THE RED SLIPPER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 166, 13 July 1907, Page 14

THE RED SLIPPER.

A Stirring Story of AdVenture in the Land of the Moors

CHAPTER XIII. THANKS TO THE DANGLING HEADS. It was Harding, all right. He gave the prearranged signal ere •we met, and I gladly answered it. I noted the fact that he had several men with him. These were Moors beyond a doubt, or if natives of the savage mountain tribes, Mussulmans, at least." I knew not the secret of his power over them, but believed this man capable of playing the strongest kind of a game. Why. would you believe it, I should not have experienced an overpowering surprise did I learn that they looked upon him as the reincarnated Prophet returned to establish an earthly kingdom of the favoured few. Of course that was improbable as a solution to the mystery, but I only mention it as an example of what his audacity might soar to. Somehow my attention seemed wholly taken up with the party garbed in female attire. Every detail of her dreas had been religiously carried out in accordance with the severe requirements of the Mohammedan faith a≤ applied to women upon the public streets. A veil and yashmak effectually concealed her face, but I knew it must be llary. Then Harding, to save time rather than to cheat mc out of any glory in the premises, had arranged to take the captive of the seraglio from her prison. In my eagerness I even forgot the dignity that, should have gone in keeping with my assumed character of a Fezzan merchant. She knew mc, too. perhaps from the swift advance I made, for behold, a little hand stole out from the folds of her sombre garment, and met my outstretched fingers. It was indeed just as well no suspicious eyes beheld us then, else would our position have been rendered doubly dangerous. "Mary," I could not help whispering, just as* though we had been friends for years; but then the memory of those olden days was still strong upon mc, and I could hardly bring myself to believe the clear-eyed little witch of that long ago had grown into womanhood. "Mr. Thompson! Oh, I am so glad to see you! Your friend has carried out all your wonderful plans for my rescue: he is a magician, for even the gates opened at hi:; touch. What do I not owe to your disinterested kindness? God bless you, my friend!" This she poured into my ear in the lowest of voices, and which thrilled mc with its intensity, showing how the \§prds surely sprang from her heart direct. What she spoke contained much meat for mc. In the first place it told mc dear old Jaspar had played' second fiddle, glorifying mc with the evident desire to enhance my cause. He had eien gone so far as to make it appear that in rescuing her he but served as an humble instrument, representing my overmastering genius. How my heart warmed toward him then! Here was a comrade worthy of the name. Take notice all who delight to boast of what wonderful friendships existed in the days of Damon and Pythias, of David and Jonathan. Then again I was interested in the progress which Harding showed with regard to hi.s "open sesame' , qualities. On the occasion of our visit it will • be remembered that we raided the private grounds of the lordly shereef only after considerable effort, in which a trailing rope and more or less ground-and-lofty tumbling prevailed. Now, behold, this same feHow Harding, had gone a big step forward, since it Appeared that he possessed the magical key whereby the gates were unlocked. I sincerely hoped his wizard powers had not been exhausted in the first round. . . We had another gate to tackle, that admitting of egress from the city. There was a choice of evils in this direction, since a gate faced every cardinal point of the compass, though the one looking toward the capital, that Mecca of all the Moors, was reckoned the principal exit. And last of all I realised that in Mary Duncan I had met a woman who knew what gratitude meant —who did not believe all men were created only to serve as doormats for the haughty daughters

of Eve. "I had known several painful experiences of this sort in my own career, which was one reason —to divulge a secret—why I sought an appointment in a land where men are considered the true lords of creation. Well, it must not be presumed that we were standing idly there all this time, while my mind grappled with these vari- J ous problems. On the contrary, we had left the circus as a London man would have denominated the open space before the mosque whence numerous streets shot out like the spokes of a wheel from a hub. Everything seemed to be understood. Hardir.2, as the master mechanic, had only to make a gesture or two, and his vrishes became law. ~.,,., Of course, to mc fell the delightful £a=k of looking after Mary. T did not dare ask her to take my arm, nor must I be seen assisting her by the slightest personal contact, since these vrnvs are foreign to the recognized customs of the country, and would very likely got us into trouble speedily enough. All 1 could do was to walk near her, and feel that I had been appointed by some special act of destiny to serve as Iher protector. Even the thought itself gave mc a pleasure I could not remember ever experiencing before. 1 knew full well the disease was progressing, but by this time 1 began to fee! utterly" indifferent in the matter; indeed, was ready to welcome the advent of Cupid with open arms. While solicitous concerning the wellbeing of llary. I do not want to be understood as indifferent to all else. On the eontiury, my faculties appeared doubly acute, and on the alert for signs of danger. I would certainly never have been ■thus concerned had my own safety alone been at stake. The first thing I noticed that struck mc a.s a part of Harding's well-arranged plans was iv connection with the direction in which we were neading. te S4f gate *°«* F - V ~t I could, see the silvery s tars ' up

