The Washington times., 1922-06-23

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carefui precision. II was q fpr.
lorn hope. but by checkins the
leaders even for few moments he
might gain time. The accuracy Of
his aim. that every time proved ef
fsctual might keep back the en-
rush until they got clear OF the
undulating country. until they got
out into the open where the sounds
Of the firing might reach some Of
the outpost sentinels. until they GOT
too near to the shsil<.s camp for
pursuit to be possible. The bullets
pattered continuousiy round them.
but the men who fired them were
moi, Ahmed Ben Hassan's carefully
trained marksmen. But still Oas-
ton knew that their position was
almost hopeless. Any moment
bullet might reach one OF them.
Their pursuers. too. seemed TO
guess his Thoughts and opened out
into an Irregular. extended line.
swervipg and rnaneuvsring con-
tinually. making accurate shoot
!. ing impossible. while they urged
their horses to atterrific pace try
I Ing to outflaffk them. Diana was
shooting noy. The thought Of h.r
escorts annihilation. and her own
and Gaston's perm had overcome
the reluctance she had had at first.
and she had even . nnofhen. to
wonder at her coolness.: She did
not feel afraid. the death OF
Ahmed's men had made her angry,
a fierce revengeful anger that made
her see red and filled her with q
desire to retaliate In kind. She
fired rapidly, emptying her .rs.
!. yolver. and she had Just RELOADED
with steady fingers when Ths
Dancer stumbled. recovering him
self for a few steps. and then
lurched slowly over on TO his side,
blood pouring from, his mouth.
Diana sprang clear. and In q
moment CASTOR was beside her,
thrusting her behind him. shield
ing her with his own body, and
firing steadily at the oncomins
Arabs.
The same feeling Of unreality
that she had experienced once be-
fore the first day in the Sheik's
camp came over her. The intense
stiliness-for the Arabs had ceased
shoutins--the hot. dry sand with
shimmering heat haze rising like
mist from its whispering surface.
the cloudless deep blus sky over:
head, the band Of menacing horse =
men circling nearer and nearer,
the dead Dancer with Gaston's
horse standing quietly beside his
prostrate companion. and lastly.
the man beside her. brave and de.
voted to the end. all seemed fan.
tastic and unreal. She viewed II
dispassionateiy. ~ II she were spec.
tator rather than q participant In
the scene. But for q moment only.
then the reality Of the situation
came clearly to her again. Any
minute might mean death for one
or other or both Of them. and with
an instructive movement she press
ed closer to CASTOR. They were
both silent, there seemed nothing
to say. The Wallets left hand
clsnched over hers at the invoI.
untary appeal for compsnionship
that she made, and she felt It con.
tract a. a bullet gashed his fore
head, binding him for q moment
with the blood that dripped into
his eyes. He let 60 her hand to
. brush bis arm across his face, and
. as he did so the Arabs with sud
ienly renewed shouting bore down
upon them. ~" 'r
CASTOR turned sharply and Diana
. read his purpose In the horror In
his eyes. She held up her head
with a little nod and the same
brave smile on her white lips.
A spasm crossed his face. "Turn
your head" he muttered desper.
ately. II cannot DO It II you"
There was q rattle Of shots. and
with gasp he crumpied up against
her For a moaent It was pan
demonium. Standing, over Cas-
tons body she fired her last shot
and flung the empty revolver In
the face Of q man who sprung for
ward to seize her. She turned
with . desperate hope Of reaching
Gaston's horse. but she was
hemmed in. and for second she
stood at bay. hands clenched and
teeth set. Drawing the wild faces
that surrounded her, and were
closing, in upon her, with flashing
defiant eyes. Then she was con.
,scious Of q crashing blow on her
head, the ground heaved up under
her feet. everything went black
! before her eyes. and without
a n. i.