Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-07-27
THE Doc SOLDIER.
flo Uncovered an Anbusoado OF Murder
GUS Arabs.


est tones, old Colonel Eugene Noir-
ment, as he rode out OF the French
fort at Biskra, in the Sahara Desert,
at the head Of q strong body Of ir-
regular cavalry, which had been sent
to check the raids Of a hostile Arab
tribe.
"He is my dog, Colonel" answered
the junior Captain, young Alphonse
de Plcardon, glancing alphabetically
at the small white poodle that was
close at his horses heels; and I hope
you will not object to his going with
us, for it would break his heart to be
left behind"
"And whose heart will it break,
growled the Colonel, 'lf the brute be-
gins barking just as we're going to
take the Arabs by surprise, and warns
them Of our comlng?"
ut Is not for me to contradict you,
Colonel" said the young officer, re-
spectfullY, 'but, with your permits
sion, l can soon show you that there
is no fear of that" Then he turned
to the dog, and said sternly, "Jacquot,
silence la mort"
Then, at a sign from the Captain,
several of the men began to shout,
clap their hands, and make noise
enough to set an ordinary dog bark
ing furiouslN but Jacquot never
uttered a sound.
Very WE'LL" said the Colonel at
length ''the dog may 20, but remem-
Der, Captain de Plcardon, that | shall
hold you responsible for his be-
havioE
The young Captain saluted and fell
into his place without a word, and Off
rode the detachment,
1t was weary work riding over
stony ridges and sandy hollows,
through the bllstering heat and the
binding glare, while the hot pricklY
dust rolling up in clouds at each
step, clogged every pore and choked
every breath. Mile after mile of the
desert was left behind, hour after
hour of the burning, weary inter-
minable day crept slowly past, but
still there was no sign Of the enemy,
or Of any Lying thing save wide
winged vulture, which hung poised
in MIDI like a bolt upon the
bright, scorching, cloudless sky. The
soldiers grew impatient, and began
to murmur and growl.
But all at once the dog, which was
still keeping pace with them,
stopped short snufIed the air I'M
easily, and then began to run rest
lessly backward and forward, utter
ing low, ANXIOUS whine,
"Do you think he scents the
enemy" whispered Col. Noirmont
to Capt. de Picardon.
"pll stake my life that he does"
replied the Captain. "Ive never yet
found him wrong. There must be
some hollow here that we can't see.
Here, Morel, Barbot, hold fast to
each other, while / climb on to your
shoulders"
And then, supported by the two
burly troopers he raised himself high
enough to make out dry water
course a few hundred yards ahead,
in the hollow Of which a large num-
Der Of men might easily be hidden.
"Ah" cried the Colonel, when he
heard this "theY want to catch us
in an ambush, do they? Not so fast,
my find fellows! Half dozen Of
you dismount, lads, and unsling your
carbines, move forward about fifty
PAGES, and then fire. !"
The crash Of the voliey rolled like
thunder along the silent desert,
while the Colonel roared, In Arabic.
"Come out you dogs We see you
plainly"
The effect was magical Up started,
as if rising through the earth, a
swarm of savage faces and wild
figures, while the flash and crackle OF
the answering volley followed as
thunder follows lightning; but the
Arabs, firing hastily and almost at
random, only wounded two men.
"Now!" Numbered the Colonel,
''upon them before they can reload T"
Down swept the French upon their
enemies like whirlwind, and In a
moment were hand to hand with
them. The Arabs fought like tigers,
but training and discipline soon be-
gan to tell, and the battle was over
Gas one of the French troopers regret
fully observed) "almost before one
had time to enjoy it,"
But when the Arabs began to scat
ter and fly, the Colonel, whose blood
was fairly up, dashed off in pursuit Of
them so recklessly that he was soon
loft almost alone, seeing which, three
of the enemy faced around and at
tackled him.
Captain de Picardon, who was IA
nous as the best swordsman In the
regiment, came dashing up barely in
time to cut down one Of Noirmont's
assailants, while the Colonel himself
disposed Of another; but the third
man was just about to stab De Picar-
don In the back, when his dog flew at
the Arabs throat, and clutched it
with such hearty energy that the man
fell to the ground bleeding and half
strangled.
"Form in linel" shouted Col. Noir-
mont when the fight was over, and
all the wounded had been brought in.
"My children, you have done well,