The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-28

in which our birds had been let foose,t the ie.-
ses had remained fastened to the legs of one
OF them. Several men on foot had laid their
bnrnous in such way as to take the eagles
without being wounded by them. and thus
they had discovered the trick thst had been
played them.
I'VE sought in terror some remedy for
our thoug htlessness. There was nothing left
but to 60 by, which We d,d 40 tast as our legs
could carry US, without thinking Of our ass,
Who, however, was destined to save nv life
in that days frolic
"For about an Lour We ran, following the
course OF the brook and sheltered bv the trees
along the sides, whea We perceived four
horsemen about two hundred feet behind Us;
and short distance from them were the en-
tire gOum Of the Sheik.
They we're all following Us fast on our
tracks. some on horseback ami some On foot,
tracking Us on the sandy soil like Wild beasts.
There was no longer anv use in flight,
and We turned aside to conceal ourselves as
best We might.
"Lakdar chose clump Of tamarind and
thorn trees, and |, leaping down the bank,
ran into the water, which came about to my
shoulder, while the running vines aud broad
'eavcd plants concealed nv head from view
above. ! bad hardly reached this place of
comparative security when heard the voice
Of horseman calling Come over here, we
see their tracks in the sand as plain a. day.
light, there are two Of the dogs together
"1mmediately the clattter OF galloping feet,
and the sound Of horses painting under their
rapid course, came to NV ears, aud ANNOUNCE
ed the arrival Of the Sheik with all his men,
"'Let ten men 60 forward he cried, until
the tracks are lost, and then stand still watch.
ing both side Of the brook. and then the rest
Of you, my men, dismount and hunt up the
brook until Won find the wretches, and bring
them to me alive or dead
Il readily saw that wher this order was
carried out. !.akdar's fate was decided. Nv
concealment was better than his, and | enter
tanned the hope that might he preserved to
revenge his fate
Al this moment noticed that the water,
which at first was only up to nv shoulder,
was now moistenins my lips, and my feet
were gradually sinking deeper ia the mud
1t is said that he who has never any fear is
not human, and | am not ashamed to say that
at that time was right we'll frightened. not
only by the near approach Of the knives of
my pursuers, but also with the alternative
prospect Of drowning in the water. though,
Of my tent and my mare.
II was suddenly aroused from my pre-oc.
cupations BY the report Of a pistol, followed
hy imprecations. blows and sounds of mus.
kets. II was the fusilsde Of my cousin. who
finding himself discovered IN his retreat, hal
fired his pistol on bis foes and then fell
sword in hand, under their shots and sabre
cuts. BY few words that could hear amid
the clamor, | learned that Lakdar was moi
quite dead, and that they we're dragging hin
before the Sheik. Careless of the danger
and desiring, above everything, % discover
what they we're about to do with my friend
was about leaving nv retreat, when two
men jumped into the bed If th. brook.
ale came down here said the FIRST
pointing to my steps in the sand.
eyes, those are his foot prints said the
other, turning towards the border where
wss standing motionlrss ten steps of. looking
at him from between the leaves that covered
my head.
"'lt is queer continued the first there
are no more tracks 10 be seen in the bed Of
the brook can he have been drowncd!'
AT this moment heard steps on the banks
above my head, and man called to the A.
rab who was near me:
"'Mohammed, the Sheik sent me to find
you, because none of the horsemen have a
good knife as YOURS
"'What doyou want with the knife ?,
asked the man.
"'To cut ofl the head of the dog whom We
have taken, answered the messenger.
The thought Of cutting Of mans head
was SO pleasant an anticipation Is to beguiie
the villains from their search after me, which
relieved me from one OF the most uncomtorta
BILE positions in which have ever found my
self placed
"Frem what had heard, my cousin va.
doomed to lose his head, and could j.
nothing to rescue him.
"Persuaded that the men who had Just lef
would return after the execution, and not be-
ing able, without leaving the prints Of m,
steps, to seek another shelter, | resolved tG
remain where was.
"a root lcould reach in the bank abov,
my head, enabled me to raise myself for a,
: instant, aud take a position which would saw,
me from the danger Of drowning.
! after having heard the cries and nois,
laughter caused by the triple execution whicl
was taking place behind me, it seemed as il
!, the horses we're leaving the brook, aud 500
all was quiet in the woods around me.
"Time moved on with the waning day
: and kept my difficult position, until the SUI
> sunk beneath the horizon. Presently tn
l. twilight msntled the woods, and the stars on
by one came out in the sky, and still all wa
hushe and no sound came t. my ear.
y Il drew myself softly out OF my retrea
and carefully assembled the bank Of the brook
:. II listened and looked around me moth
ing in sight, no noise. except the croakin
; Of frogs no living being, except some Jack
: ais wandering around the corpse Of Lakda1
u which found horribly mutilated, and lyin
with our two eagles, bsheade one on eac
e side OF him.
. "After having satisfied myself that I was a
;, lone, wrapped the body and head Of m
cousin in my bu-Dous, and placing 1t on ~
J shoulder, proceeded towards the place whcr
l. We had hidden our mule in the morning.
IL found him in the same spot, quietly grs
+ zing on the grass at the foot ofthe tamarin
y to which be bad been attached. Bindin
my precious bundle on bis back by means oI
u cord, crossed the plain in order to strik
e path which would enable me to arrive q
, the douar before day.
3 IL had walked Tor about four hours with
+ out meeting anything, all the time followe
BY jackals, that attracted BY the smell o
. blood, barked at interval, behind me, whe