The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-11
THE FLIGHT.

THE FLIGHT.
A total and irredeemable rout with the
frenzied victors amuck among the shat
tered ranks OF the vanished is thing not
to be described by any one sharing in the
panic or the havoc of IT, We flew blindly,
desperately, knowing neither where we
went nor what we did. We had but one
idea-to get away as fast as beast could
carry us beyond the reach of those mutilat-
ing spears--and in the madness and fury Of
fear we rode each other down without heed
or pity. Horsemen plunged into camel
men, camelmen into horsemen, friend
cursed friend for barring the way and smote
frantically, the striker caring not il the
blood of n fellow Were spilled SO only he
himself escaped.
Quarttc was never so much as thought Of
on either side, for vengeance fired by fanat-
icism does not spare, nor does the terror it
inspires plead. The dripping lances sped
like weavers' shuttles, and the shrieks of
the butchered mingled with the oaths OF
the butchers, who swore because they could
not clear their points quick enough for the
fell work in hand. With grunts of hellish
glee from foaming mouths, the red points
were sent home and the victims went down
screaming to be finished under foot.
BY degrees the fugitves began to scatter,
and presently found myself tearing along
in little group of half a dozen, my heart in
my mouth and just sense enough left TO
know that a gush of blood was soaking my
right leg. Whence it issued i had not the
least idea. Nor could tell whether had one
hurt or many hurts Feeling in my dis
traught condition there was none, and ex-
animation was impossible. A moments
delay would mean dozen lances in my
body, so needless OF wounds / fled with all
the speed that fear and spurs could put in
to the fieetest steed that ever carried man
from such an Aceldama. With stretched
neck and ears laid back like hare's i'm the
chase my little mare seemed rather TO fly
than TO tread the earth, and well for me
was on the back OF n kohlan in her prime,
or i should not now be writing this history.
Glancing about me by and by | found
that was riding alone; that no officer was
within sight, nor indeed any one knew save
Tabal, the son of my old benefactor, Said
Achmet. He was short distance 20 the
right and ahead of me and was urging his
camel with all the might of voice and stick.
j shouted To him. He turned quickly, side
ways, but before he saw me he threw up
his arms, gave queer cry and rolled TO the
ground. Mechanically, for | was not capa-
BILE of thought, i wheeled toward him,
leaped TO the ground and in "a second was
up again, with Tabal lying across the sad
ole before me. Do not stay TO ask how
did it. If ever you come to be in life and
death strait, you will find that the nerves
and muscles can act independently when
the wits are gone. The thing was done
and done before knew had undertaken il.
Starting again / cast AN eye over my
shoulder TO see four of the enemys horse
men coming full tilt upon me with level
lances. Discerning IL was to be a neck and
neck race for life, / touched my little mare
with the spurs, and though now carrying
double she skinned along with the speed
of the ostrich, quickly distancing our pur-
suers, who turned 10 easier game. But
glancing backward again presently / saw
with fresh dismay three other horsemen
coming at me sideways with the pace of the
tempest. From their looks I Judged them
~ once TO be BedOuins genuine children OF
the oescrt. or whom large numbers were
attracted 60 the standard Of lumen Eusel
by the glorious prospects of spoil. They
had singled me out aud were riding for
death and booty, evidently under the inn
preston that my companion must be man
of rank and wealth. IL was natural con-
clusion that n common soldier would be
left TO die where he fell
/ looked into the face Of Tabal TO see
whether he were dead, for he had not
spoken word since had lifted him. II he
were n corpse, 10 would be the sheerest mad
ness to incumber myself with him. But
when / bawled In his ear he opened his
eyes slowly and winked at me comically
like one awaking from odd dreams.
"Are you much hurt" shouted at the
pitch Of my voice.
He wriggled his left shoulder, and the
movement brought gush of blood.
There" he answered family.
"You must sit up" said quickly. "our
lives depend upon it."