Adventure Magazine Cover — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

The Edge of the Simitar to his seat and urging him with many cries upon Allah to restrain himself. The Frenchman now received his first marked impression of Miriam’s really ex- traordinary beauty. She suggested some Babylonian queen. Cohusac’s mind flew from one type to another, trying to form a satisfactory comparison—something of the wildly passionate Salome, an unrestrained daughter of Bedouins; something of the noble Greek, a Sappho, heartsick and yearn- ing for an unattainable ideal; something even of the Maid of Orleans, pure-minded, indomitably courageous, capable of any sacrifice to attain a lofty end. He felt a curious stirring of sympathy within him. When Abu Khalil had first laid his hands upon her the Frenchman smiled to himself cynically; but nowas hestudied her the tragic beauty of her face disarmed him. There was an enigma here! She possessed first that per- fection of ardent natural beauty that instinc- tively arouses the desire of men; but in her forehead and eyes there was a contradiction. _There was a powerful mind in that small head; there was a spirit of flame and steel in the strong, graceful body. Amid the uproar she stood alone, poised firmly, chin level, eyebrows drawn down in an expression of contempt and anger. All of once, like most bursts of violence in Africa, the anger of the men subsided. Miriam spoke in a husky voice that was at first tremulous, almost passionate, but grew clear and ringing as she gained the attention of the men. These, somewhat shamed by the outbreak, sat on their rugs in silence, breathing heavily, watching her, with their cloaks lifted to their mouths. “Wallah! In the name of Allah the Com- passionate, are you beasts or men? Are you followers of the Prophet or servants of your lusts? Be shamed! While you wrangle and snarl like dogs, kudha! Our enemy is be- hind our backs, burning our fields! Mock me for my woman’s body; but of what avail is that? It is written that the house divided against itself shall fall. Behold, while you fight among yourselves over that which is unattainable to you, the enemy is in your villages like a leopard in a sheepfold. “By Allah! Ghabah, what will you say to your Gallas when they flee in the night for want of your leadership? You, Omar Georgios, are the tokhuls* of Tigre secure while you permit your heart to turn to * Huts. 165 water in the shadow of the harimlik? As for you, Abu Khalil, it would be better for us if we had the leadership of Gholee Beabu, demon of the wastes, than that of one whose master is lust!’ “There is no power or strength save in Allah the exalted and mighty!” growled Abu Khalil. “Deen Mohammed!’ cried a Somali chief- tain, leaping up. His cry galvanized the others to action. All leaped up, repeating the cry. “Taib!’”’ said Miriam, lifting her hand for silence. ‘My brothers, let us take council in calmness! This Essevier Effendi has escaped us. It was the will of Allah. So be it. But are we to remain here like dogs chained by the neck, while he brings the powers to devour Abyssinia? The time is at hand for us to draw the simitar and arouse the faithful. Deen Mohammed!” “That at least is sense,’’ said Abu Khalil. “Behold, I am ready!” said Ghabah, his large eyes looking eagerly at Miriam for approval. “Vour excellency,” said Miriam calmly to Abu Khalil, “have you the means? Let us end talk. The moon is descending over the mountain. Let us plan. It is not pos- sible to take passage in the steamer without discovery. Nor is it advisable to land to- gether in Djibouti, where some of us will be recognized. Yet we must go. “Now! His Highness, Lidj Yassou, has already abandoned Christianity and es- poused Islam. He has gone to Dire-Dawa and thence to Harrar, where plans are per- fected for an alliance with the Somalis. The Dankalis, true to the faith, have already risen and cut the railroad that runs from Djibouti to Addis-Abeba. You of Abys- sinia must go and arouse your rases* and your shumst to rally to the Prince; you of Somaliland must go instantly to your tribes. “The time is at hand. The spark has been struck. The flame of Islam will sweep all before it. Death to the infidel! Deen Mohammed!” “All is provided,” said Abu Khalil. “T have kept a dhow in readiness, cruising off Ras Morbat, watching for a signal flashed from the gabbah on the western slope beyond the Mount of the Vultures. Within half an hour the captain will know he is expected. If you are agreed we can embark before the moon has set.” *Feudatory chiefs. ¢ Lesser chiefs. NOOK 1 @)