The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-09

;, the creaking OF leather thongs, the
of filters and the thud Of many feet.
n a moment, coming again u a sligh.
lion, they marked the pale shapes o.
s and saw beyond them the ,strsS-
end Of the ghostly procession.
y reached the village from which it
ed with one accord the inhabitants
deserted. There they paused for
mt and Daoud riding his dromedarS
them almost instantly.
ley have passed." he said, in a low
and suspect nothing. Omar Hi.d
III Agha ride upon horses al the head
Of the caravan. I have seen them.
All is well with you, Mr.. Jessup?"
Alan nodded and peered at his
watch. Our men should be leaving
the Turkana pretty sOOn," he said.
Good! The Mammal encamps
at two o'clock in the Wadi SaKhan.
not three miles from here. There
are two villages near. There will
be a night prayer to hold the null
titude"
How many men have they?'
"A thousand easily. some mounted,
besides the NiZam of fifty men,"
And the rest"
Women, children-the halt and
the blind, the rich, the poor, from
all the country around in filters.
afoot. on horses, camels, donkeys
or anything that will carry them"
HIN"
cali Agha exhorts them, the
Sherifs and descendants Of the
Prophets pray, but the Sheykh
Omar, his head dress lisam, wells
his face from the people"
"H-m," muttered Alan again,
softly. Jolly well right of him"
And then, with a glance at Amneh.
Shall we go on?'
Daoud nodded. Dawson will
come forward here. ! have left a
mark upon the boulder at the cross
roads, but the signs Of travel are
as plain as day. He will follow
and await the signal. The place I
think is most propitious. A wadi,
1t shows they suspect nothing"
You've had word from the
Sheriff"
A message awaited me at the
wahkala. He rides fast and far
with a Bedawee one, may not
know.
At q word from Daoud, Amneh
adjusted her face-veil and they
went on in the trial of the pilgrims
Ahead Of them, winding over the
hills like some dusky antedeluvian
reptile the strange procession
squirmed. They caught up with
and passed the stragglers, men aud
women hObbling painfully or sitting
groaning or praying by the road
side-beggars who sprang up as
they passed and caught at their
ankles, shrieking for aims; weary
women. unveiled, with babies at
their breasts, gazing with lustre-
less eyes. children asleep by the
roadside, and here and there a
weary seiyis, whose camel driven
into the fore of the procession. had
Outstripped him.
But as they drew nearer the main
body of the caravan its procedure
= was more orderly. The character
of its company more substantial
q, staid merchants and their wives.
B. hOusehOlders, herders. seafaring
men, proud sheyks. traders and Of
ficials Of the Ottoman Empire in
their tarbushes, robes and sashes.
Many Of the men seemed to be
armed with their native firearms,
which according to the custom.
were stuck OstensibIy in their belts.
And many afOOt as we'll as upon
Camel-baCk carried their neboots.
long, heavy slaves. in the use Of
which. DaOud told Alan. these
people were most proficient.
Nearer the head of the process
sion, which they approached with
out undue haste. weapons were
more in evidence, and near the
Mammal an embroidered canopy on
four poles mounted upon a camel
and provided by the officers of the
Mosque at Yambu rode the Nizam.
or irregular infantry. Of this
part of the Ottoman Empire,
armed with modern rifles. Alan
ted them Carefully-fifty-th- men
II a captain, who rode before the
NAL, among the Sheyks and Sherifs
even as Alan rode, following the trail
the entrance of the Wadi. other pill
S Joined the procession in haste. Ieav-
their mattresses and slumber-mats at
summons of the cOuriers Of Ali Agha.
h called. A miracle was about to
'en to Ell Hejaz.
le procession wound into the gorge
\ which a small stream flowed until
MAMMAL came into kind Of natural
theatre of rocks and trees. near q
lg of water. when the soldiers rode
\ the entire length Of the caravan
ng halt and the procession STOPPED
S party was in the very midst OF the
g of people, and they dismounted and
At one side. There was much crowd
and shouting. but the soldiers and
ks rode here and there until a SEM
&c Of order was restored, giving evil
e of an actuating brain somewhere
lis human anthill.
an. UrOn the alert, caught a glimpse
ITapnN1