GHTED IN '

ENTERED u nu: POST OFFICE AT NEW YORK. N. Y

 

V01  fubliahed Every Jp’eadle gf-  

Week. 98 WILLIAM STREET, N. Y., January 18. 1882.

 

 

A TRUE STORY OP THE AFRICAN CHASSEURS.

 

BY COL. THOMAS I-IOYER MONSTERY,
CHAMPION-A T-ARMS OF THE TWO AMERICAS.
Amon or “more wms'r, THE swonmmsmn.” “THE DEMON DUELIST,” “THE CZAR SPY,” “nonmn, THE MAMELUKE," mc‘, ETC.

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“ HOLD, JEAN, YUSUF, YOU ARE BROTHERS! DO YOU NOT SEE 1'1"! ARE YOU BLIND?”

 

 

 

 

10

 

CorpOral Cannon, the Man of‘Forty Duels.

 

Corporal Gannon,

The Man of Forty Duels.

A'rrueStoryofths African aha-sears.

BY 00L. THOMAS HOYER MONSTERY,
Mien-atArm q/ the Tue Americas,
ans-non or “non water,” “rm: sailor: Dv-
nusr,” “at. some nasvo,” “mum,

- m mam," arc.

. PROLOGUE.
II file your 1809Europewasinabad way,
was. wars and rumors of wars in every corner;
to was very insecure, outside of the

 

 

I

year the renowned French robber,
Cartouche, finding Paris too hot to hold him,
fled to Ital , joined the band of Conan, the

began a system of midnight de—
pulous cities, seizing ricli men and
ransom from their friends.

t.
. nt Lindholm got at a sword, called his

servants, and was culmilled after a d rate

strug le, in which his y-servant, Neil pp,

Evil-sagas left for dead, while flve brigands bit
e ust.

The robbers secured for ransom only two

captives, twin babies in acradle, children of the

while Countess Lindholm was overlooked

in the confusion and esca alivo, but only to

fig??? fever a week  m“ h t,

a . su posed mo y ur

was thus is 1the gnly surviving member of the

Danish embamy in the house. a

In that same year the
train of the Seventeenth
seurs, marching to the cam ign of Wagram,
under of an invali sergeant named
Cannon, were attracted by the cries of a baby}?
an otherwise empty hovel on the road to
l a in Italy.

t child proved to be a boy, with a peculiar
blue mark on his temple like a thunderbolt, and
the initials J. L. on his clothin , and was for—
mally ado ted by Sergeant non and his
wife, who brought him up with the re iment,
firstha- with their only daughter, J osep no or

' no, till the sergeant left the service, after
Waterloo.

In the year 1818 the ,French brig Creole
bound from Marseilles to Corsica, was captu
by Algerine pirates-then very numerous and
 the nighh‘and the on] person that
escaped to France was a boy of 11, who was
flcked up next da y by a revenue vessel, floatigg

the sea, lashed to a hencoop, and half do
with exhaustion and cold.

How he escaped, who lashed him to the hen-
ecop,were m stories no one could solve for some
time asthe boy fell into a fever and became
delirious for more than a week afterward.

When he became sensible he said that he was
a soldier’s sonf that his name was Jean Cannon:
that his rents and sister had been carried 03
by the gerines; and that the onl people he
knew were the citizens of Tarascon, n the south
of France. from whence his ents had come.

Every one was sorry for him, but it is not to
be, expected that a waif like him should receive

,much substantial help from people with families
of their own to support. .
80 poor Jean Cannon was sent back to Tar-as—
con as a pauper, where he was apprenticed to a
funnier, and no one knew or cared what became
ufhim till the year 1828 when he was drawn in
the conscription and assigned to the 17th Horse
the very corps which had adopted
~  as a toundling twenty years before at
0m
- the life of Jean Cannon may be really
said to commence, and I trust my readers wxll
v pardon the to ing explanations, which are
for no rstanding the true history of
a very remar his life .

onus Rom Monsrsmr', ‘

Ohamln'owat‘Amns.

CHAPTER I.
.m mas-r QUAEIEL. ,

In the spring of the year 1829, the Algerine
comirs had become so audacious that there be4
gun to be talk of an expeditio to chastise them,
an expedition which actualle followed next
year. The SeVenteenth Horse Chasseurs were
quartered in the south of France near Toulon,
and the recruits of the previous year had joined
their re 'ment from the remount depot.

On a' ver evening in May, the quarters of
the first Hinadron of the chasseurs presented the
usual scene of jollity that marks the close of :a

da inbarracks.

. lKhe eolonel, who was a renfiwned martinet,
had had the regiment out a the afternoon
exercising them in charges of every ,posible

 

1a in the we n
resch Horse Chg;-

 

 

 

 

varlety, for Colonel Rampon was wont to say
that no on was worth anything till the re-
cniitsdeonlllijmiie, full speed over any sort of
groun , un . .

The bad ch platoons, b troops,
by squyadrons and in 1:33, till the hoges.were
white with foam and the men with dust, before

the trumpets sounded the-welcome "retreat,"

and the soldiers were dismissed to stables and

flow they were lounging about the ban-ack-
rooms, most of them in their shirtsleeves,
making their pipes, telling stories, singing
sengs, while at least a damn card-parties were
going on in every room:

In the dormi of the first squadron three
old soldiers were tting on a bench, growling
because they. couldn’t find a fourth to make up a
game of whist. All the other old soldiers were
mated, and most of the recruits were out of
doors. “What sayst thou, Krapp'l” asked one
of the three, whose- riz'zled mustache told of
long service, “since t crest are busy, W's-can
playI with a dummy." ‘

hate a dummy,” {growled Krupp. “ It
takes away all the fun 0 the game. Lam ct.
Yonder comes Let‘s ask him to jo a?"

“ And if Godard plays, count me out,” broke
in the third. “ He revokes every chance he
gets, and I won’t have him for a partner against
you two old foxes."

“ There‘s no satisfying you, Marcel answered
Ifmbifnet, witth a gliim sanile. “ Gogijerd "is too
s a ormos peopean yetyouo ect.

“lfiarcel wants some one to bully,” replied
Krupp in the same tone. ' “ Here comesa recruit
-——the white head-let’s invite him.”

The three veterans beckoned to a stout young
fellow who came whistling along between the
rows of beds, with the open face of a boy and a
light blonde head of curls, nearly white in its
fairnew.

“ Bola! recruit, canst play whist?" asked
Marcel in the usual dictatorial way of a veteran
addressing a recruit.

“ Yes, comrade," replied the yonn man with
a cheery smile; “ that is to say, a 'ttle, for I
only learned it at the depot.” 7

“ Krap .and Lambinet made room for him
politely' at old Marcel growled: ‘

“ We know that well enough without telling.
Your kind is more used to pla ing bab'y games.
But needs must when the dev drives.

The young recru'.t colored slightly.

“ I won’t play if you don’t wish, comrade,”
he said rather proudéy.

“Oh, sit down an take a hand, youngster,"
cried Lambinet impatiently.
old Marcel. He learned his habit of growling
from the Old Guard before Waterloo. What’s
your name?" , l

“ J can Cannon, comrade,” replied the recruit

modestly. And iseit 'bie that Monsieur
Marcel was one of the d Guard, the glorious
Old Guard!” "

His eyes glowed as he spoke, and he looked
admirineg at Marcel, who growled in a more
placable tone:

“Yes, yes. it istrue, all that; but it is past
and gone. Pick up your cards. Don’t let old
Kra p look into your hand there. Now watch
my; eqd, and para you support me proper-

Jedu Cannon, nervous under the efie of his
scoldin partner, and not being yet in y up to
the sub ime mysteries of whist, began to play
as well as he knew how, and got through the
first hand with so few mistakes that Marcel con-
tented himself with grcwlin : I

“ You ought'to ave regurned mylead in
clubs when ou took that trick in hearts, but it
turned at or the best. Don’t try on the same
asecoh time.”

:11 34in Cannon scratched his head and observed
in: y:

“1 had no clubs, Monsieur Marcel, so how
could I return your lead?"

h“~Never minlt‘ii.f ” tb
on are two 0 axes, grew e nevordo-
he-satisfled Marcel. .

The second and third hands proceeded, till
both rties had nine, and the fin hand was so
evs y distributed that it worse ‘till the last
trick was turned that the game.was decided
against Marcel, who had been scold his un-
fortunate partner all through the play .

At this last hand it was found that the recruit
had kept a lo; trunui'pcghicldi till]: might haVe
used on a e cus. an t old Krap
held a highg one. p

This discov so enraged the old grumblor
thfitslée snap rigoat:f h

rves me t, or! p yin with a oun
blockbead like on. Go .backgto your goth;-
and ask her on for being an ass.”

Jean Cannon flushed highly this time.

“I’m‘noass, Monsieur Marcel,” he said in a
sh lone. ‘You’re out, of temper, and you
talk: shag”: ’d I?" cried Marcel, in

‘ a o a
fury. “Take “khan!” ' .

And he th‘xgpv;a his bundle citn tricks i111l m
you recruiw s ce,receiving roturna_-
restntfi' thepack; when in a moment he struck
JeanCannoua \gslaponthocheek,and
the recruit grappled him. I

.’f / .‘ ~. 

“ Nobody minds,

Look shargdthis time, for,

 

'32

The whole thing in three
then all the bysta era rushed in to part
saying hurriedly to Jean:

quiet, or the provost guard will have

. H
{pa in the guard-house in no time. You'll have

0 out tomorrow morning)"

at the young recruit was fully roused
thel itingintflggssla lahtgis face he had reoei
an e s w comrades. :

“ What business had he to call mailml' I’ll
show him in a minute!" ,

Then halfadoren mentoroed hlmbaak,‘
old Krapp whispered excitedly:

“Be uiet, I say. Do onwant there:

ard own on use? Its you thiswill w to

settled in the morning. You'll have an the
(5 thing you want”
0 managed to t him an" “.
thcu he breathed 1:3}: and mwred:

“ hall I? I‘ll show him I’m no 88."

As for old Marcel, he had taken the I.”
quite coolly after the slap, standing up is a
post and gnawing his grizzled mustache, wile
he watched the an y struggles of the y
recruit with a e of scornful denial.”
was meant to exas ate him still more.

When everything was quiet again and She
two were at opposite sides of the dormitory, the
Veteran observed to Lambinet: .

“I was stool to take a boy like that for a
partner, and a greater fool to get angry. Thatch
no glory to be gained b giving h m a in...
Make the young fool apo ogire. I don’t want to
hurt him.’

Lambinet nodded but looked doubtful.

“He seems to have a high temper, this ban
and I don’t believe he will apologise. It will V
as well to teach him that a recruit can’t insult
an old soldier with impunity. If not, you'll
have all the others resuming on his example.
I’m glad you slap his face. Had he slapped
you, it would have been a bad example for the
others.” -

In the meantime old Krapp had got the young
recruit into a corner and was talking reason to
him, for Krapp was a provost-corporal or assis-
tant fencing-master of the squadron and he
knew that this recruit would have no chance be-
fore an old swordsman like Marcel, in a dual.

1 “Look here, young man,” he be Is, “I it.
you, because you are a white head ike myself,
and I don’t want to see on carved like s eh)

tomorrow mornln . , c you know anything

about handling a as r?”

J can Cannon blushed. He had become his usual
modest, good-humored self again, when Krupp
spoke kindly to him.

“ Nothing, monsieur, but the cuts and guard!
which they taught me at the depot.”

“Ah, that is no use. Have you never had
at will with any one?”

“Never monsieur, but—"

“ But what, young man?" | ,

“But usedtobemlled-thebestman in“
town of arascon at tbesticks.”

“ The sticks, chi But that is very dil'orolt
from a sharp sword that cuts like a racer. Tfls
three: is a? olgwhandi. and his1 will aim

'kea ego mu B. one ttca
“is  a... “8 a.”
ean on s and flushed lot.

“ What! I apologize to him? For what!
fihatt Iiggt lii‘m cpl] me an ass and slap my face!

a one our Kra there 3
misc“ minus;1 is thereg” I pp' . n“ “I

Km can; hardly epsmilingst thalogic
of meg-gem“. 7

“Butthenifgcu go in to h ht him hewil
lay you up wit a swordscut '
Besi_ you must remember
soldier who fought at Waterloo, and you are
abo. Itwasnot our tee to tellamteran
hke im that he tal ed e a fool.”

“ But heltold me iwda an ass, first,”
the innocent recruit, "and he threw is cards
in my face. What could I do, Monsieur In”.
I 33:10 as.” . ' s "

pp shrugged his shoulders.
H
the same, will have to apologh or

light} That is”sai
- I e dthe oun recruit '
“ unenlime ht, Monsieyur lgmpp, ifyoa w
bemy second. ’ -
Emmy. "Pie N, .m .
wit outsa  ma
on. Bu Iwmywhewémmma
oryou. Marcelisaregularnre-este?”

