Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31

driver. Reluctantly he caught the tail
of his camel, and climbed up deity by
hook and quarter. A minute later the
caravan was marching east toward the
distant line Of hills. Farraj would have
sulked In the rear, but had no wish
to have q bullet in my back, so ordered
him forward, and he went with eyes
For an hour we marched silently.
Then one Of the camel men started
singing, she Is young, very youngl Like
doves are her feet, silver and sweet. She
has mans heart and her hand Is swift
to shoot" The improvisation continued
and one by one the Bedouins swelled
the chorus till the caMels quickened
their pace and the first stars swung up
like flowers in bed Of indigo.
4 X -
THAT night / was restless. The moon,
light streamed through the open
nap Of my tent like molten silver. A
grove Of palms.. stripped for thatch.
looked like skeletons against d desert
already gray with Spring herbs. I'm
patiently flung myself over, and the
narrow bed Knocked against the nap,
which fell, shutting out the moonlight,
except for one bright pencil that wrote
q silver line across the floor.
After that ! must have slept, for the
position Of the lire had changed: then
something swept away my drowsiness.
Alert, but motionless, listened to a
soft, scraping sound.
In the dim light saw hand wres-
thing with one OF the pegs. Another
second and q mans shoulders had fol-
lowed with o faint kissing scrape RENE
iniscent Of some craving animal. Cold
drops broke out on my forehead, but ]
did not move. With infinite caution my
fingers crept up toward the revolver
hidden under my pillow. The fieabag
cramped the action Of my elbow, and
I thought I should be too late.
The intruder was crouching now, as
he drew one foot after him. For mo-
lnent the light glinted on that foot, and
saw the huge turquoise toe ring that
Farraj wore. It was an amulet and his
greatest treasure. while live 1t shah
never leave me" he had boosted to the
caravan.
My fingers closed around the revolver.
The savage doomed up like some fantas-
tic monster. hirsute and gigantic; With
the sleeping bag. The report shattered
the tension and Farraj swayed towards
me. The knife he held almost touched
my coverings, but the second shot spun
him around. Stumbling towards the
flap he tore it open and disappeared into
the night.
Running feet thudded through the
sand. A voice shouted, Allah save you,
Sayeda--what has happened?" A con-
fusion Of talk followed. "Iias Jim at
tackled you? Bismillah, this Is an evil
place for spiritsl, 4 /:
TT is nothing. I called, and went
out TO show them that no Jim had
flown away with me. ] was not fright
ened. but ! was 90 angry that felt as
II should choke.
a WEEK later, arrived at our desti-
nation. I sat In the sheik's hut
awaiting my host. II was night and .
wind stirred the IRE OF palm fronds.
From the hillside came the echo Of the
tribcsSnen's prayer. Passionate and In
sistent, 1t swelled into the battle-cry Of
warrior Islam: '"There is no God but
God, and God Is GreatI"
I shivered q little as thought Of the
myriad swords that, throughout history.
had sprung from their ~scabbards to
t was very y dark in the hut and /
could only Just make out the shape Of
the rope couches that were ranged
wrap leaned motionless beside the door,
way. All danger was past. Yet was
terribly afraid. Reaction, perhaps, nerve
strain-who can explain the sudden
mastery Of panic2 II brooks no argue
ment; 1t knows no reason. When It gets
a good grip on you, it Is q nightmare,
riding you where II will. Vainly ]. tried
deep breathing, and, equally vairlly, !
thought Of PiccadilIy, where, the sky
signs blaze across theater land.
The prayer died suddenly on the hill
side and the woman turned her head as
Il she were listening. My throat was
dry. Motionless waited, not knowing
for what. Il came at last, . sharp ant
lister and the night wild with terror. I
sprang to my feet, stumbling over my
native draperies.
ut Is hothing," said the woman
| quietly. REST yourself. My master
comes" We stared at each other In
the dirnness, and, with q shock, real
lied at once my helplessness and my
insignificance. Islam has little count
How long / crouched there do not
know. Slaves replcnished the fire.
There was q murmur Of voices, the
tinkle Of metal vessels. At last q tall
presence blocked the doorway, and q
voice hailed me gravely
give you peace Light fiared up ii the
room and with downcast eyes / return
ed the sheik's greetings. He was . man
Of middle age, strong featured and
eraybeatded, wrapped III the canlelS-
| hair cloak OF d Bedouifi, the only sign