Omar Kassam

Lake County Press, Issue 2136, 20 September 1906, Page 2

Omar Kassam

(All Rights Reserved.)

A MODERN FREE LANCE, —<** OR THE «=-- •it 'ilxcmaittic Career A—=aa OF THE «=— Baron's 2>auobtei\

By St. George Rathborne,

Author of "A God ess uf Africa,'-' &c, &c. PART 10. CHAPTER XXIV. A TERROR THAT CAME BY NIGHT. The moment Omar Kassam heard the weird shouts which were sent forth by those who were charging the camp, lie understood what, lie and his companions had to face. Had it boon OrlolT and his ten riders, the situation would have seemed perilous enough ; but it was doubly dangerous when the fuel was understood that it was the wild Tartar marauders who now charged them—men who knew no law save that might makes right, and from whom they would expect little mercy. On their former experience they had made a quick flight, and eluded those who anticipated taking them by surprise ; but the conditions were radically different now, for, in the first place, the riders seemed to be all round them, and then again, so very near that, although Michael had, through instinct, flown to his horses the chances were he would never be able to harness them in time. rCven if that could be accomplished, where was the flight to be directed when no spot in the circumference was free from enemies.

Kassam had distinctly seen the driver toss him the ritlo, with a hoarse shout that doubtless was intended as a request for him to keep the horsemen in chock, until he could manage his part of the affair. Omar's first business was therefore, to secure the repeating gun, and when his hands closed upon it he felt that he had a few lives in Ids power, if the worst came to pass. Charley Mas there as large as life All levity was thrown to the winds, and when he lined up alongside t Inother, Omar Kassam know full well he had a faithful comrade at his elhow, ready to give a good account of himself. It was like the sudden rush of a hurricane sweeping through a tropical jungle—the shouts, the roar of hoofs, the neighing of horses ; a

stampede they would have called it out on the prairies where Kassam had learned his lessons in woodcraft, for the horses in the cam/) were immediately infected with a wild desire to break loose and flee. The two men stood there, in front of Kloise. peering into the misty surroundings, eager to catch a first glimpse of the oncoming horde, sn that they might give them a hot reception that possibly might stagger them, anil turn their thoughts more towards flight than assault. The girl had by this time succeeded in freeing herself from the blankets and rising to her feet ; her factwas white ,-is death, but she showed the eourage of the thoroughbred in that she refused to he thrust hack |jy those who would have shielded her with their bodies.

“l)rop to the griniiid, for Heaven's sake !” cried Kassam, thinking only that she would receive some injury in the exchange of shots (hat were impending. For once she refused to obey him, and would have stood there at his side, only that he actually pushed her down. Then the figures of the wild riders loomed up beyond in the starlight. They waved their arms above their turbaued head in the most extravagant manner, doubtless looking upon this as a means to terrify those about whose camp they were thus pouncing in the. dead of night. Kassam throw the gun up to his shoulder as though he had sighted a deer, and almost instantly its flame shot out, telling that lie had sent the first leaden compliment to his foes. Again and again he pumped the weapon, rattling the shots with right good will, and apparently doing terrible execution among the horsemen, if the cries that rang out were to be. taken as any indication of his skill.

Charley felt lonely being thus left out of the game, and us his assailants had now dashed in so close that they could easily be reached by smaller arms, he opened with the revolver he swung on n level. The crash of battle is always doubly terrible when heard between night that lends a weird effect to sunset and dawn. There seems to he something mysterious about the deeds of arms. Kven the shouts nl" men have a different, cadence when heard under such conditions, ami the moans or shrieks of those who writhe with wounds send a shiver to the bravest heart. It. was two against two score.

As well might one expect to dam tho mighty Amur with mortal hands or slop the rush of mi avalanche in tin- towering Alps as (o hold these hold raiders in'check with such n scanty force.

So long as his gun held out Kassiun continued to make targets of moving figures, whether they were men or horses, and. given time, logethcr with plenty of ammunition he might have made those Tartar assailants sing pretty small. Shots came from the other side, but no one paid the least attention io them ; indeed, there was no time to think whether wounds were received or not for with a whirl the foremost horsemen were upon them.

What followed was like a nightmare to Omar Kassam.

lie could remember striking to the right and left, and emptying several sheepskin saddles, while receiving more or. less damage in return, all the while endeavouring to shield the form that crouched behind him.

Charley had been immediately separated from him, and the lust he saw of him was his figure writhing and twisting in the direction of Michael, who was shouting something about .•tie v.uggoii being ready.

