The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-16

mounted behind some of our captors,
and carried to ruined temple, near
which their spiritual chief had taken up
his quarters. He was venerable Mutt,
with long, white beard and stern,
handsome face, one glance at which as
stired me that we need look. for little
mercy at his hands. LII this I was not
mistaken our doom was spoken in
few Words There is no God but one
God, and Mohammed is the prophet OF
God. Confess the faith and live: DENY
it and die like dogs. Make your choice,
and answer before this torch BURNS out. /"
Sc saying he turned to our guards and
Ordered them to loosen our ropes and
allow us to speak to each other. Then
we gathered closer together, but no
word was spoken; we felt that death
was very near, and each of us, in his
own way, prepared TO meet 1t. 1 tried
TO pray, bdt tried in vain. AS in
dream I saw the fierce faces of the
Sowars by the light of the torches which
blazed and fickered in the wind. ]
heard the thunder growing away Id the
distance, the roar of the swollen river
rushing by the stern words of the
Mutt kept repeating themselves over
and over again in my head; but all
seemed strange and far away like idle
sights and sounds which, for me. had no
meaning.
Suddenly the Mutt shook his torch;
sending the sparks flying far into the
darkness around, and I noticed it was
nearly burnt out. Then I seemed to
awake with a sudden sharp pain the
bitterness of death was upon me, as
felt my wife cling to my arm, saw her
loving, despalring eyes looking into
mine, and felt that ! could dc nothing
to save her.
"My own, my own p [ cried; ''only
one short year together, and now to be
separated forever Why did l ever
bring you to this cursed country? Why
were you given to me if we were to be
parted so soon p
"There can be no more separation for
those whose love is true" said the chap
lain. "What happier lot could God
have given you? Love and JOY on earth,
and now an eternity of happiness togethz
er in heaven. One short moment of
pain, and then the crowns of glory that
never fade; the unspeakable joys that
eye hath not seen nor ear heard"
"All very well fof yoH who are sure
OF heaven, interrupted st. Hill g but
how about me9 Why should I not save
my life while I can? IF your Billie be
true there is an eternity of misery in
store for me; if it be false, why should |
die for a lie? Christian or Mussulman.
what does it matter?''
1.-THE Captains a scholard," gasped
Private Smith, who was badly wounded,
and knows best, no doubt; but wott't
turn niger to please that old heather.
No, III die good Christian, cllssed il
won't"
"Do not talk SO wildly, Capt. St.
HILL" expostulated the chaplain. "Our
God is merciful and loving, and Judges
not as man judges. Do what is right,
and trust your soul to Him who died for
you"
" Repent, repent; there is yet time, "
cried the missionary,
" Between the stirrup and the ground,
He mercy sought and mercy found.
"Maybe I shall. Anyhow duty must
be done, of course, and it wouldn't do
for one of the old Twenty-fifth to turn
Mussulman through funk. Still it's very
hard lines that I of all men should have
to play martyrs part. How the fel.
lows will laugh et tho fi1ess when they
are told that Sans Fol died for the
faith I"
"The time is up. Now, unbelievers,
will you repeat the 'kulma' and live,
or will you die like dogs as you are !?
There is but one God, and Mohammed
is his prophet ;"
The dead silence that followed was
broken by the ehaplain's calm, steady
voice, "1n the hour Of death, good Lord,
deliver us.
Suddenly up Hill sprang to his feet
with a wild laugh. "There is but one
Mohammed is his Vizier Will that do,
you son of q pig ?"
Blasphemy, blasphemy /" shouted
the Mutt "let him die the DEATH" In
another instant volley of musketry
blazed out, and ST. Hill fell riddled with
bullets with him fell poor young
Stubbs, who had thrown himself be-
tween st. Hill and his murderers. Mad
with rage and thirsting for more blood,
the Sowars were rushing on us, when
the stern voice of the Mutt stopped
them: They are dogs and sons of dogs,
but their blood shall be on their own
heads; not one more of them shall die
until he has had another chance of join
ing the true believers. Leave them
alone until the muezzin calls to morn.
ing prayer, then if they will not repent
they shall surely die. +"
Slowly and sullenly the Mufti's fol-
lowers drew back, after tying us hand
and foot to trees to prevent any attempt
at escape, and once more we were left
alone to our own thoughts. Slowly the
hours passed by and the night was far
spent when faint sound reused me
from the stupor in which I had fallen.
listened intently, and made out that it
was firing in the distance which grad
ually grew nearer, though it was almost
drowned in the roar of the swollen tor
rent rushing past our rear. and was evil
IDENTIFY unheard by the Sepoys, who
were gathered round their fires, smok-
ing, eating and sleeping in perfect Sc
curity, their arms lying about in every
direction. Gradually the darkness
cleared away, and the first streak of
light appeared on. the horizon. Then,
the cry to prayer ringing through the
encampment. all the followers of the
Prophet, kneeling down on their prayer
carpets, performed their morning devo-
tions with great fervor and rose up to
begin the day with fresh butshery.
"Let their accursed priests be first
brought up, was the order by the
Mutt, in obedience to which Chasuble
and Calvin Longwynd were united and
dragged before him. 'sYou have had
full time for repentance-now, once for
all, will you believe or will you die !"
Before either OF them could answer him
wounded. Sowar dashed into the midst
of the party, and, without pulling up
his steaming horse, shouted out :'s Ride
for your lives-the Sahib log are closed
behind I" At the sound of that dreaded
name panic seized all the Sowars, who
rushed pell- NELL to their horses, while
the infantrymen caught up their arms
and crowded together, doubtful whether
to fight or fly. The Mutt alone re-
manned firm and collected. Above the
tumult his voice rang out clear and
high: t'Stand firm. believers-victory