Adventure Magazine Cover — page 154: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 “My job,” said Hickson dryly, “‘is trying to govern, and uphold the prestige of the British Empire, in a piece of Somaliland that’s as big as Switzerland and as wild as —as— Well, I don’t know any place that’s wilder! There are about ten million armed men in Europe, as you say, trying to enforce law among civilized people; I’ve got nine white men to assist me with five hun- dred camel constabulary—with dervishes raiding the grazing-lands and intertribal scraps breaking out every fortnight. I give you my word, the little Dutch jigger who tried to keep the sea out by plugging the dike with his finger had nothing on me!” Cohusac began to laugh gaily, shaking his head derisively. While he was laugh- ing the chokra came in and salaamed; Cohusac dismissed him; Diego Felice Fer- nandez followed; then came the second boy; and after him, Hamid, a magnificent figure, salaaming with dignity. “Hamid,” said Hickson suddenly, Yusuf Sangoi still in the bazaar?”’ “Ves, effendi,”’ said Hamid with a look of displeasure. “What is the talk?” Hamid stirred uneasily, looking from the Englishman to his master; but Cohusac’s air of smiling expectancy reassured him. “Effendi,” said he, ‘you are an official of the Government; and the new law says no one is to repeat a rumor.” “Do you consider that a word in my ear isarumor? It was I first mentioned Yusuf Sangoi.” ‘“‘Tatb!* There is no real news, effendt. Yusuf Sangoi sometimes gets restless and talks mysteriously to Somalis. The Soma- lis are insolent, of course; but that is the nature of a Somali. We have heard there is a mullah who is waving the green banner.” “Ever since 1910, when our forces were withdrawn to the coast,’’ interjected Hick- son bitterly, ‘“we’ve had to fight to bolster up our lost prestige. Any mad mullah who waves a green flag and calls on the Prophet can get a following large enough to make trouble for us. You have no idea of the terrific potentialities in that country! Any- thing else, Hamid?” “No, effendt.” “How about Abyssinia?” “Allah! murmured Hamid. * Correct! ‘tis Adventure “Abyssinia!” exclaimed Cohusac with sud- den interest. ‘‘What is happening there?” “Ah, what is happening there?” said Hickson with a look of fierceness. ‘“That’s just the question.” “Effendi, there has been curious talk about Abyssinia—much talk—talk about this— talk about that—but who knows the mean- ing of it? There are Abyssinians in the bazaar. I have seen them. Many ivory merchants come to the house of Abu Khalil.” “That is just around the corner,” said Cohusac with suspicious mildness. “TI have done business with Abu Khalil myself. He is a well-known merchant and has a aie establishment.” | Cohusac glanced at Hamid and caught him grinning. He nodded his head with a reproving smile. “Hamid, you see too much! You have my permission to go. Salaam!”’ Hamid retired. The old, pock-marked watchman came in with his lantern, an- nounced his arrival and shuffled down- stairs to take his place at the door. “Now,” said Cohusac earnestly, “‘what is this about Abyssinia?” Hickson began playing with the matches on the table, frowning. He was nervous, uncertain, rattled; and, having just conclud- ed an exhausting and dangerous voyage in an open dhow from the Benadir Coast across the Gulf of Aden and on foot over the tow- ering, crumbling slopes of the promontory, he was fatigued, and his impatient nature was rapidly becoming irascible. Anxiety increased his nervousness. “On the other hand,’’ said Hickson de- cisively, looking up suddenly straight into Cohusac’s eyes, “what is this about the house of Abu Khalil? What do you know about it? Can you see it from here?”’ A bland, fatuous look softened Cohusac’s countenance. His eyes became dreamy. His sensuous lips curved in a serene smile. ‘“‘All I know,” said he, “is that there is an extraordinarily beautiful woman in the harimlikl’’* “Oh, exclaimed Hickson furiously. Rising abruptly to his feet, he paced up and down near the parapet, scratching the back of his head with both hands, darting his head over to peer down into the street, occasionally lifting his eyes with a quick movement to the moon and stars as a desert * Place of the harem. . 1?? Co DOOLK 1@)