There did not seem to hr thr slightest hope of nn escape ; and, indeed, Kassam had given up thinking about siii'li n thing. Ids onl\ drsirr bring to dir lighting in hrr service, ns hr hnd promised. so that slir iiinsl '■' it rrinrmbrr him as a man of valour and no rmviird —thill is Ihr main thought in thr mind of a soldier. I It was at this instant that a marI vrllons thing occurred that he could I only loot, upon as a direct disprn- ! sal ion of 1 Vovddenc. and feel thanki tul lor the remainder of his life. | Through the mass of struggling j Tartars broke the second pair of i horses that had drawn the laranlass . over so man\ scores of leagues. I I hey had broken loose from their | moorings, lend lied b\ the awful i clamour, and in the course of their

| Ibgbt now him- down upon (ho num win. was battling tor all that could be hold dcar on cart hj. 1 bay almost plunged over him cro he understood what a freak of fortune bad sent them in that i|iiarter; l>ut an inspiration (lashed through bis brain as. dropping ow nscj less weapon. he snatched desperately in the bridles and with the strength of ti Hercules brought the animals to | a si andst ill. I I'.loise was on her feet. She had seen the coming of the horses, sent its she believed in answer to the fervent prayers she was ul (ering bm tween her trembling teeth, and it hardly needed the shout of her champion to toll her that their only desperate chance lay in mounting in hot haste and speeding away over the waste. Again his arms were round her for

Hip third time. Up lifted her to easily as an ordinary mini might lift tin infant, for the situation made bin ;i giant—lifted and [dared her upon the hack of the nearest struggling horse, which was an exploit he need never he ashamed to own, a feat In could never afterwards explain, 01 understand how it had heen accomplished, since he still held the animals h.v the reins. This in the twinkling of an eye it must have heen—surely in much less time than it tithes to read it. for (he surging Tartars were unahle to grasp the situation until it was tno late to st op Ihe mount jug. Kttssam now jumped astride the ,s,cond horse, as though he were the adroit ha reha ck rider of the circus. lie hen I down and took Ihe hridle of her horse in his grasp, at I Insame time calling out to her to he of good cheer—that he meant to save her yet, though all tin- powers of tinlower regions were h-iigm-d against t hem. How (hey rushed through I Inswarming groups that surrounded them sin- never knew ! One instant they were in the centre of a score of struggling, shouting, striking horsemen. tangled -i|i in a knot In t Insudden and marvellous changes that had taken place, and which were only to he likein-d to tin- kaleidoscopic results of a wizard's wand : the next, and the two fugitives had hurst through, and were galloping holly and madly away with a string of pursuers following furiously at their horses' heels. 'The situation was had enough even then, and yet such a wonderful ini provemeul over what it had I a minute hack that the man was thrilled with tile faint hope of being aide to elude tln-lr pursuers, though how. he could not gi\e a random guess yet . How fortunate it was that Kloise proved to he a splendid horsewoman else would I his sudden, desperate flash heen rendered impossible ’ Sinsat the hare haek of her steed with marvellous skill, and seemed t-i nerve herself to meet the oeeasiou in a manner that challenged his admira t ion. •Many times he glanced that way for In- could hardl\ keep his eyes from her. In his sight sin- appeared to ho a veritable goddess of the night, for her long, golden hair had heroine unbound and was flowing in the wind with the loose streamers of her sacfpie. Sin- clutched tin- reins with all her power, and ln-pt her eves fixed upon the ground ahead, as though fearful lest new and over whelming difficult ie.s might spring up and confront t In-iu. Kver and anon Kttssam twisted his In-ad round in order to discover how the chase was going, though there was little need of this, for In- eonid hear Lite hoarse shoots of tin- swift Iv flying Tartars close behind, which Wits good evidence that (hey were not being left very rapidly.

Had there been hut a few of these enemies, lie was in just the savage mood to have turned upon them ami given them the contents nt' his revolver ; tint it looked as though tinwhole squad had put after t lie two who were on horseback, possibly he cause the others had already nu-l their fate, mid were either killed or prisoners in the hands of these cruel foes.

Another thing began (o give him great uneasiness, that almost amounted to fright ; for what concerned his gentle companion acted upon him in a manner with which he had never been familiar. He noticed that the horse upon which she was mounted had commenced tn limp, though as yet this marie no appreciable difference in its pace ; perhaps il had been wounded during the melee at the camp, when the lead was living so indiscriminately, and was gradually becoming weaker through loss of blood.

