Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-17

Servant of the Omnipotent. The Arab
tribes, finding that their only chance OF
success lay in combination under one
leader, had elected Add el-kader their
sultan. The French sent small parties
against them with but poor success, for
they were often worsted.
One day our old friend, Pierre, who
had been promoted to captaincy, was
sent out with small party OF men on
scouting expedition toward the enemy's
liues. All day long had they journeyed.
and seen naugh. of the Arabs, and they
were about to encamp for the night,
when, off on the horizon, like the warn
ing from sirocco, they saw thick
cloud of dust. They quickly prepared
to fight, for there was no doubt that the
cloud hid party Of Arab horsemen.
Their surmise proved to be right, for
the Arabs soon burst into view. Swift
as the wind they bore down on the
French cavalry. They outnumbered
the latter three to one, and were soon
engaged in heavy hand-tO-hand con-
fiict. Steed after steed went down to
death, and many an Arab and French
man bit the sand, to rise no more.
Clash on clash followed from saber and
scimiter, but at last the French were
vanquished.
Pierre fought with the desperation of
an unfortunate leader, and many an
Arab felt the weight of his saber. At
last his horse was killed under him,
and he was left at the mercy of the
| Ia T., h,1rlx, fal1nu w q
about to pass his scimiter through his
body, le caught sight Of the brooch in
his bosom. The uplitted weapon was
stopped in its descent, and the hand
that was about to shed his life blood
was held out in friendly greeting.
Pierre was surprised, and could not ac-
count for such conduct. BY this time
tie Arab had called some of his COM
rades to his side, and by their motions
and gesticulations he found that they
were talking Of the brooch. The
thought flashed across his mind in an
instant. The Arab talisman had been
the cause of saving his life; they had
recognized the brooch, and he was safe.
The rest of his comrades lay dead upon
the sand; he was the only survivor. He
inwardly thanked God that that one
good action of his early life had re.
bounded so we'll to his benefit.
Mounting Pierre upon the horse Of
| one of their fallen comrades, they set
out in the direction of their encamp.
ment, at which they soon arrived.
Pierre was given to understand by one
of the men, who knew little French,
that he was about to be taken into the
presence of their chief, the fierce ADD
el-Kader. AS Pierre had never seen
him, he was anxious to behold this il.
lustrious parsonage, and also to see
the effect that his talisman would have
upon him.
At last he reached the center Of the
encampment, and stopped at large
tent, where the.Moslem standard foated
in the breeze. Being ushered in, he
beheld before him short man, stout,
and elegantly built. A profuse beard
covered his face, and his head was en-.
veloped in sort of turban, called by
the natives hulk, confined to his head
by cord of camels hair. This, then
was the man who had caused thu
French so much trouble.
The man who brought Pierre into
the tent spoke few words in the ma
tive tongue to his chief. What was
Pierre's surprise when the latter adj
vanced and threw himself on his bosom
Explanations soon followed, and Pierre
was surprised to find that the youth
he had picked up in the desert had
proved to be the famous sultan of the
Arabs. The youth had never forgotten
his preserver, and, on the breaking out
of the war, had caused it to be pro-
claimed that any of his men finding a
person with the described brooch upon
him, was to spare his life at any risk,
and bring him to the chief, alive OF
dead. Thus it was that Pierre's life
had been spared the moment they be-
held the talisman.
The next day Pierre, loaded with
gifts, and mounted on the chiefs own
| charger, was sent under an escort to
within short distance of the French
lines, which he entered alone, being the
| first to tell of the defeat and utter de-
struction Of his party. The French
listened with wonder to his account of
his salvation, but the horse and pres
ents were substantial proof of the
fact. The Arabs were soon after con-
quered, and Abd-el- RAIDER taken as a
prisoner of war, and lodged in the cas-.
tie of Pau, in the south of France,
where he was kept for number of
years, and at length liberated. Pierre
often visited the famous chief in his
confinement, and their intercourse was
always pleasant and agreeable.
The Arabs talisman is held as relic
by Pierre's family, and his children re-
gard it as highly valuable, not only as a
keepsake from the distinguished prince,
but as memento of their fathers es.