Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-06-23

cloak; the chief by his side-a fine,
upright man Ith 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, Engiish." 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. gal
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 pro lessor
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. 1T 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 strange meeting.
ut is necessary" he told them,
that you should pretend to be my
friends. The chief has ordered two of
his men 70 dismount. Their ponies are
for the young ladies. There will be
horses for you among the captured
ones from the caravan yonder"
They all turned towards the chief.
who remained a little on the outside
of the circle. The professor raised
his hat and spoke few words in the
Mongar language, then he turned to
the others.
Il have accepted the invitation of
the chief" he announced. I'VE had
better start"
This may not be Delmonico's, :"
Laura remarked, a few hours later,
with a little sigh of contentment,
but believe me that goat-stew and
sherbet tasted better than any
chicken and champagne ever tasted"
They moved to the opening of the
tent and sat looking out across the
silent desert Laura took the flap of
the canvas In her hand.
What do all these marks mean?"
she asked.
They are cabalistic signs" the
professor replied. part of the Ian
guage of the tribe. They indicate
that this is the guest tent, and there
are few little maxims traced upon
it, extolling the virtues of hospitality"
Lenora leaned forward to where a
little group of Mongars we're talking
together.
81 wish that beautiful girl would
come and let Us see her again." she
murmured.
She" the professor explained, "is
the chiefs daughter, Feerda, whose
life Craig saved"
And from the way she looks at
him." Laura observed, 81 should say
she hadn't forgotten it, either"
The professor held up a warning
finger. The girl herself had glided
to their side out of the shadows. She
faced the professor. The rest OF the
party she seemed to ignore. She
spoke slowly and in hating English.
my father wishes to know that
you are satisfied?" she said. you
have no further wants?"
None" the professor assured her.
1--WE are very grateful for his hos
pitality, Feerda"
won't you talk to US for a little
timer" Lenora begged, leaning for
ward.
The girl turned suddenly to the
professor and spoke to him in her
own language. She pointed to the
signs upon the tent, drew her finger
along one of the sentences, flashed a
fierce glance at them all and disap-
peared.
Seems to me that we are not ex-
actly popular with the young lady"
Quest remarked. What was she say
ing, professor"
"She suspects u.s." the professor
said slowly, "of wishing to bring evil
to Craig. She pointed to a sentence
upon the tent. Roughly it means Graf
itude is the debt of hospitality lam
very much afraid that the young lady
must have been listening to our con-
versation."
The professor suddenly leaned for
ward. There was a queer change in
his face. From somewhere on the
other side of that soft bank of violet
darkness came what seemed to be the
clear, low cry of some animal
cit is the Mongar cry of warning" he
said hoarsely. Something is going to
happen"
The whole encanlpment was sud
denly in a state Of activity. The
Mongars ran hither and thither, get
ting together their horses. The chief.
with Craig by his side, was standing
on the outskirts of the camp.
Seems to me there's a move on"
Quest muttered, as they rose to their
feet. II wonder If we are in It."
A fvrr. 1nfnv rraFo,