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

with s,ch terrible effect. He had doubt
less found them in the trench.
We called or him to surrender, but he
never even turned until as we were close
upon him he suddenly whirled round In
desperation and confronted us menac-
ingly. We drew our sabers and dashed
upon him,
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 gallantly, 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 l dropped
down behind the horse Then l forgot
everything in what saw going on before
me. The Arab had reiterated against the
wall and was fercely 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 terrible face,
the eyes sparkling with hatred, and the
white teeth clenched in deadly deter
mination. Clash after clash rang on the
night air.
Suddenly Fraser spurred on his horse
and dealt a fearful blow at the Arabs
exposed head, but quick as flash the
great sword flew up and the short saber
striking full and forcibly against the aw-
full edge, broke off close beside the hllt,
and lay shining on the sand at their feet.
What followed can never forget. 1t
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 looked on,
stupid with horror, the Arab raised his
great sword aloft with both hands, and
with a the force of his desperate strength
he hurled it forward like catapult.
The cleaning blade flashed the moon
light from its edge and crushed with an
awful sound through poor Fraser's head,
cleaving its 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 in twain from head to waist, the
poor fellow dropped to the ground with
out a cry, and his plunging steed trampled
over the body and then galloped in mad
fright down the trench.
Wholly engrossed in this awful scene,
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 Frasers body.
With shudder reached for my PTS
tol, and grew faint for an instant when
[ remembered 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 l had my pistol
how nicely could bring him down.
All at once l saw something glitter il
one of Fraser outstretched hands, anc
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 / could reach it before the Aral
| could extricate his sword l was saved
| If not-Frasers fate would be mine.
| gritted my teeth. seized my saber firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, ant
with savage imprecation to Allah III
threw himself on the sword with a ter
rible effort Still it chung to Fraser
body, and then as I leaped toward him
forgetful of my sprained ankle, ant
flourished my saber fiercely, he grabbed
up his shield and fell back few yards
keeping on the defensive. ! uttered
loud shout to intimidate him and thel
bent over poor Fraser.
grasped the revolver, but the dea'
mans hand was closed on it with a gri
like iron. l gave strong pull and the
another, and just as the stiffened finger
loosend their clasp my injured ankle as
serted itself and l fell heavily to one side
The wary Arab was watching his chance
and before l could even turn he leape
on me like tiger and we rolled over o
the sand, splashing through pool {
Fraser's crimson life blood.
The Arab had clutched at my thros
but missed it, and clasping each other
shoulders we foundered about the trench
now one uppermost and now the othel
With clenched teeth and struggling fc
breath we fought on bitterly. KNOWN
that one or the other must die. l coul
feel the Arabs hot breath upon my nee
and his huge brass earrings fappe
against my cheeks. I still held the pi
toll tightly in my left hand If l coul
only get a chance to use it. Very foo
ishly relaxed my grasp brief secon'
and in that lightning like interval tt
Arab seized the advantage and fastene
both his brawny hands firmly on N
throat
In vain l struggled and strove to tur
the bony fingers were pressing my win
pipe and the hideous face was glarir
into mine with hooking smile.
Twas choking, suffocating-all sen
| was leaving me.
Must die thus? 1t was horrible.
/ Wit, a fearful effort, the strength tn
, madness alone can give, twisted Il
: Arab sideways. My left arm was fire
/ My hand still clutched the pistol.
| - n ;orl- 7 mt fbo ,,,,,1,