The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-26

hLcuiuius 10 tue suiuc we might expect
them back at the latest by noon next day.
Noon came, however, without bringing
them. The afternoon wore slowly on, dark
ness fell, prayers were said and supper was
eaten, and still no Koor Ali. Abou Kuram
was getting impatient. After a forced
march across the desert, 1t was exasper-
ating to be kept waiting at this stage. The
camp lay down to sleep, moon and stars
kept their vigil. morning broke and still
no tidings of the absent ones. Abou
kuram strutted sullenly about the camp,
recalling his stock of Arabian oaths. Noon
came again, and again sunset. supper and
prayers, yet there was no sign of koor Ali
and his escort.
l am afraid Abou Kuram went through
his devotions with preoccupied, inatten-
tive mind that evening. At any rate the
frstthing he did after turning his face from
Mecca was to pour flood of objurgatons
on Amood Sinn on Koor Ali, on Tabal and
all concerned with them. But that did not
bring them, and once more the camp lay
down to rest. The commander, however,
did not lie down. Long after his men were
snoring at the sky watched his dark and
solitary figure moving to and fro in angry,
uneasy expectancy.
There shall be reckoning for this"
heard him mutter once. "Woe betide the
man who causeth this delay"
He was still walking about when fell
asleep.
Twas enjoying happy dream, when all
at once in the black darkness was reused
by the crackle of firearms and the shrill
voices Of excited men.
"The enemy, the enemy" they shouted
as l sprang up, rubbing my eyes, "The
dnyii the hlnok bnraa aItJitl \
Mt his back" And then all along our front
there was momentary line of leaping fire
which showed our scurrying men confused
ly trying to get into fighting order. To our
great surprise there came no response to
our volley, nor could we hear any move
ment outside our own lines, though we
hearkened with ears that would have heard
the stealthy treadr ~~ctber.
"The enemy hash one ex-
ultingly. "Our fire ha, - him fleet
feet to make of" And just then, as If in
answer to this boast, there was the vicious
ping of flying lead in the air, and some of
our men dropped screaming to the earth
We delivered another volley blndly into
the darkness, then waited for the return
fire, but it did not come.
Savage at the double disgrace of being
fooled and taken unawares, Abou Kuram
oEueEeu aortlei uuI ine party nau not gone
20 yards when another shower of bullets
llupon us from the opposite direction The
foe was running round us, peppering us at
his will. A second sortie party was In
stantly sent out, but like the first it came
back without making any discovery. Only
some said they had seen terrible appari-
tion on black horse of gigantic size, and
that steed and rider breathed blue flame.
So the army stood there, nervously han
ding its matchlocks and supplicating the
protection of the prophet Tho prophet
was evidently gracious, for there were no
more of those ugly surprises that night.
The foe, content with moderate amount
of fun, had gone off to chucklc over his
success and get up his courage for big
fight.
Abou Kuram knew II was coming. He
knew, too, that the enemy, flushed with
success, would be exceedingly tough to
deal with, and the knowledge incensed
him afresh against his ally for being so dill