Evening star., 1933-05-25
CHAPTER XVIII.
More Plots.


IS n my beloved son." smiled the
II Kaid. But how shall that
I 4 \ come to pass?"
Have patience and give
me little time. and it shall come to
pass oh my father" assured Raisul in
a tone of firm conviction. Soon you
will receive a strange letter from one
who is commander of column among
them"
Allah grant it, my son." replied the
Kaid His men would be as leaven is
to bread. as the forbidden liquor is to
the water in which it is mixed
Among the mountains behind rocks,
nv men are wolves. yea, our tr1beSmen
are the best soldiers in the world. When
charging they are swooping eagles. yea.
the footmen are as cavalry.
Gould we but get them to stand In
line, to obey words of command. VINO
could then withstand them? what
foreign foot could tread the country
Of the Gun? We could clear this land
of them. and would soon be Sultan
of Morocco"
You shall, oh Kaid," murmured
"Insh'allah," whispered the Kaid,,
and rising to his feet, signif1ed that
the council was ended. .,
"Stay a moment. RaiSul, my son,
he added, resuming his seat, and, walt
ing till the hall was empty. continued,
'What is this talk of bringing me
foreign soldiers, willing volunteers from
the great regiment of strangers tnat
fights for the French? Do you mock
me, my son?"
by Allah, do not, oh my 1atner.
renlied Raisul. "Hearken to plain
al I,o( intended IN Tell
YOU until it had proved its own trutn:
I'm Algiers, as was my business,
met an oficer of the 10Th Army Corps
from the Island of Corsica-where once
o,lr ancestors ruled and had their
watch-towers and forts. I became MS
friend, lent him money and, having
helped him to spend it, lent him more.
women were his weakness, women
and overwhelming ambition. There is
a madness in his blood I thought. l
made myself necessary to him, and
lust when things we're getting interest
ing he was sent to the Sahara. Soon
went to the Sahara-and soon ne owed
me, more money. AS we grew ever more
friendly and intimate I learned more
and more Of his abitions, his hopes
yea. his intentions.
."The madness in his blood was In
creasinp-and his weakness for women
of whom he had known too many
and his insane ambition. Sometimes
he talked as one smitten OF Allan. But
only to me. He knew that at any mo-
ment I could ruin him. by prosecution
for debt; knew that he was already
absolutely in my power. so he cared not
what he said, cared not what l knew
and he opened his mind to me.
5"Then he got himself sent TO Am
Hroudja-and thence with little
desert column to where the borders OF
the French Sahara inset those Oh
MekaZZen
And had you hand in this. oh
Haisul, my son?" smiled the Kaid.
sRaisul's smile matched that OF MS
father.
"a hand, my father? Nay. nay. But,
r,erchance. a voice. A voice that was
but a whisper-in his ear. just a sug-
eestion or the hint Of sugges-
tion-of a suggestion. Just a tiny
seed in wondrous fertile. fruitful soil.
IAN independent command-far. fdar
away from superior authority. from pb-
ervation-indeed, from any thought or
care or interest in his doings or his
fate
s"Who so keen and jealous an Of
ficer-who so devoted to his profession,
his career and his country-as he who
would volunteer, nay, beg. to be sent
On such duty, establishing chain OF
outposts at the very back of beyond,
that roasting he'll of loneliness, thirst,
hardship and deprivation? !
This to his superiors. = :. A zeal
that would ask for a station Ia hell.
This to himself A small, COM
pact, self-contained and self-sacri-
ficing army, at his absolute disposal.
A nucleus for a greater army, an ever
growing army, mighty army, such as
that with which the Mahdi of the
East swept down upon Africa, or ADD
el-Kader fought the French"
The Kaid stroked his beard as he
closely watched Raisul's animated face.
"A moment, my son You go
too fast This man is foreigner.
an officer of France in command of
And he would throw off his al
legiance to France. He would use those
troops for his own ends. He would
lead them into this country. lead them
here to Mekazzen City-and place
them at your disposal, my father"
BY Allah!" cried the Kaid. HE
would? He would? And you have
brought this about, my son? I cannot
believe it
No" he continued, land if he did
what would be his true and hidden
intention? What would he hope to
gain? No. 1t is trick, I say.
"On his part! On his part, I mean,
my son." he added hastily.
What would he hope to gain, oh my
father? Power. Wealth. Freedom
Relief from the bonds of irksome disci-
t1line and the restraints of the slow
promotion that will not make him a
great and powerful man until he is
an old and feeble one.
'As I showed him--by careless re-
mark and casual hint-he could rise In
a day from the rank of major to that
of general. field marshal, commander
in chief, if he joined you. bringing a
well armed, well equipped force with