J‘enuC ms «1' W“ -

wnagfihi'lfi - . We“ ‘1

Minot, Vulledanasslndheghfipardentoo."
cummfl. .

ran: rins'r Dflfifir

, ‘ ui’e riod of hich ‘ 1 m
, wa‘saa  institutzninwtgafish‘s
ndnot 9M3. Ba ‘

a uncommon in all the; ' ' '

France everysone fought with ra or saber.
from genera down to high ri ‘fi 0‘
all the laws and orders the co « 'be
The French army had had nothing 'do‘ mace

the_Napoleonio wars;the soldiers were res "
in idleness; France was humiliated bat-rd

.he never saw; -~

orsix months. ‘
thatheisanold -.

the'world l? the memory of Waterloo: and  f' V

flerysons ailin’ store enem
among thhmsflzfos, just an fun. ’ m . .
The Celtic of is. old Guns, sh 

 

 
  

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smack..- -

’Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

‘ 3

 

of the Milesians in Ireland, was at the bottom
of all the trouble, but whereas a shillelali fight
contents an Irishman, nothing but cold steel
will satisfy a Frenchman and a regular Donnyv
brook Fair of smallvsword and saber was going
on all over France, at the time that Jean Cannon
gaceid his adversary, Marcel, for his first saber

ue .

It was acold, raw morning, though the month
was Ms ; for during the night the dreaded mis-
(/ral ha set in from the Atlas Mountains, and
the mistral sets every one to shivering through
the south of France.

The parties to the duel had risen early and
having answered their names at roll-call had
sauntered out of the barracks in different direc-
tions on various pretaxts. to rendezvous at the
regular dueling ground of the garrison.

his was a little plot of green by the side of
the town cemete , at a remote corner. It was
secluded from o atlon; bounded on two
sides by an ansFle of the low cemetery wall, and
on the other ' des open to the level downs and
sandhills that surround Toulon, with a clear
view of the blue Mediterranean below the cliffs.

{he first to ag'idvelpn the ground was old Mar-
ce accompan y two rovost-corporals,
come to see their old comrade?‘ carve the spring
chicken,” as they said.

It never entered their minds that the veteran
could be otherwise than victorious in his contest
with a recruit, and they were crackingokes
with Marcel over the affair of the night fore,
abgd ro'ughly advising him to “ be easy with the

by.

“ Oh, yes,” growled Marcel, “ I’ll be easy with
him if he’ll listen to reason from the rest of you;
but you see it is necessary to give a lesson, or
all the recruits will be following his example."

To which his friends assented cordially, and
presently spied Jean Cannon comilig‘ato the place
of meeting. accompanied by old pp and an-
other provost—corporal, to whom themed
forward to exchange reetings and d the,
preliminaries of the air.

While they were doing this the two principals
were left alone, and there was a great contrast
in their appearance and behavior to each other
before the duel. ‘

Marcel—tall, dignified, bronzed, with his
white mustache—looked the icture of an old
soldier, and stood leaning on t e cemetery wall
with his arms folded, smoking a black pipe, an
never so much as glancing at his opponent.

Jenn Cannon—young, florid, fair-haired, with
a stout, thickset figure, and round, innocentr
looking face—was walking up and down, gland
ing every now and then at his foe and matter

ing angrily:
‘ That’s the man called me an ass, is it?”

He got so tired of waiting that he was on the
point of calling out to his seconds, when the
conference broke up and all four came at him at
once. t ing to persuade him to apologize.

“ We ave been talking over this affair,” said
Corporal Gigot, “ and we are all of the opinion

that you ought to apologize to Monsieur Marcel

“ e‘s an old man, you a recruit,” put in Cor-
poral Picot. “ You ought not to have told him

“ He’ll cut your ears off," interjected old
 " He swears he will."

“ ou sh
tariii, solemnly.

The young recruit looked amazed and angry

“ Eh imm Dieul A logize to him, when he
sis in face and ca led me an ass! I won’t

“Ver well, t en,”cri cot, “you'll have
to fl ht im. You understand 1”
others. “We wash our hands of it. " .

Jean Cannon spit on the ground angrily.

oflyou
suppose Icame here for? Of course I‘ll ght
him. I came to ht. He shall not call me an
gizc, indeedl"

Corporal Picotbrought thesahers both round
angry tone:

"Ive done all I could to save him. Go to

Then both men had the sabers (given to them;
Corporal Tartarin touched the en of the blades

i or surprising the other, and uttered in a
she. voice, as he sprung back, the word:

In a moment both men had sprung back out
of measure, when young Jean Cannon seized his
at Marcel with a shout, plying him with a suc-
cession of furious blows, in a style such as the
fore. .

It was no use tryin to parry and. cut back,
whether he was wounded or not. so long as he
got a cut at Marcel, and the veteran had all the

instead of meeting and wounding the recruit,
as every one had thought he was sure to do,

or fight him.“
he talked like a fool.”
ould apologize," added Corporal Tar-

as he burst out:
do it. It his lace to be ardon."

“ es, you’ll have to fight him," echoed the

“Eh, man Dieu! you others, what
ass for nothing. ive us the weapons. Apolo-
es sharp as razors, and said to old Marce in an
work and carve the chicken.”
toglether, holding them in his hands to prevent
e t

u .1.
saber with both hands like an ax, and rusth
old man had never seen used With a saber be-
for it was evident tha tho recruit did not cure
instinct of a swordsman to risk nothing.
Marcel became confused, gave ground. parried

wild, retreated to the low wall, and finally fell
back over it his sword escaping from his p,
while Jean Cannon, with a shout of fury, rew
awa his own weapon, can ht the veteran by
the roat with his left he , and raised a fist
like a leg of mutton, threatening Marcel, while
he roared furiously to him:

“Now, then, am I an ass! Say quick, am I

an ass?"

“ Let go my throat!” gurgled Marcel, who
felt that his young and vigorous recruit was as
strong as a hull.

“ Am I an ass! Quick l” bellowed Jean Cannon
still more furiously. “ Tell me, or I’ll knock all

the teeth down our throatl Am I an ass?"

“No, no, no, stammered r Marcel, now
completely demoralized. “ or Heaven's sake
don't choke me."

“ Do ou a l .e for that slap?” cried Jean,

ahakingyhhn finfil .
“ Yes, yes,” Marcel.
“ Then you see, gentlemen,” said the youn
reorui coollyx as he released the old man an
ste back ‘that I am not an ass.”

nd with that all his fury seemed to vanish at
once and Jean Cannon burst into a hearty fit of
laug ter as be surveyed the astonished faceslof
the witnesses.

“You see that spring chicken is sometimes
quite hard to carve, father Kra p," be pursued
turning to his own second. “ told I had
a trick of my own to show Monsieur arcel."

And he quietly extracted a filepe from his
pocket, filled it and began to sine , while Picot
muttered to Tartarin:

“ Eh, men Dieu, what are we old fellows to
do ifnall the recruits are to turn out the same
way?

Jean Cannon heard the remark and laughed.

“Have no fears, corporal. All the recruits
are not like me. Besides, I know that I did not
deserve this victory. I don’t doubt that if Mon.
sieur Marcel had known my way of doing things
in advance, he would have been repared for
me. It was a mere chance. See ere, father
Marcel, forgive ,and forget. You were wrong
to call me an ass, but I made a bad mistake in

laying, and I beg your pardon. Will you_shake

n s '

Old Marcel, looking like a man dazed, shook
hands mechanically, saying:

“ You are a brave boy. You'll make a good
soldier some da . As for me, I am no good any
more, save for he boneyard.”

They sauntered away back to the barracks
after that and old Kra fell behind with his
late gel-incipal, to whom 0 said:

“ e here, young man, I like you. You do
not fight like a Frenchman. You on ht to have
been a Dane. You are a natural ii for. But
don’t make a mistake. This will ye bring on
a crop of quarrels, and on will not get on of
all of them as easy as th 5 one."

Jean Cannon looked at his friend gratefully.

“I know it, father Krapp. I ain not such a
fool as them ht me. I had made up my
mind to let hit me an where, so long as
I could get one good blow at im. But I know
I am a nhorn. After this I am oing to
learn to once, so that I can take care 0 myself.
The call you the best fencer in the regiment.
Wil (you teach me?" ‘

OI Krapp g his hand warmly.

“ Teach on? y, that I will, if only for your
white he and those blue eyes of gours, that
remind me of my old master, dea and gone
these twenty ears. Ah. how time fliesl”

The old sol ier sighed heavily, and Jean Can-
non asked, rather t1midly:

“ What did you mean by sayin just now that
I fought like a Dane, Monsieur rapp.’ Are the
Danes great fighters l"

Krupp smiled in his grim way.

“ Ay. 2y, they’ll fight two of an ' other nation
but the .nglish, but they’re all ools. It does
vthem no good. Here am I, 3. Dane, and for all
that, I am only a corporal in a French regiment,
and won’t ever get a step higher. Yes, boy I’m
a Dane, and you on ht to be one from your face.
I’ll teach you all fknow ‘for the sake of that
face.

“Thank ou, Monsieur Krupp, thank iyou,"
answered can Cannon heartily- “ You’l find
me a very obedient pu il. See if you don’t. "

And it was a fact; or, from that day forth,
old Krupp and Jean Cannon were always to be
seen together and the old Dane taught the re-
cruit things he had never dreamed of in the
science of handling a sword, till Jean became

promising pupil in the sails d’armes.

He was always modest and quiet in his de-
meanor toward old soldiers after his affair with
Marcel; his ood nature and jovialit were in-
exhaustible; 9 got up uite a frien
his former an onist; earned to play whist
with perfect pa ence; submitted to scoldings
without returning a word, and when at last the
time came that he was dismissed from the scale
d'armes with his brevet of proficiency at “ the
point ” and “ the saber,” Jean Cannon had. be-
come such a favorite in the regiment that he was
nominated by his ca tain over the heads of a
dozen older men for t e stripes of a corporal on
the day he completed his first year in the service.

 

And it was on the very next clay, when he

renowned throughout the regiment as the most; .

hip with ,

 

( .. ..._..._...-l.......——‘

al
ed which was to cogs;
fe and make him the hero of

‘cnarmn iii.
AT THE THEATER.

“ Conronsx. CANNON is detailed as corporal of
the theater nerd, and will report to the officer
of the day or instruetions."

That was what the sergeantmajor said on the
first mornin after our hero‘s promotion, while
he was stdn ing in his place in the ranks at roll-
call, feeling very sheepish, and as if every one
were starin at his new chevrons, though in
truth very ew peo le cared an thing about it.
Corporal Cannon b ushed scarle when he heard
the order. He was only twentyeyean old, nu—
turally bashful, and the idea of mg on duty at
the theater struck him with terror and made
him excessively nervous.

Among his comrades he knew shat he v u"
about and felt at ease; but he knew that the
corporal of the theater guard had to speak to
every one, ladies included, to know everything.
to answer all sorts of ueetions, to keep his tem-
per under all sorts 0 little provocations from
small boys and men who wanted to get into ti t'
theater, and finally to keep order among all the
soldiers on leave who were admitted to the pit
during the performance.

No wonder that poor Corporal Cannon, green
as he was, felt nervous.

After roll‘call he sought out his friend Krupp
and said to him:

“ What shall I do, Kra pl I‘ve a great mind
to take of! my stripes an go back to the ranks.
I’m sure to make some blunder, and thenthe
ca tain will degrade me."

‘And if on do any such thing you‘re no
friend of in no,” answered Krupp, sturdily.
“ What, maul There’s nothin to be afraid of.
All you have to do is to get 1. e ofilcer of the
day to give you full instructions. Then you
write them down learn them by heart and stick
to them. Be civil to all, but be as strict as the
colonel himself. They‘ve put you on this post
on purpose to try you. Be sure you salute all
the officers, and make the soldiers respect you.
And above all, have your uniform look its best."

So Cor ral Canon, with much inward quak-
ing, brus ed himself up and went to report to
the oiilcer of the day, whom he found to be a
very kind and consi erate man, and who told
him exactly what to do in the evening and
helped him write it down and commit it to
memory.

“ Remember, corporal ” he said, “ that all you
are responsible for is thd order of the soldiers in
the theater. Don‘t let the citizens bother you
with questions: but see that the soldiers behave
themselves. You will have four men under

our orders, and I shall be there among the of-

cers, if you need any instructions. It is your
first tour of duty, and remember that a good
cogoral is better than a bad captain, any time."
, Co ral Cannon departed, feeling much
comfo , and ready to swear that Captain Le-
maitre was the best man in the army and fit to he
a Marshal of France. As the day were on, how-
ever, his nerousness increased, and when the
evening came and he took his post in the lobby
of the theater In full uniform, with his sword
on, after he had laced his men, he was trem-
blin all over w th nervous excitement and
har ly able to answer a uestion coherently.

This feelin were off a ter u. little, for he was
kept so busy 0 had no time to think, and-when
at last the bell rung for the orchestra to play
and he saw the theater crowded with eoplo.
the soldiers in the pit as quiet as mice, he said
to himself:

“Poafl what a relief. It’s not so hard after
all. What a fool I was to be anxious."

