Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-09-21


the game was in his hands.
"You are right. / am as sleepy
as the sea when it is calm"
"You are losing the game
II can SET that, too"
"Wcli, lie down, in the name OF
Allah. | will watch for You.
/ Scfer shook his friends hand in
/ grateful acknowledgment of the
sacrifice, and he thought he spoke
TO him. but he onlv dreamed il. for
he fali-asar~s--immsiiately.
Maruf. on the contrary, kept his
eyes open, and leaning on his gun.
he looked at his sleeping compam-
ions. But that devilish drink be-
gan to murmur softly;
"Why do you not sit down?''
You could see just as wellv'
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 well as with
BOTH"
Maruf reflected that, if his eyes
were closed, his ears were open, and
that he would be ready to start at
the smallest danger that might
threaten his companions and him.
self. And with the firm purpose OF
not falling asleep, he slumberod as
heavily as the rest.
In the mean time. 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 Maruf's
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 OH 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 endea-
vored to overcome them on foot.
Maruf's horse alone would not
submit 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, vet
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 loss of
their beloved horses. OF what use
is man without horse?
Mortally worried at the punish
ment they expected, they returned
to headquarters, and, brought face
to face with Ahmanzade, they mar
rated what had happened; how they
had disobeyed 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. Amman
zade was not in the habit of making
a display Of passion when he had to
pass sentence. In his immoyable
face, no one could read whether he
decreed life or death.
GAS for eight men there remains
only one horse" he remarked, "you
will agree with me, that there are
seven OF You too many. | 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 de-
eide 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 carry
ing chess-boards with them, even in
war. AS soon as the men were ar
ranged, 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 adyersaries;
in others, despair battled with craft
iness against the advantage of their
more skilful opponents, and the
former would win when the latter
had victory in their hands.
The losers were Immediately re-
moved, and the noise of several