Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-08-15

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in review before his mind.
oBetter that either Saul or David
we're dead" he muttered. "And this
night shall determine which" and he
set his teeth firmly, and took step
nearer the encamped army.
"If 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 carse to him. But Isure-
| ly thought that when ! spared his
life that he would cease troubling me.
| Yea, I thought he would even have
suffered me to go 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, 1t were well that we were
| pressing forward If thou wouldst
I 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
I Thus aroused, David readjusted his,
light garments, again felt of his short
sword, and then stealthily crept for
ward. Ills long years of training in
the wilderness as, he lived in the fast
nesses Of the mountains and the for
ests had given him a tread as soft
and noiseless as that of a 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 deep slum-
Der.
1t had been a 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 OF precautions taken
against surprise, but the Ziphite
guides, had treasured Saul that it
was impossible for a 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 be-
coming known, and they said: GA
small body will not venture against
so splendid company of men," Thus,
encouraged, Saul and his men had
sought much needed nights rest,
and when David and Abishai reached
the camp the deep sleep Of the early
morning was upon them, SO 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
5 the lines of wretched agony which ap-
peared as the facial muscles were re-
5 Taxed in sleep. He saw written there
the tragedy of that life. He noted
5 the sunken eyes, the dropping mouth
3 and the nervous, irregular breathing
5 which indicated that even in sleep
there was no peace or rest for the
5 man who had rejected the Lord. AS
2 David looked closer and examined the
5 features they told him all the sad story
of the years of soul torture which
had come to this man because of his
willful, unrepentant disobedience OF
, Gods commandments, and David's
heart smote him and his hand relaxed
? its hold upon the dagger at his side.
And then David contrasted his owr
2 inner peace and confidence In God
What If the outward conditions hat
? been trying and desperate; what II he
8 had been driven from place to place
2 so that in no region did he feel secure
3 was his lot not better than that of the
.. man with the guilty conscience be
fore him who was fighting agains
God? After all, Saul was suffering
1T the most.
or Abishai watched David closely. H
lie noted the relaxed features, nay tn
I'd almost look of compassion which ha,
e. taken the place of the set, determines
m expression of fierce anger. Now h
ie stepped to David's side and said. wit
Id vehemence: God hath delivers
ut thine enemy into thine hand this day
e. now therefore let me smite him,
rs pray thee, with the spear to the cart
,d1 at once"
es David looked up startled, nay a
at most guiltily, as he realized hoy
tn hatred in his heart had almos
in plunged him into an awful crime.
Ia. may" he said, slowly, God sha