The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-10-02

the floor OF the BUS, When she was
seized violently and carried bodi-
ly outside.
It was lively while it lasted, and
fatal at least to poor Slim who
had fallen prone, bleeding badly
from wound in his chest. Mi
chael Gay still sagged over the
wheel, bullet in his shoulder,
and Janet looked disgustedly at
her little empty pistol and let
them hustle her out to the ground.
Doc Williamson, who was un-
armed, obediently followed the
directions of the bandits. Torelli
was giving aromatic spirits of am
monia to Kitty Trimble, who had
tainted.
Camilla was aware of the man
in the red pelisse urging her again
toward the horse, and as she did
not try to help him two men lift
ed her bodily and put her in the
saddle. She was sure that it was
useless for her to struggle, so she
submitted, permitting them to
lead the horse away from the
group and over the hill to a flat
plain which seemed limitless in
every direction, except toward
the mountains which they were
leaving behind them.
There was no chance of escape.
Two men rode with her, one on
each side. She spoke to one of
them in English, then in French,
asking where they were going but
she got no reply-unless his for
bidding silence could be consid-
cred one. She tried the man on
the other side with the same re-
suits.
It was then that the sheik in
the scarlet pelisse, who had been
riding behind her, rode up and
took the bride of her horse from
the man on her right who drew
rein and took up the rear. II re-
gret, mademoiselle," he said at
last, in execrable French, "that I
was obliged to make you come
with me aaginst your will. But
was obliged to make you come
with me against your will. But
you will not be hurt or treated
badly if you do as I command"
"But what of my friends who
are still alive! What of the bus
with no one to drive it?"
He made a deprecatory gesture.
1T was bad that the big man
should kill my companions. If he
had not shot them no harm would
have come. He1as! He will shoot
no more"
"You haven't heard the end of
this" she said angrily as her
courage returned. ''There must be
some law, even in this God-for-
saken country"
pardon, mademoiselle," he said,
with polite incomprehension.
"Where are you taking me?"
she asked "Who is the man who
planned this crime? And why do
you take me instead of the 9TH
ers?"
The sheik moved one shoulder
and hand as a gesture of in
comprehension. There seemed no
hope for her, less hope even than
for the other survivors of the dis
aster.
It was toward the middle of the
afternoon that Camilla's captor
rose in his stirrups and pointed
to a hill that rose above the sur
rounding plain. AS they drew
near she saw at it's base the black
goatskin tents of a Bedouin en-
campment. Horses, camels and
dromedaries were tethered to
ropes pegged along the ground.
eve shall rest there" the sheik
said politely.
She made no comment and rode
forward, trying to find new cour-
age for the new adventure, what
ever it was. Palm trees grew near
the hill and extended out into the
desert beyond. At the flap of the
largest tent she was invited to
dismount, but to her chagrin she
had to be lifted to the ground.
Then with the assistance of a
girl who had now appeared she
sank upon divan in the tent and,
with difficulty, relaxed her ach-
ing limbs. The girl brought water
to drink and bowl to battle the
dust from her face, then stood by
as impassive as the riders who
had brought her here.
Apparently Camilla was to be
treated with politeness, for after
a while the Bedouin girl brought
dish Of lentil soup, a red pottage
of the same recipe, probably, for
which Esau sold his birthright.
This did much to restore her mind
and body. AS she slipped the soup
she asked questions, but the girl