The Washington times., 1918-11-10

No other shepherds than ours at least who had
from Tchemesh Gedzag, would know that CALL
certain And all shepherds in Armenia Armenians.
Ahmed's sheep tired and nervous. The unknown
shepherd remained among them, every and then
repeating that same CALL softer and softer went close
to the window lifted my face toward the ron-barred
window and repeated the call Even the sheep seemed to
sense something unusual They were suddenly quiet.
Again whistled this time with courage. Instantly
the shepherd answered. could almost detect his note
Of wonder.
had learned that by leaping as high as could
could catch the window bars with my hands and lift
myself until my face reached above the window sill
Often had caught gmpses of the yard in this way. But
not strong enough to hold myself up more than
few seconds at time.
Now 1 tried this, hoping to catch a glimpse of the
shepherd in the moonlight. As pulled myself up, l
whisted again. Many times tried before attracted
his attention to the window When had succeeded and
he understood that behind that window there cap
tive who trying to signal to him. he made under
stand by repeating his call three times in quick success
sion directly under the window.
dared not call out to him. and think he understood
this tore great piece Of cloth from the dress that had
been given rolled this into ball and threw it out
He and answered with his call. l hoped he would
understand the torn cloth a symbol of my imprson-
ment-and my hope that he would save me- could
hardly believe that even an Armenian shepherd would
be left alive, yet it seemed to be So
In the morning when the sheep were taken out the
shepherd whistled under my window and knew that he
was signalling l answered softly as could. All
that day new hope gave courage. l was dev-
eranee was at hand, though could not explain why
did not attempt to sleep that night. The sheep
early and the shepherd whised his call An hour
later heard it again-the shepherd still in the yard
1t must have been midnight when heard a rafting
at the window bars looked, and there, framed in the
moonlight face knew-the face of old Vartabed,
who had been my fathers shepherd when was a little
grill God had him to and had made me to hear
and understand that familiar whistled CALI
Vartabed called: "Who is here who comes from the
Mamuret-el Azizf'
at Aurora the daughter of Giragos of the Mardi-
ganians of Tehemesk-Gedzak You are Vartabed. Do
you remember who used to steal your lambs from
the flock and feed them candiesf'
Vartabed remembered. told him all that 1 could,
quickly. How had to be q captive of Ahmed and
why was in the dungeon. Tears into Vartabeds
ancient eyes when 1 told him how all my people were
dead. 1 asked him how it that he had been saved
0ld Vartabed is not worth the slaughter he said 81
of much value since the sheep of Ahmed will behave
only for me. Ahmed has forgotten that am an Arme-
man. since bend my knees for every prayer to Allah
and thus prolOng my days But God understands that
a Christian still"
He promised to help me to escape the dungeon. How
he would bring it about he could not tell God will find
way" he said to me- and when he dropped back among
his sheep in the courtyard know that God loved me and
would, somehow, open the dungeon door.
tn he Concluded Merit S,,5,,