Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-02-14

going to keep such a vow was a ques'
ton that did not enter his head. Some
how he was going to accomplish the
feat.
What mattered the ragged beard
upon his face, the ragged clothes upon
his body, the tattered cloths upon his
feet, the grotesque attitude and en-
semble? The Lord OF Life saw into
his heart and understood. And who
might say with what Joy Pandora
gazed upon her work, knowing as she
did what still remained within her
casket?
From these heights, good OCCASIONAL
ly for any mans soul. George came
down abruptly and humanity to the
prosaic question OF where would he
make his bed that night? To lie down
at the north side Of the fire meant a
chill In the morning; the south side,
the intermittent, acrid breath Of the
fire itself; 80 he threw down his blan.
ket and bags east OF the fire, wrapped
himself up, and sank into slumber,
light but dreamless.
What was that? He sat up, alert,
straining his ears. How long had he
been asleep? An hour by his watch,
What had awakened him? Not a
sound anywhere, yet something had
startled him out Of his sleep. He
glanced yer the camp. That bundle
was Ryanne. He waited. Not a move
ment there. No sign Of life among the
c%amel-boys; and the flaps of the two
tents were closed. Bah! 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 eyes from the
fire, 0 but a heap Of glowing EN-.
bers. He got up, and SILVER after
SILVER wrinkled his spine. Oh. no;
1t could not be a dream; he was
awake. 1t was a living thing, that
long, bobbing cameltrain, coming di.
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.
helmetsl Who but white men wore
pith-helmets in the desert? White
men! The temporary paralysis left
him. Crouching, he ran over 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 caravan outside, and I'm
going out to meet 1t. Ryanne, Ryanne,
there's a white mar out there!"
George ran as fast as he could
toward the incoming caravan. He met
1t two or three hundred yards away.
The broken line Of camels bobbed up
and down oddly.
Are you white mem" he called.
YES" said a deep, resonant voice.
And stop where you are; there's no
hurry"
Thank Cod" 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.
yes, a white man; and there's a
white woman In the camp back there,
n 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.
| told you 1t was odd, that fire. Live.
ly, now!"
George ran after them, staggering
Twice he fell headlong. But he
laughed as he got up; and 1t wasn't
exactly human laughter, either. When
he reached camp he saw Mahomed
and the three strangers, the latter
with their rifles held m~enacingly. For
tune stood before the flap of her tent
bewildered at the turn in their affairs
Behind the leader Of the newcomer
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! II wouldn't come hare
to put a bullet into your ugly hide
You can't abduct white women these
days. you beggar! Well, what have
you to say"
Mahomed folded his arms; his ex
preston was calm and unafraid. Blu
down in his heart the fires of hel
we're raging. II only he had brought
his rifle from the tent; ever a knife
and one mad moment II he died for 1t
And he had been gentle to the girl;
he had withheld the lash from tn,
men; he had not put into action ,
single plan arranged for their misery
and humiliation! Truly his blood hat
turned to water. and he was worth,
Of death. The white man. always ant
aver the white mar won In the end
To have come this far. and then to b,
| cheated out Of his eveng by chance