Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-10-01
CHAPTER xxl-consInued.


by Benz Medinet. The old woman's
superstition foresaw danger in this
visit. Her veil before her face. her
gnarled old fingers held the fan with
which she had been tanning Sabron.
She went out to the strangers. Down
by the we'll a group of girls in gar
ments of blue and yellow. with earthen
bottles on their heads, stood staring
at Benz Medinet's unusual visitors.
Peace be with you, Fatou Ami.
said the older of the Bedouins.
Are you a cousin or d brother that
you know my manner" asked the an
cient woman.
Everyone knows the name of the
oldest woman In the Sahara. said
Hammet Abou. land the victorious are
always brothers,
What do you want with me7" she
asked, thinking of the helplessness of
the village
Hammet Abou pointed to the hut
you have a white captive in there.
Is he alive?"
What Is that to you, son Of dog?"
"The mother of many sons is wise"
said Hammet Abou portentously. but
she does not know that this man car
ries the Evil Eye His dog carries the
Evil Eye for his enemies Your people
have gone to battle. Unless this man
is cast out from your village. your
young men, your grandsons and your
sons will be destroyed"
The old woman regarded him calmly.
II do not fear IT," she said tran
GULLY. 1--WE have had corn and oil in
plenty. He is sacred"
For the first time she looked at his
companion, tall and slender and evil
IDENTIFY younger.
you favor the coward Franks" she
said in high voice. you have come
to fall upon us in cur desolation."
She was about to raise the peculiar
vail which would have summoned to
her all the women of the village The
Gogs of the place had already begun to
show their noses, and the villagers
were drawing near the people under
the palms Now the young man began
to speak swiftly In language that she
did not understand, addressing his
comrade. The language was so curious
that the woman, with the cry arrested
on her lips. stared at him Pointing tc
his companion. Hammet Abou said:
''Fatou Ami. this great lord kisses
your hand. He says that he wishes
he could speak your beautiful Ian
guage. He does not come from the
enemy: he does not come from the
French. He comes from two womei
Of his people by whom the captive II
beloved. He says that you are tht
mother of sons and grandsons. anC
that you will deliver this man up int
our hands in peace"
The narrow fet'd streets were be
ginning to iii with the figures o
women. their beautifully eoloret
robes fluttering IN the light. and Their,
were curious eager children who cam,
running, naked save for the bangles
upon. their arms and ankles.
Pointing to them, Hammet Abo,
said to the old sage:
See, you are only women here
Fatou Ami Your men are twent,
miles farther Gouth. We have a cara
van of fifty men all armed. Fatol
Ami They camp Just there. at this
edge of the oasis. They are waiting
We come in peace, old woman: W.
come to take away the Evil Eye from
your door: but If you anger US ant
rave against US, the dogs and womer
of your town will fall upon you ant
destroy every breast among you.'
She began to beat her palms to
gether. murmuring:
Allah. Allahi"
HUSH" said the Bedouin fiercely
take us to the captive, Fatou Ami
Fatou Ami did not stir. Sh
pulled aside the veil from her with
cred face, SO that her great eye
looked out at the two men. She saw
her predieament. but she was e subtl
Oriental. Victor had been In he
camp and in her village: her sons an,
grandsons had never been vanquished
Perhaps the dying man in the hu
would bring he Evil Eye! He wa
dying, anyway-he would not liv
twenty.four hours She knew this
for her ninety years Of life had seel
many eyes close on the oasis unde
the hard blue skies
To the taller of the two Bedouin
| she said In Arabic: