The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-09-15

hundred yards Their pace had not
slackened for an instant. Farquhar
sprang to his feet.
Cease firing-fix bayonets"
He raced out alone to meet the en-
emy The rain of bullets had been
spur to their fanatic daring-the sud
den silence checked them. They wa
vered, suspecting 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 ininitesimal second Of indeci-
sion both sides waited. Goetz, with
his rifle 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
method"
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 peril that seemed contemplate.
Those watching for the end saw the
flash of bayonet-heard the jarring
rasp of steel against steel. and then
Ali-Mahomed's horse swept on rider
less. simultaneously flame burst from
a 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 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 incal-
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 fall
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
Destinn's face The elder man knelt
down and touched his hand almost
tenderly.
THAT was good fight" he said in
English. We've won. Ali-Mahomed
is dead. You've saved lot of trouble
for us ALL I am proud of you"
Thanks, sir. 1 am glad you're sat
isfied.''
They looked at each other. Behind
their careless, Indifferent composure
there had rung note of emotion
which even now was not wholly ST.
lent, though both men, lost for a brief
space in recollection, had regained
their hold upon the present. Farquhar
rose slowly to his feet. keep Colonel
Destinn under guard" he said. "Where
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 the
night gathering eastward.
ben Azar lies thirty kilometers
from here" he said. "Even with
lame foot Arnaud is a wonderful
marcher. There is a squadron of
chasseurs at Ben Azar besides artil-
lery. They should be here before
morning"
Captain Arnaud gave his parole"
Farquhar observed dispassionately.
might one ask why you did not ac-
company him?'
Destinn shrugged his shoulders,
smiling.
Farquhar lurched forward. He
stood for a moment within arms
length, swaying on his heels. When
he spoke it was in an undertone and
in English.
eve are fellow countrymen, Colonel
Destinn," he said. Whatever else
has happened or may happen, we have
fought together shoulder to shoulder.
ask favor of you. Make it pos
sible for me to keep my promise to
these poor fellows"
"Is that in my power?" was the
quiet return.
You cannot shoot hundred men.
You cannot send the last remnant of
your regiment to the penal battalions.
You need a ringleader and one eKem-
pIary punishment. l am the ring
leader"
at matters very little to me-" he
said. Il consent to your conditions.
1t is for you to manage your men as
best you can
''Of that you need have no fear"
"You speak with authority. What
vagabond gang did you lead in White
chapel. my countryman?"
Again the faint, irrepressible note of
uneasiness quivered beneath the irony.
Farquhar laughed.
The finest gang of daredevils in the
world, my colonel" he said. Then he
motioned to the two men on Destinn's
either hand Colonel Destinn has
given me his word he said briefly.
You have nothing more to fear. Biv-
ouac as best you can. We shall re-
main here till the morning"
He turned from them and passed the
hundred dim figures of men leaning
weary and motionless on their rifles.
They did not look at him or seem to
notice him. He saw Goetz standing,
slender. delicate figure, outlined
against an unearthly background of
silvery hills. The German was smok-