The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-21
"They call her Rance"

"A pretty name, 4 remarked. Leu US
make her happy Therefore as briefly
and minutely as was possible with words
gave himself instructions both for Rance
and for himself. Fortunately the simple
ity of the plan of attack enabled Us TO
make our arrangements with confidence
and tolerable accuracy.
With the first blink of light. were on
the lookout for the caravan, but the day
had worn well into the afternoon before
our scouts brought word IL was at the
mouth of the defile AT the intelligence
that it was coming we settled down in our
hiding place as still as dead men, the horses
being kept some distance behind lest they
should neigh and betray us. Tabal and /
had many uhsuspected thoughts, but as it
would be unwise TO express them and it
was impossible 10 communicate with
either Rance or Baruk we could only wait
in silent eagerness and faith,
The pilgrims sent forward a party Of half
q dozen horsemen, and we were ordered
further back. Suleiman himself, with one
companion TO act as messenger, remained
TO observe, their place of vantage being
the hollow top Of a great rock which pro-
jected, causing a curve in the path below
Lying there fat they had an almost unin-
terrupted view of the pass, and by deft
clambering the messenger could reach our
ambush without fear of detection.
To keep us keen and in touch with what
was going on Suleiman sent frequently 10
tell us of the movements of the horsemen.
We learned that, passing right beneath his
hiding place, they rode TO the head of the
gorge, looked dutifully about among the
rocks, and discovering nothing returned
light heartedly TO report the way clear.
Then the caravan, wishing no doubt to get
to open ground again as speedily as might
be, swung its huge length into the defile
and came trailing on like an endless SER
pent. Suleman, watching il closely, sent
back word TO look to our horses and arms,
as the prospect was glorious beyond his ex-
pectation.
A little later the order for action made
the blood tingle in our veins. Half of US
were to 90 to the foot of the gorge and half
to the head so that the pilgrimage might
be harassed simultaneously in front and
rear, and so the reader induced To relin-
quish n part of their abounding riches
The response was az prompt as might be
expected of men whose notion of heaven is
eternal pluudering Almost before the
words of command were out of the mes
sengers mouth we were gathering off at a
breakneck pace into sunless chasms and
by betting archways and up and down
dizzy sleeps that only robbers with no souls
TO save would have faced. Tabal and
were OF those who went TO the foot, aud
fervently We prayed the pilgrims might
have good courage and firearms for dis
tressed strangers.
In the course of racking ride we came
often into violent contact, and in one OF
the collisions, while pretending vehement
anger at the rough usage, 1 managed 10 get
word in Tabals ear.
"Whatever happens, let us stick to each
other" 1 said in quick aside. Our sig.
nal for the dash is when we see Baruk and
Rance descending among the rocks"
Never leech clung as | will cling 10
thee" answered Tabal And then he began
to abuse his horse for the son Of a mule
that couldn't keep bis feet in a plain road.
And the Bedouins, being closely occupied,
saw or suspected nothing.
Reaching the bottom too soon, we had &c
wait behind bluff. The tail of the cara
van still wriggled outside the mouth of the
pass, and Il would be folly TO attack till ID
had disappeared after the body While
waiting, lbrahim, our captain, gave his n
structions briefly and pointedly. We were
TO rush the scamelmeu, throw them into
utter confusion, seize as many laden ami.
mails rs we could lay hands on, and make
of with them to the rear as fast as steel
could urge them. Such as were free would
protect the others, but "a many a. could
were To pounce on some piece Of property.
In short. our business was more 90 pillage
than to fight, and, II the pilgrims were not
unreasonable, not man VI them need lose
his lils