The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-03-20
CHAPTER g RICCOLPS MESSAGE


 presented arms and returned tC the position of attention, and ther held out the paper to Major Ric- coli as that officer, followed by his orderly, Bombelli, rode out of thu gate, and glancing at the sentry returned his salute by raising two fingers to his cap.
 Whats this?" he asked, refining up.
 "A letter for you, mon Com. mandant That Arab just brought it. told him to wait there unti was relieved"
 "Good!"
 Having drowned his way through the document, Major Riccoli, his handsome face otherwise devoid ot expression, again read it, ant again thoughtfully regarded the messenger.
 Hi, you" he called, and beck oned to the Arab, wheeled about and rode back into the little fort
 Dismounting and giving his reins to the orderly:
 See that I am not disturbed and that no enc comes near here, he said.
 Then, bidding the Arab follow him, he entered the little stone room that was at once his office and his quarters, and shut the door.
 Having closed the door, Major Riccoli seated himself at the rough wooden table, placed his revolver upon it and, with a wave of his hand, gave his visitor permission to be seated.
 The Moor, respectfully touching his head and his chest, bowed and, lsquatting cross-legged on the floor of the hut, drew his feet beneath his cloak.
 The French officer, head on hand, for some moments silently regarded the dusky, bearded and somewhat dirty face of the man who, from beneath overhanging dusky eyebrows, watched him in- tently with unwlnking gaze.
 Yes, a typical Moore. A fat faced, bushy-bearded hill-man who might be own cousin to Abd-el- Krim, Raisula, or any ther Moor ish chieftain-robber, brigand, reb- Tel, 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, Major Riccoli en- deavored to out-scare the Moor. To his great annoyance he found himself compelled, at length. to blink, and almost to withdraw his gaze from that of the visitor. as a fencer disengages his sword.
 "Well?" he said sharply and re- ceived in reply another bow and salutaton, respectful if not humble.
 Why have you come here?" he asked in his all but perfect Moor- isr Arabic.
 "To bring that letter, Sidi."
 Do you know what's in it.
 T do, Sidi.'
 You know that it is an answer to my message to the Kaid?"
 T do Sidi." IT
 Why didn't you go when you had given the letter to the sentry?"
 T have to take an answer, Sidi..
 Why could not my messenger to the Kaid have brought this letter and taken back my answer?"
 Master, the Kaid, is the most trusting of men, but only in the Faiarful has he any faith-and not much in them. He once trusted the word of the Sultan, publicly pledged on the Kran."
 50 he sent you to find ont whether the messenger and the message were genuine, and incl dentally to find out anything else that you could, and generally to spy out the land?"
 The Moor smiled.
 The Kaid, my master, on whom be peace, sent me to find ont whether the messenger and the message were genuine" he replied And also to be his ear into which your Excellency might whisper any further words that may now he said-provided your Excellencv is convinced that am what I apr,ear to be, the secret messenger and ambassador of my master the Kaid. And to discuss these nro- posals that give my master, the Kaid. the greatest gratification--As well as to assure your Excellency o1 my masters absolute good faith.'
 One thing at a time,' renlied Major Riccod, again endeayoring 10 out-stare the Moor. First Of