Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-07-09
CHAPTER 9


by all the men on the wall. The Toua-
reg was quivering with rage and saw
agely jerked the guide rein of his
camel, as he paraded up and down be-
fore the walls. At last he drew a deep
breath and raised his tulwar.
''Harken, oh, dogs of Roum Hank
en-, oh, white jackal that steals in the
night!'
The erect figure of the engineer did
not move. With his arms folded on
his breast, he merely gaAed disdainful-
ly upon the quivering tribesman, but
his mind was working with feverish
activity, seeking to read the true
thoughts of the old man below.
Through the voice of my slave,
have had your insolent message"
cried the Tchek. "Know, oh, swine of
France, that I demand the return of
my son!"
Selim swiftly translated to Roberts.
"Tell him that we first demand the
safe delivery of the white lady and
all her people into the fondouk."
The Senegalese, with ill-concealed
amusement, shouted down the reply,
whereat Tchek Ismail brandished his
tulwar in a paroxysm of fury.
Cat swine, you shall all die. Tchek
Ismail promises nothing. Perchance,
if thou dost give him his son, he will
spare the lives of his prisoners. 9th
erwise they die at once"
Upon the bullet-pitted wall, Roberts
drew deep breath of satisfaction. He
had learned the one thing above all
that he wished to lnow-that the old
man really loved his son. He there
fore proceeded with greater assurance.
"No," he instructed the black giant
at his side. "Tell him that our terms,
and only our terms, must be followed.
Tell him that when the white lady and
her company are within the walls
only then we will deliver him his son."
Selim must have injected some pun
gent remark of his own, for the man
on camel back started with wrath and
furiously turned away his blue-swath-
ed head, as though to break off the
parley. But he halted; then came
back.
"Ya!" he croaked sullenly, "my son
is dear to me. Therefore I swear to
surrender the white lalla."
"And her people and goods?"
prompted Selim, his earrings twink
ling in the sunrise.
And her people and goods" agreed
the Touareg with a readiness that
created suspicion in Roberts mind.
The engineer regretted the custom
that made the Touaregs veil their
faces above and below, leaving but a
narrow slit through which their eyes
might be seen. Had he been able to
see Ismail's features, he might per-
haps have read what was going on in
the crafty old williams mind, but all
he had was dim impression of one
dark eye bright with hatred, as he
sheathed the tulwar.
II will give thee the white lady and
her baggage and goods" he repeated,
"after thou hast delivered my son UNI
to my keeping"
"Not by a long shot," murmured
Roberts under his breath. Then to
Selim, "Nay." First shall the white
lady come in. Then I'll deliver his son
to him."
The old man drew himself up.
cam 1 FOOL he shrilled, 'that you
should seek to gull me-? Never!" He
brutally jerked the mehari's head "a
side and started back toward the rest
less serried ranks of the tribesmen.
'Thy son dies the instant thy camel
men ride forward" Selim cupped his
hands and his powerful voice rang out
in the morning silence like a trumpet
blast.
The old man hesitated, swung his
mehari in wide arc, and at last came
back to his original position under the
wall.
Every well. By the beard of Mo-
manned, l promise to send forward
the white lady and her goods and peo-
pie, when the gate of the fondouk
opens and my son appears, alive and
WELL"
Roberts hesitated a moment; then
he recalled his plan.
"No," he said. cat the same time
will the two parties advance. Not un-
til the walls have shut upon our peo-
pie. 1 myself will bring your son to
thee. Know that he lies at the point
of death. 1 alone can heal him. One
move of treachery and he dies-even
in thu dnnarv