Evening star., 1926-11-21
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)
CHAPTER XII.

''The Arabian chief" confirmed
Omar. And it would be better If he
| were somewhere else. The other refu
gees here will not eat with him, nor
sleep near him. nor permit him to
touch their food, nor touch anything
upon which he has laid his hand"
| The chief was glowering at Anto
MUS. his coal-black eyes swapping ir
the freight.
II cannot speak his tongue" Anto
MUS said to Omar, but tell him that
Antonius, the Roman soldier, says ne
is a good fighter, and that Antonius
bears no grudge."
Omar obligingly translated. The
Arabian snapped out a brief sentence
HE says" Omar remarked. laugh
ing, that when his wound is healed
he will drive his knife into YOU"
"Ho" Antonius Joined the stran-
our duel nova man with a broken
leg against a man with a hole in his
back" He roared with laughter over
| this diverting fancy. Then he spoke
to Omar again. Tell him that have
| fought many enemies and hated none
of them. And tell him that there are
| no taboos among the Romans-I will
eat with him, and drink with him,
and play at dice with him-and when
we are well, IL he likes, I will fight
with him.
The stranger repeated the words in
Arabic. The chief listened and re-
luctantly replied. though more softly.
He wants you to return his sword
he says the one that lies on your
right side Is his" Omar told Antonius.
$50 1t is" the soldier cheerfully re-
piled. "Laila stole 1t. as we'll as the
arms of his followers" He lifted the
curved blade. Aaron has returned
my own weapon. Tell the chief 1 will
give this back to him If he will quit
scowling and muttering curses in his
beard. and will be a pleasing compan-
ion in the cave"
Once again Omar translated, and at
t the end the Arabian held out his hand,
with a rather wry smile. Antonius
tossed the sword across the stone
floor. The chief seized it and thrust
1t through his girdle with a grunt of
| satisfaction. Then he spoke again.
He wants to know what has be.
| come Of the she-devil who fought him
in the inn," Omar said. He was Civ.
ing every evidence of enjoying the
situation, and his eyes twinkled as
he spoke.
"Laila ran away-afraid Of Herod's s
officers" Antonius supplied.
The Arabian was fumbling on the
| rocky floor beside him, under a
woolen garment that made a little
heap beneath his elbows. He drew
forth a round, thin loaf Of bread and
held it out to Antonius.
He means that you are to break
| bread with him and thenceforth be
friends" Omar explained. He took
a portion of the loaf from the chief
| and carried it to Antonius, who lay
| four or five PAGES distant. The sol
| dier bit into the bread with a pleas
| ant smile at the Arabian. The lat
ter gravely held his crust aloft, and
took a morsel of it in his mouth.
Then he bowed his head, and An
tonius responded.
Peace is declared" Omar said.
"He will not stab you in your sleep
now"
Maryam had stood listening
through this conversation. Aaron
had gone to the fire, and squatted
down beside it. talking in a low tone
with a man whose back was to An.
tonius, and who had not turned.
Omar swung on his heel, and
| walked toward the narrow passage
through which they had entered.
II leave you now" he said, turn
ing as he reached the portal. You
men must make ready more food, for
it may be that others from the vii
lage will be coming here, in flight,
before another night has gone"
He stopped his head to avoid a
rocky shelf that extended across the