The Washington times., 1922-12-24
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20 fight. Their bellies have,
melted know-I, too, lived
once in Omdurman. An execu-
toner, sar! I, Ell Addar, was an
executioner--I have had such
things as these dogs and towards
by dozens on their knees in ranks
before me-awaiting my stroke
Uzz-zz Like that! Une by one
and never one that needed a
second blow, sar"--
"Shut up, you black brute"
snapped Marchurst, suddenly sick
ened by this unnatural and peurile
attempt of the negro to stimul@te
his courage in face of their
danger
He had understood enough OF
the mutterings of this ex-k!ller
from the old Omdurman, to knt
that they were in quite a hopeless
position. These white riders were
evidently some lingering band Of
those fugitives from the forces OF
the Khaiifa which, in ever dimins
ishing numbers, still haunted the
Sudan wastes Fanatics and
murderers to a man, they had
probably been got together by
some ferocious and untameable
Dervish Emir who, brooding on
past glories, was not content to
throw away his weapons and turn
to more peaceful pursuits, as most
of the Arabs surviving from the
slaughters Of Atbara, Omdurman,
and that final schooling at Umm
Dabrekat, had done.
'Tf it's hopeless then we've got
. no choice, Ell Addar. Well kill
as many of these wolves as we
can before they finish us. Break
open a box of cartridges
It'll DON be over, that's one bless
ing" said Dick Marchurst
and faced south
The party in that direction were
drawing up while the fianking
bands were moving in SO that
presently they would converge and
join forces a few furlongs short
of Marchurst's little company.
Against the whole band were
Marchurst and Ell Addar, with two
heavy rifles and little Mannlicher
which one of the bearers, spurred
to a sort Of desperation by his own
obvious terror, would use.
"Get ready-here they come"
snapped Marchurst, and flung his
rifle to his shoulder.
But the Abyssinian who had
been staring intently at an Arab
riding on Q white dromedary
slightly in advance Of the party,
suddenly uttered a strange, hoarse,
half-strangled exclamation and
snatched the rifle from Marchurst.
"Sar, by God! It's Red Emirv'
he shouted in fury of savage ex-
citement, dropped both rifles to the
ground and ran out towards the
advancing Arabs, empty-handed.
At sight Of this gigantic and
half naked figure rushing out to
meet them unarmed, the white
wolves slowed little, drawing to-
gether, like animals that suspect
a trap. But the dazzling points
of light struck by the sun from
the bright parts of their rifles as
they raised them warned March,
u-st that they were ready and well
prepared. /
Ed Addar ran desperately to-
wards them, shouting, his empty
hands high.
Dick Marchurst, fascinated,
watched, and the quailing servants
stared with eyes of terror. It was
quite apparent that even though
he may have known the veiled
rider whom he had called the Red
Emir, the big negro was inspired
only by the strange fey daring of
fear.
And if there had been any con-
fidence or hope in his inspiration
at the beginning, there was moth
in of either in his attitude as he
drew near the silent group Of
desert nen. The solitary rider,
hunched on his dromedary, little
4, f~ort of he honJ ox,oskaI kha