New-York tribune., 1910-06-12

enerlv'S camp. At two o'clock the armies
were still lying like pair OF bulldogs wait
ing Tor some sign to grapple. For Dick the
strain was intense: but the kaId appeared
calm and unworried.
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
It was lust three O'Clock when the camp on
l. the far side sprang into a 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 seiZing 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 a bend III
the hill was q white clad figure mounted on
a horse surrounded by men carrying ban
ners. and as the emblem OF authority, the
huge red umbrella, immortal insignia of Of
fee. was being carried aloft over the new
l.
none other than Buhammei. But that was
not all. Trundling behind and dragged by
ca1nels and mules came a battery OF guns
They counted each as II appeared, until 1t
became apparent that Buhammel 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
pretcnder had resolved themselves INTO
wildly riding mass, their cattans hutterlng
behind them in the wind and Their arms
brandished above their heads. This con
tinued for perhaps ten minutes, and then, as
# eager to close the issue. the entire army
assumed a formation with the banners at the
front. The red umbrella had been furled;
but the officers were certain that Buhamme1
was the center Of q group in the tar rear
\ grOuD 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
g-ollDs Of subalterns, kept looking upward at
the little Englishman as if eagerly awaiting
his command Finally a shout 50 fierce and
wild that il was waited loudly across the IN
tervening space gave ample notice that the
charge was on.
Sharply the whole line OI ADVANCE StttI tSu
into motion. the horses trotting lelsurely at
the take off. and then when some few hun
dred wards had been passed breaking into
gallop. Dick could have shouted with eX-
element. There was something 50 splen-
didlv barbaric in that onrush Of thousands
Of 6orsemen massed, that it suggested a
charge Of Saracens from out the b?ygone cen
fgrjcS. Evidently they had not learned the
val,1e 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 tnbeSmen were
mounted, and threatened to break loose IN
= frenzy to meet the army Of the pretcndSer
IN the style in which they had 1nVarlaDIy
been accustomed TO fight
A huge puff Of smoke from the rear ol
Buhammci's army bellied up into the an ar
and a few instants later the sound oi tIle
report came following across the intervening
s,,lCa she'll vent screaming high above
their heads and fell hundreds Of yards IL, De
vond the farthest line Of their camp he
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