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

kind had to work like q slave. However,
did it, trusting to the word Of Gerard.
Matters gradually got worse. Gerard and
Cosa quarreled daily making our lives most
miserable and after q time the latter became
infected with a contagious disease. Afraid Of
catching it, the other three cleared out and
went to live In q cave leaving me to nurse him.
The Arabs told me to burn handful OF goats
hair close TO CoSas body several times % day
for week, keeping the tent fast closed while
did it.
This old "cure" certainly seemed to do him
good physically, but mentally he became half
insane and the execution Of two more Arabs .
week later sent him almost completely on his
head so that we had to tie him down.
ONE morning in November. while I was
~ hosting water from the well for tina
camels, felt myself butted from behind by q
donkey's head. I paid no particular attention,
because there was always press OF men ana
beasts around the well. Then heard q voice
saying, "Ehendi in the name of Allah, pun up
some water for and my donkey Fatima."
Whirling sharply, saw my dear old donkey
rubbing her head against my legsl Seated on
her back was an old blind Bedouin.
"Effendi" cried, in surprise, do you know
who was the former master Of your Fatima?"
"Oh, yes" he replied. HE was an Austrian
traveller who was taken prisoner and nearly
hanged in this very place. I bought Fatine
from o caravan chief. She is q marvellous dom
key and carries me safely wherever want to
go. I have to rely upon her completely, for I
am blind as the night"
Thereupon made myself known to him, and
the old Bedouin, stretching out his hands.
praised Heaven that he had met me, making
me accept some dates and fresh bread that he
had baked himself and telling me to trust In
Allah, who would surely deliver me from my
captivity.
Then, when they had drunk from the well
which had helped to make, Fatima and the
old man departed could not help thinking
that the little donkey could do better work
than to carry her kindly master to and fro.
watched them until they were out Of sight, and
then went to divide the Bedouin's gifts with
my fellow prisoners.
Cold and rainy weather now set in and one
night the downpour was so heavy that the
whole Seddadda Valley was swamped for miles,
looking like lake. while its river, which did
not exist the night before, came rushing down
in torrent Yet a few days later the sand
had completely swallowed the floods and only
fresh green grass told of the passing of the
waters.
One morning in December one of Sefedin's
spies came galloping into camp with an urgent
message from another rebel chief to the effect
that two italian columns were converging on
Seddadda from the north and already
within so kilometers of the camp. AT once
the prince ordered every man, woman and
child to pack everything necessary on the
camels and prepare to leave for the south. Two
camels were brought for my companions to
ride, for they were quite unable to walk
Cosa, indeed, in very bad way from
dysentery, although his other trouble was now
cured.
An Arab helped me to mount my comrades
on the camels; then we set out with the long
column for an unknown destination in the
south. At midday we reached the well at
Umm-el-Tel, where numerous Roman caves
extend from 80 to so feet into the hillside.
They served as an arsenal for the Arabs, being