Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-01-31


tion that did not enter his head Some
how he was going to accomplish the
feat.
What mattered the ragged beard
upon his face, the ragged clothes upon
his body, the tattered cloths upon his
feet, the grotesque attitude and en-
semble? The Lord Of Life saw into
his heart and understood. And who
might say with what joy Pandora
gazed upon her work, knowing as she
did what still remained within her
casket?
From these heights, good occasional
ly for any mans soul, George came
down abruptly and humanity to the
prosaic question of where would he
make his bed that night? To lie down
at the north side of the fire meant
chill in the morning; the south side,
the intermittent, acrid breath of the
fire itself; so he threw down his blan-
ket and bags east of the fire, wrapped
himself up, and sank into slumber,
light but dreamless.
What was that? He sat up, alert,
straining his ears. How long had he
been asleep? An hour by his watch.
What had awakened him? Not q
sound anywhere, yet something had
startled him out of his sleep. He
glanced over the camp. That bundle
was Ryanne. He waited. Not move
ment there. No sign of life among the
camel-boys; and the flaps of the two
tents were closed Bah! Nerves,
probably; and he would have lain
down again had his gaze not roved out
toward the desert. Something moved
out there, upon the misty, moonlit
space. He shaded his eyes from the
fire, now but heap Of glowing en-
bers. He got up, and shiver after
shiver wrinkled his spine. Oh, no;
| it could not be dream; he was
awake. 1t was a living thing, that
long, bobbing camel-train, coming d.
rectly toward the oasis, no doubt at
tracted by the freight. Fascinated,
incapable of movement, he watched
the approach. Three white dots; and
these grew and grew and at length be-
came pith-helmets! Pith.
helmets! Who but white men wore
pith-helmets in the desert? White
men! The temporary paralysis left
him. Crouching, he ran over to Ry-
anne and shook him.
But George smothered the question
with his hand. flush! For Gods
sake, make no noise! Get up and
stand guard over Fortunes tent.
There's a caravan outside, and I'm
going out to meet it. Ryanne, Ryanne,
there's white man out there!"
George ran as fast as he could
toward the incoming caravan. He met
it two or three hundred yards away.
The broken line of camels bobbed up
and down oddly.
"Are you white men?" he called.
"Yes," said deep, resonant voice
"And stop where you are; there's no
hurry"
Thank God!" cried George, at the
verge of a breakdown.
What the devil Flanagan
here's a white man in dress-suit
God save us!" The speaker laughed
Eyes, a white man; and there's q
white woman in the camp back there
white woman! Great God, don't you
understand? A white woman!" George
clutched the man by the foot desper
ately. "a white woman!"
The man kicked Georges hand away
and slashed at his camel Flanagan
and you, Williams, get your guns In
shape. This doesn't look good to me
twenty miles from the main gamelieh
told you it was odd, that fire. Live
ly, now"
George ran after them, staggering
Twice he fell headlong. But he
laughed as he got up; and 1t wasn'
exactly human laughter, either. Wher
he reached camp he saw Mahomet
and the three strangers, the lattel
with their rifles held menacingly. For
tune stood before the flap of her tent
bewildered at the turn In their affairs
Behind the leader of the newcomers
was Ryanne, and he was talking rap
idly.
WELL" the leader demanded Of Ma
homed, what have you got to say
for yourself?"
"Nothing!"
"Take care! 1t wouldn't come hare
to put bullet into your ugly hide
You can't abduct white women thes,
days, you beggar! Well. what have
you to say?"
Mahomed folded his arms; his ex
preston was calm and unafraid. Blu
! down in his heart the fires Of hel
were raging. II only he had brough
his rife from the tent; even knife
! and one mad moment II he died for 1t
And he had been gentle to the girl
| he had withheld the lash from tn
men; he had not put into action
, single plan arranged for their miser,
| and humiliation! Truly his b'opl ha'
, turned to water, and he was worm
, of death. The white man. alw ys aH
ever the white maj 7on in g. enc
r To have erme this ~ and the ~ b
: cheated out OF his .1.enge by ancs