Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-07-26
THE SOUDANESE SPY.
BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAYDON.

"Listen, Bruce, what's that?" and Car
riston raised his hand with a gesture of
silence and looked at me intently. Then
we both dropped our cigars and rushed
out to the door of the Embassy.
A gun-shot, plain and unmistallable,
had echoed through the night air, and
we certainly had heard faint cry.
But in the dreary street all was quiet,
and the Solitary electric lamp reflected no
shadows save our own on the pavement
of the British Embassy, while the palace
across the way, with its coral facades and
massive carved gates, showed no signs of
life.
Then gun went off, drum began to
rattle loudly, arms clashed, hurrying foot
steps echoed on the stones, and shouts
were given and answered. I listened in
speechless astonishment, and then rushed
back for my cap and sword. 1t was best
to be prepared, though what possible
ground for alarm existed could not see.
Suakin was protected by line of SEN
tries shat extended a mile beyond the
town. No signal had come from the out
skirts, yet here was this turmoil in the
very midst of the European quarter.
As hurried back to the door the great
palace gates swung open and squad of
Egyptian soldiers trooped out, their
swarthy faces shining under their crimson
caps. Close behind them, escorted by
several officers, came q tall, dignified,
looking man. He was bareheaded and
held an unsheathed sword in his hand.
recognized him at first sight as Ach-
med Ras, the Egyptian Governor of Sua-
kin. He glanced up and down the
street and then hurried across to the En-
bassy."
''You are British officer" he said,
breathless with excitement.
Captain Dugdale, of the Ninth Dra-
goons, at your command, Your Excel
lency," l said, briefly.
"Thank you. l am in need of your
services. An Arab prisoner, captured
spy of the Mahdi, has made his escape
My stupid soldiers are to blame. The
fellow has been gone some time now, and
it is important he be retaken, for he has
stolen valuable plans of the town and
Notifications. l fear my soldiers can do
little, but if your dragons will scour the
plain"
"Your Excellency," I interrupted,
"what you desire shall be done at once. -
mounted my horse, waved hasty
salute, and galloped off down the narrow
street, leaving Achmed Ras and Carriston
hobnobbing together on the steps of the
Embassy, for Carriston was the British
Ambassador at Suakin. The hot blood
was coursing madly through my veins, for
had only been at Suakim week, and
the faintest touch of excitement was in
tensely welcome.
l remembered, too, having seen this
escaped Arab only a few days previous,
when he was being led captive through
the streets of the town-a great black
giant, with muscular, brawny limbs and
bis black locks dangling in curls down his
shoulders.
I spurred rapidly through the town,
crossed the peninsula to the mainland,
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 jingEng of spurs
and the trampling of hoofs were heard on
all sides. A few brief, concise orders
and we galloped out onto the desert and
scattered over the sandy plain. Chances
were in our favor, for the moon was COM
ing up slowly, and the enemy's outposts,