The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26


sorry OF great victory.
Just the sun was rising was inside
the ancient citadel so recently the infidei
stronghold. and was exploring its many
courts with their old blue-tiled fountains
and cool handsome colonnades, when
suddenly, as / passed beneath an archway
in the thickness of the wall. noise startled
me. My companions in arms were regaling
themselves in an open square before the
great white mosque, therefore / was alone
Around me lay many bodies of Touaregs
Spahis and Beni-Mzabs. while some of the
wounded were stin groaning. dying slowly.
for there had been no attempt 10 succor
the disabled. To fall in holy war is not
a misfortune, but the reverse. The noise
loud knock, again sounded. and turning
saw bolted door. which 1 at once opened
and was confronted by pretty dark-haired
French girl. who, glancing at me in terror
for an instant. screamed and fed down a
flight OF stone stairs into an impenetrable
darkness.
In a moment 1 dashed after her. Already
the Kasbah had been set on fire, and TO
save her life instant escape was necessary.
Below, in the small, foul stone chamber.
used long ago as a prison. 1 discovered her.
crouching. She screamed loudly at my
approach fearing me, perhaps. because of
the mysterious black veil across my face,
and knowing that the yelled men were of
evil repute
Thou art Mademoiselle Gabrielle. daush-
ter of our friend. Colonel Bonnemain,"
exclaimed In the best French 1 could or
ticulate. Fear not, but fly at once win
me. or we may lose our lives"
How knowest thou my name?" she
gasped in amazement. BY the sllmmer of
light that came from the open court above
/ saw that her face was beautiful, but
deathly pale. "True, am the daughter of
Colonel Bonnemain, but thou art Touareg.
Assuredly thou art our enemy. not our
friend. Why, it was thine hosts WHO at
tackled us,'
Briefly / explained the promise OF our
Sheikh, assuring her of friendship. At
first she was inclined to doubt my sincerity,
but at length L prevailed upon her to ac-
company me in our race for life from the
burning ruins. Quickly we sought Tamahu.
and as there were women with she
was at once placed under my protection. I
was to be her guardian and her champion
during the remainder of hostilities. Long
and earnestly we both searched and in
CURED for her father, the colonel. but could
discover no trace of him. Some OF his
Spahis. who survived, declared that lie had
been struck down in the earlier hours of the
conflict, while others maintained that they
had seen him fighting uninjured up to the
very last From our inquiries it appeared
evident that on receiving unexpected REIN
forcements from the north, he had deter
mined upon holding out against us, and
overlooking our agreement with the BENZ
Mzabs, was ill-advised enough to decline
our good Offices Then, when he found an
attack in force being made, he locked Ga
brielle in place of safety until the fight
should end.
Full of excitement were those days that
followed. / must, however, here confess my
self deeply attached to this bright-eyed,
fragile GIRL whose gallant father had disap-
peared so mysteriously. We of the Azjals,
leaving the prosperous town of Metlil
mere pile of smoking ruins, encampad for
few days in the vicinity where there was an
excellent well, then together with the fierce
horsemen of the Beni-Mzab set our heads
toward Wargla, another French outpost. AT
first Gabrielle felt the fatigue of travel ter
ribly. Fortunately, she could ride well, and,
As her inseparable companion, endeavored
to render her journey as comfortable as
possible. At my suggestion she had ex-
changed her European clothes for the SER
rouaI and haick of the Arab women. find
ing that mode of dress more comfortable
and less conspicuous than her own; and so
light-hearted she grew that not infrequently
she would Join me in cigarette. Her face
and manner charmed us all. The fierce
horsemen of the Affair and the Beni-MZab
are scarcely chivalrouS where women are
concerned but ere we had been on the
march three days there was not single
tribesman who would not execute her
slightest wish.
Riding day by day over the breathless SOL
itudes of sand. no single word OF complaint
ever escaped her. Whenever we halted,
before she ate she would busy herself in at
tending to our wounded; sometimes bandag-
ing an arm or a leg, at others pouring out
water and handing it to thirsty man with
a pleasing smile that quickened his pulse.
Then, after we had eaten and turned our
faces TO the Holy Calaba, she would take an
old Spanish mandolin which one of my COM
panions had picked up cheap long ago in
Oran, and play and sing to us in a sweet
contralto song from her own far-off Paris.
They were mostly gay chansons, such as
one hears in the cafes in Algiers, and those
with refrains were sung Justify in chorus by
the whole of the great assembly.
One night after she had given US several
songs persuaded her to dance. To those
unaccustomed to life in the desert the
scene would have appeared a strange one.
The bright moonlight shining full upon her,
tipped also with silver the keen heads of
couple of thousand spears upon which her
audience leaned. She had fascinated them
Unanimously it had been declared that she
was an enchantress. Only one fact re-
manned to mar her happiness; her uncertain
ty regarding her fathers fate.
II will dance on one condition. Aha
-madou," she answered in French, throwing |
back her pretty head and showing her white |
teeth as she laughed
What is that?'
Il will dance if thou wilt take off that |
hideous black veil. Thou hast been my friend |
all this time, yet, strangely enough, 1 have |
never beheld thy face"
/ hesitated. Such demand was unusual, |
for Touareg never removes his veil.
My companions overhearing, and noticing |
my Discrimination to acquiesce, with one ac-
cord urged me TO accede, and at last, amid |
much good humor, i unwound my black |
htham.
Long and earnestly she looked into my |
ayeS Her eraza linoered upon me- STRANGELY |