Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-09

them. Moors or Arabs OF the desert
would have taken half day to get
that douar under way; these men had
the beasts on the move across the
causeway inside the half-hour.
Kettle and his prisoner sat In seats
slung on either side Of their camel.
and were jolted violently forward and
aft by reason Of the gait that amiable
Quadruped assumes, even on level
ground: and when they began to
descend the slopes of the mountains,
Kettle, who was new to it, thought he
would be burst asunder. The xaid
watched him for some miles with ma
licious amusement, and then twitched
up his own clothes, and showed the
ordinary camel-rider's belt.
u should like to suggest, sir" said
he. that you take this strip of cloth
(Which. as you may see, is designed
for the purpose) and bind yourself
round like. this. If you don't, you will
probably come to pieces, and remain
so for the rest of your natural career"
Thank you" said Kettle. and fol.
lowed out the experts suggestion,
marveling the while 1t should have
been made. Probably to lull my sus-
picions," he told himself promptly, so
that he can get the drop on me. and
put his ugly fingers once more on the
owner and the ladies'" And he watched
his blue-eyed fellow-passenger with
extreme narrOwness.
The camels set the pace at steady
three and half miles an hour, uphill
and down dale, no more, no less. They
swung on remorseless as destiny, and
the cavalry escort jingled in their
wake. They journeyed on throughout
the cool night. taking far shorter
Kettle had travelled: and when day be-
gan to show in the higher layers of
the atmosphere. they we're already
among the lower slopes of the foot
hills. H# r,
81 don't know whether you are
asleep sir" said the kaid.
I'm ...ot"
Then perhaps you are little dull
in your hearing. But there's pretty
heavy firing ahead of u.s.
Are you sure it isn't the surf on
the beach and on those reefs?'
"There is that as WELL But there's
firing. all right. You know I'm used to
picking up these sounds
you're right: you've good ears. l
'uprose it means that your men are
attacking my steamboat. Well. Nc
Todd will attend to them efficiently
But, by James I can't afford to miss
more of the scrap. Here you, tell your
drivers to hurry these camels.'
The saint called an order. "By the
way" he added. 81 don't know If you
still go on, the principle of disbeliev-
ing everything I say. But If you don't
I may mention that the people who
are kicking up a row ahead aren't my
men at ALL
"Then who are they?'
1.-The same crew who've been worry
ing you all along. They live on the
coast here. There are. Moors among
them. and men from the Sus tribes,
and Arabs of the deserts to the south.
with few Twara cks thrown in and
perhaps here and there Berber. who
has been chucked out Of my place for
misbehavior. They're mongrel lot,
very hard;"and very savage, and very
dangerous. and I'm sure you'll learn 1t
with satisfaction-they'd just as soon
cut my throat as yours"
II hear you say It."
The saint turned to face his perse-
cutor. and placed lean small hand
on the cameps hump. which throbbef
and wavered between them. Look
here. Captain Kettle. you've hated me
pretty tenderly since the first moment
of our meeting. and I'm free to own
I've detested you quite as much. But
i~o t0
truce
s,l.''T don't see cause for it, !.
"Man,, hear sense. I don't care two
straws whether you are killed in the
next half-hour, or whether you are
not, I don't came much II I am
knocked on the head myself. But for
the women do care. I ammo. l
won't put 1t that way. We both of us
are very fond of one Of them. and the
fate Of women who get into the hands
of these bowling devils down there is
too awful to think about.
with my escort to help we may get
through, though admit it's thinnish
chance. But If you insist on keeping
me cooped up in this cubbyhole, the
escort will begin to inquire directly
why I'm here. You see, being rather a
dissatisfied person, I've got a reputa-
ton Of being in the thick of 1t when
there's a skirmish going. and their
curiosity in the matter will be natural
enough. When they do begin to put in
their questions. I suppose you'll shoot
me out of hand, and proceed to enjoy
yourself among the escort. Well, that
would be all very interesting as side
issue. but IT doesn't strike me as the
hest wav of looking after the ladies'
interest
"Or Sir George's,' Kettle admitted.
and he's my owner. BY James! 1t
strikes me, I've come very near to
neglecting duty"
IT was a bitter pill to have home
truth like this thrown against him by
Sidi Bergash But Captain Kettle al
ways had an exact sense Of fairness.
He thought moment. and then he
held out hand II thank you, Mr.. Ber-
CASH" he said simply. 'for reminding
me of what's my duty. May ask If
you're open to accepting employ
ment?"
The Berber chief saw the point and
laughed. "As commander Of your
escort? I'll take it. My people have