The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-07-10
A Terrible Engine.

The French steamers on their way
between Toulon and Algiers generally
stopped at Port Mahon. Ii was in the
Autumn Of lSi3. while enjoying an
after-dhner smoke with y party made
up from our own Yankee sloop of-~ar.
and one If these Frenchman. that All
officer vi the latter told US story which
| deem good enough to repeat 1t WAS
fresh then, having happened during
the preceding Summer.
i small party Of French soldiers. Of
the army Of occupation in Algiers.
while out ON an irregular expedition
probably foraging into an Arab
ambuscade; or. 1t would have been an
snbuscaie if the Arabs had been CON
tent To hold themselves in hiding a lit .
tlelw hil,. iCngeT. As IL Was. however.
the situation was bad enough. The
Freachmen had good league between
themselves and their regiment, and the
enemy. upon fleet horses, were not more
than a mile distant There could be
no thought of meeting an attack, for
the dusky denizcns Of the desert were
numbered by hundreds, and had proved
themselves foemen not 10 tie lightly
considered. Flight was the only thing,
and flight II was-~probably as fine q
specimen of lofty marching as was ever
witnessed on tue part Of stampeding
body.
Now il 50 happened that part of
the regimen.al band had been with the
party. having gone out 10 try the effect
OF their instrument In the distant wIids
aud Of these Was the ophicleid player
Poor fellow. his instrument Was not
only the largest class. but an enormous
one If It's kind. Really. il was rs near
ly rs large as himself! He fell behind.
What should he do, Not only was he
attached to his Instrument by 3 true
musicians pride. but his punishment
might be severe if bs lost it. He cast
look behiud him. Alb better disgrace
and punishment than fall into the hands
of those savage Bedouins. He had
come To the conclusion to throw away
his cumbersome burden. when a
thought struck him. A long service in
the midst of those untutored barbarians
bad giyea him tn derstand somewhat
# their mental structure. and he would
venture the trying of al experiment.
He looked over his shoulder once more,
and the foremos, Of the horsemen WAS
almost upon him.
Q.lck as thought the Frenchman
stopped and faced about, and dropped
upon one knee Then he brought his
ophicleidr 10 hi. shoulder. with It's
grea, hell-shapcd mouth aimed toward
the on coming toe The instrument WAS
OF brass. aud had been polished until /.
glesmed like blazing fire.
The Arab came 10 a stop; or perhaps
his mare came To stop of her own &C
cord. However, he took survey of
the new and wondrous weapon thus
UNEXPECTEDLY turpe upon him. II was
easy TO imagine the process Of his men
tai labors. He knew that these Inf
dels were continually inventing new
engines ~ destruction, and here was
one more wonderful than any be had
before seen. Il could lie carried by 3
single man. aui YET seemed more
mighty than b}g cannon. Mercy
what terrible locking mouth and
thro.t Ii the .,lsnur warrior should
discharge IT. the effect could Ire nothing
tut destruction 10 everything within
is reach He could not stand 1t.
With Wild cry be wheeled his horse
/ about. and ied As from a mighty host
7 Ilis followers. hearing his cry. and see
lns his msyemen.. followed suit, and in
a very few moments the Arab. were
hidden by ,iu>t OF their own making ia
lhe Tar distance. while our ophicletds
player shou!deroi his instrument. and
lei>urely puFsved hls way 10 camp
where. a. We may snppo.e. both lie and
ats wonderful instrument b, ,anae
heroes Ot the hour.