Finding, too, that he was not specially noticed
in the crowd of uniforms, he lost his bashful-
ness, and he took courage to enter the theater
and assume .1118 proper place near the stage
box on one Side, from whence he could watch
the audience and see the play at the same time.
to be prepared to check any disorder, in case of
an alarm of fire or other trouble.

The theater was crammed from pit to dome
that night on a. very interesting iCCflS’lOD,
which requiresa brief notice.

It was shortly before the Algei‘ine war; and
the relations between France and the Day of
Algiers had become so complicated, that an
Arab special embamy headed by the afterward
famous Emir Abd-el- ader, had visited France.
some weeks before, and was now returning
home by way of Toulon. Attached to the suite
of_ the embassador, by the special order of his
Highness, the Day, in order to tickle the senses
of the French, and dispose them to grant terms
to the coisairs, was a strange appendage: none
other'than a troupe of Alger-ins almehs or danc-
ing-girls, who, as a special favor to the infldels,
were allowed to perform in the French theaters,
during the embassador‘s visit, free of expense.

It was a strange proceeding all through, a
regular exhibition of Modem ignorance and
ounnin . The Dey, held from his long im uni-
t in racy, had grown to think that the

sire were fools or babies, who could be

went on duty for the first time as a
that the event be
his whole future
this story.

4 ”

Corporal Cannon, the Man of, Forty Duels. ‘

 

 

pleased with to s and cheated of their rights,
while the Franc on their part, went wild over
the novelt of the almehs and laughed at the
credult o the Arabs in sending them over to
bribe rance. Nevertheless, as is always the
case before a war between France and a forei n
power the plropi'ieties were very strictl o -
served and t e most extreme respect was s own
to the Arab embassy.

Moreover there was so much that was stran e
and attractive in the dances of the Arab gir s,
that everybod went to see them, and they
were applauds to the echo.

To be sure it was not dancing in the French
sense of the word'that was performed by the
alnwhs. The never lifted their feet and
rarely moved rom one s t. save with a slow,
giidingste :butthey ma eupurtheimmobility

of lower imbs by a marvdo’us flexibilit of
body and arms, seeming as if they be no
joints above the waist. w

e

- When the curtain rose that evening
French saw a row of iris, swathed in eavy
dresses from head to oot, seated in a line on
the stage, and heard a strange and somewhat
disdordant concert from two guitars; an Arab
violin with two strin , called a rebabah ; and
three tambourines, a accompanied bye low,
monotonous chant from the 'rls. ‘

The yawned over this til the entrance of
two ancin -girls, who glided forward with
swaying ice, and executed a pantomime of a
lovers’ quarrel, about which ther'e could be no
mistake, though the words of the accompany-
in r songs were Arabic.

Lo oral Cannon, in his place near the stage,
look very much interested, and every one
seemed absorbed in the queer dance, when a
clash qt cymbals was heard without, and a
young girl of divine beauty, dressed more richly

than al the others, and positively blazing with

jewels, darted from the side scenes, clicking a

pair of castanets, and dashed boldly betweenthe

two lovers, in the character of a rival.

The moment this girl came on the stage there
Was a bush throughout the theater, for she was
as ldifferent from the rest as morning from
ni t.

be other almehs were dark most of them
with traces of negro blood in their faces; this
girl was as fair as any European, with the most
elicate of features and eat mournful dark
eyes like those of a gaze Is. Her movements
too, had a certain freedom and oe rarely
seen among Asiatics, and she lifte her feetand
walked or sprung like a mountaineer.

A thunder of applause greeted her tine atti-
tude as she das ed between the other girls,
drawing a little poniard; and the music struck
a wild clash expressingalarm and surprise at
the tableau.

And then, just as the ballet was about to
commence, occurred an interruption so on-
expected, that, for the moment, the theater
goers were struck dumb.

Out of the orchestra with a bound, the form
of a chasseur corporal in full uniform leaped up
on the stage, and rushed into the midst of the
‘almehs.

There for an instant he stood as if bewildered,
staring wildly at the loyal girl who had just

' entergd, and then fell at er feet with a loud
cry 0 :
. “ Ft'flm'! Ma. Fifine 1 Je t’at‘ trance 1” [Fiflne,
' my. Fifine, I have found thee !]
he almchs stopped playing, the girl stared
at r Corporal Cunnon—for be it was—as if
ie‘llogound; and the silence of death pervaded
the theater for one short moment, only broken
by the low sobs of the kneelin chasseur.
And then suddenly arose so a Babel in that

theatre as had never been heard within its walls '

before.

Colonel Ram 11, who was sitting in thestage
box along wit the Arab ambassador and his
interpreter, started to his feet, scarlet to the
roots of his white hair, and roared: ‘

“To ‘the guard-house with the scoundrel!
Where’s the oficer of the day ?”

Captain Lemaitre, equally angry, jumped up
and s outed:

“ Corporal Cannon, come off that stage and
report under arrest this momentl How dare
you, rascal?"

Then all the soldiers in the pit jumped up with
a clash of scabbards, _roarin :

“Ab, rascal! ah, villain! come cm"

The Arab girls jumped up and huddledtc
gether‘like fri htened sheep, appalled at the
clamor; the au ience began to hiss and stamp;
the oflcers cf_ the regiment, excited at the
scandal, shouted to the men to keep quiet, and
thereby made matters ten times worse; and in
the midst of all the tumult Jean Cannon knelt
at the feet of the Arab girl, forgetting every—

' thin else, and sobbin aloud:

“ Fiflnel I have ound thee at last.”

As or the girl, she seemed like one in a dream
as she stood there. Her mateehad shrunk away
from her, and she seemed fascinated by the blue
eyes of the soldier kneeling at her feet. '

She allowed her small white hand to remain
passive ~in his grasp, and stood, trembling
violently in total silence.

Then Colonel Rampon, out of all patience at
the tumult. roared out: ‘

1
\

 

“ Ca tain Lemaitre, will you do your duty or
not? rrestthat rascal!"

The captain hesitated no longer; but made a
leap on t estage and seized the poor corporal
by the collar. ,

“Halal” he cried. “Are you deaf or mad?
Come off that stage and report under arrest.
Do you hear?”

Poor Jean Cannon started as if from a dream
looked into the angr face of his officer, and
then let go the girls hand and rose up sub-
missively. '

“ Yes, my ca tain ” was all he said.

The 'rl raise both hands to her temples and
swept ack her lonijblack hair as if tryingsto
clear away somet ng from‘ her brain. he
said nothing and made no motion to follow the
soldier; but stood gazing dreamin af.er him,
till she saw him descend into the orchestra, take
of! his saber, and give it u to a sergeant, who
beckoned him out of the t eater.

Then, as the hubbub subsided, and all eyes
were fixed on her, expecting the dance to be
resumed, she suddenly threw up her hands and
uttered the wild c :

“ C’est Jean! 0 l, mu mere I” [It is Jean! 0h,
myinotberl] _

-And with that one cry, which showed the
astonished audience that a tragedimwas being
enacted behind the scenes, she fell -k on the
stage, and the curtain was run down in haste
as the frightened girls rush to assist their
comrade.

And then what a buzz of excitement arose
throughout the theater, as every one began to
discuss what had hap ened!

The officers and so diers chattered like mon-

keys, with the Wildest ges‘ticulations, all unitin
in abusing the unfortunate corporal, who ha
broken up the whole evenin ’3 entertainment
by his ill-timed outburst; whi e the ladies of the
p ace vowed it was charming, that there was a
romantic story behind it all!
‘ “It is perfectly plain," gabbled Madame
Boulanger “the grooer’s wife, to her friend
Madame F'errier in the dress circle. “ The girl
is an unfortunate captive to those wicked
Arabs, and I hope the Government will make
them give her up. That is her brother or her
lover, who knows which? It is a shame to pun-
ish him for it.” ‘

“Ah, but 1’gou don’t understand diplomacy,”
returns if adame Ferrier, Iwho, blein ' a
notarysw e wassupposedto now a a at
it. “ The gir isin the embassador’s suite,.and
issacred from our laws. Don’t you see how
anxious Colonel Rampon is to explain to the
Emir? That is be sitting in the box by the
colonel that handsome man with the jewels
and gold.”

In fact, they could see that the old colonel
was eagerly talking to the’ rave, reserved
Arab who sat in the box beside im, and whose
face, like marble, showed not the slightest trace
of emotion durin the tumult.

The famous mir had sat like a statue
throu b all the disturbance, and now, to all
the co onel’s explanations through the medium
of the interireter, he only re lied:

“It is not infi‘.h I know t e Frank chief is
nottoblame. is man is one of those who
are afllicted by Allah. We will return to our
land to-morrow.” '

“And I assure you,” asseverated the colonel,

‘ “that the inan shall be unished' severely. ”

The Arab looked at in gravely.

“Will you send me his head in the morning?”
he asked, in the coolest manner.

The colonel hesitated.

“ No; I cannot do that under our laws, but I
will see he is unished.”

Abd-el—Ka r shrugged his shoulders.

“ Without his head a 1 other punishment is in
vain. He has dishonored my house‘and laid his
hand on my slave before all the world. His
head alone can prevent war between our people.
I have spoken. I will go. Allah grant you a
prosperous life.” '

And as he s he, he rose up, and nothing
could persuade im to remain another moment
in the theater, while he ordered all his suite to
follow him at once to the vessel Erepared to
take them back to Alfie”; and t e manager
of the house was compe ed to come out before
the curtain and announce the close of the per—
formance, when the audience slowly dispersed,
grumbling and growling, and in particular
raining curses on the bee of the unfortunate
Corporal Cannon, who in the mean time was
brooding glomnil y in a cell in the guarddiouse.

 

CHAPTER IV.
snx'r machine.

11' came at last, that dismal morning, that
changed the whole course of. life for our poor
hero, and turned him from a happy, careless
boy into a man, with a man’s load of sorrow on
his heart. '

He had not slept a wink all that night, since
he had been ushered into the bare cell by his
old friend Krapp, whose attempt at consolation
he had gloomin repulsed. ‘

“Leave me alone. Let ,me think” was all
the Dane could get out of him; and a thatlong
night he had been sitting on the side of his low

\ .

x

 

cot bed his chin resting on his hands, brooding
over what had happened.

He had not been mistaken; that Was one
blessing. He had heard Fiflne, his lost little
sister, with her own lips, call him by name and
cry, “ Oh, my mother!”

“It is indeed Fifine,” brooded the poor fel—
low; “but where are my father and mother
that were taken with her? Dead long ago.

' “Alas! the were too old to stand cruelt .
And Fiflnel w at is she now'.l What is she? ls
she still worthy to be in sister, to lend honor
to my father’s name? hat is she among thesa
Arabs! What can she be, but lost to us all for'
ever? Poor Jean! Thou hast no one left in the
world to love. Thou art all alone, all alone
forever.” ,

This was the substance of his broodin all
night, but he rung the changes on it til the
gray dawn peered in through the bars of his
cell, with all the persistency of a miserable
man.

At last he heard the bu les blowiu reveille,
and pretty soon after his 0 (1 friend rapp, who
was provostcorporal at the guard-house for the
night, entered his cell with a mysterious air,
whis ring:

“ tmay not be as bad as you think. See!
here is a letter for you, and it has come through
the colonel’s quarters.” '

Corporal Cannon took the letter, a large sheet
of coarse Arab paper, and written in a cramped
angular sort of hand, with thick strokes, as it"
done with a very broad-pointed pen.

It was directed

“ Jean Cannon, my brother,
from Fifine.”

Old Kragp looked at the boy narrowly as he
unfolded t e letter with trembling hands. The
Dana seemed as if he wanted to say something.
but did not know how to say it.

But Cor ral Cannon gave him no chance to
speak, as e eagerly perused the strange mis-
sive, which ran thus:

“ MY Badman:

“I write these lines in that language I have not
heard for years, and which I have almost forgotten
how to speak, since our mother died in a strange
land. I knew you the moment on spoke my name.
and yet. I seemed to be struck umb, for I knew we
had only met to part forever. Jean, my brother.
you will never see me again, and it is only at the risk
of my life'that I send you this letter now, written
with an Arab reed n, by a hand that has not.
formed aFrench wo for ten years. You must' know
howI came to be here and all about my history.
You shall at once.

“You remember how the Arab irates took our
ship by EU rise in the middle of t e ni ht, but do
not know t at our poor father was ki ed on the
ship’s deck, after he had tied us both to the hen-
coops, and was about to throw us overboard. After
his death there was no more resistance, and l’ to und
myself surrounded by fierce men with gleaming
swords who threatened mother as she tried to shield
me. at had become of you I do not know to this
da ,for both mother and thou ht on had been
is ed and thrown into the sea, ' et e men of the

crew.

“What happened afterward also I am not clear
about, for I must have fallen sick. All I remember
is thatI woke up one day in a black tent in the.
African desert, with my mother fanning me, and
found out that I had been sold with her as a slave to
the young Emir Abd-el-Kader, in whose harem I
have remained ever since."

