Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 190: 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 183 solemn journey? Perhaps. * Thank God! he wifl never see her again,” the prince murmured as he turned away to feed the camels with dhurra moistened with water. | CHaprer XXXI—PRISONERS OF War. On they started again, after this respite, plodding over the dismal heights of the mountains, through awful ravines and over monstrous crags, Dorothy again falling asleep in her saddle. Tenderly Bardoff tied her safely in her high perch for the rest of the bitter march, and so plodded wearily on till day- break. | With the gray of dawn they had reached the highest point of the range, commanding a view of the more diverse conntry, stretching far to the Red Sea, some fifty miles away. Finding a safe refuge, for the mountams were known to be tnfested with robbers, the two ate their simple breakfast with gusto; then leaving their camel to rest in the ambush, they climbed a crag to gain a view of the prospect before them. A most astonishing panorama was spread out to their view—a wild and ragged landscape, enlivened here and there by winding ridges of low trees and shrubbery. The glad sight moved their hearts as nothing had since their hour of deliverance at Omdurman. “See!” cried Dorothy, leapmg upon a boulder and making binoculars of her two brown hands. “ What is that rising globe over the horizon?” Then, after a momrent of keen scrutiny, she added, “ it ts a balloon; it is a balloon, as I live!” “You have good sight,” satd the prince. “I see something against the leaden clot trails, but I cannot distinguish what itis. Itis very fikely a war balloon somewhere near Snakim, from which the outlooks are watching operations———” “‘ And those clouds,” broke in Dorothy, breathlessly, “ those clouds which we thought were only vapor. Do you see what they are?” “* No,” said the prince pravely. “The smoke of battle, comrade,” she cried excitedly. “ They are fight- ing. Can you not see it all? It is as plain as if I had my binoculars right here in my hand. It must be something terrific; and the huge balloon is watching it all from a height, probably telegraphing reports to Suakim———” “ And on to Cairo——” “ And on to England and to America!” cried Dorothy, with the rapture of one inspired. The prince laughed hysterically. Indeed, for the first time it seemed as if they were looking down into the promised land, and it was to be theirs. The prince lay upon his back, gazing upward. “ You must be right,” he said, ‘ for do you see these vultures flying over from the desert? They are the scavengers of the battlefield. One can always tell where there is fighting by watching the course of a flock of them.” Then he leaped up, throwing out his hands as if a sudden revelation had descended upon him. GOnnGooe UN ceo