The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-12

| spraineo, ana with cry OF pain dropped
down behind the horse. Then I foreo
everything in what saw going on before
me. The Arab had retreated against thu
wall and was fiercely keeping Fraser a,
bay. Their swords clashed until the
sparks flew, and Fraser's heavy strokes
were intercepted by the Arabs leatherp
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 hors.
and dealt a fearful blow at the Arabs
exposed head, but quick as a flash thu
great sword flew up and the short saber
striking full and forcibly against the aw.
full edge, broke off close beside the hilt
and lay shining on the sand at their feet
What followed can never forget Il
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 all 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 Frasers 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. tho
poor fellow dropped to the ground with.
out a cry, and his plunging steed trampled
over the body and shen 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 Fraser's BODY.
With a shudder reached for NV mis-.
tol, and grew faint for an instant when
remembered that it lay under the horse
in the bolster l was wholly at the
Arabs mercy. The wretch was still
tugging at the sword and seemed unable
to loosen it. If only l had nv pistol
how nicely could bring him down.
All at once saw something glitter in
one of Fraser's outstretched hands. and
the sight of it gave me a thrill of hone.
1t was his revolver, which he had sue
ceeded in grasping just before the blow
fell.
If l could reach it before the Arab
could extricate his sword | was saved.
If not-Fraser's fate would be mine.
gritted my teeth, seized my saber firmly
and rose erect. The Arab saw me, and
with savage imprecation to Allah he
threw himself on the sword with ter
rible effort. Still it chung to Fraser's
body. and then as l leaped toward him,
forgetful of my sprained ankle, and
tiourished my saber fiercely, he grabbed
up his shield and fell back few yards,
keeping on the defensive. l uttered g.
loud shout to intimidate him and then,
bent over poor Fraser.
l grasped the revolver, but the dead
mans hand was closed on it with a grin,
like iron. Igave strong pull and then.
another. and just as the stiffened fingers.
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 could even turn he leaped
on me like tiger and we rolled over On
the sand. splashing through a pool Of
Fraser's crimson life blood.
The Arab had clutched at nv throat
but missed it, and clasping each others
we foundered about the trench.
now one uppermost and now the other.
With clenched teeth and struggling for
breath we fought on bitterly, knowing
that one or the other must die. could
feel the Arabs hot breath upon my neck
and his huge brass earrings tapped
against my cheeks. l still held the pis-
tol tightly in my left hand. If could
only get chance to use it. Very fool
ishly relaxed my grasp brief second,
and in that lightning 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 glaring
into mine with a hooking smile.
was choking, sufocating-a sense
vas leaving me.
Must die thus? 1t was horrible.
With a fearful effort, the strength that
alone can give, twisted the
Arab sideways. My left arm was free.
My hand still clutched the pistol. Il
raised it with jerk. put the muzzle
20 his ear With she last atom of strength.
pulled the trigger, and as the stunning:
export echoed through the trench with,
hunderous reverherations everything,
grew black and dim.
Attracted by the pistol shot they found!
Is there half an hour later still locked in.
close embrace. My uniform was spat-
cred with the Arabs blood. Messengers,
we're sent to Suakim for stretchers, and
While waiting the body of my desperate
zoe was buried where he lay in the
.rench, and beside him was laid my
horse, whose neck had broken in the
'alL We marched mOurnfully back to-
Suakim, and the next day poor Fraser
was laid to rest in the English cemetery
On the shores of the Red sea. I've been
m many skirmish with the Arabs since,
put that night in the trenches outside
Suakim was the closest call ever had,
md as a living remembrance of it
nave kept that great two edged sword
which split Tom Fraser nearly i'll half
before my very eyes.-William Murray
Jraydon i'm Philadelphia Times.
There were 224S patents of an electrical
allure issued i'll this country in 1891
4 In ILL,