The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-03-28

from within. Had the courier re-
turned with the Holy Yhiordes, 1t Is
not impossible that he would have lib
Grated them all. But now he dared
not; he was not far enough away. To
Bagdad, then, and as swiftly as the
eXigencies Of desert travel would per-
nit. One beacon Of hope burned in
his breast. The Pasha might be de-
posed, and in that case he could i'm
mediately dispose Of his own goods
and chattels and seek new pastures.
1t would come hard, doubly hard. since
he never could regain the position he
was to lose.
Nine hundred pounds English, and
a comfortable fraction over; the vel.
low-haired dog would have nothing
in the end for his pains. 1t would be
what the Feringhi called good joke.
| A week passed. Christmas. And
not one of them recalled the day.
Perhaps it was because years had
passed since that time when it meant
anything to them The old year went
out a-lagging! neither did they take
note of this. Having left behind civil
! lization, customs and habits were for
gotten.
Sometimes they rode all day and all
night. sometimes but half day, and
agais. when the water was sweet, they
rested tie day and night. Never
human being they saw, never a cara.
van met or crossed them In this
week, the secret marvels OF she desert
! became theirs. They saw 1T CLEAN
and waver and glitter under skies Of
brass, when the north wind let down
and a breeze came over from the Per-
sian Gulf. They saw 1t covered with
the most amazing blues and greys and
greens. They saw it under the rarest
azure and a stately deet of billowy
clouds; under the dawn, under the set
of sun, under the moon and stars:
and unfailingly the interminable
reaches of sand and rock and sCrubby
bush, chameleon-like, readjusted its
countenance to each change in the
sky. George, who was poet without
the gift of expression, never ceased
to find new charms; and nothing
pleased his fancy more than to see the
cloud.shadows scud away across the
sands. Once, toward the latter end
of day, Fortune cried out and pointed.
Far away, palely yet distinctly, they
saw an ocean liner. She stood out
against the yellowing sky as magic.
lantern picture stands out upon the
screen, and faded similarly. 1t was
the one and only mirage they saw, or
at least noticed.
Once another caravan, composed
wholly of Arabs, passed. What hope
the prisoners had was instantly
snuffed out. Before the strangers
came within hailing, Mahomed hustled
his captives into his tent and swore
he would kill either George or Ryanne
if they spoke. He forgot Fortune.
however. As the caravan passed she
screamed. Instantly Mahomed clapped
his hand roughly over her mouth. The
sheik of the passing caravan looked
keenly at the tent, smiled grimly and
passed on. What was 1t to him that q
white woman lay in yonder tent? His
one emotion was of envy. After this
the prisoners became apathetic.
Upon the seventh day, they wit,
messed the deserts terrifying anger.
The air that had been cool, suddenly
grew still and hot; the blue abova
began to fade, to assume dusty, cop.
perish color The camels grew rest.
less. Quickly there rose out OF the
horizon saffron clouds, approaching
with incredible swiftness. Little
whirlwinds of sand appeared here
and there, rose and died as IL for
want of air. Mahomed veered the car
AVIAN toward kind of bluff composed
of sand and precipitous boulders All
the camels were made to kneel. The
boys muffled up their mouths and
noses, and Mahomed gave instruc-
lions to his captives. Fortune buried
her head in her coat and nestled down
beside her camel, while George and
Ryanne used their handkerchlefs.
George left his camel and sought For
tunes side, found her hand and held
1t tightly. He scarcely gave thought to
what he did. He vaguely meant to
encourage her; and possibly he did.
The storm broke. The sun becams
obscured. Pebbles and splinter Of
rock sang through the pail of whirling
sand. A golden tone enveloped the
little gathering.
Had there been no natural protec-
ton, they must have ridden on, blind
ly and desperately. for to have re-
NAMED still in the open would have
been to await their tombs. It spent
it's fury in half an hour; and the
clearing air became cold again. The
caravan proceeded. The hair Of ev.
cry one was dimly yellow, their faces
and their garments.
| ITO RE CONTINIrEDl