Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-12-06
CHAPTER XXXVII,
A VAILED RESCUER.

walking to and fro in his cage tho detective
paced around the dry cistern, here and there
humping against tho walls and finding no
hole or crcrice which would aid him to es-
cape. lie had but ono hope. lie knew
that Frank was brave and would most likely
set out to look for him; but then how slim
were the chances that under any circum-
stances he would find his way to where the
detective vas imprisoned in the dry subtcr
rancan cistcrn? Each moment now became
an hour, so great became his nervous expcc
tation. Drawing lis revolver he discharged
human being to him. Even tho presence
of one of his swarthy faced foes would have
been preferable to remaining where he was
to die lingering death. lie discharged at
intervals every shot in his revolver As
his cartridge case was in his coat, attached
to his saddle grths, he could not load up
again, and when the last shot was fired ho
sank hopeless, with nothing hut the prospect
Of death before him. Thus the moments
passed until he became insane with chagrin,
and only regretted that he had not retained
one charge whcrcwith to blow out his own
brains and terminate his sutfcrngs. 1t was
i'll this moment of extreme agony that upon
gazing upwards he saw the slimmcr of
light. l.caping to his feet with eyes
startling from their sockets he watched.
The light became brighter as the torch
bearer evidently came nearer. He cssnycd
to halloo, but the excitement under which
he laborcd prevented him from making the
slightest sound. As the light came ucarcr
and nearer, he resolved to wait, hoping even
against hope it might prove to be Frank
An instant later the ray of light from the
lamp flashed directly upon him, aud he saw
II strangely vailed being pccring over tho
edge of the cistcrn at him. Il voice asked
II question in a strange tongue. The detect
i've replied in English. lie saw the woman
move her head negatively, and then as he
had made considerable progress in the study
of the French language, he said in that
language:
81 am stranger, in distress"
Ills heart thrilled, when in the same
language sweet voice answered:
"ilow came you thcrc?"
81 was wandering through tic ruins, and
fell IN here in tho darkness"
"Wuit,' said the vailed woman, "and
will get rope so that you can asccnd."
She disappeared in darkness, while with
anXiously beating heart the detective waited
Then as he remembered the tones of The
girls voice, IL struck him that they sounded
familiar.
con, Heavens" lie mu,murcd, can it be
possible that my rcscucr is Amalc2"
With the thought came second, which
iI'Ied his soul with agony. lie remembered
The scene when he had intruded into the
scragllo. 1t it was Amalic. she was lost to
hin 'urc"cr, and tho fearful fate which he
had come to this land to avert, had over
taken her While induging these thoughts
the light disappeared, aud in few seconds
the yelled girl second time pccrcd over the
verge of the cistcrn. Lnvoiuntarily the
detective called the name "Amalicm The
calling of the name clicitcd no response.
Tho end of rorc, made from leather strips,
was thrown to him, and his vailed rescuer
said:
"You can trust yourself to the rope; it is
strong and securely fastened on this end"
1t took the detective but moment, with
The aid Of the rope, to climb up and stand
beside the girl. lie thanked her warmly
for her aid and asked:
"To whom am | indebted for this great
scrvce?"
81 am the wife Of The Shcik usjah"
care you captivc?
A sigh issued from behind the vail, and
attc: moment came ~ reply:
81 am Georgian. was captured and
purchased by the Sheik lIajah."
"You speak Frcnch?"
eyes; | learned to speak French from a
French trader who lived 10 my native vii
logc."
An idea suggested itself to Walton
Spraguo, and he said:
"Wonld you like to escape and return ia
your homer"
"No."
"You hrc resigned to your fate?"
'l am; but how came to find you hcre?"
''l was exploring the ruius"
"Do you know the risk you ran? Shoik
llaiah is robbcr chief; this is his abode;
had he discovered you, you would have been
pundcrcd and put to cruel DEATH"
"And he is your husband?'
"lou have not time to ask me questions;
you must get from here as quick as you can
llajah may return at any moment, and
should he do so, would not dare to ak for
your life, as 1 would only make your doom
certain, and sacrifice my own lfc."
"Answer me but one question. How did
you come to find me?'
III saw you when you entered the harcm.
supposed you were a traveller who was un-
Willingly exploring the ruins, aud, us soon
as could, without occnsioning surprise,
started out find and warn you"
GLOW did you come to look for me hcrc?"
81 did not find you, and finally gnve up
the search, surprising that you had found
your own way out A short time ago vas