The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-05
Copyright 1911 by Bobbs-Merril Comosp. Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER XII.
The Caravan ln the pesert.

The Caravan in the Desert.
 Yes. George vanished from the haunts of men as completely as if the Ereat Roc had dropped him into the Eaney of Diamonds and left him {here; and as nobody knows just Nhere the Valley of Diamonds is, George was very well lost. Still, there Mas, at the end of a most unique ex. perience, a recompense far beyond its salue But, of course, George, being without the gift of clairvoyance, saw nothing save the immediate and immi- Kent circumstances: a door that Banged behind him, portentously; Rack, a cloak, a burnouse, or whatever ID was, flung about his head, and melling evilly.
 George hit out yaliantly, and mer- M scufle ensued. The room was small; at least, George thought 1t was, for In the space of one minute he Bumped against the four sides of it. He could see nothing and he couldn't Breathe very we'll; but in spite of dhese inconveniences he put up three Rounds that would have made some IT Stir among the middleweights. In the phraseOlogy of the fancy, he had a food punch. All the disappointments Df he day seemed to become so many bounds of steam in his shoulder; and b. was aware of kind of barbaric 7zjoy whenever he hit some one. All the circumspection of years, all of 4le gentle blood of his peaceful for Bears, gave way to the strain which in turks in the blood of civilized hu- nanity, even in the veins of poets and parsons. He fought with all the tac. s.aics of a sailor in a har-room, not over. bicely.
 A table toppled over with smash. 1ng noise. George and his assailants Tell in a heap beside 1t. Thwack! Bangl George struggled to his feet Band tugged at the stifling envelope. Some one jumped upon his back, Old Man of the Sea style. A savage elbow jab disposed of this incubus. And then the racket began all over again. George never paused mentally to won- Der what all this rumpus was about; time enough to make inquiries after Athe scrimmage. Intrepidly, as Here Award the Wake, as Bussy d'Ambois, <*as Porthos in the cave of Loch- Maria. George fought. He wasn't a trained &athlete; he hadn't any science; he #nas simply ordinarily tough and ac. tive and clean-lived; and the injustice of an unprovoked assault added to #physical prowess a full measure of #nervous energy. It was quasl-Homer- tc modern young gentleman in eve #nlng dress holding off for several min utes five sleek, sinewy, unhampered # Arabs. But the days of the gods were # no more; and no quick-witted goddess cast a veil across the eyes of the Arabs. No; George had to shift for himself. Suddenly there came a gen N eral rush from the center of the room @ into one of the right-angular corners. # The subsequent snarl of legs and arms was not unlike that seen upon the football field. George was the man with the ball And then to George came msrciful darkness. The conjunction, ss in astronomy. of two M planets in the same degree of the Zo- diac-meaning Georges head and the N stuccowall-gave the Arabs complete x mastery of the field of battle.
 From the opposite side of the room came the voice of the referee: Curses of Allah upon these white dogs! How they fightl" And Ma homed peered down into the corner.
 One by one the Arabs got up. each examining his honorable wounds. George alone remained unmoved, quiet and disinterested. under the folds of the tattered burnouse.
 "ls he dead?" demanded Mahomed.
 No, my father. His head hit the wall"
 & Hasten, then. Bind his feet and hands and cover his eyes and mouth. @ We have but little time"
 There was long way to go, and Mahomed was too wise and cautious . to congratulate himself at this early stage. George was thereupon trussed uD Ike a Christmas fowl ready for lne oven. They wrapped him up in & the burnouse and carried him out to # the closed carriage In waiting. No one In the street seemed curious. No @ one in the English-Bar deemed it nec- essary to be. Whatever happened in 8 lhls resort had long been written in the book of fate. Had a white man # approached to inquire what was going on' Mahomed would have gravely whispered that 1t was case of plague they were hurrying away to prevent interference by the English authorities.
 # Once George was snug inside the carriage, it was driven off at run toward the tombs of the callphs. As tne roads were not the levelest, the vehicle went most of the way upon two wheels. Mahomed sat beside his ncum, watchful and attentive. His intention was to take him no far .her than the outskirts of the city, iorce him to send back to the hotel duly credited messenger for the eSIEIitta SEi after which he would turn George aurllt' with the reasonaple assurance na' the young man would find some A,. o guide him back to the hotel. i n,er while he observed that George th @u recovered and was grimly fighting '"e Imprisoning ropes.
 .ou iou will need your strength" in- ,tposed Mahomed gently. "If take nr eioth From your mouth. will you
 0mlse not to cry out?" There was
 A aInrmative nod. and Mahomed un-