The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER OF DARKNESS. 491 ‘“FRools !’’? he said. ‘‘ The English will be in Zaila again in a month.”’ ‘“ And you ?”’ rejoined Guy. ‘*‘ What brought you to Harar ?”’ “Tleft Cairo for Calcutta,’’ said Canaris. ‘‘’The steamer was lost off Cape Guardafui ; ten of us reached shore in a boat ; the Somalis slaughtered all but myself. I was sold to the Arabs and came ultimately to Harar. I was useful to Rao Khan in many ways, and my life was spared. I have been here two years, two long years. I shall never see Greece again,’’ he added gloomily. ‘‘I ama slave to the Emir for life.’’ ‘“Ts escape then impossible?’’ asked Guy. ‘Absolutely. Between here and the coast is the desert. Starvation or death by wild beasts awaits a fugitive there. To the south are the blood- thirsty Gallas. No, no; one can never escape from Harar.”’ The tramp of the guard was heard in the corridor, and a sudden change passed over the Greek’s face. ‘‘T have come from Rao Khan,’’ he said in a low voice. ‘‘ He sends me with a message.”’ He paused. ‘“Go on,’’ said Guy, ‘‘ we are listening.’’ He was breathing heavily. “Two hours after you arrived here yesterday morning,’’ resumed Cana- ris, ‘‘ Rao Khan despatched the Arabs to Zaila again, in company with two hundred of his best soldiers, who will assist in holding the town. They had scarcely gone when an insurrection broke out. The people were angered at the slaughter done by the Hmir’s troops when they rescued you from the crowd. It isa law of ancient standing in Harar that every Christian stranger who enters her gates must die. Englishmen are most detested of all. The populace became maddened and furious ; from all quarters of the town they came, clamoring, demanding your lives. When Rao Khan called out his re- maining troops they refused to fire. The people, they said, were right. A very few remained faithfulto the Emir. The mob surrounded the palace and the prison ;- they tried to scale the walls; the guards in the court fired on them. ‘Then Rao Khan appeared and spoke to the angry crowd. He begged them to wait. He told them that you belonged not to him, but that Makar Ma- kalo had sent you here for safe keeping, that you were the slaves of Makar Makalo. The people only howled in derision. They became more angry and infuriated, and refused to listen any longer. ‘The Englishmen must die !’ they cried. Rao Khan was fearful in his anger. But he was powerless. He feared the destruction of the palace, the loss of his own life.’’ Here Canaris paused and looked with infinite pity at the Englishmen. Guy tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. Melton laid his hand on the Greek’s arm. ‘‘Go on, go on,’’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘‘ We are men, not cowards. Let us know the worst.’’ CHAPTER XI.—CANARIS UNFOLDS A TALE. ‘“ WrLL,’’ said Canaris, ‘‘I will tell you. Rao Khan has promised your lives to the people. It was his only hope, and now, his word once given, he will not dare to break it.’ CORNICLOOOLS