The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-09

sHstened as they saw that the fore
most had water-bottle slung around
his neck. He came dashing up, way
ing his arms.
You lost. people?" he asked. Want
water?"
They almost snatched the bottle
from him. 1t was like pouring life
INTO their veins. They all, at the pro-
fessor's instigation. drank sparingly.
quest. with great sigh of relief. lit
Some adventure, this." he de-
clared.
Ihe professor, who had been talking
10 the men in their own language,
turned back towards the two girls.
1t is a caravan" he explained, "of
peaceful merchants on their way to
jana. They are halting for US, and
We shall be able, without doubt, to
arrange for water and food and
camel or two horses The man here
asks if the ladies will 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 leading Lenora's horse came to a
sudden standstill. He pointed with
his arm and commenced to talk in an
excited fashion to his two companions.
From across the desert, facing them,
came little company of horsemen
galloping fast and with the sunlight
flashing upon their rifles.
"The Mongars!" the Arab cried
pointing wildly. "They attack the
caravan"
The three Arabs talked together for
moment in an excited fashion. Then
without excuse or warning, they swung
the two women to the ground. leaped
on their horses, and, turning north.
wards, galloped away.
The professor looked on anxiously.
II am not at all sure" he said in
an undertone to Quest about our po
sition with the Mongars. Craig has a
peculiar hold upon them, but as rule
they hate white men, and their blood
will be up. :. See! the fight is all
over. Those fellows were no match for
the Mongars. Most of them have fed
and left the caravan"
The fight was indeed over. Four of
the Mongars had galloped away in
pursuit of the Arabs who had been
the temporary escort of Quest and his
companions. They passed about
hundred yards away, waving their
arms and shouting furiously. One of
them even fired shot, which missed
Quest by only few inches.
'They say they are coming back"
the professor mnttered. Who this?
It's the chief and"
Our search is over. at any rate" /"
Quest interrupted. "It's Craig!"
They came galloping up,. Craig in
white linen clothes and an Arabs
cloak; the chief by his side-a fine,
upright man with long, gray beard; be-
hind, three Mongars, their rifles al
ready to their shoulders. The chief
wheeled up his horse as he came with
in twenty PAGES of the little party.
white! English" he shouted.
why do you seek death here?"
He waited for no reply, but turned
to his men. Three of them dashed for
ward, their rifles, which were fitted
with an odd sort of bayonet. drawn
back for the lunge Suddenly Craig,
who had been little in the rear, gall
loped, shouting, into the line of fire.
Stop" he ordered. "Chief, these
people are my friends. Chief, the
world"
The chief raised his arm promptly.
The men lowered their rifles. Craig
galloped back to his hosts side. The
chief listened to him and nodded
gravely. Presently he rode up to the
little party. He saluted the professor
gravely and talked to him in his own
language. The professor turned to the
others.
"The chief apologies for not recog-
niZing me-" he announced "It seems
that Craig had told him that he had
come to the desert for shelter, and he
imagined at once, when he gave the
order for the attack upon us, that we
were his enemies. He says that we
are welcome to go with him to his
encampment."
Craig turned slowly towards them.
1t was a strange meeting.
'1t is necessary" he told them,
that you should pretend to be my
friends. The chief has ordered two of
his men to dismount. Their ponies are
for the Young ladies' There will ha