The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26
THE BARRIER OF BLOOD.
TcODyright. 1870. by wInIam :. o,,.,,,

Long and earnestly the old sheikh adj
dressed US, quoting from our Book of Ever
lasting VIII to emphasize his declarations
Ihen he referred to the compact he had
made that day with the leader of our enc
mics.
woman of the Franks we shall receive
into this our camp. Remember. o my peo-
pie that she will partake of our salt, and
That while this war continueth she IS our
friend. Let not single hair of her head
be injured. The word of the Sheikh Tamahu
hath already been given"
That evening we spent in sharpening our
spears and shangermangors, preparatory to
the hight, singing snatches OF war songs and
discussing the prospects OF the attack Per-
maps OF all the tribes in the trackless soli-
tudes which constitute our home we of the
Agar are among the most active, vigorous
and enterprising, Injured as we are to hard
ships, and with our mental faculties sharp
ened almost to a preternatural degree by
the hard struggle for existence in our arid
rocky Businesses. The rearing of oxen
horses and goats Is our chief occupation
but the scarcity of water and our speedy
exhaustion of the scanty pasturage of the
GASES keep us perpetually on the march. Ag-
riculture is scarcely possible under a sky
from which rain does not fall for six or
haps, not surprising that we have developed
into desert-pirates.
Those who have never set foot upon the
Saharan plains can possess but vague
idea of their appearance In the whole of
the great desert, tract comprising over
two million square miles, there is not a
single carriage road, not a mile of navi-
gable waters. not a wheeled vehicle, canoe
or boat OF any kind. There are scarcely
even any beaten tracks. for most Of the
routes, though followed for ages without
divergence of any kind are temporarily
effaced by every sandstone, and recovered
only by means of the permanent landmarks
wells, prominent dunes. a solitary bush,
the remains of travellers, slaves, or camels
that may have persisted of thirst or exhaus-
ton between the stations.
Long and patiently we waited for the ar
rival of the woman TO whom we had prom
iscd protection; but although the night
passed. the dawn rose, and the hours crept
on toward the noon, our vigilance remained
unrewarded. A second day passed in mac
tivity, then, wearied OF waiting, We struck
camp and moved forward.
The afterglow had deepened into evening
dusk when at length we came within sight
of Metlili. Looming high up on a pinnacle
of rock, white against the clear sky, it's ap-
pearance astonished us, for it looked i'm
pregnable. Its fiat-roofed houses rose tier
upon tier around an exceedingly steep emf
nence crowned by a great mosque with high,
square minaret, while at the foot of the
hill were some scattered date groves.
We had passed over the summit of a sand
ridge, and were making a dash straight
upon the French stronghold when we no.
hat ia
detected. Upon the walls a few Saphis in
scarlet and some white-burnoused Arabs
were moving hurriedly. Suddenly there was
a flash from the Kasbah, followed by re-
port loud, sharp, echoless. Our enemies had
opened fire upon us.
Tamahu instantly gave the word to spur
forward on the wings of haste. With one
accord We rode in huge compact body so
swiftly as to justify our popular appellation,
1.-THE Breath Of the Wind" and, regardless
of a rapid rife fire that was poured out from
the white walls, pressed forward to the foot
of the rock. Here we dismounted, and with
loud yells of savage rage dashed up the
rough, narrow way that gave entrance to
the town. Many of my companions fell
dead or wounded ere they reached the
hastily barred gate, but by dint of fierce
and logged determination we managed to
at last batter down the huge wooden doors.
Next second we poured into the place in
overwhelming numbers. Up its steep
streets, so narrow that two asses could not
pass abreast, we engaged Saphis and Zou-
ayes hand to hand. So strong was our force
that soon we overwhelmed them and COM
menced loud cries of triumph we dashed
up toward the Kasbah. Suddenly, however,
as we approached it we saw that its walls
-,a1 With soldiers
who. at the word of command, fired a
whitening volley from their rifles which
caused us to hold back dismayed
Colonel Bonnemain had evidently re-
ceived reinforcements With their firearms
they were more than a match for us.
Courage, brothers, 1 heard Tamahu
cry as he brandished his spear. Let us
show these dogs of infdels that the Toua-
regs are no towards. OF verify the Roumis
shall never be our masters"
With set teeth we sprang forward to-
ward the high sun-blanched walls OF the
citadel. determined to take it by assault,
hut alas. its battlements were full of we'll
armed Spahis and Turcos, and from every
point showers of lead swept down upon us.
Still we kept undaunted. Once 1 caught
a momentary glimpse of Colonel Bonnie
main He was standing upon the wall
bareheaded, shouting and waving his sword.
But only for an instant. He disappeared,
and was seen more.
Almost at the same instant loud inces-
SAINT splitting of guns deafened us; bullets
swept through our ranks in deadly hail,
killing us by dozens and manning hundreds.
Then, dismayed, l saw mounted on the wall
a strengthening weapon, which once
charged shed rifle balls in hundreds. Death
seemed inevitable. My companions, APP
palled by the sight of that terrible engine
of destruction, wavered for an instant. then,
with a cry that Eblis was assisting the IN
fidels turned and fed.
Above the din of battle Tamahu shouted
himself hoarse. But darkness having now
fallen none could discern him amid the
dense smoke and constant flashing of the
guns. Thus the defenders drove us back,
sweeping US away with their deadly ma
chine gun, and making sortie from the
fortress, bayoneted the more valiant ones.
Our cause seemed lost. AS soon. however.
as We had drawn the Spahis outside their
fort we turned, and re-engaging them hand
to-hand. quickly hacked our way back TO
the very gates of the Kasbah, the streets in
the vicinity being heaped with dead and dy