Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-09-22

not in condition to distinguish MS
pawns He lost his queen, and was
very near being checkmated.
"Sefer, you are in bad mess" re-
marked Maruf when he saw that the
game was in his hands.
"YOu are right. / am as sleepy as
the sea when it is calm"
"You are losing the game.
81 can see that, tool"
"Well, like down, in the name of
Allah. 1 will watch for you. "
Sefer shook his friends hand in
grateful acknowledgement of the
sacrifice, and he thought he spoke to
him, but he only dreamed it, for he
fell asleep Immediately.
Maruf, on the contrary, kept his
eyes open. and leaning on his gun, he
looked at his sleeping companions.
But that terrible drink began to muir
mur softly;
why do you not sit down? You
could see just as well -
As soon as he was seated, Satan
again began to tempt him.
"why do you tire your eyes? If
you shut one of them, you will see
with the other just as we'll as with
both"
Maruf reflected that, if his eyes we're
closed, his ears were open, and that he
would be ready to start at the small
est danger that might threaten his
companions and himself. And with
the firm purpose of not falling asleep,
he slumbered as heavily as the rest.
In the meantime, the hidden Greeks
came all of a sudden upon the sleeping
men, united the horses of the Turks
and would certainly have killed them,
had not Marufs horse, as though he
fOresaw the danger, begun to neigh.
The first to awaken was Maruf, and in
a few moments the rest were ready.
They ran to get their arms and stood
on the defence, now fully awake and
sober.
They threw themselves on the enemy
but it was of no avail. The Greeks
had mounted the horses and laughed
at the Turks, who endesvored to over
come them on foot.
Marufs horse alone would not sub
nit to the Greek who had mounted
him, and began to rear and plunge
until he had succeeded in throwing
the rider. He then kicked him and
returned to his owner.
Eight men had one horse left among
them What was Mehemed going to
say? The Bedouins, yet young, were
cast down at the thought of death.
They knew their leader would have no
pity for them; and still sadder were
they at the loss of their beloved
horses. OF what use is a man without
a horse?
Mortally worried at the punishment
they expected, they returned to head
quarters, and, brought face to face
with Ahmsnzade, they narrated what
had happened; how they had dis
obeyed his orders, how they had fallen
asleep after drinking the liquor, how
the last two watchmen had played
chess, and finally how they had lost
their horses. Ahmanzade was not in
the habit of making a display OF
passion when he had to pass sentence.
In his immovablc face, no one could
read whether he decreed life or death.
"As for eight men there remains
only one horse" he remarked, 'you
will agree with me, that there are seven
of you too many. l have never read
in the Koran nor in the Azorat that
eight men should ride one horse, and
as you are such good players, sit down
and let skill decide which of you is to
be the man who is to have the one
horse. All the others are sentenced to
die"
Having said this, Ahmanzade had
four chess boards brought in, for the
Turks are in the habit of carrying
chess boards with them, even in war.
As soon as the men we're arranged, he
ordered the Bedouins to begin their
play.
Twelve of the best marksmen were
ready with their rifles to shoot the
losers. Two or three gave in at once
to their stronger adversaries; in others,
despair battled with creftiness against
the advantage of their more skillful
opponents, and the former would win
when the latter had victory in their
handc.
The losers we're Immediately re-
moved. and the noise Of several shots