Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-18

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Iqras qiven the nu1sz=lc of q n'uSl;ct to d.
rect a1y steps,
ing and painting with fear and fatigue, l
stumbled, often causing my guide to curse
savagely and threaten to pitch me head
foremost down the cliff. I could not help
thinking that if he were blindfolded he
might 90 Just as clumsily, though [ had to
keep the opinion guardedly behind my
teeth.
Presently there was another brief halt,
and l could hear tie Arabs in whispered
consultation. Then knew that part of
the company went one way and part an
other, sticking to my gun barrel as If it
were my sole hope of salvation. Another
breathless Chamber followed, doubly trying
to me in my blinded condition, and in
little while I understood from the free
play of the air that at last we had reached
the top.
had hardly time to wonder what was
coming next when one of my guards spoke.
1--WE wish to be rid of thee" he said
bluntly. Listen well to my words, for
they concern thy very life. While we
were yet far down the gulf, some said, Cut
him in two and cast him to the fishes.
Others-and we'll for thee they prevailed
answered No, rather let him live ifso be he
20 not to come back. If he return, then
shall his blood be upon his own head
Now we are merciful We will lead thee to
place of safety some distance hence and
there leave thee Only if for the space Of
one hour thou triest to free thine eyes
from their covering, then as surely as thou
dost it thou shalt die ere thou East time to
look twice"
Without waiting for word from me he
gave the order, and we went on again. The
ground was broken and uneven, but after
the pit sides we had climbed it was like the
queens highway.
We may have marched for an hour when
we stopped. I was made to sit upon
stone. Then they united my hands, adj
monishing me to remember the penalty for
disobedience in respect to the bandage on
my eyes, and having given me my pipes,
which in surprising spirit of generosity
had been taken care of, they left me.
I sat there for awhile with perfect 10y
atty, acutely mindful Of the injunctions
and admoni.ions had received. l kept
my hand tight on the green bag In the
stress of terror just gone through had for
gotten it, but now that it was returned its
touch had for moment something of the
solace of an old friends presence.
,,,vca1f w RI
pute the flight of time, began to count the
seconds, but it proved weary process and
was given up, only however to be begun
again and cgain stopped and yet again re-
sumed, to be finally Abandoned in despair.
In the usual reckoning an hour is but GO
short minutes-that hour was an eternity.
With stoica! resolution, though anything
= but stoical Indifference, tried to sit stock
still, imagining the while hundred lev
eled spears at my side ready to be plunged
into me at my first movement. The ordeal
kept every nerve aquiver, every sense in
futter of dread.
The disciples of Zeus have pretty doc
trine about arming ''the obdurate beast
with stubborn patience, as with triple
steel" hope they are able to do it in cru
cial emergencies. To me, seek it as /
might, the stubborn patience would not
come. In vain 1 pricked the will in vain
recalled lofty maXims about the duty Of
bearing pain heroically. 1t is glorious to
shine as q hero, but at times exceedingly
difficult. cannot be Of the godlike race,
for the harder I strove for fortitude the
faster my power of endurance ebbed.
Istarted and fidgeted, listened, held my
breath, shivered, shrank together and per-
spired; the air was full of ominous sounds,
and horrible Shiny things seemed to be
crawling over me. At last the agony of
blind suspense became insuferable Come
what might, would have my eyes free.
With trembling hands and caution
that was amazing in such burning impa-
tience, I raised the bandage and glanced
from under it's edge, first on one side, then
on the other Seeing no watcher, tore the
cloth off and got to my feet, looking round
with more care and deliberation. Not
soul was about. was alone
There was just light enough to enable me
to discern was in the middle Of q wild
desolation of gorges and piled up cliffs,
rising in the dim distance to what appeared
to be range of mountains. More for Varl-
ety's sake than from any definite object
took up my pipes and began to walk for
ward from the sea. But some falls and
frequent trippings with sudden glimpses
Of yawning world of blackness at my
very feet made it plain that to proceed in
such chaos of crags and clefts was to risk
my neck at every step. Weary, faint and
in no heart to face unknown dangers, sat
down again, my back against big stone,
to reflect on the new turn affairs had taken
Hunger fell upon me with the fierceness
of beast of prey. Most people | suppose
have felt a sharp craving in their stomach,
but mine was an acute pain that soon be-
came maddening anguish. You are to
remember that had eaten nothing that
day, that was active and had the edged
appetite that comes with full recovery
from sickness when nature is squirting TO
make up for lost time. Yet all could do
was to tighten my waist belt and think
vearningly of the hard tack Of the Bird Of
Paradise and dream inefrable dreams of the
sumptuousness of home Let me tell you
that they who dine on such fare are not
likely to die frepletion. The sting of the
sword or the bullet is keen, but give it to
me before the inappeasable panG of starva-
tion.
The stars began to come out presently,
very large and lustrous and suppose, to the
proper eye, full of poetry. By and by sill
very lightness fell on the landscape, and
little latter the white moon rose in a sap
phire sky, revealing the haggard drrrrness
of the scene as clearly IS if the time were
monday.
7 got to my feet, and some strange birds
that had their dwelling among the fast
nesses of this desert nocked about Inc in
evident curiosity, then flew away, scream
ing at my invasion of their retreat. NO
other living creature did l see or hear. Too
weak and drowsy to make any effort for
succor, crawlcd into shady spot beneath
the ledge of great rock, and in spite OF
trouble and pain soon fell asleep.
I awoke near the dawn chilled to the
marrow-for the dewy night air in these
,,orto ;s cboro-and fallen touether like an