Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-06-21

and thrustlng IN my arm up TO Inc shoul-
ders, touched the hallowed and yenerated
spot. The rocks and mountains were ech-
ding the discharge of my pistol, like peals
of crashing thunder; and while with the
burning brand in one hand, | was thrusting
the other through the grating, the deafen-
ing reverberations seemed to rebuke me for
an act of sacrilege, and rushed up the
stairs like guilty and fear struck criminal.
Suddenly | heard from the foot Of the
mountain quick and irregular discharge
of fire arms, which again resounded in loud
echoes through the mountains. 1t was far
from my desire that the bigotted Mussul.
mans should come upon me and find me
with my pistol still smoking in my hand,
and the brush still burning in the tomb of
the prophet; and tearing off piece Of the
ragged pail, we hurried from the place
and dashed down the mountain on the op-
posite side, with a speed and recklessness
that only fear could give. If there was
room for question between scramble or a
jump, our shoes were off in an instant; one
leaned off the brow of the precipice, and
gave the other his hand and away we went
allowing nothing to stop us.-Once for a
moment we were at loss; but Paul, who
in the excitement of one successful leap at
ter another, had become amazingly conf
dent, saw stream of water, and made for
it with the glorious boast that where water
descended we could: and the suggestion
proved correct, although the water found
much less difficulty in getting down than
we did. In short, after an ascent the most
toisome, and a descent the most hair BRAIN
ed and perilous it was ever my fortune to
accomplish, in about half an hour we were
at the base of the mountain, but still hurry
ing on to join our escort.
We had only to cross little valley to
reach the regular camel track, when we
saw from behind slightly elevated range
Of rocks the head and long neck of drom.
edary; Bedouin was on his back, but ri.
ding sideways, did not see US. Another
came, and another, and another; then two
or three, and finally, halfa dozen at time,
the blacklist, grimest and ugliest vagabonds
have yet seen. A moment before Paul
and had both complained of fatigue, but
it is astonishing how the sight of these hon.
est men revived us; any one seeing the
manner in which we secured along the
side of the mountain, would have thought
that all our consciousness was in our legs.
The course we were pursuing when we first
saw them would have brought us on the
regular camel track, a little in advance OF
them, but now our feet seemed to cling TO
the sides of the mountain. We were in a
humour for almost calling upon the rocks to
fall upon us and cover us; and if there had
been good lodging place, | am afraid that
should here have to say that we had Ia.
ken advantage of it, until the very unwel-
come caravan had passed by; but the
whole surface of the country, whether on
mountains side or in valleys depth, was
bare and naked as floor; there was not a
bush to obstruct the view, and soon we stood
revealed TO these unpleasant Witnesses Of
our agility. They all shouted to us at once
and we returned the salute looking at them
over our shoulders, but pushing on as fast
as we could walk. In civilized society oul
course proceeding would have been con.
sidered decided cut; but the unmannerly
savages did not know when they received
a civil cut, and were bent on cultivating
our acquaintance. With loud shout, slip.
ping off their camels and whipping up theil
dromedares, they left the track and dash
ed across the valley to intercept us. Itolc
Paul that it was all over and now we mus
brazen it out; and we had just time to turr
round and reconLoitre for moment, be-
fore we were almost trodden under foot by
their dromedaries.
|
1t seemed that there was nothing hostile
! IN thair intentions. for fbouob thox, ~ p,f