Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-02-25

fortunate, unuil they nnally proceed
to openly rob their victim.
Stand back" cries Sandy with a
roar, as he swings tie naaAeau around
his head.
They understand enough English to
know what he IS saying-at any rate
his actions are douh.v significant
but, believing they cay rule the ranch
oy mere force of numbers, the ragged
bcggars continue to push forward
thus hemming the two whites in.
Although small in point of stature
Sandy is a warrior, every inch of him.
aud. as might be expected from bis
nervous manner. possessed Of an in
hammable teApcr. When the near
EST of the rogucs pushes within
coaching distance and clutches ut him
with bony fingers, the newspaper man
brings the flaming torch. with a re.
sounding thump. against the top of the
peggar's head. 1t does not affect tie
ink, beyond sending forth a shower
If sparks. but ne unfortunate recip
ltnI OI lne Ilt", sItlhS III LIS
.onc hair. utters vocferous shouts and
ianccs with the fcrvor of a dervish
This is deemed signal for a gen
lral assault all along the line, and foi
the. space Of sixty ssean.i. thert il
seen a spectacle rarely cqualcd In the
narrow streets Of old Cairo.
AT first the two foreigners arc averse
to using their firearms, and ondeayoi
| to inspire terror in the breasts of theil
enemies by generous exhibition Of
muscle.
When Sandy has to dodge a fipndisE
blow from a wicked dagger he thinks
it about time they proceeded to sternei
measures.
Sandy opens on the ragtag-anh'
bob-tail crowd, as he terms them. seek
ing TO infliCt wounds and create di'
version. He Is Immediately backed
up by his companion His strong,
white teeth hold fast TO his cigar, and
even rs he let's drive at Il dark faced
fcllah who seeks to cleavc him with
an Algerian yataghan. the silver king
puffS out n small cloud of smoke. Talk
about c0olness. Here YOU have ii in
human iceberg. Sandy holds his
breath while looking Mt this strange
companion, and wonders whether he
would show excitement in the heat of
battle.
This sort Of a reception is hardly to
the liking of the cowardly curs who
have appeared daring simply because
their numbers gave them confidence.
At the first shot most of them be.
gan to glance over their shoulders.
This is a sure sign of desire te re.
treat Then comes hotter work. Sandy
no longer waits for them to come. bat
with his revolver in one hand and the
flaming torch whirllng about his head,
he leaps toward the footpads.
This i; too much for thcm-thcy break
md fly with cries of terror, some
sprngng up the street while others
go down in the direction Of the river
In Il Elarvelollsly short space of time
the street is empty save for one poor
fellow. who, shot in the leg, is hop.
ping off rs fast as his good les will
carry him. calling on Mohammcd to
save him from the .Crcign tigers.
In auy under city under The sun,
such Il commotion ut dcaa Of night
would create an intense excitement
Not so in Cairo. The white walls shut
them in. pierced by minute widows
that allow little chance of streer gaZ-
ing. Those who hear the sounds of
war are discreet enough TO know that
it is none of their business, and they
will he better off away.
Look ont behind you, sir" calls
Sandy. and the silver king turns sud
denly to cover ii creeping figure that
has advanced from Il darkenrd arch
way. whcrcupon the most pitcOus jar
gon is heard, and behold the suspected
assassin turns out to be their torch
bearer who, having witnessed the hot
little affair from place of security,
is now crawling back to resume his
interrupted duties.
They welcome him gladly. and Sandy
relieves himself of the ilambeau, glad
to be rid Of 1t. As there are no more
footpads in view to give them battle,
they again take up their line of march
for the river. fortunately close at hand.
Mr.. Grimes has had explicit dircr-
tions from Mr.. Tanner how to reach
the boat. and Il suspicion has already
entered his head that the amhusCad2
into which they ran mi-ht have been
arranged hy the rcis OF the sailing
craft to relieve his rich employer of
3uperhuous wealth. These Arabs and
natives are up to all manner of tricks
to gain filthy lucrc, and Old travellers
become so accustomed 10 trcachcry
| that they are surprised nt nothing, and
| learn to depend upon themselves en-
| tircly.
He even mentions the fact, as it oc
rurs TO him. to Sandy. who declares
! there is strong element of probable
| ity about it, and in the same breath
| swears that If the occasion offers, he
| will sift the matter to the bottom and
wiring the neck of the willy old reis il
such course is necessary to extract
| the truth.
"Ihe river" calls out their guido
| IN his native tongue; and tll" fact
! arouseS the two men to new interest.
as they remember why they have
| come here.
A minute later and they stand upon
| the edge of the Nile. Just here the
| T., l., ,,wI, 10 ,,p
the year the water reaches its lowest
stage to the south, though at Cairo
there is always plenty.
Below them they can see Lights upon