Evening star., 1896-07-18

Half denentcd by excitement and sue
cess my companions entered the houses,
shot down the women with relentless cru
city. tore from them what Ettle jewelry
they pc ssessed ard plundered, wrecked and
burned their homes out of sheer delight in
destruction. l stood watching the terrible
scene. shudderins at the irhuman brutal
ity Of my companions, but unable to avert
the terrible calamity that had fallen SO
swiftly upon the peaceful little place. The
! fendishness of the outlaws had, alas! not
been exaggerated. Abdul-Melik laughed
gleefully, uttering some words as he rode
past ne swift as the wind. But l needed
him not 1 loathed. despised and hated
him.
! the work of plunder still proceeded but
when the sun shone forth only the smoke
tlackened walls of Tifouat remained stand
lrg The pluEder was quickly packed upon
our horses, and soon afterward we rode
OF, carrying with US twenty men and wo-
hen WtO had been captured. All CT whom,
l Was informed would eventually find their
way into the great slave market far away
at MourZCuk.
At sun down, five days afterward. we
descended into a rocky valley, and suddenly
came upon wonderful mass of scattered
ruins of amazing magnitude and extent.
which Abdul-Melik told me were the re-
mains of 4 forgotten city called Tihodayen,
and as we approached l saw by the mas
sive wells Of hewn stone, the fallen col
umns half imbedded in the sand. and. by
they were relics of the Roman occuoation
Waen we dismounted I found that Inc
ruined city gave shelter to the outlaws,
and was their habitual hiding place
An hour later. reclining OF mats under
the walls OF what had once been q great
palace. the outlaw sheikh and myself ate
our evening meal of saubusaj beryseh and
luzinyeh, and drank cop:ously of dushab
that luscious date sirup that is SO accept
able after the heat and burden of the Sa-
haran day, While my companions feasted
ana made merry, for it appeared that they
kept stores of food concealed there.
On commencing to smoke, ABDUL -AfcIIil
ordered that the captives should be brought
before him. and when, a few minutes later
they were ushered into his presence, they
with ole exception, fell upon their knees
ana groveled and cried aloud for mercy
The single captive who begged no favor
was young, dark-haired girl of exquisite
beauty. with black. piercing eyes. pretty
dlmpled cheeks. and complexion almost
as fair as an Englishwornan's She wore
a Zouave Of crimson velvet heavily en-
oroidered with gold. a heavy golden girdie
cohbned her waist and her wide trousers
were of paleSt rose-pink silk while her ticy
feet were thrust into velvet Slippers of
green embroidered with gold thread But
her dress had been torn in the fierce strug-
gle with her pitiless csptors. and she
stood, erect and defiant with her hands
secured behind her with leathern thong
she cast at us a glance OF wither;ng scorn
The sheikh raised his hand to command
silence, but as her fellow captves con-
tiEued WailinC, he ordered the removal Of
all but the girl who apparently set him at
defiance. Turning his keen eyes upon her
ne noted how extremely handsome she was
ara. white she returned his gaze unfiinch-
irgly, her beauty held me in fascination
In all my Journeys in the land of the sun
had never before seen such an absolutely
perfect face.
Who art thou:" demanded the dreaded
chief, roughly. What is thy name?'
Il am called Khadidja Fathma daughter
of Ali Ben tshashami, cadi of Ideles" she
answered. in firm. defiant tone
Ali Ben Ushshami. echoed Abdul-Melik
knitting his brows farcely. Thou art his
daughter; the daughter Of that accursed