The Washington times., 1904-10-23
CHAPTER Y-continued.

which he took pride in VaIlesit-h6 WIN
as many scraps of trophies as posslple-
ufeces OF General Hicks blood-stalned
coat. shreds Of the altar vestments OF
the mission church of El Obeyed, dots
Of rare silk and strips of gray home
spun. so that his robe might be said
TO Be q patchwork Of souvenirs OF his
many cOuQuests and successes.
He who had founded his religious con-
quest OF self-abnegauOn now became
the most avaricious ana selfish Of men.
Hundreds were put TO torture to make
them give up the booty which they were
known to have secured az khartoum,
and many we're put 70 death.
Instead OF a single rag hung between
four spears planted an the sands the
Mahdi now had for q habitation gor-
geous dwelling built OF the carved wood
from the churches and palaces Of KhaF-
toum and installed himself In the gov
eruor generals palace But he soon
wearied OF that scarcely native mode OF
ne and the Ioathsomeness of the city
where the dead lay uuburied and fire
had brought such destruction drove the
master back to his magnificent hut at
Omdurman.
But soon It was perceived that by rea-
con Of the unbridled Hceuuousness and
the high living induIseG IN by the saw
age who was not born to such luXurys
the powerful constitution of the false
Messiah began 90 give way
III was about this time that two
strange incidents occurred. The first
was the announcement that the long ex-
pected English had reached a point dam
gerOusIy near on the north. In their mad
ness of victory the AIohammedans had
completely forgotten their long coming
foe, and when the tidings were brought
90 the Mahdi and his llhalifahs that the
red coats were already advancing, a
cloud OF armed and drilled warriors, il
threw the enormous camp Of triumph
into a state of stampediug wonder and
alarm.
Only two incidents served TO check
this wild desire for sudden flight which
had taken hold OF the bravest One
was the resolve OF the Nahdi to re-
main quiet. probably not wishing his
people To discover how weakened by eE-
cesses and physically untitled for fur
Their warfare he was, and the other the
arrival or what was believed TO- be am
angel from I-aEeu-a real being OF flesh
and blood. who had come down upon
the wings o. the air at midnight direct
from Auhammed's coffin. which is sup
posed 10 be suspended between heaven
and EARTH
u was on one of his nightly peram-
bulatious that Prince BardOn heard Of
tHe arrival OF This supernatural being,
whose slarE and. loneliness had been
sounded abroad whose face was fa5rer
-Hau the stars. whose celestial form was
clothed in pare white. and whose hair
OF molten sold hung over her shoulders
I'm WaVy masses
Ass many whom the prince had talked
with iu tEe dark hours OF his nightly
readings had seen her the wonder of
The dervi=h prince was aroused deeply.
Iie resolved the following evening 20
make his way i'm the crush up 10 the
Mahdis place Of prayer, and, even at
the risk Of his life. discover what man
ner OF being she might Doe.
Accordingly. AT the hour of sunset.
Prince BardOn crept up from his hiding
place took roundabout route and
came mp i'm the surEing mass that moved
toward the Mahdi's open air temple.
There lac b=held O. wonderful sight
Tn the center Of ana emIneuce stood the
sraye figure of the prophet, his silhou-
cite sharp and almost TRANSPORTED in
deed. against the crimson OF the dying
day About him were clustered the
khaIfahs ana the emirs. with their
sJans, and back of them the thT0bbiuE
masses OF dervishe= Suddenly the
Mahdl spoke. He told his people that
the English had come ten million
strong. and that ne would surely be
defeated If Allah had not sent one of
the IairasL hours OF heaven 10 8e his
speci85 guardian angel interpreting 10
him the dreams which the prophet in
spired iu order that the faithful might
gain the complete victory.
nh we snail drive The frfaTaI- from
Soudan." he cried. moving on thence
10 Mecca. which shall become ours,
then 10 Jerusalem. thence on 10 Con-
Etauuu0ple where the renegade Turk
shall be put 20 the sword and so on till
an the globe shall be restored TO the
AIosIem faith, when the end Of the world
VIII come. and every man present here
shan become a prince Of paradise. BE
faithful then, o my people for the
great croWning triumph Of the Jehad i5
AT hand. Grid up your loins and stand
steadfast, for great is your reward Be
hold. the angel OF 1Iohammed is be-
fore yOut"
Brsathlesslv the listening prince
crarad his neck that DE might get a
better view OF tie fair stranger ana
his heart beat wildly as he saw the
1faLlI Ifr "a great zilEeu veil from the
earth. beneath which there rose as bL
ma Ele LaLL FORM lllH- I'D MINIS OF pun
esq whitg-truly celestial presence
Trembling before this evident miracle
tla vast coucourze OF dervishes Eazed
upon her IN profguudesI reverence The
divine stranger was calm. with her
white. ulfaWeled hands cIaspeI before
her. % face pale as rare shell, brow
lifted nigh. eyes upon The heavens. a
mass Of deep golden hair falling over
her frsil shoulders. Her lips were parted
and al. her being throbbed with spiritual
passion AS. without lutte OF acc0mpaui-
m.uL she poured Forth her voice ia
lreHu.5lE. teUdcTest song.
The great LErous stood speIb0ud
Many 0f the old zavaEls felt the tears
couIsluE down their c0uuteuaucas, be-
ueEllg as uuIy gu the divine origin Of
the beautiful one now as ia rhe glory
uf the 1IaldIs own presence.
Even tae master humbled himself be-
fore her as le had done % no living
being
Never had such a voice been heard i1
al tie savage region never such music