Evening star., 1926-11-11
. ! 8 Iaf1u = 5
I@l92o. By Eugene MacISan }

The Arabian'S face was pallid and
his breath came with difficulty.
I'VE must talk TO him soon." the
soldier remarked. "or he cannot talk
at all. Ask him why he came here.
Laila obeyed. The tribesman snarl
ed as he replied.
"He says they came to get revengt
on .you," she said. He says you be
trayed them"
The soldiers eyebrows raised in sur
prise. II went with him willingly
when it was a matter of just the Ara
bians and me-" he said. But he
couldn't expect me to lie idle wheu
my comrades came and did battle with
his followers, could he? Tell him
that"
Laila translated. The tribesman mo.
toned toward the wine jar. The
woman arose and poured him a cup OF
wine. which he drained. Then he
spoke again, his voice weary, his
words coming slowly.
HE says If his wound Is not at
tended he will de-" I4aila said.
Care for him, then," the soldier
said.
Laila picked up the Arabian's dag
ger and thrust 1t into her tunic. Then
she drew his mantle from his Shout
ders and united the top of his tunic.
Turning back the garments to his
waist she barred the wound she had
made. The blood was throbbing from
1t In a thick stream.
With steady, skillful fingers she
dropped wine from the tribesman's
cup into the cash. Then she wadded
a strip of linen that she tore from the
wounded mans tunic and pressed IL
down upon the wound. Finally she
bound the dressing with another long
strip torn from the striped mantle.
He will not die" she said when
she was done. II should have struck
him a little harder"
The chief was lying on his face, his
cheek upon his doubled arm. His eyes
were closed.
there began a crashing assault upon
the door.
They'll break that door in." An
tonius said, in an interval of the din
Haul that fellow over here to me-"
Laila tugged at the shoulders of the
unconscious man, and dragged him t.
the soldier.
Turn him over and set him up"
AntOnius directed, 80 l can support
him upright with one hand"
The woman did as she was directed.
dier. The tribeSman'S back bent, but
Antonius held him by the shoulder
his body a shield between the soldier
and the door.
Now stand close beside me-" the
Roman legionary went on.
His maneuVer was completed none
too soon. The door began to shake,
and finally with a crash it dropped in.
ward. A group of wild tribesmen
rushed into the room.
Antonius held up his dagger and
cd hA 0tvNN 81
scious chiefs bosom. The Arabians
halted.
Tell them he still lives. but that
he will die If they move again." he
ordered.
Laila spoke. The men, armed with
bludgeons and dirks, looked at one all
other uncertainty.
Tell them that if they go out we
will permit him to get WE'LL" the sol
dier continued. But if they stay I'll
kill him anyway"
giving the message, the tribesmen
withdrew to consult. Then they re-
turned, and a spokesman addressed
Laila
'They want you to give them their
chief" she said, turning TO Antonius
'They say if you do so they will not
offer you any harm"
'Ho. shouted the soldier, grinning.
II have been at war a long time. I'll
surrender no hostage. Once they have
him out Of here they'll rush me and
pound me into a jelly with those
clubs.
The Arabians waited, looking from
the man to the woman as they con
versed.
Tell them this" Antonius said,
after consideration. Tell them we
will keep their chief. They must bring
us food, for ourselves and for him.
until he is able to move. When he Is
able to walk we will turn him loose
provided we can make sure they will
not attack u.s.
Laila told her kinsmen what the
soldier said. Their faces fell, ami
again they chartered together. Thr
woman bent over Antonius.
They are afraid to wait" she said
in low tone. They think there may
be another body of Roman soldiers
near. and their swords are gone"
light came into Antonius' eye 81
have an idea" he said. call them
over here again"
The men came slowly. scowling at
the soldier and the woman. Antonius
had not lifted the keen point of his
dagger from the chieftain's bosom.
Now tell them that we will sell
them this chief" he said. They have
wares that they pretend to offer. Tell
them we must have five pieces of
gold" He stopped to consider. "Is
five enough?" he asked.
More than they can raise, think,
she told him. 1T is great fortune
Tell them five anyway" he direct
ed. Then If they produce less we can
bargain. I'd fight with two broken
legs for five pieces of gold. If they
do assail us. I'll have the money-and
fight excellently for money"
There was an excited interchange
among the tribesmen when Laila had
translated AntOnius' proposal. FinaIly
they went out, all but two. These
settled themselves against the oppu-
site wall, evidently to see that no
harm came to their leader while the
rest were gone.
Antonius laid the senseless man OIL
his side, but held the weapon to the
Arabian's heart. Thus he sat. I.aiIa
standing beside him. until, after ar
hour, the rest of the men returned.
One of them held money in his
hand
How much?" demanded Antonius
The treasurer Of the party extended
his open palm.