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

mad frlgQC UONn Tue tTcllCu.
Wholly engrossed 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 Fraser's body.
With shudder l reached for my pistol,
and grew faint for an instant when re-
membcred that it lay under the horse in
the holster. was wholly at the Arabs
mercy. The wretch was still Juggling at
the sword, and seemed unable to loosen
it. If only had my pistol how nicely
could bring him down.
All at once saw something glitter in
one of Fraser's outstretchcd hands, and
the sight of it gave me a thrill of hope.
1t was his revolver, which he had sue
ceeded in grasping just before the blow
fell.
If I could reach it before the Arab
could extricatc his sword, l was saved. If
not-Fraser's fate would be mine. l
gritted my teeth, seized my saber firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, and,
with a savage imprecation to Allah he
threw himself on the sword with terri
BILE effort. Still it chung to Fraser's body,
and then, as leaped toward him, forget
full of my sprained ankle, and flourished
my sabre tiercelv, he grabbed his shield
and fell back few yards, keeping on the
defensive. uttered loud shout to in
timidate him, and then bent over poor
Fraser. He still held the pistol, but his
grip was like iron. gave strong pull
and then another, and just as his stifTened
fingers loosened their clasp my injured
ankle asserted itself and fell heavily to
one side. The wary Arab was watching
his chance and before l could even turn
he lcaped on me like a tiger and we rolled
over in the sand splashing through apool
OF Fraser's crimson lfc-blood.
The Arab had clutched at my throat,
but missed it and clasping each others
shoulders we floundered about the trench,
now one uppermost and now the other.
With clenched teeth, and struggling for
breath we fought on desperately, knowing
that one or the other must die. l could
feel the Arabs hot breath upon my neck
and his huge brass earrings tapping
against my checks. l still held the pistol
tightly in my left hand. If l could only
get chance 10 use it! Very foolishly
relaxed my grasp brief second and in
that tightening like interval the Arab
seized the advantage and fastened both
his brawny hands firmly on my throat.
In vain | struggled and strove to turn,
the bony fingers were pressing my wind
pipe and the hideous face was glarine
into mine with a hooking smile.
was choking, suffocating-all sense
was leaving ne.
Must die thus? 1t was horrible.
With q fearful effort, the strength that
madness alone can give, l twisted the
Arab sideways. My left arm was free.
My hand still clutched the pistol. ]
raised it with jerk. 1 put the muzzle
to his ear, with the last atom of strength
pulled the trigger, and as the stunning
report echoed through the trench with
laundering reverbations everything grew
black and dim.
x
Attracted by the pistol-shot, they
found us there half an hour later. still
locked in close embrace. My uniform
was spattered with the Arabs blood.
Messengers were sent to Suakin for
stretchers, and while waiting the body
of my desperate foe was buried
where he lay in the trench, and
beside him was laid my horse, whose
neck had been broken in the fall.
We marched mournfully back to Suakin,
and the next day poor Fraser was laid to
rest in the English cemetery on the shores
of the Red Sea. I've been in many a Skin.
mish with the Arabs since, but that night
in the trenches outside Suakin was the
closest call ever had, and as living re.
membrance l have kept that great two
edged sword which split Tom Fraser
nearly in half before my very eyes,