Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-09-29
CHAPTER xvI-Contlnued.

The peace was absolute. Golden
clouds sank lazily through the quiet
air, and beyond the haze a single fiery
star blazed down from a dome of en-
erald. He lifted himself painfully on
his elbow. This was not death, nor
the world he had left. Where there
had been hills there were now plains,
and the gullies had become mountains
Where there had been men there were
now nothing but smooth layers of I'M
troubled sand. Something moved and
touched Farquhar. He started and
looked down at the man whose head
still rested against his arm. Their eyes
met. In the red twilight they recog-
nized each other-and their eyes shift
ed instantly in shy horror of that which
the other had become. Arnaud dragged
himself up upon his elbow and
coughed the sand from his lungs.
my horse bolted and threw me-" he
Jerked out gratingly. 81 must have
been half stunned. did not know
that 1t was-you." There was a brief
silence. They measured each other.
Then Arnaud stretched out his hand.
I'm sorry wish to God 1 did not
hate you, Farquhar."
They went on. Behind a great rock
which lowered out of the storm driven
sand they found Colonel Destinn. He
stood with his back to them and count
ed the thin circle of men who re-
manned. There were hundred in all.
They had fought the sirocco for ten
hours. The sand chung to their uni
forms, to their hair and boards. On
every face was printed the same dew
astation, the same exhausted suffering,
and something else that looked like
the ravenous greed of wolves whose
prey is within sight. Colonel Destinn
turned. ITO work-at once-all OF
your he commanded. But they did
not move. They stood there, watching
him. AS he saw their purpose he
sprang back.
Six times his revolver barked in the
stillness-four men rolled over. Then
he waited for them, his arms folded
indomitable. imperturbable, triumphant
to the last. They flung themselves
upon him. But for one swift moment
Farquhar had met Destinns eyes.
What passed in that lightning recog-
milton he did not know. He broke
through the raging circle of madmen,
beating up their weapons, and flung
himself recklessly between the lonely
man and death. A bullet grazed his
cheek, and he laughed, cracked, high
pitched laugh of good-humored mock
cry.
you're no good, comrades-no good.
You can't even shoot. You wanted me
as a leader-now. I'll lead you. I'll
lead you against me Arabs, against all
France, to Morocco, TO freedom; but
claim this man as my prisoner, COM
rades; claim his life"
They cursed somberly at him.
at won't dor the foremost legion
airy shouted. They're the only wit
nesses against us. Dead men DOM
tell tales. II we're caught who's tC
know they didn't die in the storm witt
the restT
eff we're caught 1 give you my
word OF honor that none OF you shall
suffer-" Farquhar interrupted. "It'i
my word against these two lives. Il
it bargain?"
They answered with frenzied, dry
throated cheer. Harding seized Far
quhar's hand and kissed 1t, and thu
next instant they were all around him
sobbing, laughing, shouting like chill
dren awakened from intolerable night
mare. They called their allegiance t
him in a dozen half-forgotten tongues
they gripped his hands and kissed tn
hem of his tattered coat in fantasia
worship.
wen follow you, Englishman; d.
with US as you like-we trust you"
There were burning tears of graft