The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-19

men, furnished. wounded, hopeless of escape,
fought stubbornly to the last; how the worn
out officers, with their swords dropping from
heir frostbitten hands, still cheered OH their
ainting men as CALAMITY as ever; how one
handful Of heroes fought their way out of the
deadly valley, only to be slaughtered to a
man by fresh enemies beyond.
OF sixteen thousand who left the capital,
only single man reached Jellalabad alive;
and one day avenged alike ROhilcund and Ca
Oul. ..,. $685.. .-a-s..s..s5.. g sE s#
Through the whole of the dreadful struggle.
Herbert st. Clair had fought among the fore
most reckless of life, and caring only to have
his fill of Afghan blood before he died.
Man on man, the white-frocked murderers
fell before his deadly aim; and the rocks above
began to echo with the cry of xiii the In
gleez Bashi!" english captain) while bullets
fell around him thick and fast. But although
his uniform was torn to rags and his cap
struck from his head, the death hail still failed
to reach his life; and the superstitious noun
taineers looked with secret awe upon this
man whom no weapon could harm, and no
peril dismay.
But the end came at last. A sharp, sudden
pang shot through his left side-a sick dizzi-
ness overpowered him-the black rock and
the rolling smoke, and the eddy of struggling
figures, swan before him in a mist-there
was rushing, roaring so1nd in his ears-and
he fell heavily to the EARTH --i.sgr"
When St. Clair reg aimed consciousness, he
was too weak and weary to take much note
of his surroundings. His chief feeling was |
one of overpowering exhaustion, mixed with |
a vague sense of having lain insensible for
weeks or even months since the fatal day of
tice that he was lying upon cushioned
couch in a large, high-roofed chamber, the
walls of which were hung with the skins of
wolves and tigers mingled with pointed
helmets, silver hilted yataghans and long
rifles.
which revealed its immense thickness, he
caught glimpse of smooth green valley far
below, dappled with clustering trees, among
which a tiny stream sparkled in the sunlight
"a sufficient proof how long time must
have elapsed since the gloomy winter morn
ing ofthe great battle.
At that moment light step caught his ear,
and, looking around, he beheld once more the
long dark hair and lustrous eyes of Guleyaz.
He was about to speak. but she sighed to
him to be SILENT
"The angel of death still hovers over you,
and you must beware. will tell you all you
wish to know. The Feringhees are slain,
as our king has fled for his life. They who
struck you down were men OF another tribe,
who knew nothing of my fathev's pledge; but
our people recognized you among the fallen,
and brought you away-and here, in the halls of
Kara-Dagh, you are safe as beneth the shadow
of the prophets tomb' ..,
The word Kara-Dagh" BLACK mOuntain)
was a revelation to St. Clair. .a
There was no further room for doubt. He
was prisoner in the mountain stro nghOld of
Akbar Khan himself!
Day succeeded dayand the wounded officer,
thanks to his own native vigOr as well as the
untiring care of his charming nurse, began to
shake Off the fatal torpor which had held him
down so long. e.
After while he was able to leave his
couch, and supported by the arm OF Guleyaz,
who seldom left him, to venture forth upon
the battlcments, where he sat for hours drink
ing in the life-giving mountain breeze, and
feasting his eyes upon the glorious panor-
anna below. ..asgs'- ss
From Guleyaz herself he has learned that
her father was himself in the strong-ho !;
and the reluctance with which she gave the
J information REQUIRED to his memory, more
than once. ~
The reason Of these precautions was at
| length explained by a piece of news which
made his heart leap, when the careless talk of
two sentinels brought it to his ears, viz, that
a second English army was advancing into
Afghanistan to avenge the destruction of its
| predecessors.
| No living creature is more thoroughly &C
cessible to female influence than strOng e
| man suddenly made helpless; and Herbert
| with the princess, arm supporting his weary
head, and her musical voice repeating some
stirring native War-sOng or romantic Eastern
legend, was happier than he had ever beer
amid the rush and carnage Of the battle field
But this pleasing dream was destined to
sudden and awful awakening.
One morning when St. Clair's strength was
so completely restored that thoughts of es
cape had already begun to haunt him, Guile
yaz rose to leave him much before her usua
time, with long, lingering, beseechlng look
which her last words terribly explained:
"The Feringhee warriors are or their marcl
hither, and my father is angry, This day h
} will send for you, and, oh, beware of offendin!
him, for your own sake-and mipe!"
An hour later, the curtain that hid his doc
was lifted, and deep voice SAID:
Follow us. Ingleez. The khan calls TO
; you.
Led by his guards, St. Clair traversed
. hall, around which stood line of arme
Afghans, motionless as statues.
In the center sat the pricipal chiefs of tn
, tribe, and midmost of all the stately tigur
} of Akbar himself, in all the splendor
r barbaric adornment, with the folds of hi
i. black eyes that had never known fear {
. mercy
: AS the prisoner entered Guleyaz (who wa
l seated beside her father) shot one rapid glanc
4 at him, as 1t TO DID him remember her war;
), ing, and then cast her eyes down as before
a There was momentary pause, and tn
Akbar spoke:
d "Feringhee, you are a brave warrior, and
y chief speaks with chief, so will 1 speak wit
d you. We have slain many OF the Inglee
n and their brethren are angry. War is at OF
gates, and we need every good sword that wi
J fight for us: Hear me; We have fought wit
e you as an enemy-we now embrace you as
S friend. You have been valiant and we respe,
your yalor; YOU have been kind, and we al
: grateful for your kindness. Dwell among u
e fight in our ranks, call yourself an Afghan il
: stead of Feringhee-and my wealth shall
n your wealth, and will be your father, and m
d daughter shall be your BRIDE"
|, For one moment the brave mans pulls
/, throbbed wildly, as the large deep eyes tn:
had so often looked love into his own reste
( on him imploringly. Few men could hay
d met that glance unmovd; while, on the othe
: hand, he knew that to refuse such an off
It from such man would be rushing upon ce
r tain death, in the cruelest folm that Afgha
e vengeance could devise. But in the face
the terrible temptation, the English hea
n within him beat true as ever. He locke
e fearlessly into the merciless eyes that watc]
l. ed him, and his voice never wavered as he r
y Piled
prince you have spoken plainly, and