This added an element of new uncertainty to the situation, and just when he was beginning tn build up hopes; for they had rea!l,\ left their pursuers somewhat in the rear. Omar Kassani knew what he must do if the worst came. If he could only have some assurance thai she might In- saved, he would imt consider the sacrifice as having been uselessly made, and that was where the shoe pinched ; for what wits to becol >\ Klnise if he was killed, unless by rare good luck she fell in with Charley and the driver, whom he had faint hopes hiid escaped.

Yes, his experienced e,\ e speedily told him the animal she rode was beginning tn fail ; thiil presently it must hold them back, so that the pursuers would be able tn turn the tables, and gradually overtake them. !f anything were to he done in order in take advantage of this golden opportunity it must lie now or never. Suddenly, then, he drew in both the horses. Tn her surprise, however, instead of depositing her on the ground, he immediately transfered her to the horse he had been riding, and in her ear she heard his voice shouting a In ,\ ,• t he clamour of I he rnpidh a r ri\ ine Tai int band : "Hide like mini ! Von inn v liud

j Charley ! Good-bye, and Cod blest you .'" Then onl.\ did she comprehend the magnitude of the sacrifice this man intended making for her. and she saw him at his best, a vovy king among his fellows, willing to give his life jin order to save her. She would have flatly refused to (bey, despili the authoritative tone he used ; she 'would have insisted on remaining at I his side to share in his doom, and [thus proving that a Hussian maid knows how lo die : but lie allowed , her no opportunity t o decide, for 1 wit hj his last word lie raised his I hand and brought it down wit hj a | fearful emphasis upon the flank of j I lie horse. w hieh imineiliate|\ shot : off into the surrounding fog like atmosphere, leaving Kassam to meet his fate alone. CHAPTER XXV. THE TARTARS Wild CAI (HIT A TARTAR. I'ntil the forms of horse and rider were swallowed up in t lie surrounding misty atmosphere Kassam kept his eyes riveted upon Ihe girl who clung there, as though it were his desire that he should see her last of all on earth before meeting Ihe doom that seemed lo be bearing down upon him with such swiftness ; he even smiled as though rpiite satisfied to sacrifice himself in order thai she should go free—this woman who had but recently come into his life, and yet dominated his existence as no other had ever d Well, she was gone, wit 11 at least a bare chance of escaping, while he must face the music in the shape of the galloping Tartars, He expected no mercy, for the imputation of those desert nomads had gone out far and wide, and they were looked upon as being built oil the tiger order, fond of loot and wi t houl scruples. Yes, they would cut him flown without hesitation, and perchance drag his lifeless bod.\ at the heels of a horse, after their fashion ; not t hat it makes much difference lo a man what becomes of his poor inor tal clay after the vital spark has fled. though one may shudder to contemplate so violent a proceeding. At least . t hey would not have a walk-over in the matter, as long as he could lift an arm and make a stroke. Afte,- thai one look he dismissed ihe t bought of Kloise from his mind, lest in some strange manner which he could not just i hen comprehend it Weaker, 1)1 111 a t a ! illie \l hell ||e needed all his stoicism and philosophy to meet the cruel fa i e iha t was whirl -

ing dow ii upon him. I hie thing alone must occup\ his a I teiilion. and t hat was how to die like a solder, one of the old Cuard, who knew no such word as surrender. His lingers were not wlioll.v idle, siin e i hc\ m. rhnnionlh commenced to exchange some ~f the discharged rarl ridges in the chambers ol his re vi.l \er fi ir fresh < mes he ea tried in a Ci ill Veil ion! pocket Time was t ... i short to I" •j 11 \ cha igo t his ser\ iceable lil Ile w capon, bul half a loaf is account oil bet ier than lm bread. and surelv three shots would siilt'ii •• in allow his spirit to go oul in a bla/e of glorv Now he could i the horsemen oming on like mad. all in a bunch (liven a little more time, and lie

