. Even Ii
beasts showed SiUs Of distress. An