The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-31
A DESERT TRAGEDY,

\ DESERT TRAGEDY.
The mess of the officers of tho Second
ChasScurs of Africa is particularly noisy.
Their mcrrimcnt runs high with shouts of
Joy ana clinking glasses as they toast Lieu
tenant Henri Cursol.
Now for he advcnturc," cxclnim tbc
officers in chorus. -,
with all lpE heart replies the young
lieutenant ,"'You know l left Mascara
win orders from our chief to the caid of
the Ravars about the incursions of the
INarcgs. [ had accomplished my mission
and was returning with my platoon, cross
ing part of tho immense plain of sand
We Kept on our way, men and animals.
although nearly overcome by the intense
heat with our eyes partly closed to avoid
the reflection from the sand-a thousand
times harder to endure than the heat of
The sun. was awakened from my torpor
by an exclamation that came from behind
me, FL gucubcli!
- turned around. The sergeant major
of my escort. an old African soldier, was
pointing toward the horizon with excited
gestures. The whole sky seemed to be
covered by n thick cloud, resembling an
Immense column of smoke touching the
earth and reaching far into the heavens
FL gucubcli' was marching upon us with
mcnacing strides.
Perhaps we can get ahead of it,
said, ordering them to gallop
The sergeant major shrugged his
shoulders. II God so wills it, he said.
We started off Mt Il furious rate, but
the tempest came on at u still greater
speed y violent wind was upon lis, send
ing binding whirlwindS Of dust into our
it,.i nj. e l.,
comiitcd guides lost their bearings and
stopped. Our horses rs we'll refused To
move farther. They came To II standstill
ami hraccd themselves against tho gusts of
wind
was leaning over on my horse when
felt him trcmblc under me; then sud
denly received II frightful shock 1t
seemed to mo that thousands of pounds of
sand fell, all at once, on my head stun
ned, scarcely able To think, l managed TO
struggle with my horse us lie shook his
bride with rage, then raised himself on
his hind feet and started off ut IL furious
speed taking mo with him.
The sand siftcd into my eyes, my ears
and my nostrls, binding and sufrocating
me. l could scarcely breathe, n burning
thirst was consuming me; felt that I
was dying. l said IL silent goodby to all
the happiness that was losing forever,
tlrn oblivion came and i remember no
more.
When came To myself. l found that
was und.9' II WOODEN tent, tlrapcd with al
tcrnatc stripes of red and yellow silk and
lying on rug which covered the entire
floor Of the tent. | experienced n strange
sense of we'll being, Il state of drowsincss,
II delightful feeling of lazincss. and T
closed my eyes quickly, not caring to un-
dcrstand how lirutcnnnt of Chasscurs
waS mctamorrhoscd into an Arab. master
of large tent. Ali ut once it seemed tu
me brighter light struck my cyclitls, and
at the same ti!Ac pungcnt. penetrating
perfume filled the tent. ] opened my eyes
iid ~iIw standing at my bedside u young
woman, with great fathomlcss eyes sur
mounted hy Two dclicatcly pcncilcd arches
Her black glossy hair fell in c,lrls down
mar neck, covering her checks with their
warm shadows. She Vas dressed like The
daughter Of ~ wealthy housc-with u hail,
that fell 10 her feet disclosing q chcmise
OF striped silk supported nj the waist Inv a
leather belt studded with silver and held
together ut the breast with II clasp of tho
same metal. Two enormous silver and
coral rings hung from her ears, her arms
were loadcd with bracelets, and her fingers
We're covered with heavy rings.
Acting on tho realistic impression OF
my dream, l greeted the beautiful appari-
ton with most profound salaam, which
was returned with salaams and gracious
smiles. the beautiful Saharinn displaying
II set of transparent teeth behind scarlet
lips. made aS il to seize the young wom-
ill, but she recoilcd frightened, overt hrcw
the lamp and fled, leaving me somewhat
abashctl
p" y few moments later, just as the first
ray OF the now day stretched itself toward
my tent an Arab entered. His tall slcn-
der silhouette stood out distinctly against
the light, as with II naughty sweep of his
hand hc lifted the curtain that hung ut
the entrance. He advanced toward me.
and policing that ] was looking at him
VIII surprise, but with regaincd conscious
ness he began to speak in IL iargOn CON-
posed of bad llalian, worse French, IL lit
tie Spanish and good deal of Arabic Ho
bowed To mn and inquired after my health
returned lis greeting, and, calling To my
ala IN" Htt;c Arabic knew, asked him
how Is happened that | WAS under this
tent
He Informed re thu: wus In ono of
his camel h2.r ho;.Su,: ;!ui U;irr the tenn
pc~'-Ilrng whic!, lr l.ud been l.curi,
hv:cd hinSclf-Vhcn lie Nv; returning
ir"M Oua"::!a, whc.r liz had i2urto o,iva
si".c @: Provisions, lie no; iced lying in the
sumo ~ officer, whom Ii, people believed
u"'i", but WHO, altr: - careful cxaminn-
Won, was found 10 E::yo tainted and 10
hayr ',ccn only PARITY asp!iy%iatcd. IIo
h'u c'AorHd mo 10 ha laced on Ona of his
cn&c'a, between ;No sacks Of wheat.
lie tIl.n ;olG I've that lie was The aga
o.. tho thr.E.:Is, ;jlliCS az The 81 Saln and