New-York tribune., 1910-06-19
CHAPTER XXI.

TT was as the Kaid had predicted. Secure in the be-
| lief that they had the army of the Sultan at their
mercy, Buhammei forces stretched slowly out until
they had thrown themselves into the form OF crescent
of whose points the ford and the other horn
far out the plain. In the swift tropical night the
campres leaped into glowing patches of flame, and the
shouts of the muleteers took soft and melancholy
music of their
With sense of having been beaten the Kaid's army
doubled back upon itself for at least mile grim and
Sullen. For hours the soft rumble of the
hard roads and the swayng clank of buckle upon steel
told that the batteries coming up take position
for another day. White, shadowy figures moving in
the dusk that preceded the wandered restlessly
like distressed spirits through the night ghostke and
anxious In the heart of this strange barbarc encamp
ment the headquarters tent had again lifted itself above
the sands, and from its peak dropped idly in heavy,
stagnant folds the banner of his Majesty. Weary men,
fatgued by effort without awaiting the evening meal,
threw themselves their cafans to rest The groans
of the wounded, varied by the occasional anguished
shrek of whose soul tearing forth from its
shell, lent sad monotone to the night.
Dick ate his supper alone. 1t was hard and scantv
fare. The Kaid away, restlessy studying the
ground which sunrise he knew the battle would
be resumed The American stepped out in front of the
tent to the campfire, in whose light Sdi Suleyman was
stitching up gaping wound on his horses hip. With
crude twtch his orderly was holding the shivering
animal in subjectiOn.
pretty good fight, eh, think" the Arab said when
he saw that the American was back of him. 1--WE lick
him vet think, eh?
Certainly we shall!' Dick assented, but with con-
siderable more conviction in his words than belief his
mind,
''They got away all right, did they?"
The kad, who had noiseless1y up behind
them questioned Sid and the latter swung round and
saued.
Yes, your Excellency. Six of the best men l have
to make sure
Clarke beckoned Dick to follow him and went into
the tent.
Il thought it best" he said, as though taking the
American into his confidence as an equal in command
have out to have the relief with the machine
guns travel all night if necessary At least of the
despatch bearers will get through If they get here in
time all right From what | can learn, Buham-
mel, not believing that renfOrcements are coming to
us, is making big mistake"
As if utterly exhausted, he threw himself spine on
his cot Dick, divestng himself of the khaki coat he
under his Moorish garb, stretched himself on his
cot.
"What mistake is he making2" the American asked.
The Kaid raised himself on his elbow and looked
at him he explained " He is trusting to his
having fully double the number of we have and is
making his line too thin. We are massed very sOlidv
with the steep banks of the river on one side He is
throwing his out the plain side covering about
three-eghths of a circle"
"Going to pen in eh?"
Yes. More than that, he hopes to get action on the
tribesmen themselves, who he knows will fight without
the regulars to pieces.
Strikes me as good idea Dick said unless the
relief comes"
''Precisely | am gambling everything on that and
am letting my get all the rest they Buham-
meis big mistake IS overconhdence. He is making
Copyright. by Roy