Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-23
Incre was no sign or lie aD6l6 save here

Incre was no sign or lie aDuu6 save here
and there fugitive jackal or hyena run
ming with its lead down and it's tail clapped
tight between its legs, or overhead hawk
orvulture sharply outlined against the sky.
Judge these gentry must have had royal
feast-indeed that it would be many DAYS
ere their gorging would be ended-and l
shuddered to think of the ravening that
went on among the slain on the field of bat
tie.
1t must have been near noon when 1 was
again broiling in the glow of the vertical
sun that gave u start on deserving the
tiniest black dot on the ashy waste far to
southwest. 1t was impossible to say
whether it was dead or alive, rock,
man or a beast, but any diversion was well
come, and I made in its direction, quicken
ing my pace had not gone far when I
guessed it to be horseman crawling
toward the mountains Putting my horse
to a canter, l drew rapidly near the stran-
ger, but for awhile he held on his way,
either as if he did not see me or were too
far spent and too Indifferent to deviate in
his course But at length he halted alb
ruptly, then after a moments examination
came galloping to meet me. My heart beat
quick with both fear and gladness. If this
were Bedouin, our meeting would be tilt
for life, and I was but i'll prepared for bat
tie, but if he should prove a friend-oh,
Joy of joys, it made me giddy to think of
the bare possibility.
On I galloped and on he galloped. I saw
him whirling his lance, and almost uncon-
sciously / waved my swCn. .,turl.
Then, shouting at the pitch Of lis voice, he
put his horse to the charge. That rather
startled me, ard was in two minds about
turning and making off with all possible
speed, but in the critical moment, when
my courage had al but ebEed, recognized
a familiar face. Then I, too, shouted wild
ly and my horse bounded as the spurs went
into his sides. The next minute Tabal and
I were hugging and embracing like long
separated brothers, both of US having
leaped to the ground in order to get the
closer grip.
You may he sure we had each multi.
tude of questions to ask and answer, but
before | would hear anything of Tabals
adventures since our parting insisted on
looking to his injury. 1t was bad, he said,
but not deadly. Barring his left shoulder
very carefully, found u shattered gunshot
wound that gave the flesh torn and bro.
ken appearance different altogether from
the clean cut had got. dressed it as
gently and US well as was possible with the
means at my disposal, a service for which
poor Tabal was infinitely grateful
I'VE are of different nations and reli.
gions, yet surely we are not strangers" he
said. embracing me again. "llad | seen
thee now for the first time would have
driven this lance through thee. But hence
forth it will be turned against him who
seeks thy hurt. Tabal, the son Of Achrnrt,
swears it," And lie took the oath in the
most solemn manner known to bis race.
That done, he played the surgeon to me.
professional pride, when | was stripped.
by my faith, the man who gave thee this
hurt knew not his business, or thou might
est cast away thy leg forever. Methinks if
had my weapou upon lin as he had his
upon thee lie would now be food for the
kites and hycnas."
"He was clumsy, Tabal," said.
Clumsy" repeated TulJi scornfully
"Nay, it does not half express his want of
skill Having got his lance upon thee, he
should have killed thee IL dead III Il roast
ed kid. hold the fellow in contempt"
because, my coed friend. he did not
make an end CT one whom thou hast sworn
to cherish and protect"
NAY, nay" answered Talal quickly
seeing whittier his so!dierly zeal had led
him. II meant not that Praise be to
heaven thou art alive. meant that he
knew not how to drive his spear. See,"
and he made thrust with his own to show
how the thing ought to be done. ME
thinks that is the way to put an enemy
into the dust. But thou art protected of
God" he added reverently, land it maketh
me glad to be with thee. Verify am thy
servant to do as it pleaseth thee to bid me-
And praise be to God and the holy pro-
phet that we are not now having our bones
gnawed by wild beasts. Saw you ever
such slaughter as that was? Truly
think the man on the black horse is none
other than satan himself"
For moment wavered whether or not
should enlighten him. Then said very
quietly, 1.-THE man en- the black horse is as
Listen and l will tell thee tale, and tcid
him of my search for Donald Gordon and
the meeting in the battle. He listened with
wide eyes and gaping mouth, thinking,
suspect, that suffering had turned my brain.
Thou art telling me one of the tales of
the magicians," he said, with something of
awe in his voice and manner. This pass
eth all belief"
"'Tis as true as the Koran, Tabal," an.
swered. Look you here, before thou art
many weeks older thou shalt be as a brother
to this dread warrior on the black horse"
NAY. Heaven forbid" exclaimed Tabal
fervently. II would not forego my chances
of paradise for all the favors satan can be.
stow"
His horror was so comical that / burst
out laughing Ordinarily I might have
answered with my life for such an insult,
such an outrage on his most sacred feel
ings. But happily Tabal was in a mood to
forgive much because he loved much.
II will put cool water on thy hurt" he
said as tenderly as if he were treating an
ailing and fractions child, "and- on thy
head, too, for the sun hath made it hot.
Then when thou art refreshed we will talk
of our adventures since the fight and the
simeon parted u.s."
He had his way, and indeed it was ex-
ceedingly refreshing to be bathed, for was
still more than a trifle feverish But more
soothing and invigorating than the water
were the brotherly gentleness and compass
sion of Tabal, who seemed to make himself
responsible for my safety and comfort.
When we came to recount our expert
ences since parting l learned that he had
passed the night like myself, alone. Like
me, he had thought himself doomed, had
been saved by the rain and was looking for
human succor when spied him. Wewent
through our perils again as old soldiers re-
fight their battles and embraced at the
conclusion in pure exuberance of Joy at be-
ing together once more.
Not the least happy circumstance of our
meeting was that l got back my little
Fatima and the precious blue bag with
Duncan's pipes 10 Tabal the bag was an
object of such intense curiosity that had
to produce the pipes and give him lilt.
1t scarcely ravished him, and it frightened
the horses, so the pipes were put away
that might take formal possession of nv