San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-17


"It is WELL" Latour rej0ined quickly.
"Then she may so with me TO FL Ka-
birch"
"And wherefore" replied the Arab.
again with his ugly smile. Safe is the
Frank khanun under the tents Of the
Beni-Ali. Let the Giaour seek his own.
As l learn, the Ingleeze prince from
whose harem she cometh can lavish
gems and diamonds upon this play
thing
He broke off suddenly. Craft had car
ried him too far; and, Is he realized
that he had trapped himself, Moham-
ed-ben-Zizi's brow knotted and his eye
shone with an evil CLEAN.
Not knowing if he breathed. % great
was the tension on his nerves, yet with
brain coolly alert, Adrien Latour had
borne this trying interview. Still his
eye never quilted the sheik's, bat the hot
blood of his race rushed to his heart with
q wild JOY, for he felt that time was past
Cor parley, and nOw-for action!
As the sheik ceased his left hand swift
" twitched the bourneus back, barring
the long, tawny, muscular right arm.
But ere he could grasp his spear the Arab
stopped spellbound, as though he gazed
into the eyes of the cobra di capello For,
quick rs was his gesture, quicker still
was that which flashed the pistol through
the air.
"One word.-one sign-m DEATH" whis-
pered Latour, in Arabic.
Then bracing his left foot IN the stir
rup the Creole stretched his right one to
the woman at his side.
Quick! Mountr he cried to her.
"Your life-more-depenas upon your
courage!"
Edith placed her foot ON his, grasped
the cantle of the saddle, and swung up
lightly on the horse without one word.
AL had passed so rapidly, 30 calm and
low had been the spoken words, that the
stoieal Arabs near had never looked to-
ward him. And now, rs the absent pis-
toll unlocked Mohammed- ben Xxis voice,
rhsir wondering rush was too late.
As he had felt Edith settle upon the
h0rse.-and with wondrous presence Of
mind pass her left hand round him, not
TO shake his pistol arm-La&our called
ont to Said, and the noble horse sped
away over the path he had come. ~.
Hold fastl Stoop low 30 the rightT'
Latonr cried, bending his own body to
the left to give her room. "They may
hurl the spears!"
Bat no sound whizzed by their ears
save the wind Of their own rush: and,
after few more bounds, the man raised
himself and glanced back. At the tents
all was wild confusion-men running
for their picketed steeds and tearing tbs
bags from their noses; the sl,eik himself
foremost among them.
Under his raised hand Latour scanned
the desert. The dust cloud rose more
distinct, yet full two miles away. But
it now advanced more rapidly, as though
his need were known. Again he twisted
round to scan the camp, now nearly
mile behind. Mounted Arabs had rushed
from it, on their fresh mares, spreading
out wide over the sand, as is their wont
in ehase-maDy white bournous trail
ing ON the wind, and sharp spears gilt
tsring in the sun. Before him the NOV
ing dust cloud was still four times their
distance away; yet the soldier did not
urge his horse out of the even, steady
gallop; each stride as regular as though
he carried no extra weight.
Son they pressed, steadily and in ST.
lence, for a half mile more. Then the
strained ear of the man caught the cries
Of numerous pursuers gaining on him.
Far to the right and left the cries were
clear, while those behind grew fainter.
and he knew that the feetest steeds were
deployed to hem him in more surely.
Still Latour did not urge his horse, con-
6dent what the grand steed could do, and
saving him for yet more urgent need
"Courager he, whispered to the wo-
man behind him. They waste their
breath. Sect In yonder dust is safety.
Ahmed is nearing u.s."
He said no more. For dull, but surely,
away to the right he caught the muffled
thud of hoofs upon the sand.
They were gaining rapidly! Had he
Let them come too near?
Once more he urged the horse slightly
with touch OF stirrup, the sensitive an
imal responding with new strength,
faster, faster still, until the level sands
seemed flying backward past theml On
at that tearing speed for a half mile!
Then the distant dust cloud, still half q
mile away, opened and showed tho
Egyptian troop charging at speed.
A great gasp Of relief broke from La
tours breast; for the double weight, at
speed, told heavily ON Said, who labored
IN his stride And inst then for the