Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07

feebly, wondering in how many differ
ent countries I had met Emir Zeid and
his famous brother, and whether he
could possibly fail to recognize me, and
what his feelings would be II asked to
talk Turkish to me.
kept my head sufficiently to say
thought I would rather meet all these
friends after I returned from Mecca,
having given up the pilgrim garb.
But you are the cleanest person !
have seen," said the doctor, surprised,
and departed to glance hastily round
the island. before ordering every one
aboard the waiting feluccas.
This time there was faint breeze,
which strengthened as we tackled in and
out of the reefs near Jedda, so we man
aged to endure the four and q half
hours more or less happily, In spite
of violent dispute between Bahia and
the boatman over a coin representing
the value of about threepence. All
those not completely incapacitated join
ed in on one side or the other, till
the boatman, with an oath. flung the
nickel at my handmaiden with the re-
mark that he could not conceive how
q good Moslem like Khadija hanem
could employ Christian servant.
This, however, was felt to be too
great an insult, and the whole boat
protested loudly till the boatman gave
way and. making o sudden perilous
run along the edge Of his craft. seized
Bahia's head in both hands and i'm
printed a warm kiss on her forehead.
Just as we were In the middle Of
one of our repetitive songs, there was
3 terrific bump and We stuck last at
the entrance to the inner roadStead.
Thereafter the hell In which we had
been living for the last % hours In
creased considerably.
nNE by one the overcrowded feluccas
~ stuck in the shallow water and,
under q roontide sun we sweltered
till fiat-bottomed craft came out To
rescue us-infinitely slowly. AS all the
pilgrims leaped into them at once,
hauling after them as much baggage
as possible, and dragging the sick help
lessly between them, the larger craft
overturned and several pilgrims. 1nclud-
ing myself, were flung into the water
This would not have mattered very
much because 1t was only about three
feet deep, but We got wedged dowr
between the sides Of two OF the smaller
craft, and, for horrible moment,
JnOuR1J SIlOuIQ NC 0AOWASN 40 S~~-
ignominiouS scrimmage.
MercifIIllv. someone caught my arm
from above, and; with a jerk that near.
" vrenched it from its socket, hauled
me I'D into the felucca. where Banla
was screeching loudly without attempt
ing to do anything.
For q moment I could not understano
WHY. even in the turmoil Of the moment
neonle were looking at me curlously
Then I discovered that most OF my
| clothing was gone. VEIL sheet, and
scarf were lost in the harbor, and my
curly hair waved above q hot, pink
face, and a severely plain caiico
AT this terrible instant I found my
self gazing across a heaving mass oil
pilgrims at the portly occupant OF q
| Sheridan boat, which had come up tc
see the cause of the disturbance.
remember thinking even then that the
oficiars face showed more surprise
than was justified; but various women
were pulling me about, offering me por.
tions of their attire, so the incident
made little impression at the moment
Even the little feluccas stuck once
or twice on their way In, and we were
| laboriously pushed OF by nude bronze
| figures splashing In the shadows
| Finally our particular craft ran solidly
aground few yards beyond in end
of the jetty, and we were dragged by
enthusiastic pilgrims from boat to boat
| till at last we stood on the quay.
| Behind a scarlet curtain an English
doctor was doing quick work with 9
hypodermic syringe, but this I felt ]
| could not bear, SO pushed myself II
| between two pilgrims unknown to ms
1 %svR~ Nayr eAtd Guytff,
ly: English, been inoculated for foul
| diseases already"
| I do not know whether English quar-.
antine doctors at Jedda are in thu
| habit of being thus addressed by gray
eyed pilgrims, but this one showed re-
markable presence of mind and swift
ness of invention, so that passed or
plus yellow sphere of disinfectant or
my arm, but minus second dose Of
| cholera mixture.
copyright, 1897