i u r.nli! lui\ e mounted I Ii- snreh J stri.-k.-n h.-asl . v. hirh i :i. .;•-.• li.nl riil den, and Miii-ln i n I. 'iid i hi-in ni'! .hi I j ii lilinil t rail : Inn just a l present he | | feared the\ might pass him I■ v and I j find .mi w hirh wa\ she had g.m.-. in | prevent w lii.h 1,., was ivn.h I n do all j I I hat la.i in hi - power They w.Ti. shout in- ii; i I i.i r arrus I timed w a.\ as I h.-.\ sw.-pl a!. . 1- and | I hi' racket ! .'id ..i intern Mil. -in. ni . ] •if passions nrmise.l in h-\er heal j ! hai \\ i.uld In- sal islii-il wi! hj mil Inn:: | short nl' his aiinihilal inn. ■■.. I hat he i-.uild in.i make lli" mislal f al I low inc. himself i.. 1i..|.. In- iniilil in j an\ way aiiii'linrat i' I hi- sitiiatinn 1,-. I holding hark In- iii-iii. Mis horse I.■•-an |illingin- f«- or h-ss a- this desert i riin|i I'liiih' , Inning dnw n wit hj headlong •I'.-.-.l ; I.ni hr li.-1.l I hi- liridh'. ami his iiillu.-nre was mil w hi.ll.v wjist.'d ll\ this i inn' sum,' ni' i In. ~ in t hi' v:in ni' tin' rough rid.'i's had heroin.aw arc nl' w hill aw a iti-il I h.-in mi <_! r" j llli\ nil ! I |HMI 'l'll'' .I!.' changed their li'imr, and imw -mind I'll ii noli' nl' •! rid. -nl .. I:irin. nl' wan: int; tn thus.' whn weiv pr-ein- mi j lii'liiml, Unit ill.' chas.- had reaih.il its ul lima I.• r.inrlii'.i. ill, aml I here was iiiiis ic in I hi' air. Had Hi Ids mil I a -... over-

whelming iiiir friend might hav.' h.-ld a I'll ill! hi i|ii' . .1 ri mil ii- nut nt' I lu> SlT.'l |H' Willi SI .111.' C'llil 111-l' nl \ i.'t I > | - -. ; hill silll'l' 111.' I'.'lSl'ills Were lwelll\ lii one, i! was a fnregi nie r lusinu, ami llf would lie a 1n,, 1 In allnw a r;t\ lII' hopeful ant iripllt inn tn daz/le liiiu. A soldier ;il\v;t \ s. w lu't her in.-.-I inu tht! disappoint meals ~i life i>r in, -in-. Hi,- ini'vitiilili' I'iid ni' all mankind. thai was what Omar Kassani pnivcd hitnsi'll' tn In?, ami nn mi,' would ewr have to lilnsh for his faking-olf Three shuts, and I hen -a plum',- in tn that mysterious hourm' whence nn ( ravi'l I,t ret urns. 11- must ma In- i hi-in <■' unit : i, n- e\ en in I Ii- last iiinmi'iii ni his exist ni,',' tin? excellent haliils of a In','! in.- h.-ld good and In.' disliked t,. see wasted material . Instead ni reining in tlu'ir horses in a struggling mass at sigh! ~i' I hi' man ill hay. t he wild Tartar:- simply divided into two st minis, and began In gallop past him on either side. k'ilSSlllii rniild ahm.si I >■ ■ 11»-\ . ■ him self once inc!»-•• ,i liroad t lie - Ten i Aiii-riran plains, watching the native Indians inailoeii viv. This was an an cieni i rick of i heir.-., a ml ipiil ,■ I'amil iur I" Ii i in. lie crouched t here, and awaited I he nexl move, which would not lie long in coming. The riders were now circling ah,ml in various direr! inns thai in (lie eyes of a novice would have hi'i'ii perplexing. It was intended to confuse the man who stood ill bay, and to render his position more hopeless : l>nt t hey did not know with whom they were di-aling, and what experience Kassani had had under similar circumstances. 1 le knew how I o hold hj is lire until, as Colonel I't-escot I said at Hunker Hill. I nuld ":->•,' the whites of t heir eyes." I(,\ degrees the riders narrowed Die circle, They seemed tn |>e enjoying the lit | |c circus ii ,'iisi'l;. . which wm; more than the object nl (heir iit t,'lit inn.-, could say, as he grimlv a «uiled the climax t hat would usher I his soul into the "land ni shades." j Stn-li a glorious opportunity for a I display of I heir wonderful horseman- ] ship did nul oixur wary day, and I

