The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-10

along palnIully anu HmpluS as InouSn
one leg was hurt. The moon shone full
upon him, and to my surprise Jaw
that he carried great shield and one OF
those enormous double-edged swords
which these Arabs use with such terrible
effect. He had doubtless found them IN
the trench.
We called on him to surrender, but he
never even turned until as we were close
upon him he suddenly whirled around
in desperation and confronted us menac-
ingly. We drew our sabers and dashed
upon him.
Just here, extending full across the
trench, was a rugged depression, caused
probably by an exploding shell.
This we failed to see, and, while
Frasers horse leaped it gallantry, my
animal stumbled and fell, and down /
went, partly beneath him.
tried to rise, but my ankle was badly
sprained, and, with cry of pain, l
dropped down behind the horse. Then
forgot every thing in what saw going on
before me. The Arab had retreated
against the wall and was fercely keeping
Fraser at bay. Their swords clashed
until the sparks flew, and Fraser's heavy
strokes were intercepted by the Arabs
leathern shield.
They fought on in silence and in the
moonlight saw the Arabs face, the eyes
sparkling with hatred and the white teeth
clinchcd in deadly determination. Clash
after clash rang on the night air. Sud
denly Fraser spurred on bis horse and
dealt a fearful blow at the Arabs cx-
posed head, but quick as flash the great
sword flew up, and the short saber strik-
ing full and forcibly against the awful
edge, broke off close beside the hilt and
lay shining on the sand at their feet.
What followed I can never forget. 1t
will haunt me to my dying day.
Fraser threw up his right hand, with
the broken hilt, and with the left reached
for his revolver, and then, as I looked
on, stupid with horror, the Arab raised
his great sword aloft with both hands,
and with all the force Of his desperate
strength he hurled it forwerd like
catapult.
The cleaning blade flashed the moon
light from its edge and crushed with an
awful sound through poor Fraser's head,
cleaving 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 to waist the
poor fellow dropped to the ground with
out a cry, and his plunging steed tram
pied over the body and then galloped in
mad fright down the trench.
Wholly engrossed in this awful scene,
I forgot my own peril, and only realized
it fully when the Arab, bracing himself
against the wall of the trench, began to
drag his sword out of Fraser's body.
With shudder I reached for my pistol,
and grew faint for an instant when re-
membered that it lay under the horse in
the holster. I was wholly at the Arabs
mercy. The wretch was still tugging at
the sword, and seemed unable to loosen
it. If only had my pistol how nicely I
could bring him down.
All at once I saw something glitter in
one of Fraser's outstrctched hands, and
the sight of it gave me thrill of hope.
It was his revolver, which he had sue
ceeGed in grasping just before the blow
fell.
If could reach it before the Arab
could extricate his sword, Twas saved. If
not-Fraser's fate would be mine. l
gritted my teeth, seized my sa5sr firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, and,
with a savage imprecation to Allah he
threw himself on the sword with terri
bic effort. Still it clung to Fraser's body,
and then, as I leaped toward him, forget
full of my sprained ankle, and fourished
my sabre fercelv, he grabbed his shield
and fell back a few yards, keeping on the
defensive. I uttered loud shout to in
timidate him, and then bent over poor
Fraser. He still held the pistol, but his
grip was like iron. I gave strong pull
and then another, and just as his stitfened
fingers loosened their clasp my injured
ankle asserted itself and I fell heavily to
ore side. The wary Arab was watching
his chance and before I could even turn
he leaped on me like tiger and we rolled
over in the sand splashing through apool
Of Fraser's crimson life-blood.
The Arab had clutched at my throat,
but missed it and clasping each others
shoulders we foundercd about the trench,
now one uppermost and now the other.
With clenched teeth, and struggling for
breath we fought on desperately, knowing
that one or the other must die. l could
feel the Arabs hot breath upon my neck
and his huge brass earrings Tapping
against my cheeks. still held the pistol
tightly in my left hand. If could only
get chance to use it! Very foolishly 1
relaxed my grasp q brief second and in
that ightening-like interval the Arab
seized the advantage and fastened both
his brawny hands firmly on my throat.
In vain struggled and strove to turn,
the bony fingers were pressing my wind
pipe and the hideous face was glaring
into mine with a mocking smile.
was choking, suffocating-all sense
was leaving me.
Must die thus? It was horrible.
With fearful effort, the strength that
madness alone can give, I twisted the
Arab sideways. My left arm was free.
My hand still clutched the pistol. I
raised it with jerk. put the muzzle
to his ear, with the last atom of strength
1 pulled the trigger, and as the stunning
report echoed through the trench with