The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-04-23
CHAPTER XVI.
The Flight to the Jungle.

SleepleSS upon his blankets, Albert
Werper let his evil mind dwell upon
the charms Of the woman in the near
by tent He had noted Mohammed
Beyd's sudden interest in the girl, and
judging the man by his own standards.
had guessed at the basis of the Arabs
sudden change Of attitude toward the
prisoner.
A sudden resolution possessed him.
He threw the blankets from him and
rose to his feet. Pulling on his boots
and buckling his cartridge belt and re-
volver about his hips he stepped to the
flap of his tent and looked out. There
was no sentry before the entrance to
the prisoners tent! What could 1t
mean? Fate was indeed playing into
his hands.
Stepping outside he passed to the
rear of the girls tent. There was no
sentry there, either! And now, boldly,
he walked to the entrance and stepped
within.
Dimly the moonlight illumined the
interior. Across the tent figure bent
above the blankets of bed. There
was a whispered word, and another
figure rose from the blankets to sit
ting position. Slowly Albert Werper's
eyes were becoming accustomed to the
half darkness Of the tent. He saw
that the figure leaning over the bed
was that of man, and he guessed at
the truth of the nocturnal visitors
identity.
A sullen, jealous rage enveloped
him. He heard frightened cry break
from the girls lips as she recognized
the features Of the man above her,
and he saw Mohammed Boyd seize her
by the throat and bear her back upon
the blankets.
Cheated passion cast red blur be-
fore the eyes Of the Belgian. No! The
man should not have her. She was
for him and him alone. He would not
be robbed Of his rights.
Quickly he ran across the tent and
threw himself upon the back of Mo-
manned Boyd. The latter, though sur
prised by this sudden and unexpected
attack, was not one to give up without
a battle. The Belgian's fingers were
feeling for his throat, but the Arab
tore them away. and rising wheeled
upon his adversary. As they faced
each other Werper struck the Arab a
heavy blow in the face, sending him
staggering backward. II he had fol-
lowed up his advantage he would have
had Mohammed Boyd at his mercy in
another moment; but instead ne
tugged at his revolver to draw 1t from
its holster. and fate ordained that at
that particular moment the weapon.
should stick In it's leather scabbard.
Before he could disengage it Mo
manned Boyd had recovered himself
and was dashing upon him. Striking
at each other and ceaselessly attempt
| ing to clinch, the two battled about
| the small interior of the tent, while
| the girl, wide-eyed in terror and as
| constituent, watched the duel in frozen
silence.
Again and again Werper struggled
| to draw his weapon. Mohammed Boyd,
| anticipating no such opposition to his
base desires, had come to the tent un-
armed. except for long knife which
| he now drew as he stood painting dur
| ing the first brief rest Of the encoun-
| ter.
Werper was still dragging futilely
at his weapon. The Arab was almost
upon him. In desperation the Euro
| pean waited until Mohammed Boyd
was all but against him, then he threw
himself to one side to the floor of the
tent, leaving leg extended in the
path of the Arab.
The trick succeeded. Mohammed
Boyd. carried on by the momentum of
his charge, stumbled over the project
ing obstacle and crashed to the ground.
Instantly he was up again and wheel
ing to renew the .battle; but Werper
was ON foot ahead of him, and now his
revolver loosened from its holster,
flashed in his hand.
| The Arab dove headfirst to grapple
with him. there was sharp report,
/ lurid CLEAN of flame In the darkness,
and Mohammed Boyd rolled over and
over upon the floor to come to final
rest beside the bed of the woman he
had sought to dishonor.
Almost Immediately following the
report came the sound Of excited
! voices In the camp without. Men were
| calling back and forth to one another
| asking the meaning of the shot. Wer-
| per could hear them running hither
and thither, Investigating.
The two sentries who had been re-
lieved and sent to their blankets by
Mohammed Boyd were the first to -sug-
| gest going to the tent of the prisoner.
1t occurred to them that possibly the
woman had successfully defended her
| self against their leader.
Werper heard the men approaching.
To be apprehended as the slayer of
Mohammed Boyd would be equivalent
to sentence u immediate death. The
fierce and brutal raiders would tear to
pieces Christian who had dared spill
! the blood of their leader. He must