Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-09-24
CHAPTER xxi-ContInued.

CHAPTER xxi-Continued.
It was rare for the caravan to pass
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 q group Of girls IN gar
ments Of blue and yellow, with earthen
bottles ON their heads. stood staring |
1t Benz Medinet's unusual visitors.
Peace be with you, Fatou Ami"
said the older of the Bedouins.
Are you q cousin or brother that
you know my name7" asked the an
cient woman.
Everyone knows the name OF the
eldest woman In the Sahara" said
Hammet Abou. "and the victorious are
always brothers.
"What do you want with me?" she
asked, thinking of tho helplessness OF
the village.
Hammet Abou pointed to the hut.
"You have 4 white captive in there.
Il he alive?"
what is that to you. son of dog!"
1.-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
10 cast out from your village, your
young men, your grandsons and your
sons will be destroyed"
The old woman regarded him calmly
IT do not fear it, she said tran
GULLY. I'VE 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 our desolation."
She was about to raise the peculiar
wall which would have summoned to
her all the women of the village. The
dogs 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 n 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 te
his companion, Hammet Abou said:
''Fatou Ami, this great lord kisses
your hand. He says that he wishe'
he could speak your beautiful Ian
T. from thi
enemy; he does not come from tn
French. He comes from two womel
Of his people by whom the captive l
beloved. He says that you are tn
mother Of sons and grandsons, an
that you will deliver this man up Int
our hands in peace"
The narrow fetid streets were b.
ginning to I'LL with the figures Q
women, their beautifully colore
robes fiuttering in the light. and Their
were curious eager children who cam
running. naked save for the bangle
upon their arms and ankles.
Pointing to them, Hammet Abo
said to the old sage:
See, you are only women herr
Fatou Ami Your men are twent
miles farther south. We have q carr
van of fifty men all armed. Fato
Ami. They camp just there, ut tn
edge Of the oasis. They are waitin,
We come in peace, old woman: "
come to take away the Evil Eve frol
your door; but II you anger US an
rave against us. the dogs and wome
Of your town will fall upon you an
destroy every breast among you"
She began to beat her palms t
Eether, murmuring:
Allah! Allah"
Hush" said the Bedouih hercel
take US to the captive. Fatou Ami
Fatou Ami did not stir. 81
pulled aside the veil from her wit
cred face, 20 that her great ey,
looked out at the two men. She sa
her predicament, but she was subj
Oriental. Victory had been in h
camp and in her village: her sons al
Grandsons had never been vanquishe
Perhaps the dying man in the b
would bring the Evil Eye! He vi
dying, anyway-hs would not II
twenty-four hours. She knew tn
for her ninety years OF life had SCI
many eyes close on tho oasis und
the hard blue skies.
To the taller of the two Bsdoui
she said in Arabic: