Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-30

"Ihou wilt &c, remarked Sulclnlan en-.
couragingly. Thou skippest like a roe on
the mountains Yea, thou art neeter Of
foot than the leopard. said two slaves
by my sword hilt, thou SHALT have threc.''
Presently we began to fall in with rival
bands of marautlers, hard, ncShlcss, fierce
eyed rogues who scowled aud snared at
each other and ut us, and rode faster and
ever faster aSthcy found more and more
competitors for A1nood's spoiis. AS they
fouled and josLled in tlleir haste there were
high words and sudden CLEANS of steel. In
deed it often looked as if we were on the
brink of decimating fray, but the Bedou-
in, with booty in his eye, will use much
un-Christian language and many savage
gestures before staying to shed blood. So
they pressed together, imprecating fUri.
ously, but nursing their private quarrels
against more convenient time of settle.
ment
The vulture has not surer, quicker scent
for carrion than the Bedouin for the prop
erty of the fallen or the unfortunate From
all points the children of the desert-the
dirty, tawny, picturesque, warlike, cruel,
generous, abominable progeny of Ishmael-
luckless Amood Sim and making desper-
ate haste to divide his possessions. As we
drew near our common destination the COM
pany was constantly swelling, and so was
the tumult. Curses were banded as thick
as jests at a reyel-and it was not orna,
mental swearing, for the oaths were hissed
from between clinched teeth and carried
with them the intention of swift death.
In the whole tumultuous mob none spoke
deadlier words than the band of Suleiman.
We were in danger of forgetting our
mission and breaking into CORY hostilities,
when, with the blood red flush of the sun
set upon them, we deserted points of clus-
tering miuarets. A few minutes later the
chimneyike turrcts, ut sight of which the
famished traveller blesses himself, and the
towers of castle were drawn clear and
firm against the dazzling splendors of the
west. Then the children of the desert, with
such whoops and bowls as no throats on
earth but their own can utter, clapped
heel to flank, and the race became mad
scramble, with most of the features of a
battle and a rout combined. 1t was as
the descent of wolves upon an unprotected
sheepfold.
Just before the final dash orders were
issued by Suleiman that if either Tabal or
myself showed the least sign Of disloyalty
we were to be speared without question or
ceremony, the legality of the deed to be con.
sidered nftcrward. With the knowledge of
these heartening instructions safely lodged
in our minds, Tabal and exchanged smiles
of Intelligence and rode gayly with the rest
to the looting.
In spite of the forced march Suleiman's
band was bclated. Already the town was
in the panic of sack, and the company
piled their spurs. growing viciously at the
thought of finding the pillaging half DONE
The crooked channels of streets overAowed
with shrieliing people who had been hunted
out of their hcnses like rabbits out Of
burrows, to be c!asal for sport and revenge
In the open. Their cries to HEAVIER and the
prophet were pitiab!r, but did not detain
us, for the cali was eager on every hand:
"Io the castle, to the castle! In ~. ..:S:le
is the big spoil!'
The gloom of night had fallen ,.rra In
the midst of Il howiing ana rintOu; press
we ciattercd under its fron:ninG haations
There was difficulty in finding n gate, and
when discovered it was only by using ollr
spears, butt AMI point, as was handiest.
that we managed 10 reach it. 1t was closed,
but Il hundred shoulders and musket ends
burst it as at /; touch, and the sGrgin:s nass
poured in with h,le0us noises. fanced i,
was not properly fastened Before our ar
rival the guards Lad been killed or over
come or, what is perhaps more likely, had
Joined the looters at the first chance and
were already busywith their masters most
valuable jewels and his pretre@t wives.
The outer court was dark and full OF
manacal people who behaved like an en-
ragged menagerie. Dismounting inside the
walls, we gave the horses over to a strong
party of the most stalwart of our band,