New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-15


an unnatural glamOT on the great pare I"ch+' 40
II they were IN a lunar landscape L2tn VI u"c
companions in that fearful morning walk leu, 'oo'
as II this were part OF another life, suce Oh en-
perlencc, as II were. apart from tleISl'es @llu
the world in which they lived ana which tneE
knew. They stopped breathless at the slSht OF q
dark form against the Frightening sky a niue
way 10 the front, and took detour Only 10 NM
on better observation that It was thori,nIsm ~
misleading shape. Presently Mehemet quickehed
his pace and spoke again, "
In old times knew Essad. before the girl he
was 10 marry had been il-trcated by IaptlelS' ana
he had been driven TO such madness by his sulcr-
ings in prison because he took vengeance on item,
and by their insults and wiciiedncsS when he had
been set free, that he became brgand to re,
vcngc himself better. Thou WOuldSt have married
Aycsha, although she had been promised to me.
and Sadi, may God give him evil. would not
listen 10 me, and threatened that thou wouldst
Kill me. | ask thy. pardon, l}ey Enendi. but !
saw no other way; | went TO ESsad and proposed
thy capture, in order TO kill thee. Now thon
hast renowned Aycsha and promised her TO me.
am sorry for thy suffering; but God is good, and
with time thou Shalt forget 1t, whilst | would
serve thee always. Rejoice now, for we are safe,
and may speed on Our way Ihey VIII nor dare
come 10 the village on account Of the Govern
mcnt troops.
He had scarcely finished speaking before, passing
over q little ridge. he stumbled, with sharp
cry and nearly fell while the startling report
Of a frcarm rang through the morning air. NJ
tie same moment man, Over whom he had
rippcd. spruu- from beneath his feet and seized
him bv the throat. Back, cried the latter
ncrccy, 1T is forbidden 10 pass here
Forbidden? p" painted Mchcmct in reply who
said So" And in a second. before Hahri had time
to spring 10 his assistance. a corpse rolled at
MchcmctS feet, with the stab OF a yat"ghaG
through the heart M"hcE.ct snatchcd The deed
mans rifle and ammunition from him and thrust
them into liahris hands.
We are past the scout now" he cried with n
kind Of gasp. and We may 20 like the wind
without care. II is more blood; bnt how could
| help Il? That gun will have awakened the
whole band We must Gy like birds; they must
already be- running - assist. aud going last
they can hc but twenty minutes distant
They set to running. Mchcmet. with the
practi,rd foot Of the countrNman accustomed 10
line rough. rocky ground, bounding from boulder
- boulder ~ surely. and if he had been alone ~
swiftly as goat. hut liaLrl, unacG"SiomeI 10 si'n
exercise and with his feet still sore from his
first nights adventure, going uncertainty. MISSING
his footing often, and sadly Iciardug the pace
But hc set his courage 10 it and lahored hraNc!y
ON, till suddenly slipping on the edge of "a rock,
he fell heavily forward with Groan and lay
helpless. half fainting with pain Mchcmct brought
himself mp sharp. and in n moment WAS AT las
cone. nv little Bcv!" he said Courage! n
fall is nothing when lie is in speed and death IN
delay
But Bahri could not put his foot 70 the ground
Ills ankle was broken he could not move step.
Mehcmet understood his case at once. cast
desperate look backward, and seemed to reflect
Vet for scarce moment.
