The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

290 , THE RIVER OF DARKNESS, thing or some one. It was very evident that the whole population of the town were in revolt. It was equally plain, too, that they had been prepared for this uprising, for it had apparently broken out. in all quarters of the town. at once, and the expected signal had no doubt been the approach of the Arabs from Berbera, for the vast number of rifles used in the fight proved conclu- sively their arrival. Wonderful success had crowned their plans. Yesterday the garrison at Berbera had fallen to a man; and now Zaila was in their hands, and all that . remained of the British possessors was the miserable band of fugitives on the residency roof. ) : With bitter feelings Guy looked down on the sea.of faces. He was wondering if he would ever see Calcutta or England again. But he had been in worse predicaments before, and, hopeless as it now seemed, something might turn up to save them yet. Melton was inclined to think that the Arabs were only waiting for day- light to make their attack, and yet they seemed to have no idea of abandon- ing their position, but encircled the building with a sea of torches, talking loudly and excitedly all the while. - Once Guy ventured to peer down over the parapet, and to his surprise he saw Arab guards at the residency door, sternly keeping back the crowd. Then he pulled aside the stone from the trap. All’ was dark and quiet beneath. The solution to this mystery was close at hand. Of a sudden a great hush fell on the vast crowd, the tuniult died away to a low murmur, and from the outskirts came.a strange sound, at first low and indistinct, and then louder and more vivid, like the tinkling of bells mingled with the trampling of hoofs. The Arabs and Somalis fell silently apart, leaving open a wide passage like a swath cut through a field of standing corn that led straight to the residency doors. Up this triumphal avenue trotted a dozen stalwart Arabs bearing lighted torches, and directly behind came a gigantic camel, decorated with gorgeous trappings and hung with strings of silver bells. And on the camel’s back, gazing haughtily around him, sat the Arab, Makar Makalo. | ““ Behold Makar Makalo, the new ruler of Zaila !’’ cried the heralds, and from the vast crowd burst one universal shout of satisfaction. CHAPTER VI.—A FATE WorRSE THAN DEATH. AT sight of the daring Arab chief Guy could scarcely restrain himself. He would have drawn his revolver and shot him down then and there, but Colonel Carrington interfered. ‘“Don’t excite them,’’ he said cautiously ; their punishment is sure inthe end. Howcan they defend Zaila against the British gunboats that will be sent here? We have possibly a chance for our lives yet. Don’t de- stroy that last chance.’’ The colonel plainly had strong hopes. It is well enough in some cases to fight to the very last, and have your nates printed in the army list as heroes who died at their post, but in this case the safety of Sir Arthur was plainly Gomichbooks com