Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-04-15

Ci0us clash.
ting into the plnces he would have given
his kingdom 10 bee able TO avoid. I laughed
Mt him with the hilnrty OF hysteria, and 1
have an idea cried ieering words ms we'll
But how the tide of war was running |
know not, and probably you would not
have known had you been in my place
Once In a wild swirl got knocked out OF
the saddle, but with wildcat clutch caught
something probably the pommel or name
before me-and was up again In an instant,
wondering in my own mind whether was
mortnlly wounded or whether was wound
ed nc all, and Ms | was trying to decide
came upon sight that drove all thought
OF self away and made me rein up with a
jerk
In the midst OF their partisans. who had
formed u circle az II To see fair play to the
champions, were koor Ali and the man on
the black horse In hand to hand fight
do not know how long they had been at 1t
before CHANGED TO see them, but the con
test did not last long after my coming up.
hoor All was good soldier and an expert
swordsman, but his fate WINS upon him.
The man on the hlack horse first tipped
OH an ostrich plume from the others tur.
ban, then some ribbons, then he shore a
piece OIL each side as II showing the easy
and dainty precision with which he handled
his weapon. Two or three swift passes fol.
lowed, then rising quickly In his stirrups.
with lightninglike stroke he Glove his
antagonist from crown 20 breastLone so
that half fell either way [As will be seen
later on, this stroke was never learned In
Arabia From the raised sword hand OF
the divided man dropped the sword, but
the arm itself remained rigid In the mir, AS
II with final threat Of vengeance, and
there rose from the split throat Shrek
which haunts me to this day. Then, the
horse wheeling under sudden convulslve
pull Of the bride hand the body tumbled
from the saddle TO be markled by a thou.
sund hoots
Waving his blood red saber above hls
head, the victor leaped his horse straight
into the heart OF a group OF our men. and
the hacking and hewing went on with dou,
bic vigor amid peals Of triumph from the
enemy.
Abou kuram must have seen what had
happened for just then he tore up hi. face
black with passion, and riding over all that
DISTRACTED his way made direct AT tho
champion Of Numen Yuscl That diabolio
swordsmnn catching sight OF Abou wheeled,
both horses reared together, aud the blades
OF the riders met with vicious clash. Both
sides sent up a terrific shout, for tho cru.
oial moment had come.
In the fierce tumult, the mad swirl and
crush Of the roaring vortex, could see the
lighters only In partial gllmpscs But Il
was plain that here were two men who did
each other honor plain from the quick,
sharp swish and ring OF their swords and
from the madness Of the oniookers. Win
who might, there would be tale 20 tell
that would cause hrcathless awe and inter
est In the black tents for many day to
come,
Both armies swayed up In rcslstless bill
lows TO watch the encounter, for on Arabl-
an hattleilelds tue rank and file at times
suspend operations to watch their hetters
give and take blows. Il was hard to Inn
agine, however, that they were mere spec
tators, for In the Jam OF man and beast
lanco and butt end were used with all the
freedom OF battle md curse and scream
still mingled, As for me, my condition
was little short OF distraction. Carried
about like a leaf on boiling waters, should
probably have been done to death many
times over but for the amazing ingenuity |
and agility OF my mare In dodging IN tho |
crisis OF press,
Judged Of the progress OF tho fight by I
the varying behavior Of the partisans who |
were nearest tho center Once or twice | |
had terrible glimpse OF two furious men |
reaching for each other with flashing |
weapons on horses that seemed TO rear and |
grapple like lions But l could not tell
how the advantage lay,
was soon to know, Suddenly Yumen
Husel's men sent up a deep roar that sent
the blood diszily to my head and made me
dash into the thiekest OF the crash regard
less OF peril. l was just In time to SEQ the
end.
Tho man ON tho black horse had evident
~ estimated the skill aud strength OF his
antagonist and had begun his old game.
Down came Abou Kuram's bobbing os-
trieh plumei then, 10 quickly that the
shearing instrument was a darting sun
beam, thecrestuthis turban followed. Then,
both horses rearing upon each other. there
was a wild leap TO either side as the spurs
went wiekedly home, and ere the black
charger bad well touched ground he
swung rapidly ronud as on a pivot The
next second Abou Kuram, too, was about,
put az he turned his sword arm dropped by
his site almost clean cut from the shout
Ter, and the sword itsolf went rattlinn
lmong his horses hoofs. The lightning
could not have hit quicker than did thu