Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1889-06-27
THE SOUDANESE SPY.

>>N' 800
riston 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.
A gun shot, plain and unmistakable,
had echoed through the night air and
we certainly had heard a faint cry.
But in the dreary street all was quiet
and the solitary electric lamp reflected
no shadows save our own on the pave
ment of the British embassy, while the
palace across the way, with its coral
facades and massive carved gates, showed
no signs of life.
Then a gun went off, a drum began to
rattle loudly, arms clashed, hurrying
footsteps echoed on the stones, and shouts
were given and answered. | listened in
speechless establishment, and then rushed
back for my cap and sword. 1t was best
to be prepared though what possible
ground for alarm existed could not see.
suakim was protected by a line of SEN
tries that extended mile beyond the
town No signal had come from the out
skirts, yet there was this turmoil in the
very midst of the European quarter.
AS hurried back to the door the great
palace gates swung open, and a squad
of Egyptian soldiers trooped out, their
swarthy faces shining under their GRIM
son CABS Close behind them, escorted
by several officers, came tall, di"'1ified
looking man. He was bareheaded and
held an unsheathed sword in his hand.
| recognized him at first sight as Ach-
med Ras, the Egyptian governor of Sra-
kim He glanced up and down the street
and then hurried across to the embassy.
s'You are a British officer he said,
breathless with excitement.
Capt. Dugdale, Of the Ninth dragons,
at your command, your excellency," l
said briefly.
''Thank you. l am in need of your
services An Arab prisoner, a captured
spy of the Mahdi's, has made his escape.
My stupid soldiers are to blame. The
fellow has been gone some time now, and
it is important that he be retalen, for he
has stolen valuable plans 81 die town and
Notifications. fear m eo!,,iers can do
little, but if your dragons viii acour the
plain
Your excellency," l interrupted,
what you desire shall be done at-once."
mounted my horse, waved hasty
salute and galloped off down the narrow
street, leaving Achmed Ras and Carris-
ton hobnobbing together on the steps of
the embassy for Carriston was the Brit
ish ambassador at Suakim. The hot
blood was coursing madly through my
veins, for had only been at Suakim a
week and the faintest touch of excite
ment was intensely welcome.
l remembered, too, having seen this
escaped Arab only few days previous,
when he was being led captive through
the streets of the town, great black
giant with muscular, brawny limbs and
his black locks dangling in curls down
his shoulders.
spurred rapidly through the town.
crossed the peninsula to the main land
where the troops were quartered side by
side with the native population, an6
soon the bugle call to arms was floating
out on the night air, and the jingling o.
spurs and the trampling of hoofs wa,
orders and we galloped out onto the deser
and scattered over the sandy plain
Chances were in our favor, for the moor
was coming up slowly, and the enemy
outposts, where alone the Arab woult
find safety, were at that time three mile
beyond the town.
galloped straight across the plain
closely attended by solitary trooper,
brave fellow named Tom Fraser. KEEP
as far as possible in the direction judge
the fugitive had taken and l hoped t
have the pleasure of capturing him my
self, for the trampling of my horse wa
mufied by the drifted sand and woul
not betray my approach until | shout
be close upon him.
A mile and half from the town lay
belt of deserted intrenchments, fror
which the enemy had been driven
month or SO previous. Aswe approache
these we slackened our speed and bega
to look for suitable crossing place
The British shells had leveled them i
places and one of these points we 500
found, a break in the trench with
gentle slope on either side. We rod
slowly down into the hollow, and as nj
horses were commencing to ascend agal
Fraser suddenly tugged fiercely at m
arm.
.Look. captain, lookr' he whispere
excitedly, and as followed the range
his outstretched hand saw sight tn;
made my heart leap. Off to the sout
extended the trenches in one unbroke
formation. their mounds of sand rigi
and exact, and outlined sharply in tt
moonlight against the right hand wall
earth was a swiftly moving SHADOW
Even as we looked the specter vanishe
round a curve, and we saw it no more.
We Numbered on in silence. ! clutcht
the reins tightly with one hand and Wi
the other / held my sabar. The Ara
was unarmed and wouli take hi
alive, thought, and lead him back
triumph to suakim. This all pass
through my mind in an instant and thu
we galloped round the curve and sa
our prey in full view before US.
NJ ,,-ae str1Ioplinp along painfully al