Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-25

my courage had all but ebbed, recognized
familiar face. Then 1, too, shouted wild
ly and my horse bounded as the spurs went
into his sides. The next minute Tabal and
were hugging and embracing like long
separated brothers, both of us having
leaped to the ground in order to get the
| closer grip.
You may be sure we had each q multi
tude of questions to ask and answer, but
before 1 would hear anything of Tabal's
adventures since our parting / insisted on
looking to his injury. 1t was bad, he said,
but not deadly. Barring his left shoulder
very carefully, found shattered gunshot
wound that gave the flesh a torn and bro
ken appearance different altogether from
the clean cut had got. / dressed it as
gently and as we'll as was possible with the
means ut my disposal. service for which
poor Tabal was infinitely grateful.
I'VE are of different nations and reh-
gions, yet surely we are not strangers" he
said. embracing m0 again. Had seen
thee now for the first time I would have
driven this lance through thee. But hence
forth it will be turned against him who
seeks thy hurt. Tabal, the son OF Achmet,
swears it." And he took the oath in the
most solemn manner known to his race.
That done, he played the surgeon to me-
Thou art lucky" exclaimed Tabal, with
SIr1ppGus
by my faith, the man who gave thee this
hurt knew not his business, or thou might
est cast away thy leg forever. Methinks if
had my weapon upon him as he had his
upon thee he would now be food for the
kites and hyenas."
He was clumsy, Tabal," said.
Clumsy" repeated Tabal scornfully
Nay, it does not half express his want of
skill. Having got his lance upon thee, he
should have killed thee as dead as roast
ed kid. hold the fellow in contempt"
because, my good friend, he did not
make an end of one whom thou hast sworn
to cherish and protect"
NAY, nay" answered Tabal quickly,
seeing whittier his soldierly zeal had led
him. II meant not that. Praise be to
heaven thou art alive. l meant that he
knew not how to drive his spear. See,"
and he made a thrust with his own to show
how the thing ought to be done. Me
thinks that is the way to put an enemy
into the dust. But thou art protected of
God" he added reverently, land it max eth
me glad to be with thee. Verify am thy
servant to do as it pleaseth thee to bid me.
And praise be to God and the holy pro-
phet that we are not now having our bones
gnawed by wild beasts. Saw you ever
such slaughter as that was? Truly
Cn1nk the man on the black horse IS none
other than satan himself"
For moment wavered whether or not
l should enlighten him. Then said very
quietly, The man on the black horse is as
much satan as thou art, my good Tabal.
Listen and I will tell thee a tale" and told
him of my search for Donald Gordon and
the meeting III the battle. He listened with
wide eyes and gaping mouth, thinking,
suspect, that suffering had turned my BRAIN
Thou art telling me one of the tales of
the magicians," he said, with something of
awe in his voice and manner. This pass
eth all belief
It's as true as the Koran, Tabal," an
swered. Look you here, before thou art
many weeks older thou shalt be as a brother
to this dread warrior on the black horse"
Nay. Heaven Forbid" exclaimed Tabal
fervently. II would not forego my. chances
of paradise for all the favors satan can be-
stow"
His horror was comical that burst
out laughing. Ordinarily 1 might have
answered with my life for such an insult,
such an outrage on his most sacred feel
ings. But happily Tabal was in q mood to
forgive much because he loved much.
y will put cool water ON thy hurt" he
said as tenderly as if he were treating an
ailing and fractions child, land on thy
head, too, for the sun hath made it hot.
Then when thou art refreshed we will talk
of our adventures since the flight and the
simeon parted u.s."
He bad his way, aud indeed it was ex-
ceedingly refreshing to be bathed, for was
still more than tride feverisl. But more
soothing and invigorating than the water
were the brotherly gentieness and compass
sion Of Tabal who seemed to make himself
responsible for my safety and comfort.
When we came to recount our expert.
ences since parting ! learned that he had
passed the night like myself, alone. Like
me, he had thought himself doomed, had
been saved by the rain and was looking for
human succor when spied him. Viewer
through our perils again as old soldiers re-
fight their battles and embraced at the
conclusion in pure eXuberance of joy at be-
ing together once more.
Not the least happy circumstance Of our
meeting was that l got back my little
Fatima and the precious blue bag with
Duncan's pipes. To Tabal the bag was an
object of such intense curiosity that had
10 produce the pipes and give him a Tilt.
1t scarcely rayished him, and it frightened
the horses, so the pipes were put away
That l might take formal possession of my
mare. Before parting with her, however,
rabal must needs make as fine n speech to
her as ever gallant of the cid school made
to his mistress, dwelling with rapturous
phrase on her beauty, her feetness, her
docility, her intelligence and her dauntless
spirit in time of trouble, to all OF which
heartily said Amen"
Fortunately Tabal had some dates-they
were really what were left of my own-and
when the ceremonious address to Fatima
was over we squatted on the sand and ate
4 few. We dared not venture to eat many,
for the store was small, and it was eX-
Jremely doubtful when it could be replen-
ished. To make up for the shortness of ra-
lions, we had a double pull at the water
skins, and the cooling draft was sweeter
than the choicest vintage Of France.
1t was again very hot. Indeed after the
rain the heat seemed intenser than ever.
The pungent streams were trickling into
our eyes and mouths and coursing down
our backs and arms and legs as if we were
patent self moisteners that worked the
better the greater the draft Self mois-
teners we were with vengeance, but the
moisture could not possibly last long.
looked at the thin, brown visage of Tabal,
feeling that ne must soon be converted to
pemmican. and l, too, was swiftly under
going the same process of desiccation. A
little while and there would not be a drop
If liquid in our bodies.
The rate at which we were dissolving to
hard fiber made it desirable to get out Of
the glare of the sand as quickly as might
be- Tabal agreed with me that our best
hope lay in the hills to the west, and we
accordingly made in their direction. If
nothing better, their rocks and chasms
would at least afford us shelter from the
pitiless sun.
HF~ftav oPT