Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-13
Copyright, 1912. by Little, Brown L CO..

number .of other white-robed figures wad-
ing out through the shadows toward the
boat and it's Pickering light. Capt. Dove
took their coming as a matter or course.
and she sat down again silently, though
that cost her a great effort. 1t was I'M
speakably eerie there, in the very sheart
OF darkness that seemed to be Whis-
pering hints of such horrors as only exist
in the dark.
The old man exchanged a few low
words in doggerel Arabic with the
strangers. Two Of them, tall. brown
fierce-faced fellows. slung over their
shoulders the long guns with which they
were armed. stopped and lifted Same
lightly up. carried her to the shore dry
shod. She was still shivering nervously
when two more deposited Capt. Dove at
her side, and then the canvas boat was
brought high and dry. At curt remark
from him a makeshift litter was formed
Of four rifles. and. seated on that, he was
carried away as il he had been mere
featherweight, Sallie following close be-
hind on foot, uncomfortably conscious of
the shadows at her own shoulders
1t was hard work for her in the dark
ness and ankle deep in the soft. loose
sand at every step. although his bearers
made little enough Of their burden. But
farther on the footing grew flrmer, and
then they came to a rough, trodden path.
That led them to the still darker mouth
of a narrow defile between two low. rocky
bluffs and from the summit OF one OF
these there suddenly rang harsh chal-
lenge. 1t was answered at once by their
escort. and they went on without pause
through that pitch black, crooked pas
sage, with its invisible. whispering guard.
until. emerging at an unexpected turn
from its landward outlet. a most aston
ishing panorama presented itself to the
girls startled eyes.
Within a titanic natural amphitheater
formed by the rock ridge. which. except
for the cleft they had entered by. in
closed it completely, there had been pitch
ed an encampment that occupied its en-
tire arena Everywhere there were dry
desert fires. burning redly, with little
flame, and the vault of heaven overhead
was like some vast crimson dome reflect
ing a light whose effect was weird and
unreal to the last degree. Sallie. gazing
about her with lips a little apart behind
her veil. could scarcely convince herself
that she was not dreaming.
In the foreground. on one side Of the
wide way which led straight to the heart
Of the camp. there We're picketed rows
the other almost as many restless me-
hari camels. among which a number of
negroes. presumably slaves. were briskly
at work. Past these was a wide. open
space. at whose other edge stood flag
pole, from which a great green flag with
a golden harp on 1t fluttered and tapped
In the red freight on the first of the even
ing breeze. Under that was group Of
men. all in flowing garments, one seated
in state. the others standing about him.
A dozen PAGES behind them a white pa
vilion that seemed rose-pink. with a heav-
lily curtained porch. occupied roomy.
level eXpanse by itself. Surrounding and
encircling it on three sides. but at q re-
spectful distance stretching as far back
as the foot of the steep rock rampant
which hemmed them in. was ranged an
orderly assemblage of hOrsehafr tents,
whose inha bitants. loose-robed men. swa TT
women and half-naked children. were all
very busy about them in the open air.
Everywhere there was life and hustle.
Beneath the searching rays of the sun
it would all. no doubt. have appeared
travel stained and sordid and tawdry to
a degree. But the desert night and the
dim stars brooding above it had imbued
it with all their own magic and mystery.
Capt Doves carriers strobe forward
with him and set him carefully on his
feet before the green flag, under which,