The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-16
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"Are you sure we're right?" she asked
after a long period Of uncomfortable sus-
pense.
Look" said Hoagland, pointing to the
tnnumerable footprints in the sandy road
They've gone yonder, maybe up the gulch
there near the heap of rocks. Don't you
see fires burning, Miss?"
She thought she did, but then as her
eyes became more assured of the direction
and the moon Paled in the West she was
sure Of it. The bivouac was there, Just
under the great mass Of rocks, the first Of
the Jagged offshoots of Jebel Radhwah
la Alan was there among them, under the
very gaze Of his terrible enemy, Won Hen.
SOEUAl. She sat upon her camel, her eyes on
win b. distant fires Of the Muslin fanatics and
emily prayed to her God and Alan's that
might be returned to her unscathed
w long she sat there alongside the quiet
tchful Hoagland she did not know, but
-ddenly she saw HOagland straighten in
h.s saddle and drop his cigarette, listening
intently
What is it, Captain Hoagland?" she
whispered straining her ears to catch the
slightest sound.
There. Didn't you hear it?" he NUT
tered eXcitedly.
What"
'Shots-two of EN-. Listen"
She did. And clear upon the night air
they heard three more in rapid succession.
And still Captain Hoagland sat upon his
camel, waiting. The man seemed suddenly
to have been turned into a stone image
We must-go on, Captain Hoagland,"
she gasped. ''Mr. Jessup may need help"
1--WE can do nothing, just you and l.
Wen wait, please" he said quietly, for
the men. They should not be far away
Listen again"
Unwillingly she obeyed him. Another
sound had risen, murmur like the sound
of surf upon a distant shore, rising and
falling, and then more Shots desultory and
scattering.
"Oh, this is intolerable," walled Con-
stance piteously. I'VE must do something
at once"
But Captain Hoagland didn't reply. He
had turned in his saddle and was listening
to the soft pad of camels in the road be-
bind them along which they had come
Here they come, Miss" he muttered.
1--WE shall be moving presently"
And in a moment the crew of the Tur-
kama came streaming up the road and de-
bouched into the deserted village street
There was some excitement among them,
for they. too, had heard the shots and were
all for moving forward at the double quick
But Hoagland kept them well in hand
You'll obey orders same as aboard" he
said briskly. "Skirmish Iine-twenty yards
apart and advance slowly. dressing to the
right. Command to dismount will be passed
8lOng-gTOupS OF six with one man to
guard the camels. Understand? Fall in.
Count of. Deploy to the left. Forward,
march"
They obeyed. their loaded Enfelds hung
by the slings to the right side Of the sad
dIe-horns. grim ghostly figures in the moon
light. slowly moving forward, and Con-
stance felt that the situation had passed
n into stronger hands than hers.
They got under way at last and moved
silently in the direction of the distant
.lumps Of rocks, but had only gone a half
nile or so when in the distance HOagland
saw a dim shape moving directly toward
them. He quickly passed the word along
to halt and the men waited until the figure
reached them. II was Daoud Effendi out
Of breath with running. He had had to
run for his life. They had fired at him,
but he had gotten away scOt-free. When
he recovered his breath. he lighted a cigar
cite and he and Hoagland held a council
Of war.
Ten-fifteen minutes passed, and Alan
Jessup did not appear. Even Daoud, on
Dawsons camel, showed signs of in
ouietude He had explained Alan's wild
plan. but he had not been able to remain
TO observe what had followed. For Mr..
Jessup to mingle in the crowd and then
quietly to stink of with his treasure
seemed to Daoud the simplest possible
achievement; but when twenty minutes
ELAPSED and there was no sign of him
Daoud became puzzled and very uncertain.
What could have delayed him unless
Suddenly they all stiffened in their sad
. c'es and listened. Clearly borne upon the
stu night air there came sullen murmur,