The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-11

were many signs of old encampmcnts,
Tolivcr left the camp while ] was dis
posing the caravan with some idea Of
defense, since IL was now certain that
wandering band OF BedouiuS had been in
the vicinity. He was gone about half an
hour when ! heard shout from him.
and. raising my eyes, saw him standing
on a rock at the far eastern side OF the
inclosurc. waving his arms. pan in one
hand and something clutched in the other.
l hurriedy completed my work and
went over TO him.
Look at these. Markham, Look al
these he cried. displaying some very
fine fragments OF turquoise matriN. He
had found them in a rift in the sand OF
the bar at the very base OF the barrier.
The WORKING conditions we're awful.
Sand storms, hot winds, days Of blazing
stiffness. when the temperature reached
one hundred and twenty-five for hours at
a stretch, The sixth night there was a
great stir among the animals first and
tho men thereafter. our Arabs were
positive that We were being reconnoitered
by a party in the darkness. They had
come UP In our wind on the cliff tops. as
they thought but the swirl inside the de-
preston had brought their wind 10 our
camels' noses. Nothing was seen. moth
ing was heard-that is. positively-hut
the camp was In a hubbub the whole
night.
At daylight I took a clever Asir boy
and skIrted the cliffs, On the north
side were the fresh trscks OF a large
party OF Bedouins and the boy was sure
from the camel spoor and other signs
that they we're maraudins Nedjedans.
Strategy and Force.
An English platoon on the cliff tops
could have handled us exactly as Piet
Cronje and his men were handled. but
the range was too long for the Arabs
from the north, east and west. and we
were protected by clump of rocks on
the south. The strategiSts among them
would figure out two things u we were
10 be attacked First. they could descend
the gorges and fight US on the bed OF
the dry lake, second, they must know
that we could not remain where we were
more than few days longer and they
sole defensive measures were TO keep the
camp in state OF preparation and 10
post guards al the two entrances TO the
enclosure from the gorges.
The second night after the reconnais-
sance TolllVer Weakened me at ] O'Clock
and ] took up the watch. we having di-
vided the twenty four hours into four
even watches breaking at / o'clock and
o'clock night and day. II must have
been an hour before sunrise when heard
an odd sound from the vicinity OF the
western entrance 10 the gorge 1t was
like a shout ending in a grCan. ] ran
rapidly toward the spot. moving as silent
ly as possible and nearing the entrance
was aware that something was crawling
on all tours one of the Oman men on
guard. with a terrible cut in his neck
and shoulder. An effort had been made
To deCapitate him on post. Clutching my
neck he rolled over dead.
blew my whistle and its shrill sum-
mons went echoine among the rocks. Two
sets OF shouts and cries answered. One
came from the camp behind me and the
other from the gorge.
The Bedouins had semi several men to
creep up on the guard OF three men and
murder them The Oman had escaped
after being struck and tried 10 crawl To
the camp since he was so terribly hurt
he could not call. out more tlTen the ono
sound he had uttered. Doubtless the
shouts came from the main body moving
on TO the attack. Dropping on my knee,
began pumping away into the entrance
of the gorge and instantly there came
tbat terrible sound-the Shrek OF
wounded frightened horse The whole
gap began to blaze with flashes as they
re Piled and from the camp came the
cacIIe of bhe guns OF Toliiver and our
Weakened men. ], being squarelY between
the two bodies. was in a most dangerous
position.
The air seemed 10 he alive with bull
lets and slugs. and csasiug fire I ran
south 10 get out of the line. turning In
tlme to see a large body Of mounted men
emerge from the mouth OF the gorge and
bear down on the camp. | emptied my
magazine into them and then ran with
all speed 10 keep from being cut Off A
terrified camel came swinging toward mo
and | barely got out of his way. 1t