The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-10
THE SOUDANESE SPY.
By WILLIAM ". GRAYDON.


sListen, Bruce, what's that?" and Car
riston raised his hand with a gesture of
silence and looked at me intently. Then
we both dropped our cigars and rushed
out to the door of the Embassy.
A gun-shot, plain and unmistakablc,
had echoed through the night air, and
we certainly had heard faint cry.
But in the dreary street all was quiet,
and the solitary electric lamp reflected no
shadows save our own on the pavement
of the British Embassy, while the palace
across the way, with its coral facades and
massive carved gates, showed no signs of
life.
Then gun went off, drum began to
rattle loudly, arms clashed, hurrying foot.
steps echoed on the stones, and shouts
were given and answered. I listened in
speechless astonishment, and then rushed
back for my cap and sword. 1t was best
to be prepared, though what possible
ground for alarm existed could not see.
Suakin was protected by line of SEN
tries that extended mile beyond the
town. No signal had come from the out
skirts, yet here was this turmoil in the
very midst of the European quarter.
As hurried back to the door the great
palace gates swung open and squad of
Egyptian soldiers trooped out, their
swsrthy faces shining under their crimson
caps. Close behind them, escorted by
several officers, came a tall, dignifed,
looking man. He was bareheaded and
held an unsheathed sword in his hand.
recognized him at first sight as Ach-
med Ras, the Egyptian Governor of Sua-
hin. He glanced up and down the
street and then hurried across to the EN-
bassy."
s'You are British oficer!" he said,
breathless with excitement.
Captain Dugdalc, of the Ninth Dra-
goons, at your command, Your Excel
lency," I said, briefly.
"Thank you. I am in need of your
services. An Arab prisoner, captured
spy of the Mahdi, has made his escape.
NY stupid soldiers are to blame. The
fellow has been gone some time now, and
it is important he be retaken, for he has
stolen valuable plans of the town and
fortifcations. I fear my soldiers can do
little, but if your dragons will scour the
plain"
"Your Excellency," T interrupted,
1swhat you desire shall be done at once" !"
mounted my horse, waved hasty
salute, and galloped off down the narrow
street, leaving Achmed Ras and Carriston
hobnobbing together on the steps of the
Embassy, for Carriston was the British
Ambassador at Suakin. The hot blood
was coursipg madly through my veins, for
! had only been at Suakim u week, and
the faintest touch of excitement was in
tensely welcome.
remembered, too, having seen this
escaped Arab only few days previous,
when he was being led captive through
the streets of the town. great black
giant, with muscular, brawny limbs and
his black locks dangling in curls down his
shoulders.
I spurred rapidly through the town,
crossed the peninsula to the mainland,
where the troops were quartered side by
side with the native population, and soon
the bugle call to arms was floating out on
the night air, and the jingling of spurs
and the trampling of hoofs were heard on
all sides. A few brief, concise orders
and we galloped out onto the desert and
scattered over the sandy plain. Chances
were in our favor, for the moon was COM
ing up slowly, and the enemy's outposts,
where alone the Arab could find safety,
were at that time three miles beyond the
town.
Not stone or bush or a mound of
sand escaped scrutiny. The men were
widely scattered, clinging far to the north
and to the south and drawing steadily
nearer to the enemy's lines.
I galloped straight across the plain,
closely attended by solitary trooper, a
brave fellow named Tom Fraser. kept
as, far as possible in the direction Judged
the fugitive had taken and I hoped to
have the pleasure of capturing him my
self, for the trampling of my horse was
muffled by the drifted sand and would
not betray my approach until should be
close upon him.
A mile ard half from the town lay a
belt of deserted intrenchmcnts from
which the enemy had been driven G. month
or so previous. As we approached these
We slackened our speed and began to look
for suitable crossing place. The Brit
ish shells had leveled them in places, and
.one of these points we soon found, a
break in the trench with gentle slope
ON either side. We rode slowly down
into the hollow, and as our horses were
commencing to ascend again Fraser sud
denly tugged fercely at my arm.
"Look, Captain, look" he whispered
.excitedly, and as l followed the range of
his outstretched hand I SAW sight that
made my heart leap. Off to the south ex-
tended the trenches in one unbroRen for
lmation, their mounds of sands rigid and
exact, and outlined sharply in the moon
light against the right hand wall of eartl
was swiftly moving shadow. Even as
we looked the specter vanished around a
curve and we saw it no more.
We pulled our horses heads round and
dashed down the trench side by side, for
it was fully wide enough for three horse,
men to ride abreast.
We thundered on in silence. clutcheo
the reins tightly with one hand and with
the other I held my saber. The Arat
was unarmed and l would take him alive