Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-28

tents were closed. BAIL 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 res from the
fire, now but a heap of glowing en-
bers. He got up, and SILVER after
shiver wrinkled his spine. Oh, no;
1t could not be a 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 v e to Ry-
anne and shook him.
What
But George smothered the question
with his hand. Hush! For Gods
sake. make no noise! Get up and
stand guard over Fortunes tent.
There's a outside, and I'm
going out to meet 1t. Ryanne, Ryanne,
there's a 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 a 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 a dress-suit!
God save us!" The speaker laughed.
Eyes, a white man; and there's a
white woman in the camp back there,
a 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.
I told you it was odd, that fire. Live
~. now!"
George ran after them, staggering.
Twice he fell headlong. But he
laughed az he got up; and it wasn't
exactly human laughter. either. When
he reached lamp he saw Mahomed
and the three strangers, the latter
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! It wouldn't come hard
to put a bullet into your ugly hide.
You can't abduct white women these
days. o beggar! Well. what have
you to say?"
Mahomed folded his arms; his ex-
preston vas calm and unafraid. But
down In his heart the flres Of hell
ere raging. II only he had brought
his rife from the tent; even a knife;
0nu Ou0 M00 AuOAXSut IL u0 ulSU IOI III
And he had been gentle to the girl:
he had withheld the lash from the
men; he had not put into action q
single plan arranged for their misery
and humiliation! Truly his blood had
turned to water, and he was worthy
Of death, The white man, always and
ever tho white man won in the end.
To have come this far. and then to be
cheated out Of his revenge by chance!
Kismet! There was but one thing left
for him to do, and he did it. He spoke
hurriedly to his head-boy. The boy
without hesitation obeyed him. He
ran to the racing-camel, applied a
kick. flung on the saddle-bags, stuffed
dates and dried fish and two water
bottles into them, and waited. Ma.
homed walked over to the animal and
mounted.
"Stopi" Tho white man leveled his
rife. Get down from therei"
Mahomed, as II he had not heard,
kicked the camel with his heels. The
beast lurched to its feet resentfully.
Mahomed picked up the gu!ding-rope
which served 40 q bride, and struck
the camel across the neck.
Click! went the hammer Of the rife,
and Mahomed was at that moment
very near death. He gave no heed.
mo. mol" cried Fortune. pushing up
the barrel. Let him 20. He was
kind to me, after his fashion"
Mahomed smiled. He had expected
this, and that was why he had gone
about the business unconcernedly.
What do you sayf" demanded the
stranger Of Ryann&
Ryanne. having no love whatever
for Mahomed, shrugged.
"Humphl And your" to George.
"Oh, let him 60"
"All right Two to one. on with
you, then" to Mahomed. "But waitl
What about these beggars OF yoursf
What are you going to do with themf'
They have been paid. They can
60 back"
The moment the camel felt the sand
under his pads, b struck his nit
eastward. And when the mists and
shadows crept IN behind him and his
r1der. that wa the last any Of them
ever cav oe Aahomed-N-0sbel keeper
oe the Holy Yhiordes In the PaahA.s
palace At Bagdad.
Nov, thon." said' the lQaAes q -
strange caravan. my name II Aont
ermann and r1lDn Il = nnnAA~n