The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-13
uMeALLAH'S CAPTAIN orGUAR0s SEES WINNIE PASS
THROUGH THE GATE 70 THE CITY Of ALL AHAS

AHAT 49,. ~
man could put on his back and carry almost indefinitely
would have killed many y white man who boaveed Of hiss
strength. On half q loaf of black read AMI O soldiers
canteen of water he could travel for two days. He could
60 without sleep for forty-eight hours, and when he slept
ne could sleep anywhere, on the moment.
Filling his saddle bags with three days. EatonB, two
canteens Of water, he set of ON a hagin, or racing camel,
for Alfalfa, 300 miles inland as the crow Hies. It was
his intention to ride straight down 20 the desert and
across this to Col. Hares camp, IL such O thing now
existed. A dromeiary In good condition can mako from
sixty to eighty miles a day; and the beast Ahmed had
engaged was Of Arab blood. In four days he expected
to reach the camp! II Winnie had not yet arrived, he
would take the road, meet her, warn her OF the dangers
which she was about to face, and convey her to the
seaport If 1t was too late, he would send the camel
back with a trusted messenger to thu Colonel. to advise
him.
They watched him depart In q cloud Of dust, and then
played the most enervatng game in existence-that Of
waiting Tor they had decided to wait till they heard from
Ahmed before they moved.
-Four nights later, when Ahmed arrived at the bunga-
low, he found conditions as usual For reasons best
known to himself Umballah had not disturbed anything.
In fact, he had always had the coming Of the younger
sister In mind and left the bungalow and camp un-S
touched, so as not 10 alarm her.
She had not yet arrived. So Ahmed flung himself
down upon his cotton rug, telling the keepers not to dis-
turb him: he would be able to wake himself when the
time came. But Ahmed had overrated his powers he
was getting along In years: and It was noon Of the next
day when a hand shook him by the shoulder and he
awoke to witness the arrival Of Winnie and her woman
companion. r
For the first time in many years Ahmed cursed his
prophet. He that had had time to wgrn the child had
slept like the sloth of CeyIon!
He went directly 70 fha pnspk un %n1I hen h~snavF
what had happened. He had not the least doubt that
Umballah was already aware of her arrival. She must
remain hidden in the godown OF tho bungalow her
maid also. That night, If Umba1lah or his men failed to
appear, he would lead her of to safety. But there wss
no hope Of stealing away in the daytime. In his heart,
however, he entertained no hope; and like the good gen.
sral he was, he dispatched the messenger and camel to the
sea. The father and daughter were fated to return.
Ahmed hat reckoned Shrewdly. Umballah appeared
later In the day and demanded the daughter Of Col. Hare.
Backed as he was by numerous soldiers, Ahmed resigned
himself to the inevitable. They found Winnie and her
maid (whom later they sent to the frontier and uban.
doned) and took them to the palace.
There was no weeping or wafling or struggling. The
dark, proud face of the young girl gave forth no sign Of
the terror and utter loneliness Of her position. And
Umballah realized that ii was in the blood OF these chill.
dren to be brave and quiet. There was no mercy In his
heart. He was power mad and gold mad, and hin enemies
nved because ne could reach neither OF his desires oveg
their dead bodies.
The rigamarols and mummery Winnie went through
affected her exactly as it had affected her sister. It was
all a hideous nightmare, and at any moment she expected
to wake up in her coy corner at Glendale.
In the ba1aars they began to laugh at UmbaIlah and
his coronations, or durbars. They began 10 jest at his
futile efforts to crown some one through whom he could
put his greedy hand into the treasury. Still. they found
plenty OF amusement and excitement. And 30 they filled
the square in front of the platform when Umballah put
the crown on Winnies head. How long would this queen
last? @
And Kathlyn, her father. and Bruce were forced to
witness the event from behind the Gordon Of guards.
dressed in native costume, their faces stained, and their
hearts swelling with impotent anger and despair. Bor 1t
was in such guise they had returned to Alfalfa.
During a lull in the ceremonies q resonant voice from
out the dense throng cried, Give us a queen Of our blood
and race, thou black. gutter born dogt'
RaInabai started at the sound Of that voice, but caught
hineself before he looked In the direction whence Ii
rose. 1t belonged to one LaI Singh.
Umballah scowled, but gave no other Sign that he
heard. But q guard dove into the crowd; uselessly.
however.
Kathlyn touched Ramabais arm.
20. I must speak TO her II
BE careful, Memsahib n he warned.
But even as he spoke she stepped past him. toward her
beloved sister, and offered the flowers she held.
Winnie, not dreaming that this dark yelled creature
was her sister, smelled the flowers and beheld q card
which had writing on it-Englsh!
acouragei Father and I have a plan Tor your ESCAPE.
Kathlyn."
ITo BE coarrSuxn.1