I hey meant lo take advantage of it now that thi"' occasion had arisen (loser came the whirling lines of desert centaurs, waving their arms, and in various ways exhibiting their exultation at I lie prospect of annihilating this hornet that had proved to have such a decidedly venomous

sting. I 'ten one shot was tired by some impatient fellow, who could not wail until the affair had come to close quarters, as it seemed to be gradual l.v drill ing. It was a signal for a general fusillade. The bullets lore I through the space where Kassam had b for with his accustomed shrewdness he had dropped flat upon I the ground at the first indication of a Volle,\ and I hus escaped all Ihe hurricane of lead. Not so his horse, which, struck | again and again, burst from his hold and went plunging away, done to death, no doubt. Il seemed that I liis rattling (lis charge was even more disasterous to the foe than it had proven lo him. since many of the bullets, missing the mark to which they were intended, created somewhat of a diversion on the opposite side of the narrowing circle. At any rate a stentorian Voice immediately shouted above the clamour, as if to charge that the firing cease, and front thai instant the tactics of the assailants changed mi >st radically . It was now Kassam's turn. Sinein all probability f this was fated to be the ver.V las; episode of his existence, he was exc lingi.v anxious to make a nice, clean ioh of il . and no bungling. Accordingly he held his fire mil il some ol the riders were within ten feet of where he crunched. t he\ not knowing, in the semi gloom, but Ihat the object of their attentions had been cut down h\ the avalanche oi lead so recently sweeping over the spot . sii qniel he had lain. When the (lash of his weapon cut the fog, they realized that the enemy had only been scotched, not killed, and there was good light left ill him Kassam did all that he intended ; for with the shot one of the wolfskin saddles was emptied as the Tnrta r plunged to the mud. I t was very like a gif skittles, with Omar temporarily rolling the balls down the allev . I'resenrly his innings would be end oil, w hen the ol her might Iry a hand and woe to Kassam when that time en me lie was on his feel now. sine- m i further benefit could be gained by crouching there in lie' dust—on his feet and ivadv lo i I them with as bold a front as though he held the hop.- of vicloiw in his grasp. liraverv is not confined to any particular race or er I. The stoical Indian, the faual ical Arab, the Moham mednn Turk. Ihe fiery l-Yeii.-hman. the phlegmatic Cerinan. and the cool \ agio Saxon may all exhibit it in til m . silbl ime aft er each i nie's fashion ; and Omar Kassam was no w i eider, oiih a fa ir s| I men iif his race. Two down that left him up to his last resource Ile wished he could .list inguish the leader iif the gang that chap wit hj lhe foghorn v nice, so I hat he might finish his w oil. with a bright marl.; but 111 ihe uiic.-rt a iii ! ight t his was impossible, so he had to content himself with a men tier foe Kassam (hough! this a real hard ship. and \el he would live to see ! the m- mi.-Hi v hen he must pro\ .- gi'a t eiui to the confusion tha I pre- ] \ eiited his oarrv ing out such a pleas

;iiil programme, fur his I iff la\ in 111.- balance ill Ihill same ll '.lll. ■!•':- llilll'l I I-- li:i.| 1 he Mil isfai I inn ~! know ine, tliiii liis Insi sluii mid. mid Mini 1 here w niilil I ■ 'l'm 1 hi- brigand Mi" Ifs.s 1i) ravage I lit- In.rilfr : I li.'ii tll'-.v closed 111 |]|in|| lit 111. mi.l li,- HilS occupied in nl tending tn llii'ir elf'l'll.- MTV multiplicity i.f 1,1,, us show fi'fil iipnii liim wus 1 li,- means of shieldim; him tn ii great extent . sine.' 'he I.hiil" Mm, lv each nil),.,- in their descent . il lII] K.ISMUII WilS fllillllfll 1,1 dodge aside. i 1 v.ns in 1 his ,-iii ifjii iiini-l in-" that ll" colieeJM-ll I hj,. .Inl'lll" plan nf ill I'-inpl iiiL' I.> seize on" of 1 hi-ir horses : ""l putting oil ;ii n headlong speed "*'■■' ' Ii" plain, in n direction nl i'i~>" angles In (] U it whence I-'"'" hii.l gone: ~,,, ~,.„ Ii" was g" in- 1 much thought 1,, n,,. '•'••a 01 escape. |,||| such ;i curse Kould divert I heir uttelitinn from l''-loisc, nnil give !,,■:■ •,. ~,,,,. ~, ..■"I awn\ I la\ in- mice conceived su "M rn\n -ant an ideii. Ii" was jnsi ,1 m , ~,

