Evening star., 1898-06-11

He Rode on Horseback at the Eron,
| along the course taken by the missing car
| aVan, while the sun buried itself under the
| horlzon. Its golden rim was still visible.
| ana about three miles had been covered,
S,,. wmen strange discovery was made. Sud
denly the trail ended; the marks of many
! wheels and feet ceased abruptly
| BY Jove, here's a queer goT' exclaimed
| the lieutenant
| NO; it's very simple" replied Ouin. "a
| sandstorm. commencing at this point. has
Whirled on over the desert and obliteraf.d
| the track. But / can't understand why The
caravan stuck to northerly course so
| long. III Becker had intended making a de-
/ tour toward the coast"
ne oid not finish the sentence, for lust
.hen a man in the rear shouted loudly,
| bs! Arabsv'
A momentary confusion fell ,,nor tho
niue party as they looked behind theno
Wlthln less than half mile coming swift
~ Oh from the south, was band of mount
Gu uerVlshes. The last rays of the sun
snone on their dark faces and streaming
mar on their scarlet turbans and white
tunics. glistened on their guns and spears
MOI many over a score of the rascals'
them off, ~ e"'
Wen do our best" replied Lieut. Koa
Halt and dismount." he added. There
VIII De our positton-that little swell we
just rode over" We
In a trice the men swung tbemsa,,,o. ..
the ground and made the camels lie down
IN the shelter Of the sand ridge. Then
rines In hand. they huddled behind the
crest and waited grimly The dervisbas
noting these preparations dismountad at a.
Instance of 800 yards. Leaving several of
their number to guard the camels. they ad
Sanceo swiftly on foot. with savage cries.
some were brown Bagsara Arabs hut tba
greater part were jet-black neeroes-tha
real Puzzles" of the Soudan. Closer and
closer CLOS. they doomed up. and suddenly the
lieutenant gave the word to fire.
FROM end to end the low ridge hurst into
name ana smoke. and a well-aimed volley
OF lead raked the massed enemy 1t proved
more decisive than the soldiers had cx-
pc pecueu. Four OF the Dervishes fell, dead
or wounded, and after firing a few harm
iess shots the rest turned and withdrew
taxing their stricken comrades with them
Ihey held brief consultation, mounted
tueir cameis ana rode away to the SOUTH
ana In a short time they were blotted cut
by the twilight
The cowards have probably gone TO seek
a larger force" said Lieut.. Koe, when the
stu alton was being discussed a little later
But We'll take the chances. and rest bare
I'LL midnight, or thereabouts Then we'u
push on to the north-the moon will be IN
and II we don't find traces of the caravan
py morning we'll head for the wells
Yes, that's the best thing We can do >,
assented Quin. And 1 owe you a big debt
OF gratitude, Mr. Koe for suggesting n fur
Iher march to the north. 1t looks as IL
tion" " ''AA' uiie &c
SO camp was pitched roughly, and a
frugal meal was prepared and eaten. Then
sentrles We're posted and the weary men
ana camels slept on the sand Between /
ana o clock, no alarm having disturbed
tnem, they resumed the march again A fun
moon shone overhead, bathing the desert in
beautiful and silvery glow that awed the
soiolers into silent admiration Hour after
nour they pressed on, but not trace of the
iost caravan rewarded their ccnstant
watcniulness. Quin was not comforted by
lhe neutenants suggestion that Becker
must nave turned off toward the wells. but
ne stolidly concealed the fears and anxiety
that he felt.
early dawn was preceded by an interval
OF darkness, and then the day broke. re-
Veanng close to the left high range of
rugged, volcanic hills. In grim majesty
tney rose from the waste of yellow sand
stretching considerable distance to north
ana south. For an hour the party must
nave been travelling parallel with them.
ANA little later, as the morning mists
rolled on In wider radius, a discovery of
clHerent sort was made. A mile behind
ice ming larger each moment on the desert
horizon, was a multi-colored blur which
presently resolved itself into men and
camels.
'Dervishes!'' the lieutenant said bitterly.
fxw 'a1
Yes: it's big party; they've followed
US up" replied Quin. And others have
probably wiped out the caravan by this
time" He sighed regretfully, and then a
gleam OF excitement lighted his hard face
We're in for stin fighting, Mr. Koe," he
added "and yonder ID q likely place for a