The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-05

CHAP. H.-aATHERNG OF THE vULTUREs.
Sixteen days had passed since Captain
st. Clair's adventure, and the night of
the 9th of November found him slowly
pacing the street where it had occurred.
As he stood musing, hidden by The
shadow of projecting corner, two Af-
ghans came slowly up the deserted
street.
Just as they passed him, he heard one
say to the other:
"All is we'll, then: for the hill tribes
are with US to man if Akbar Khan but
lift his finger"
"lt is said that the khan would have
held back" rejoined the other, "for be
knew that the Feringhees (Europeans)
are strong; but when he heard that
these dogs (may Allah consume them y
had insulted his own daughter, Guleyaz,
when she came hither in the last moon
with his message to the chiefs of the
city, he swore that not man of the IN
believers should escape; and he will
keep his oath |"
And the speakers voice was lost in
the distance.
St. Clair's heart grew chill within
him as he listened. His worst sus-
picions were now fully confirmed, and
the benumbing sense OF secret treachery
(of all things the most abhorrent to a
brave man) oppressed him like a
nightmare.
Scarcely knowing what he did, he
stepped forth as if to follow the two
conspirators, and found himself face to
face with Guleyaz herself
There she stood, in the ghostly twi.
light-calm and beautiful as ever, but
with a sembre light in her large dark
eyes, such as one sees in those of the
hungry tiger, when, after long and
weary circuit through the jungle, he
sees the deer which he has been track
ing fairly within reach at last.
Feringhee," she said, taking his
hand, "you showed me kindness once,
and an Afghan never forgets either good
or evil. Death is waiting for the Eng
lish host, and I have come to save you
ere it be too late."
"It is you, then, who have betrayed
us ?" said Herbert, with an intensity OF
scorn which no words can convey.
The taunt struck home. In an in
slant the tender, cliuging woman sprang
up into On often led queen.
"Bstrayed p echoed she fiercely.
"Is it treachery to aid my own race
against it's enemies? Why did the
Feripghees come hither to waste our
valleys and burn our homes? Why
have they taken our own king from us,
and set up in his stead dog unworthy
to tie On Afshan's sandals? 4? But woe to
them! Before the full moon shall
have spent her light, the dogs shall lick
the blood of every Feringhee in Cabul!" ="
Herbert shrank back appalled,, go
bideously changed was that beautiful
face by the sudden tempest of passion.
But this movement OF aversion checked
her rage in mid.current, and the warm,
wcmaniy heart benesth asserted itself
once more.
"Do not be angry with me-" she
whispered, pleadingly no one shall
harm you while I live. Hear me-the
English are many and mighty, but what
avails the tigers strength when he is
once in the toils5 Every leaf on yon-
der hills is an Afghan warrior, every
twig a loaded rife. Escape if you can /;
I will guide you out of the city. and bid
my friends keep you safe till all is over.
Why should you perish in vain ?"
As she spoke, there came over her
hearers noble face smile of grand and
commanding scorn. He drew up his
towering figure to its full height, and
met her beseeching eyes unfiirchingly
as he replied:
"Do you ask me to desert my COM
rades in their sorest need, just that I
may save my own life? Thank you
such meanness does not run in our
blood. If we are to die, we will die like
brothers, shoulder to shoulder, striking
hard and deep to the last, with the old
English flag flying overhead y
The girl looked at him-a look which,
through all the horrors that were to
come, he never forgot Grief, anger,
tenderness, wondering admiration, were
all mingled in the momentary flash Of
those marvellous eyes. Then she pressed
his hand passionately to her lips and
was gone.
Ha! What was that sudden glare that
broke out over the whole eastern side Of
the town. And what could be the
meaning OF that dull, distant roar, like
far-off sea. swelling ever louder and
louder, till the ear could distinguish the
sharp crackle of rnusketry, the crush Of
falling buildings, the clamor of countless
voices, and high over all the terrible
ar.shout, "Allah Akbar p'-God is
victorious.
Just at that moment four soldiers, torn
and blood. stained, came marching past,
carrying a helpless, ghsstly, dust:be-
grimed figure, in which even st. Clair
himself could scarcely recognize bis
once gay and dandi6ed junior lieutenant.
"It's all up, old boy" said the lad,
family. They have fred our quarters
and murdered poor Burnes and ever 30
many more and the whole towns up
to help them. Nothing for itbut to die
game"
"Nothing, indeed" nuttered Her.
bert. "God have mercy on us all !"
The next moment he was fastening at
full speed towafd the scene of action.
CHAPTER In.-THE VALLEY OF DEATH.
All great historical catastroDhes-Ar.
mads wrecks, London pestilences, Sara
gossa sieges, Observation-Disclosures wont
to prolong the agony which they infict,
and to let fall their vengeance drop by
drop, instead of mercifully ending all
with one crushing blow.
So it Jared with the ill.fated invaders
OF Cabul. The mur:,er of Sir Alexander
Burnes, the noblest Of the countless
martyrs in that disastrous year, was
only the first drop of the coming storm.
Then followed blow upon blow, the
rising of the whole surrounding country,
the destruction of the accommodating
parties sent out too late by the COM
mander-in-chief; the capture Of the
British stores, which left the troops
almost without food, and at length, on
the fatal 1st Of January, 1842, the
crowning madness OF the convention
of retreat" by which the whole army
gave itself up to it's destroyers, accept
ing the assurance of a safe passage
homeward from the very men who had
sworn the death of every British soldier
in Cabul.
Foremost in every combat was Her
bert st. Clair, recklessly exposing him
self to all dangers; for, soldier as he
was to his very 6nger-tips, the sight OF
an English flag dishonored and an Eng
lish army in retreat, bowed him down