Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM 29 He was pleased. You are rightg it is quite picturesque. See the workers in the tobacco fields. I think the trees yonder shelter the banks of the Cape Fear Riverf' They sailed swiftly over the lazy stream and soon were floating on a parallel with the waters of the Atlantic. This will be my first ocean voyage, she began, and I am delighted that it is to be on a magic carpet, for I would be very unused to the swaying of a ship. Doesn't it- Her inquiry was interrupted by the pilot's hooting to the helmsman of an ancient brig over which they were passing. The mariner shouted back and the rug sped swiftly on until the vessel disappeared behind the watery horizon. The plump pilot still wore a broad smile when he turned to his passenger. You were about to put a question to me when I hailed my old friend, were you not? Yes, but first tell me who your friend is. I-Ie is Ned Thatch Simon, a namesake of the famous-or infamous- pirate of the early colonies. I have known him ever since my father and I first tried our winged horse over the ocean. I met him at Cape Lookout. You had a flying horse? Yes, but the poor beast died with fright from an aeroplane. Now, out with your question. It has answered itself, because if we keep up this speed it will not take three days as I thought. Oh, dismiss the thought. Our journey will be over in three hours. It took me but an hour to cross from Dakar to Raleigh. How interesting! NVell worn as the phrase was, it proclaimed to Ahmed an appreciation of his manner of discoursing. He soon found opportunity for displaying more of his knowledge when they approached the Azores. He was well acquainted with these islands, he explained, both by study of his native geographer, Erisi, and by frequent visits to them. He gave a long string of the unpronounceable names of his friends there, pointed out many villages, and gave the history of the islands. Wlien at length he had finished, Millacent breathed a sigh of relief and settled deeper into the downy carpet. For the first time since her eventful journey began, she felt strangely unfamiliar with all of her surroundings. Ahmed read her thoughts. . You are on a different hemisphere now, and your advent bears with it an odd sensation which will soon be overcome. Lo! we are come to the pass of Hercules! They passed over the gigantic mountain of rock and came above the vast waters that divide two continents. As the girl stood up to view the novel scene, the kindly breeze fanned her flushed face. She listened with unusual interest to her conductor. To the north across the Sierras stands the mystic Alhambra. I should fain bring you closer but the sun is well up in the west and we must hasten. Witli a magic word the pilot had the rug flying as an arrow and they were soon floating above the city of Algiers. The magic air ship was brought to a halt on the summit of the Casbah, the ancient residence of the deys. After rolling the carpet up, Ahmed said, Before we go to the aeroplane station, let us take a view of the modern towng there is a fine outlook at the end of this street. Together the travelers strolled down the narrow, crooked, street, walled by strong, prison-like houses. At length they came out of the shadows of the frowning edifices into the sunlight. Below, Algiers spread from the slope and

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28 LILIUM CONVALLIUM A Trip to Timlouctoo Under the shade of a rare group of oak trees that provide shelter for the weary traveler of Utah, on a sultry day in mid-summer, Millacent sat and looked dreamily about her. At her side lay a well-worn volume of the Arabian Nightsn and in her hands she loosely clasped an open book of Tenny- son's poems. Glancing down she quoted half audibly, I stood upon the Mountain which o'erlooks The narrow seas, whose rapid interval Parts Africa from green Europe- How often I have wished that I might be carried to Timbuctoo and stand there on the hill with the poet admiring the city. Perhaps some day I may. Today, will be that 'some day'. Millacent, looking up, was astonished to see the owner of the low voice that had taken her so unawares. Before her on an elaborate oriental carpet stood a dark, squatty, little man. The turban sur- mounting his broad, smiling face matched his vari-colored costume of jacket, high collared waist, bloomers that reached to his ankles, and shoes with tips that touched his knees. He read perplexity in her face and hastened to explain his mission. You are to come on this rug to Algiers, where you will transfer to a swift aeroplane that will take you over the Sahara Desert to Timbuctoo. Are you prepared to go immediately? With