The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-12-24

had come for the treasure ahead of
him.
The Arab cared not whom the
thieves might be. They would not give
up the gold without battle. OF that
he was certain, and with wild whoop
and command to his followers. Ach-
met Eek put spurs to his horse and
dashed down upon the Abyssinians,
and after him. waving their long guns
above their heads, yelling and cursing.
came his motley horde of cut-throat
followers.
The men of Abdul Mourak met them
dies, and then the raiders were among
them, and sword. pistol and musket.
each was doing its most hideous and
bloody work.
Aehmet Eek, spying Werper at the
first charge, bore down upon the Bel
gian, and the latter, terrified by con-
temptation of the fate he deserved.
turned his horses head and dashed
madly away In an effort to escape.
Shouting to lieutenant to take COM
mand, and urging him upon pain OF
death to dispatch the Abyssinians and
bring the gold back to his camp, Ach-
met Eek set off across the plain in pur-
suit of the Belgian, his wicked nature
unable to forego the pleasures OF re-
venge, even at the risk OF sacrificing
the treasure.
Werper, going over his head rolled
a few yards farther on, scrambled to
Il; nd hoo al S0iZinO fhp
reins he tugged to drag the beast to
his feet; but the animal would not or
could not rise, and as the Belgian
cursed and struck him, Achmet Eek
appeared in view.
Instantly the Belgian ceased his ef-
forts with the dying animal at his feet,
and seizing his rifle, dropped behind
the horse and fired at the oncoming
Arab.
His bullet, going low, struck Achmet
Zel's horse in the breast, bringing
him down hundred yards from where
Werper lay preparing to fire second
shot
The Arab, who had gone down with
his mount, was standing astride him.
and seeing the Belgian's strategic po-
sition behind his fallen horse. lost no
time in taking up similar one behind
his own.
And there the two lay, alternately
firing at and cursing each other, while
from behind the Arab, Tarzan of the
Apes approached to the edge of the
forest. Keeping to one side of the
trail, the ape-man came presently to
point where he could look down in
comparative safety upon the fighters.
First one and then the other would
partially raise himself above his
breastwork of horseflesh. fire his
weapon and Immediately drop fiat be-
hind his shelter, where he would re-
load and repeat the act a moment
later.
Werper had fired all but single
cartridge, when, during lull In the
fighting, he called aloud to his oppo-
nent.
"Achmet Eek" he cried, "Allah alone
knows which one of us may leave our
bones to rot where he lies upon this
trail today If we keep up our foolish
battle. You wish the contents of the
pouch / Wear about my waist, and 1
wish my life and my liberty even more
than / do the jewels. Let us each,
then, take that which he most desires
and go our separate ways in peace. l
will lay the pouch upon the carcass of
my horse, where you may see 1t, and
you, in turn, will lay your gun upon
your horse, with butt toward me. Then
I will go away, leaving the pouch to
you, and you will let me go in safety.
I want only my life, and my freedom"
The Arab thought in silence for
moment. Then he spoke. His reply
was influenced by the fact that he had
expended his last shot.
go your way, then," he growled,
"leaving the pouch in plain sight be-
hind you. See, I lay my gun thus,
with the butt toward you. Co."
Regretfully Werper laid the pouch.
its contents undisturbed, upon the
body of his horse. rose, and taking his
rifle with him, backed slowly down the
trail until a turn hid him from the
view of the watchful Arab.
But Achmet Eek was no fool to ex-
pose himself to the blackened honor
of thief and murderer. Taking his
long gun with him. he left the trail, en-
tering the rank and tangled vegetation
which walled it, and crawling slowly
forward on hands and knees he paral-
leled the trail; but never for an in
stant was his body exposed to the rifle
of the hidden assassin.
Thus Achmet Eek advanced until he
had come opposite the dead horse of
his enemy. The pouch lay there in
full view, while short distance along
the trail Werper waited in growing
impatience and nervousness, wonder
ing why the Arab did not come to
claim his reward.
Presently he saw the muzzle of
rifle appear suddenly and mysterious
ly few inches above the pouch, and
before he could realize the cunning
trick that the Arab had played upon