The Washington times., 1904-10-16
CHAPTER ".
A Duel to the Death.


Both Infatuated 6ervishes seemed now
for the first time. TO realize that eacn
stood opposite Z. decefving, lying, treach-
erous assassin. thirsting for his blood
! that he might not only gain the great
booty an alone. but also be safe from
detection. each saw, moreover lhat ne
was detected in the same dangerous
game
Each man said in his heart. II must
kin him and so save myself Tor hot
only VIII the treasure be mine and mine
alone now. but he is not TO be trusted
I even vith half.
It was now absolutely impossible that
either could trust TO parley, and arol-
/ tration. Each was WeapOnless save Tor
the little six-inch dagger, poisoned WITH
@ concoctiou of adders' spune, the tangs
of the centIpede. and hemIock from the
/ Nile. boiled down into pasty mass and
I srneared over the shining blade, whose
slightest scratch meant certain death
Each realized that there was a bare
possibility Of his esCape-sO slight IN
deed as 90 make him shudder.
The possession OF an immense fortune
now gave both men desire 10 1--we;
land so great was the rapacity and
greed in the savage heart that each still
preferred TO die than TO take less than
ItHe whole possession. while there was
q broad in the world a man whom he
could not trust who knew his secret.
These and a thousand kindred thoughts
few through the savage minds as they
crouched down with their right hands
lat their heels. all but cIenching the
fatal blade.
..Wut thou throw they last weapon
into the heap. comrade?' said the
younger
yea. on my oath as a Dongawali.'
cried the elder
Then so win 7, on my oath as Bag
CARA" echoed the younger.
Both men grasped their fatal knives.
The blades flashed ominously in the
morning light
''DonawaH or Baggara 1t is all the
same" said the elder. let Allah be
Judge ] am going 70 cOuE-. eomrade-
! truss thee"
Count. brother. I trust thee. like
wise"
The elder began the count, One
The savages fixed their blazing gaze
upon each other, but both looks were
perfectly inscrutabIe. Two" mOaned
the elder.
Both made motions as il 70 toss the
knife into the heap between them.
Three
There vas a deep and terrible silence.
Neither stirred. Both had been false
10 their oaths. Both were g0aded by
shame, guilt. rage.
Words at this pass were vain and
booLless. There was nothing 70 do but
haht-fght to the death.
The two savages seemed to meet in
mid-air. Their sleek and dripping bodies
came together with a resOundiug spat-
From the FIRST clash so skillful was the
parrying that although both men struck
thrice at the heart. neither received so
much as a pin scratch from the razor
edged blades
Back they Hew; recoiIiug for another
Iuuge. their mouths agape, painting
Hereby every fiber quivering, every
muscle strained 10 the utmost.
Again they came together like autOm-
atoms. each trying simultaneously the
same tricks of tripping, Iuuging. parry
ing feinting-every stratagem known 10
savage dueling.
Again they broke apart, half resting
against the rocks. all d tro.lble. both
having escaped as by miracle.
Neither spoke from the first. There
was not so much as an oath, prayer,
an invocation. A single gentle word ROW
would have suspended h0sulities, for
both We're sOUely wrenChed and bruised,
each man seeing death at his very 1901
step. 1t was only "a question OF which
man suffered the first accident
For skill they were equally matched.
I'm the barbaric school OF lighting trained
10 the same ncrceness after the same
methods.
Neither spoke even now, though the
simple word "BrCther!" would have
caused both men TO throw away their
weapons and rush into each others
arms. sounding their praise 10 heaven
But as neither cared &C show the white
feather, nor be the first 10 ask an arms
tice. there was uaught 10 do but rush
into combat for the last time.
In this final struggle both men showed
their infinite dexterity and endurance.
Tsbe skin with which each man avoided
the vicious bl0w-nay. even the deaoiy
scratch-was wonderful. indeed
Suddenly one tripped and fell-Ieu ron
ing in such a way that before the otneF
had thrown himself on top Of him Win
the poised blade he. got terrific blow in
the stomach with the right foot OF the
PROSTATE man, and he, too, went sprawl
ing.
Instantly both men were upon their
feet once more. each having ayailed him
SELF of the opportunity 20 seize hand
fui OF sand. AS they came together with