Il am with thee Boy EGcndi.' he said IL
have given my word And then. lifting M
Bahr in his powerful arms, ne went forward
But H. WAS slow work. for though q man be
big and powerful. the WEIGHT Of one Of his fellows
is heavy load for him. and anxious, for the
report Of the rifle must have been heard ~ least
by the other scout, who must be running mp 10
SEQ what had happened, would discover the death
Of his comrade and would Immediately give the
alarm to the whole band. Rapidly Mchcmct cast
up the start which this would give him in time;
there was cover. n wood. long way on 10 the
right. wood which stretched right away to his
own village. II he could reach That, the chances
of escape were all in favor of both of them; II
rOt-hc looked round 10 see what were the
possibilities. There was nothing bat here and
there - rock sticking I'D which might serve rs
cover bat was most doubtful hldiug-placc The
sun had now just risen. pouring flood of Glorious
.i-ht over the whole couuiY: there was no
morning mist. nor thr lichtcSt brcclc 70 temper
his rays. With tie sweat rolling from him. bat
Wdism'ycd. untircd. with surprising strength.
Nrlcmct bore on toward his goal, I}ahrl lNing
heavy and helpless in hi, arms; only now and
then. without waiting q moment for rest. he
east Glance backward 10 whether hc was
yet followed. suddenly he started. lie thought
20 distant shout had fallen on his ear; he looked
round again, bat could See nothing. lIaril. another
shout This time there was no doubt about IL:
lut II WAS not from behind. II VA, from the
right-hand side. even little 10 the front. Ththcr
Mchcmct directed lis eyes; he stopped, rooted To
the spot
already oycrtakcn: they have made also for the
wood. and outStrippcd rs far.
Drop ne and rum, said Bahri "thcv will
yet perhaps await my ransom; if thou canst save
ease one would die Instead of two
impossible, replied Mehcmc'; 81 have sworn
the shelter Of rock about four feet nigh
putting il between him and his pursucrs
we can Use our rifles he said Il
must lean YOU AGAINST this rock we
can both fire over il. Can Won do IT. nv Bcy ."
and he propped him up behind the rock
Il can do II, replied liahri and taking
careful aim lie fired; the shot took no effect cN-
ccpt 10 stop the advance Of the brigands. who
seeing one Of the fugitiNcs already wounded had
not counted Oh resistance and were now ONLY
q few hundred yards or although they had not
fired a shot But liahr undccciycd them. and in
. moment six or seven bullets whlStlrd bv i'm reply
Then the unequal battle began in real earnest.
The brigands, who were eight in number. made
no attempt 10 advance, and themselves at first
got under such cover available: for two
Winchester rifles, well handled, can make a very
formidable defence against cight enemies. For
some minutes q dropping fire was sustained from
both sides, now and then crash upon tie rock
in 'front.' Of them telling Bahr and Mchrmct OF the
craftsmanship oil their opponents. when suddenly
the former threw up MS arms and fell backward
without moan. Leaning up against the rock.
scarcely able To move more than enough 10 use
his rifle. owing 10 his injured ankle his mead and
for the hostile bullets. one had hit Linn fair
in the forehead; Mchcmet WAS spattrrcd with
"a has finished" muitcrcl Mchcmct. setting
his teeth. Would God could at least hit one
of them
THE brigands had greeted the successful Shot
with shout. and now gaining courage. TWO
crcpt ont Of their cover from each side moving
10 right and left. with the object of creeping
round Mchemct and shooting him from, the flank.
But the latter had not lost his the slight
est decree: always dol4ing behind his rock when
not taking aim. he fought like a lion brought 10
hay and after he had, To his keen satisfaction.
disabled two of his attackers, the flank movements
ceased and the direct fire became hotter than
ever When suddenly he heard a sound which
stopped the heating Of his brave heart. he felt
thar il was all over. There was tf sound of
firing from behind him: bullets whistlod over
his head from the opposite direction. Dropping
under cover from the front fire he faced desper-
atcIv round, rifle in hand. And then all his
hone snrged up triumphant within him There.
scarce two hundred yards of. lining a ridge of
rising Ground, were men in uniform-hc Govern
mrnt forces sent ont IN pursuit Of the brigands
Unucrccived in the excitement of the fray they
had come drawn by the sound of firing For
getting all danger needless of the bullets whistne
I.......i Tim LIE slnnl ~ LIS mi ni-Lt .nL