The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06

however when the camp was asleep the
guards raised the alarm, but so suddenly
were we attacked that we scarce had time
70 defend ourselves against the desperate
/ onslaught by column of French Spahis
VINO mad swept down upon US 1t was
mad, terrible rush Although our tribes
men fought vaiantly and well it was inn
possible 70 Withstand the frightful hail
OF bullets poured upon US by a mechanical
gun which spat forth lead in deadly show
ers. our men. seeing the havoc wrought
Dy TINS deViish weapon, turned and He'd
fortunately. the poison-wind had sprung
up ana IT'S clouds of sand cannot be faced
~ the men of the North; therefore. we
were enabled to escape although unfort-
unately compelled to leave the greater part
" tHe stoien camels and merchandise in
their possession.
As in the confusion cauebt n borse
spfahg upon 1t and rode into the binding
san1storm FOR my life ! heard the duh
tnud OF the horses hoofs Of nv pursusrs
from the noise there must have been a
seoie or 50 OF them, anxious no doubt to
s eeuie a harauder feared by all the cara
yaHs but swift as the wind itself 1 gal
o!SI on alone the greater part of the hot
sitting night until pulling up. dismount'
i"s, ana placing my ear to the ground I
couia uetect no sound of pursuit AT last
hau py the narrowest escape evaded the
eu-Durnoused men of the North whose
S S delight is to shoot us down like
r, In the glimmerng twilight, as night gave
ptdCe TO dawn, saw before
me me huge dark rock rising
from the ocean of sand sbara1
me Gamers hump, and riding onward
tetnereu my horse beneath it and flung
Inyseif down TO snatch an hours sIeeo
ere the sun rose, intending TO go forth
again and reJoin my scattered tribesmen.
~" Iohs mine eyes were closed Allah
aiohe knoWeth, but when l opened them
found myself lying upon a panther,s
SKIN IN a darkened chamber. my ears fip-
ca with the noise of running water The
l'iace was cooled by the stream. and In
the difn recess of the room [ could dis
Nngulsh rich divans. Suspended from the
t ' was me Moorish lamp of chased
BRASS Whlch shed soft, yellow light,
Whlie from the pertaining pan was dlffused
the intoxicating odor of altar of rose The
ilshe was soft and restful after the ac-
customed desert glare, and in wonder
rubbed my eyes and gazed about me
AIlah give thee peace, o strangerr' a
INN voice croaked, and, glancing quickly
pehlno me, 1 beheld wizenedfaced man,
sfnail OF stature, dressed in a robe of
bright blue silk, and so bent bv age that
his white beard almost swept the ground
Notwithstanding his venerable appear
ance, however his face was dark and for
bidding and his small, black piercing ewes
that time had not dimmed had a CLINT
OF evil in them. Instinciively. ere we
had exchanged dozen words, / distrust-
ed him.
ITO whose hospitality do / owe the rest
and repose l have enjoyed?" / inquired,
slowly rising to my feet and stretching
my cramoed limbs
My name" the old man answered. sis
Batouba. l discovered thee sleeping In
the sun outside this my dwelling place.
and brought thee in, for the rays had
smitten thee with a grievous sickness, and
thou vert on the point of death. Tho hast
remained my guest these twelve days"
Twelve daysp / cried with incredulity.
at the same moment feeling my head reel
ing as though l had drunk the palm wine
or the pagans. Then to thee l owe my
llfe?"
The hideous old man In blue grinned
with satisfaction. regarding me with
strange covert glance
BY this time my eyes had grown accus-
toned to The semi-darkness, and I saw
that the chamber was a natural one-a
kind of arched cavern, the floor of which
had been leveled and a channel formed
for the cool spring that dubbed forth and
rippled away into gloomy depths.
This thy dwelling is beneath the sur
face of the earth" l observed, glancing
thou here in secret?'
"The true Arab answered not the ques-
tons of a robber of the Ennitra" he re-
piled, with sneeriug accentuation on the
final word. Allah hath sent thee as my
guest partake of all that have. but seek
no explanation of who. or of what am"
He evidently recognized that 1 was a
freebooter of the dreaded Ennitra, but his
strange words puzzled me. First l had
no idea that such a luxurious abode could
exist In the center of that wild inhospita-
bic region to which l had penetrated; Sec
ondly, the very fact pointed to the conclu-
sion that in my flight, | had approached
near a town; but. thirdly I had already
proof positive that my ugly host, the man
who declared he had saved my life lied
to me. At the we'll where we had filed
our water skins on the day before the
fight had plueked a sprig of jasmine and
placed tiny piece behind my ear beneath
the white haick wound about my head
This 1 recollected. and taking it in my
hand, found II still limp and undried. BY
that alone / knew | had not been there
many hours, and that his story was false.
l suggested that should soon be reluct-
antly compelled to leave, but at once he
became more profuse in his hospitality.
mo, not yet" he protested. Il am
alone, save for my slaves, and thy COM
partnership is pleasant. Remain and
win show thee over this. my hidden dwell
ing place. 1t may interest thee" and TAX
ing down a torch he lit it and led the
way across a tiny bridge that spanned
the running water. then opening a low
door in the rock conducted me through
several intricate passages, narrow and
dark until we came to a series OF caverns
Of various sizes. the roofs of hanging
stalactites, the walls hung with rich sllken
hangings, and the floors covered by beauti-
full carpets from the East. over each the
great lamp of fligree shed a soft light,
showing how rich and costly were the
antique tables of inlaid pearl and silver,
and how wide and soft were the dlvans.
In each the thin blue smoke curling up
~NRMrNM