The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-07-11

exact, and outlined sharply in the moon
light against the right hand wall OF earth
was a swiftly moving shadow. Even as
we looked the spectcr vanished around a
curve aad VIC saw il no more.
We pulled our horses heads round and
dashed down the trench side by side, for
IL was fully wide enough for three horse
men to ride abreast.
We thundered on in silence. clutched
the rcins tightly with one hand and with
the other ! held my sabcr. The Arab
was unarmcd and | would take him alive,
/ thought, and lead him back in triumph
to Saukin. This all passed through my
mind in an instant and then VIC galloped
round the curve and saw our prey in
full view before u.s. He was struggling
along painfully and limping as though
one leg was hurt The moon shonc full
upon him, and TO my surprise | saw
that Inc carried great shield and one of
those enormous doublc-edgcd swords
which these Arabs use with such terrible
effect. He had doubtless found them in
the trench.
We called on him 20 surrender, but he
never even turned until rs we were close
upon him hc suddenly whirled around
in desperation and confronted us mcnac-
ingly. We drew our sabcrs and dashed
upon him.
Just here. extending full across the
trench. was rugged depression, caused
probably by an exploding shell.
This we fcilcd to sec, and, while
Frascr's horse lcapad it gallantry, my
animal stumbled and fell, and down
went, partly beneath him.
tried to rise, but my ankle was badly
spraiuci, anil, with a cry Of pain, /
dropped down behind the horse. Then
forgot every thing in what saw going on
before mo. The Arab had ratrcated
against the wall aud was icrccly Keeping
Fraser at bay. Their swords clnshca
until tho sparks few, and Frascr's heavy
strokes were intercepted hy the Arabs
lcathorn shield.
They fought on in silence and in the
moonlight | saw the Arabs face, the eyes
sparkling with hatred and the white teeth
clinrhcd in deadly determination. Clash
after clash rang on the night air. Sud
denly Fraser spurrtd on his horse and
dealt fearful blow at the Arabs cX-
ysSed head, but quick as a flash the great
( sword flew up, and the short sabcr strik.
| ing full and forcibly against the awful
edge, broke of close beside the hilt and
/ Law shining on the sand at their feet.
/ What followed can never forget. II
will haunt me to my dying day.
| Fraser threw up his right hand, with
/ the broken hilt, aud with the left reached
/ for his revolver, and then, rs ! looked
on, stupid with horror, the Arab raised
! his great sword aloft with both hands
and with all the force of his dcspcrat,
strength he hurled il lorwurd like ,
oatapult.
The cleaning blade flashed the moon.
ligh; from lis edge and crushed with ~
awful sound through poor Frascr's head
clcaving its way through the skull and
between the shoulders and on down
through the back until its point fairly
touched the rear of the saddle.
Split in twain from head 20 waist the
poor fellow dropped to the ground with
out cry, and his plunging steed tram
pied over the pody ana then Ga'opeu IL
mad fright down the trench.
Wholly engrosScd III tIi,S awlu' scene,
forgot my own peril ana only reiIizeo
1t fully when the ARAB bracing hlmseI
against the wall oi the trench began tc
drag his sword out OF FraScrs body
Nith Shudder reached Tor my pistol
ana grew i"int Tor an instant wheh re-
wcmhcicd that IL lay uhu'r inc morse u
the holster. was Who'Iy Nv 'he AraD
mercy. Inc wretch was s'ill VugG.hS Il
the sword, ana seemed unable 10 IooS'l
II. II only had my ps'oI now h'cely
could bring MN down.
All at once saw something gutter d
one o. f~sers oU'''r'''hcd haH"s' an'
the sight oi u gaze mca -'rill pi nope
II was l'S revolver, ""ch ne ma sue
credcd IN grdSpng just before the bloV
lcll,
II ! con!d r'ach 1t before the ara
could cNtrlcate his sword, / was saved !
no.-Frostrs fate would be mine.
%ri'ted my teeth, seized my saber firmly
and rose erect The Arab saw me, ana
with II savage imprccation to Allah i
threw himself On the sword with terri
bIe effort. still II chung 10 Frasors body