The Argosy, August 1905 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

ae ing, spying old woman, but all this strikes me as odd. May I advise you, ease affairs do come to a headsto make very strict inquiries before trusting that dear little girl’s life and happiness into his care?” “You may count on me,” said the major stifily, “but I believe and ear- nestly hope that you are mistaken—if | am any judge of faces. And yet all you say of his peculiarities strikes me as odd now that I think it over. Well, let’s hope it will turn out all right. But I’m sorry to have a doubt of Ralph planted ip iy mind. For, as I said, ’m fond of the boy. Let us talk of something else, please.” Meantime Mohun had some time be- fore made a pretext of dismounting and examining his saddle-girth, with Im- barak’s assistance, and had thus allowed himself to drop behind the rest of the little cavalcade. ** Well,’ he said to the groom as he remounted, “you asked me to drop back, What did you want?” “To speak to you in private, howa/t. I may not get a chance at the hotel.” “If it is any more of that nonsense about your gratitude——” “It is not, howaji. But it is because of that gratitude that I speak. May I proceed?” The groom, like many another Mos- lem in impoverished circumstances, had as a boy taken advantage of the univer- sal opportunity which the American college at Beirut offers to natives to secure an occidental education. He therefore spoke English with an almost imperceptible accent, and while cling- ing to Moslem faith and Islam condi- tions had acquired as much occidental learning as the average American gram- mar school graduate. “Go on.” assented Mohun. “* What is it you wanted to tell me?” “What I say I must ask you to regard as secret, sir. Have | your promise? ” Mohun nodded carelessly, his mind and eyes on a trim, slender figure in elose-fitting riding-habit half a mile ahead. “TI wish to warn you, howaji, not to go to Damascus, and to beg you to pre- vent pore friends from going.” “Then you believe this rumor of an 76 THE ARGOSY. uprising against the Christians?” asked Ralph with new 1n terest. “ Believe it? I know it is true. The Ukh-ul-Rasoul (Brotherhood of the Prophet), of which [ am a member, has sent word to Damascenes im every part of Syria to ‘come home to the feast. I am of Damascus. My mother lives there in the Street of the Mehdan.” “ And you mean to say that this fra- ternal erew of cut-throats is actually sending out invitations to its members io come and cut Christians’ throats? It is the most “Do not judge, howaji! You are of the West, we of the Kast. You cannot understand. The Ukh-ul-Rasoul is but one of many guilds in Damascus that have suffered from the Sultan’s weak toleration of the Christians. The nobles are behind us. The serai (local government) knows but cannot prevent. There will be killing and plundering and burning. Jl, whose life is yours, warn you to stay south here where there is safety.” “And you actually intend to join in this slaughter? ” “T? No, howajt. I have learned the education of the Christian; I have seen that he is a good man and not a sorcerer, as my brethren believe. While I do not embrace his ereed, I honor and revere it. I shall take no part in the ‘ feast.’ ” “Yet you will keep silence and let innocent men—perhaps even women and children—be murdered ? ” “Tt is kismet, howaji. It is fate. Their lives are in the hollow of Allah’s hand. It is not for me to speak. Be- sides,” he added, a praetical note ereep- ing into his apathetic voice, “ my breth- ren would kill me with most unpleasant tortures if I betrayed them.” jan “ We will not go to Damaseus. I can answer for that. I suppose I ought to thank you, but = “The major is calling, howaji. Shall we catch wp with the rest?” Putting their wiry Syrian ponies to a gallop, they swept past the bageage mules laden with tents and chests, breasted the rise of the hill, and joined the tourists who were awaiting them. Mohun tried to laugh off the major’s temonstrances at his long absence, but his mind was busy with plans for pre-