ST.GEORGE PATHBORNE AUTHOR Of "Dr. Jack," '■ Little Miss Millions," " Baron Sain, ,, etc through the narrow slit netween'the overlapping house?, and tnus knew we were heading toward the northern exit. The wonderful capital lay far away toward the equator, while in this direction, if one went far enough, and crossed safely over the burning wastes of sand. the blue waters of the Mediterranean would eventually appear. I began to see what my bold friend"s plan might be like. As our little company wound in and out through those narrow streets we did not appear to attract undue attention. When we met one or more citiezns w>lo chanced to be abroad at this unseemly hour, they glanced at us idly enougb as we passed under the weird light, of some lamp set in an iron case at a corner, a nightly example of some good man's charity. They saw what appeared to be a couple of peaceable merchants, accompanied by one who might be a newlypurchased star for a distant harem, heading for some point of departure, perhaps, and guarded, as was customary, by a rennue of armed men. Curiosity went no farther than vague speculation, for it is an unwritten law among the Moors that no man shall interfere with another's personal affairs except in an emergency. I always admired that "every fellow mind his own business" idea. Ami it seemed as though we were to profit by it in our taking French leave •of El Moro. The walls loomed up near at hand. They were, as usual, massive and grini, a source of pride and reliance to the dwellers in the capital. None had climbed over them in the past, and the gates were guarded day and nigh 4 . How. then, were we to pass out? ■Watch Harding. I'is very manner breathed confidence, and for the life of mc I could not entertain c doubt. Mary seemed to keep up surprisingly, and even this fact endeared her moid than ever to mc; for while a man may enjoy feelinjr himsalf the stronger vessel, and even fancy having a terrified J girl throw- her arms about his ne-k. he can also appreciate the brave heart 'that refuses to be cowed, and rises to meet a desperate situation. This she seemed to possess. It was worth a man's time to risk everything for one like her. Here waa the gate. And the guard could be also seen. They appeared to know of our coming, for the first glimpse I had of them every man was craning his neck with eyes turned in our direction. More legerdemain. vSinbad, with all his accredited dealings with Satan, must really take a back seat when this game of wits was on the boards. He was but a novice, dealing with the primitive forces, while Hardinjr I stamped as a past master of the art, to whom nothing seemed impossible. Why, to my utter astonishment, every blessed one of those desert warriors stood up in line as we approached, and made some sort of obeisance that L presumed was intended to proclaim "Iheir ready adherence to the new cause.

Come, had niv friend bewitched the | whole of the shereefs standing army; did they look upon him as a ;rod far superior to the uabob whom for long years they had served? It seemed possible, nay. even probable. As to the passage of the gates, that was so easy that 1 lautrhed to think I had, ever dreaded it; they yawned wide open, giving free access to" outer darkness, and the almost boundless desert. Gaily we passed through, making no outward sound, but with music in our hearts. And still there was no sign that the sleeping city might awaken while we were yet within touching distance. I could -almost believe Harding possessed of those superhuman powers that enabled necromancers to effect marvellou3 things in days of yore. It was as though he had stretched out his hands and breathed a desire, and 10. a spell had bound all those whose province it was to defend the capital. Then, too, it would have extended to the square from whence I had so lately taken French leave. I could in fancy picture the scene with the camel men drowsily squatted beside their crouching charges, the frequenters of the fondak taproom wrapped in sound slumber even as they sat cross-legged on the stalls, with quaint old Baba lowering his white head over his wine casks; and outside, wonder of wonders! valiant Capt Ben leaning up against the building, and snoring away most lustily. This was the picture. Perhaps imagination was apt to overdraw such a scene, and Harding'* power be of far less degree: but 1 remember it gave mc passing pleasure to believe he had wrought such a miracle a> the land of the Moor had never before known. Mary tripped while we were passing under the arch of the gate.* And in doing so she gave a little squeal. Of course 1 imagined all manner of sad things in store, from a sprained ankls that might necessitate my carrying her to the spot where the horses awaited our coming, all down the gamut of evils. I sprang to her side. Without thought as to the consequences I threw an arm around her, anticipating that she was about to faint dead away.

