The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-11

Q
no longer any doubt in their minds but
that I am the Mahdl's representative.
and they are fattered with the honor
Of plotting Us 80 Osman Digua. But
there Is a desperate predicament before
us have told them that / so 10 give
the commander important tidings from
Khartoum, and TO deliver YOU. the fair
slave Of the Mahdl. 10 the dervish dig
nitary The difficulty is here; though
while trying my best TO arrive at the
front. it IS patent that we must never
reach Osman Digna, or st will be all over
with us. 1 can deceive a few provincial
emirs, but man OF Dignas CALDER
would never fan prey to my clumsy ma
chiratiOns. He's too wise"
Pray, then, why are you advancing
so fast 1t there IS such grave peril be
fore us?' asked Dorothy.
simply to get nearer the English
lines; and. II possible. to be taken pris-
oners by them. OF course, IL is a danger
Gus and desperate thing to do. but moth
Ing else remains for us-nOthing except
for me TO plunge into the valley OF
death. for you the little poisoned dagger.
DO you understand me, comrade?'
L understand" Dorothy nodded.
1t seemed almost cruel that, while she
could hear the long roll Of the English
cannonading, such a somber eXpedient
should be forced into her pleasant per-
spectiYc Would such indeed be the end
or all this mighty struggle toward free
dom? God forbid.
As they neared the scene Of conflict
the. emirs became less inquisilive. the
people less interested in the strange
captives, and even the guards them
selves half forgot their charges in
contemplation of the scene % action
from some bald height. They grew
grave and stopped their chatter, for
they had friends IN the thick OF battle,
and their faith was at stake with the
infidei giaour.
Toward evening the roar OF battle
melted away. and then the vast native
hordes relinquished the field OF carnage
and crawled back.
Shrieking, dancing lal Ching like
fen Is, shouting, Long live the Mahdi''
an6 Death 10 the white infdels.' they
yesembled a vast army OF demons
climbing out OF the bottomless pit.
Some still bore arms. some the flags
OF the emirs, and few carried ban
EeTs upon which were quotations from
the Koran or such notices as Who
socver fights under this banner shall
surely be Victorious
Bat for all this mad delight. for all
their drunkenness OF vietC.y, their
boasting. their threats. 1t could be
plainly seen by calm observers that
the forces OF the Ansar had received
a tremendous whipping.
Because the English had refined IN
their men at nightfall, because they
has ceased firing and retreated 10 more
favorable ground for the building OF
the zerebas for blOuvac, the deryishes
accounted It as great conquest for
God and the Mahdi. A force OF the
Ausar must be attacked, driven back.
crushed TO death. and utterly annihiiat-
ed in order to get them to concede a
victory 10 the enemy single man
escaping can throw his hands 10 heaven
I'm triumph and shout: We've won,
we've won"' and thousands will join in
the feast Of praise and gratitude.
Seeing that Il was quite impossible
10 hold the Ausar IN check tin morn
ing. and not wishing them 10 lose
their enthuiasm. Osman Dlgna and his
council sent abroad the command that
the several detachments were 10 hold
attack upon the enemy. This order was
received with shouts OF acclaim. and
seemed 10 pacify the battle maddened
bcsts for the time being
over the plains and ridges the camp
fires were burning. and supper was be-
ing prepared. Out came the stars one
by one. Only the heights were distin-
guishable. the lower spaces cloaked by
the shadows OF evening. The drums
beat on. the horns echoed down the
vast spaces. the neighing OF horses and
tie moaning Of cameIs kept up con-
slant disturbance. and under ten thou
sand tents the dervishes refreshed
themselves for the mighty matter in
hand.
While the riot OF the returned Ansar
was going on, IL was useless for tie
guards 10 progress with Dorothy and
the prince. They conteated themselves
with waiting until the tumult subsidized.
After making many Inquiries the camp
Of the commander. Osman Digna. was
located. IN that direction the little
caravan at once proceeded, Dorothy
very nervous and Bardof clutching his
sword beneath his gibbeh. deep IN
thought They were nearing the verge
Of their precipice.
Sometimes the problem seemed too
great for the worn and overwhelmed
soldier lie dared not refuse to accom-
pauy the guards yet he dared not at
tempt 10 b.lbe them for fear that in
the religious enthusiasm Of the hour
they would refuse the bride and turn
their charges owe: To the fanatics 20 Be
torn 10 pieces.
OF course. 20 accompany the guards
into the presence Of the chief dignitary
himself was like stepping up 10 the can
mons muzzie. Il meant sure and instant
death.
They neared the commanders camp.
Before iJ. seated iU an open space, was
the council. in constant communion
over the gravity OF the situation. Grave
and solemn these men Of action sat
about on small skin rugs before the
commander camp. stroking their black
boards and surveying the tragic field be-
fore them.
The prince surveyed the group from
a little distance. we have come 10
the brink Of eternity" he whispered
TREMENDOUSLY 10 Dorothy. For the first
time In my life / am completely at
standsun, ] don't know what 10 do
/ don't know which way 20 turn. and l
can't lie with looks or lips any longer. IL
has been the most terrible day OF my
life. We have run right into the lions