Here Corporal Cannon laid down the letter
grith a groan, and wiped the sweat from his

row.

“The harem!" he muttered. “Then she is
the wife of this Arab. She is lost to us."

He took up the letter again, and the very
next words disarmed his fears. .

“You must know that all the women in a harem '

are not the wives of the chief; for his children, sis-
ters, mother, aunts, cousins, servants, are all there.
I hays been onlya humble slave trained up for a
dancing irl ever since; and the Emir has never so
much as 00 ed at 'me or spoken to me.

“Thev treated us kiudl ; for the Emir prides him~

self on 'havi a ha py ousehold, and my mother
was allowed 0 teac me her wn tom-ire, in rcad~
ing and writi , besides the Ara lo I picked up; till

the time she d ed, five years ago. Since Ihen I have
never is ken or heard a word of French. till you fell
at my set. ' ‘

“ And now, my Jean, prepare yourself for a strange
surprise, which I have known for five years; but
which on Will learn for the first time. y nioilzer
told it 0 me on her death-bed and bid we reveal it
to you whenever we met; for she had a strange faith
that we chm/Id meet, In five words then, 1,0” m c not
my brother.“ '

The corpor'l dropped the letter and started
up with a cry of a strange character. Surprise,

fear, and something he could not understand, '

which was very like joy, Were blended in that

cry. .
. “ Not her brother! 0h, monDieu !” he si bed,
and then be bid his face in his hands and a col:
allover with sobs, the last that ever convulscd
the frame of Corporal Jean Cannon.

Old Krupp, who had stood apart watclii v ‘ In.
curiously, now interposed:

“ What is the matter, comrade? No bad in “as,
I hope, in your letter?" -

The corporal of rhasseurs turned to his com—
rade and caught his hand, which he wrung hard.

“ Oh. my comrade,” he said, simply, “ I do
not know if it_be d or bad. The God
Will show me in stime. [have lost a sister,

3

5?

 

~.

3

it

 

 

Corporal Cannon, the  ofForty Duels. ' I a 5

 

 

and yet, it is stran e, Knapp, that somehow I
feel as if a weight ad f on from myheart
when I hear the news.”

Krapp looked puzzled.

“ Lost a sister? Is the Arab girl your sister?”

“ No, comrade, no, she is not in sister and
that is the stran 6 thing of it all app. Why
to hear that she

is it, my friend, hat I feel glad
is not? W i"

Krapp scratched his head.

“I don’t know, comrdde, unless it is that—
par'bleu— on are in love with her and have
inst fonn it out. But what does it all mean?

Vho is this girl, and how came on to make
such a fool'of yoursalf last night fore all the
regiment!”

Jean Cannon positively laughed in the midst
of all his misery.

"I was a fool, was I not, Krap 3 They will
break me of my stripes; but what 0 I care now
for them? I’ve found that Fiflne is alive, and
now I know that, I’ll get her back. my friend-—
ves, I'll t her back even if this Emir Abd-el-
Kader hi es her behind all the deserts of Africa
with lions for a body-guard. 0h! Krappl I’m
so happy at last!”

And this unreasonable corporal of cavalry,
there in his prison cell in disgrace, with the cer-
tainty of punishment before him, actually hug-
ged the old Dana and danced round the stone
floor.

Then he rushed at the letter he had dropped,
snatched it up, and began to read again with
mingled eagerness and joy:

“ You are nor my brother .’

“ No, Jean, you are not lny brother, though I shall
always love you better than fifty brothers. This is
what my mother told me on her death-bed:

“ You are not her son, nd she does not even know
who are your parents. on were found by the men
of the b ge train of our old regiment—the very
same in w oh you are now serving—n poor desert—
ed little baby in an empty hovel in Italy in the year
1809. as the re iment was marching1 to the campaign
of Wagram. 1y father and mot er adopted you,
and never let eit er of us know we were not brother
and sister, but my mother says she is convinced you
are of noble birth, for the clothes in which on were
dressed as a baby were trimmed with ace and
marked with a coronet and the letters J. L.

“ That is all she told me, but I have thought over
it ever since. You are not my brother butIshnll
always love ]you just the same, thong we shall
never see eac other more in this world.

“Good-b , dear Jean. I write this last in haste,
for l have ribed our black slave, Se (1 to take this
to the colonel of your regiment, an if I am found
out it will cost me my life. Farewell forever.

“Thy lovin
“ WINE."

Jean Cannon devoured the letter to the last
lines. and then kissed it reverently and placed it
in his bosom.

Old Krapp, in a fever of curiosity to lmow
what it contained, yet forbore to ask any ques-
tions till his comrade turned to him with a
bright smile and said:

“ Well, Krupp, they will break roe—is it not
so? I shall have worn my stripes for two da 3
and go back to the ranks on the third. But w 0
cures. my comrade! I have found Fifine.”

“And who is Fiflue’!” growled the Dane. “ On
my word, corporal, you are enough to try the
patience of a saint. Here I have not asked ‘a
single question, yet I ain, thoug‘hv ou know it
not, interested in your history. - o is Fifine?”

“ My faith. I know not.” '

“ You know not?”

“ No. That is, I know she is the daughter of
the man who was my more than father, Ser-
geant Cannon, who fought at Waterloo and
who was killed on the deck of the brig Creole,
ten years ago, after he had cast me overboard,
tied to a hencoo , to save me from the poniards
of the Arabs. ut I find from this letter that
I was not his son really, but only adopted. and
in the mean time, my comrade,I love Fiflne,
and I am free to marry her when 1 find her
again, even in Africa.” .

“Talking is cheap,” growled Krupp; “if that
girl is a slave to the Arab Emir, you will never
see her again.” . - \

“#01111 Cannon’s face change:

“ by not, comrade? The vernment will
ransom her; for 1 can prove she is a French-
woman by birth.”

“ But 3 ave to a powerful Arab chief, who is,
moreover, an ambassador, and will never 've
her u , if he knows a Christian loves her. on
were oolish,m friend, toshow our hand. I
saw the face 0 that chief as you eaped on the
stage, and, my faith, it was like the face of the
devil himself, as cold and cruel as fate.”

The corporal turned very pale. ‘

“Do you mean to‘say then that he will keep
Fifine, and that my Government will not help
ransom a Frenchwoman?"

“1 mean just that. You will never see your
Fifine alive again.”

Jean Cannon uttered a cry of horror.

. “ Alive! Do you mean they will have the
heart to kill that innocent child?"

“ Rather than give her to you, yes.
these Arabs.”

\Here they heard the clank of scabbards and}
regular tread of feet in the corridor, and Krupp

I know'

, added:

“Here comes the guard to take you to the

r

 

colonel. Be uiet and respectful, whatever on
do. After a1 , there are plenty of girls le t in
the world."

All the light had gone out of Jean Cannon's
face as he answered gloomily: .

“ Yes, it may be so; but there is only one
Fiflne for me; and I have lost her.”

Then the door opened and the guard ap-
peared. __

CHAPTER V.

THE SECOND nus-n ,

Colonel Rampon looked very stern and severe
as the delinquent corporal entered his room, a
little later, and stood stiflly at the door saluting.

The colonel was an ancient martinet and had
been wofull scandalized b the affair of the
previous nig t, resulting as it did in the depar-
ture of the Arab embassador, and a report to
head-quarters from the inspecting omcer of the
department that the Seventeenth Chasseurs
were in r discipline. He was writing when the
corpora entered, and did not deign to look up,
though he was rfectly aware 0 his presence,
but kept poor can standing at the door, with
his hand at his forehead, for a full minute. Then
he suddenly wheeled round in his chair and said
shar 1y:

“ bl so you are here, are you? A retty
corporal of he guard you have madel, hat,
do you suppose, will become of the army if such
things are talented? You have brought disgrace
upon the colors of the Seventeenth; made us the
jest of all France; insulted an embassador, and
all for what? Are you dumb, corporal? Answer!
What was the meaning of your outrage last
ni ht? Were you drunk?”

‘No, my colonel,” responded Jean Cannon,
in a low voice. “ I was not drunk." -

“ Are you mad then?"

“No, my colonel, I think no .”

“ Then how dared you interrupt the play b
your presence? You, who were charged wit
preserving order, setting the example of out-
ra e in ublicl Answer!” '

he 0 d colonel sat angrily drumming on the
arm of the chair. It was seldom he interfered
with any one so low in grade as a cor ral, but
this was an extraordinary case, and he ad made
an exception.

The digraced corporal was very pale. He had
always held the colonel in awe and reverence,

as a bei removed from his own sphere; and the
blalrsh 100 of this awful being made him quake
8. over.

“ If I may speak, my colonel—”

“Of course you can speak. My soldiers are
mv children. Speak out.” .

he veteran’s tones were somewhat milder
and the took such an effect on Jean Cannon
that he urst out impulsively:

“ 0h, colonel, pity me andforgive me. It was
my sister, stolen from .me by the Arabs ten
years a o, and nature proved too strong for me
at the s ock of seeing her. 0h, m colonel,
you do not know what it is to be all a one in the
world at ten years of age, to be passed from one
to the other like a shee or a dog, to have no
home, no father or mot er, not even a name to
which one has any right, and then of a sudden
see heaven open before you, ‘to find a sister, lost
for ten years, and then to see her torn from you
forever, and then to know that not even the

eminent of your own land will interfere to
save a French girl, modest and virtuous, from
the power of a Pagan Arab. Oh, my colonel,
do what you will with me, but pity the! It was
gay sister and now I have lost her a second

me.

. The old colonel had listened to him with much
attention, and when Jean Cannon had stam-
mered through his. little effusion he answered
more kindly: ,

“I am sorry .for you, corporal. In fact, I
am ve sorry; but you forget one thin : a sol-
dier of rance must have no family but is regi-
ment, no love but his fla . - Suppose you were
my son. Do you think t at on such a plea I
would save you from danger? 0n the contrary
it would be my dutiy to see you were spared no
duty,.however bar - and were you to fall on
the field of battle, I must not weep for you,
save in solitude and unseen. You have made a
serious error, committed a terrible breach of
discipline; but you are young and have much
to excuse you. For this time you are released
from arrest. See that in the future you remem—
ber that your first duty is to France, and that
you cannot yield to private feeling till your
duty is all done. Go!” ‘

Jean Cannon stood trembling before the col-
onel as if dazed. .

“ And do you forgive me?” he stammered.

“For this time. See you do not abuse my
kindness,” answered the colonel stormy.

Corporal Cannon drew a deep breat and sa-
luted, as still as a post; but his voice was husky
as he said: '

“Thank on, my colonel.
it. Good— ay, mycolouel.”

The veteran nodded and returned to his writ-
ing with a muttered: . ’

‘ Confound the whole business! The dpoor
fellow. I’m sorry for him; but it won’t o to
show-it.” . ~

Then Jean Cannon marched out of the colo~

I will try not to do

.V,

 

nel’s quarters, with his head erect, his chest ex.
panded sayme himself: ‘

“God bless other Ram n! Oh. if ever we
go to Africa, how gladly would, die for him,
ay fifty times over.”

The young soldier was full of good resolutions;
and, had it not been for an unfortunate accident
that morning, we might never have been called
ontorecord the forty duels of Corporal Can-
non.

But such is the irony of fate, that. if a man
be doomed to misfortune, she will take an
instrument with which to inflict it, and in th s
instance it came to 00 re] Cannon in the
she of a fool, who‘was a a comrade.

e reinstated ral had traversed the
streets of Tonlon, an had been much irritated

‘on the way by noticing that every soldier who

pa ed him looked back after him and laughed.
e bore this well enon h, however, until he
entered the barracks of the eventeenth, and had
got into the room of hisown squadron, where the
men were bus cleaning up for morning parade,
when he hear a low buzz of laughter round the
room; and a. tall trooper, Godard by name,
called out:
“Here’s Corporal Fiflnel How is she now,
m boy? Hola, Fiflnel have I found thee f”
can Cannon turned as white as a sheet and
his blue ems glowed with fn as he heard the
name of ' arling Fiflne t us bandied, in a
barrack-room. . ,
He strode forward to where Godard was

sitting, and cried, in a voice husky with rage, '

“ Stand up, coward !” ,

In a moment Godard was u , and in the some
moment received a blow to in the face from
the young corporal, which sent him over on his

bed, his nose bleeding profusely, while Jean '

Cannon cried in his clear ringin tones:

“ Take notice, all my comrat es, that if any
man calls me Corporal Fiflne hereafter, I will
cut off his ears, and that if he mentions the
affair of last night again, I will kill him or die
myfielf.” As for my stripes, let them go. I have

en.

Then, to Godard, who rose up half stunned, he
said savagely: ‘

“ I'll meet you this evening. Krapp is my
second. . At t e cemeter .” '

Godard hodded sullenl’y and went back to his
brushing, while Corporal Cannon took his seat
on his own bed, in silence, and set to work burn-
ishing up his buttons and buckles as if nothing
had happened. .

