Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-09-01
THE SENTENCE.

Ahmanzade Mehemed, the sirdar of the
auxiliary troops of Tunisi was known on
account of the rigorous discipline that he
exercised over his soldiers. ut is not the
enemy you must fear, but me-" he would
often remark to the young soldiers who
came to increase the ranks. Thus his army
was an army of heroes, who had no fear on
the battlefield but who trembled in the
presence of their leader.
The first campaign in which they fought
was at Albania, in the battle against the
rebel Greeks, and on that occasion Me
hemed's men proved themselves efficient
1t happened that Mehemed one day ordered
eight soldiers to remain in ambush at the
five fountains" of Arta, at which point
the Greeks were likelyt open their attack
They were to stop any Nne who should try
to pass by, and they were strictly cautioned
not to dsmount or fall asleep. The sol
diers executed with eXactness all their in
structions.
A vehicle which attempted toward mid
night to cross the line unobserved was dis
covered and stopped. The man who had
charge of the oxen which drew it ran away,
abandoning his wagon. On this wagon was
a barrel. 1t was easy to ascertain what the
barrel contained, even without dismount-
ing and without falling asleep. You only
had to open the bunghOle to smell the pleas
ant odOr of liquor escaping from it. And it
must have been an excellent liquor, com
pounded largely of figs and raisins. The Gil
aurri Christians undoubtedly knew what
was good.
The soldiers had not been forbidden if
they seized liquor to drink it. And really
they did not drink directly from the barrel.
They merely sunk bulrushes in it, through
which they slipped the sweet and intoxicat
ing liquid. Was it not harmless to sip with
such thin PUSHES? One could scarcely call
that drinking. But justly does the prophet
remark that wine is ii deceitful beverage in
which the devil has had his hand, since
this drink brings men to every evil.
First the soldiers asked each other why
they should sit in their hard saddles when
the grass made such a soft bed on the
ground. And if they lay there for only a
short while nobody would know it, They
could tie the horses to the wagon, and these
certainly could tell no tales. After they
had dismounted the Internal drink persuad-
ed them that it was useless task for eight
men to remain on guard. Four would suf-
/ flee, and the rest could sleep. To the four
men who We're to keep awake the waiting
for their turn seemed too long, and they
agreed. that two might sleep while the 9th
er two remained true to the orders.
Maruf and Sefer were the two designated
to watch for the rest.
do you know" said Sefer to his friend
''do you know that one man is of the SAM
value in this case as two? 1t will do just
a. well if only one of us watches. Do you
not agree"
Maruf assented.
81 propose" continued Sefer, that W,
play IA game of chess The loser will have
to watch, and the winner may sleep"
Maruf accepted the conditions.
The two BedOuins prepared the ground il
front Of where they stood, and with then
spears they traced Il square dividing it into
"a smaller squares. Then they substituted
for the regular pawns the fruits Of th,
woods. The wild pears became kings, tn,
apples queens; the castles were represented
by acorns, the bishops by rose hips, tn,
knights by nuts and the pawns by berries
The men thus provided, the game began b!
the light of the campfire.
At first Sefer held the advantage, bu
that Undertaking drink oyercame HIM littl
by little, so that he was not III condition Il
distinguish his pawns. He lost his queer
and was very near being checkmated.
"Sefer, you are in bad mess" remarked
Maruf when he saw that the game was il
his hands.
You are right. am as sleepy as the SCI
when it is calm"
You are losing the game"
Il can see that too"
"Well, lie down in the name of Allah.
will watch for you
Sefer shook his friends hand in grateful
acknowledgment of the sacrifice, and h
thought he spoke to him, but he onl
dreamed it, for he fell asleep Immediately
Maruf, Oh the contrary, kept his eye
open, and leaning on his gun he looked Il
his sleeping companions. But that DEVILS
drink began tC murmur softly;
"Why do you not sit DOWN You coul
see just as well. "
AS soon as he was seated Satan again bi
gan to tempt him.
"Why do you tire your eyes? If you shu
one of them, you will see with the other ju,
as well as with botl,."
Maruf reflected that if his eyes wei
closed his ears were open, and that he woul
be ready to start at the smallest danger thu
might threaten his companions and hin
self. And with the firm purpose of not fal
ing asleep ne slumbered as heavily as ii
rest.
n In the meantime the hidden Greeks can
) all of sudden upon the sleeping men, III
II tied the horses of the Turks, and woul
}. certainly have killed them had not Maruf
y horse, as though he foresaw the danger, b
gun to neigh. The first to awaken WI
: Maruf, and in a few moments the rest we
+ ready. They ran to get their arms and stoC
|. on the defense, now fully awake and sobe
4 They threw themselves on the enem
but it was of TO avail The Greeks hS
mounted the horses and laughed at Il
= Turks, who endcavored to overcome the
. on foot
Maruf's horse alone would not submit
the Greek who had mounted him and /
gan to rear and plunge until he had su
eeeded in throwing the rider. He tn
kicked him and returned to his owner
Eight men had one horse left amol
them. What was Mehemed going to sa