a cry of delight the girl assented and jumped onto the soft carpet. At a word of magic from the chubby pilot, the rug soared into the blue vault of heaven. Millacent saw from her elevated position all the country with which she was familiar, but as they mounted higher and sailed faster, she lost sight of the dot that marked her home. As she sat gazing up at the firmament, she felt a little regret that she had come, though the end of her journey held a cherished delight. To begin conversation she asked her companion his name. My name, he announced readily, is Ahmed. After a pause he exclaimed, Ah, see to the north flows the Yellowstone River. A remarkable production of nature, is it not? As they sped on he continued, Oh, look to the east, that is the Big Horn River and now we shall come to the mountains of the same name. Of Wyoming state I am particularly fond. Whenever I travel to the West, I make it my aim to come here for I enjoy the scenery immensely. I ventured farther today. Expecting to find an oasis in that clump of trees, I landed and, hearing the name of one of my chief posts, I wished to become acquainted with the speaker who so longed to see itf' You wanted water, then? Millacent inquired. No, oh no, I forgot myself for the time and thought I was traveling over the Sahara, where one usually makes an oasis his goal. How our little flyer does go todayg we are already above the wide corn fieldsf, Silently the two gazed down upon the waving corn that stretched over vast fields. In vain did Millacent search for a new topic to discuss, for her partner became suddenly mute and ceased to talk as quickly as he had begun. At length, as they floated over Tennessee, her companion found his tongue. And now we come to 'Sunny Tennessee'. I-Ie spoke less rapidly than he had done before. Look at the small cotton field yonder. Now we are passing a peanut field. The girl looked absently downward. Her guide became silent again. She thought he was hurt by her lack of enthusiasm in commenting on the scenery and hurriedly exclaimed, This section is very picturesque!

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30 LILIUM CONVALLIUM along the shore. The bright, handsomely built town with its broad streets, adorned by arcades and elegant squares, was very unlike the gray fortress back of them. Again they pursued their way down a dreary street and Ahmed led the way through a low doorway, down a narrow hall and into a large, open quad- rangle. Men dressed as aviators walked in and out of the huge sheds at the opposite side of the court. One of them, noticing the two, clanked over the rude stones and shook the little Arabian's hand most warmly. Ahmed, you indeed made good speed. Who is your fair companion? After an introduction to Herman, the aviator, Millacent regretted to hear her little friend say, Now, my friends, I am very sorry to take my departure but I have important business in Suez. I trust I shall see you both in the near futuref, Having received sincere thanks from his passenger for bringing about the realization of her dreams, the little man gave his charge over to Herman, hoppd on the rug and was soon a mere speck in the sky. Come, Herman directed, you must dress as befits an aviatrixf, Millacent sat in the flying machine. It hummed up into the blue and with a deafening roar set straight its path over the arid Sahara. On looking down as they sped along, Millacent could see an occasional oasis around which tents of Tibbu and Negroes were placed, protected by date-palms and olive trees. To the far east a caravan could be seen making its weary way over the sand dunes. Incidentally a few black cattle or zebra roamed over a knoll and hid themselves again in some foliage. All at once the air became cooler and more huts appeared. The airship made a dash for the roadway ahead and Millacent knew that she was at Timbuctoo. Together she and Herman walked to the top of the palm-covered hill. This she had done many times in her own imagination, but now she was able to stand with Tennyson viewing with her own eyes the beautiful city with its three mosques in the center and two old forts to the north. Far to the south the lordly Niger flowed and with Longfellow she . . . heard the tinkling caravans Descend the mountain road. She stood as one in ecstasy for a momentg then a mist curtained the scene from her. She looked around her in the gloom. Herman was not to be seen. She looked at her hands. They were no longer clad in leathern gloves but clasped a worn book. At her side lay the Arabian Nightsv. The palm- dates above her changed to acorns. And the light of the setting sun behind the hills of Utah broke in upon the mist. -BIBIANA MAHER, ,27.