There was a silence in the barrack—room for
some time after that. The men had, in truth,
been discussing the affair as a good oke en the

r corporal as he came in; and e was too

great a favorite for them to pursue the subject '

now they found he took ,it in such deadly
earnest'. ’
Moreover, the reputation of the young cor-
poral as the best fencer'that had been turned
out of the calls d’armrs for ten years had a
ghood deal to do with the quiet that reigned in
e dormitory of his squadron. . ,
That day passed peacefully: and in the ever

ning Corporal Cannon and private Godard were ,
missing rom ‘

roll-call, having gone on a little
visit to the cemetery. \

Just as the last beams of the setting sun shone '

on the cemetery corner, two men in their shirt
sleeves crossed sabers for a few passe and Jean
Cannon with a rapid faint and a vi ous slash
shore oh the ri ht ear of his antagonist an
leaped back to guard with the an cry:

‘ I told you so. ' Now, taunt me a a l”

But Godard had no inclination to o anything
Ofdhet‘l‘in' 6 his d ith  r

e rew own swor w a 0

pain and observed:

“ Enough is as
lost my ear, but you’ll lose your strip.”

Jean Cannon la ed‘hitterdy

“I know it. I on wish I’
so easily. But it is or the last time.”

He threw down his own sword, without even »

the ordinary formality of shaking hands with

his an onist, and went back to, the barracks 'I
alone, w ere he was reporiad absent 'without .

leava and ordered to pay a visit to the captain
in the morning. ,

Then visit terminated in Jean Caring) coming
out of the captain’s room with a gloo
on his brow, and go'

quietly ripped off the chevrons that had marked
his three. ays’ rank. . . ,
No one made any remark about it, for the ex-

pgessiouon the oung soldier’s face was such as ‘

discourage okes at his exfpense, and, after
all, his comrades liked him
been before his fall.
But that ni ht, for the first time since he had
joined the reg?
eat cabaret or drinking-house, f uented by
fie topers .of the garrison and old pp
had sought him out, found him drinking hard,
though, to all outward appearance, as sober as
a u go. ‘
rom that day forth Jean Cannon lost the
name he had no aired in the regiment of a
good fellow, and arm noted as one of the
most morass and unsocial of. mortals. ‘The only
friend who stuck to him through good and evil

1

good as a feast, corporal. I‘ve ‘

not let you all I c

, frown ‘
strai ht tohis c t in the- r
bar-rack room where e too offhisjacket and .

or what he laid .-
l

meat, Jean Cannon wasseen in the-

who -

 

 

6

Corporal Cannon, the Man .of. Forty Duels. ‘

 

report was old Krapp, the Dane; and the two i

becam_ e {Lemons as the heaviest drmk' ers in the
1 men

wine never seemed to make them unsteady
on their feet, and they were always good-na-
tured in their on s.

But at other tunes, when both were sober it
was hard to tell which was the the most surly,
Krapp or Cannon.

They had no friends save each other, and the
only thing that kept them from quarrels with
the other soldiers was the fact that both were
held in terror as the best swordsmen in the regi-
ment.

But none the less, they found their position
no leasant, for every one shunned them, the

cers treated them severely, and onl the na-
tive Danish caution of old Krapp kept im from
losing his stripes as Jean Cannon had done. -

So matters went on for some months, during
which Jean Cannon went from bad to worse,
when, like a fresh breeze dissipating the fog
came the news to Toulon that the Governmen
had decided on an expedition to chastise the Boy
of Algiers;.that thirty thousand infantry and
tan batteries of artillery had been detailed for
the service, but that only one regiment of cav-
alry was to be allowed, which was to becom-
posed of volunteers, and denominated the Chas-
seurs of Africa.

In a singlle day, as it seemed, all the ill-humor
born of id eness vanished from am the sol-
diers at Toulon, and Jean Cannon. th his in-
separable friend, Corporal Neil Krupp were
among the first to volunteer togo with 8 new

regiment.

‘ We shall be among strangers, father
Krupp." said Jean Cannon, hopeful y. “ No one
will know me or in history, and no one Will be
abletotauut mes ut my poor Fiflnc. Alasl
shall I ever see her sin?”

“No,” answered pp, grufliy; “ you never
will, and the sooner you make u your mind to
fo t all about her, the better or you. Here

am , an old reprcbate, nearly worn out; yet I
, don’t grumble, though in one ni ht, twenty
I years ago, I lost all a man can he d dear, and
was left for dead besides. Well, I‘m glad there’s
to be fighting again, for I’m tired of this way of

living.

In about ten days’ time came the list of the
accepted names f or the new African Chasseurs,
and among the first were those of Krapp and
Cannon, who, on the very next day, is t the
barracks of the Seventeenth and repaired to
the camp at Marseilles, where the new regiment
was being organized. '

It was on a warm spring day in April, 1829,
that the comrades entered the camp, and were
at once to be off to the first squadron.

CHAPTER Vl.
THIRTY-SIX DUELS.

Tm: camp of the First Regiment of African
Chasseurs was situated on a sandy lain, sur~
rounded by the tents of infantry an artillery
regiments, while the discipline, as is usual in
hastily organized expeditions by Fi'ench troops,
was decidedly loose.

The guards were excessively strict with the
members of other regiments than .their own,
and scarcely a n' ht passed but a man was
killed or wounded y some sentry, in running
the guard to procure “rigor.
_ This bredbad blood tween the regiments,
all: wuss look“ ed upon.i ails. delibersate muriglelr,

u ,co 0 v corps,an espec.
was eelin itter between the men of dif-
ferent arms 0 the service: '

The soldiers of the single cavalry regiment,
being alone, one to thirty, were the particular

of hatred to the infantrymen, and the
very night before our hero’s coming to the
cam , a general assault had been made on the
cav camp after midnight, by a. crowd of
infantrymen. who had actually fired a volley in-
- to the tents and run away.

The only way the commandant of the camp
bad fixated a general, mutiny on that n ht
had by causing the lee to sound“ 0
arms!" and so k in the d flex-eat regiments
standing in line a night long.

The very same men who would sneak out af-
ter taps, bent on mischief, stood as tient as
bulbs in the ranks, after once that l sounded
in their ears. '

When Jean Cannon and Neil Krap joined
their squadron it was near sunset, and t a men,
having no horses to clean—for the corps was as
yet dismounted—were cooking supper or smok-
In their pipes. v .I "

hetwo comrades found their new friends
a bronzed, sturdy looking lot, for this after-
ward famous regiment was composed entirely
of veterans, picked for smartness.

They were assigned to a tent and mess, had a
supper, and then Krapp observed:
ell, comrades, we’ve no stable-call to-
. night, and the best thing we can do is to pay a
, visit to the’oantiniere (sutler). For my part,
I was'paid yesterday and my mone is burning
a. hole in my pocket till we have a I drunk to
better acquaintance." ‘

‘ The Dane noticed as he spoke an uneasy silence
among L’s new comrades; and one of them said
in a hesitating way:

 

/ u‘

\

 

“ Don’t ou know how we stand, comrade?”

“ Stand How do you mean i”

“Why, we have no sutler of our own at, so
we have to depend on the sutler of the orty-
fifth Infantry in the next camp.”

Jean Cannon interrupted him.

“So much the better. I like the infantry
well enough. It’s not their fault that they
can’t ride. We can’t all be cavalrymen.”

“ Besides,” observed‘, void Kra p avely,
“ there is an advantage in getting run outside
of one’s own regiment. The provost guard will
only put you outsidethe lines, instead of locking
you up for- the night.”

“ That’s all true, comrade,” re lied the
chasseur, whose name was Blondel, “ at that is
not the worst of it. Do you know what hap-
pened last night to us?"

“ No. How should We?”-

“ It has been kept very uiet: but the fact is
that the Forty-fifth an t e Seventieth regi-
ments turned out in the darkness, and riddled
our tents with bullets. If the general had not
ordered the appel beaten, we should have had a
bad affair, for we were surprised.”

Jean Cannon had listened attentively, and now
be asked with great eagerness: -

“ Are you joking with us, or is this a simple
etc of facts, comrade?”

“ t istbe Hilario fact. Therefore, you see,
we cannot afl'o tngoto their sutlers or to
drink with them to-night. It would too
great a tell) tation to these mudmashcrs to set
on us and nflict some outrage We are all
about here, you see, without even a horse to
ob with on the rascals.” ‘

“ evertheless,” said J can Cannon with an ob-
stinate set of his jaw, “ mgcomrade Krapp
and I, desiring to drink a ttle of wine to-
gether, are going over to the sutler of this Forty-
flfth regiment; and if any of you gentlemen
wish to come along with us we will make it a
bottle a iece.”

And e rose to his feet amid the wondering
stares of his frien while old Krupp mutte :

“ He should be a no. It is singular. That
is the regular Berserker spirit. He shall not say
gld Krupp was not willing to get killed beside

1m.

He rose to his feet and took Jean Cannon‘s
arm.

“ It is perfectly true, comrades,” he said.
“ We who volunteer for Africa'don’t care much
for our lives. I go with my friend. Let who
will stay behind.”

Up jumped Blondel.

“ You are a pair of madmen, who want to
throw away your lives,” he exclaimed' “but
you shall not as we deserted ou. We’ll all go
in a body, an if these mu -mashers want a

‘ fl ht, by the gods they shall have it.”

is words excited immediate enthusiasm, and.
in a little while afterward. more than a hundred
cavalry soldiers all in full uniform, with their
swords under 'eir left arms, were saunterin
across the dividing line fietweentheir camp an
that of the Fortyl-flfth nfantry the single'sen-
try on that side aving orders pass all men
to the sutler’s till after tattoo. ’ .
' They noticed that he scowled at them, for he
was aninfantry man, and they noticed'also that
little grou were formin in all the company
streets on t a other side:o the color line, watch-
ing‘ them curiously.

he sutler’s tent of the Forty-fifth Infantry
was a huge marquee, big enough. for a circus, and
meant to hold, lar crowds. It was full of “Ir
tle tables all of w .‘h were empty at the time
the cavaliers flocked into the tent; and they had
no difficulty in finding plenty of room as they
sat down and called for wine, coffee, or absinthe,
as their tastes led them.

Outsig: of theisutler's dtent gab: a b33151]:I gptgn
space— e para e on —e.n on e
tents of the re m5?“ infan . y ’

They found t e cammme—w wasawom
as usual in French regiments—very civil, bu
nervous, for she saw from the defiant demeanor
of the cavaliers that they had come over re-
pared for a fight if need be; and she hurried er
waiters on to give them all they wanted and
take the money quickly, while she di tched a
secret message to the colonel of the arty-fifth
to ask him to come over or take precautions
a ainst another riot, as she feared.

\ ut, before her - messenger could return. the
men of the Forty-fifth began to drop in, by twos
and threes and one might notice that every man
had on his’belts and bayonet, an unusual thing
at a sntler’s tent. ' -

The poor cantiaiere was now in a. flurr , and
ran about from table to table, serving as set as
she could. She had not taken in so much money
in a month; but at the moment felt as if she
would glad] give it all to get these men safe] y
out of her p ace. ‘

Yet so far, nothing had occurred to mar the
harmony of the evening. The place was full of
men, smoking, drinking and chatting in the
most polite manner, and the only peculiarity
notiCeable was that the two arms of the service
kept separate from each other, and that cavalr
men and foot soldiers alike entirely ignored eac
other’s presence. .. ,

Thus mafter‘s‘lasted for about ten minutes, till
the tables

 

woman full, and a'large number of

men were standing all round; when a tall burly
sergeant of infantry, who wore the crossed
swords of mailre d’armes on his sleeve, strode
down among the cavaliers, and said loudly:

“ These confounded manure-shovelers have
no manners. They crowd us out of our own
canteen. See here, young man, I want a seat.
Do on hear me i”

T ere was instant silence throu bout the tent,
for the soldiers seemed di to trust the
issue now to a single champion, and had plainly
chosen the maitre d’arflws to re resent them.

The person he addressed, as it appened, was
our hero, Jean Cannon, whose boyish and inno-
cent face had caused him to be singled out by
the hull of the re iment for the tria .

Jean annon loo ed up at the maitre d‘armes
amid profound silence, and asked:

“ To whom have I the pleasure of speakin ?”

“ To me, Ga n, maitre d’armes of t e-
Forty-flfth of t e line," responded the other
fiercely. “ Come, no nonsense, chickenl I want
that seat.”

" Why, certainly," answered Jean Cannon,
with the frank open smile of a child. “When
such a famous sworsdman as you asks me for a
seat in so polite a manner, I ought to rise and
say with a bow: ‘Monsieur Gasparin, honor
me by acce ting my chair.’ ” ~

He suite the action to the word, while a low
hum of dismay went 1: from the cavaliers, and.
the foot soldiers smil and said:

“He has done it. The will run.”

