The National tribune., 1899-03-16

Dwell upon the following scenes; consider
.hese events in the fullness of their meaning
and try to picture facts as they actually
occurred. A red sunset streamed over The
black tents of small Ouled Cassi camp, an
Arab douar. standing at the mouth Of rock
walled and wooded pass, beyond which the
Sahara stretched away. vast and lonely as an
ocean. In manners, speech and costume, in
all their belongings lis occupants were men
antique of style and appearance as that dim
old Eastern world whose early features they
faithfully preserved.
in the name OF God the most clement.
the NEST mercful, it shall be rs my friend
wishes The stranger who is with thee. he
was committed TO thy care; therefore lei
service be given willingly Thus is il
written, and | VIII seek the lion Of Bari
Noured, rendering aid TO my guest, lest he
60 alone and perish so that dishonor would
rest upon US forever" Thus spoke the sheik.
sitting amidst that oldest of parliaments an
assembly OF free warriors whose will was
law Thus after long Farley Victor Beauyas
got his wish, strengthening the chiefs
friendly sentiments and assuring himself OF
ready companions, with those gifts which
among OTientals are iayar.able accompani-
ments Of every pact.
Next day at earliest dawn Sheik Ibrabim
mounted that beautiful mare. the pride and
boast OF his tribe, whose legendary pedigree
went back without break or flaw 10 the
white horses of the sun. A clump of pic
turesque outlaws slung long muskets by
tasselod cords. and swung themselves into
their shoyel-backed saddles. Then off they
went with shout and boast, prancing. caracol-
ing and dashing about at the start in true
Arab fashion.
Tales galore Of this Seigneur with the
big head " were poured forth during their
ride One narrator exaggerated his size into
gigantic proportions: another enlarged his
feais. Nobody was afraid, or, at least. 10 the
extent OF Sinking: but the lion of Bari
Aoured had become semi-supernatural
being III those parts, and his yeritabIe deeds
were such as 10 set Oriental imaginations on
fire There was enough of fact. indeed.
about what was told to excite ANYBODY and
when evening faded on those nights where
his lair lay surrounded by heaped-up rocks
and thickest bracken, whoever heard that
mighty yoice-Aralys have but one word for
thunder and the lions roar--knew that an
adversary approached against whom no force
OF manhad as yet prevailed.
Did not each tribesman know Yusef son of
Mehndl, and his cousin, Abou Stockholders
both-who while prowling by night sud
denly heard sound as of the sea when it
means IN caverns on its shore? At which
Abou, being quickwitted, leapei for tree.
whence he saw his slower companion torn TO
pieces. Hadii Kerine also, "a worthy man
Notwithstanding that he hal made the
pilgrimage, beheld from an oyerllangine
ledge the terrible conflict in which this lion
OF Aoured killed another nearly as large,
and took his conSort away. Truly It had be-
fallen times out Of mention. as guards with
IN douar saw aim stalking in the moon
light around TIA ir pickets, that they feared
TO fire; for he had hurled himself over such
barriers more than once, regardless of
musket-balls or pitfalls
No snare could entangle n creature who
practiced magic and possessed witch-iackaIs
as satellites and aids. The tragedy of Ras
Menoul, likewise, was Of recent date. This
man went with certain Franks southwark,
even to the Tuareg country, and having been
spared by heaven, he returned swollen with
lnsoience and inOrdinate pride His mind
was as that Ola woman who has been preferred
and 1t was written that his destiny should
be unpropitious. In an evil hour this un-
fortunate shot panther, whereupon he was
visited with madness and desired 10 hunt
HIM with the big head " without assistance
50, being deaf and blind by reason OF his
inhrmity, this lost one dug a pit by the
hons pathway, covering it with heavy logs,
and also stones set in beaten earth, imagin-
ing that it would make him secure: moreover.
there were places to fire through. Having
accomplished these things, he boosted greatly,