Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-08-22

either side. We rode slowly down
into the hollow. and As our horses
wers commencing TO ascend again Fra.
ser suddenly tusssd fsrcsly at my
arm.
Look. captain. look be whisper
&c excitedly,, and ssI followed the
range Of his outstretched hand saw
. sight that made my heart leap. OF
to the south extended the trenches 10
one unbroken formation. their mounds
Of sand rigid and exacs. and outlined
sharply in the moonlight against the
right hand wall Of earth was swiftly
moving shadow. Even as we looked
tbs spscter vanished round a curve,
~ 4 20 more
We thnndered on ia silence. I
eluichsd the ieins tightly with one
hand and with the other ! held my
saber. The Arab was unarmsd and
| would take him alive. + thought, and
lead him back in triumph to Suakisa.
This all passed through my mind in
an instant and then we galloped
round the curve and saw our prey in
fnll view before us.
He was struggling along painfully
and was limping as though one leg
was hurt. The moon shone full upon
him. and to my surprise saw that he
carried great shield and one of those
enormous double edged swords which
these Arabs use with such terrible ef.
feet. He had doubtless found them
in the trench.
We called on him to surrender, but
he never even turned until az we were
close upon him he suddenly whirled
round in desperation and confronted
US menacingly. 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 lsaped it calamity. my
animal stumbled and fell. down I went,
partly beneath him.
l tried to rise, but my ankle was
badly sprained. and with cry of pain
| dropped down behind the horse.
Then forgot everything in what I
saw going on. The Arab had resrea..
ed against the wall and was fsrcsly
keeping Frsssr at bay. Their swords
clashed until the sparks few. and Fra
sers heavy strokes were intercepted
by the Arabs leather shield.
They fought on in silence. and in
the moonlight 7 saw the Arabs terri.
BILE face. the eyes sparkling with ha.
tired aud the white teeth clenched in
deadly determination. Clash after
clash rang on the night air.
Suddenly Fraser spurred on his
hos Sc and dealt a fearful blow at the
Arabs exposed head. but quick as a
flash the great sword flew up aud the
short saber striking full and forcibly
against the awful edge. broke off close
beside the hilt. and lay shining on the
sand at their feet. What followed /
| can never forget. II will haunt me
to my dying day.
Frazer threw up bic right hand
with the broken biIt, and with the
left reached for his revolver, and
then. as looked on. stupid with hor.
ror. the Arab raised bis great sword
aloft with both hands, and with all
force of his desperate strength he
hurled il forward like catapult.
The cleaning blade fi.shed the
moonlight from its edge and crushed
with an awful sound through poor Fra.
GERS 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
without cry. and his pIunging steed
trampled over the body and then gal.
loped in mad fright down the trench.
Wholly engrossed in this awful
scene. | forgot my own peril and only
realized it fully when the Arab. brac-
ing himself against the wall of the
trench. began to drag the sword out
OF Frszsrs body.
With a shudder | reached for my
pistol. and grew faint for an instant
when ! remembered that it lay under
the horse in the holster. I was Who'll.
ly at the Arabs mercy. The wretch
was still tugging at the sword and
seemed unable to loosen il. II only
| had my pistol how nicely I could
bring him down.
All at once I saw something glitter
in one Of Fraser's outstrstchsd hands.
and the siaht Of it gave A thrill of