The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-08-10

were at that TIME turce ILLUS Dcl Ouu tHc
town. --'.'c-'-'-',,-.-~---
Not a stone or bush or q mound OF
sand escaped scrutiny. The men were
widely scattered, clinging far to the north
and to the south and drawing steadily
nearer to the enemy's lines.
l galloped straight across the plain,
closely attended by solitary trooper,
brave fellow named Tom Fraser. kept
as far as possible in the direction judged
the fugitive had taken and l hoped to
have the pleasure of capturing him my
self, for the trampling of my horse was
mufflcd by the drifted sand and would
not betray my approach until l should be
close upon him.
A mile and a half from the town lay
belt Of deserted intrenchments from
which the enemy had been driven month
or so previous. AS we approached these
we slackened our speed and began to look
for suitable crossing place. The Brit
ish shells had lcveled them in places, and
one of these points we soon found, a
break in the trench with a gentle slope
on either side. We rode slowly down
into the hollow, and as our horses were
commencing to ascend again Fraser sud-
denly tugged fiercely at my arm.
Look, Captain, look!" he whispered
excitedly, and as followed the range of
his outstretched hand / saw sight that
made my heart leap. Off to the south ex-
tended the trenches in one unbroken for
nation, their mounds of sands rigid and
exact, and outlined sharply in the moon
light against the right hand wall of earth
was swiftly moving shadow. Even as
we looked the specter vanished around
curve and we saw it no more.
We pulled our horses heads round and
dashed down the trench side by side, for
it was fully wide enough for three horse
men to ride abreast.
We Numbered on il silence. clutchcd
the reins tightly with one hand and with
the other l held my saber. The Arab
was unarmed and l would take him alive,
I thought, and lead him back in triumph
to Sauisin. This all passed through my
mind in an instant and then VIC galloped
round the curve and saw our prey in
full view before lis. He was struggling
along painfully and limping as though
one leg was hurt. The moon shone full
upon him, and to my surprise l saw
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 merac-
ingly. We drew our sabers and dashed
upon MIN.
Just here, extending full across the
trench, was a rugged depression, caused
probably by an exploding shell.
This we failed to see, and, while
Fraser's horse leaped it gallantry, my
animal stumbled and fell, and down l
went, partly beneath him.
l tried to rise, but my ankle was badly
sprained, and, with a cry of pain,
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 fiercely 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
clinched in deadly determination. Clash
after clash rang on the night air. Sud-
denly Fraser spurred on his horse and
dealt a fearful blow at the Arabs ex-
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 l can never forget. 1t