Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18

deserved decorations his wide breast The
Sbeha tribeSman had the unmistakabe ap-
pearance of a man who could prove, when
aroused, a tough customer. But, knowing
Arabs, I realized that no power on earth could
induce them TO enter a supposedly haunted
cave. Therefore I pressed the button of my
hashlight and entered alone Instantly q
feeling of uncanny depression seized me. How
ever. pulled myself together and went on.
The winding by means uni
formly wide In some points 1t was several
yards high and almost 10 yards wide; in others
it narrowed 50 much that to proceed was
obliged to stoop. and my shoulders brushed
against the sides Of the rough corridor. There
were also many obscure hooks and corners and
brief corridors ending against wall Of rocks.
OF course, my exploration . very super
flcial one; it would have taken q couple Of days
to explore properly that maze OF muddy
caverns and confused passages. emerged
through the opposite passage where I found
Menhed and the Sbeha waiting for me.
GAS you may easily see, in that cave there
Il nothing that can harm any one," observed
The evil spirits exist only IN your imAg-
nation"
with the wish of Allah you were allowed
to escape" the Sheba remarked gravely. "And
yet one cannot say. You visited the cave early
when the spirits are sleeping. Had you been
here during the night, things would have gone
differently"
kCOG! snapped smuggling my SnOulOerS
eff it would be my fancy, I would sleep for
night within the caves without any other harm
than q cold!"
"You say that you would but know that
you will not" the Sbeha sneered. "You would
not dare TO-"
His insolence enraged me 50 that lifted
my cravache, ready to strike him. Then
realized that he meant not TO offend me. In
his Arabian mind there shame in being
afraid of ghosts; surely the Sbeha could not see
anything offensive in making me acknowledge
that dared not face Dirha'S spirits. lowered
the whip and was about to leap in the saddle
of the horse that Menhed held ready for me,
when noticed that my orderly was gazing at
me obviously. knew what that meant. As q
true Arab. Menhed would repeat among the
other soldiers that I had said was willing
to challenge Drha'S supernatural dangers-but
that I had not gone through with my boast.
He would retail that with true Arabian gosspy
spirit, pointing out that was a brave man in
war. but that I feared the same things that
they feared.
And knew what the other soldiers would
answer to that: after all, he Is just Q man,
and he did the right thing in the eyes of Allah"
And from that moment they would perhaps
like me more, but would obey me much less
eagerly, because the Arab does not follow the
one whom he likes, but the one whom he fears.
In a word my prestige would be destroyed.
Tonight we will bivouac here. And I will
sleep in the cavern" announced.
The Sbeha argued fervently against this, tried
to diSsaude me from doing But Menhed
said nothing There was proud smile on his
face, as if to say: Here is a man who fears
not ghosts, and he is my chieftain!" He ev1-
IDENTIFY basked in what he considered the re-
hected glory of q leader wiling to do things
that the braveSt among Arabs would not dare do.
IN the very middle of the first and larger
group Of caverns ran the thin stream Of the
Chabet Ell Biz. spurred by my example. Mem
he'd built litter of green branches and grass
.Lpb3t% itiA sOo' a.o - tao: nj e.,