Jiut she seemed to recover quickly; indeed, much too speedily to entirely please inc. since I no longer had any business with an arm around her waist. "Oh, horrible!" she murmured. Then I knew what had caused, her to cry out in such a startled fashion. When she slipped her head was thrown back. There were some lanterns hanging around,' and the mysterious light from these made the half-dozen heads that dangled from the arch above look frightfully ghastly. 1 did not blame Mary for being startled when she so suddenly rested her eyes_ upon these grisly reminders that the way of the transgressor in Wazzan is hard; only I would have been better pleased had she taken a little longer time about recovering from the shock. CHAPTER XIV. TO THE DESERT. It was in this manner that we went out. The chances were strongly in favour of our never seeing the inside of the shereef's gay capital again in the course of our natural lives; at least, both Harding and myself were hoping fervently this would be the case, know-

ing full -well as -we did that it could only i happen as prisoners doomed to a cruci- ] fixion, or some other cruel death. And, behold, no sooner had we cleared ; the gateway than I saw that which ' caused mc to rub my eyes and wonder if , I but dreamed, it all seemed so astound- : ing, so unreal. Close by a caravan awaited. I The' camels, lightly laden, crouched ' ready to receive their masters; horses i gaily caparisoned had men holding on to their silver-mounted bridles, and there j was a general air of expectancy that to!d mc our coming was to be the signal calculated to start this train in motion over the desert. i Harding had said I might be surprised. He had mc so nearly paralysed that it was for the time b?ing utterly impossible to say a single word, and I was compelled to utilise all my faculties in the effort to grasp the meaning ot these amazing things. Of course, I knew these people who aided and abetted our flight must be secret enemies of the stern old shcrcef. But the question was, how did they come to look upon Harding as their j Moses, calculated to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land. It must continue to remain a blank mystery until 1 had a chance to question the magician. Perhaps his explanation might be so simple that 1 would be amazed to think 1 had failed to grasp it myself. Many tilings only look complex and difficult while shrouded in mystery; let in the light and a child could see through it all. The discovery of America by valiant old Christopher Columbus was in this line, you remember. Likewise the way to stand an egg on end. I was in a receptive mood just then, and willing to take whatever of good the gods provided. It was the part of wisdom. Why complain because I had not been given the chance to perform .all these things? it Harding- possessed the gift of calling spirits from the vasty deep, and exorcising the oracles in our 'oehalf, I was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Here was a caravan complete. I knew just as soon as I understood that Jasper had a hand in it, the arrangements of that desert train must be,as thorough as any that ever wended its way across the sandy wastes of tropical Africa. Long, clean limbed camels, sturdy don- | keys, splendid Arab charges, dusky dri- ! vers, fighting men armed to the teeth ! with the tools of their trade —all this I and more could be put down with assurance as present. ! Why, it looked to my eyes more like I a regular punitive expedition, organised Ito strike a savage blow of retaliation at some audacious mountain tribe. 1 kept an eye on Harding, satisfied that through him only could I learn what it all meant. At our appearance there were signs of a general movement in the camp. Men began to leap into their saddles, camels uttered their strange notes, as though understanding how now their days of peace were over, and they must perfance commeisce a long journey across burning sands; even the horses began to neigh, and curvet in a manner to tickle the fancy of their Centaur masters whose chief delight in life is to show off their accomplishments as daring riders. Our men mingled with the rest. ! There wab much talking as well as \ other clamour. And yet in itself this was nothing to excite alarm in El Moro. since caravans were wont to start upon their dangerous journeys at any hour of thf night in order to take advantage of the coolness. Each doubtless was guilty of considerable noise. I Harding beckoned. I I knew then we were to have our choice of mounts, for camels and horses were around him. ""Have you ever ridden on a camel, Miss Mary?" I asked of my charge. "Oh, yes, when we came here, -, she answered. "When one grows accustomed to the peculiar motion it is much preferable to that of a trotting horse. Suppose we start that way, and change later if deI sirable?"' , I "I am willing to do anything you say. Mr Thompson." Her voice implied a confidence that I hardly believed was merited as yet. j It pained mc to feel that Thompson I had not thus far been given much of a I chance to prove his right to the title lof a thoroughbred, though willing enough. However, the end was not yet. I would merit tfiat confidence ere we were through, or know the reason why. i Just as I thought, Hardiiy, as Blaster of ceremonies, desired to know how we I wished to ride. j "These camels which you selected. j Aleck, arc aboyt as fine fellows a-s 1 ever ! saw," he said, coolly, as he assisted Mary ;to gain her seat on the kneeling beast. ! '"But " I tried to demur. "And the arrangements have all been I carried' out to the letter. This is the i boss caravan of the season. It can only ;be overtaken by horses, ana you know I you've fixed it so that few others are fit ; for duty this hour."' "I—why, confound it, Harding " I He was gone, utterly refusing to let mc denounce him for a fraud of the I first water, in thus forcing upon mc ! the honours that belonged to him alone. Never mind, I could explain to Mary later on, when the surroundings were more propitious, how generously Harding tried to make mc out a wonder, when, after all, I was but an ordinary i mediocre individual. ] She must believe mc, of course. : Before mounting the kneeling beast chosen as my source of torture. I kept tab on Harding. I He went directly up to a little group of horsemen, some of whom seemed to be officers of rank in the shcreefs standing army, if my eyee did not deceive mc. Harding was at home everyv/here. I saw him make a military salute, which the Moors had borrowed from the French along the Algerian border. There was enough light cast by the dying fires for mc to see that in the centre of this group a young man sat upon a milk-white Arab charger.

