The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-09-10
CHATTER xxl-contInued.


CHAPTER xxl-continued
II was rare for the caravan to pass
by Beni Medipet. 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 10 the strangers. Down
by the we'll group OF girls In gar
ments OF blue and yellow. with earthen
bottles ON their heads, stood staring
AZ Benz Medinets unusual visitors.
Peace be with you. Fatou Ami"
+, said the older OF the Bedouins.
Are YOU cousin or brother that
you know my manner" asked the an
cient woman.
Everyone knows the name OF the
oldest woman in the Sahara said
Hamfnet Abou. and the victorious are
always brothers."
What do YOU want with me?" she
asked. thinking OF the helplessness OF
the Village
Hammet Abou pointed to the hut
You have white captive in there.
Is he alive?"
What is that to you, son OF dog?"
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
Is cast out from your village. your
young men. your grandsons and your
sons viii be destroyed"
The old woman regarded him calmly.
i 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 desoiation."
She was alb ut to raise the peculiar
wall which would have summoned to
her all the women OF the village. The
cogs 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
10 speak swiftly in 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 to
hts companion, Hammet Abou said
'Faton Ami, this great lord kisses
your hand. He says that he wishes
he could speak your beautiful Ian
guage. He does not come from the
enemy; he does not come from the
French. He comes from two women
OF his people by whom the captive is
beloved. He says that you are the
mother OF sons and grandsons, and
that you VIII deliver this man up into
our hands IN peace"
The narrow fetid streets we're be-
ginning TO filI with the figures OF
women. their beautifully colored
robes nuttering in the light and there
were curious eager children who came
running. naked save for the bangles
upon their arms and ankles.
Pointing to them. Hammet Abou
said 10 the old sage:
See. you are only women here.
Fatou Ami. Your men are twenty
miles farther south We have cara
van Of fifty men all armed, Fatou
Ami They camp just there, al the
edge OF the oasis They ase waiting
We come In peace, old woman; we
come TO take away the Evil Eye frcsn
your door: but II You anger US and
rave against us. the dogs and women
OF your town will fall upon you and
destroy every breast among you"
She began to beat her palms to-
9ether. murmuring:
Allah Allah"
Hush" said the Bedouin Hereby.
take Us TO the captive. Fatou Amt"
Fatou Ami did not stir. She
pulled aside the veil from her with
cred face, so that her great eyes
looked out at the two men. She saw
her predicamenf, but she was subtle
Oriental Victor had been IN her
camp and In her village; her SONS and
grandgons had never been vaDquished
Perhaps the dying man IN the hut
would bring me Evil Eye: He was
dying. anyway-he would not live
fweDty-four hours, She knew this,
for her ninety years Of life had seen
many eyes close on the oasis under
the hard blue skies
TO the taller OF the two Bedoulns
ste All n Arabic: