The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-16
A DESERT TRAGEDY.

Tho mess OF tho officers of the Second
ClmsScurs Of Africa il particularly noisy.
Their mcrrimcnt runs high with shouts of
joy and cinkinG glasses as they toast Lieu
tenant Henri Cursol
"Now for tho ndvcnturcr cxclaim tho
officers in chorus.
with all my heart" replies tho young
lieutenant. You know L left Mascara
with orders from our chief to tho caid of
the liavarS about the incursions of the
Tuarcgs had accomplished my mission
md 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 tho 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
10y IN exclamation that camo from behind
me, Ell gucubeli!
- turned around. Tho sergeant major
of MY escort. an old African soldier was
pointing toward the horizon with excited
gestures. Tho whole sky seemed to bo
covered by a thick cloud, resembling an
immense column Of smoke, touching tho
earth and reaching far into tho heavens
lei gucubcli' was marching upon us with
mcnucing strides.
Perhaps wo can get ahead Of it.
said, ordering thom to gallop.
The sergeant major shrugged his
shoulders. If God so wills It,, he said.
We started off at furious rate, but
tho tempest came on ut u still greater
speed. a violent wind was upon us, send
ing binding whirlwinds of dust into our
faces ut every step of tho horses Our dis
comfitcd guides lost their bearings and
stopped. Our horses we'll refused To
move farther They camo to n standstill
and braccd themselves against tho gusts OF
wind
80 was leaning over on my horse when
i felt him trcmblc under me; then sud
denly l received "a frightful shock. 1t
seemed to INC that thousands of pounds of
sand fell, all mt once, on my head Stun
ned, scarcely ablc to think, managed to
struggle with my horse as no shook his
bride with rage, then raised himself on
his hind feet and started off ut u furious
speed, taking mo with him.
" The sand siftcd into my eyes, my cars
md my nostrils, binding and suffocating
me. l could scarcely breathe, q burning
thirst was consuming me; 1 felt that 1
was dying. / said n silent goodby to all
the happiness that 1 was losing forever,
then oblivion came, and 1 remember no
more.
When camc to myself, found that
was under WOODEN tent, drapcd with al
tcrnatc stripes of red and yellow silk and
lying on rug which covered tho entire
floor of the tent. l experienced strange
sense of well being, state of drowsiness.
delightful feeling of laziness, and 1
closed my eyes quickly, not caring to un-
dcrstand how II lieutenant Of Chasscurs
was metamOrphosed into ap Arab master
of u large tent All ut once it seemed to
me II brighter light struck my cyclids, and
Mt tho same timo II pungent, penetrating
perfume filled tho tent. 1 opened my eyes
md saw standing at my bedside young
woman, with great fathomlcss eyes sur
mounted by two dclicatcly pcncilcd arches.
Her black glossy hair fell in curls down
her neck covering her checks with their
warm shadows. She was dressed like tho
daughter of q wealthy housc-with haik
that fell to her feet, disclosing a chcmiso
of striped silk supported ut the waist by
leather belt studded with silver and held
together at the breast with clasp of tho
Same metal. Two enormous silver and
coral rings hung from hcr ears. her arms
were loaded with bracelets, and her fingers
were covered with heavy rings.
Acting on the realistic impression Of
my dream, / greeted tho beautiful appari-
ton with most profound salaam, which
was returned with salaams and gracious
q SGT of transparent teeth behind scarlet
lips. L made as if to seize tho young wom-
an, but she rccoicd frightened, overthrow
the lamp and fled, leaving mo somewhat
abashed.
"a few moments later, just as tho first
ray of tho new day stretched itself toward
my tent, an Arab entered. His tall, slcn-
der silhouette stood out distinctly against
the light, as with naughty sweep of his
hand no lifted the curtain that hung mt
the entrance. He advanced toward me,
and noticing that l was looking at him
with surprise, but with rcgainod conscious
ness, he began to speak in II jargon COM
posed Of bad Italian, worse French, lit
tie Spanish and II good deal of Arabic. He
bowed to mo and inquired after my health
] returned his greeting, and, calling to my
aid the little Arabic knew asked him
how it happened that was under this
tent.
"Hc informed mo that was in ono of
his camel hair houses; that after he tenn
pest-during which he had been nearly
buried himsclf--whqn he was returning
from Ouargla, whcrchc had gonc to buy
store OF provisions, he noticed lying in the
sand an officer, whom his people believed