The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-11-02

he was to punish the treacherous Bed
ouins. Suddenly turning a corner. he
saw the eight dead bodies lying on the
ground.
The General loved his soldiers. The
sight of the murdered men made him
see red, and his eyes shot fire as he
cried: Attention."
Ten or twelve soldiers jumped to
their feet and stood motionless, like
statutes, before him.
Who has done this?" he roared.
Two Arabs, came he answer; man
and wife. He is still over there"
The old Arab was sitting leaning
against wall. motionless, while his
lips murmured a verse from the Koran
Interpreter, ask the bandit il he
confesses his crime. One word is suffi-
cient."
When the interpreter asked the ques-
ton the old Bedouin stared at tho Cen
eral, and a smile Of contempt was his
only answer. Menou turned livid with
rage.
Every seconds delay is a theft from
justice now!" he reared. Pick up
your guns"
The soldiers obeyed. Menou drew
! hAo SWOAN anu save OlQGl6
Attention! Load Aim Fire!"
The Bedouin fell forward on his
face. Menou Immediately regretted
having been so quick in his thirst for
revenge.
He must have had accomplices," he
cried. Il should have thought of that
before. An old man cannot Kill eight
Fench grenadiers all alone. 1t is inn
possible. Where are the others?"
He rushed towards the interpreter.
Where are the others? BY the beard
of the Prophet, l swear that l will have
their lives before take moments rest.
My soldiers have saved this country of
stupid camels from anarchy. and in
return you murder them. You cannot
kill eight French soldiers without pay
ing for il in blood. France demands the
death of thes ebrave men be avenged!
The accomplices! Where are the &C
complices?"
A captain who had said nothing yet
came forward. 81 have held an in
quest, but l discovered nothing, gener-
all"
Arrest somebody. An officer who
was complimented by Bonaparte at
Montenotte cannot allow himself to be
fooled by Bedouins. Did you arrest
no one?"
Yes, General. arrested a number
of people in the market square, and
about so OF these are still in custody"
Let us see the vermin!"
Menou walked in among the group Of
Arabs, farmers and merchants who had |
come to Cairo to sell their produce and |
goods to the French.
Line up and be CAREFUL" II one of
you tries to fool me l will have you
all shot" .. EAsALA
When the Arabs had been lined up
Menou passed along the line and scruti
nized each face. He discovered moth
ing, but suddenly a new idea struck
him. 1Nz
Bring the body of that Bedouin over
here" he commanded.
Two soldiers brought the still warm
corpse Of the Arab they had just shot.
Throw him down here. Each of you
take hold of one of his legs and drag
him through the sands in front Of that
mob. At the sight of he dissertation of
the body it should be strange if the
relatives or friends should not show
some sign of emotion"
The soldiers did as they were told,
and dragged the dead body, face down,
along the linz of Arabs. Menou follow
ing them, scanning each face as he {
went along Suddenly at the end of
the line somebody burst out sobbing.
Halt" II
Menou dragged out by her gray hair
an old, trembling woman.
"You are crying. Why do you cry?
Is he your husband?"
She was like a rat under the paw OF
a lion. Terrified, she tried to wipe +.
away her tears. :
"Too late" roared Menou.
A young Arab, who stood close to !
he old woman, stepped out of rank.
He was very calm, his face betraying
40 sign Of emotion. Throwing aside 4,
his white bernouse he showed a +
nangled, bleeding hand. 1t was a ter I
rible wound; one finger, the index s
niger. was missing, and lay in the
sands near his foot.
Menou turned white at the sight c
Everything grew dark before his eyes. S
Squeezing the old woman's arm, he i
lsked:
"Who is that MANI"
"My SON." t
"And this is why my mother is cry b
n.y." said the wounded man, holding up
lis wounded hand. \
The general stood silent. He hesitat S
ID and wished somebody else would 5
axe the affair
Bonaparte!
Pale, slender, a black lock of hair
hanging across his forehead, he had
eft the council of war, still filled with
he thoughts and plans of the campaign
,efore him. I
"Stopl"
He drew Menou aside
II saw everything and understood [