Evening star., 1928-04-22
Wrecked by Sandstorm at Sea and Captured by Arabs

| heard and an oily-black left eye. HIS
right eye was afflicted with q cataract.
and in walking about he cooked his
head like bird in order TO see on both
sides Of him. On woolen string about
his neck he wore nickel Swiss watch.
which he wound every half hour or so.
The two young Arabs whom took TO
be his sons were handsome, cleSn-fea-
tured fellows. and wore head-ropes Of
gold braid. The other men, who were
apparently mere tribesmsn. wore head
ropes Of plain black wool.
was kept in the sheAk's tent. togeth-
er with his two wives and three OF his
daughters. They did not veil their faces
as is the custom in the MoSlem cities.
One Of his daughters was most hsau-
tiful girl Of about IL years Of age. with
eyes like those OF a wild fawn She
would sit III corner Of the tent for
hours AZ time. spinning yarn and
gazing az my face, but If so much as
turned my head in her direction. she
would cover her face and turn around
l was never compelled 10 do any
work and wondered what the sheik
intended 10 do with me. They had
treated ME most humanely. and since
ten days had passed since my capture
| began to suspect that they were try
ing to negotiate for q ransom. I knew
1t would be practically impossible for
them 10 do anything in this direction
for several months at least. and II they
grew impatient there was no telling
what they might do 10 me.
FOR food was given the leavinSS OF
the mems meals. usually a kind OF
stew OF griStle and picked bones. with
rice swimming around III the grease. II
was an easy matter 10 chew the griStle
and entrailS ImoSuy OF goatSl, but II
was another matter 10 get enough rice.
Occasionally one OF the women would
pass by and toss handful Of cooked
rice IN the pot, when always made il
clear that was grateful.
Each morning the men would ride OF
from the camp. 20 return sometimes IN
the afternoon. and often after midnight
! could hear the gruntilg and ScuEfiing
OF camelS outside, and the padded thud-
ding Of many feet upon the earth.
fancied that they were bringing in the
booty of raid. although II was impoSSi-
bic for me To tell. as cagnelS were con-
tinually coming and going and the
main herd was kept grazing away from
the camp, did. however, notice that
one OF The Arabs had handaged
shoulder one morning, but IL did not
keep him nom riding With the tribe.
had always been ON the lookout for
a means OF escape, but thus far there
had been no opportunity. Being In the
desert. l was marooned as completely
as II had been ON an island surround
ed by sharks A man, armed with rife
and knife, Was always guarding rue. and
usually several more men were IN camp
A shot would bring five or six more from
the camel herd, which was moi far
away, Then there were the women, who
were not 10 be deSpiSed As they did
practically all of the work, I thought
them equally rs powerful aS the men.
ON the twelfth day after my capture
saw there was absolutely no way Of
slipping away unnotieed. and decided to
make my escape by desperate means
The sheik had ridden on that morning
~ usual, leaving me guarded by q siagle |
Arab This man allowed me Co raalM
about the camp. but always grew niri- |
ous and threatened 10 strike mo when !
I approached ta where the camelS were |
feeding, HIS own mount. q splendid bay |
horse, stood close by my tent
The Arab was making tea IN . little |
aluminium kettle about 10 o'clock that |
morning, and l Was lying In the tent /
alone, The women and girls we're cut. |
herdinE the Goats or gathering wood |