Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-13
CHAPTER XIV.
MECCA AND MORE SURPRISE.

MECCA AND MORE SURPRISE.
The rush was made strictly according to
orders, with preconceived results. Shout
ing "Techbir. techbir!" at the pitch of our
voices. we dashed through the mouth Of the
defile hard upon the tail of the caravan,
discharging our pieces and whirlinG our
weapons with the sudden fury in which the
Bedouin in a foray has no equal The
point of the tail crumpled up like feather
at a fierce fire, and as we smote and seized,
yelling the while to keep the panic there
were responsive noises in front that told
the caravan had come to an involuntary halt
to be robbed.
What followed the onset l could not tell
in detail if were to be examined on oath,
for I had many things to think of, and
thieving was the last and least of them. l
saw the hadjis hurled together in the CEN
ter like an ice jam in a river; saw two
clumps of spears, one in front and one be-
hind, flashing viciously in the sun, and l
saw many camels going swiftly out of the
mouth of the pass in charge of new owner
These salient facts the eye took in uncon-
sciously, without the ability to catch minute
particulars.
got the impression that the hadjis
offered but feeble resistance, and that, as
I subsequently, learned, was true. There is
q season for everything, and the pilgrims
had valid one for pTeferring their lives to
their property. Caravans start expecting
to be plundered, nor fail to make provision
accordingly. Immemorial custom and en-
perience have taught the hadji that it is
the will of heaven he should suffer loss at
the hands of wicked men in the perform
ance of the prime religious duty Of life.
Moreover, the pious Mohammedan on his
way to the holy city has such an aversion
to broils and bloodshed that he would
rather sacrifice portion of his worldly
goods than present himself at the prophets
shrine with red hands. These things the
astute Bedou:n knows and profits by; the
time of the pilgrimage is his harvest, and
he reaps with wide sickle.
That knowledge was acquired afterward.
Just then my sole concern was how Tabal
and I were to escape. The situation was OF
the sort that gives one sudden cold in the
back, though the sun may be hot, only we
could not afford time to stand and shiver.
Sosoon as we should make an effort to desert
the Bedouin lances would be after us, and
in case we were caught would have no mer-
cy That was certain. Had it been equally
certain how the hadjis would receive us,
the matter would he simple, or, at any rate,
simplifed. But our reception was exceed
ingly doubtful, for the Arab, be he Bedouin
or orpilgrim, is ever shifting for treachery and
suspecting he smells it,
Another difficulty was that we could not
make the dash at the most opportune mo-
ment for ourselves We must wait for
Rance and Baruk, and very anxiously we
began to look for them among the cliffs. If
they did not come quickly our chance would
be gone; we might go back with the chill
dren of the desert to shame and cruelty and
violence and, it might be, to lasting bond
age.
The band had already distrained more
than the legitimate taX-that is to say, had
taken all the loose camcls-and were press
ing on for more than their dues, for, having
the right of the strong, they were hard to
satisfy. Tabal and /, for unsuspected rea-
sons, were well to the front, and could be
minutely observed by the plundered, a cir
cumstance that might tell awkwardly
against US laLer on.
What was keeping the idiotic Baruk? Had
the coward rued his promise? If so, by all
we held dearly would he pay for it. We
were hot with fighting and seizing and
shouting, and two of us were beginning to
have tremors of despair, when at last, IS
we were retiring with our booty, Tabal's 5
sharp eye espied two skulking figures
slipping craftily down among the rocks.
By this time the hadjis, animated by the
spirit Of the wronged, were behaving in n
way that was exceedingly discomforting to
those who meant presently to appeal to
their humanity. Baruk and Rance made
their appearance at the very worst mo-
ment. But there was no time to grumble
OR make comment. We must take fortune
as we found it and make haste to redeem
our pledges.
So I gave Tabal the word, and reversing
our spears to indicate we were not hostile
we bounded from among the Bedouins,
calling out we were hadjis and praying for
protection. At the same time we drew at
tention by pointing and shouting to the
two clam bering down the rocks
Thinking as well indeed they might, that
this was but rlse TO get their ranks
broken, the pilgrims hurriedly formed up,
presenting front of levcled spears and
punbarrels and faces that said palmer than
any language we advanced at the peril OF
our lives. And as they stood close together
to receive us there went upa diaboilc shout
behind. We glanced back in terror to see
dozen of our late comrades ut our heels with
lance shafts huggcd after the manner OF
men who have resolved to slay without
pity.
The moment that followed was such as
man recalls in his sleep with horrid, cold
sweat and creeping OF the flesh and
groanings and writings. In trout was