The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-01-04

ONE INSTANT HE STOOD STOCK STILL.
of two tents, which were pitched side
by side on the bank of the stream.
This was at last agreed upon, the
whole party except himself going off
on their three days trip. leaving their
comrade stretched at full length on
rug, his narghili, or water pipe, lighted
for company.
'sThis oriental atmosphere, gentle
men, is powerful drug. Do what you
will to fight against it, it's subtle charm
holds you captive. The man sue
cumbed to its influences and went fast
asleep.
"Out of this sweet, trance-like repose
he suddenly bounded into the horrible
consciousness of a torturing pain in one
of his hands, as though some wild beast
was crunching the bones. But, as he
writhed to his knees to grapple with
the foe, he saw instead three swarthy,
evil-faced Bedouins bending over him
with ghoulish glee. One had just cut
off with hideous dirk-knife the fret
three fingers of his left hand. In an in
slant it flashed upon him that these were
TO be sent to his friends with demand
for ransom. He was correct in this
supposition, for no sooner had
The bleeding hand been rudely
bandaged than his two captors set out
upon this mission, leaving him in the
care of third, who was heavily armed.
mo one knew better than the prison.
er how impossible such a ransom would
be. His fellow-travelers had brought
as little money into Syria as would meet
their actual necessities while there.
He, therefore, began to cast desperate
ly about in his mind for loophole of
escape before the fellows should re-
turn with these unsatisfactory tidings,
which would result, no doubt, in fur
Their mutilations.
"As his gaze swept the tent for some
thing suggesting plan for deliverance,
he saw it had been Quilted of everything
which hung upon the partition between
the two tents, and the tourists shaving
mirror which it concealed. The coat
had been overlooked because it was az
grimy as the tent wall itself.
In moments like this one grasps q,
straws. As it is said a drowning person
reviews his past experiences perfectly
| in brief moment, SO to this man, fac
ing desperate odds, came desperate
suggestion.
''Hc called loudly on supposed pro
tector in the adjoining tent to come t.
The window and prove to his capto,
that he was under the protection of I
Moslem. AS he spoke he slowly drew
the coat from before the mirror in from
of " hich the sheik was standing.
"No words can express theNunuttera
HE CONSERVATION pictured upon tina
blazing face livid with fright and won
der a. for the first time it saw it's owl
awful reflection, not knowing it was it
own. One instant he stood stock-still
fascinated, Mortified, overwhelmed
linen collapsed, just as that lady did bu
moment ago, and the American quick
liz possessed himself of his captor'
arms and was master Of the situation.
| "And now, gentlemen" conclude,
the story teller, we viii have on
game"
i As he spoke he again reached forwar'
10 turn the trump. There was quick
| .y drawn breath of horror from thos
who observed him, for the first thre
fingers of his left hand were missing.
Il before he could turn the card a sa,
.ge larch of the boat, accompanied b
the creaking of timbers, announced th
ARRIVAL of the Pappahannock at her Ne'
1 fori slip-anl the TRUMP was neve
| turned. Black Cat