The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-07

Ali and his il,1.e band set forth, Tabal still
leading
According TO the guide we might expect
them back at the latest by noon next day.
Noon came, however, without bringing
them. The afternoon wore slowly on. dark
ness fell, prayers were said and supper was
eaten, and still no Koor Ali. Abou Kuram
was getting impatient. After "A forced
march across the desert, it was exasper-
ating TO be kept waiting at this stage. The
camp lay down 10 sleep, moon and stars
kept their vigil, morning broke and still
no tidings of the absent ones. Abou
kuram strutted sullenly about the camp,
recalling his stock of Arabian oaths Noon
came again, and again sunset. supper and
prayers, yet there was no sign of Koor Ali
and his escort.
am afraid Abou Kuram went through
bis devotions with "A preoccupled, inatten-
tive mind that evening. At any rate the
first thing be did after turning his face from
Mecca was to pour a flood of objurgations
on Amood Sim, Oh Koor Ali, on Tabal and
all concerned with them. But that did not
bring them, and once more the camp lay
down to rest. The commander, however,
did not lie down. Long after his men were
snoring at the sky watched his dark and
solitary figure moving to and fro in angry,
uneasy expectancy.
There shall be reckonin for this"
heard him mutter once "Woe betide the
man who causeth this delay"
He was still walking about when / fell
asleep.
/ was enjoying a happy dream, when all
at once in the black darkness was reused
by the crackle of firearms and the shrill
voices of excited men.
"The enemy, the enemy" they shouted
as / sprang up, rubbing my eyes. "The
devil on the black horse with 10000 demons
at his back" And then all along our front
there was momentary line of leaping fire
which showed our scurrying men confused.
ly trying TO get into fighting order. To our
great surprise there came no response 20
our volley, nor could we hear any move
ment outside our own lines, though we
hearkened with ears that would have heard
the stealthy tread of the panther.
THE enemy has run" said some one ex-
ultingly. "Our fire has given him feet
feet to make Of" l&nd just then, as IL i'm
answer TO this boast, there was the vicious
ping of flying lead in the air, and some OF
our men dropped screaming TO the earth.
We delivered another volley blindly into
the darkness, then waited for the return
fire, but IL did not come.
Savage at the double disgrace OF being
fooled and taken unawares, Abou Kuram
ordered a sortie, but the party had not gone
20 yards when another shower OF bullets
Iell upon Us from the opposite direction. The
foe was running round us, peppering us at
his will. A second sortie party was In
stantly sent out, but like the first IL came
back without making any discovery. Only
some said they had seen a terrible appari-
tion on black horse of gigantic size. and
that steed and rider breathed blue flame.
So the army stood there, nervously han
ding its matchlocks and supplicating the
protection Of the prophet The prophet
was evidently gracious, for there were no
more Of those ugly surprises that night
The foe. content with n moderate amount
OF fun. had gone of TO chuckle over his
success and get up his courage for big
fight.
Abou Kuram knew IL was coming. He
knew, too. that the enemy, flushed with
success, would be exceedingly tough 10
deal with, and the knowledge incensed
him afresh against his ally for being 30 dill
The chfifreu won't yesrn fer csndy II the, can