The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-17
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hoisting thee by the back of thy neck and
the wide part Of thy breeches. Up with
thee. Not "A word more. Am not leader,
and shall not he obeyed"
Tabal laughed loudly, and declaring l
was making him as the grandmother OF
hundred children leaped into the saddle.
AT first our path was no more than fox's
trail running devious and dizzy course
round the base of great rocks and along
the brow Of beetling crags, and at times so
steep that the riders had TO dismount and
almost hoist their horses by the bride reins.
Then suddenly the aspect of the place
changed, and we found ourselves in n sort
of level dip several miles in extent and Civ
ing one the impression of having been hol-
lowed out by the hand of man.
"We must go warily," said Tabal Per
chance we are not alone"
When he spoke, we were winding among
confused mass of powders, momentarily
expecting TO debouch upon the open space
or plateau. was stumbling on behind,
my eyes on the ground for the greater
safety of my neck, when ali at once heard
strange voices, and looking up saw a dczen
men about Tabal and Ahmed, some pull
ing at the brides and Others dancing about
in disquieting manner with spears and
matchlocks. 1t required no wizard to ex'
plain the situation. They were Bedouins,
and we were prisoners
whence come ye and whittier go YEP"
demanded a man who appeared from his
air of authority to be the chief
"We are fugitives from the battle OF
which my lord has doubtless heard" an
swered Tabal. who was coolest of us three.
"We have lost ALL"
NAY, by my fathers honor, that is liem
said the Bedouin. '"Ye have here two as
good horses as ever blessed mans sight.
Yet there is truth in what thou hast said,
for presently ye shall be without them.
Take these horses, Saba, and get We down,
my friends" addressing Tabal and Ahmed.
"And thou step beside them," turning TO
me, 80 that we may see if ye be worth
stripping. Torn and ragged" he remarked,
examining us like Jewish pawnbroker's
assistant. "Yet methinks these garments
may be worth having. Mohammed," he
called out, with his hand on my shoulder
take this fellow and leave him naught
but the skin God gave him. BY my sword,
tits more than he deserveth."
"He may strip my dead body" / said,
tol, "but not a stitch shall he have while
breather'
"Sayest thou sol" laughed the chief.
~ have spoken" answered.
"And by that baby face of thine, thou
hast spoken bravely," returned the Bed
ouin. IF thy deeds equal thy words.
thou art comrade worth having. Mo-
hammed, thou mayest leave him his clothes
O. al gf.,
gracious of late and each man may in the
meantime carry his own garments. IL will
be a convenience. And now, my men, It's
time TO eat and drink Let us Join our
companions, for by this time the feast will
be ready"
They took the horses and marched on, we
three walking, carefully guarded, in their
midst. At their rendezvous, in smaller
opening higher up the mountain, we found
preparations in progress for the feast OF
which the chief had spoken. Fires were
blazing, meat was roasting and cakes were
burning among the ashes. and while the
cooks were busy others were laying out
supplies of coffee, sherbet and tobacco
things you would not see in a Bedouin en-
oftener than once in lifetime.
There were also many horses and n drove
of camels, besides bundles OF dresses and
various other articles of merchandise, all
testifying To the exceptional luck OF the
band in its recent enterprises.
When we arrived the cooking was held to
be done, and the company, numbering az
least 200. squatted To eat, Tabal, Ahmed
and myself being ordered TO join. In ap-
probation, as he said, Of my brave words,
the chief did me the honor of keeping me
close to himself and we sat down beside the
carcass Of gazellc which had been roasted
whole. As usual at such merrymakings
secency was thrown TO the winds. Every
man had VOLTS appetite and took VOLTS
ready method Of appeasing il. The chief
opened the proceedings by thrusting his
hand down the gazelle's mouth and tearing
put its half raw tongue. Taking huge
bite himself, he requested me TO follow his
Bite" be said, holding the bleeding