St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-08-17
BEFORE SUAkIM.
A Frightful Struggle For Life in q
Lonely Trench.
Encounter Of an Onlcer and . Trooper
With an Escaped Arab Spy-The
Trooper Literally Cleft
in Twain.

"I.istcn. Bruce, what's that?" Colonel
CarristOn raised his hand with a gest-
IRE of silence and looked at me intent.
~. Then we both dropped our cigars
and rushed out To the door of the en-.
bassy.
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 oar 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. drum began
10 rattle loudly. arms FLASHED. hurry
ing footsteps echoed on the stones and
shouts were. given and answered.
listened in speechleSs establishment,
and then rushed back for my cap and
sword. II was best TO be prepared.
though what possible ground for
alarm existed could not see. Suakim
WAS protected by line of sentries that
extended mile beyond the town. No
signal had come from the outskirts.
Yet here was this turmoil in the very
midst of the European quarter.
As l 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 crimson caps. Close behind
them. escorted by several officers.
came a tall, digniied-looking man. He
was barehcaded and held an un-
shcathed sword i'm his hand.
recognized him at first sight as
Achmed Ras. the Egyptian Governor
of SGakim. He glanced up and down
the street and then hurried across to
the embassy.
You are a British ofiicer?" he said,
brcathless with excitement.
Captain Dugdale. of the Ninth
dragons. at your command, your cx-
cclency," said. briefly.
Thank you. am in need of your
services An Arab prisoner. a capt
ured spy of the Mahdis. 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 retaken. for he has stolen
valuable plans of the town and fOrtifi-
cations. fear my soldiers can do but
little. but if your dragons will scour
the plain
Your excelency," l interrupted.
'.what you desire shall be done mt
once"
l mounted my horse. waved a hasty
salute and galloped off down the mar
row street, leaving Achmed Ras and
Carriston hobnobbing together on the
steps of the embassy, for Carriston
was the British Ambassador at Saukim.
Tile hot blood was coursing madly
through my veins, for had only been
III Suakim a week and the faintest
touch of excitement was intensely well
come.
remembered, too, having seen this
escaped Arab only a few days previ-
ons "heu - ~, being led captive
-lc cts of the town,
-i 1t with muscular,
bs" i,l.aos lis black locks dam
n caris dexa his sh oulders.
spurrca --n!diy through the town.
croeses, ihc .e.l,asr,'a to the main land.
where the troops were quartered side
by side with the native population,
and soon the bugle call to arms was
floating out on the night air. and the
juggling of spurs and the trampiing of
hcofs was heard on all sides. A few
brief. concise orders and we galloped
on: onto the desert and scattered over
the sandy plain. Chances were in our
favor, for the moon was coming up
slowly. and the enemy's outposts,
where alone the Arab would find
safety. were at that time three miles
beyond the town.
Not stone, or bush. or a mound of
sand escaped scrutiny. The men were
widely scattered. circling far to the
north and to the south. and drawing
steadily nearer TO the enemies lines.
galloped straight across the plain,
closely attended by solitary trooper
a brave fellow named Tom Fraser. /
kept as far rs possible in the direc-
ton Judged the fugitive had taken
ard hoped to have the pleasure of capt
uring him myself. for TIE trampl;ng of
my horse was muiiled by the drifting