Evening journal., 1899-10-06
IN THE GJNPOWDER.


on "A narrow strip Of Level ground overlook
ing tremendous precipicc
Some Of them were armed with heavy
guns, others with long spears and wood.
knives, while not few carried only scythe
blades set straight upon poles, but every
one had a weapon of some kind, and looked
rs if he knew how TO use it.
One would hardly have shouQht that this
grim, rcbber-like crowd in the heart of these
wild mountains could have anything to do
with a presidential election; vet so il was
The chief Of the tribe had Just been killed in
battle with the Austriaps. and the Roumiu
warriors had met to choose his successor.
As q rule, the chief was supposed TO choose
his own successor, provided he lived long
enough to do it, but an the present case
he had been shot dead before he had time
to utter q word, so the election naturally fell
into the hands Of his followers.
There were two candidates, whose claims
seemed pretty equal, and ugainst whom, as
the best two fighters of the whole district. no
other man in the band would have dared to
set himself up. Indeed, their chances ap-
1 peared TO be so evenly balanced that-as one
OF the younger men whispered to his com
iades, with chuclJe-the shortest way Of
! settling the mattey was for the two to fight
1t out tl one or The other Of them was past
making any opposition. lie had hardly
spoken whe1 The rival claimants came for
ward into ne ring from opposite sides.
i The two. made a fine contrast. Noumah,
the elder, was a giant in strength and size
whose thick, red hair, tawny beard, and
broad. massive face made him lool, very
muc a like lion. He wore plain gray jack
ct, aud carried no weapon.
luuui WIN was much vounuar and of
sli,ghter frame, had a richly-embroidered
dress Of dark green, and a jeweled Turkish
p dagger in his girdle of crimson silk
? If Noumah looked like a lion, Lupui
would have remained any one Of tiger.
with his long, sinewy limbs, his quick,
= springy movements, and the hali-hercc,
. half-cunning expression in his great black
, eyes. Any stranger would have trusted
Noumah at first sight, but he would have
been on his guard every time he came near
] Lupui.
4 "Husrah for Noumahl" cried one-hali
the land
"Hurrah for Lupuil" retorted the other
. half, with equal spirit
= 1T viii come to a fight after all,' NUT
tered the young man who had spoken be
fore.
This certainly appeared probabl,
enough, and it seemed likely, too, that the
q fight would become general, for several Of
the men were already cooking their rifles Oh
clutching their knives, and Lupui himself
had his hand upon his long dagger But
+ Just then Noumah suddenly roared
2 Listen to mel" and everything was in
7 stantly as still as death.
u Brothers" said the giant, in tones a.
d deep and hoarse as the roar Of the waterfall
Il below, "why should we waste our strength
in quarrelng with each other instead O
lighting the enemy? There is a very simpA
) way of settling this business. None but
rt brave man should lead Roumin warriors &
4 battle; therefore let him who is the braves
among us be the CHIEF"
III "Well saidlns shouted the mountaineer
DE- in chorus, naturally well pleased with tn
ID suggestion which, as it seemed 10 then
gave every man Of them a chance Of bcin
chosen if be could prove his courage.
e. "Ilut how are we to find out which Of us
IS the bravcst;" asked Lupuj, with a sharI
g suspicious look; for, being 90 trcacherou
himself, he naturally distrusted everyon
is else.
Come into the house" answered Nov
m NAH, "and III show YOU"
The Roumins crowded in after him, an
&c in moment the long, low room was full {
In overlooking.
I'D Noumah went to the upper end Of th
chamber and dragged out from under th
bed a large cask, which be set up on enc
III Then, knocking out its head, he showed tha
he it was full to the brim with gunpowder.
"Now," said he, deliberately thrustin
into the powder one end Of a long match {
Vi twisted tow, such as the miners Of Easter
IT, Europe use to fire their trains, whoever II
be mains longest in this room after that mate
20 is lighted is undoubtedly the hravest Of I
all, for there is powder enough to blow
lu atoms the house and everything in it,
III Even the reckless mountain men began
IT, look grave as they heard the grim propose
for used as they were to every form of dai
ger and death, this was something more tha
u they had bargained for. But before anyor
could utter a word, Noumah lighted u
I'M match, and it began to burn steadily iowai
/, the powder.
IN. The moment the flame was seen 20 cat,
ch the tow. half a dozen of those who we
m nearest the door skunk out Of the house
together, having quite lost their interest
ne the election. The rest staggered, bent the
brows, and vowed boisterously that thl
ID would see the thing out; but it might ha'
,re been noticed that they turned their bac
TO the flaming match, and looked nervous
hu round every now and then 20 see how {
ow the fire had gone
he With every inch Of tow that it devoure
- four or five more men stole silently ava
u till at last the two rival champions we
ne left alone-Lupuj, sitting on the bed smo
are ing his pipe, and Noumah leaning again
vsr the wall with his huge arms folded, and
face as immovable as a granite statnc.
10 The moment the last man had slipped on
Lupuj turned to his companion, and said,
IN q slightly tremulous voice;
Haven't we had enough Of this jol
Ws Noumahg The fame viii catch the powd
Ike in two OF three minutes more"
the "Who told you it was a joker ask
d. Noumah, coldly.
'U WHAT do you really mean to blow
ep- both up just for the sake Of a brag? y
md can't be made chiefs when we're dead, y
,ile know"
IF you're afraid" answered the gla
hey with a dsdainful shrug Of his mighty sho
ders, you are free to run away"
IN "I'm no more afraid than yourself, or
"a Lupui, angrily; "but 1 don't want 70 ma
ltu -f. .....-.1f fT-r,- -..s,-f i Weld 1