The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-10

must have been a full quarter of a mile
apart. At this distance they brought up
and stood facing each other. Had known
Arab ways better, should have understood
that now the play was about to begin in
earnest. Those little preliminary fiourishes
that had set my heart a-beating so violent
ly were simply an Introductory ceremony
meant partly TO appease the Arab passion
for show, partly to prick the courage of the
combatants.
Meanwhile Yumen Yusel's camelmen
had pushed on and were now down the
slope and well into the plain. When with
in a musket shot of our front lines they
halted. Then in the twinkling OF an eye
down went every camel in both armies,
while the musketeers, crouching behind
their beasts, brought their long matchlocks
to the ready At the same moment the op-
posing bodies Of horse that had been stand
ing motionless, raising unitedly the fierce
warcry of 'rechbir, techbirl' started toward
each other at the full speed of the charge.
The next instant came the shock of meeting,
and far in the rear we felt the earth trem-
bic and heard the deadly grunt and thud
and clash as the rushing columns came to-
gether. As the horsemen met the front
lines of musketeers opened fire, and the tu-
multi and madness of battle were upon us.
For a little the cavalry rolled and reared
in confused heaps. Then they scattered,
and riderless horses began TO career in all
directions. The canopy of dust spread and
cleared, and the antagonists retired to their
respective sides, the enemy showing unmis-
taxable signs of discontinue.
AT this such of our men as were Olsen.
gagged raised triumphant shout, and
though Abou Kuram said not word his
glittering eyes declared his wild satisfac-
tion. As for me, / stood in my stirrups
waving my sword and yelling myself
hoarse, for the hellish feeling, partly un-
holy glee partly fight, partly a mad desire
to kill, which seizes a man when blood has
been actually spilled in battle, had posses
SION of me. lquivered like an aspen, and
was as dry. in the mouth as il had been in
the thick of the fight for day
Again the cavalry on both sides wheeled.
formed and charged; again they rolled i'm
convulsive heaps, parted with more empty
saddles, and yet again reformed and
dashed at each other. IL was impossible To
tell which was getting the best of it, for in
the duststorm that ragged about them
nothing was discernible. But there was
no doubt on the point when presently, in
stead of forming again. the enemy's horse
burst out OF the dun cloud and went spur
ring mp the hill with ours slashing aud
stabbing at their heels.
Abou Kuram, beside himself with Joy,
vociferated an order. our camelmen, sling.
ing their muskets, seized their spears,
leaped upon their beasts, and with n deaf
ening roar rushed to the charge. Our an
tagonists were as quick as ourselves. They,
too. took TO their spears and their camels.
and, yelling like savages, the lurching
hosts iell upon each other
Never did leader set braver example
than was then set by Abou kuram, and
perhaps never were leaders vase and in
nuence more potently felt lie was here,
there aud everywhere, directing. encour-
aging, hewing and cutting, and ever seek
ing the places where pcrils were thickest.
Ny orders were 90 Keep by his side but
they were not easily carried out. a hun
dred times | lost him in the tumbling,
whirling eddies Of attack and recoil. hun
dred times was struck almost senseless In
the bloody crush. n hundred times found
myself clutching in terror at pommel and
name as the steel FLASHED and glanced
about me, aud A. often l was on the point
of fsinting at the sickening sight Of river
bedies, brute nnl human.