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 thc specter vanished around a
curve and VIC saw II no moro.
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 us. 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 he carried great shield and one of
those enormous doublc.cdgcd swords
which these Arabs use with such terrible
effect. lie had doubtless found them in
the trench.
We called on him 90 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 a rugged depression, caused
probably by an exploding she'll.
This we fcilcd to see, and, while
Frascr's horse lcapcd it gallantry, my
animal stumbled and fell, and down
went, partly beneath him.
| tried to rise, but my ankle was badly
/ spraincd, and, with cry of pain, /
dropped down behind the horse. Then l
4 forgot every thing in what saw going on
before mo. The Arab had rgtreatcd
against the wall and was icrccly keeping
/ Fraser at bay. Their swords clnshcd
until tho sparks few, and Frascr's heavy
strokes were intercepted 10y the Arabs
lcsthorn 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 spurrrd on his horse and
dealt fearful blow ut the Arabs cX-
posed head, but quick as a flash the great
sword flew up, and the short s0bcr strik-
ing full and forcibly against the awful
edge, broke of close beside the hilt and
4. lay 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, and with the left reached
for his revolver, and then, as ! 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 il forwurd like q
Catapult
The cleaning blade flashed the moon
ligh; from lis edge and crushed with III
awful sound through poor Frascr's head,
cloaving 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 70 waist the
poor fellow dropped to the ground with
out a cry, and his plunging steed tram
pied over the body and then galloped il
mad fright down the trench.
Wholly engrosscd 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 Frascr's body.
With Il shuddcr reached for my pistol,
and grew faint for an instant when | re-
wcmhc'cd that it lay under the horse il
the holster. was wholly at the Arab
mercy. The wretch WAS still tugging at
the sword, aud seemed unable 10 loosci
it. Il only had my pistol how nicely
could bring him down.
All at once saw something glitter il
one OF Fmsor's ouDs,retohcd hands, anC
the sight of 10 ga,cmca l'rill OF hope
Il was his revolver, which nc nd sue
creded in grasping just before the blow
fell.
If I could reach it before the Aral
could cytricat, his sword, was saved. ]
no.-Fus,r's fate would be mine.
grittcd my teeth, seized my sabcr firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, and
with Il savage imprccation to Allah h
threw himself on the sword with terri
bile effort. S;ill it clung TO Frascr's body
4