The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1907-08-17
. relentles.ly sought hi, life ,a.sed

were dead, he muttered. And TINS
night shall determine which," and he
set his teeth firmly, and took ster
nearer the encamped army.
III had improved my opportunity
when God gave my enemy into my
hands in the cave, should have been
saved this hard nights trip" David
continued, as the memory Of that ex-
perience in the cave In the wilderness
of Engedi came to him. But Isure-
ly thought that when spared his
life that he would cease troubling me.
Yea, thought he would even have
suffered me to 60 and dwell peace
ably among my people. But what
hath he done? Rewarded me evil
for good And now what seemeth
to remain for me save to fight for my
life," and he let his hand fall to his
side and caressed the dagger which
hung there, as though 1t was the only
friend left him.
Master, it were well that we were
pressing forward II thou w0uldst
reach the side OF thy enemy before
the breaking of the morning light"
Abishai said. pointing to the faint
show of gray light in the eastern
sky.
Thus aroused, David readjusted his
light garments. again felt Of his short
sword, and then stealthily crept for
ward His long years OF training In
the wilderness as he lived in the fast.
nesses Of the mountains and the for.
ests had given him tread as soft
and noiseless as that of cat, and
David and Abishai found no difficulty
} In treading their way through the
open ranks of the soldiers of Saul as
} they lay stretched out in ideep slum
Der.
1t had been long. hard march
which they had had the day before.
} and when they had gone into camp
at night, the soldiers of Saul were
only too glad to stretch their weary
bodies on the soft, yielding ground
and give themselves over to refresh.
ing slumber. 1t would seem strange
that there should have been no
, guard placed or precautions taken
against surprise. but the Ziphite
, guides had treasured Saul that 1t
was impossible for large body Of
men to get through from the strong.
hold where David lay entrenched to
the place where Sauls camp was
pitched without their movements he
coming known, and they said "A
small body will not venture against
so splendid company of men," Thus
encouraged, Saul and his men had
| ~.
and when David and Abishai reached
the camp the deep sleep of the early
morning was upon them, 30 that
even had their tread not been SO light
they would not have disturbed the
tired sleepers.
On and on they crept. until the
outer bodyguard Of Saul was reached.
) Here the two men paused, scarcely
breathing lest they rouse some watch
} full soldier. David looked about him
and noted the place where Saul lay
and then, cautiously creeping around
the inert forms lying all about, he
reached the side Of the king.
How haggard and pitiful was that
countenance. David was shocked by
the lines of wretched agony which ap-
peared as the facial musclcg were re.
Taxed In sleep. He saw written there
the tragedy of that life. He noted
the sunken eyes, the dropping mouth
and the nervous, irregular breathing
which indicated that even in sleep
there was no peace or rsit for the
man who had rejected the Lord. AS
David looked closer and examined the
features they told him all tho sud story
Of the years of soul torture which
had come to this man because of his
willful, unrepentant disobedience OF
Gods commandments, and Davids
heart smote him and his hand relaxed
its hold upon the dagger at his side.
And then David contrasted his own
inner peace and confidence in God.
What IL the outward conditions had
been trying and desperate: what II he
had been driven from place to place
so that in no region did he feel secure.
was his lot not better than that OF the
man with the guilty conscience be.
fore him who was fighting against
God? After all, Saul was suffering
| the most.
r Abishai watched David closely. H0
, noted the relaxed features, nay the
| almost look of compassion which had
taken the place Of the set. determined
| expression Of fierce anger. Now he
, stepped to David's side and said, with
| vehemence: God hath delivered
/ thine enemy into thine hand this day ;
now therefore let me smite him,
) pray thee, with the spear to the earth
| at once"
) David looked up startled, nay al.
/ most guilty, as he realized how
! hatred In his heart had almost
, plunged him into an awful crime
: Nay" he said, slowly, God shall
r be my avenger. Destroy not for who
can stretch forth his hand against
;. the Lords anointed and be guiltless
I AS the Lord liveth, the Lord shall
9 smite him: or his day shall come to
: die; or he shall descend into battle
a and perish"
). AS David finished speaking he
!. stopped and picked up the cruise Of
4 water standing by Saula side and