Plentywood herald., 1930-02-27
the sheriff Of Nenussi beat them by

three lengths.
Yussifs wild tribesmen charged for
the third time against the barricade
OF camel packs Savaran had stretched
from wall to wall Of the gorge. AS
they came up the stiff slope they were
cruelty raked by frontal and flanking
fire from rifles and machine guns
placed by master. yet their numbers
and their desire for the jewel camelS
beyond might have carried them onto
and over the breastwork if Savaran
had not jumped onto it.
He stood tall, lean, and exposed
against the sky. keg of powder lifted
nigh IN his powerful. Spidery arms.
while fuse hiSSed its promise of death
from the keg! He poised it calmly un-
til 1t seemed that the spluttering fuse
must disappear into the powder and
blast him out of existence Then, at
his own moment, he heaved. The keg
flew plump into the midst of the thick
est group of Yussif's charging Arabs,
exploding even as it struck. The sheer
crash OF the detonation was appalling
its effect terrific. 1t wiped out the
group like hot flame licking up grass
The attacking Arabs sucked back,
wllted, saw Savaran snatch up another
keg-broke and bolted in panic.
Savaran tugged the kissing fuse from
the keg as he stood large and ex-
posed-and lit cigaret from it. Saw
aran never could resist a gesture
Returning to the center of the camp
he found Garsali, the sergeant, and
the sheriff, watched by Moonbeam of
Pearls Beni-Seyyid men, sitting in
council of war near the girls shelter.
The sheriff" said Garsali, licking his
dry lips, thinks our best chance Is to
buy them off,"
1T Is, in fact, our only chance" said
Savaran, flercely cheerful You think
OF bargaining with the treasure of the
dOwry?"
by Allah, MOI" snarled the sheriff.
They are fat with nv money as it is.
Besides, let Yussif have the treasure
and, having all, he will cut our throats.
On the other hand, give him hostage
and he must let us 60 to raise the ran
SON."
Savarans bright eyes cleaned.
But this is wisdOm! he cried And
the hostages-the lieutenant and the
sergeant offer themselves to save the
honor of the Keef Coast?"
by damnation, mol" the sergeant
shouted, thinking of slow payment and
cropped ears.
mo, absolutely not!" cried Garsali,
hastily. Il may not desert my COM
mand. Besides the hostage must be
a person Of great Importance if Yus-
sif is to forego the dowry"
Great Importance? Has the noble
1n6 Oh faI ~xt,, IL,
self to save us all then?" cried Savaran.
Thou art unSeemly," Hanna said,
pompously. Il, sheriff of Nenussi, hand
my person to such scum! Ito be
dragged hither and thither by riff
raff OF filthy vermin. The mere thought
Of it is abominable."
] "Yet who among us has even the
shadow of thy Importance" asked
Savaran. with a hard eye.
"She upon whom my shadow has
rested" said Hanna, loftily. This girl
I carry with me. She is to be my wife
that will exalt her in Yussifs eyes
She is the daughter of the chief OF
the Beni-Seyyid rich ransom
on both counts. Yussif will be salts
fled with her and let us go our way
The Beni-Seyvid men about them
loosed great oaths and some fingered
their daggers. Savaran's dominating
glance rested on them and they
checked. Maybe also they grinned.
Most noble bridegroom" said Say
aran, mockingly. "Oh, valiant hus-
band will bear what you say in
mind. 1t will make negotiations in
finitely easier"
Eiftooy, 1ofo Co
| leaning across the barricade and ad-
dressing bulky, black, and fiery look
ing Arab with cheerful ferocity.
May most exalted Lord of the Dag
ger" he said You may not get the
jewels of the dowry: you get not the
war MATERIAL have plans myself fol
that. You choose from two things
only-fight on or take hostages fol-
. ransom"
"An talk of hostages is vain talk,
! sneered Yussif. Have / not every SOU
of you in my hands? Can l not take
what l want?"
BLACK Fox of the Hills" said Sava-
ran, pleasantly, II have fifty good kegs
of powder behind this barricade ready
with fuses. Work out how many mer
you will have left alive when you've
taken what you want in the way Sava-
ran gives it,
Yussif, scowling at the memory Of the
exploding keg, snarled. Il will starvt
you out"
Before night marches on us, broth
err" ,Savaran said, "Zaid Ali of the
Zeb with his tribe will be here. He
will take you in the rear while Sava-
ran gives you blazes in front. 1t viii
be a pretty fight after Savarans owr
. heart. Wait for Zaid if you will-ol
close with good offer while you arr
yet alive to make the best of it,"
Yussif scowled again He would have
like to have disbelieved and dared thi.
} lean eagle who Knocked him, but he
at least, was fighting man and coule
. feel the strange force that came ou
of Savaran. He said sullenly. well
Y who comes for ranSoming?"
e Savaran smiled softly, recalling {
Y blow on the face and fifty lashes.
e What about a nice fat sheriff broth
er?" he said, grimly.
"A sherif-the sheriff Of Nenussi!
i Yussif gasped, hardly believing hi
!. ears. by Allah, do you fool me?"
t "Savaran fools nobodv-and is mad
fool by nobody" Savaran said. 9TH
a