Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

were still lying like pair OF bulldogs walt
ing for some sign to grapple. For Dick the
strain was intense; but the Kaid appeared
calm and unworred.
Every hours delay is for Our benefit, he
chuckled; but | can't see yet why they
don't run up the little flag of the new prophet
and get busy
Leaving Dick on watch with the binOcu
lars in front of their tent, he went inside,
threw himself down on the cot, and calmly
went to sleep.
TT was Just three o clock when the camp on
l the far side sprang into sudden frenzy
of excitement. Dick called his friend, who
ran out, took one look through his binocu
lars, and then ran back down to the end of
the crest of the little hill and threw up his
hands. Instantly the camp below sprang
into activity, the soldiers selling their arms
and coming to formation and the men behind
the batteries in readiness.
The officers now discovered the reason for
delay in attack. Coming round bend in
the hill was a white clad figure mounted on
horse surrounded by men carrying ban
ners and as the emblem of authority, the
huge red umbrella, immortal insignia of Of
flee, was being carried aloft over the new
conner, who they at once concluded to be
none other than Buhamme. But that was
not all. Trundling behind and dragged by
camels and mules came battery of guns.
They counted each as it appeared, until it
became apparent that Buhammei had pos
sessed himself of twelve pieces of artillery,
which, from that distance, they decided
were nearly as modern as the best of their
own.
In strange contrast to their own army,
which stood quiet and firm, the forces of the
pretender had resolved themselves into a
wildly riding mass, their caftans futtering
behind them in the wind and their arms
brandished above their heads. This con-
tinued for perhaps ten minutes, and then, as
if eager to close the issue, the entire army
assumed formation with the banners at the
front. The red umbrella had been furled;
but the officers were certain that Buhammei
was the center of group in the far rear.
Agroup of aides for the Kaid was standing
Immediately behind the two officers on the
knoll, and below Dick could see that the
corps officers, surrounded by their own
groups Of subalterns, kept looking upward at
the little Englishman as if eagerly awaiting
his command. Finally shout SO fierce and
wild that it was waited loudly across the in
tervening space gave ample notice that the
charge was on.
Sharply the whole line of advance started
into motion, the horses trOttlng lelSurely at
the take off, and then when some few hun
dred yards had been passed breaking into
gallop. Dick could have shouted with ex-
element. There was something so splen-
didly barbaric in that onrush of thousands
of horsemen massed, that it suggested
charge of Saracens from out the bygone CEN
turtles. Evidently they had not learned the
value of open skirmish fighting, such as is
used in modern armies.
The Kaid had turned and was giving rapid
orders, and Dick whirled long enough to
know the cause. Their own tribesmen we're
mounted, and threatened to break loose in
a frenzy to meet the army of the pretender
in the style in which they had invariably
been accustomed to fight.
A huge puff of smoke from the rear of
Buhammei's army bellied up into the air,
and few instants later the sound of the
report came following across the intervening
space. A shell went screaming high above
their heads and fell hundreds of yards be-
yond the farthest line of their camp. The
Kaid grinned appreciatively and said
THAT tells the story. They don't know
how to aim their guns. 1t will take those
fellows a long time to get the range, and un-
less l lose my guess by that time it will be
decided"