Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-02-19

A0000us the 81rl ana the other would
pe conveyed to the nearest telegraph
post. That they might at once report
the abduction to the English authori-
tles did not worry Mahomed. Not the
neetest racing camel could find him,
ana behind the walls Of the palace
OF Bagdad, only Allah could touch
him. He had figured it all out closely,
ana he was an admirable strategist
in his way. Revenge upon Ryanne for
the dishonor and humiliation, and the
return OF the rug; there was nothing
more beyond that.
Before George had the opportunity
OF speaking to Fortune, he was raised
from the sand and bodily lifted upon
MS camel; and by way of passing
pleasantly, his hat was damned down
over his eyes. He swore as he pulled
up the brim. Swearing was another
accomplishment added to the list Of
transformations. He had a. deal to
learn yet, but in his present mood he
was likely to proceed famously. He
readJusted the hat in time to see Ry-
anne unceremoniously dumped into
one OF the yawning pack-baskets, his
arms and legs hanging out, his head
Iolllng against his shoulder, exactly
like a marionette, cast aside for the
time being. A man Of ordinary STAN
ina would have died under such treat
ment. But Ryanne possessed an ex-
traordinary constitution, against which
years Of periodical dissi- alton had as
yet made no permanent inroads More
over, he never forgot to keep his chin
up and his waist-line down. They put
him into the pack-basket because
there was no alternative, being as he
was incapable Of sitting upon cam
ELS back
Next, George saw Fortune, unre-
sisting, placed upon the camel, under
canopy. At least, she would know a
little comfort against the days long
ride. His heart ached to see her He
called out bravely to her to be of
good cheer. She turned and smiled;
and he saw only the smile, not the
swift, decisive battle against the on
set of tears: she smiled, and he was
too far away to see the swimming
eyes.
A bawling Of voices, a swapping of
the KURDISH upon the TANKS Of the
camels, and the caravan was once
more under way. George looked at
his watch, which fortunately had been
overlooked by the thieving natives,
and found it still ticking away brisk
ly. It was after nine. 1t was a COM
fort to learn that the watch had not
been injured. Most men are method
ical in the matter of time, no matter
how desultory they may be in other
things. There is a peculiar restful-
ness in knowing what the hour is,
whether it passes quickly or whether
it drags.
Further investigation revealed
that his letter of credit was undis-
turbed and that he was the proud pos
SCISSOR of six damaged cigars and a
box of cigarettes. Instantly the
thought Of being days without tobacco
smote him almost poignantly. He was
an inveterate smoker, and the fact
that the supply was so pitiably small
gave unusual zest to his craving. He
now longed for the tang of the weed
upon his lips, but he held out man
fully. He would not touch a cigar or
cigarette till nightfall, and then he
made up his mind to smoke half of
either. The touch, selfish and calcu-
lating, of the miSer, stole over him.
If Ryanne was without the soother,
SO much the worse for him. The six
cigars he would not share with the
archangel Michael, supposing that
gentleman came down for a smoke.
Forward, always forward, winding
in and out Of the valleys, trailing over
the hills, never faster, never slower.
Noon came, and the brilliance of aft
ernoon dimmed and faded into the
short twilight. Were they never 60
ing to stop? One hill more, and
George, to his infinite delight, saw a
cluster of date-palms ahead, a mile
or SO; and he knew that this was to
be the haven for the ship of the des-
ert. The caravan came to it under
the dim light of the few stars that
4o0 4OI CT dIIdluSu IAOlI
Under the palms were a few deserted
mud-houses, huddled dejectedly to-
gether, like outcasts seeking 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
we'll, which still contained water.
Prayers. A wailing chanted forth
toward Mecca. God is great. There
is no God but Cod"
George had witnessed prayers so
often that he no longer gave attention
to the muezzin calling at eventide
from the minaret. But out here, in
the blank wilderness, it caught him
again, caught him as it had never
done before. A shiver stirred the hair
at the base Of his neck. The lean
bodies, one not distinguishable from
the other now, kneeling, standing,
sweeping the arms, touching the fore
head upon the rug, for even the low