Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-27
Ar IOvECr
5WKNR
JOIN A,SfElART
Copyright, 1893, by John Alexander Steuart.l
CHAPTER XIII.

out among drifting dunes, across shifting
ridges, oveT-fisSurcs that would have swal
lowed us all without being aware of it,
through black rocks and scraggy shrub
berry, dipping into valleys. climbing hill
ocks skirting villages-On, on we went,
with never an abatement of the pace and
no l..I.t OF our burning impotence save
what might be gathered from flashing eyes
and keen set faces. To me it was the old
agony over again.
The paugs of thirst We're upon me, and
my hurt WAS paining me dreadfully. From
his uneasy wriggling and his peculiar stOoI
l understood that Tabal, too, was suffering
But - we had no desire to be stripped and
left IN the desert to console each other il
native nakednes5 no murmur of om-iaint
escaped our lips.
Two days and nights this continued with
scarce a pause or remission. Our food was
eaten in the saddle, and, as for prayers
heaven and the prophet would forgive
little present neglect in view of the urgency
Of OUR business and the amplitude of the
after atouemrnt. We did not think of eat
ing, W e had no time for devotions and such
momvntary halts were permitted wert
wholly out of consideration for the labor
ing horses
by noon ON the third day we entered
upon high plateau or tableland clothed
Win ~ACtuACll EEstSS anu giving DEOllllSc u
some sort OF civilization. The eagerneSs
OF the men increased. They began TO strair
their eyes, and whispers were passed that
now We must be near the place of spoil.
We came upon many herds of goats anc
cattle. with some camels, and the herbs
men when questioned told of the commo
tion and revolution of war. Toward even
ing one of them reported having seer
several bands of our own order, rs well a:
parties of troops that he took to be portions
of the victorious army of Yumcn Yusel
Sulcim1n listened with interest and in
vilcd the man To become our guide
How shall l answer my master for for
saking the flocks intrusted to me?' h,
asked TREMENDOUSLY. Truly he will beat
me, and, it may be, have me put to death
We will ourselves take the blame of thy
faithlesSne~s." said Suleiman. We have
notion Of taking possession OF these hocks
and thou shalt Toe our chief herdsman anG
shall have two slaves for thy friendliness
the ~leekest that can be found, besides
much rich apparel and dainty food. We
are in haste and cannot tarry. Get thee
hold Of my stirrup strap, my gaelic So
know by thy looks thou canst use the feet
God gave thee and canst easily outrun
spent horse. Thou shalt feast in AmooC
Sims hanqueting hall-yea, thou shalt b,
in paradise ere thou knoweSt il. BE not
afraid to grip, my brave one. And thor
wilt take Us by the shortest way. 1t will bt
best for myself"
We started ut a good round trot, the
guide running as he was directed and moi
daring 10 complain.
Thou vii, do remarked Suleiman en-
cOuragingly. Thou skippest like roe OF
the mountains. Yea, thou art feeter OF
foot ;han the leopard. l said two slaves
l. IL IL.
Presently we began to fall in with riva
bands of narauders hard, fleshless, fierce
eyed roGue~ who scowled and snarled al
each other and at Us, and rode faster anC
ever faster as they found more and more
competitors for Amood's spoils. As they
fUulc,i and ja~tlcd in their haste there were
high words ;tud sudden CLEANS of steel In
deed ii often looked aS if we were on the
brink of dccimar.ng fray, but the Bedou
in, with booty in his eye, will use muct
un-Chri~Jian language and many savage |
gestures before staying 10 shed blood. 81
they pressed together imPrecating furi |
ou~ly, hut nursing their private quarrel: |
against more convenient time of settle |
mrlt.
Tho vulturc has not a surer, quicker seem
for cslrlipu than the Bedouin for the prop
erIy OF the fallen OF the unfortunate From
al points the children of the desert-tht
dirty. tawny. picturesque, warlike, cruel |
generous, abominable progeny of IShmael-
were cOnvcrging upon the capital of thu
lucklesS AmOOu Sim and making desper |
ate haste to divide his possessions. As w,
drew nearour common destination the com |
pany was constantly swelling. and so wa. |
the tumult. Curses Were banded as thick |
rs jests ut Il revel-aud it was not orna |
mental swearing, for the oaths were hisset |
from between clinched teeth and carried |
with them the intention of swift death |
In the whole tumultuOus mob none SPOKE |
deadiicr words than the band of Suleiman !
We We're i'll danger of forgetting ON
mission and breaking into CORY hostilities |
when, with the blood red flush of the sun |
set upon them, we deserted points of clus |
tering minaretS. \ few minutes later the |
chimney like turrets at sight of which the |
fam!SLci traveller besScs himself, and the |
towers OF Il cls;le We're drawn clear auC !
firm against The dazzling splendors of The |
west. Then the children of the desert, with |
such whorps and hUwls rs no Jhroats on
earth but their own can litter. cfntpe1i |
heel to flank, and tie race became a mad
scramble. with most Of the features Of Q
battle and u rout combined. It *ds a |
the descent Of VOTES uPCm an unprotected
sheepfcId.
Just before the final dash orders were
issued lrv Suletrtau that Il either Tribal On
myself showed the lv1st sign Of disloYaftV |
we were 10 be speared without question OF
ceremony, the Legality of the deed to be con.
sidrred afterWaId. With the knowledge OF !
these hcGrtening instructions safely lodged
in our minds, Tabai and exchanged smiles |
ofintelIigencc and rode gayly with the rest
to the loO;iug.
In spite OF the forced march Suleiman'I
band was belated. Already the town was |
in the panic OF a sack, and the company
piled their spurs, growing vici6usly at the |
thought OF finding the pillaging half done. |
The crooked channels of streets overlooked |
with shrieking people who had been hunted
out OF their houses like rabbits out of
burrows, 70 be chased for sport and revenge
in the open. Their cries to heaven and the
prophet were pitiable, but did not detain |
Us, FOR the cali was eager on every hand: !
To the castle, 10 the castle! In the castle !
is the big spoil"'
The gloom OF night had fallen when in |
the midst of a hOwliag and riotous press
we clattcred under its frowning bastions. |
There was difficulty in finding gate, and
when discovered it WAS only by using our
spears, butt and point, as was haudiest,
that we managed to reach it 1t WAS closed,
but a hundred shoulders and musket ends
burst it as at a touch, and the surging mass
poured in with hideous noises. Ifancied it |
was not properly fastened. Before our ar
rival the guards had been killed or over |
come or, what is perhaps more likely. had !
joined the hooters at the first chance and |
were already busy with their masters most |
valuable jewels and his prettiest wives.
The outer court was dark and full of !
maniacal people who behaved like an en- !
ragged menagerie. Dismounting inside the |
walls, we gave the horses over to strong |
-f,f ha Sfo of hand |
who might be trusted not only to defend, |
but to refrain fr@n running of with them. |
Then the rest of US. following the lead of |
Suleiman, moved an opening for ourselves !
into another court.
An Arab stronghold, as the reader may !
by this time be aware, is place of vexa-
tious courts and passages specially designed |
to beguile and confound. Amood Sims |
palace was unusually rich in deceptive re-