But Sergeant Gaspar a, who accepted the
courteous tender wit a gratified grunt of tri—
um h, found out his mistake later.

e turned his back on Jean Cannon with a
growl of contempt, and proceeded to sit down
in the chair the other held with so muc com-

laisance, when it was suddenly ulled from
neath him: then brandished oft by the
sturdy chasseur; who brought it down into
slivers on the head of the math d’ames, as he
sat on the earth, crying: _

“ And that is‘lhe way Igive it'to you, cow-
ard l”

The blow was so severe that it knocked Gas»
parin senseless, and in a moment eveléy soldier
was on his feet, swords and bayonets ashed in
the light, amid the screams of the terrified.
cantiniere, and a bloody riot was imminent,
when the loud blare of the bugles and the deep
roll of drums beating the a el, or call to amt?
sounded throu h the tent, gust as the colonel V
the Forty-flft , in his ful uniform, with his
sword drawn, rushed in, followed by his adju-
tant. roaring: -

“ To the colors, rascals, to the colorsl Whatt
are you at it again i” '

Such is the magic of discipline that in a mo—
ment the infantry soldiers, ran out of the tent.
rushing to the stacks of arms on the color line
as fast as the could 0, while the colonel-
coming forwa , shon , angrily:

“ And you, cavaliers. to your uartersl You
who are so anxious to fight your rothers, we'll
see if you’ll face the Arabs as boldly when you
meet them in Africa. Madame Bigot, close the
canteen at once. No more wine to night. Be
03 all of you."

The cavaliers were awed by the resence of
an oficer: for a colonel in the Frenc army is a
very high personage, with three battalions of
a thousand each under his orders, and the gulf
that separates him from a private chasseur is
immense.

They went slowly out of the tent and home to
their quarters, where they suflered no molesta-
tion, while the unfortunate men of the Forty-
flfth were kept at the stacks all night long, and
get not a wink of sleep. '

Next da , while Jean Cannon and Krapp were
cooking t eir soup, about noon, a corporal of
the Forty-fifth came over into their quarters,
and was welcomed with effusion by Krupp.

“Very glad to see you, comrade. You shall.
see that we of the caer are not mob hogs as
they have in your re t. Sit down a d
have some of our-soup. It is nearly ready. E '
my faith, but we laid out that terrible bully oi-
yours‘last night, didn’t wet”

“This man, I believe ” said the infantry cor-
poral, looking at Jean lannon, “ is the one who
struck Sergeant Gasparin from behind. I am
instructed to say that our sergeant will waive
his superiority of rank and meet your friend. in
an hour from now, in a nook among the dunes
we will show you.” '

“ Acharming invitation," cried Krapp. “ We
shall be delighted. What shall we bring!”

“ Sabers if it please you. Our sergeant is an
expert, but wishes to give you every chance."

“We will foll0w you thither,” answered
Krapp, with the utmost politeness. “ And now,
comrade, share our soup, for it is ready.”

But the corporal would not touch the soup;
and it wasnot half an hour after when they
saw him arm in arm with Sergeant Gasparin
saunter through the camp and take the read
out to the sand-hills, or dunes, among which the
tllnrd duel of Jean Cannon was about to take
p ace. ‘

It was short and decisive, for the infantry

sergeant, though an expert with the saber and. '

smallsword, was not used to the ‘ r dash-
ing style which old Krupp, the Dagee, hadtanght.

A

v

 

 

 

 

Corporal! Cannon, e Man, ofForty s.

 

=2:

2’

 

Jean Command which the latter had improved
by his native suppleness and vigor.

Inside of three minutes the ser cant made a
false cut, and received a long 3 from the
saber of the oun soldier, which stretched
from theleft s on] or down to the right hip,
like a bandolier of blood.

’lho r mun ttered a sharp cry, dropped
his sw and fel on the sand, when ' an~
mgouist helped bind him up, and observed to
the corporal:

“ Tell our comrades not to despond. I have
beaten eir best man; but I am siill open to
more matches with you rats of the rampart. It‘s
not our fault you’re not in the cavalry. You
an} be, if you could. “Learn to fence bet-

He was quite sober that morning, and in his
bittcest mood. -

As he walked away with Krupp, the Dane
observed gravely: «

“You shouldn’t have said that, unless you
wanted to be killed. Your words will be all
over the camp, and there are twenty other in-
fantry regiments lyin round us, each with a
feuci -master and a omen provost corporals,
ready take them up."

Jean Cannon laughed bitterly.

“ Int them all come, one after the other. I
want to die, Krupp, and I care not how soon I
go, I hate these reuch. Their nation let my
Fifine go into the power of an Arab; when, by
saying the word, they might have claimed her
and made me happy. Let me die anywhere, so
long as I die in t c act of killin one of the men
who refused to help me save Fi no."

Krupp looked curiousl at him.

" One would think tha you were not French,
to bear on talk," he said.

Jean nuon laughed again, still more hit-

y. .

" Who knows what I am, Krappl Found in
a ditch, with no father and mother!

knows if I come even of honest parents! - o,
no, I shall never know who I am; for all the
slow I have at this da to mgtidentity is two
letters marked on a be. y's sh ”

Kra p tax-ted sl htl .

“ 13:0 flatten! $hai¥ letters?”

“Oh, what consequence? Let them go with
the rest. Born to misfortune doomed to
misery, let me live out my life as I will, Krupp.
F‘ifine is gone and life without her has no plea-
sure but me fight. Let me have my pleasure.”

And he had it to his heart’s content, as Krupp '

had pmahesied he would, after his aflair wit
Kaine asparin.

'l‘be bitter words of Jean Cannon had been
reported by the corporal and his friends, with
variations, to every infantry regiment in. the
expedition, and that evening the ' young
soldier received visits from no less han six
'maitms d’armes of diflerent‘organizations.

:f A lsliugle interview will serve as a fair sample

a . , ~ . ‘

Jean Cannon and old Krupp, sitting with their
ahameur comrades round t e fire, observed a
little party of infantry soldiers and non-com-
missioned ofllcers approaching them, with the
most friendly expression.

“Whom seek you,
generally the first to inquire.

the invariable answer; and when he had been
shown to them, the spokesman of the party in-

x

" Is it possible that this is the chasseur who
has uttered 'such a boast?”

f‘ What boast!" Jean would ask.

“ Emmier we are informed that on have
stigmat usmeuof thelineasra ofthe
“Mandde we oughttolearntofence.
h it true?"

'Ihen Jean Cannon would laugh.

"I! as tents of the rampart thatis
a trifle; but as for learning to fence, that is a
thing you lnfantrymen will never do till a cav-

man teaches you.”

his retort invariably enraged—es Jean in-
tended it to do—the infantrymen; and the
spokesman of the party always ended by ro-
pqsuig that their maitre d’armes should e—
6? give—a lesson in fencing to the audacious
chasseur next day at sunrise or sunset.

. Before the evening was over Jean Cannon had
Six affairs on his hands, at the rate cf two a
day to last him for three days; and every one
of these duels was fought, as arranged, with
the saber, between J can and the fencing-master
of. a different infantry regiment. in every af-
hir the saber was the selected weapon and in
every one, to the amazement of the whol’e camp,
the young chasseur was victorious over the best
men that the Infantry regiments could furnish.

It may be thought strange that such a crop of
duels could be possible in a camp where the
orders were so strict against any combat of the
kind; but the solution of the myster is to be
found in the peculiar code of honor in t e French
army, from the highest to the lowest.

It was regarded as a point of etiquette for
oficers to close their eyes to all evidence of
dueling, however plain, and to accept any ex-
use, however lame, for the absence of a man
from duty after being wounded.

'flie quantity of strange accidents thatwere

. l I
.; _- l. I ‘ l

 

comradesl’"Blondel was  the whole country, which be

.up

 

invented to account for divers slashes bestowed
by the saber of Jean Cannon, during. the period
0 his residence at the Camp of Al ers, would
have puzzled the wits of any but a such sol-
dier; and as time went on, they became more
numerous.

For, be it observed, when once the jealousy
of infantry a inst cavalry is roused, especially
in France. he ing can apgease it.

The exploits of Jean anuon and his uni-
form success, without a scratch, roused in the
fencing-masters of the infantry re imeuts a
perfect frenzy of exasperation an injured
vanity. They felt that t elr reputation as mas-
ters was at stake; that it was absolutely neces-
sarily at all hazards to punish this insclent re-
c t, who was not eten a veteran, much less a
master; but who nevertheless defeated masters,
without so much as getting a scratch.

Therefore, as do. after day went on, the
messa es came thi and fast and, so used did
Jean on become at last to the routineof
fighting, that he was wont to pay three visits a
day to the quiet nook among the sand—hills
where the affairs were settled, and, before three

tweeks had passed, he had crossed swords with

every master in the Algerian expeditionary
corpis, and wounded every one more or less se~
vere y.

Then when he had disabled his last opponent
——who ed from the artillery—with a slash
across the shoulder, he threw down his sword
and made this proclamation aloud:

“Messieurs, this makes thirty-eight duels I
have fought, and for my part I am tired of it
all. I am sorry that I ever said a word against
the. men of the infantry, whom I have found to
be brhve men. Henceforth I declare that I
will never cross swords with a brother French-
man, unless he forces a quarrel on me b a
blow, and I trust to show you all that can
Cannon can be as true acomrade a inst the

I Arabs as he has been a bitter foe on t e field of
‘ honor.”

It was another remarkable fact in the mental
wmposition of the French army that this
spebch repeated from man to man with every
form of exaggeration, changed the feeling of
every man in t e expeditionary corps toward the
audacious chasseur and made of him a hero and
a general favorite. Possibly the fact that his
last antagonist had been in the artillery aided
tosoothe the vaui of the French soldiers o
infantry, for Jean non was at once dubbe
“The Invincible;” “The man of thirty-mgr;
duels,” and from henceforth the feeling -
tween the cavalry and infantry became the
best possible.

It was about time for this result for in two
days after the last duel the expedition set sail

,for Algiers and the war began.

 

CHAPTER VII.
AMONG run mans.

FIFTEEN months have passed own when we
next come on our hero in the midst o the labors
pf actual warfare with a wily and dangerous

as. . .

Agiers had been taken, the Arabs driven to
the ties, and the French troo had occupied
been parceled

P out in tracts to a number of imagm' French
“ We seek the chasseur, Jean Cannon ” was . a”

colonists.

The reason we call them “ imaginary ” will

in the course of this story. -

utin thegreat plain of, Ben Farik, (the son
of Farikgggi the w 'te tents of an encampment
surroun low earth-works, while long lines
of horses at t e picket to inside the works
proclaimed the presence 0 a cavalry regiment.

In the middle of the camIabefore a large
marquee, floated a flag, which re the inscrip—
tion, “ First Chasseurs of Africa," and indicated
the colouel’s q guarded by a sentry.

Outside the earth-works lay a vasth‘hplain,
stretchin on all sides like a sea for t y or
forty 11: es, and bounded by blue chains of
moukg'tains, with traces of snow on the leftist

The resemblance of the plum to a sea was in-
creased by a covering of tall , fast turning
allow in the scorching su ght, and waving
. long billom whenever ,the breeds passed over

it.

Above blazed a fierce sun from the midst of a
sky of the most intense blue, and hot quivering
streams of air rose from the plain on all sides,
making the landsca tremble in the light.

 “1°. sortie m M

e e w grass onem o e green
islag’ds, from which rose umps of date palms,
and near some of these clumps. were here
patches of white wheat and barley, without a
vestige offence round them, cnl marked out
from the rass by their dil‘fereu color. Such
was the p sin of Ban Farik, and the wheat fields
were those sown by the Arabs before the French
landed and now in nominal on. of
their foes. We say “nominal possesswn,

. for the French had already found by experience

that they could not ex safety outside of
their fortified camps, an all the colonists who
had come over, armed with bi ofiiolal parch-
ments from His M jesty Kin harles X, were
careful to live in t ecity of ziers and never
visited their allotments at Ben Farik till it was

timetc gatherthe crops under the escortofa
b do of troops. . _
that, practically the First Chasseurshad
gigs of Ben Farik all to themselves—and
a .

bs.
But where were the Arabsl
That was the very question asked by a young
corporal of artillery, who had come in from
France the day before. with a batte of brass
guns, to the camp at Bou Farik, an had seen

no enemies et.

He was 51' ' on a he -bale at the end of one
of the camp streets in e midst of a of
the cheese and he asked the question of a
stout, thickset young fellow, whose chevron:
and crossed swords on the sleeve showed him to

be a corporal instructor-atarms of the chal-

urs.

“'Where are all the Arabs, Cannon!
They told me the country was ml of them, and.
we’ve not seen one.”

