Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-16


prowess than he.
Achmet Eek drew to one side of his
horde, speaking to his men in a low
voice. A moment later, without warn.
ing. ragged volley was poured into
the ranks of the waziri A couple Of
the warriors fell. the others were for
tcharging the attackers; but Mugambi
was cautions as well as brave lead.
er. He knew the futility of charging
mounted men armed with nuskets.
He withdrew his force behind the
shrubbery of the garden. Some he dis
patched to various other parts of the
grounds surrounding the bungalow.
Half doseh he sent to the bungalow
itself with instructions to keep their
mistress within doors, and to protect
her with their lives.
Adopting the tactics of the desert
fighters from whom he had sprung.
Achmet Eek led his followers to gal
lop in a long, thin line, describing a
great circle which drew closer and
closer toward the defenders among
! the shrubbery.
At that part of the circle closest to
the Waziri. a constant fusillade Of
shots was poured into the bushes be.
hind which the black warriors had
concealed themselves. The latter, on
their part, loosed their slim shafts at
the nearest Of the enemy.
The Wazirl, justly famed for their
archery. found no cause to blush for
their performance that day. Time and
again some swarthy horseman threw
hands above his head and toppled
from his saddle, pierced by a deadly
arrow; but the contest was uneven.
The Arabs outnumbered the waziri.,
their bullets penetrated the shrubbery
and found marks that the Arab rifle.
men had not even seen, and then
Achmet Eek circled inward a half mile
above the bungalow, tore down a sec
ton Of the fence and let his marauders
within the grounds.
Across the fields they charged at a
mad run. Not again did they pause to
lower fences, instead they drove their
wild mounts straight for them, clear.
ing the obstacles as lightly as winged
gulls.
Mugambi saw them coming, and,
calling those of his warriors who re-
mained, ran for the bungalow and the
last stand. lgpon the veranda Lady
Greystoke stood, rifle in hand. More
than a single raider had accounted to
her steady nerves and cool aim for his
outlawry; more than single pony
raced, riderless, in the wake of the
charging horde.
Mugambi pushed his mistress back
into the greater security Of the inte.
rior, and with his depleted force pre-
pared to make last stand against the
foe.
On came the Arabs. shouting and
waving their long guns above their
heads. Past the veranda they raced,
pouring a deadly fire into the kneeling
Waziri who discharged their voliey
Of arrows from behind their long, oval
shields-shelds we'll adapted, perhaps,
to stop hostile arrow, or defect
spear, but futile before the leaden
missiles Of the rif1emen.
From beneath the half.raised shut.
ters Of the bungalow other bowmen
did effective service in greater secur-
ity, and after the first assault Mugambi
withdrew his entire force within the
building.
Again and again the Arabs charged,
at last forming a stationary circle
about the little fortress, and outside
the effective range of the defenders
arrows. From their new position they
fired at will at the windows.
One by one the Waziri fell. Fewer
and fewer were the arrows that re-
piled to the guns of the raiders, and
at last Achmet Eek felt safe in or.
dering an assault.
Firing as they ran, the bloodthirsty
horde raced for the veranda. A dozen
Of them fell to the arrows Of the de.
tenders; but the majority reached the
door. Heavy gun butts fell upon it.
The crash Of splintered wood mingled
with the report Of a rifle as Jane Clay
ton fired through the panels upon the
relentless foe.
Upon both sides of the door men
fell; but at last the frail barrier gave
to the vicious assaults of the maddened
attackers; 1t crumpled inward and q
dozen swarthy murderers Ieaped into
the living room. At the far end stood
Jane Clayton surrounded by the rem
nant Of her devoted guardians. The
floor was covered by the bodies of
those who already had given up their
lives in her defense. In the fore
front of her protectors stood the giant
Mugambi.
The Arabs raised their rifles to pour
in the last volley that would effectually
end all resistance, but Achmet Eek
roared out a warning order that
stayed their trigger fingers.
Fire not upon. the woman!" he
cried. who harms her dies. Take
the woman alive!"
CONTINUED TOMORROW