The Argosy, August 1905 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

of the river.” “Well, why shouwldn’t she?” asked the major. “If the raft will hold them both? ” “'That’s just what I said!” exclaimed May. “ Because,” replied Mohun gravely, “Imbaral tells me the other side is un- safe; that boars have oceasionally been found in the thickets there; that the footing is treacherous; aud that snakes are not unheard of in the patches of marshy ground. But if Miss Farrar really wants to cross, and if you think _ sate, sir, I shall be glad to cross with er,” “So shall I,” broke in Sir Arthur. “Td be jolly glad to escort her any- where. But if there’s really danger, hadn’t she better a “1 don’t want the escort of either of you, thanks!” retorted May with pretty wilfulness. ““I mean to be the first of my party to explore the east bank of the Jordan. Imbarak doesn’t count. He says he understands rafts, and he can shoo away any boars. Be- sides, I’ve got this*—and she drew a small revolver from her pocket—* in ease of snakes or ae “Tf the snakes would only stand be- hind you they'd fall ready victims to your skill as a markswoman,” laughed the major; “ but of course you ean go if you choose to. I’ve no patience with this talk of peril in the Orient. “Syria is as sate as Jersey City. Every traveler knows that. Robbers, dangerous wild animals, and fanatics were all cleared owt years ago. But Americans who come to the Holy Land like to pretend they are in an atmos- phere of peril. “Tt disgusts me, this continual harp- ing on danger, danger, danger! Cross the Jordan if you want to, May; if yowre sure Imbarak understands hand- ling a raft. The worst danger yowll in- cur will be a spill into the water. And I think there are enough men here to rescue you if you do upset.” “But,” protested Sir Arthur, “it would be beastly cold to tumble into the Jordan in winter. Do be careful, Miss Farrar.” There was a laugh at the baronet’s lad a i : serious tone, and a second laugh at the blank stare of surprise. Then, with a triumphant glance at Mohun, May Farrar left the group and beckoned up a small, wiry man in native garb. “ Imbarak,” she called loudly enough for Mohun to hear, “ get the raft ready and we will cross now.” “ [-o-a, sit ” (Yes, madam), responded the little brown man with alacrity, “ but Mr. Mohun? Does he say I can go? I am his groom.” May turned impatiently | toward Mohun, too proud to ask his leave. But he saved her the trouble by nodding eurtly at Imbarak and then turning his back on them both. * You spoke a few minutes ago, sir,” he said to the major, “about the absence of danger in Syria. You were partly right, of course. But in all Eastern countries, so I have read, noth- ing is certain except uncertainty. And Syria is no exception. “Of course the Bedouins no longer as a rule commit robberies openly in the more settled districts here, nor do Moslem fanatics openly kill Christians just to prove their piety. But Bedouins are still thieves at heart, and fanatics only await the chance to kill every Christian within reach. All that either Bedouins or fanatics need to make them as dangerous as of old is a word of en- couragement from high quarters.” “But that word shall never be spoken. The Sultan of Turkey is——” “The Sultan is a solitary, isolated man, struggling vainly to reform, and build up a nation which ought to be the richest on earth and which is the poorest. The pashas grind down the peasantry and townfolk and send lying reports to their masters of the country’s eondition. The Christians in Syria, especially in Damascus, where we arte planning to go next week, have pros- pered under the just laws of the present Sultan, and the local Mohammedans are discontented. “'There’s a fairly well-defined tumor that the authorities at Damascus are scared at the growing hatred against the Christians, and that a clique of nobles there are almost openly advocat- ing a massacre and a general looting of Christians’ property. The nobles have comicbooks.com t | ‘ te q