Evening star., 1926-11-12
(Continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER XXXH.

The dark hand held one small piece
of gold and two Roman silver coins
What does he mean by offering
me that" snapped Antonius.
I,aila talked with the tribesman q
moment. He says that was all the
money they could raise by selling theil
bale Of goods" she said.
Tell them said the soldier that
I won't sell them their chief for that.
The woman complied. and the Arab
ans went out the door to talk, An
tonius waited watching the two men
who had heen left as guards. His
hand rested lightly on the hilt of his
dagger and the point still pressed
upon the chieftains bosom.
One OF the .trabians put his head
through the door. after a time. and
asked a question of T.aila.
He wants to know" she said
whether YOU will take two of them
in place of their chief"
The soldier laughed aloud. The
Arabian understood. and once more
withdrew. scoWline.
There was long talk among the
men. t.aila went to the door to listen
hut returned. and signed To Antonius
that she had been unable to overhear
Soon the trihesmen began driftins
hack into the room. one by one. Saun'
terne with an air Of Indifference An.
tonius eyed them.
Woman" said he we are about "a
have another fsnt. Take your knife
and attend to the chief. I'll have to
use my sword. | think DO not stab
until | SAY the word-he may he use
ful 10 us. Rut II ! die. see that he
goes before.
His NniCe was tuned to converse
tional pitch The Arabians were ar.
rayinE themselves in semi-circle
about the two injured men-the
Roman with the broken leS. and the
still unconscious chief Their own
voices. a they talked. were casual.
hut their quick glances at Antonius
and l.aila warned the woman TO make
haste.
She crossed 70 Antonius other side
and knelt. as II 10 speak to him. Con
versation amonE the Arahians ceased
Antonius. smiling. lifted the curved
sword that Laila had taken from the
chief. AZ the same moment she drew
her knife and pressed II against the
ribs Of the wounded man.
The trihesmen looked Al one anothe,
IN doubt. Then. with long breath
they rushed.
Don't kill him yet" harked An.
tOnius.
His sword flashed and one Of the
trihesmen fell. ripped open across his
abdomen. I.aila's black eyes darted
from side to side. One OF the men
attempted To seize her. She stabbed
him in the neck. and almost With the
same motion drew her blade across
his eyes. He staggered hack. his
hands To his fare.
Antonius. his body bent forward as
he sat Gainst the wall his dagger in
his left hand the sword in his right
the light OF battle blazing in his eyes
smiled srimly each time his weapon
reached the flesh of one Of the foe
mon. An Arabian. taller than the
others. lea ped for the body of his chief
as II 10 cover II with his own frame
Antonius lifted his sound leg. caught
the descending weight of the tribes
man on his foot and hurled him across
the room with 4 quick straighteninE
Of the knee.
Three men lay bleeding when the
attackers drew hack. Antonius and
1.aiia We're untouched.
THE next thing" the soldier aid
a trifie out OF breath. they will ne
think TO go get heavy stones TO Bur
at us. When they do that we must
finish their chief-he will be OF little
service TO us. for we shall be dead.
a movement came from the injured
leader. He moaned. and then opened
his ewes. Staring about him. he grad
,allv took in the scene, and its sig
nificance He raised his head and
tried To lift himself upon his elbow
hut failed I.a;la thrust her knee
under his back and thus supported. he
addressed his followers. haltingly.
He SAYS" I.aila translated. that
thew are brave men. and that they
DID we'll But he has told them to
draw away. and call-and call
she frowned as il puzzled. II can
not make out the name.
she listened az the chieftair spoke