The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-02

hSlth very CdIeluily W NE you VIII
discover the application Of what | am
going to read when | am finished.
Now, if you please
This" he began, lis the diary of a
tour made by Craig and myself in
northern Egypt some fourteen years
ago. Here is the first entry Of i'm
port:
MONDAY-Twenty-n miles southeast
of Port Said. We have stayed for two
days at a little Mongar village l have
today come to the definite conclusion that
anthropoid apes were at one time deni-
zens of this country.
TUESDAY-Both Craig and have been
a little uneasy today. These Mongars
into whose encampment We have found
our way, are one of the strangest and
fiercest of the nomad tribes They are
descended, without doubt, from the an
cient Mongolians. who invaded this coun-
try some seven hundred years before
Christ. but have preserve in marvellous
way their individuality race.
WEDN NESDAY-This has been Won
derful day for us, chiefly owing 10 what
I must place on record as an act of great
bravery by Craig, my servant Early this
morning, man-eatins lion found his
way into the encampmenl. The Mongars
behaved like arrant towards They fled
right and left, leaving the chiefs little
daughter, Feerda, at TIL brutes mercy
Craig, who is by no means adept in
the use of firearms. chase the animal as
he was making off with the child and
more by good luck than anything else
managed to wound 1t mortally. He
brought the child back 10 the encamp-
ment just as the chief ami the warriors
of the tribe returned from n hunting eX
pedition, Our position here IS now nbso-
lutely secure. We are treated like gods
and, approaching my weakness for all
matters of science, the cnef has today
explained to me many OF The secret mys-
teries of the tribe. Amorgst other things
he has shown me won3.rrul secret poi
son. known only to this tribe, which they
call Veedemzoo 1t brings almost instant
death. and is exceedingly difficult to trace
The addition of sugar causes a curious
condensation and resolve il almost to a
white paste. The only antidote is a sub
stance which they use here freely, and
which is exactly equivalent to our cam
phor.
The professor closed his book
Quest promptly rang the bell.
Some sugar." he ordered, turning
to the steward.
They waited in absolute silence
The suggestion which the professors
disclosure had brought to them was
stupefying, even Quests fingers. as a
moment or two later he rubbed two
knobs of sugar together so that the
contents should fall into the tubes of
bouillon, shook. The result was
magical. The bouillon turned to a
strange shade of gray and began
slowly to thicken.
at is Mongar poison" the profess
sor cried. with breaking voice
They all looked at one another
Craig must be here amongst u.s."
Quest muttered
And the bouillon," Laura cried,
clasping Quests arm, "the bouillon
was meant for you"
There seemed to be, somehow,
among all of them, curious indis-
position to discuss this matter Sud
denly Lenora, who was sitting on the
lounge underneath the portfolio, put
out her hand and picked up a card
glanced at it, at first, curiously Then
she shrieked.
"a message" she cried "a mes
sage from The Hands! Look"
They crowded around her. In that
same familiar handwriting was
these few words:
To Sanford Quest:
You have escaped this time by a
chance Of fortune, not because your
wits are keen, not because Of your
own shrewdness; simply because
Fate wiIIed it. 1t will not be for long.
Underneath was the drawing of the
clenched hands.
There is no longer any doubt"
Lenora said calmly. Craig is on
board. He must have been on deck
few minutes ago. 1t was his hand
which placed this card on the port
hole Listen! What's that"
There was scream from the deck.
They all recognized Laura's voice.
Harris was out of the stateroom first,
but they were all on deck within ten
seconds. Laura was standing with
one hand clasping the rail, her hand
fiercely outstretched towards the low
er part of the promenade deck
Through the darkness they heard the
sound of angry voices.
What is it. Laura?" Lenora cried
She swung round upon them.
Craig" she cried. Craig, |
saw his face as I sat in my chair
there, talking to the captain. saw
a mans white face-nothing else. He
must haua heen leaning over tho rail