The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1894-06-22

A~S~~$SS
said.
"Assuredly; it will do us all good"
But thou art not Of eur religion. Think
what that meaneth."
II am better Mohammedan than thy
self, good Tabal. There will not be in the
great mosque a more devout hadji than
him whom thou callest Christian. Are we
not brotherss Did not thy father put the
light of the Koran into my souls Dost
thou think am careless about getting to
heavens Tabal, I will do the pilgrimage as
a follower of the prophet"
Tabal was convinced. and we parted to
ignore each other very studiously for the
rest of the night. =
Near the dawn. when .the world wns
to me Hs lad got d7sf h sV WastE asa
was ready for the most desperate exploit.
1--WE will put on the green turban 1.-THE
badge or sign of such as have performed
the pilgrimage to Mecca together, Baruk,"
I said joyfully. after listening to his prom
Use of help. snow, tell me the name Of
our princess"
"They call her Rance"
"A pretty name," remarked. LET US
make her happy" Therefore as briefly
and infinitely as was possible with words
gave himself instructions both for Rance
and for himself. Fortunately the simple
ity Of the plan Of attack enabled US to
make our arrangements with confidence
and tolerable accuracy.
With the first blink of light we were on
the lookout for the caravan. but the day
had worn we'll into the afternoon before
our scouts brought word it was at the
mouth of the defle At the intelligence
that it was coming we settled down in our
hiding place as still as dead men, the horses
being kept some distance behind lest they
should neigh and betray U.s. Tabal and
had many unsupported thoughts, but as it
would be unwise to express them and it
was impossible to communicate with
either Rance or Baruk We could only wait
in silent eagerness and faith.
The pilgrims sent forward party of half
q dozen horsemen, and we were ordered
further back. Suleiman himself, with one
companion to act as messenger, remained
to observe, their place Of vantage being
the hollow top of great rock which pro-
jected, causing curve in the path below.
Lying there fiat they had an almost unin
terrupted view Of the pass, and by deft
clambering the messenger could reach our
ambush without fear Of detection.
To keep US keen and in touch with what
was going ON suleimkn sent frequently to
tell us of the movemy nts Of the horsemen.
We learned that, passing right beneath his
hiding place, they roI 10 to the head of the
Stfsss 4GoKsd- uus.rsl ,,--...-s4..v.s~s -
rocks, and discovering nothing returned
light heartedly to report the way clear.
Then the caravan, wishing no doubt to get
to open ground again as speedily as might
be, swung its huge length into the def1le
and came trailing on like an endless SER
pent. Suleiman, watching it closely, sent
back word to look to our horses and arms,
as the prospect was glorious beyond his ex~
pectation.
A little later the order for action made
the blood tingle in our veins. Halt of US
were to 20 to the foot Of the gorge and half
to the head 80 that the pilgrimage might
be harassed simultaneously in front and
rear, and SO the reader induced to relin-
Quish part Of their Astounding richeA
The response was as prompt as might be
expected of men whose notion of heaven is
eternal plundering. Almost before the
words of command were out of the mes
senger's mouth we were Gathering of at q
breakneck pace into sunless chasms and
by beetling archways and up and down
dizzy sleeps that only robbers with no souls
to save would have faced. Tabal and |
were Of those who went to the foot, and
fervently we prayed the pilgrims might
have q good courage and firearms for dis
tressed strangers.
In the course Of a racking ride we came
often into violent contact, and In one Of
the collisions, while pretending vehement
anger at the rough usage, I managed to get
word in Tabal's ear.
"Whatever happens, let US stick to each
other" said in q quick aside. Our sig
nal for the dash Is when we SEQ Baruk and
Rance descending among the rocks."
"Never leech chung a. will cling to
thee" answered Tabal. And then he began
to abuse his horse for the son Of mule
that couldn't keep his feet In plain road.
And the Bedouins, being closely occupied,
saw or suspected nothing.
Reaching the bottom too soon, we had to
watt behind bluff. The tail Of the cara
van still wr.sgled outside the mouth Of tho
pass, and It would be folly to attack till II
had disappeared. after the body. While
waiting, Ibrahim, our captain, gave his In.
structtons briefly and pointedly. We were
to rush the camslmen, throw them into
utter confusion, seize as many laden api-
mails a. we could lay hands on, and make
of with them to the rear as fast as steel
could urge them. Such Is were free would
protect the others, but a. many a. could
were to pounce on some piece Of property.
In short, our business was more to pillage
than to fight and, II the pilgrims were not
unreasonable, not man OF them need lose
his life.
With beating hearts and a burning i'm.
patience, we kept still TIL the tail should
have Wriggled itself into the mountain
cleft, As II to try our self control, our
watchers were constantly reporting that
the crucial moment haf come, and then Inn
medically contradicting themselves to re-
affirm their hrst intelligence the next min
ute. This went on until we were In sfever
and ready to rush from our ooncealment ct
all hazards. Al for Tabal and me, II you
have ever laid In wait With the merest
chance between life and death and . fran
tic desire to try 1t, you will understand
our feelings. Being apart, we could not "a
much as exchange whisper, and all We
had to restrain and encourage " were the