The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-16

unwrung dishcloths, our dropping horses
ia a lather Nightfall found us still crawl
ing on. SILENT weary and in much pain.
Tabal was the worse of the two. Yet the
stoical fellow never complained, nor evei
forgot to comfort me when in my torments
painted and groaned
With darkness it became cooler, and to
our JOY there sprang up delicious breeze
that put new life into US. We were still
wading in sandy seas. but we were now abls
to mend our pace a little, and indeed there
was urgent need of speed, for in our condi.
tion another day like the last would clean
finish us. BY and by our horses began to
tread more lightly and firmly, little later
they We're stumbling over stones and nib
bling at scrubby bushes, and we knew the
watercourses were not far off. 1t was mid
night however, ere we had climbed far
enough TO feel safe for the night, or perhaps
the better way TO put it is that at midnight
swore / would go no farther if the halt
cost me my life. Tabal said he thought we
might rest So, unsaddling and tying the
horses forefeet TO prevent them from wan
dering, we had another drink and threw
ourselves on the ground to sleep.
We woke with the level sun beating IN
our faces, greatly refreshed though stiff and
sore in the regions of our wounds. Our
first act was to scramble to the top of an
adjacent crag aud reconnoiter the situa-
tion. We looked cautiously round among
the rocks, then out on the plain as far az
eye could see, but nothing living was visi-
bile save focks Of ravenous birds going TO
and fro between the mountains and the
scene of the battle. Finding ourselves Sc
cure, we descended watered ourselves and
our horses at a bubbling spring and break.
tasted on half dozen dates apiece. Then
we saw TO our wounds, and the surgical
operation done. we lay in the shade OF
rock to think and for the hundredth time
discuss our adventures and prospects.
asked Tabal what he thought would be
the result Of the battle we had fought and
lost ~
"The ravaging OF the whole country by
Yumen Yusel and the man on the black
horse" he answered promptly. "Amood
Sim hath fattaned and grown large on his
neighbors, and Abou kuram hath had i'm.
mense tribute for rendering aid. Three
times have they leveled the palace of Yu.
men Yusel and enriched themselves with
great plunder. Now methinks it is Yumen
Yuselis time to win"
THAT means that the enemy will con.
verge on Amood Sims capital" said.
"Yes," said Tabal; "wouldst thou hsy.
them victorious without reaping the fruits
Of victoryY'
A brilliant idea flashed upon me- "Let
us go to Amood's capital also," i said. II
would fain meet the man on the black horse
again"
And be cloven in two for thy pains" re
turned Tabal quickly.
Il, Iof
brothers"
Tabal glanced at me with the old expires
sion OF incredulity and jumped TO his feet
saying we must saddle up and get TO the
green valleys and rushing streams that
were ahead. was in his hands and could
not dissent
We had travelled slowly for perhaps tw,
hours round the shoulders OF bluffs and
about crags aud rocks and on the brink OF
dizzy prccipices and over rubbly hills, whep
all at once we came upon spot Of such yer
durous beauty il might have been the yer
liable garden Of Eden. IL lay in deep de
preston walled about by ellis save at on,
corner, where there was a narrow gatelikG
opening AS soon as we sighted it Tabal
who suspected it might be inhabited, whis
pered nae 90 remain quiet and slipping
from his horse went stealthily forward and
peered over the breastwork Of rock in front
Of u. Returning with gestures for silence
be took charge OF the horses and went
softly 20 spy. Climbing the parapet
looked cautiously down the other side, and
there 20 my amazement was Ahmed, tn
son OF Koor ALI sleeping like a cherub.
Motioning to Tabal 20 remain still ran
quickly TO the entrance, went i'm, and then
crept along the base OF the rock, Intending
60 give Ahmed fine surprise Reaching
him on tiptoe. ! tieklcG him under the chin
with my finger He sprsng up az II hrd
pierced him with a spear, a moving specta
Gle OF, ferocty and fear, and drew his dag
ger, which was his sole weapon.
"Put up thy dagger Ahmedr'I said. 81
(Coptinued IomorTow)