Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-23

Abou Kuram protested he was but as the
! dust under the hoof of Amood Sims
| charger, and Amood Sim swore a solemn
| oath he was not fit to bind the spur upon
Abou Kuram's heel. Abou said that Amood
| was second ISLANDER ell Rumi, and Amood
| that Abou was in strength and courage as
| was Gabriel himself. So the soft blandish-
ments and subtle self depreciations went
| ON as fervently as If each man were con-
WINGED he spoke gospel truth. But in the
| end Abou Kuram was not to be moved out
of his humility, SO Amood Sim, after a
useless expenditure of breath and time,
had to make the best OF his Gnwelcome
honors. Having regained possession of
himself by this time he accepted the be-
hests of fate without a ruffle in his sleek
hypocrisy, though l thought there was
something of wry twist in his feigning
mouth as he turned to ride to the post of
danger. No sooner was he como than the
manner and look Of Abou Kuram changed.
His eyes glowed, his brows lowered, aud his
lips were compressed to an ominous thin
ness.
Our brother lieth with u rare persuasion
today" he remarked dryly to Koor Ali. as
they watched the retreating figure, adding,
with sudden truculency: "By my blade
point, will drive him into it. tell thee
he shall fight, or if he fly he shall find a
worse foe in front than behind. Should
the eagle prove barn fowl, by faith, instead
of saving we will help to pluck it" He
paused, looking over the assembled army.
Doth it not seem to thee there is victory
in the looks of these armed mem" he
asked.
And such indeed was the martial and
imposing array that it might well have
made poltroon into hero, for the spirit
of battle was once more animating the
plumed and hammered host that covered
the plain like sea, its colors af1ame and
its arms flashing like thickets of steel in
the early sun. The allies had fled to the
mountains like sheep before the wolves.
They had been found broken, detected, ut
terly demoralized, because they were with
out leader, and it was with difficulty they
had been brought back But now, side by
side with an army that was fresh and sworn
to conquer, they were renewed in heart
and savage for revenge and plumber. So
they danced about on caracoling horses or
straddling camels, tossing spears and
whirling swords and matchlocks to the
maddening incentive of pipe and drum
and cymbal and tumult of whoops and
bowls.
That is the thirst for blood, y said Abou
Kuram. Ride forward, koor Ali, and
help our brother to make haste in getting
into battle array. Tell him we must pos
sess that height" pointing upward. st
will be worth thousand men"
Eager for action, kooS Ali galloped to
the front with the message, to find Amood
Sim giving instructions about lighting
fires to roast some sheep and goats that
had been taken in the mountains. Koor
Ali instantly wheeled his horse and rode
back to Abou kuram to report, Amood
following distracted at his heels.
l,nt H. =
when he came up. The men need strength
for the toll and heat that are before them.
Wherefore not light fires and cook our
booty"
Abou Kuam replied that the men had
dates and water ready to their hand and
would be all the nimbler for not dining too
well before the engagement.
when the battle is won my brother will
perceive they could eat with more leisure
and satisfaction" he added, with a grim
politenesS that admitted of no dispute.
Ill pleased, for he had resolved to hearten
himself with some handfuls of good NUT
ton, Amood Sim once more returned to his
place, and the men without dismounting
hurriedly washed down a bunch Of dry
dates apiece with draft of lukewarm wa
ter The meager meal was hardly swal-
lowed when koor Ali was careeripg to the
front again with Instructions to Amood to
form and make for the height without fur
Their delay
The swelling in the plain behind which
lay the forces of Yumen Yusel had the ap-
pearance of an enormous billow thrown
up in some upheaval or CONFUSION of ma
ture and soliditied and fixed as it rose. 1t
was the only elevation in the plain, and, as
above Indicated we were to possess it.
Once upon the crest or ridge could
make our own arrangements for annihilat-
ing the enemy. We would make our pre-
parations at our ease and at the first op-
portunity spring upon him, crush him,
mangle him, sweep him off the face of the
earth and leave him neither name nor in
heritance among the sons OF men. The
plan was excellent; all that remained was
the execution.
Scouts were thrown out il front 10 pre-
vent surprise, while the whole force was
pushed vigorously on to he ready for any
advantage that might fall in the way of
brave men. Abou kuram hurried up the
rear and tried to bride his impatience.
1T galleth me to-be behind" he re-
marked, when / fain would be measuring
swords with this champion on the black
horse Perchance l may have an opportu-
atty"
Perchauce he might, and in case he had
we all felt it would be well for the lieuten-
anu Oh uSel 10 nave his prayers
said in advance.
A second detachment of horsemen was |
thrown out and went squirting up the |
slope as if determined to reap all the glory |
of victory itself Seeing it coming, the |
scouts, who were now we'll on, struck spurs |
to their horses, and fierce thrill of eX-
pectation vibratCd through the main body |
as it, too, quickened its pace. 1t was going |
to be exceedingly awkward for the foe ly- |
ing unconscious on the other side of the |
billow. That was as clear as the sun that |
famed in the heavens.
The scouts were riding their hardest, and |
i'll another minute would be on the top. |
AS they neared the ridge we held our breath, |
the whole army seeming to pause for sig |
nal. The scouts lay f1atter and tlatter on |
their horses necks, and the dust rose in a
denser line behind them. Presently they |
halted, as it appeared, very abruptly. Had |
they discovered the lurking foe! The solid |
mass below gave great united gasp that |
was as the sough of the wind in forest |
and waited with palpitating hearts.
The stoppage, however, was mere pre-
caution, for two or three of the scouts, |
slipping from their saddles and flinging |
their reins to their comrades, hurried for |
ward on foot, bending low as they ran. |
The army below looked up painting like |
hounds on the leash. A deep murmur
rumbled on the air, swelled into hoarse |
growl, sank and died away-the cry of
vengeful men for blood. The command
ers, nervously gripping their hilts, moist
ened their dry mouths to give the order for |
a rush, the trumpeters hung with trem- |
bling trump to lip ready to blow the deadly |
blast, the men listened and looked in bode- |
full silence. 1t was the thrilling stiffness |
that preludes the storm. Next minute the |
thunders and lightnings of curbed venge- |
ance would be let loose, and heaven help |
the vanquishedl
The scouts, now crouching like tigers in
sight of their prey, crept nearer and nearer |
to the crest. The enemy must be lying in
fancied security, as he had been seen at
the dawn. He would rue his supine in |
activity when he woke up amid disaster |
81 l...c Al,r,n oil