Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 191: what you’re looking at

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

184 THE ARGOSY. “J have it!” he cried, and he drew forth his little note book and pencil, writing in a small, clear hand, the following message: To THE COMMANDER OF THE ENGLISH FORCES AT SUAKIM : Two refugees from Khartoum are advancing from the Kohreb range toward Suakim. One is Miss Dorothy Stanslaus, of New York, who arrived in the Khartoum district by balloon from the Congo ; the other Prince Bardoff, of the Russian embassy at Khartoum. We are the only ones who have escaped, and our rescue was a miracle, The Mahdi is dead. He was poisoned by a Greek girl taken prisoner at Khartoum, whom the Mahdi made his slave. He died on June 24. As the country between the Kohreb and Suakim is alive with the forces of Osman Digna, we are in grave danger of being taken prisoners. Come out to meet us on the Berber road, and so save us from a terrible fate. Miss Stanslaus was known as the ‘‘ angel of light’’ among the Mahdieh, and her coming was supposed to be by divine call of the Mahdi. So far she is safe. For the rest of the journey, 1f you do not come speedily to the rescue it is very doubtful if she ever reaches Civilization: Telegraph St. Petersburg and New York. God save us! PRINCE BARDOFF. Having finished these tidings, the prince took from his pocket the bright scarlet flag of the emir Mahmud el Fiki, which was wrapped around the pouch of the sheik messenger, and tore it into ribbons. Into one of these with extreme care he tied the letter. | “ And what do you intend to do with that?” said Dorothy, when all was done. _“ Watch me,” replied the man of expedients. Climbing up and out upon one of the loftiest ledges Bardoff lay down and bared his bosom to the sky, like one dead. The ruse had its desired effect. From the desert steppes the vultures came flocking over the range, flying high till they met the mountains. Not more than ten minutes elapsed before one of these huge birds, attracted by what appeared to be a feast right beneath him, landed upon the crag and strutted forward. As he came cautiously within reach of Bardoff the bird was seized by the legs and neck. Then Dorothy bound the message to the bird’s leg, after which the screaming messenger was allowed to go free. The vulture fluttered out, sinking upon lower ledges twice and pecking at the scarlet ribbons; but finally it recovered its strength and took up the midair trail with its comrades and disappeared toward the battlefield. “Bravo!” shouted Dorothy. “ That has worked so well, let us try another.” “ Good,” said Bardoff. “Go into hiding and write your message as I wrote mine, and in the mean time IJ will have another Mercury to do your bidding.” | The note was written tremulously, none too clear, and not one millionth part was Said; but with a call from the crag top, Dorothy hastened up to find that the prince had captured another and a larger bird. It was soon served like its comrade, and started toward the scene of carnage. “A marvelous bit of wit!’’ mused Dorothy, as she was passed down to their ambush. “I wonder if it will succeed? ” “Wait,” interposed Bardoff. “ Nothing is a success till it succeeds. We shall see.”’ After a wholesome supper that night in their hiding place, they loaded the provisions upon one of the camels, and each of the travelers taking another, th n es of the mountat e r in. e march down the eastern stepp the mountain rang was . resumed in. ceo