My first glance told mc he must be a person of more than ordinary importance, and ret, in my eyes, he seemed an utter stranger. Being a newcomer in the shereef's domains, I was not yet conversant with the conditions. And ytt, my common sense told mc this must of necessity be some claimant for the proud position of nabob in the country of Wazzan, just as there is always a pretender in the field, pressing his demands for the crown of all Morocco. Trust Harding for scenting such a thing, and making hay while the sun shone. Perhaps this was the revolution at which he had so archly hinted, and toward which it was his purpose to de-

vote trie proceeds of his treasure hunt.

It would indeed appear to be the irony of fate if the great collection of-ivory and gold dust, which had been swallowed long decades before by the sandstorm, partly through the result of a rebellion that forced ""the lost caravan to leave the beaten track, should now come into play as an element in the restoration of a dynasty long kept outside the works. Personally, I was caring very little about it. The end, and not the means, interested mc. So long as I could carry Mary Duncan beyond the reach of the infatuated old shereef, 1 was utterly indifferent as to whether dog ate dog —whether this young claimant made his cause against the lord of Wazzan good or not. Perhaps he had seemed too small fry for notice.

And yet. if appearances went for much, he had made good use of his opportunities to weld many to his fortunes. The shereef would find himself lacking in various departments of his official standing army when the morning came. This, along with some other surprises, would doubtless convince him that at last he had run up against a foeman worthy of his steel. Lay it all to Harding. I had no doubt it was the wizard wand of my friend that had wrought these wonders out of chaos. He seemed to be treated with consideration by the young claimant, and most of those near by sneezed when the new lord took snuff, so to speak; but, knowing the character of the Moor as I did. I had hard work to convince myself that these were sincere in their resnect.

For, after all, magician though he might prove himself to be, Harding was but a "dog of an unbeliever." There was mounting in hot haste. Looking back, I saw that the gates were closed again, shutting us out from . the cool waters of the city. Little we cared; cur course had been laid, and now there could be no turning back from the plough. I felt proud of Harding theu. And while it seemed a great thing that he should be able to delude so smart a campaigner as the veteran sherepf. my amazement was that in conjunction he had been successful in baffling .Siubad. That wily old chsp somehow gave mc great concern. Ho had a way about him of bobbing up when least expected, and of demoralising one's best laid plan?. However, when I looked back at the grim walls of the Wazzan capital, and realised that everything seemed as calm and peaceful there as in the enchanted city, where the spell had descended upon king and peasant alike—as this condition of affairs forced itself upon my consideration I found a strong hope taking shelter in my heart. Ucavpii favour the right! We might have need of the protecting care of a kindly Providence before reaching the end. The start gave a fair promise, but this was not to be understood as covering the whole ground. There would be a pursuit—sooner or later the irate shereef and what men he could summon to his standard would go galloping forth from the gates of El Moro, ?worn to bring back our heads, or leave their own bodies on the burning sands. This set mc thinking. I wondered what under the sun Harding meant when he hinted about my having taken such excellent precautions that tne horses of the caliph's soldiers should not be in decent condition for a lorg and arduous hunt. Some more of his trickery. If he had never been a jockey, Jasper knew many a secret in connection with the foundering of race horses. Thebpautyof.it all was, he applied his knowledge to the conditions confronting him, and profited by the same. Xow we were off. The caravan presented quite a brave appearance as it dropped into line, camels and horses in regular ordpr, and struck out into the abyssmal darkness. Evan a stoic could net but be impressed by the spectacle, and although I had of late become familiar with many strange scene;-. I could not be insensible to' such a striking panorama as this presented. Besides, Mary Duncan rode by mc, each of us perched upon a hunchbacked ship of the desert that shuffled deliberately along with vast strides. The multitude of stars in the blue span overhead failed to disperse the inky pall that seemed to have clutched the desert by the throat. We. could hardly see the animals just ahead, once the friendly fires had been left behind, and must trust entirely to the instinct of the beasts we rode. That instinct was infallible.

Xo danger of any straying from the long irregular line, half a dozen abra?t. yonder only two, as the personal caprice of the travellers dictated. Of course Mary and I talked. I had a. double object in engaging her in conversation: it was very pleasant to hear tlir music of her sweet voice, for I had be?u so long in Fez that only on rare occasions did I find a chance to talk with an Anglo-Saxon woman, and the voices of Moorish ladies somehow pleased mc not. Then again. I knew that since the death of her father she must be mourning deeply, so that it was an act of mercy to buoy up her spirits. On this account I endeavoured to be as cheerful as I could. One does not often find a duty so pleasant as that was to mc. and the more I heard Mary say. the deeper became my respect for her modesty and other female graces. (To be continued next Wednesday.)