The Washington times., 1906-02-11

all nature around Us were living erea-
ture which Is very much afraid.
Following Ayesha's earnest gaze. [
perceived that thick, smoky clouds were
gathering one by one in the clear sky
above the peak, and that they were
edged, each of them, with fiery rim.
Watching these fantastic and ominous
clouds, ventured TO say TO her that it
looked as though the weather would
change-not a very original remark. but
one which the circumstances suggested
'Ay," she answered. ''ere night the
weather will be wilder even than my
heart. No longer shall they cry 1or
water in Kaloon! Mount, Holly, mount
The advance beginsr' and unaided she
spTang to the saddle of the mare that
Oros brought her.
Then, in the midst of the FIVE thou
sand horsemen. we moved down upon
the ford. AS we reached its brink
noted that the TWO divisions OF tribes
men were already entering the stream
half mile 10 the right and left OF Us.
OF what befell them [ can tell nothing
from observation, although ] learned
later that they forced il after great
slaughter on both sides
In front Of us was gathered the main
body OF the Khania's army, massed by
regiments upon the further bank, while
hundreds Of picked men stood up to
tneir middles in the water waiting 10
spear or hamstring our horses as We
advanced.
Now. uttering their wild. whistIlng cry.
our leading companies dashed into the
iyer. leaving Us upon the bank. and
soon were engaged hotly with footmen
In midstream. While this fray went on,
Oros came 10 Ayesha and told her a spy
had reported that Leo. bound in a two
wheeled carriage and accompanied By
Atene, Simbri. and guard, had passed.
through the enemy's camp at night. gall
loping furiousIv toward KalOOn.
Spare thy words. ] know il" she
answered and he fell back behind her
Our squadrons gained the bank. hav-
ing destroyed most OF the men in ths
wafer. but as they set foot upon it the
, enemy charged thrice and drove them
back with loss Thrice they returned TO
the attack. and thrice were repulsed II
this fashion. At length Ayesha grew
impatient.
They need a leader. and I viii give
them one" she said. Come with me,
my Holly" and followed by the main
body Of the horsemen. she rode a little
way into the river. and there waited
until the shattered troops had fallen back
upon US. Oros whispered to me:
1T is madness; the Hesea viii be-
slain"
''Thinkest thou SOP I answered. More
Ike that We shall be slain" q SAYING
al which he smiled little more than
usual. and shrugged his shoulders. since
for all his soft ways. OrOs was a brave
n. Also ] believe that he spoke to
try me- knowing that his mistress would
take no harm.
Ayesha held up her hand, in which,
there was no weapon. and waved il for
ward. A great cheer answered that
signal TO advance. and in the midst Of
it this frail, white-robed woman spoke
to her horse. so that il plunged deep
into the water
Two minutes later. and spears and
arrows were flying about US so thickly
that they seemd to darken the sky. I
saw men and horses fall to right and
left. but nothing touched ne OF the
white robes that fioated a yard or two
ahead. Five minutes and we were gain@
ing the further bank. and there the
worst fight began.
1t was fierce. indeed. yet never an inch
did the white robes give back. and
where they went men would follow them
or fail. We were up the bank, and the
them we passed slowly. like a boat
through an adverse sea that buf1ets but
cannot stay it, Yes, further and further,
till at last the lines ahead grew thin
the living wedge Of horsemen forced
its path between them-gTew thin. broke
and vanished
We had passed through the heart Of
the host and leaving the tribesmen who
followed 10 deal with its flying frag-
ments, rode on half a mile or so and
mustered. Many were dead and more
were hurt but the command was is
sued that all sore-wOunded men should
fall out and give their horses to replace
those that had been killed.
This was done. and presently We
moved on. 5000 of us now, not more,
heading for Kaloon. The trot grew to 4
canter, and the canter to a galIop as
we rushed forward across that endless
plain. till at midday, or a little after
for this route was far shorter than that
taken by Leo and myself in oar devious
flight from Rassen and his death
hounds-we dimIy saw the city of Ka-
loon set upon its hill.
Now halt was ordered. for here was
reservoir I'm which was still some
water, whereof the horses drank. while
the men ate of the food they carried
with them; dried meat and barley meal.
Here, TOO, more spies met us. who said
that the great army of Atene was
posted guarding the city bridges. and
that to attack II with our little force
would mean destruction. But Ayesha.
took no heed of their words; indeed,
she scarcely seemed 10 hear them Only
she ordered that all wearied horses
should be abandoned and fresh ones
mounted.
Forward again for hour after hour
in perfect silence save for the thunder
of our horses hOofs. No word Spoke
Ayesha. nor did her wild escort speak.
only from time to time they looked over
their shoulders and pointed with their
red spears at the red sky behind
/ looked also. nor shall 1 forget its
aspect The dreadful. fire-edged clouds
had grown and gathered so that beneath
their shadows the plain Law almost
black They marched a