The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. 279 They turned toward the cabin, leaving the Portuguese still gazing over the rail. At the foot of the steps the captain stopped. - ‘Why, what’s this?’’ he said, stooping down and pulling from under the lowest step a bunch of papers. ‘“The stolea despatches!’’ cried Guy wildly. ‘‘ But look! ‘The seals have been broken.’’ Together they inspected the documents. Each envelope had been opened, but the contents appeared to be all right. The thief had plainly been satis- fied with their perusal. ‘“ Whoever stole them,’’ said the captain, ‘‘ was afraid to retain them lest a search should be made, and as he had no way to destroy them he tossed them down here where they could easily be found.”’ ‘“Who else had a key to my cabin?’’ Guy asked sternly. “The key to Torres’ cabin will open yours,’’ replied the captain, ‘‘ and several of the crew also have keys.’’ ‘‘ Then Torres is the man,’’ said Guy. ‘‘ The scoundrel looks capable of anything.’’ ‘‘T wouldn’t advise you to accuse him,’’ said the captain gravely. ‘‘ He may cause trouble for you on shore. You must remember that British influ- ence is little felt at Berbera. Your best plan is to say nothing, but relate the whole affair to the governor at Zaila. And now, as we may lie in the harbor here all day, you had better go onshore. You will see a strange sight.’’ | Guy put the recovered documents away in an inner pocket, and followed the captain on cleck, in a very angry frame of mind. ‘Torres had disappearéd, but Guy felt that he had not seen the last of him. He half forgot his anger in the strange sight that now met his eyes, for the steamer was just approaching the wharf, and in a moment the gang plank was dropped over the side. He waited until the eager, jostling crowd of Arabs had passed over, and then he made his way to shore. ‘The spectacle before him was marvelous and entrancing. Extending apparently for miles up and down the yellow stretch of sand that fringed the coast, was one great sea of canvas that fluttered under the African breeze. There were tents of every description, some old and dingy, some spot- lessly white anc shining, and others brilliant in many colors, barred. with red and green and yellow, while here and there, from their midst, rose the sun baked walls and towers of the original Berbera, for all this floating canvas belonged to the nomadic population who flock hither from the interior during the fair, and add twenty thousand to the perennial population of the town. Dazed as though ina dream, Guy moved forward, noting with wonder the strange people who thronged about him and regarded him with evident mistrust. Borrie on by the crowd, he found himself presently in the main avenue of the fair, and his first amazed impression was that he had been tran- _ sported to a scene in the ‘‘ Arabian Nights.’’ GOMmIichbooksnco 5}