The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-11


OUR GUIDE SHOUTED. AND WE
PULLED UP QUICKLY.
purposes of self-defense. Sitting in the
second line, L advanced with the others
and tho brcathless moments that fol-
lowed were full Of excitement. L had
become pirate OF the desert, one of o
band of fierce outlaws, reports of whose
terrible atrocities had sent thrill OF
horror across Europe on more than one
occasion.
Suddenly a shot startled us, and at
the same moment a muttered curse fell
from the shcilSh's lips as he saw that
our presence had been detected, for tho
shot had been fired in the village as a
sound OF warning. Almost instantly
it was apparent that we had been be-
trayed, for great body of horsemen
galloped out TO meet us, and in a few
moments l found myself lying behind
my horse pouring forth volley after vol
ley from my repeating-rihe.
The fusillade was deafening, and for
fully half an houG it was kept up.
About twenty of our men had been
killed or wounded, when suddenly the
first line rose with loud shouts as il
they were one man and, mounting,
rode straight at their opponents, while
we dashed at headlong speed upon our
enemie. almost ere they had time To
realize our intasstion. The melee was
awful. Swords, rifles and keen, crooked
jambiyahs were used with terrible ef-
feet, but very soon all resistance was
at an end and the work of looting the
village commenced.
Half demented by excitement and
success my companions entered the
houses, shot down the women with re-
lentless cruelty, tore from them what
little jewelry they possessed and plum
dcred, wrecked and burned their homes
out OF sheer delight In destruction. /
stood watching the terrible scene, shud-
dcring at the inhuman brutality of my
companions, but unable to avert the
terrible calamity that had fallen so
swiftly upon the peaceful little place.
The fiendishness of the outlaws had,
alas! not been exaggerated. Abdul
Melil laughed gleefully, uttering some
words as he rode past me swift as the
wind. But needed him not. Iloathed,
despised and hated him.
While dawn spread in saffron streaks
the work of plunder still proceeded, but
when the sun shone forth only the
smoke-blackened walls of Tilouat re-
mained standing. The plumber was
c,,in1y1x,
soon afterwards we rode of, carrying
with us twenty men and women who
had been captured. All of whom, was
informed, wAuld eventually find their
way into the great slave market far
away Mt MourzoulS.
AT sundown, five days afterwards, wc
descended into rocky valley, and sud
denly came upon q wonderful mass of
scattered ruins, of amazing magnitude
and extent, which Abdul-Melik told me
were the remains of forgotten city
called Tihodnyen, and as we approached
! saw by the massive walls of hcwn
stone, the fallen columns half imbedded
n tho sand, and, by an inscription over
an arched door, that they were relies OF
the Roman occupation. When we dis
mounted, found that the ruined city
gave shelter to the outlaws, and was
their habitual hiding-place.
An hour later, reclining on mats un-
Ter the wall of what had once been
great palace, the outlaw Sheil<h and my
self ate our evening meal of saubusaj.
hcryseh and luzinyeh, and drank copi-
ously of dushab, thai luscious date
sirup That is so acceptable after the heat
and burden Of the Saharan day, while
my companions fensted and made merry,
for il appeared that they kept stores Of
food concealed there.
On commencing to smoke. Abdul
Melik ordered that the captives should
be brought before him, and when. few
minutes later, they were ushercd into
his presence, they, with one exception,
fell upon their knees and groyclcd, and
cried aloud for mercy. The single cap
tive who begged no favor wns a young.
dnrk-haired girl of exquisite beauty
with black. piercing eyes. pretty.
dimplcd cheeks, and n complexion AZ.
most as fair as an Tnglishwoman's She
wore zouave OF crimson velvet heavily
embroidered with gold, n heavy golden
girdlc confined her waist, and her wide
trousers were OF palcst rose-pinlS silk.
while her tiny feet were thrust irto veil
vrt sffpTrTs Uf green embroidered with
gold thread sllut her dress had been
torn IN the fierce struggle with her pitt
less ca.'tors, and as she stood, erect and
defiant, with her hands secured behind
her with a lcathcrn thong, she cast at
us glance full ofwithering scorn.
The Sheikh raised his hand 20 COM
nnand silence, but as her fellow captives
continued wailing, he ordered the re-
moval Of all but the girl, who apparent
In act him nj defiance Turning Ia