Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-01

The SOUDANEsE SPY.
Listen, Bruce, what's thati" Col.
Carrirtoa raised his hand with gesture
of silence and looked at me intently.
Then we both dropped our cigars and
rushed out TO the door of the embassy.
gun shot, plain ard unmistakable,
had echoed through the night air sec we
certainly had heard q faiut cry.
Bot in the drearj 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 choral faoades
and massive carved gates, showed no
signs OF life
Then a gun went off, drum began TO
rattle Loudly, arms FLASHED, hurryiug
footsteps echoed on the stones and
shouts were given and answered. l list
eued in speecLless establishment, and
then rushed back for my cap and sword.
II was best to be prepared, though what
possible ground for alarm existed |
could not see. Suakim was protected by
line Of seutries that extended a mile
beyond the town. No signal had come
from the outskirts yet here W - the tur.
MOL in the very midst Of the European
quarter.
As | hurried back 20 the door Of the
great palace gates swung open aud
squad OF Egyptian soldiers trOoped out,
their swarthy faces shining under their
crimson caps. Close behind them, es-
oOrted by several officers, came a tall,
dignifed looking man. He was bare
headed and held an uusheathed sword IN
his hand.
vecognIzod him at first sight as
Aohmsld Ras, the Egyptian governor OF
SuaBim. He glanced up and down the
street and then hurried across 20 the
embassy.
"You are a British offcer?n he said,
breathIesz with excitement.
Captain Dugdale of the Ninth dra-
goon-, at your command, your, excel
lenoy," ] said, briefly.
Thank you. 1 am IN need of your
services. An Arab prisoner, captured
spy of the Mahdls, mas made his escape.
My stupid soldiers are to blame. The
fellow has been gone some time now, and
il is i'm portant that he be retaken for he
has stolen valuable plans of the town and
Notifications. l fear ny soldiers can do
but little, but if your dragons will scour
the plain"
"Your excellency,n I interrupted,
what you desire shall be done at once.
mounted my horse, waved hasty
salute and galloped of down the narrow
street, leaving Achmed R1s and Carristou
hobpobbiDg together on the steps OF the
embassy; for Carriston was the British
ambassador at Suakim. The hot blood
was coursing madly through my veins,
for rad only been at Suakjm week and
the faintest touch OF excitement was
intensely welcome.
remembered, TOO, having seen this
escaped Arab only a few days previous,
when he was being led captive through
the streets of the town, q great black
giant with muscular, brawny limbs and
his black locks dangling in curls down
his shoulders.
l spurred rapidly through the town,
crossed the peninsula 20 the main land,
where the troops were quartered side by
side with the native population, and soon
the buRle cali to arms was floating out on
the night air, and the jinghng of spurs
and the tramping of hoofs was heard on
an sides. A few brief, concise orders
and we galloped out into the desert and
scattered over the sandy plain. Chances
were in our favor, for the moon was com
ing up slowly, and the euemy's outposts,
were alone the Arab would find safety,
were at that time three miles beyond the
town.
Not a stone. or bush, or q mound OF
sand escapes scrutiny. The men we're
widely scattered, clrcling far TO the north
and TO the south, aud drawing steadily
nearer to the euemy's lines.
galloped straight across the plain,
closely astended by solitary trooper,
brave fellow named Tom Fraser. | kept
as far as'possible 10 the direction judged
the fugitive had taken and hoped 20
have the pleasure of capturing him my
self for the trsmpliug OF my horse was
mufled by the drifted sand and would
not betray my approach until l shouts be
close upon him.
mile and halt from the town lay a
belt of deserted intrenchmeuts from
which the enemy had been driven q
month or 80 previous. As we approach
ed these we slsckened our speed and be-
gan to look for suitable crossing pl.ce. I
.Tbe British shells had leveled them inI
nlaees and one Of these points We soon
found, break in the trench WIN
gentle slope on either side. We
rode slowly down into the hollow, end I.
As our horses began to ascend again I.
Fraser suddenly tugged dercely at my I
arm.
Lock. csptain. look" he whispered .
excit.iIy ana a. fouosed the range OF .
bis outstretched hand I saw sight thar
made my heart leap. Oft 70 the soufh .
eKtpndsd The trenches in one unorok-h
... ,,,,,,.4s If sand rigid J.