Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-09-29
| pleasantly with cartridge between

damned into the smoking breech OF
his rife. That's the new prophet
Ali-Mahomed-in the front there. If
we could bring him down it might
break their backbone"
The Arabs were now within four
hundred yards. Their pace had not
slackened for an instant Farquhar
sprang to his feet.
Cease firing-fx bayonetsr'
He raced out alone to meet the en-
envy. The rain of bullets had been a
spur to their fanatic daring-the sud-
den silence checked them. They wa
vered, suspecting a trap in this strange
lull seeing in the lonely figure the one
thing they feared-the supernatural.
the unknown. Not a shot was fired.
For an inRnifssimal second of indeci-
sion both sides waited. Goetz, with
his rife against his cheek, his finger on
the trigger, kept up a soft flow of
good-humored expletive
"Mad-mad as Englishmen, but oh.
gods of my fathers, what sublime
methodr'
Farquhar had covered fifty yards
before the enemy had grasped his pur-
pose. Then with a sort of delirious
triumph their leader burst through the
ranks of his followers and Numbered
down upon the doomed man with the
superb arrogance of his race, disdain-
ing a peril that seemed contemplate
Those watching for the end saw the
flash of a bayonet-heard the Earring
rasp OF steel against steel, and then
Ali-Mahomed's horse swept on rider
less. simultaneously flame burst from
hundred rifles. Destinn led the
charge, and behind him raced hun
dred cheering men who an hour be-
fore had clamored for his life. He
ran like boy, waving a smoking, use
less rife, shouting madly, while Goetz
Numbered at his side. 1t was two
to one, exhausted infantry against
cavalry in full course. But the mir
acle had been performed. The meal
culable element In all battle, the su-
perstition of mems hearts, had fallen
In the scale. The whirlwind died
down. Within a few feet of their
fallen leader the heroic Arab host fal-
tered. broke and fed.
They picked up Farquhar from be-
meath the dead body of his opponent.
and as his eyes opened they rested on
Destinns face. The elder man knelt
down and touched his hand almost
tenderly.
THAT was a good fight" he said in
English. We've won. Abandoned
is dead. You've saved a lot OF trouble
for us all. l am proud of you
Thanks, sir. l am glad you're sat
isfied."
They looked at each other. Behind
their careless, Indifferent composure
there had rung a note of emotion
which even now was not wholly ST.
lent, though both men, lost for brief
space in recollection, had regaine6
their hold upon the present. Farquhal
rose slowly to his feet. Keep Colone
Destinn under guard" he said. "Whert
is Captain Arnaud?"
Two men advanced and placed them
selves on either side of their former
leader. But they did not answer
Destinn frowned thoughtfully at thu
night gathering eastward.
Ben Azar lies thirty kilometer
from here" he said. Even with {
lame foot Arnaud is wonderful
marcher. There is squadron o
i
lery. They should be here before
morning"
Captain Arnaud gave his parole,
Farquhar observed dispassionately
might one ask why you did not &C
company him?"
Destinn shrugged his shoulders
smiling.
Farquhar lurched forward. n
/ stood for a moment within arm
q length, swaying on his heels. Whel
| he spoke it was in an undertone ant
u in English
1--WE are fellow countrymen, Colone
/ Destinn," he said. whatever els
/ has happened or may happen, we hav
fought together shoulder to shoulder
IL 1 ask a favor of you. Make it pos
u sible for me TO keep my promise t
u these poor fellows"
IL us that in my power?" was tn
e quiet return.
IL You cannot shoot a hundred mel
r You cannot send the last remnant @
your regiment TO the penal battalionl
l. You need a ringleader and one exen
IL plary punishment I am the rims
II leader
1T matters very little to me-" b
"a said. 81 consent to your conditions
E 1t is for you to manage your men a
a best you can"
L 'Of that you need have no fear"
8 "You speak with authority. Whs
ie vagabond gang did you lead in White
&c chapel, my countryman?"
Again the faint, irrepressible note {
uneasiness quivered beneath the iron.
q Farquhar laughed.
~ THE finest gang Of daredevils in th
- world, my colonel" he said. Then
ie motioned to the two men on Destinn
y either hand. Colonel Destinn hs
given me his word" he said brief.