Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-05-17
Il Was Ryanne-the Erstwhe AHsble Rysnne-

( had been a rafting good mix-up. any
how; and he accepted the knowledge
rather proudly that the George Perez
val Algernon, who but lately had en-
tered the EnglishBar sprucely and
had made his exit in a kind of negli-
gible attire. had left behind one char
acter and brought away another. New
er again was be going TO be shy: the
tame tiger. as It were, had had his
first taste OF blood
Dawn, dawn; II only the horizon
would brighten up little so that he
could get his bearings. By now they
were at least fifteen or twenty miles
from Cairo; but in what direction?
Hour after hour went by; over this
huge grey roll Of sand. down into that
: cup-like valley; soundless save when
the camels protested or his stirrup
clinked against buckle: all with the
somber aspect OF scene from Dante.
Several black spots, moving in circles
far above, once attracted George; and
he knew them to be kites. which will
follow caravan into the desert even
as gull will follow a ship out TO sea
Later. torpid indifference took pos
session OF him, and the sense OF pain
grew less under the encroaching
Rumbness.
And when at last the spiendor OF
the dawn upon the desert flashed like
sword-blade along the sky In the
east. grew and widened. George COM
pretended one thing clearly, that they
were In the Arabian desert. out Of the
main travelled paths. In the middle of
nowhere.
His sense Of beauty did not respond
to the marvel OF the transformation.
The dark grey of the sand-hills that
became violet at their bases. to fade
away upward into little pinnacles OF
shimmering gold; the drab, formless.
scattered boulders. now assuming
clear-cut shapes. transfused with ruby
and sapphire glowing; the sun itself
that presently lifted It's rosal warm
ing circle above the stepping-oH
piace-George saw but noted not. The
physical picture was overshadowed by
the one he drew in his mind: the good
ship Ludwig. boring her way out into
the sea.
The sun was free from the deserts
rim when the leading camel was halt
ed. A confusion ensued: the camels
Following stupidity into one another, In
Kind Of panic. Out of the silence
came a babble Of voices. a granting.
clatter Of pack-baskets and saddle
bags. George. as his camel kneeled.
SUD of involuntarily and tumbied
against small billock, and lay there,
without any distinct sense OF what
was going on round him. The sand'
nne and mutable, formed a couch com
iortingly under his aching body; ana
ne fell asleep. exhausted. Already the
impalpable dust. which had risen and
followed the caravan all through the
night. had powdered his clothes. and
MS face was stained and streaked'
his head lay In the sand. his soft re
dora crushed under his shoulders
What with the bruises visible. the
rents In his coat. the open shirt
soiled. crumpled. coiiarless. he IN
vtted pity: only none came from the
busy Arabs. As he slept. frown
gathered upon his face and remained
there.
When he came back from bis
troubled dreams. bowl OF rfce'
thinned BY hot water. was given him.
He cleaned the bowl. not because Dc
was hungry. but because he knew that
somewhere along this journey ne
would need strength; and the recur.
ring fury against his duress caused
him to fling the empty bowl at the
head Of the camei-boy who had
brought II. The boy ducked' laugh
ing George lay down again. Let
them cut his throat II they wanted TO-
II was all the same TO him. Again ne
slept. and when he was roughly and
forcibly awakened, he sat up Win y
snarI and looked about
His head was clear now ana 20
began TO take notes ne couhteu
ten. eleven. twelve sameis. CAT