mi' l>" n wild lnil fi ir 1, ,11 line's 1.1 \ ■ ours, iinil ns 1 lietv wn; iil Ile 1 ime 111 'hnnse u hii-h lliil'-,. li.. \, nllhl pi'i fer t" ride, he sprang iliivcth nl the nearest . alight in K up,,n its wit hers, and iiisii.nl l\ lliisl line 1 1,,. jist nnisheil I'ider from his sent its though he h.nl secured n chill lei iii,ii'h;n L v upon Ihe whole 11111 |i t . N'-ver did ii scheme born on the iiu pulse ~f ;i iiiniiienl I |e nenrer n grand success with.mi accomplishing ""■ object iiinied ill . Ilnil Kassam lieen given 1»| 11 \ ;l Ijttle more elbow I'oom. he would have cleared the nil'.; nnil shnl ;iwm , wj| hj i ),,. H hn|e mm'- in hot chiise. Mas ' the ivn 1 hing i hill hud sllVcd him IYOIII Iheir blades ei'sl- « Idle now proved ii fill id stumbling block in ih" win of his successful Hit 1 ing : for Ihe horsemen h;,,i eat |, '•'■"' l ■■" lllicklv . each si riving In he "' '" <" bring the I,lm i-r,\ down, ll >al I"' found himself tan-led in tli'-ir si niggling midst . I' l ' "Sis making ye..iiiin, ..('forts In disengage himself from ||„, heaving tiniss. striking right und left with ,hl ' f«iry of despenHinn, and ij,,.,i[U > '""" big n pn' hj I hrmigh 1 hj,. us toiiished nnil confused Tartars when 1 llil "«l closed upon his ,•,,;,( i,, ,|„, l-eiir—ii linn,l (hilt hud n grasp like lh; " <"' 'l"' Titan, Atliis, sin,-" the I iiiaddest elTorls on his purl failed to

I' l ' knew he ua- in lhe clutch of llh ' ''•'''••'. for again thai hoarse laugh sounded in his ears ; vain were Ids struggles, i,,r others came to (he assistance ,„• his captor, and pinioned his hands i,, |,,\, sides.

'I he.se human wolves would liaA c killed him then and there. More than one scimitar was raised lo cleave him ( " I he chin, when I he voice of the leader paralyzed the arms that would ll.'lVe wrought death What he said Kassam i-oubl only guess—- icthing to i he I'lVeci i hat i he pris r belong ed to him. and woe |o | he man who dared rh"at him out of his ow a. I'it! le it mat lercd when (he ■■i<<\ was mils deferred a short time. Kassam had not tullv learned his lesson, and knew not how even I he smallest events which we look upon in tho lijriit of acc.idehltj k«» to fash

ion the plans through which we work out our desl iny.

Standing there, held by several tierce-looking desert warriors, he waited to see what they would do with him.

To his surprise, the first thing they did was lo light a fire, and attend to their wounded, of whom there was a list thai delighted the soldier spirit of the prisoner, knowing as he did how responsible he was for this condition.

At least they did not appear to even bother themselves over the escape of the companion of Ids Might.

Could it be that they meant to ignore the fact, or else only waited for daylight to come, when they would follow a trail.

lie congratulated himself on the fact that he had been able to give Eloise the onlv chance there was, slight though it might be, and deep down in Ids heart he prayed that she might find the others, and escape from all her troubles. She would niM'rr wholly forget the man who had enlisted his life on her behalf, and this gave hi in a peculiar sort of consolat ion.

Now and then some tardy rider would come sweeping up and bend low in his saddle to stare at the adventurer who had given them such a hustling time ; but if any of these nave indications of a desire to do him bodily harm, a growl from (lie chief warned him off.

Hark ' Was thai the sound of horses' hoofs beating upon the turf? lie had hoard the same when the laggards galloped towards the fire, but this came from another direction entirely—from the quarter whence Eloise had gone not five minutes before.

j A cold ii:tl l< l seemed to have been I placed upon Ids heart at the possibiI i i .v of her returning. 'Dial would I"* too cruel it would he madness on her part ; and with Ids nerves wrought up to a desperate pitcl', Omar Kassam stared at the quarter "hence those approaching hoofstrokes came—stared as he caught a faint glimpse of a moving- object, that gradually developed into a weary horse, upon the back of which I clung a figure he would have known among ten thousand—a figure sur- | round.si by waving golden hair that looked like a halo—a figure that, with white face ami ghostly smile so wan and faint, made directly at him I It was poor Kloise, come hack It) share his fate ! To he Continued. (1.U13.)

than when \ oil are at such a distance from thorn that they cannot watch voti closely."—X. V. World.