Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-26

JGo4NA.GdABr:
LCopyright lSga. BY John AIsxandsr Stsuartl
Copyright, 1873. by John Alexander steuart.l
CHAPTER Xxi.
BEDOUINS.


unshadowed sands, our water bottles con-
stantly at our mouths. our garments like
unwruuS dishcloths, our dropping horses
in lat'ier. Nightfall found US still crawl.
ing on, silent, weary and in much pain.
Tabu was the worse OF the two. Yet the
stoical fellow never complained, nor ever
forgot to comfort me when in my torments
painted and groaned.
With darkness it became cooler, and to
| our Joy there sprang up delicious breeze
that put new life into us. We were still
wading in sandy seas, but we were now able
! to mend our pace a little, and indeed there
was urgent need of speed, for in our condi-
| tion another day like the last would clean
! finish us. By and by our horses began to
! tread more lightly and firmly, little later
they were stumbling over stones and nib
bling at scrubby bushes. and we knew the
watercourses were not far off. 1t was mid
night, however, ere we had climbed far
enough to feel safe for the night, or perhaps
! the better way to put it is that at midnight
| l swore would go farther if the halt
| cost me my life. Tabal said he thought we
might rest. So, unsaddlipg and tying the
| horses forefeet to prevent them from wan
dering, we had another drink and threw
! ourselves on the ground to sleep.
! We woke with the level sun beating in
| our faces, greatly refreshed though stiff and
| sore in the regions of our wounds. Our
! first act was to scramble to the top of an
adjacent crag and reconnoiter the situa-
ton. We looked cautiously round among
the rocks, then out on the plain as far as
eye could see, but nothing living was WISH
bic save flocks of ravenous birds going to
and fro between the mountains and the
scene of the battle. Finding ourselves Sc
cure, we descended, watered ourselves and
our horses at a bubbling spring and break
tasted on half dozen dates apiece. Then
we saw to our wounds, aud the surgical
operation done, we lay in the shade of a
rock to think and for the hundredth time
discuss CIR adventures and prospects.
asked Tabal what he thou: ut would be
the result of the battle we had fought and
lost.
The ravaging of the whole country by
Yumen Yusel and the man ON the black
horse" he answered promptly. "Amood
Sim hath fattened and grown large on his
neighbors, and Abou kuram hath had i'm
mense tribute for rendering aid. Three
times have they leveled the palace of Yu-
men Yusel and enriched themselves with
great plumber. Now methinks it is Yumen
Yusels time to win"
That means that the enemy will con-
verge on Amood Sims capital l said
them victorious without reaping the fruits
of victory"
A brilliant idea flashed upon me. Let
us 90 to AmOOd's capital ALSO" l said. Il
would fain meet the man on the black horse
again"
And be cloven in two for thy pains, - re-
turned Tabal quickly.
Thou shouldst see us embrace like
brothers"
Tabal glanced at me with the old expires
sion of incredulity and jumped to his feet,
saying we must saddle up and get to the
green valleys and rushing streams that
were ahead. | was in his hands and could
not dissent.
We had Travelled slowly for perhaps two
hours round the shoulders of bluffs and
about crags and rocks and on the brink of
dizzy precipices and over rubbly hills when
all at once We came upon spot of such YER
durOus beauty it might have been the YER
liable garden of Eden. 1t lay in a deep de
preston walled about by cliffs save at one
corner. where there was a narrow gatelike
opening. As soon as we sighted il Tabal,
who suspected it might be inhabited, whis-
pered me to remain quiet and slipping
from his horse went stealthily forward and
peered over the breastwork of rock in front
of Us. Returning with gestures for silence
he took charge of the horses and went
softly to spy. Climbing the parapet l
looked cautiously down the other side, and
there TO my amaZement was Ahmed, the
son of Koor Ali, sleeping like cherub.
NOtiOning to Tabal to remain still ran
quickly to the entrance, went in, and then
crept along the base of the rock, intending
to give Ahmed a fine surprise Reaching
him on tiptOe, tickled him under the chin
with my finger. He sprang up as if l had
pierced him with a spear, moving specta-
Gle of ferocity and fear, and drew his dag
ger. which WAS his sole weapon
Put up thy dagger. Ahmed!' said Il
am surely thy friend"
Thou art no friend" he returned saw
agely. "A man does not spit on his friend
Thou hast cast the rinsings of thy foul
mouth into my face a disgrace, for which
thy blood will atone. l will fight thee
where thou standest, dagger to dagger, but
l will not let thee call thyself my friend"
With that he wrapped his torn mantle
about his left arm as a sort of shield, and
put himself in posture of defense
Let it be quick" he Missed. "Standn not
dallying as thou vert afraid of thy fair
skin"
what thou sayest is impossible" an
swered. drawing myself up Just enough to
show / WAS not held back by fear 1T
would be n sin in me to fight thee Thou
art in the midst of grievous misfortune"
Thou art right" he said But will
bear my grief as becometh man and de-
s:It not any sympathy at thy hand. I was
eager TO meet thee alone, and, lol here thou
art, and we will fight"
I'VE will not fight" l returned. Thou
art famished with hunger and weak from
fatigue and would be at a sore disadvan-
tage. l will give thee a share of my food;
it is not much, but it will strengthen thee,
and when thou hast eaten thou shalt rest
undisturbed. If after that thou be of a
mind to fight, l may crafty thee. Mean
time put up thy dagger"
He kept his blazing eyes on me for the
space of perhaps half a minute, then sui
lenly thrusting the dagger into his girdle
he threw himself on the ground without a
word.
Tabal came down with the horses and the
dates, and Ahmed was invited to eat He
accepted the invitation with an i'll grace
and lowering glance at me. But he was
in my power, and would not let his petu-
lence or ingratitude irritate me.
If thou wilt sleep now" L said when he
had finished our dates, II promise thee no
harm shall come to thee"
Il am in need of no more rest" he an
swered gruffly.
Concerning this quarrel, then" said,
which you choose to make between
u.s.
1T was thou put disgrace on me-" he
growled.
1T was not intended as such, Ahmed" l
said. Il did but jest in putting water on
thee
Nay; by my faith, it was no jest" he 70
turned sharply.
1T was done in ignorance of the GUS
toms of thy country" explained humbly
He appeared to sway for. a moment be-
tween two opinions.
What sayest thour he asked, turning
suddenly to TabaL. Thou art of my own
nation and not ignorant, like this infidel
Thinkest thou the Christian meant dis
honor in casting water in my face?"
"Hadst thou cast water in his face - said