Corporal Cannon smiled. He had become
brown sincehe had come to Afrim,and -
beard had grown to respectable proportions.
He no lon r looked like a boy. '

“ Don’t disconsolate, my chicken,” he said
with the sarcasm of a veteran of war record.
“ These Arabs have a way of being felt before
they are seen. You'll find where they are, soon

enou h.” ” led ,
“ y a grow another corporal a
ed ve ’ n of large frame, “if you w'an
0 find them, my chic on take Neil Krapp‘s
advice, and don’t look for them; on won’t need
to go a quarter of a league from ere tofeel and

i see all you want of Arabs—guns, sabers, horses

and all. ’

The artilleléy corporal stared all round him at
the plain, an then shrugged his shoulders and
said a little pettisshgl‘y: ’ ‘

‘f on are plea to jest with

ou’ve been three months in

ave as good e es as an one here, and I met
there’s not an rub on t ‘s plain, nor ‘anywhere
nearer than the mountains, if indeed there are
any there. ”

Old Krapp laughed. and so did all the rest
except Corporal Lennon, who said with a‘ kind-
ly gravity:

‘ Corporal Gautier, you are mistaken; .There
are at least a thousand Arabs with their h
scattered all over this There are at l
fifty in that clump (3' palm-wees, within gun—

shot of your batte .
looked at him ’with some

Corporal Gautier
,coutempt. _

"Why are you! ing to me?” he asked. “Do
youthink I me 0011 Icon see.” v ~

Jean Cannon flushed slightly, but kept his
tem r as he replied: '

“ rporal Gautier, you are mistaken. I will
not day you are 1 1:15, becausethxt is not a
word for one Frenc dier to use to anctherin

me because
Africa. 1

- the r’e’sence of the enemy. You are wrong to

use it

Gautier sneered openly. ' . , '

" I have used it nevertheless. If you wish
take notice of it, I can handle a sword, even if

he not an instrmtor. I warn you that I ve
already defeated three aptagonists, one of

a corporal of dragoons. ,

The chasseurs became v silent now, and
looked uneasil at Jean n, who had
turned ert usual. v

Old pp alone muttered to

. him a few
words in a strange tongue, and then the char
sour answered quietly:

“Corporal Gautier, I repeat that on were
wrong to accuse me of lying, and I ink you
woul not have done ithad you not been fresh
from France. ere in Algiers we have enough
to do, fighting the Arabs. without fighting our
comrades about nothing.” ‘

“ Fighting Arabs i” re ated Gautier, with a
sneer. “ A poor excuse better than none. I
 on I dcg’t believe the? is an mm

e es our cam . came as-
terday’qgvith the battgry and la brigng

and we saw not the signiof an Are. on thorny.  ,
y .

I repeat that you are ng about the Arabs”,

As he spoke, he swaggered insolently‘before
Jean Cannon, and a quick flush crossed the .
chasseur’s face. ’

_With wonderful self-control, however, he re- -. l »
plied, as calm] as ever: . “'

“ Corporal autier I have a better way'cf

roving that I am no in than by fighting you.
f {lou will dare to ride your horse to wa '
wit me at the well in that clump of pa
warn you that you will find Arabs enough,
that you will never let your animal drink at-
the well.” '

Gautier looked at him with intense scorn“ for
he believed Jean Cannon wastrying to ver
his retreat by a ruse.

“If I werenot fresh from France and an
expert with the sword,” he said, “ I would strike
you in the face, and so drive you away. As it ,
18, I‘ll put you to shame before all our com—
rades. I will ride down tothat we alone,
with you, as you please, and I will water in
horse there. Now, what say you?”

Jean Cannon bowed his head quietly. _ ‘

“Isplylam sorrytohaveto shame on; for
you w have to apologize to me in less than half

 

an ‘hom: I am glad you did not strike inc, cor-

r ' , \

 

 

 

 

 

; ,

' ’mlne.”

. out of he camp

- he urged on his horse to full .

8 CorpOral Cannon, the Man of. Forty Duels. - A

 

 

firm, for I have sworn never to fight another
enchman unless he strike me; and I do not
want to kill on."

“ To kill me I” echoed Gautier. “It will take
a mitre d’armes to do that, m brave chasseur.
Come, let us take, our horses. am impatientto
have done with a fellow of your kidne .”

As he spoke he went to the picket] ne of his
battery,‘ which was close by, and led out his
horse, a stout, heavy animal, on which he
vaulted, with a halter and blanket, all un-
armed.

“ me, I am ready," he exclaimed, as he saw
Jean Cannon deliberately saddling and bridling
1a light, speedy~looking barb, and buckling on
his weapons. “ 1 am goin to water my horse;
and on my return I shall t rash you for a liar
and”a coward, or ask you to do the same to

Old Krapp, who, with the other men, was
standin by, watching, cried out:

“Bes not boast too much, my friend. I have
seen pride get a fall before this. Put on a
saber, if you must go.”

Gautier laughed scornfully.

“ You can’t scare me. I can eat all the Arabs
on this plain without salt.”

He was turning his horse to gallop off, when
Jean Cannon suddenly shouted:

“ I’ll bet you a month’s pay on don’t wamr
that horse at the well, and t.at I do water

“Done!” shouted back Gautier; and then he
oped away, laughing.
Now it he pened that the well of which both

 

spoke was e one at which all the homes of the
cam were wont to water, and there was a f
r6338: beaten track to and from it.

autier saw the track, and he remembered
to have watered his own horse there that very ’
"morning, in com lete security, in company ,
with all his comra es.

What he did not know was that, prior to
going to water, two squadrons of the chasseurs,‘ ‘
with a couple of guns, had been deployed in
front of the well to avoid danger.

Jean Cannon tightened his irths, mounted 1
his ho e, and trotged tranq ' y after Gautier g
ga c.

It was not against orders to go, for the colonel ,‘
had never conceived it necessary to warn men 1
against what every chameur who had been a
vweek in camp knew to be 'a foolhardy exploit,
full of needless danger.

, So Cor ral Gautier, fresh from the Paris gar-
rison, gafigped‘gayly out of cam over the sun-
baked road, an rapidly approac ed the clump
of date palms, muttering; ,

“ Theso African’s thin they can fill us from
France with their silly stories. I’ll show them
the can’t deceive Gautier.”

us he traversed half the distance that sepa-
rated him from the clump of palm trees, a dead
silence reigning on the plain round him, when
he suddenly started and dod as:

“ crack, crack! Pica! on I" '

V Two little puffs of white smoke from the yel-
low grass, both behind him, and the unmistak-
able hum of bullets over his head, making him
how racefully as if salutin the balls.

“'Ifiiere are Arabs!” he ought to' himself,

' and all his courage‘was oozing out when'he

turned his head to ‘look behind him and spied
Corporal Cannon, at an easy center, coming
alon the road to meet him. ' ‘

“f may have time to run the antlet and
swear I’ve watered the horse,” t ought the
artillery corporal hurriedly. “They will ridi-
cule me unmarcifully if I do not make the at-
tempt. Ob, if I had only brought my weapons!”

He was no coward, and he showed it now as
He had
come into full view of the we when out of
the date palm clump,'as if they hadstarted
from the ground, galloped a dozen Arabs, firing

I their long guns, and dashed at him, yelling like

fiends.
Poor Gautier, unarmed, could do nothing but

.' turn his horse and flee, while the Arabs, with a

shrill oil of triumph, came racing after him on
their ean barbs, and he could hear their hoof-
beats gettin nearer and nearer as his horse
panted and abored. Once in flight, the imagi.
nation of the best of men overcomes him, and
poor Gautier ve way to his fears and rode
oAnmyisell’ing: “ elp! help! The Arabs! The
I .

In his terror he did not even notice Jean Can-

, non till the latter passed him and fired a pistol

at the Arabs who immediately halted and.
when?“ theiregorties' u d sh ' kin f‘
on poor u or ope on, no g‘ or
help, and ran right In?!» the midst of a whole
platoon of chasseurs, who were trotting out to
meet the Arabs, With their muskets out on the
right thigh, ready for instant use.
he demoralized corporal did not know that
this was the picket reserve, hastily turned out
by the officer of the day, who anticipated a.
dash of the Arabs, and was trying to head it

off.

He only thought that the Arabs were behind
him, and rode into cam , where he jumped off
his horse and ran to own battery, still
shrieking: '

“ The Arabs! The Arabs!”

 

He was only recalled to his senses by the peels
of derisive laughter from the men of the next
squadron of chasseurs, who had swarmed out of
their tents to look at him, and now saluted him
with all sorts of gibes.

“ This is the man that never saw an Arab."

“ Did you water our horse, Gautier!”

“ How many due 5, my brave boy?" .

“ He wants to fight Corporal Cannon."

“ Cannon would cut his head off."

“Room for the gentleman from Paris.”

“ Wait till Cannon comes back.”

Poor Gautier writhed with shame as he came
to his senses in safety, and realized that be de-
served all these ‘taunts: but before he could an-
swer a word, he heard a great shout, and saw
the chasseurs run to the edgge of the battery,
jump on the parapet, and and there, yelling
and waving their caps toward the plain, where
an excitin scene was being transacted.

The pic et reserve that had trotted out so
quickly to the rescue of the two madmen as
every one thought them, had deployed intoa
skirmish line, and was firing away at uite a
respectable crowd of Arabs, who were ga oping
in from all quarters of the plain, leaving the
clump of date palms quite deserted.

As floor Gautier, crimson with shame, turned
to 100 , he saw a single chasseur, on his horse
in the middle of the palm trees, the anima
quietly drinking, while the rider was leveling
his musket—for the chasseurs carried infantry
muskets—at some of the Arabs, engaging his
comrades.

Then, while every one was watching him,
they saw him pull up his horse's head, throw
his musket to his back, drew his lon saber, and
cometearing through the midst of t e Arabs to
join his comrades.

As he passed through the midst of them
several men galloped to intercept him, and two
at least crossed sabers, as they could see the
flash of steel.

In each instance the Arab fell from his horse,
and the chasseur galloped away unharmed who
received by his comrades, and covered by a
furious file firing.

Gautier heard a voice shout out:

“ Hurrah for the Whitehead! That’s the very
trick I taught him!”

He looked round and spied gaunt old Krapp
waving his ca excitedly as‘the whole party of
chasseurs fell ck at a walk to the camp, halt~
ing to fire ev few yards, and followed at a
distance by a c oud of Arabs that must have
numbered near two hundred.

And then, as the, 'cket ‘d came near the
ramparts, now lin with undreds of excited
chasseurs and 'artillerymen, the bugles sounded

“ To arms!” and Colonel Bugeaud, gray-headed.

and stern, rode out from before his tent. while
the officers went galloping to and fro, and the
whole camfi became ascene of hustle and excite-
ment, in t e midst of which Gautier was too
busy getting to his post in the battery to take
notice of anythin but his duty.

When at last 9.1 was hushed into the stillness
of disci line, and the whole camp was under
arms, t e Arabs had vanished, and Corporal
Cannon rode in from the gate at a‘sharp trot
and took his e(place in his squadron as if nothing
had hap n . ,

The 5 eye of Colonel Lemaitre was on
him, howe er and as soon as the parade was
dismissed which was in ten minutes after that
omcer called out: “ Co ral Cannon w' re-

rt in arrest, and be uced to the ranks for
saving the camp without orders.”

, And that was the way Jean Cannon lost his
chevrons of corporal a second time. ,

CHAPTER VIII.
, m TWO coaronam.

THAT evening Jean Cannon, smokin his Pi
in his shirt sleeves in the guard tent w th al t e

hiloso by of an old offender who cared nothing
or auxin-rest, was all at once aroused by' the
voice of the sergeant of the guard calling out:

“Chasseur Cannon, you’re wanted at the
colonel’s tent.”

In a moment all Jean’s philosophy had van-
ished, and he jumped nervously up and knocked
the ashes out of his pipe, saying:

“ 0h, sergeant, for heaven’s sake let me go
and dress myself decently. I’m not fit to go
before Father Bugeaud.” ‘

“ Father Bugeaud” was the pet name given the
colonel by his men,,who fairly adored him,
while they were mortally afraid of his dis-
pleasure, and Jean Cannon was no exception to
the' general rule. ’ , , '

He would sooner have faced fifty Arabs alone
than have been summoned before Colonel Bu-
ge‘.z"l‘he..colonel has sent orders that you are to
come at once." answered the sergeant gram
“If you don’t look decent it’s your own fa t.
You might have known such an exploit as yours
of the mornin could not be passed over without
notice, You’ catch it, I can tell you”,

80 poor Jean Cannon, in his stable dress of
shirt and trowsers, his face and arms dirty, and
his hair all rough ‘ had to be marched to the
colonel’s» quarters hetwsen tWO‘trfm. chasseurs,
growling under his breath at the harsh sergeant
all. the way, and getting paler and .paler as he

 

s}.
, , ‘

 

.

nearoad" the dreaded presence of “Father Bu-
u

When he got into the tent, however, the first
object that caughthis eye was the trim soldierly
figure of Corporal Gautier, of the artillery.
standing before Colonel Bu eaud looking very
red, while the stern face of t e commander was
set in a frown that boded no good to any delin-
quent who came in his way.

