The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-10


snow capped mountains to
- the westward as at the sum-
tzS NIT of the road L came upon
the village of Brayle.
I shifted my knapsack from my
shoulder and, leaning upon my staff,
stood contemplating one of the most
glorious panoranas my eyes had ever
rested upon Behind me to the north,
stretching away eastward and west
ward. the great mountain range lifted
its frownlnE tops to heaven, and to
the south and southwest, from whence
/ had come. tlse world fell down to-
ward verdure and cultivation and
lands watered by streams, which grew
slowly and s5elned together into a rfv-
CT FAR away toward the horizon.
As evening came rapidly over the
lower lands and a chill wind struck
the mountain road I entered the vii
1age and went toward a long, low
building which seemed likely to afford
q resting place for the night. Four
men were sitting at a rough table
smoking and drinking. They were in
eager If not an angry conversation,
but stopped as L entered and looked
at me in surprise One OF them seem
ed delighted at my advent, for he cried
out excitedly:
s-The proof The proof Look!
Here is one of themI''
Another man, whom 1 rightly took
to be the proprietor OF the establish
ment, growled savagely at him to be
silent and then rose and saluted me-
you are traveller, just an ordinary
raxelerf"
~Yes; oh, yes answered
There was something In his tone
which had the effect OF taking the
conceft out Of one. I have never con-
sidered myself quite an ordinary rav-
eler.
You see. Mustaphar he said in tri-
umph.
The man addressed looked at me fix
edly, but did not speak. He had sprung
e1citedly from his seat at my en-
trance
II want to stay here tonight went
on Tomorrow I may go farther, or
the next day, or it may be next week.
1t all depends what L find to interest
me There is a fine waterfall near
Brayle, I have heard
lis it only for this you have come 2.
asked Mustapha, with some contempt.
YES" / answered, throwing down
my knapsack and spreading out my
hands to the blaze. what else should
I have come for2''s
The disappointment in the mans face
was quite comical, and his companions
burst out laughing.
Take no notice of what he says
laughed the landlord sMustapha Is
dreamer He sees armies along the
mountain tops when others see only
snow He. hears the ring of steel in
every tinkling goat bell and the shout
OF war in the bark of every dog. A
wonderful dreamer is Musta pba.''
Il said nothing of armies; I said
armed men," the dreamer returned
suIlenly.
II am not armed observed.
MANY of the men I have seen are
not armed, he returned, but they are
no ordinary travellers. They all go the
same way-yonder."
His attitude was unconsciously Ora
matte as he stretched out his arm,
pointing toward the mountains to the
north
where is yonder?" asked, more
for the sake of saying something than
because 1 wanted to know.
It only know the legend which every
body knows and which everybody
laughs at. but am wiser than every
body, because. 1 don't laugh
A roar OF merriment crested this
assertion I could not help joining
In it
LET me eat first, and then we'll
have the story The story will wait,
and my hunger is too ripe TO keep
OF necessity in this history I must
talk of myself. I am the hero of it,
and he's a poor hero indeed who isn't
k-orth talking about. 1 was wan
derer by inclination, not of necessity.
and, although not actually seeking ad-
venture, I was not unwilling to enjoy
some mild form of enterprise should
such come my way, but little thought
OF the strange experiences which lay
before me- Few people even If they
are interested viii believe the story
and Will say of me, was said of
AIustapha. He is a stupid dreamer
To these can honestly confess that I
should sometimes doubt the history
myself had I not always before me
3ne 1ncontestabIe proof of the truth
II it For my personal appearance 1
stand over six feet, am broad Shout
dered and athletic, have fair hair and
am clean shaver, and / believe there
are less well favored men in the world
thap myself
BrayIe lies, If indeed there is still
village there, SIT the foot of one of tha
sournern spurs of the great Caucasian
range It is an out OF the way place
which probably few tourists have dis
covered It is enough to say that,
p~hi1a the aI0pes Of the western range