Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-01-21
should you risk your life for people
who are almost st-angers?"


"Strangers?" He laughed softly.
HAS it never occurred to you that the
people we grow up with are never
comes only with maturity Of the mind?
Why, the best man friend l have in
this world is a young chap met but
three years ago. 1t is not the know
ing OF people that makes friendships.
1t is the sharing Of dangers. Of bread
in the wilderness; of getting glimpse
of the soul which lies beneath the con-
ventions of the social pact. Would
you call me stranger"
20, mol" she cried swiftly. ut is
merely that l do not want you to risk
your life any further for us. Is there
no way l can dissuade you?"
None that l can think of. l am
going back with you. That's settled
Now let us talk of something else.
Don't you really want me to go?"
"Ah. that isn't fair" looking out to
sea again and following the lights
aboard the Simla.
1t was mighty hard for him not to
sweep her into his arms then and
there. But he would never be sure of
free of the sense of gratitude. free to
weigh her sentiments carefully and un.
biasedly He sat down abruptly on
the wreck OF an ancient hull embed
ded in the sand. She sank down lit
tie way from him.
He began to tell her some of his
| past exploits; the Amazon. the Ori-
noco, the Andes, Tibet and China; OF
the strange fotsam and jetsam he had
met in his travels. But she sensed
only the sound OF his voice and The de-
sire to reach out her hand and touch
his. Friendship! Bread in the wilder.
nessi
Ahmed was lean and deceptive to
the eye. Like many Hindus. he ap-
peared anemic; and yet the burdens
the man could put on his back and
carry almost Indefinitely would have
killed many a white man who boasted
of his strength. On half loaf OF
black bread and a soldiers canteen OF
water he could travel for two days.
He could go without sleep for As hours.
and when he slept he could sleep any
where. on the moment.
Filling his saddle bags with three
days rations. two canteens of water,
he set off on a hagin, or racing camel.
for Allaha. 200 miles inland as the
crow flies. 1t was his intention 10
ride straight down to the desert ana
across this to Colonel Hare's camp. II
such thing now existed. A dromedary
in good condition can make from sixty
to eighty miles day: and the beast
4 Ahmed had engaged was OF Arah
blood. In four days he expected 10
reach the camp. II Winnie had not
yet arrived, he would take the road
meet her, warn her of the dangers
which she was about to face. and con
vey her to the seaport. If 1t was too
late, he would send the camel back
with a trusted messenger to the colo
mel, to advise him.
They watched him depart In cloud
of dust. and then played the most en-
ervating game in existence-that oil
waiting; for they had decided to walt
till they heard from Ahmed before
they moved.
Four nights later. when Ahmed ar
rived at the bungalow. he found condi'
tions as usual. For reasons best known
to himself Umballa had not disturbed
anything. In fact, he had always had
the coming OF the younger sister In
mind and left the bungalow and camp
untouched, so as not to alarm her.
She had not yet arrived. So Ahmed
flung himself down upon his cotton
rug. telling the keepers not to disturb
him; he would wake himself when the
time came. But Ahmed had overrated
his powers: he was getting along 10
years; and II was noon OF the next day
when a hand shook him by the shout
der and he awoke to witness the ar
rival of Winnie and her woman com
panion.
For the first time in many years
Ahmed cursed his prophet. He that
had had time to warn the child had
slept like the sloth of Ceylon!
He went directly to the point. He
told her briefly what had happened
He had not the least doubt that Um'
balla was already aware OF her ar.
rival She must remain hidden in the
go.down of the bungalow: her maid
also. That night. If umballa or his
men failed to appear, he would lead
her off to safety. But there was no
hope of stealing away in the daytime.
In his heart. however. he entertained
no hope; and like the good general he
was, he dispatched the messenger and
camel to the sea The father and
daughter were fated to return.
Ahmed had reckoned shrewdly. Um.
balla appeared later in the day and de
manded the daughter of Colonel Hare
Backed as he was by numerous sol.
diers. Ahmed resigned himself to the
inevitable. They found Winnie and her
maid Cwhom later they sent to the
frontier and abandoned) and took