The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-12

have an almost suderstitious faith in
European medical skill, but we have nei-
ther doctor nor incidence hest, and from
the moment of the seizure there is little
hope of recovery. All we can do is to
struggle on"
The Wynnes were rich, and travelled,
as people OF means and station usually
do, comfortably. Their tent-with its
gilded ball towering alott, and Its COM
partments walled in with snowy canvass
carefully pegged down-was large and
handsome; whereas the black little COW
ering under which slept, with my good
horse, which had for years been the COM
rade OF my rambles, tethered outside,
was just such shelter as an Arad or q
Kurd required. They had servants, too,
such as they were-a set Of rsscally Lev
antines half of whom, more scared by
the hardships of the desert than by the
plague, absconded, and went oft with
everything salable and portable towards
the tleshpots of Bagdad. On the eve
ming of the seventh day, as I was picquet-
ing my horse, I received an urgent invi-
tation from Miss Wynne begging me to
to come ut once. l did not lose minute
in obeying the summons.
My worst fears were confirmed. Mr..
Wynne, who had on that day, repeatedly
complained of headache and lassitude,
was very i'll, and there could be no doubt
as to his symptoms being those of the
tell disorder to which so many of our
company had already succumbed. All
that care and loving-kindness could do
was to alleviate the pains of impending
death-tor, from the first, it was evident
that the case was hopeless. Before Mr..
Wynne died he took my hand.
"You are our FRIEND" he said, in his
weak voice, and our countryman- l am
obliged to leave my girl alone here.
Promise me, Harold Marston, on the
word of Christian gentleman, that you
wlll-see her safe-hone."
He ceased to speak, and said no other
articulate word; but I gave the pledge he
asked of me, and performed it faithfully.
Those were sad and toilsome days that
succeeded. Ethel's grief was deep and
bitter, and it had needed all the argu-
ments and entreaties that I could coniure
up to induce her to accompany the mex
orable onward movement of the caravan,
leaving her father IN the hurriedly-made
grave beneath cairn Of loose stones. in
which my hands had helped to lay him.
In the long, slow march I was now al
ways by her side, doing my best to rouse
her Tagging spirits by speaking of Eng
land, of her old home, her absent brother,
and the friends who loved her. She
seemed grateful for my Kindness, and re-
posed full confidence in me; and, indeed,
I had enough to do in keeping her ia
theirs remaining servants to their duty,
and in providing for her comfort at the
hating places, as with diminished num-
bers we went on-the iackals' doletul
howl our lullaby, the vultures ever hover
Ing over our doomed heads.
1t was on the twelfth days march that
we reached, in struggling order, the river
Khabour-a swift but shallow feeder of
the mighty Euphrates; and, as we forded
it, party of mounted Bedou1ns dashed
out from among the sandhills, and made
swoop upon us in quest Of captives and
booty. I see the scene yet-the long
lines Of laden camels, the wild horsemen
brandishing their spears, or pointing their
guns. the panic among the merchants and
pilgrims, and the squirting forward of
the Turkish irregular calvary to clear the
way. The marauders were baked of
their prey. They had probably heard
rumors of our condition, and had over
estimated our helplessness, for a..volley
from the Hyta Bashis of the escort put
them to flight, and they dispersed at once
securing over the sand, and hooking,
with derisive gestures the efforts of the
heavily -accoutred troopers to overtake
them.
All the Bedouins, however, did not
take their disappointment as jesting
matter, for two or three of those who
had gained the opposite bank dismount-
ed and took deliberate shots with their
long guns at the foremost of US. One
Matchbox ball, and one only, seemed
to take effect, for Ethel's camel reared
suddenly, with the screaming cry which
those huge beasts utter when under the
influence of rage or pain, and fell, crush
ing down the camel-driver who held it
by the halter and hurting his fair burden
into the rocky bed of the stream that
brawled and ed as it made its way
past, fed by late rain-storm among the
Kurdish Mountains, toward the great
river. Fortunately was within ear
shot, and, hearing Miss Wynne's cry Of
alarm, I dashed my spurs into my horses
TANKS and, half swimming, half STUN.
bling among loose stones, reached the
place where the girls bright hair floated
on the turb1d water, and by great ex-
ertion was able to rescue her from the
fate that seemed eminent, and to bear
her, pale and insensible, like some droop-
ing lily that has been beaten down by
hail and rain, to the shore.
The firing had ceased, save that our
soldiers sometimes sent bullet after
the flying robbers, anc all danger was
over, so far'as the attack was concerned
but Ethel had been partially stunned by
the shock of the fall, and she lay helpless,
with halt-closed eyes, moaning slightly
As l tried, assisted by one of the Arab
camel-drivers who had just come up, to
raise and revive her, an exclamation from
my rude companion made me start.
"She, too-the Frangi princess!" NUT.
tered the Arab. ''Well, it was written! Y
And, following the direction of the mans
gaze, l saw, with horror that words are
too weak to express, on Ethel Wynne'.
bare white wrist dark, discolored spot
4 L