Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-16
CHAPTER Xxx.
rrrr r,rrrrrr

A total and irredeemable rout with the
frenzied victors amuck among the shat
tered ranks Of the vanished is thing not
to be described by any one sharing in the
panic or the havoc of it. We flew blindly,
desperately, knowing neither where we
went nor what we did. We had but one
idea--to get away as fast as beast could
carry US beyond the reach Of those mutilat-
ing spears, and in the madness and fury of
fear we rode each other down without heed
or pity. Horsemen plunged into camel
men, camelmen into horsemen, friend
cursed friend for barring the way and smote
frantically, the striker caring not if the
blood of fellow were spilled SO only he
himself escaped.
Quarter was never so much as thought of
on either side, for vengeance fred by fanat-
icism does not spare, nor does the terror it
inspires plead. The dripping lances sped
like weavers' shuttles, and the shrieks of
the butchered mingled with the oaths of
the butchers, who swore because they could
not clear their points quick enough for the
fell work in hand. With grunts of hellish
glee from foaming mouths, the red points
were sent home, and the victims went down
screaming to be finished under foot.
By degrees the fugitives began to scatter,
and presc1itly found myself tearing along
in little group of half Il dozen, my heart in
my mouth and just sense enough left to
know that gush of blood was soaking my
right leg. Whence it issued had not the
least idea. Nor could tell whether l had one
hurt or many hurts. Feeling in my dis
traught condition there was none, and ex-
animation was impossible. A moments
delay would mean dozen lances in my
body, so needless of wounds fled with all
the speed that fear and spurs could put in
to the ieetrst steed that ever carried man
from such IN Aceldama. With stretched
neck and ears laid back like hares in the
chase my little mare seemed rather to fly
than to tread the earth, and well for me
was on the back OF kohlan in her prime,
or should not now be writing this history.
Glaucing about me by and by found
that was riding alone; that no officer was
within sight, norindeed any one knew save
Tnt;,., the son of my old benefactor, Said
AcEmet. He was short distance to the
right and ahead of me and was urging his
c;ulFel with all the might of voice and stick.
shouted To him. lie turned quickly, side
ways, but before he saw me he threw up
his'rms, gave queer cry and rolled to the
ground. Mechanically, for was not capt.-
bic of thought, wheeled toward him,
!caped to the ground and in second Was
up again, with Tabal lying across the sad
die before me. Do not stay to ask how
did it. If ever you come to bc in Il life and
,Inotb ctr.,it Won will find that tho urryrS
and muscles can act independently when
the wits are gone. The thing was done
and done before knew had undertaken 1t.
Starting again ] cast an eye over my
shoulder to see four of the enemy's horse
men coming full tilt upon me with level
lances. Discerning it was to be aneck and
neck race for life, touched my little mare
with the spurs, and though now carrying
double she skinned along with the speed
of the ostrich. quickly dista.cing our pur-