The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-27
CHAPTER XVIII.

the allies was such as might well have
made Abou Kuam pause ere joining them
in battle against so formidable an opponent
as Yumen Yusel. The rest had given our
men back their spirits. The tolls of the
desert were forgotten, and every heart beat
eagerly for the chance of spoil and glory
that was at hand. Amood Sims troops,
OH the contrary, though they made great
show of vaor and enthusiasm at our APP
proaeh, were as miserably draggled and
downcast as If they had just crept out of
the mire after a trampling by the enemy,
and all their shouting and brandishing of
arms could not hide the deathly fear that
was upon them. To put trust in the intre-
pidity of such deplorable losels was like re-
lying on the valor of company of scare
crows.
Amood Sim himself rode out to meet us,
gallantly mounted on richly caparsoned
charger and attended by suite in magnifi-
cent draperies and a blaze of variegated
colors. Nature had given him solderly
figure, and being very gorgeously and i'm
posingly dressed he would, in looks at least
have been the beau ideal of military
leader but for the irresoluton Of the rest
less eye and a general air Of despondency
that pomp appeared powerless to lift.
The meeting of the two princes, however,
and EN- biacing in the presence of the as
sembled host. But when the preliminary
civilities were over and Abou Kuram
showed a disposition to come to business,
Amood hesitated, made excuses and then
all at once became excited and hysterical
Launching into a distracted tale of the su-
periiatural, which any old wife in Scotland
would have been ashamed of, he declared
he had had the clearest ocular proof that
the man on the black horse was none other
than satan himself.
''As for Yumen Yusel," he cried, flour
ishing his sword, 'he is but child in war!
Were he here now l would shear off his
cowardly head as n swift reaper taketh the
ripe barley. But can man prevail against
the devils" And he cast u doeful look at
Abou kuram as if to say, Its really use
less, you know, risking our lives"
'Pcrehance he is not satan himself, but
little devil, :" replied Abou Kuram, who,
while not without his touch of supersti-
tion, held Amood's fancies in contempt.
II long to set eyes on him; if he be satan,
that may know his looks; If he be aught
else, that l make his body sheath for this
sword"
"Ismy brother mad?" asked Amood, with
deep concern.
"Yea mad with a thirst for battle" an
swered Abou Kuram. "Will my brother
give orders to have his men made readyf"
But Amood had still multitude of pre-
texts for delay. For one thing Abou Ku-
ram and his gallant army must be feasted
ere fighting could be so much as thought
of. The march hither had been long and
arduous, aud i'll befall him if it should ever
be said he had forgotten how to be hospit-
able to his friends.
Abou knram, however, was too familiar
with guile TO be inveigled. With manner
that was The pink of courtliness, yet had
in it more than suggestion of inperious-
ness and austerity, he declined festivities,
saying that feasting would be sweetef after
victory and that he would joyously eat the
carcasses of 100 sheep when Yumen Susel
and his satanic lieutenant were crushed
He was aided and abetted in his policy of
aggression by Ismael Numar, Amood's sec
Ond in command, brave and capable off
Ger had he been free from the trammels of
a pusillanimous superior. Amood yielded
reluctant consent. the kettledrums and
cymbals broke out in noisy rivalry, and
the troops marched out TO bivouac on the
plain.
The chosen spot reached, Amood Sim de-
sired to have vermilion tent with luxur-
ious state appointments set up, insisting so
strongly on what was due to his exalted
rank that Abon Kuram was forced to point
out in undiplomatic language how exceed
ingly awkward luxurious vermiion tents
might prove in case of a surprise or night
attack. So, murmuring bitterly about the
unprincely discomforts of campaign.
Amood moodily ate his supper, said his
prayers and lay down beside the smothered
fires to study the starIA sky and await
what further evils fate might bring. The
soldiers lay armed by their harnessed
beasts, gnawing at mutton bones like
colony of dogs, while Abou kuram, yigi-
liant, active and more than trifie angry,
moved about giving rapid instructions and
speaking words of stern encouragement
Slowly the silent night wore on. The
big bright stars twinkle ftfully, the moon
sailed majestically out into the empyrean
spaces for a little and then went her i'm
perial way, leaving darkness that was
full of vague dread and awesome suspi-
eions. The men, casting their mutton
bones from them, sat up with a quivering
tension of nerve and muscle and looked to
their weapons. Mentally they were count
ing the minutes till the light should ap-
pear for this was the terrorizing interval
of blackness when a surprise would be most
disastrous.
An Arab attack sometimes comes with
iiie AbhI WITH tiie
stealth ana hush of death When the
troops were beginning to remark with
bated breath that there was to be no mo-
lestation from the enemy, suddenly the
outposts broke into wild yells, and there
was the spluttering fire of promiscuous
shooting In half second more a ring of
flame cngirdled us. By its light we SAW a
swarm Of rushing demons with leyeled
spears charging in among us, and the
screams of pain told how effectually they
were doing their work We leaped upon
our beasts; we charged hither and thither
in the pitchy blackness mistaking friend
for foe; and then there fell silence as sud
den as had been the tumult, for the enemy,
slipping from our fingers, seemed to have
disappeared into the earth.
Abou Kuram and Amood Sim held an
improvised council Of war.
Let us take to the mountains," piped
the latter in a falsetto of shivering fear.
iAbou Kuram laid an iron hand on Amo0d's
trembling arm.
1.-The cause is thine, not mine,'' he said
with a quick but fearful emphasis do
what secmeth to thee good. Only If thou
give not instant orders that every coward
who seeks to fly be cut down. | and my
men with me will return as we came and
thou and thy possessions can go to eternal
destruction"
cit Is we'll; ii is welll'' laughed Amood
Sim Historically. II did but Jest. BY
this right hand, the man who flieth a foot
shall have death for his portion. Proclaim
it abroad, Ismael Numar. II there be any
man afraid to fight, bring him here that |
may cleave the dog in twoi decree that
all who are afraid shall die the most miser-
able death mind Of man can devise.
would not go to the mountains without
revenge for the pasture lands OF Njed and
all the flocks that have ever fed on them.
See thou to It, Ismael Numar, that every
coward shall be put ingloriously to death.
My lords will shall be obeyed,' answer
ed lsmnel Numar, with alacrity.