The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1894-06-22

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Copyright, 1893, by John Alexander steuart,,
! 81 am here" answered Ibrahim in the
same tone.
And four camels, by the memory of the
great Saad. La notorious Arab freebooter. |
How didst thou find them, my gay oneS"
"By taking their keepers unawares and
sending them swiftly to the prophets hos.
ON EepfAieYil yeetha thee in fiery il-insto,
for thy good deeds, Ibrahin," chuckFT
Suleiman.
Chattels and ladies were lowered, the lat
ter not without difficulty, for three were
timid and the fourth rebellious, but Sulei-
man, who was experienced and expeditions
in such matters, had soon the whole four,
as he expressed it, in Ibrahim's bosom be-
low. Then slipping down ourselves and
hurriedly forming circle about our spoils
we thrust and cut way to the compare
tive quiet of an orchard, where the goods
were loaded and the ladies provided with
litters This care was taken that they might
depreciate as little as possible in value.
We had not finished when dense volumes
of smoke were seen ascending from the
castle.
what the Bedouin leaves the flames
will have" remarked one of the men a
minute later as great blaze lit up the
sky.
"Idiotsl" growled Sulemman, who in
tended to go back for more plumber, and in
the next breath, Mother Of the prophet,
listen to the roaring and the rushing Our
kindred will be about us like clouds of
hornets. 1t is time to be away"
II we wished to hold our own, it was
time. So, mounting in the light Of the
burning pile, we made off with all speed.
1t was not easy to escape from that
whirlpool Of destruction and keep our
plumber intact. At the start we had to
fight our way step by step, and at times
the handling was so rough and the odds so
heavy that it seemed we must lose all we
had captured. But we kept we'll together,
and partly by strategy, partly by free and
active use Of steel, we got out at last with
no more serious mishap than the loss Of a
little blood To that we were by this time
accustomed, and it did not hurt our spirits,
though one man, evidently recent addition
to the band, made much ado about couple
of broken ribs till he was laughed and bull
lied out of his complaints.
We made straight for the desert as Our
safest retreat, never drawing sreiu -sAs
sun was we'll up and we were once more
alone, Then we halted to refresh ourselves
with some Of the good things provided by
Amood Sim. But before there was either
eating or drinking Suleiman drew up the
band and made little speech.
I'VE have with US four princesses a.
beautiful as the morning and as soft as the
dove" he said, making a salaam toward
the filters. 1--WE value the gifts of heaven,
and my purpose in speaking is to let 1t be
known that, by my life, the man who layeth
profane finger on these fair ones shall die
the death Of dog. Yet is there much ia
comfort u.s. We SHALL feast, my merry ones
Yea, eat and drink in honor of our victories.
There is sweet SAVIOR already in my nos
trils. Here are rivers of the wine of Shiraz,
and bread baked in the ovens of Amood.
Heaven protect him in his adversity"
The company applauded and fell merrily
to eating and drinking; the men squatted
on the ground beside their horses, the WON
en- chastely withdrawn in their litters and
attended by the obsequious Baruk.
The meal was not over when Suleimau
and Ibrahim were discussing our next
movement. Much was said in low voice
about pilgrims and caravans and the pecu.
mary value of ladies such as we happened
to possess, and, though did not hear all,
yet by putting two and two together I I'M.
derstood that more robberies were in the
wind. In short, the pious Of the Moslem
world were then making the annual pill.
grimage, and we were bent on relieving
them of some of their superfuous wealth.
The caravan on which we were anxious
to bestow our attentions was the one that,
starting from Yumen, proceeds by the
mountain course to TAFT. As we knew al.
most to q day the date at which it would
appear, we could post ourselves satisfactory.
ly and await its coming with composure.
The place of reception was In the heart Of
the mountains In deep and ugly deflle
where two camels could scarcely walk
abreast and a caravan could be married with
IMMUNITY. We rode hard, gained our posi-.
ton in good time, hid like foxes among the
rocks and prayed that the hadjis would not
tarry. While waiting their arrival had
an experience that would be worth for
tune to story teller.
The sun had set, and the night had closed
In rather dark. I had been attending Ia
my mare and was returning to my com
panions, when Baruk, siding up with an
air Of profound mystery, whispered that
the Indian princess wished to have speech
With me.
"But beware how thou goest," he said.
IA score of lances would be sheathed in
thy body II thou vert caught talking to
her in secret"
"What does che want with me, Baruks''
Inquired softly.
"She will tell thee. Follow me-" he an.
swered, gliding into the darkness.
The danger and the mystery were Of
course an Irresistible incentive. and turn.
ed after him instantly. We found the In.
dian crouohing behind a big stone, having
by some pretense managed to yet away
from the other women. Saluting her qui
city. I told her was at her service, but in.
stead of answering me she turned to Baruk
Good, good .Baruk," she said in The
sweetest Of voices and in broken Arabic
Gracious Baruk, 80 back to the ltters
Say am praying to the night It's a Gus