The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-12-14
IN THE KABYLE SILO.

I'm l. llE IN AID lIL DllIOs
Take only three men with you, lieu
tenant, and find out where those sneaking
scoundrels arc hiding. If they discover
your party, mind you, l want no Skin
mishing Retreat Immediately by Brody,
A rbi and join us round the Goron pnss. l
don't want them to suspect l am here
looking for them"
And muttering curses on the kabyle dev-
lis who had just raided and killed a small
settlement of peaceful French "colons, "
our old colonel entered his ''gourbi' to
await news from tho different reconnoiter-
ing parties securing the surrounding
country for the wild marauders. A few
minutes later l was cantcring westward
with my mon toward the Three Wells in
the foothills, where 1t was thought the
plundcring Kabyles might bo hiding. We
Travelled all the forenoon at lively gait,
stopping two hours at midday to feed and
water our hardy Arab horses We then
renl0untcd and began picking our way
moro slowly, availing ourselves Of tho
scanty cover the stunted bushes afforded.
Tho sun was still high over the hills when
wo arrived at Brody-Arbi, an old disman-
tied building, long abandoned now, and
which had been military post for ono of
the Bureaux Arabes many years ago. 1t
was Mt the juncture OF two mountain
passes, tho Goron pass going north ovor
tho low foothills, and Zaatchs pass, really
a valley, running up between two spurs of
tho Atlas frowning down upon us.
now stopped my men and repeated to
them the colonels orders. told them If
we were discovered or attacked to retreat
north Immediately, each one for himself
and without a moments hesitation,
through the Goron pass and then go back
to tho squadron by any of the numerous
trails going east, thus describing half
circle to mislead the Arabs and conceal
the whereabouts of our advancing troops.
Having done this, told them to scatter
on the sloping sides of the Zaatchs pass,
taking great care not to DO discovered, and
to meet me in a clump of cork oaks at the
foot of the steep path leading up to the
Three Wells at the head of the valley.
We then dispersed, each one as he ad-
vanced cautiously peering from behind
rock or bowlder for traces of tho eyervigi-
LIANT Kabyles.
1t was about half an hour before sun
down when we met below the wells. Mo
manned ben Akbar, the native ''spahis'
sergeant, reported first fresh traces OF
horses going up the valley and some date
stones still humid on the east side of a
bowlder. This was proof that an Arab
had made there very recent meal, as they
would havo dried in the sun, the shadow
of the rock not having reached the place
where they were thrown more than an
hour before our passage. Ali, my orderly,
and his other comrade had, like myself.
only found traces of horses at the foot OF
the path by the clump of oaks where we
now stood. As have said, this path rose
from here abruptly for about 70 feet to a
platform just above our heads, where q
few palm trees and denser growth form
ed a kind of grove around three basins of
muddy water called the Three Wells. The
passing Kabyles sometimes halted in this
secluded spot and even camped by an old
''marahout" near the unfrequented water
holes. This was the place where we hoped
to locate the willy raiders, as they consid-
cred themselves perfectly secure here from
all pursuit or approach. We accordingly
tied up our horses in the thickest part of
the oak grove after having put our bur-
nooses (cloaks) round our swords, strapped
The men, at Mohammed's suggestion, each
took off a saber strap and tied it tightly
round their horses tongues, twisting it
like tourniquet and securing it with the
curb chain. This is an Arab trick to pre-
vent horses neighing when it Is impcra-
tive they should not be discovered.
AS my sword was slung to the saddle
in fixed boot without straps, took off
my revolver thong and used it as the men
had done with their "believe straps, "
leaving thus my revolver loose in the hol-
stcr at my bolt. We then glided away in
silence, creeping up the steep banks with
infinite precautions, knowing well that
detection meant death to US all found
it very hard work climbing up through
the bushes and prickly pears, stopping at
each step with every nerve strained and
veins throbbing seemingly to my ear.
Finally reached the plateau and began
crawling cautiously toward the pools. 1
was brought to a standstill by an open
space Uttered with dry branches.
My attention was now strained to the
utmost, for l could now discern a column
of smoke rising in the trees ON the other
side only few hundred feet away. Skirt
ing the clearing, worked half way round
it through the bushes and stopped q mo-
ment on the other side under a thick ar
butus. was just preparing to head
straight for the concealed camp when a
shout, caught up by host of others, and
several shots in quick succession showed
we had been discovered. The noise of a
rapidly advancing crowd told me that
flight to the horses was my only chance If
l could reach them before being cut off.
dashed wildly across the open glen, lift
ing the flap of my revolver holster at my
side rs 1 ran. Only 90 feet more, and
nm under shelter of the oaks. But with
a plunge and sickening sensation all be-
comes dark, and life seems utterly blotted
out by the shock of mighty thunderclap.
1t Is incredible the thoughts that pass
through human brain and are pictured
there us in kaleidoscope In that minutes
imal time the soul takes to free itself in
Its flight from the earthly clay.
Ny mothers loved face, with its snowy
hair and dark, lustrous eyes, showing in
their tenderness all the love a mothers
heart alone can know for her only son,
looked at me from the darkness. Another
face, younger and fairer, but with the Sc.
reness of death upon its clear cut features,
also flashed before me-the face of de-
parted loved one.
Thoughts of the past and recollections
of vanished hopes-my life and all its re-
grcts, joys, sorrows, sins and blessings
all passed in one brief moment and faded
into darkness.