Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-02-06

to rest or eat until there was no
further danger from pursuit, and so he
staggered on until at last he fell and
could rise no more.
And thus it was that Achmet Eek,
the Arab, found him. Achmets follow
ers were for running a spear through
the body of their hereditary enemy;
but Achmet would have it otherwise.
First he would question the Belgian. 1t
were easier to question a man first and
kill him afterward, than kill him first
and then question him.
So he had Lieut., Albert Warper car
ried to his own tent, and there slaves
administered wine and food in small
quantities until at last the prisoner
regained consciousness. As he opened
his eyes he saw the faces of strange
black men about him, and just outside
the tent the figure Of an Arab. No
where was the uniform Of his soldiers
to be seen.
The Arab turned and seeing the
open eyes of the prisoner upon him,
entered the tent.
81 am Achmet Eek" he announced.
"Who are you, and what We're you do
ing in my country? Where are your
soldiers?"
Achmet Eek Werner's eyes went
wide, and his heart sank. He was in
the clutches Of the most notorious Of
cut-throats-a hater of all Europeans,
especially those who wore the uniform
of Belgium.
But in the very hatred of the man
for Begians, Werper saw a faint ray
Of hope for himself He, too, was an
outcast and an outlaw. So far, at least,
they possessed a common interest, and
Werper decided to play upon it for all
that it might yield
Il have heard Of you" he replied,
"and was searching for you My peo-
| pie have turned against me. l hate
them. Even now their soldiers are
searching for me, to kill me. I knew
that you would protect me from them,
for YOU too, hate them, In return !
will take service with you. I am q
trained soldier. l can fight, and your
enemies are my enemies"
Achmet Eek eyed the European In
Silence. In his mind he reyolyed many
thoughts, chief among which was that
the unbeliever lied. Of course there
was the chance that he did not lie, and
II he told the truth then his PROPOSE
ton was one wen worthy Of considera.
ton, since fighting men were never
over plentlful-especially white men
with the training and knowledge Of
military matters that a European of.
Gcer must possess.
IF you have lied to me-" sale
Achmet Eek II will kill you at any
| time What return, other than youl
life, do you expect for your services
"My keep only, at first" replied
| Werper, Later, if I am worth more
we can easily reach an understanding
! Werper's only desire at the moment
was to preserve his life. And SO thg
agreement was reached and Lieut.. Al
bert Werper became a member Of the
ivory and slave raiding band Of the
notorious Achmet Eek.
| For months the renegade Belgian
rode with the savage raiders. III,
| fought with a savage abandon, and g
vicious cruelty fully equal to that Of
his fellow desperadoes. Achmet Eel
| watched his recruit with eagle eve
| and with a growing satisfaction which
| finally found expression in q greater
confidence in the man, and resulted it
an increased independence of actIoI
for Werper,
Achmet Eek took the Belgian into
his confidence to q great extent, and a
last unfolded to him a pet scheme
which the Arab had long fostered, bu
which he never had found an oppor
tunlty to effect With the aid Of {
European, however, the thing might b,
= easily accomplished, He sounded Wer
per
'You have heard of the man mel
call Tarzan?" he asked,
] Werper nodded. 81 have heard o
] him; but do not know him"
+ "But for him we might carry on on
. trading in safety and with grea
e profit" continued the Arab, oFo