Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-14

| one presented itself which did not Of
/ fer insuperable obstacles.
| Even had she been able to leave the
camp Undecided, how long could she
hope to survive in the jungle? And
/ should by some miracle her life be
/ spared even for months, of what avail
would that be? She could no more
have retraced her way to Lord Grey
/ stokes ranch than she could have laid
| 8 true course upon the trackiess ocean.
The horrors OF the march that pass
cd daily In hideous review before her
/ left her sick and Disguised The cruel
/ " beaten slaves who carried the great
burdens OF ivory. tents and provisions
brought tears to her eyes.
The brutal massacres that followed
the f0rcible entrance into each sue
ceeding village wrung her heart and
reused her shame for these beasts In
human form who urged on their saw
age and cowardly Ianyuema canni-
balls to commit nameless excuses
against the covering prisoners that fell
into their hands.
But at last they came TO q village
where victory failed to rush forward
and fan into their arms Instead,
they were met with sulIen resistance.
Ferocious, painted devils fought them
stubbornly every inch Of the way, until
Ibn Aswad decided to make a detour
and pass round the village rather than
sacrifice more of his followers
In the confusion Of the fight and the
near retreat which followed Abul Mu-
karram found the opportunity he had
been awaiting. The prisoners, fnclud-
ing the white girl, were being pushed
ahead OF the retrea ting raiders, while
the Arabs and Manyuena brought up
the rear, fighting of the pursuing saw
ages.
Now Abul Mukarram knew a way to
the northland that two might traverse
with ease and over which one could
fairly fly, but which was impossible
for d slave caravan because it passed
through the territory Of the English.
If the girl would accompany him
willingly, well and good-if not, then
he would go alone, but not before he
should be reyenged upon her.
He left the firing line, therefore, and
pushed his way through the terror
stricken slaves to the side Of the Arab
who guarded Victoria Custer.
Go back to Ibn Aswad." be said
to the Arab. He desires your pres
ence."
The other looked at him closely for
a moment
''You lie, Abul Mukarramr' he said
ut last "Tbn Aswad commanded me
particularly against permitting you to
be alone with the girl. Go tor
"Fooll4 muttered Abul Mukarram,
and with the word he pulled the trig-
ger Of the long gun that rested across
the pommeI OF his saddle with its wide
muzzle scarce a foot from the stomach
OF the other Arab,
With q shrek the man lunged from
his donkey.
Conner cried AbuI Mukarram, seiz-
ing the bride Of Yictoria's beast and
turning into the jungle TO the west
The girl tried to slip from the saddle
but q strong arm went about her waist
and held her firm as the two donkeys
forged, shoulder to shoulder, through
the tangled mass Of creepers which ali
but Blocked their way.
Once Victoria serea med for help, but
the war cries Of the natives drowned
her voice
Fifteen minutes later the two came
out upon the trail again that they had
followed when they approached the
village, and soon the sounds Of conflict
behind them grew fainter and fainter
until they were lost entirely in the dis
lance.
Victoria Clusters mind was working
rapidly, casting about for some means
Of escape from the silent figure at her
side. 4 revolver, or even a knife, /
would have solved her difficulty, but
she had neither Had she, the life OF
Abul Mukarram would have been |
worth but little, for the girl was beside /
herself with hopeless horror.
For the better part of two hours Abul /
Mukarram Kept on away from the mas /
ter he had robbed. He spoke but little. /
and when he did It was In the tone Of 4
the master to his slave Near noon /.
they left the jungle and came out into /
4 higher country, where the space be /
tween the trees was greater and there /
was little or no underbrusb.
Travelling was much easier here, and /
they made better time. They were still /
retracing the trail along which the car
avian had Travelled 1t would be game
time during the next morning that they
would turn north again upon a new
trail
Beside a stream AbuI Mukarram
halted
He tethered the donkeys and then
turned toward the girl
''Come." he saids and took her hand
Continued next Saturday..