The Washington times., 1915-05-23
"Do AS YOU ARE B1DDEN

midday their little stock Of water was
gone. and their feet were sorely Bills
tered. No one complained, however,
and the professor especially did his
BEST to revive their spirits.
We have come farther than I had
dared TO hope. In the time, he an
nounced. FORTUNATELY. I know the ex
act direction we must take. Keep up
your spirits. young ladies. At any time
we may see signs of our destination"
Makes one sad to think of the drinks
we could have had" Quest muttered.
Say. what's that"
The whole party stopped short. Be
fore them was a distant vision of white
houses, of little stunted groves OF trees,
the masts Of ships In the distance.
It's Port Said" Quest exclaimed.
what the mischiet-have we turned
around' Say, professor; has your COM
! pass got the Jim jams
Il don't care where it is Lenora
faultered, with tears IN her eyes. Il
thought Port Said was a horrible place.
! but Just now l believe It's heaven,
The, professor turned toward them
and shook his head.
Cant YOU see?" he pointed out. ITS
a mirage-a desert mirage. They are
quite common at dusk.
Lenora for a moment was hysterical
and even Laura gave a little sob. Quest
set his teeth and glanced at the pro-
fessOr
always water near where there's
a mirage, isn't there. professor"
That $ So" the professor agreed.
I'VE are coming to something, all
right"
They struggled on once more Night
came and brought with It half-sooth-
ing half-torturing GOODNESS. That
vain straining of the eyes upon the
horizon at any rate was spared to
them, They slept in a fashion, but
soon after dawn they were on their
feet again. They were silent now. for
their tongues were swollen and talk
had become painful. Their walk had
become a shamble, but there was one
expression in their haggard faces COM
mon to all of them-the brave, dogged
desire to struggle on to the last Sud
denly Quest, who had gone little out
of his way TO mount a low range or
sand hills, waved his arm turiously.
He was holding his field glasses to his
eyes. 1t was wonderful how that ray
Of hope transformed them. They hur-
ried TO where he was. He passed the
glasses to the professor.
A caravan" he exclaimed. II can
see the cameis and horses,"
The professor almost snatched the
glasses
1t Is quite true" he agreed 1t is
TO our direction. Come! They will
see us before long.
Lanora began to sob and Laura to
laugh. Both we're struggling with a
/
tessor and Quest marched grimly side
~ side. With every step they took
the caravan became more distinct. Pres
! emily thret or four horsemcn detached
themselves from the main body and
came galloping toward them. The eyes
of the little party glistencd as they saw
that the foremost had a water bottle
slung around his neck. He came dash
{ ing up, waving his arms.
You lost. people," he asked. Want
water?"
! They almost snatched the bottle from
! him. It was like pouring life into their
veins. They all, at the professors IN
stigation, drank snaringIy. quest, with
Some adventure this" he declared.
! The professor. who had been talking
! to the men in their own lanuage. turn.
ed back towards the two rls.
1T Is a caravan" he explained. "oi
peaceful merchants on their way tc
Jaffa. They are halting for US. and We
shall he able without a doubt, to ar.
range for water and food and a came
or two horses. The man here says viii
/ the ladies take the horses and ride?
| They started off gayly to where the
caravan had come to a standstill. They
had scarcely traVersed a hundred yards
! however. before the Arab who was lead
! ing Lenora's horse came to a sudder
/ standstill He pointed with his arm and
! commenced to talk in an excited fash
ion to his two companions. From
HCCross the desert, facing them. came
company of horsemeN. galloping fast anr
With the sunlight flashing upon theiI
rifles.
pointing wildly. They attack the cara
van
Tho three Arabs talked together for
| moment in an excited fashion. Then
. Without excuse or warning they swunl
the two women to the ground leapec
on their horses and, turning north
wards. gallopcd away Already tn
crack of tire rifles and little puTs o
white smnkc sNowed them where th
! M0rCars advancing cautiously. wer
| commencing their attack. The professo
locked an aNNiCuS'|.
~ nm not 90 H'l su~e." he said in al
)ur6ertone to Quest. about our pos ito,
! i'h The McrC0rS Craig has peculia
hold upon them, but as rule they hat
white men. and their blood will be UP