Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-15
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

them with such ease. The only sounds
| that broke the silence We're the sick girl $
labored breathing, the occasional hoarse
| angry rumble of Capt Doves voice out
side Salle listening anxiousy for
that. She could hear no word of what
he said, but-she wanted to be quite sure
that he was still there. 1t was not her
own fate alone that now depended on
what these strangely dragging minutes
should bring to pass.
Lay me back on the cushions now"
begged the girl in her arms. Il feel bet
term every way. And-tell me how you
came here. in the nick of time. I'm SO
thankful but you know that, and l
| mustn't talk too much, l have so little
strength left. and
WHO is that shouting?''
It's Capt Dove" Sallie answered, in
haste. He brought me here. l must go
to him now, but I'll come back before
She had no time to say more. for Capt
| Dove had called her again in d very
angry voice
He was shaking his only available fist
impotently at the high heavens when she
stepped timidy out from under the cur
| tanned porch of the tent.
| She heSitated, but for no more than
moment. and then. drawing her veil
| closer. went on across the sand, with
| beating heart.
You called me- Capt Dove?' she said
| as she stopped at the old mans shoulder.
| And he ceased disappearing to glare
around at her, as though she had been
| some intrusive stranger, his face very
| puffed and repulsive in the red freight.
| He did not answer at once, but reached
again for the earthenware fagon. 1t was
| lying on its side empty. for she had tip
| ped it over with a steathy foot.
| His angry glance grew dark with sus-
| hint I,.,k
| Come round in front" he ordered,
| harshly. and she had once more to SUBJ
nit herself to the emirs appraising
| glance.
He and Capt Dove had still much to
say TO each other. too, while she stood
| patiently there. like Save for sale.
| They fell to arguing with much heat some
| point in dispute between them, an argu-
| ment she could not follow since they
| We're speaking some jargon of Arabic
| strange to her. But she knew very we'll
that it was about her they were wran-
| Cling, and cold fear clutched cruelty at
| her heart
| At last however. the emir appeared to
| give in to his visitor. and Capt Dove.
| after a final, ineffectual snatch at the
f1agon. got on to his feet. since even that
| hint seemed to be thrown away on his
| host.
We'll get off to the ship again. he
| said in English, and Sallie could almost
have cried aloud in relief from such sore
| suspense.
May 1 go back to the tent-just for a
| minute--to say good-bye?' she begged. in
a breathless whisper, and turned and ran
The emrs wife glanced eagerly up at
| her as she reappeared
I'm going back on board now Sallie
| told her, with shining eyes. which sud
denly grew dim as she thought of the
| other girls loneliness there. She sank on
her knees beside the couch, and the emir's.
wife, leaning forward slipped frail
| arm about her neck; and SO they two, sis
ters in trouble. kissed each other good
| bye for all time
You'll be sure to send the boat-soon
| after midnight" the other asked but
with no shadow of doubt in her low, weak
| tones.
'Tll come myself. if l possibly can.
| Sallie promised, land, if not, I'll send a
safe friend-soon after midnight
AS she was rising she saw ON her bosom
| little locket, which hung from thin
| gold chain. She lifted hand to it and
! hestated uncertainty.
Its all 1 have in the world that's my
own" said the emir's wife, in a pleading
whisper. "all 1 can offer you but my
. empty thanks. I'd like to think tonight
that you will sometimes remember me.
| Will you not keep it, for my sake?''
I'm wear it always-Tll never forget
| you-and oh! I'm SO sorry that | must
| co. cried Sallie, sorely distressed, and
had to hurry away without more words
! Capt. Dove had twice called her. There
We're tears in her eyes as she ran back
| across the sand to where, under the green
flag. he was wrathfully waiting for her.
and she scarcely heard his harsh order to
| hurry up.
Some of the emir's men had come for
ward with d couple of filters. She seated
herself in one, although she would much
| rather, have walked. and, as soon as Capt
| Dove was ready. they were carried Off
the emr shouting valedictory message
| to the old man.
You keep your bargain and III keep
mine" Capt. Dove called back, and
| snorted contemptuously.
THAT damned fellow talks to me as if
I had been his second mate.' he COM
| mented, and snorted again.
| From the mouth of the dark defle
| which led toward the shore Sallie looked
back over one shoulder. almost as es
capped prisoner might, at the bizarre. fan
tastic scene the still camp made in that
| strange crimson light. And the big. red
| haired emir, standing motionless under
his great green flag, whose fiuttering
folds seen from that distance seemed to
be the color of blood, waved hand to
her ere she disappeared.
| She Shivered instinctiveiy. She had
| been dumby afraid of the man, and that
| although she was possessed of a courage
such as could look grim death itself in
the empty eyeholes and smile. She was
| correspondence thankful when, the gorge
and it's sentinels safely behind her she
found herself once more facing the open
| sea
| Capt. Doves carriers set him down
| alongside the boat, lying high and dry
| on the sands where they had left it. Hav-
| ing set it afloat, they lifted him carefully
| into it, and her also. a few shallow
| Yards from the shore she slipped off her
white cloak and head covering at all or
| der from the old man. and SO set 10 row
| ing again
| Once one of her oars touched some in
| visible body swimming parallel with the
boat. and d lightningike flash of phos-
| phOruS showed "A curved black fin, that
darted little distance and then turned
| back toward them. 1t was risky work
| crossing the bar, but both she and Capt
| Dove knew just what they We're about
| and presently they shot free of the surf
| into comparative safety.
.Starboard a little" he told her. then,
| and ten or twelve minutes pulling took
them back to the Olive Branch which he
must have found by sheer instinct, since
| the ship was showing no lights.
They approached it almost soundlessly
| from astern. so that the sleepy lookout
| on the fo'c'sle head neither heard nor
saw them. For even the stars were in
visible then through the curtain of Vapor
! overhangns the coast.
Reuben YoXall the mate, was awaiting
them at the poop rail. He threw Sallie d
line, and running to the companion
hatch, called Jasper Slyne up from the
little saloon below. The two of them
hoisted Capt Dove UP the side, and after
him Sallie, as light and agile as any boy.
The canvas boat was easily got to the
rail folded flat and returned to it's hiding