When the chasseur entered and stood at at-
tention, fidgeting nervously, Colonel Bugeaud
lootked from one to the other, and at last growled
ou :

“Well now, what’s all this about? Tell me.
one of you, for I swear I don’t understand how
it came about. Chassenr, who sent you here in
your stable dress?" ,

Jean Cannon saluted stifliy.

“ Sergeant of the guard, my colonel."

Father Bugeaud frowned.

"He did, did be! Here, orderly!”

The orderly a poured in a moment.

“Tell the o cer of the day, with my best
compliments, to reduce the sergeant of the
guard to the ranks for disrespect to me in send—
ing me a prisoner in stable dre."

“ Yes, my colonel.”

Jean Cannon felt more at ease when he heard
the order, but he became as stiff as a post while
awaiting further questiohs.

“ What’s your name?” pursued the colonel.

“Jean Cannon, my colonel.”

“ For what are you in arrest?”

“Absence without leave, my colonel, at the
morning’s alarm de.” ‘

Father Bugeau fmwned deeply.

“ A grave ofl‘ense. Where were you i”

“Outside the cam , my colonel.’

“ What business ad you outside?
not know the danger?”

“ Yes, In colonel.”

“Then w y, I ask, were you out?"

“ I was watering my horse, my colonel.”

Colonel Bugeaud started up, and his face
chan ed to astonishment.

“ atering your horse! What! are you the

Do you

madman who brought on the attack of the '

Arabs?"

Jean Cannon was silent. ' 1

“Answer me. I tell you,” cried the colonel
angrily. ‘ “Did you go out alone, and thus
bring on the alarm this morning?"

“ No, my colonel.” .

“ Then who was with you?” ‘ I

“ I cannot answer, my colonel.”

“ Why not?”

“Because I am only responsible for my own
actions, In colonel.”

Colonel ugeaud lookedfrom one tothe other,
and then broke out: ‘

“What-is all this mysté about? Go ral,
do you know anything of t '8? Why di you
come to m%tent and ask to speak to me, if you
did not? ha is all this about?”

Poor Gautier, new as pale as death, yet found
breath to murmur:

“ My colonel, it is all my fault. I am a fool,
that could not tell a brave 'man from a coward,
and} have caused the punishment of a grand
stglgier,”who should be decorated for courage

ay.

He stopped, and Father Bugeaud said in a
much more kindly tone:

“ You are proving yourself now a braver
man than you think, co rel; for it requires
much courage to acknow edge a fault,_as you
are dong.” o

Here autier burst out eagerly: ,

f‘ Indeed, colonel I will tell the truth. It
was all my fault. I had seen no Arabs, ‘and I
thought the chasseurs were lau bin at me
when they said the country was if of hem. i
called this brave man a liar, when he told me
of the dim ,and I wagered a month’s pay.

that I we giant alone and water my horse .

at the well in e palm grove. I challen him
to fight me, and he refused. I calle him a
coward for which I beg his pardon now, before
you. What was the result. I rode on was
chased back into camp like a here: an
brave an saved my life, scattered the Arabs,
water his horse, and won the we er, for
which he has been shed, because 2 was
one minute late for t e alarm parade; Which I
caused by my madness. That is all, my colo-
nel. Punish me and restore thisbrave chas—
seur to the rank he lost thron me.”

Esther Bugeaud listen
Gautier had nished, and then turned to Jean
Cannon, of w om heasked: .

“Is this true, chasseur?” '

“ Nearly true, my colonel.”

“ How nearly true?”

“Simply this, in
life. It was the pcket  did that, and I
deserve my punishment

win a silly wage

Corporal Bugeaudvturned awayto hide a‘

smile.
‘f You are a $air of fOOIs,”‘he ‘said my;
“and there'is o y one thing I can do'w b you
both. Chasseur, re '
tell him! request

rig to your captain,‘ and
a

the hinent you deserve. As, for you, cor-
whim; to your batter-yam learn to be a

\

r- .3

this'

attentively till '

colonel. I ad not save his

or being taunted into‘
neglecting my duty and alarming the camp to
r. ’

var to season ~

{5

 

 

44

 

 

 

man or you’ll never be a sergeant. Now get
out, hath of you!

Both men wheeled about, saluting, and left
the tent; and no sooner were they outside than
Gautier can ht hold of Jean Cannon's hand and
cried earn y:

“ 0b, in friend, how can I ever forgive my-
self for this? You are a hero a demi 0d.”

Jean Cannon laughed with  usu good na-
ture.

“ I am so I cannot return the compliment,
for on seem ike a big boy. But seriousl , my
chi en, did you know, when you swe ed so
much this morning, who I was?’

Gautier looked puzzled.

“Who on were? Why no, who are 7you?”

“And have you made no ' lries. ’ asked
Jean, still more curiously. “ Di not Krupp or
any of them tell you?”

No, comrade,’ answered Gautier honestly.
“I have been toomuch ashamed to look at a
chasseur much less speak to one.” _

Jean Cannon regarded his new friend with
much more favor and muttered: .

“ He looks honest. He is not lying. No, he
is really a brave man.”

Now Gautier in his turn became curious.

“ What do ou mean, comrade! Who are you
that you ask I know you?"

Jean Cannon laughed as they approached the
street of his squadron, saying:

“ Yonder comes old Krupp. Ask him. I must
report to Captain Lemaitre. ’

As he knocked at the door of his captain’s
tent Gautier asked the old Dane:

“ Please tell me, comrade, is there anything in
Corporal Cannon that is remarkable? He told
me to ask you.” _

Krupp stared and grinned.

“Remarkable! I should say so. He is the
onl man I ever knew who has fought thirty-
eigiit duels—thirty—six with maitres d’armes,
and never so much as received a scratch.”

Gautier listened amazed, and when he had
finished ejaculated: .

“Thirty-oi ht duels! Masters! Not awound!
Then had I ought him, he could have carved
me like a chicken.”

“ Precisely, my little cabbage. But he would
not fight an one now, save for a blow. He
swore that ter his last duel.”

“Oh, Monsieur Krupp, what a fool I have
been!" ejaculated Gautier, fervently.

“My infant, thou hast reason to say so; but
we can not all learn wisdom at twenty."

Here Jean Cannon came out of his captain’s
tent, holding up his head and looking joyful, to
whom Gautier ran and knelt at his feet, crying:

“ Oh, Monsieur Cannon, forgive me!"

“Corporal Cannon, if you please,” rejoined
Jean stiflly. “ I am restored to my grade. Yes,
I forgive you, if 1v;ou’ll get us and make no more
nonsense about ere. Besi es, I am going to
see the colonel as soon as I can get my uniform
brushed up.” _

Gautier got up, but he seized hold of Jean
Cannon’s hand and asked eagerly:

“ Comrade, will you do me a favor?”

“ What is it, corporal?” asked Jean coldly.

“ It is this. 1 am going to take 011’ my stripes
and ask leave to exchan 9 into your squadron
to be near on. I want prove to you that I
am not the wretch ou must think me.”

Corporal Cannon and rapp both smiled.

“You are not a wretch." growled the Dane;
“only a spring chicken. You’ll be good enough
after you ve been properly cooked.

“ And as for exchanging into my squadron,”
remarked Cannon, “vou’ not find a chasseur
willing to go intoa battery, so you’ll have to
ask the commandant now, while he has power to
order the transfer.”

“ Will you intercedo for me, comrade?” asked
Gautier timidly. ,

“ Parbleu peak for yourself,” observed
Krapp g . ‘ You were bold enough to go to
the colonel a one. Go a n, if you wish to get
into our squadron, my c icken.”

Gautier turned away resolutely.

“ I'll do it, comrade. I can never-be happy
until I have ventured my life to aid Corporal
Cannon.” .

As he went away old Krupp marked:

“There is stuff in that y. He’ll make a
good soldier yet, Jean.” .

Jean Cannon sh ed his shoulders.

“ We shall see. or my part I hate these men
that are so eager. They remind me of. what I
used to bel” . _

D “And does that displease you?" asked the
ane.

“Yes,” growled Corporal Cannon, with a
heavy frown, " I hate the past. I live only to
kill and be killed. You know that, Krupp! '

And he stalked of! to his tent, leaving the Dane
shaking his head and muttering:

“ He has the v tones of the Lindholms.
That is the way t Mathias looked when he
went out to fight his last duel for the Italian
opera singer. I wish I knew and could prove
hisMbirth. Babe is in: netrablfig’ t

eantime rpora nnon, vin pu on

‘ best uniform, and burnished all  brass

and steel accouterments, took his way to the
tent of Colonel Bugeaud.

“I have a note from my captain,” he said

 

Corporal Cannon, the  of Forty Duels.“

l to

 

to the orderly, and was soon after admitted once
more to the awful presence.

lie found Colonel Bugeaud smoking a long
Arab pipe, with a gloom expression of face,
and the veteran greeted h with:

“ Well, corporal, what is it? Captain Lemai-
tre asks me togrant you a visit. Is it about
to-da ’s affair? Thats settled."

“ o, my colonel.”

“ Then what is it about i"

Corporal Cannon fidgeted.

“My colonel—l hope you will pardon the
libert I take—”

“ T at depends. What do you want?”

“ Permisswn to volunteer, my colonel.”

“Volunteer for what?”

“To carry a dispatch to General Bon, my
colonel, that’s all.”

Colonel Bugeaudaput down his pipe and stared
hard at the corpor .

“ Who told you I wanted to send a dispatch
to General Ban?”

“ Captain Lemaitre my colonel. Pardon,
but it was not his fault. had to beg him to
let me come. All the men adore you, my
colonel, and we know in what a bad position you
are, surrounded with the Arabs, with a maga-
zine to protect and not a battalion of infantry.
We know that if General Bon knew your position,
he would send reinforcements; and we know
that your good heart keeps you from ordering
an man on such a dangerous errand. Very
wel in colonel. I told my captain that if he
would st me out with our men whom I
would pick, I would deliver a di tch to Gen-
eral Bon before dawn. That’s al , my colonel.”

It was the longest speech Corporal Cannon
had ever made, and he stood surprised at his
own el uence.

Colone Bugeaud said nothing for some mo-
ments after: but smoked away at his pipe in
reflective silence.

At last he asked:

“Am I to understand that you ofl'er, with
four men, to cross thirt miles of country, all
swarming with Arabs? t is impossible.”

“ On the contrary, my colonel, I will do it to
night, if you will let me try.”’

‘ To-night?” ,

“Yes, my colonel. It would indeed be quite
impossible in the daytime.”

‘ Aha! I see,” said the colonel, in a more
confident tone. “A ruse of war, a little sur-
prise. That is your lplan.”

“A plan that wi succeed, colonel, if I can
ick in men, old rats of the guard-house, who
now t 6 way to steal the cheese.”

“ And who are your men?"

“ One of them is Krupp, 8. Dane, and my fel-
low corporal. Tho next is Blondel, a man of my
squadron. The third is my friend, Pierre
Broche and the fourth I shall pick out when I
get back with my permission.”

“Well,” returned the colonel, presently, “I
give you leave to t It is now an hour to sun-
set. Get read an I will have the dispatch for
you. Let one of your men have a copy, in
case one or more are killed on the way."

“ Very ood, my colonel.”

Corpora Cannon faced round and returned to ,

his squadron, where he found Gautier in the
dress of a private chasseur, dancing about and
crying out:

“Laugh at me as much as you lease. I de-
serve it all. But I’ll show you am worthy
to belong to the squadron."

“Why, Gautier,” asked Cannon, “did you
get rmission to transfer?”

“ es, I tell on," cried Gautier, eagerly. “ I
teased my cap n till he consented, and he let
me go tothe colonel. I am a full chasseur at
last, and I will never leave you till I have
shown you what I can do.”

“Very well,” answered Jean Cannon, in a
tone intended to discourage Gautier, “ I am going
out to ni ht with only four men to take a dis-
patch to eneral Ben. The countr is full of
Arabs, and it is probable that we all all be
murdered. Let .me see if you dare make one of
the four." ‘

Gautier turned a shade ler.

“ Is there much danger ’ he asked.

“Plentéy of it. In fact, we have onl one
chance 0 etting through in a thousand.’

“ Then go ” answered Gautier, quietly. “ It
is the chance I ask for."

CHAPTER 1X.
THE NIGHT RIDE.

Cowman Buomun, his usuall stern face
very grave and kind in exp on, stood in
front of his tent that evening at sunset with a
bundle of papers in his hand; talking to his ad-
jutant, and waiting for the volunteers to come

up.

“ It is a desperate undertaking, J ahot ” he
was saying, “and I could not find in my heart
to order any one out on such semce; but if they
get through alive it may save us the necessity
of abandonin this camp."

“I ho t n are not so bedasthat, colo-
nel,” sai Ca n-Adjutant J abot. “Now that
we have theha , all the Arabs on the plain
of Don Farik cannot put us out of here.”

“ A but there is an enemy more potent than
Abd- 3Kader, J abot.”

 

 

 

“ And his name, colonel, is?”

“ Hunger my b0}! 1"

“But we have a ull mu 'