Evening star., 1924-10-08
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

Continued from Yesterdays Starr
He climbed the Skala tower, and,
sitting on a cannon cast for the third
Philippe in 1926, watched the sun
westering in gold and crimson and
dreamed of the Owls House, the old
Owls House Tapped in its secret VAL
ley, where a man could live his life
out in fullness and peace-and his
sons after him.
Walking back through the town,
he met with a Bristol trader and
turned into wine shop. The English
man treated him to a bottle of JereZ
and the news of the world. Black
bad it was. The tight little island
had her back to the wall fighting for
bare life against three powerful ma
tionS at once. The American colo
nists were in full rebellion to boot.
India was a cockpit, Ireland sharp
ening pixies. Gen. Burgoyne had sur
rendered at Saratoga. Elliott was be-
sieged in Gibraltar. French, Ameri-
can and Spanish warShips were thick
as herring in the Channel: the Bris-
tolian had only slipped through them
by sheer luck and would only get
back by miracle.
Taxation at home was crippling,
and every mothers son who had one
leg to go upon and one arm to haul
,
they were even emptying the jails
into the navy. He congratulated Or
tho on being out of the country and
harms way. Ortho had had wild
idea of getting a letter written and
taken home to Eli by this man, but
as he listened he reflected that it
was no time now. Also, if he want
ed to be bought out he would have
to give minute instructions as to
where the smuggling money was hid
den. Letters were no inviolate; the
bearer, and not Eli, might find that
hidden money. And then there was
Ourida and Said H. Said would be-
come acciimatized. but England and
ourida were Incompatible. He could
not picture the ardent Bedouin girl
her bangles. silks and exotic finery-
in the gray north; she would Shrivel
up like froSt-bitten lotus. pine and
die
No. he was firmly anchored now
One couldn't have everything; he had
much. He drank up his wine, wished
the Bristolian luck with his venture
and rode back to the Diabat Palace.
4 week later he was home again in
Morocco.
Added means had enabled him to
furnish the Bah Ahmar house very
comfortably. Moorish fashion, with
embroidered haitis on the walls. in
laid tables and plenty of well cush
ioned lounges. The walls were thick
the rooms. though small. were high
and airy; the oppressive heat of a
Haouz Summer did not unduly pene-
trate Ourida bloomed, Said the
younger progressed from strength to
strength. waxing daily in fat and
audacity. He was the idol of the
oddjob boy and the two slave Wom-
en- tthe household had increased with
its masters rank), of OSman Baki
and Ortho's men. The latter brought
him presents from time to time; fruit
stolen from the Aguedal, camels.
lions and horses Cchiefy horses)
crudely carved and highly colored,
and, when he was a year old, small
shy monkey caught in the Rif. and
later an old eagle with clipped wings
and talonS which. the donor explain
ed, would defend the little lord from
snakes and such-Iike. Concerning
these living toys, Said III displayed a
deyouring curiosity and no fear at
all When the A1onkey clicked her
teeth at him he gurgIed and pulled
her tail till she escaped up the wis
taria. He pursued the eagle on all
fnurS, caught it sleeping one after
noon, and hung doggediy on till he
had pulled a tail feather out. The
bird looked dangerous. Said ii bub-
bled delightedly and grabbed for an
other feather. whereat the eagle re-
treated hastily to Sulk among the
orange shrubs. Was the door left
open for a minute, Said ii was out
of it on voyages of high adventure
Once he was arrested by the guard
at the Ahmar Gate, plodding cheer
fully on all fours for open country,
and returned. kicking and raging, in
the arms of a laughing petty officer.
Ortho himself caught the young