The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-06
A Dangerous
Journey
BY JAMES BRAINARD

y
that kind is coming those who are nc
in the secret either know nothing abou
II or have only vague suspicious.
heard some ugly rumors as to wha
was about to happen, but did not know
how much dependence could be places
upon them. To all outward appear
Rnces everything was moving on a
usual.
! was obliged to go to Ismailia OF
business. If | had known the condi
tion of the people of the country
should not have trusted myself out o
Port Said, where Europeans were com
paratively safe. To make a journe,
into the interior was madness, but
did not know 1t. Indeed, | only real
ICED that under the circumstances
would rather not CO. A matter OF or
binary gain and being murdered were
the alternatives.
| went on night train. Being some
what fnical about my diet, took with
me a hamper filed with as succuleni
eatables as 1 could get together and on
The top placed box of cigars from
which only few of the weeds had
been taken. / 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 1t between his own, smoked 1t
himself
To have resented the insult would
have been equivalent to inviting the
man to stab me. / therefore paid no
attention to him and, taking a news
paper from my pocket, began to read
that is, pretended to read, but had
no idea of what was ON the sheet be-
fore me, my mind being taken up with
the fact that / was In a 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 l was the sub
ject of their conversation.
Then lucky thought occurred to
me. / 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 I had been smoking. He took 1t,
appropriated handful of the contents
and passed it to the others, who did
the same, and the box was returned to
me empty.
Notwithstanding my peace offering
i 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 IL |
had been armed my opponents were |
seven to one.
cannot describe the agony Of that
night, expecting, as did, death at any /.
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 |
very important might be go
ing on. I can't account for this feel
ing, for heard no sound to produce 1t.
/ only knew that / felt that there was
murder In the air.
Finally their looks and acts were so
suspicious that / 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 1t and displayed
The eatables. Every mans eyes were
On them, but not man moved to
ouch any of them. / offered the ham
per to the man who sat next me, but
.very man in the compartment; but,
.hough they all looked with eager eyes
Upon the viands, not man would ac-
,ept morsel.
At first I was astonished at this.
Then I remembered that no Arab will
freak bread with an enemy.
The moment this occurred to me I
new I was doomed. put my hamper
Jack on the rack and, wrapping myself
n my overcoat, lay back in my seat
With my eyes closed, to await what
yer was In store for me.
heard great deal of wrangling
n the part of the Arabs. but thought
would rather rely on my weakness
han on being prepared for resistance
hat would be useless. So did not
pen my eyes. Presently l felt hand
n my arm. Thinking my time had
ONE. 1 looked, and there was the
helix who had taken my cigar from
~ mouth holding out piece Of dry
read | took it and, biting from 1t,
hewed vigorously.
A flood Of relief and joy seemed to
ave been poured over me- / knew
rom that moment was safe. Reach.
~ up for my hamper, | took it down
nd handed ii to the sheik. He helped
imself. then passed 1t around TO the
hers. each man partaking plentifully
the contents.
Now that they had broken bread
18th me and having no more to fear
again leaned back in my seat and
IFS time slept. knew that was as
Ife from my Arab companions as II |