Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
26
UNDER THE TURBAX.
man, of New York. My father went to Teheran six years ago,
at the instance of the American consul, and made a t'ort1111e:
there as a contractor. He died there, and I a111 011 my way
back to join my sister in New York."
“I am very glad that l was able to render you the service
that I did," replied the captain. “It was an experience 1 shall
never forget while I live."
“Nor will I," returned Jack.
trip to Mecca when I get to New York.
Christian ever made such a trip before."
“It has been claimed that two or three succeeded in getting
through a long time ago, but I don't know how true it is."
“Well, I know that I have come through, and you are a
pretty good witness of the peril that followed n1e to the sea.“
“Yes, yes, and all my crew, Send me a copy of the hook to
Liverpool."
And the captain wrote his address on a card and gave it to
Jack.
They shook hands and parted, and then Jack proceeded to
make arrangements for the trip across the country to Cairo.
He inquired of the landlord, and from l1i111 ascertained where
he could procure transportation.
An Egyptian was in the business of running camels throrgh
to Cairo, and to him Jack applied for transportation for him-
self and servant.
It was then ast-ertained that once a week he sent a small
caravan of camels to Cairo. Jack would have to wait three
days, or else buy a couple of camels for the trip.
He decided to wait the three days, and so informed Nadir.
The Bedouin was not averse to the delay. The Orientals are
never in a hurry about anything. They have little use for
railroads or telegraphs. The same mode of travel that served
their purposes a thousand years ago meets all their wants to-
day.
Jack spent the three days in hunting up news from Europe
and America, whilst Nadir wandered about among the Mo-
hammedans and asked questions.
On the third day Nadir rushed up to Jack's room in the
inn, and said:
“Master, they have followed us to Egypt.”
“Who have followed us?”
“They who pursued us to Jiddah from Holy Mecca.”
“That cannot be possible.”
“Yea, master, but I have seen them. I have seen Ali-Ben-
Kasem, and there are ten Arabs with him.”
“Did they see you?"
“They did not, for I came‘ secretly away to tell thee.”
“Well, they can't arrest us here. We are not in Arabia
now,” said Hassan. '
“Thou little knowest thy danger, oh master.
come to take us away, but to slay us.”
“Then they will be punished by Egyptian laws,” said Has-
san, “for they will be n1urderers."
“True, oh, master, but that would not restore thee to life,”
replied the Bedouin.
“Thy head is level as the plains of Arabia, oh, Nadir,” re-
turned Hassan. “We must. take steps to thwart them."
Jack was not a little uneasy at the position he found him-
self in, and for a time did not know what. to do.
“Nadir,“ he said to the Bedouin, “keep a watch till I can
determine what to do.“
Nadir went. down again, and Hassan sent for the landlord,
who came up promptly to see him.
“I want. to hire an armed guard to go with me to Cairo.
I get them?"
"Yes," was the reply. “How many will be i1emle<l?"
“About twenty, I think. I have a treasure with n1e which
“I shall write a book on my
I don't know that any
They have not
Can
robbers all the way from Arabia have followed me to get. I
want good lighting men, for we may be attacked here 01' on
the way to Cairo.“
The landlord hzistcned to secure the necessary guard, and in
two hours had them on handsfellahs, as they are called in
Egyiit--1111 ariuod with rifles of Englisli make.
They were setretctl in a room iii the inn until the caravan
was ready to start.
An hour bvl‘ore the caravan was to start, a number of Arab
sl1‘;111gL‘1‘s t-:u11c in the inn-coining; one l)y one. Nadir saw and
rm-o::,11ixetl son1e’ol' them.
At last Ali-B011-Kasciii came up, and Nadir kept his eye on
him. The ‘.'cn;:eful Bedouin was itching to spring upon him
and give hi111 a taste of his knife.
The l:1ndl<11'd soon learned that they had come in search oi.‘
Hass-an and his servant Nadir.
He ciitleavorod to persuade them to leave, saying that no
such persons were in his house, but they had found out to the
(-oi1t1'ary, and would not leave.
'l‘l1<‘11 he found it 11(‘(’(‘SS2il'y to call upon the armed gruard to
i11terfv1‘e.
The follahs inurolicd i11lo the room where they were, and the
order to drive out the Arabs was given. VVhe1‘eupon Ali and
his assassins left. but massed theniselves in a body iii the
street.
Jack saw that they were determined to force a figlit, kiiowing
that the fact or his heiiifz an infidel who had gone to 1VIQ(‘(‘8.
in tlisgzuisc would be considered a just cause of death by the
ltlo‘.1:11n1n<-<l:u1s.
“I'll give ‘cm the ftslit, right here, now," he said. “Come,
Nadir, wc‘ll destroy them and end the matter now," and draw-
ing his revolver he liastcned downstairs to join the guard of
fellahs.
CHAPTER XXII.
JACK ARRIVES IN e.xmo.
As he dashed into the large reception-room of the inn where
the armed escort was, Hassan cried out to them:
“Follow me, and obey orders! ”
Nadir was close behind him, and the Fellahs followed them
promptly.
Out, on the street the Arabs raised the cry of:
“Allah il Allah! “ and rushed at him.
Jack a11d Nadir responded with the same cry, and opened
fire with revolvers.
Four of the Arabs went down, and the others took to their
heels.
Nadir spran,;’ away like a deer i11 pursuit of Ali-Ben-Kasen1.
Both were fleet-footed. and they dashed through the Sandy
streets of the little town as if ru11nin:i“ora prize,
The fcllahs pursued the others, who kept pretty wen to-
gether, 1"1ring on them as they ran,
Tliat was stnnethingz Jack had not counted on, and as he had
tired first. they took that as the proper thing to do,
Thus it was that the little tow11 of Port Said was treated to ‘
a battle on a small koala in her streets,
Arab after Arab went down, and two Fenahg were 3,150
wounded.
‘But the fellahs did not cease tiring till all but one of the
Arabs had fallen. 'lh:1t one took refuge in a house, from which
he was rlrnL'.Lcrl and ruthlcs'sly shot.
Jack yelled at them to stop firing, hut as two of their num-
ber had been wounded they were rm, angry to listen to any
orders froin one who was an Arab himse”
in the meantime Nadir overtook Ali several mocks away