Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-11-02
THE ARAB AND HIS BRIDE.

for me by starlight camp bed.
After this came "A copious supper.
A general conversation then took
place, in which every one We'd with
his neighbor in relating all sorts of
adventures, more or less tragical,
about the lions Of the country.
One of these | will never forget
1t was the story of an Arab and his
young bride.
Among the Arabs, when man
marries, he invites a number of
people, who go and get the bride at
her parents house to bring her to
her new dwelling, a ceremony which
is performed in a palanquin, num-
berless shots at the same time fired
on the road.
Every marriage, however, is not
alike. If some are accompanied by
a numerous retinue-if sometimes
the happy couple number among
their guests many rich and hand
some horseman-at other times, as
with us, more than one bridegroom
has not even enough to pay the
fiddlers who escort him. Such be-
ing the case with Small, who had
paid down the day before his very
last shilling for his brides mar
riage-portion, he assembled only his
nearest relatives, and proceeded with
them Oh foot to the abode of his
father-in-law.
Having RECALLED themselves plen-
tifully, and the marriage being con-
cluded, they fired off some cartridges
by,way ofsalute, taking care to keep a
few for the journey back. In the
evening they all parted, wishing
each other good fortune and hap
piness.
The bridegroom'S douar was but II
league distant; the moon shone
beautifully bright; the brides es-
cort numbered nine guns; what was
to be feared on the way? But it is
not unfrequently at the very mo-
ment one expects him the least,
that an intruder will present him
self.
Small was walking in front, be-
side his bride, to whom he was
speaking, in IL low voice, about the
happiness that awaited them under
his tent. The friends of the hus-
band were following discreetly
some PAGES behind, at times a shot
fired in the air; and the young wife
seemed quite gratified with this lit
tie Offering of powder burnt in her
honor. Everything, in short, went
OH in the most satisfactory manner.
But, all of a sudden, an enor-
nous lion was seen, stretched across
the very path these young folks
were pursuing.
They were about half way be-
tween the two douars, and it was
fully as dangerous to proceed for
ward as to draw back. What was
to be done?.
The opportunity presented itself
to the bridegroom of winning for
ever his wife's affections, by noble
act OF devotedness, was too good to
be lost. Balls were accordingly
rammed down the barrel of every
gun, the bride was placed in the
center of sort of square formed by
assistants, and the escort marched
bravely forward, headed by Small.
Already they had advanced to with
i'll thirty yards from the lion, who
never moved.
Small now ordered his friends to
stop, and saying to his young wife,
''see if you have married man.
walked straight up to the lion, and
commanded him to clear the way.
At twenty PAGES, the lion, until
then crouching and motionless,
raised his monstrous head, and was
evidently preparing for spring.
Small, regardless of his wife's
screams, and the entreaties of his
relatives, who called to him to re-
treat, put one knee to the ground,
levelled the barrel of his gun to-
ward the animal, took steady aim,
and fired.
I'm an instant the wounded and
furious animal bounded forward OH
the unfortunate Small, knocked
him to the ground, and tore him to
shreds in twinkling of an eye,
then rushed madly toward the
square, in the center of which stood
the wretched bride.
"Let no one fire." cried Smail's
father, until he touches the barrels
of our guns"
But where is the man sufficiently |
self possessed to await without |
fiinching that hurricane called
lion. as he rushes on toward his |