Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

packed with thousands of rifles and cases Of
ammunition These, however, Sefedin ordered
to be transferred to camelS and carried fartneT
south.
Late in the afternoon. IS one cave was va
can't I dragged Gerard and Bereta inside, for
the place was dry and warm. Bonano was
able to struggle in by himself, but when tried
TO lift Cosa found him IS stiff as board and
as heavy as lead. It was not until laid nina
down that discovered the reason. The poor
fellow was dead-he had just died quietly with
out saying word!
NEXT morning the rebels were too busy pre-
y pairing to move on again to worry much
about us and Bonano and began to think OK
escape; it might be possible, we thought. to
steal out of camp after dark and endeavor 70
reach the italian columns. Bonano was pre-
pared 10 make the attempt, although he could
not walk very well, but Gerard and Bereta-
who were too i'll to txavel-disliked the idea or
being left to their fate. I made it clear to
them however, that we should be running
greater risks than they, and finally they re-
signed themselves to letting us go.
Bonano and started of at pm. and, be-
ing dressed like Arabs, managed to get through
the tumult of camels, donkeys and sheep with
out being challenged, and finally reached the
open desert There we set our course by the
north star, Bonano leaning heavily on my
shoulder, for he had sore loot that would not
bear his full weight.
The moon rose later, giving us some light.
but the wind was bitterly sharp and cold We
saw no one except few wandering bands OF
Arabs, whom we managed to avoid.
At IL pm. we observed rockets shooting up
into the air in the distance and also thousands
of campfires but we did not know whether they
were those Of the pursuing Italians or OF some
fleeing horde of retreating Bedouins. However.
it was no use to hesitate; we could only push
on and hope for the best
AS it turned out the campfres were those
of the Italians and although the sentrieS fired
on us, believing us to be Arab spies, they for
tunately did not hit us, and before long we were
being taken before Col. Mazetti, the COM
mander of the column, which had taken pos
session of our old camp at Seddadda.
The colonel was amazed to hear our story,
and ordered the best Of food to be prepared
for us In return told him that when had
eaten would guide relief column to rescue
Bereta and Gerard.
That's splendid of you," said the colonel.
and gave orders for 400 cavalry to be ready
to move Immediately.
I made the most of that meal-too much, in
fact as I was to discover later, for should
of course have eaten Sparingy after my long
period of semi-starvation. 1t was not until
was riding at the head of the relief column.
laughing and chatting with the officers, that 1
began to regret having fed SO well.
We reached Umm-el-Tfel before dawn, ex-
pecting to be greeted with the rattle of rifle
fire. but not a soul was to be seen, and 1t was
obvious that the Arabs, warned of our APP
proach, had made dash for another place OF
safety Gerard and Bereta were still in the
cave, however, and poor Cosa's body lay where
1 had left it.
We had few hours rest while the soldiers
were loading their reserve horses and mules
with the rifles and ammunition the rebels had
left behind, and eventually arrived back in the
Saddadda camp at nightfall. sharp engage
ment ensued later with the rebels. who att
tackled in the darkness. They made OH aS