The Portland daily press., 1895-01-16
IN THE KABYLE SILO.

your party, mind you, 1 want no sklr-
mishing. Retreat Immediately by Brody-
Arhi and join US round the Goron pass.
don't want them to suspect l am here
looking for them"
And muttering curses on the Kabyle dey-
lis, who had just raided and killed small
settlement of peaceful French ''colons,
our old colonel entered his ''gourbi'' to
await news from the different reconnoiter-
ing parties securing the surrounding
country for the wild marauders. A few
minutes later I was cantering westward
with my men toward the Three Wells in
the foothills, where it was thought the
plundering Kabyles might be hiding. We
Travelled all the forenoon at lively gait,
stopping two hours at midday to feed and
water our hardy Arab horses. We then
remounted and began picking our way
more slowly, availing ourselves of the
scanty cover the stunted bushes afforded.
The sun was still high over the hills when
we arrived at Brody- Arbi, an old disman-
tied building, long abandoned now, and
which had been military post for one OF
the Bureaux Arabes many years ago. liz
was at the juncture of two mountain
passes, the Goron pass going north over
the low foothills, and Zaatchs pass, really
valley, running up between two spurs OF
the Atlas frowning down upon us.
now stopped my men and repeated to
them the colonel's orders told them If
we were discovered or attacked to retreat
north Immediately, each one for himself
and without moments hesitation,
through the Goron pass and then go back
to the squadron by any of the numerous
trails going east, thus describing half
circle to mislead the Arabs and conceal
the whereabouts of our advancing troops.
Having done this, told them to scatter
on the sloping sides of the Zaatchs pass,
taking great care not to be discovered, and
to meet me in a clump of cork oaks at the
foot of the steep path leading up to the
Three Wells at the head of the valley.
We then dispersed, each one as he adj
vanced cautiously peering from behind
rock or bowlder for traces of the ever vigi-
liant Kabyles.
1t was about half an hour before sun
down when we met below the wells. Mo,
manned ben Akbar, the native ''spahis"
sergeant, reported first fresh traces OF
horses going up the valley and some date
stones still humid on the east side OF a
bowlder. This was proof that an Arab
had made there very recent meal, as they
would have dried in the sun, the shadow
of the rock not having reached the place
where they were thrown more than an
hour before our passage. Ali, my orderly,
and his other comrade had, like myself.
only found traces of horses at the foot OF
the path by the clump of oaks where we
now stood. AS 1 have said, this path rose
from here abruptly for about 70 feet to
platform just above our heads, where a
few palm trees and denser growth form
ed a kind of grove around three basins OF
muddy water called the Three Wells. The
passing Kabyles sometimes halted in this
secluded spot and even oamped by an old
s'marahout'' near the unfrequented water
holes This was the place where we hoped
to locate the willy raiders, as they consid-
cred themselves perfectly secure here from
all pursuit or approach. We accordingly
tied up our horses in the thickest part OF
the oak grove after having put our bur-
nooses (oloaks) round our swords, strapped
to the saddles, to prevent their rafting.
The men, at Mohammed' suggestion, each
took off a saber strap and tied it tightly
round their horses tongues, twisting it
like tourniquet and securing it with the
curb chain. This is an Arab trick to pre-
vent horses neighing when it is impera-
tive they should not be discovered.
AS my sword was slung to the saddle
in fixed boot without straps, l took off
nv revolver thong and used it as the men
had done with their ''believe straps"
leaving thus my revolver loose in the hol-
ster at nay bolt. We then glided away in
silence, creeping up the steep banks with
infinite precautions, knowing well that
detection meant death to US all. l found
it very hard work climbing up through
the bushes and prickly pears, stopping at
each step with every nerve strained and
veins throbbing seemingly to my ear.
Finally reached the plateau and began
crawling cautiously toward the pools.
was brought to standstill by an open
space Uttered with dry branches.
Ny attention was now strained to the
utmost. for.I could now discern a column
of smoke rising in the trees on the other
side only few hundred feet away. Skirt
ing the clearing, worked half way round
it through the bushes and stopped mo
ment on the other side under thick ar
butus. I was just preparing to head
straight for the concealed camp when q
shout, caught up by a host of others, and
several shots in quick succession showed
we had been discovered. The noise of a
rapidly advancing crowd told me tina;
flight to the horses was my only chance ii
could reach them before being cut off.
I dashed wildly across the open glen, lift
ing the flap of my revolver holster at my
side as I ran Only 20 feet more, and
am under shelter of the oaks. But with
plunge and sickening sensation all be-
comes dark, and life seems utterly blotted
out by the shock of a mighty thunderclap.
1t is incredible the thoughts that pass
through a human brain and are pictured
here as in kaleidoscope in that minutes
imal time the soul takes to free itself in
it's flight from the earthly clay.
My mothers loved face, with its snowy
hair and dark, lustrous eyes, showing in
their tenderness all the love mother
heart alone can know for her only son,
looked at me from the darkness Another
face younger and fairer, but with the Sc
reness of death upon Its clear cut features,
also flashed before nle-the face of de-
parted loved one.
Thoughts Of the past and recollections
of vanished hopes-my life and ali its re-
grets, joys, sorrows, sins and blessings
all passed in one brief moment and faded
into darkness.