Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-23

minu III 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 rs though
one ley was hurt. The moon shone full
upon him, and to my surprise l saw
that he carried Il 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 20 surrender, but he
never even turned until rs VIC were close
upon him he suddenly whirlcd around
III desperation and confroatcd MS mcnac.
ingy. We drew our sabers and dashed
upon him.
Just here, extending full across The
trench, was rugged depression, caused
probably by an exploding shell.
This we failed to see, and, while
Fraser's horse leapcd it gallantry, my
animal stumbled and fell, and down /
went, partly beneath him.
l tried 10 rise, but my ankle was badly
sprained, and, with cry of pain,
dropped down behind the horse. Then
forgot every thing iii VIVA: saw going ON
before me. The Arab had rctrcatcd
against the wall and was iicrccly keeping
Fraser ut bay. Their swords clashcd
until the sparks few, and Fraser's heavy
strokes were intercepted by the Arabs
lcathcrn shield.
They fought on in silence and in the
moonlight saw the Arabs face, the eye.
sparkling with hatred and the white teeth
clinchcd i'll deadly determination. Clash
/ .It f,lrc1, Il
denly Fraser spuIrcd ON his horse and
dealt fearful blow ut the Arabs cx-
posed head, but quick as flash the great
sword flew up, and the short saber strill.
ing full and forcibly against the awful
edge, broke oil close beside the hilt and
lay shining on the sand ut 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 l 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 ii forwcr,l like
catapult.
The cleaning blade flashed The moon
light from its edge ard crushed with an
awful sound through poor Frascr's head,
cleaving It's 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 i'll twain from head TO waist The
poor fellow dropped 10 The ground with
out q cry, and his plunging stced tram
pied over the body and then galiopcd i'll
mad fright down the trench.
Wholly cngrosscd iii this awful scene,
forgot my own peril, and only realized
II fully when the Arab, bracing himself
against the wall of the trench, began 10
drag his sword ont of Frascr's body.
With q sinI;ldcr reached for my pistol,
and grew fain; for an instant when | re-
numbered that it lay under the horse in
the holster. | WAS wholly ut the Arabs
mercy. The wretch was still tiigginm mt
tie sword, and seemed unable TO loosen
it. If only had my pistol how nicely
could bring him down.
All y; once | SAW something glitter in
one OF Frascr's outstrc;chcd hands, and
the sight OF it gave Inc thrill of hope.
1t WAS his revolver, which he had sue
ccedcd i'll grasping just before the blow
fell
If I could reach it before the Arab
could eXtricate his sword, was saved. If
not-Frascr's fate would be- mine.
Sritto,i my teeth, seized Fly sabcr firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, and,
with IL savage imprccation to Allah he
threw himself on the sword with terri
bic effort. Still it chung to Fraser's body,
and then, as lcapcd toward him, forget
ful of my spraiued ankle, and iourishcd
my sabre iicrcclv, he grabbed his shield
and fell back a few yards, Keeping on the
| defensive. l uttered loud shout to in
timidate him, and then bent over poor
Fraser. lie still held the pistol, but his
grip was like iron. | gave strong pull
and then another, and Just ms his stiiencd
fingers looscncd their clasp my injured
ankle asserted itself and | fell heavily to
one 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 Il pool
oi Frascr's crimson life-blood.
The Arab had clutchcd at my throat,
but missed it and clasping each others
shoulders we fioundcrcd about the trench,
now one uppermost and now the other.
With clcnched teeth, and struggling for
breath we fought on desperately, knowing
ilat 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 l could only
get a chance to use it! Very foolishy |
relaxed my grasp II brief second and in
that lightcninglikc interval the Arab
seized the advantage and fastened both
his brawny hands firmly on my throat
In vain struggled and strovc to turn,
the bony fingers were pressing my wind
pipe and the hideous face was glaring
into mine with hooking smile.
was choking, suffocating sense
was leaving me.
Must die thus? 1t was horrible.
With a fearful effort, the strength that
madness alone can give, I twisted the
Arab sideways. My left arm was free.
My hand still clutchcd the pistol |
raised it with a jerk. I put the muzzlc
! tO his par with tho Iosf atom, IF ctronotl,