The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. 285 on Zaila,.I wonder? It’s a pity you interfered with that leopard, Chutney. If Makar Makalo had perished, this revolt might never have broken out. Makar is at the head of it, I know, and possibly he has influence behind him, He is an ally of that fanatical despot, Rao Khan, the Emir of Harar, who hates the English worse than poison, and 5 Guy started at the mention of this name. ‘‘T want to see you a minute, Forbes,’’ he cried excitedly ; and, leading Melton to one side, he pulled out the despatches from his pocket, and said, ‘* You have come closer to the truth than you imagine. I am going to con- fide a secret to you, and you can tell what had best be done. ‘These papers were intrusted to me for delivery into the hands of Sir Arthur Ashby, at Zaila, and they contain instructions bearing on the very matter you have just mentioned. ‘The authorities at the colonial office in London told me in secret that the Emir of Harar was supposed to be plotting the capture of Zaila, and these despatches contain Sir Arthur’s orders in case of that emergency.’’ ‘‘ By Jove, that explains it!’’ cried Melton. ‘‘ The emergency has come. | I see it all. Makar had collected his Arabs and Somalis at Berbera by the Emir’s orders, and they were only waiting the arrival of that villainous Portuguese with the rifles. They have put the garrison at Berbera out of the way, and now they will march on to Zaila.’’ ‘‘’Then what can be done ?’’ demanded Guy. ‘‘ Shall we proceed to Zaila, or get the captain to steam direct for Aden and collect all the available troops? ”’ ‘No, no,’’ groaned Forbes. ‘‘’That would be useless. Zaila is sixty miles up the coast. We can beat the Arabs, and get there in time to prepare the town for defense. ‘The garrison is wretchedly small, but they will have to hold out until assistance can come from Aden.’’ : Melton was still more astounded when Guy told him of the stealing of the despatches. ‘«’Then Torres knows their contents,’’ he said, ‘‘and he will act accord- ingly. ‘This is certainly a bad business, Chutney. Those papers must be delivered to Sir Arthtrr as soon as possible, though, to tell the truth, I fear Zaila is doomed: But we are losing precious time. Something must be done at once.’’ , They called the captain aside, and told him just enough to impress him with the danger threatening Zaila, and he readily fell in with their plans. Twilight wds now falling, and by the time darkness had settled over the blue waters of the gulf, the steamer was plowing her way steadily northward, Berbera but faintly visible in the rear by the glow of the burning torches. Hour after hour they steamed on. - Neither Guy nor Melton could sleep, but sitting aft on camp stools they talked in whispers of the dread events they had witnessed, and of what might be before them. At midnight the steamer came to a sudden stop. The machinery, exerted to the highest pressure, had broken in some part. A delay was inevitable, the captain assured them, but in a couple of hours the repairs could be made. Morning came, revealing the distant yellow line of the African coast, but still the steamer lay at anchor, rocked gently by the blue waters of the gulf. } Eomicbooks S}