Evening star., 1923-04-24

ly amid & whirl OF air currents. The
violet hue of earth and sky deepened;
then, as IL in 4 single instant of time,
the air became charged with dead
ly gas. to breathe which meant in
stant death.
1T was Il condition with which l
was familiar as guide across those
burning sands. Instantly l tore OF
my sash, saturated ii with water from
my canteen, laid the babe face down
ward upon II, pressing my own face
as well down upon the wet cloth.
II knew If the child could sustain
life in that smothering position for
from ten To fifteen minutes the dead
ly simeon would whiri onward In its
death dealing course, and could save
both IL and myself.
Within the tents pandemonium
reigned The Arabs had apparently
forgotten their usual prudence. In
dulging in potions so literally on this
occasion that they We're. TO man.
incapable OF meeting the dire sttua-
tion. The horses We're panic stricken
with the first inhalation OF the dread
gas that took their breath from them.
falling l!feless as they reared and
plunged forward TO escape.
Only the camels and flock of
passing Ostriches We're wise enough
to bury their noses IL the sand and
escape destruction.
The tents were hurried from their
fasteaings, and in less tiino than II
takes TO tell It the burning sand
covered the lifeiess Bedouins and
their lifeless prey alike.
The sudden rising and dashing OFF
Of the cameis told me the danger was
over. But another and quite as men
acing Il one 10 life. was before me,
the scorching sands To some habita-
tior. For myself l feared not, for
my life had been one test Of endur
ance after another But the infant
looking up IN my face with wondering
eyes. would that survive'
LAS another day da wned and the
sun crept up toward the zenith my
fears grew with the heat; a blood
red sky was above, tinged with the
brassy glow of the sun. and beneath
a sea OF shifting, burning, red sand
that scorches my feet at every step.
stretching as far as the eye could
reach.
Heretofore in such catastrophies
had always had my very faithful
camel with me! now 7 feared the
together with the little babe I had
tried so hard to save.
ut seemed almost miraculous TO
me that tho life lasted from minute
to minute in the frail little body.
gave IL the remaining water in my
fiagon. drop by drop
Here it is," he added family, IN
covering his cloak. III you would
save It give it nourishment quickly.
Never mind me: feel that I'm done
for this time
His task ended, he fell back on the
sands. They We're Obliged to leave
all that was mortal of him there
The little ono had had Il miraculous
escape. The searchers made all
haste to place her safely ir her
nock's face grew white. as he looked
for the FIRST time at the child Of his
lost son and fair. young, brave
daughter-in-law. AS l deal by JILL
Bett, so may God deal with me-" he
said hoarsely.
Mrs Nudge took the infant from
his arms. The baby needs wom-
| ans care for some time TO come"
she declared.
1t was decided that Jil-Bett should
that most Of her days should be
| spent under the eye OF her grand
father. The child thrived beyond
| their expectation. At seventeen Jil-
Bett had developed into tho most
beauteous maiden on the Katar
coast.
A prince from India saw Jii-Bett,
as he and his retinue were passing
through katar, becoming so infatu-
ated with her he would have re-
nounced a. crown to wed her. She
refused him. Her grandfather re-
heart whole and fancy free.
Like the rest of the inhabitants,
she became Il pearl diver, taking to
II as d duck takes to water, despite
the excellent education she had ac-
quired.
1t had taken much coaxing to gain
her grandfather's consent, though
, the danger at present was not nearly
go great as 1t had been in his time.
In those days divers went down with
but a girdle about their loins; since
then, the government had taken pos-
session Of the pearl fisheries, and the
divers were required to use divers
| dress, which insured for them q
longer time on the oceans bed, and
was infinitely safer. The divers were
taken out to the beds In the govern
, ment boats, lowered to their work
at the signal Of the rising sun, the
men on watch on the decks hoist ing
them, with their basket-load, at given
intervals of 80 many minutes' dura-
tion, or before. If signalled from be-
| low.
! But few of the divers made more
| than enough to hold body and soul
together, owing to the exactness of
the officials. For each thousand
oysters turned in, the diver received.
for his or her her pay, one-fourth of the
happened to be found among his pile,
1t was Immediately confiscated. The
diver disposed Of his or her oyste
to the dealers, who hargained for
| them, FOR a mere pittance. Thus the
| owners OF the pearI-fisheries grew
! richer, accumulating fabulous wealth.
while the divers grew older, weaker
and poorer, living but a short life at
| best.
| TOmorrow-What the Date Trees
Bloom.