The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-02
opyright, 1893. by John Alexander steuart.1

entire Dand laid to in such an exhibition OF
ravening as the civilized cannot imagine.
Whole carcasses disappeared as mouthfuls
and where one minute there was meat
enough to furnish score of butchers
shops the next there was only heap o,
bones piled for the wolf and the hyena.
Tobacco and huge drafts of coffee and
sherbet followed. Then the gormandized
camp lay down to sleep off its surfeit, the
sentries alone remaining alert and unde.
bauched. They would get their share later
When we rose again, there was no longer
any hilarity. The festivities were over, and
the festive spirit gave place to one strictly
concerned with business. Men who had
laughed riotously at the feast were grim
and hard faced, and among the grimmest
Of the lot was the erst while jocular Sulei.
man. He looked indeed rs if he had never
learned how to smile, and noticed his curt
orders were obeyed with a silent alacrity
that told Of an authority which would
brook neither questioning nor insubordina.
tion. The saddling up was done so quietly
that you would not have heard us a hun.
dred yards off, and so quickly that in au
hour after the first order was given we were
in breakneck gorge mile from the rest
ing place.
By express injunction Tabal and / rode
our own horses by the bride of Sueiman,
while Ahmed was accommodated by the
rein of Add ell Mahsin. Though there was
no path save such rs could be picked
among broken ravines and craggy water
courses and up and down breathless Sleeps
the progress was swift, for Bedouin horses
leap and dodge and climb with the agility
of goats. In trying moments when we
three strangers We're demonstrative from
fear of our necks we were admonished to
silence with the butt end of a spear and SO
learned to hold our peace and look death
in the face.
BY niRhtfall, after ride that recklessly
tore and jolted the soundest joints and
bones, we emerged from the range on a
level dip on one of the spurs overlooking
supper. which was stealthily prepared and
silently eaten; for the need of conceal.
ment had come AS soon as the meal was
over, Suleiman and Add el Mahsn held
brief but animated consultation, the result
of which was an immediate order to mount
and march By daybreak we were at the
mouth of steep and narrow defle that
issued OF piece of green sloping down to
the plain, and here we rested in the shadow
of some tall precipices, l managing to snatch
perhaps an hour of sleep.
The east was blazing in all the glory of
crimson and gold, when some one prodded
me vigorously in the ribs, and / leaped up
to find the company Tightening girths for
the road. Tabal, who insisted on being at
once brother and servant to me, had nv
mare ready by my side. / had just time to
take the rein when Suleiman gave the or
der TO mount, and, like one man, the band
sprang into the saddle.
At starting we divided, Add el ATahsn,
with Ahned and the necessary guard, 90.
ing southwark with the captured horses
and camels and other booty, and Suleiman
and the rest of US striking out to the north
west.
Before parting managed to get word
with Ahmed.
I'VE may never meet again, Ahmed"
said, and | wish to assure thee am thy
friend Should you make thy way back
to Abou kuram, as l trust thou wilt, tell
him | shall not forget his kindness, and
that commend to him the son of the va,
liant koor Ali"
'It shall be done AS thou desirest,' - he an
swered.
zone thing more I would beseech of
you" | added, ''and It is thls-that if thou
fall in with the man on the black horse thou
wilt not fight with him nor provoke him"
1 VIII stay mini, returned Ahmed
fiercely.
NAY, Ahmed, tempt him not lest he slay
thee" said AS for avenging the death
of thy father, thou cnnst not right the
wrongs of battle. Koor Ali fell like gal
liant soldier. Lay that to thy heart. Fare
we'll"
Farewell" answered Ahmed. II will
think of what thou hast said" And we
parted, turning to pressing interests of
my own.
IL was easy to see from the demeanor OF
Suleiman and his men that something big
was in the wind, and presently an inkling
of its character was conveyed In whisper
that we were bound for Amood Sims pal
ace. The band swelled with elation, for
the prospect was glorious, but they held
their peace, and our march was as the
march of the army of the dead.