The record-union., 1897-07-18

miles. Inc ways OF the East are pecul-
lar, and some of the Soudanese raiders
who We're killed when Samori attempt
ed TO invade Sierra Leone were armed
with swords which appeared to be the
work OF artif1cers in far-away Persia
and Northern India.
Down the sides of the hills and over
the plain spread the little specks of
blue and white; and the Cazadores,
VINO We're marksmen before they were
soldiers, resting their rifle barrels on
the battlements, followed them through
the sights Every now and then, when
the soldiers grasp frightened round the
stock and the heavy barrel shot up
wards as the red sparks left it's nluzzle,
a blue-clad figure rolled down the steep
slope of the ravine, and lay still in the
sun glare; while handfuls of slugs and
small stones whistled round the heads
of the defenders. This was very pleas
amt to the CaZadores. 1T was with grim
satisfaction they ran the slide UP to
500 yards, and saw the living target
roll over and clutch at the sand, or
crawl away like a wounded hare for
the shelter of a euphorbia bush; but
it was too good to last. BY and by the
Arabs spread themselves out one by
one behind every bush and stone, and
began to fire steadily in return. When
they had all found suitable lurking
places and got their range. scarcely a.
rifle barrel could show itself above the
wall without a shower of missiles rat
Ting about it; for, unlike the negro,
every Arab is more or less a marksman.
About this time Carlos, who was
kneeling behind a parapet, firing as
hard as he could push the cartridges
into the chamber at a c1ump of bushes,
out of which he had already seen three
Arabs drag themselves when the bullets
ripped through the thin screen, opened
the breech of his rifle to cool, and wiped
the perspiratiOn out of his eyes. AS
he did so he heard a pattering sound
in a transverse gully, and listened
eagerly.
Going to rush us on horseback-the
fools!" he said; then shouted, Pedro
and Bias stand by the levers
Three men crouched round the brass
gun with their handspikes The officer
fixed percussion-tu and lanyard, and
a swarm of horsemen swept out of the
ravine, brandishing their guns and
SoiiOplHS eaL Aull Speeu tOWdIuS liIc
fort.
''Crack-crack-crack went the ri
f1es on the wall, and several figures
rolled out of the saddle, to be stamped
to death by their comrades horses.
More to the left, Number L. said
Carlos; and as he looked down the
sights a confused mass of lathering
horses, blue and white tunics, swarthy
faces, and glittering eyes filled the "
shaped notch.
Once more turn to the screw -
steady that-firel'
The soldier with the lanyard wrap
ped around his wrist swept his arm to
his side Bang" went the gun, and a
long tongue of red flame shot out, a
hollow ring of vapor floating upwards
where it ceased. Then a rolling cloud
of white smoke drifted across the ram
parts. When it cleared, a cluster of
struggling horses rolled in the sand
Here and there a brown arm, writhing
out from beneath its white tunic, caught
up little handsful of hot dust, while
shattered human forms lay rigid and
still among the wounded beasts. The
rest of the cavalry We're safe again
gave the rif1emen chance to pick them
off.
This was a severe lesson, and no more
rushes were made; but the steady fire
all round three sides of the fort, as the
foe crawled nearer and nearer, was
worse for the besfeged 1t is hard to
make satisfactory shooting with only
a puff of smoke from behind stone for
a mark, and the slugs whistled so thick
through every embrasure that no man
dared show his head above the para
pet. So all day long the smoke of bat
tie rolled across the burning sand,
while the defenders crouched down up
on the hot ramparts, gasping for
breath and parched with thirst; and
when at last the scorching day faded
into night, three bodies lay still on
the stones below, and there were but
eight men left.
Get the tackles and lower the small
er gun into the square, said Don Ro-
sendo; "the door is but wood SO,
with difficulty, the ancient weapon was
placed on the ground and trained on
the door, loaded to the muzzle with
whatever odd missiles could be found.
When the worn-out soldiers reascend-
ed, although the moon had not yet ris
en-, the starlight showed a line of dark
objects leaving the ravine.
"Camels now, senior. Will they not
learn?" said Carlos.
This time they bring fire." answered
the Commandante; and as the younger
man looked again, he made out that
nj, a1-rip af hot
peared to be dried euphorbia bushes,
and the plain was dotted with dark
figures, all making for the fort.
Now comes the end" said Don Ro-
sendo through his teeth, as he drew his
sword.
With fingers clenched round their ri
f1e-stocks, the handful of soldiers
watched their foes drawing nearer and
nearer while they heard their hearts
beat, the Lieutenant STOPPING motion
less over his gun.
For a space not shot was fired-the
light was too dim and the distance too
great. There was only the soft rustling
of garments and the tread Of padded
feet to break the silence, until with
loud shouts, the Arabs on foot dashed
forward, and the drivers urged the
camels towards the gate of the fort al
their fast, numbering gallop.
The chaos converged some hundred
yards away, and a solid mob of men
and beasts thundered towards the door.
Then a line of fire cracked along the
embrasures, and the Lieutenant's voice
rang out above the din. A corporal
wrapped the lanyard of the gun round
his wrist and flung out his arm.
There was a deafening crash, with a
jarring ring in it, and while the muir
derouS charge SWent down the foes