Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

A FAIR SLAVE TO THE MAHDL 381 Half way to the point of refuge the prince met Dorothy, who had been made nearly insane by the suspense and terrors of the rising simoom. She almost fell into his arms, and sobbed hysterically: “ I thought you were dead. I should have gone mad if I had been compelled to stay there alone another moment. The uncertainty was terrible. Tell me what has happened? There is blood ” “ Never mind!” cried Bardoff, taking the pack, which was crushing her toearth. “ Weare not done for yet. There is still hope that we may escape. I have just accomplished a grand coup,” and he told her what had happened. In a few minutes the camel was loaded with their own provisions and such of the dervishes’ as they might have use for; and then they hurried on before the increasing sand storm, resolving to keep up the run as far as possible before seeking shelter. suddenly Bardoff gave a low whistle of surprise as he slowed up some- what and began to inspect some fresh camel tracks in the trail, which were now blown over lightly by the sand drifts. “It 1s as I suspected,” he said. ‘We have come upon the messengers whom the emir sent on to Osman Digna.” | ‘“ Are they near?” asked Dorothy, choking with the dust. ‘They cannot be more than a mile ahead.” ‘Then let us stop here, and let them get farther ahead. This is no time nor place for an encounter.” * On the contrary, comrade,” said the prince, giving the camel a cut that made her spring forward, “ it is the very best time and place possible. They will be off their guard. It will be so unexpected ” He paused, for his eyes were upon the clean cut footprints. ‘“‘ Ha! they have gone into ambush to lie down till the sand storm is passed. Wait here for me. I will recon- noiter. Don’t fear,” he said encouragingly. “Stay on the trail, and I shall surely find you again. These scoundrels must never reach Osman Digna, or we shall never reach Suakim; that’s certain; so keep up heart. I shall not be long, I promise you. No one will trouble you in this storm. We have come too fast to be run down, and the storm 1s too hard to face. You have nothing to fear.” Bardoff had not gone fifty yards when he came upon two camels bound together, their noses thrust almost under their forelegs, and beyond them were two shapes sprawled out in the drifting sand, covered with blankets and evidently asleep. With one hand clutching his sword, with the other the prince threw back the covering of the larger of the two men, exposing as he did so a warrior of the Amarar tribe, from whose straw girdle there hung a pouch of snake skin bound with the scarlet flag of the emir, Mamud el Fiki. Here then was the coveted prize. Cutting it loose while the man slept like the dead, Bardoff turned away and drew forth the message to Osman Digna; with its big seals and pompous flourishes, thankful that he could escape without shedding more blood. Then he stole back to the two camels and kicked them upon their feet. GORGE OOO A) UN ceo