Evening star., 1933-05-16
CHAPTER TX.
Riccoli's Message.

- UDDENLY, at q clank Of hoofs
~ a Jingle OF steel, and a creak O.
| leather, Otho sprang to attention
~ presented arms and returned Il
the position Of attention. ane
| then held out the paper to Maj. Riccol
as that officer, followed by his orderly
Bombelli, rode out Of the gate and
/ glancing at the sentry. returned his sa
lutte by raising two fingers to his cap.
Whats this?" he asked, refining up
"A letter for you. mon commandant
That Arab just brought it. I told hin
to wait there until ! was relieved.
Good"
Having frowned his way through the
document, Maj. Riccoli, his handsome
face otherwise devoid OF expression
again read 1t. and again thoughtluuJ
regarded the messenger.
Hi. you" he called, and beckonine
to the Arab, wheeled about and rodt
| back into the little fort.
Dismounting and giving his reins X
the orderly:
"see that I am not disturbed ane
that no one comes near here" he said
Then. bidding the Arab follow him
he entered the little stone room tina,
was at once his Office and his quarters
and shut the door.
Having closed the door. Maj. Riccol
seated himself at the rough wooden
table, placed his revolver upon 1t. and
with a wave of his hand, gave his vis-
itor permission to be seated.
The Moor, respectfully touching M'
head and his chest. bowed. and squat
ting cross legged on the floor OF the
hut, drew his feet beneath his cloak.
The French ofiicer, head on hand, loI
some moments silently regarded the
dusky, bearded and somewhat dirty
face Of the man who. from beneath
overhanging. bushy eyebrows, watched
him intently with unwinking gaze.
Yes, a typical Moor. A fat-faced
bushv-bearded hill-man. who might be
own cousin to Abd-el-Krim, Raisuli OF
any other Moorish chieftain-robber
brieand. rebel, patriot, or whatever one
liked to call him.
Why didn't the fellow speak? One
loses prestige and takes the lower
ground If, in dealing with these people
one pays the first visit or makes the
first remark.
In silence, Maj. Riccoli endeavored te
out-stare the Moor. To his great an
noyance he found himself compelled, al
length, to blink. and almost to with
draw his gaze from that Of the visitor
as fencer disengages his sword.
"Well?" he said sharply and received
in reply another bow and salutation
respectful If not humble.
why have you come here?" he asked
in his all but perfect Moorish Arabic.
ITO bring that letter, Sidi."
do you know what's In it?"
II do, Sidi."
"You know that 1t Is an answer tc
no, fH
II do, Sidi."
why didn't you 60 when you had
given the letter to the sentry?"
II have to take an answer, Sidi."
"Why could not my messenger to the
Kaid have brought this letter and taken
back my answer"
my master, the Kaid, is the most
trusting Of men, but only in the Faith
full has he any faith-and not much ir
them. He once trusted the word OF the
Sultan, publicly pledged on the K'ran.
$50 he sent you to find out whether
the messenger and the message were
genuine, and incidentally to flnd out
anything else that you could and gen.
orally to spy out the land?"
The Moor smiled.
"The Kaid, my master, on whom b.
peace. sent me to find out whether th'
| messenger and the message were genu
ine," he replied. And also to be hi
ear into which your excellency nigh
whisper any further words that ma.
now be said-provided your excellcnc.
is convinced that I am what appea
to be, the secret messenger and ambas
sador of my master, the Kaid. And II
discuss these proposals that give m,
master, the Kaid, the. greatest gratih
cation-as we'll as to assure your Ex
cellency Of my masters absolute goo'
faith"
"One thing at a time" replied Maj
Riccoli, again endeavoring to out-star