Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-14

his breast. The Pasha might be de-
posed, ~hnd 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 70 lose.
Nine hundred pounds English, and
a comfortable fraction over; the yell
low-haired dog would have nothing
in the end for his pains. 1t would be
what the Feringhi called a 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 civt-
lization, customs and habits were for
gotten.
Sometimes they rode all day and all
night, sometimes but half a day, and
again, when the water was sweet, thay
rested the day and night. Never q
human being they saw, never q cara
van met or crossed them. In this
week, the secret marvels Of the desert
became theirs. They saw it CLEAN
and waver and glitter under skies of
brass, when the north wind let down
and q brsese came over from the Per
sian Cult. They saw 1t covered with
the most amazing blues and greys and
greens. They saw it under the rarest
azure and a stately feet of billowy
clouds; under the dawn, under the set
of sun, under the moon and stars;
and unfailingly the interminabls
reaches Of sand and rock and scrubby
bush, chameleon-like, readjusted its
countenance to each change in the
sky. George, who was a poet without
the gift Of expression. new 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 a magic
lantern picture stands out upon the
screen, and faded similarly. It 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
snuned out. Before the strangers
came within hailing. Mahomed hustled
his captives into his tent and swore
he would kill either George or Ryanns
IL they spoke. He forgot Fortune,
however. As the aravan 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 above
began to fade. to assume a dusty, COP
perish color. The camels grew rest.
less. Quickly there rose out of the
horizon saffron clouds, approaching
with incredible swiftness. Little
whiflwinds OF sand appeared here
and there, rose and died as II for
want of air. Mahomed veered the car
AVIAN toward a kind Of bluff composed
of sand and precipitous boulders. All
the camels were made to kneel. The
boys mufled 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 handkerchiefs
George left his camel and sought For
tunes side, found her hand and held
It tightly. He scarcely gave thought ia
what he did. He vaguely meant to
encourage her; and possibly he did.
The storm broke. The sun became
obscured. Pebbles and splinters o!
Erock sang through the pail of whirlina
sand. A golden tone enveloped the
little gathering.
Had there been no natural protec'
ton, they must have ridden IN, blind.
ly and desperately, for to have Ne
NAMED still in the open would have
bean to await their tombs. It spent
its fury in half an hour; and the
clearing air became cold again. The
raw proceeded. The hair Of ey.
cry was dimly yellow. their faces
and their garments.
Go BE CoNTINUED.)