The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-03-05

lOElufe utceIk cIucitJ Soufo Aos
despite the cover Of the white banner
Chateauroy looked after him as he
and his horse passed from the French
camp in the full, burning tide of noon.
IF the Arabs kill him." he thought,
81 will forgive Ilderim five seasons OF
rebellion"
The chasseur, as he had been hidden,
never drew rein across the scorching
plateau. AT last, ere he reached the
Eedouin tents, he saw the sheik and
n party of horsemen returning from a
~foraging quest and in ignorance as
yet Of the abduction of Djelma. He
galloped straight to them and halted
across their line of march. with the
folds of the little white flag iuttering
IN the sun. The Bedouins drew bride,
and Ilderim advanced alone. He was
a magnificent man of middle age, will
the noblest type of the eagle eyed
aquiline desert beauty.
A glance of recognition flashed from
him on the soldier who had SO often
crossed swords with him, and he waved
back the scroll with dignified courtesy.
Read 1t me-"
1t was read. Bitterly, blaekly, shame
full. the few brutal words were. They
netted him as an eagle is Melted In a
shepherds trap.
The moment that he gave a sign OF
advancing the captive's life would pay
the penalty; IL he merely remained In
arms, without direct attack. she would
be made the marquis mistress and
abandoned later to the army. The
only terms on which he could have
her restored were instant submission to
the imperial rule and personal homage
of himself and all his Djouad to the
marquis, as the representative of
France-homage in which they should
confess themselves dogs and the sons
Of dogs. So ran the message of peace
The chasseur read on to the END
calmly. Then he lifted his gaze and
looked at the emir. He expected 5O
swords to be buried in his heart.
With a wild, shrill yell the Bedoulns
whirled their naked sabers above theii
heads and rushed down on the bearer
of this shame to their chief and their
tribe. The chasseur did not seek to
defend himself. He sat motionless
He thought the vengeance just.
The sheik raised his sword and sign.
ed them back as he pointed to the
white folds of the flag. Then his voice
rolled out like thunder over the still
ness of the plains:
But that you trust yourself to my
honor l would rend you limb from
limb. Go back to the tiger who rules
you and tell him that as Allah liveth
will fall on him and smite him as be
hath never been smitten. Dead or liz
ing. | will have back my own. If he
take her life, | will have 10000 lives to
answer 1t. If he deal her dishonor,
will light such a holy war through the
length and breadth of the land that bis
nation shall be driven backward Ike
choked dogs into the sea and perish
from the face of the earth for ever
more. And this | swear by the law
and the prophet"
The menace rolled out. imperious az
q m%onarch's, thrilling through the des.
ert hush. The chasseur bent his head
as the words closed. His own teeth
were tightly clinched. and his face was
dark.
"Emir, listen to one word" he said
briefly. "Shame has been done to me
as to you. Had I been told what
words | bore they had never been
brought by my hand. You know me
You have had the marks Of my steel
as l have had the marks Of yours
Trust me in this. sidi Il pledGe You
my honor that before the sun sets she
shall be given back to you unframed
or l will return here myself. and your
tribe shall slay me in what fashion
they will. So alone can she he saved
uninjured. Answer. will you have faith
In me?"
You are a great warrior. Such men
do not lie. Go, and II she be borne to
me before the sun Is half way sunk
toward the west all the branches CT
the tribes of Ilderim shall be as your
brethren and bend as steel to your
DluulHS. Ii uOt-uS 1Ou ID nlSbtg-
not one man In your host shall live to
tell the tale"
The chasseur bowed his head to his
horses name. then without a word
wheeled round and sped back across
the plain. When he reached his own
cavalry camp, he went straightway to
his chief. What passed between them
none ever knew. The interview was
brief; it was possibly as stormy.
Pregnant and decisive it assrredly
was. and the squadrons of Africa mar
veled that the maj who dared beard
Chateauroy in his lair came forth with
his life. Whatever the spell he used
the result was a marvel.
At the very moment that the sun
touched the lower half of the western
heavens the Sheik Ilderim, where he
sat in his sidesaddle. with all his tribe
stretching behind him. full armed. to
sweep down like falcons on the spoil
ers If the hour passed with the pledge
u~nredeemed. saw the form Of the chas-
G u reappear between his sight and
the glare of the skies; nor did he ride
alone. That night the Pearl Of the
Desert lay once more In the mighty.
%tinuous arms of the great emir.
Rut with the dawn his vanpaaupa