Atlantida - Page 49/145

I drew several little presents from my saddlebags and was astonished

at the reserve of the chief, who refused them. He seemed afraid even

of my glance.

When they had gone, I expressed my astonishment at this shyness for

which my previous experiences with the tribes of the Sahara had not

prepared me.

"They spoke with respect, even with fear," I said to Eg-Anteouen. "And

yet the tribe of the Eggali is noble. And that of the Kel-Tahats, to

which you tell me you belong, is a slave tribe."

A smile lighted the dark eyes of Eg-Anteouen.

"It is true," he said.

"Well then?"

"I told them that we three, the Captain, you and I, were bound for the

Mountain of the Evil Spirits."

With a gesture, he indicated the black mountain.

"They are afraid. All the Tuareg of Ahaggar are afraid of the Mountain

of the Evil Spirits. You saw how they were up and off at the very

mention of its name."

"It is to the Mountain of the Evil Spirits that you are taking us?"

queried Morhange.

"Yes," replied the Targa, "that is where the inscriptions are that I

told you about."

"You did not mention that detail to us."

"Why should I? The Tuareg are afraid of the ilhinen, spirits with

horns and tails, covered with hair, who make the cattle sicken and die

and cast spells over men. But I know well that the Christians are not

afraid and even laugh at the fears of the Tuareg."

"And you?" I asked. "You are a Targa and you are not afraid of the

ilhinen?"

Eg-Anteouen showed a little red leather bag hung about his neck on a

chain of white seeds.

"I have my amulet," he replied gravely, "blessed by the venerable

Sidi-Moussa himself. And then I am with you. You saved my life. You

have desired to see the inscriptions. The will of Allah be done!"

As he finished speaking, he squatted on his heels, drew out his long

reed pipe and began to smoke gravely.

"All this is beginning to seem very strange," said Morhange, coming

over to me.

"You can say that without exaggeration," I replied. "You remember as

well as I the passage in which Barth tells of his expedition to the

Idinen, the Mountain of the Evil Spirits of the Azdjer Tuareg. The

region had so evil a reputation that no Targa would go with him. But

he got back."

"Yes, he got back," replied my comrade, "but only after he had been

lost. Without water or food, he came so near dying of hunger and

thirst that he had to open a vein and drink his own blood. The

prospect is not particularly attractive."