The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-29
CHAPTER XIX,

When the enemy's cavalry reached level
ground, they GiYidcG, one troop swinging TO
the right and tho other to the left. with the
evident intention of harrying us on both
fankS at once, while the camelmen, Quick
cning theirpace, advanced st raight upon our
center Our horsemen, going out easily,
also divided to check the others. and our
main force, masscd after the Arab fashion,
waited quietly for the attacA ...
All eyes Were of course, on the cavalry
moving from both sides al m easy trOt, as
il out for morning exercise. Tney made no
haste, as yet there was nothing of the mad
excitement Of the charge in their behavior
Presently they broke into n gallop, and
my heart bounded at the thought that they
were going at each other. But when they
should have burst into the charge both
sides wheeled simultaneously, waving their
laneeS dellantly and uttcring shrill cries
Again they advanced, again wheeled and
retired with the same truculent display of
weapons, Aud SO they went on Wheeling
and circling, but instead of getting closer
together they drew away, until finally they
must have been full quarter of a mile
apart. AT this distance they brought up
and stood facing each other Had known
Arab ways better, should haveunlerstOod
that now the play was about to begin in
earnest. Those little preliminary flourshes
that had set my heart a-beating so violent
ly were simply an Introductory ceremony
meant partly to appetse The Arab passion
for show, partly 10 prick the courage OF the
combatants.
Meanwhile Numen Yuscl's camelmep
had pushed on and Were now down the
slope and well into the plain. When with
IN musket shot of our front lines they
halted. Then in the twinkling of an eve
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 Oh.
posing bodies of horse that had been stand
ing motionless, raising unitedly the fierce
warcry of "Techbir, ,tcchbirr' 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-
BILE and heard the deadly grunt and thud
and clash MS the rushing columns came to-
sether. As the horsemen met the front
lines of musketeers opened fire, and the tu.
mutt and madness OF battle were upon us.
For little the cavalry rolled and reared
in confused heaps. Then they scattered
and riderless horscs began to career in all
directions The canopy of dust spread and
cleared, and the antagonists retired to their
respective Sides tue enemy showing unmis-
taxable signs of diseomiiture
At this such of our men as were Olsen
gagged raised a triumphant shout, and
though Abou kuram said not word his
glitterng 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 I'M.
holy glee, partly fight, partly mad desire
to kill, which sei2es a man when blood has
been actually spilled in battle, had posses
sion of me. Iquiyered like an aspen, and
was as dry in the mouth as IT, had been III
the thick of the fight for day.
Again the cavalry on both sides wheeled,
formed and charged; again they rolled in
convulsive heaps, parted with more empty
saddles, and yet again reformed and
dashed at each other. Ii was impossible to
tell which was getting the best of it, for in
the duststorm that ragged about them
nothing was discerniblc. 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 up the hill with ours sashiug and
stabbing at their heels.
Abou Kurain, beside himself with Joy,
vocilerated 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 sayages, the lurChinQ
hosts fell upon each other
Never did leader set brayer example