Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-27
Ell DJASOUS.

hearing a concert of curses coming from
the foot of the hill on which the bOIdl
(fort was built.
"Give il up" replied !.
'Iicutenant, go and inquire the cause
of such an uproar,' said the major TO e
lieutenant Of chasseurs, who was with us
The lieutenant departed to execute the
order of our superior.
We remained alone; the cries became
more frequent and the curses more loud;
a second time the major asked the same
question which elected the same answer
from me.
We had descended the rampant, and as
We approached the gate of the bordj down
the hill we saw body of TurcOs coming.
They seemed TO he fighting among them
selves The lieutenant walked briskly
ahead of them. In a few moments he
had Joined us. He was out of breath.
"What is the matter?' exclaimed the
major for the third time.
The deuce if | know, major. Those
yermin of fTurcos-native einfantry-speak
a kind of charabia of which | understand
nothing" Then turning toward me, he
pursued: "Why not go yourself, captain
They are young men, and You comprehend
them. Then the major will DE acquainted
with the meaning of this bacchanal.
You are right, lieutenant, but it is not
worth the trouble, as in two minutes they
will be here"
LET us watt" said the major.
ASH have said, two minutes afterward
dozen of Turcos, among them my order
ly, Mohammed Ben Brahim, entered the
bordj They had young Arab with
them that they kicked and cuffed, in
suited and cursed The major interfered.
stop, you pack Of rascals, or ! will
stranglc yOu,' cried he.
Ny orderly advanced few steps and
placing his hand 10 his ChaiChia (capl he
answered:
Mi 10 trovi, Ii iisi simi dormi, el filude
cane, el diasous fusili mura barCa. All
carrottar'
What is that fellow saying" angrily
asked the major.
He said: 1t is who found him, he
seemed to sleep, the son of dog, the
spy-shoot him, against the wall-place.
Ali humbug" ] answered. Isl, 81,
Barca, fusili ell djasous, fusili, repeated
my orderly, thoroughly frantic now.
The major took him by his belt and gave
him a jerk that caused him TO roll ten
yards away from us.
Mai Fenech was one of the bravest
officers of our African army; just and
kind, he was highly respected and loved
by all and immensely feared by the Arabs
to whom he showed an iron hand when it
was necessary. For the last six months
he commanded the fort in which he had
been besieged quite awhile by the rebel
sheik Mock ell Rani. With company OF
Turcos and platoon of spahis amounted
Turcos) had been sent TO his relief, but
at my arrival found Mock k-el-Rani gone.
Mai Fenech happy, and the villages
around the bordj in ashes
Let us return to the spy.
Imagine a beardleSs fellOw-tall. thin.
soiled and ragged. With piercing eyes,
larger than his mouth, he looked disdain
fully on his own Countrymen.
The major ordered me to interrogste
him.
What is thy nsme'' demanded.
No answer.
ITO what tribe dost thou belong:"
No answer.
Believing that perhaps he had not
understood my Arab language, | told the
majors ChaUuch ip"llCetuan) TO repeat my
questions
Three times the old Arab uttered exact
ly the wOlds used by me without Teceiv-
ing any answer from the prisoner. Fin
ally, as if this everlasting questioning was
annoying him, he made gesture that an
swered my last query as lie pointed his
forefinger to the east.
What dost thou want here''
~ am looking for work"
This incredible aswer provoked q gen
eral laugh among the Turcos
What, replied l, thou art looking for
work in country in full revolt, in burned
villages, without a single inhabitantr"
''CarOttia! Carottia bezeff! (humbug
humbug plenty, cried my orderly. He
received a tremendous kick from the
major, who said TO me:
Tell him that if he is willing to an
swer your questions will forgive him; if
not he shall be shot"
translated those words TO the Arab
They produced no effect on him. Hekept
the most obstinate silence.
Then the old chaouch addressed him:
"Mabul (fOoD, do you think the major
does not see clear He is an old monkey
that knows how TO make faces. Thou art
an insurgent What that is TO thee avow
it and be done with it. | tell thee this
sabir Chief with the white beard is smart
and cunning, but good. He is willing to
grant aman (pardOn) to thee"
Thou art overeXcited against the
French. Well, this outlaw of Mock ell
RAM is not worth a Frenchman, tell
thee. What his followers give thee, those
bad dogs, for working at that trade, at
the end of which thou shalt find DEATH
Thou art dying of hunger and misery;
that is visible; with us thou wilt live
well; thou wilt have something to eat
every day. Then speak. May God cause
thy face TO become yellow. Dost thou
doubt the majors promise;"
He is wretch" said the major, i'm
patiently.
Tell him to huily up, or he shall bc
shot on the spot"
Neither the chaouch nor had time u
obey the majors orders.
The spy turned his face toward US
What a metamorphosis' This hOmely
face was beaming with savage enthu-
siasm, and took an expression of great
ness in which we perceived disdain, hate
and the wish of becoming a martyr
Kill me. Yes, do it. Yes, am a spy,
a djasous, and shall not talk"
The Iuan comprehended the French Ian
guage perfectly.
His words, pronounced with a terrible
intOnation, his glances and gestures in
diCated sufficiently with what kind of
fanatic we had TO deal.
An immediate punishment was needed
The major gave orders TO the lieutenant
TO bring out twelve Of his chasseurs from
the barrack which was the nearest
- most perfect silence relgned; nobody
laughed anV more now.
The major, his hands behind his back,
was walking 10 and fro.
The spy, leaning against the wall, was
mOtiouless, naughty, superb in his miser-
able rags, the face reddpned by a last ray
Of the sun passing through the embras-
uTcS
| noticed with astOniShment the de
mcanor of the native soldiers, ranged be
fore the prisoner. They were holding
down their heads and appeared to be
ashamed and confused.
My orderly, Mohammed Ben Brahim,
peiUitied, threw some stupid glances on
the spy captured by himself The prs-
onpr had his eyes turned toward heaven.
''SuhiI " said Abl-cl- Almond the