The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-08-13
A Dangerous
Journey
By JAMES BRAINARD

1 was in Egypt before the fanatical
outbreak of 1882. When a trouble of
that kind is coming those who are not
in the secret either know nothing about
it or have only vague suspicious.
heard some ugly rumors as to what
was about to happen, but did not know
how much dependence could be placed
upon them. To all outward appear
ances everything was moving on as
usual
/ was obliged to go to Ismailia on
business If l had known the condi-
| ton Of the people of the country !
| should not have trusted myself out of
Port Said, where Europeans were COM
paratively safe. To make a journey
| into the interior was madness, but |
| did not know it. Indeed, | only real
| lied that under the circumstances
| would rather not go. A matter of or
binary gain and being murdered were
| the alternatives
went on a night train. Being some
what fnical about my diet, took with
me a hamper filed with as succulent
eatables as could get together and on
the top placed a box of cigars from
| which only a few of the weeds had
been taken. l got into my compart
ment, put my hand baggage on the
rack and settled myself for journey.
Being in a smoking compartment, | lit
cigar.
The compartment was filed with ma
tives, being the only European in it.
This in itself was not encouraging
The train had hardly got under way
when an old Arab sheik sitting oppo-
site me leaned forward and calmly took
my cigar from between my lips and,
placing it between his own, smoked it
himself.
To have resented the insult would
/ have been equivalent to inviting the
man to stab me. l therefore paid no
attention to him and, taking a news
paper from my pocket, began to read
that is, l pretended to read, but l had
no idea of what was on the sheet be-
fore me, my mind being taken up with
the fact that l was in compartment
with seven Arabs and utterly at their
mercy. My eyes appeared to be fixed
| upon the paper, but / was casting
| quick glances sidewise at the natives
and knew by their chatter and occa-
sional looks at me that / was the sub
ject of their conversation.
Then a lucky thought occurred to
me- 1 reached up to the rack, got my
box Of cigars from my hamper, took
out one for myself and handed the box
to the sheik who had robbed me Of the
one l had been smoking. He took it,
appropriated handful of the contents
and passed 1t to, the others, who did
the same, and the box was returned to
me empty.
Notwithstanding my peace offering
1 expected every moment to feel cold
steel entering my vitals. Most of the
Arabs wore long knives where they
could be seen, and ! knew not what
other weapons they had concealed. AS
for me, was unarmed, and even if
had been armed my opponents were
seven to one.
I cannot describe the agony of that
night, expecting, as did, death at any
moment. The Arabs in my compart-
ment paid no attention to anything
that was going on in the rest Of the
train, but had a vague feeling that
something very important might be 60
ing on I can't account for this feel
ing, for heard no sound to produce it.
only knew that felt that there was
murder in the air.
Finally their looks and acts were sc
suspicious that I bethought myself OF
some other way similar to my offer OF
cigars to placate them. Then my
luncheon occurred to me. Reaching
up again to the rack, / brought down
my hamper, opened it and displayed
the eatables. Every mans eyes were
on them, but not a man moved tC
touch any of them. I offered the ham
per to the man who sat next me, but
he declined. In turn l handed it tC
every man in the compartment; but
though they all looked with eager eyes
upon the viands, not man would &C
cept morseL
At first / was astonished at this
Then remembered that no Arab viii
break bread with an enemy.
The moment sthis occurred to me
knew was doomed. 1 put my hamper
back on the rack and, wrapping myself
in my overcoat, lay back in my seat
with my eyes closed, to await what
ever was in store for me.
1 heard a great deal OF wrangline
on the part of the Arabs, but thought
I would rather rely on my weakness
than on being prepared for resistance
that would be useless. So l did not
open my eyes. Presently felt hand
on my arm Thinking my time had
come, l looked, and there was the
sheik who had taken my cigar from
my mouth holding out a piece of dry
bread. l took it and, biting from it
chewed vigorously.
A food of relief and joy seemed tt
have been poured over me. l knew
from that moment was safe. Reach
ing up for my hamper, took it dowI
and handed it to the sheik. He helped
himself, then passed it around to the
others, each man partaking plent1fully
Of the contents.
Now that they had broken bread
with me and having no more to feal
I again leaned back In my seat and
this time slept. | knew that 1 was a:
safe from my Arab companions as If
!, were in my own bed at home
But / did not reach Ismailia thai
night In the morning found that the
natives had murdered the engineer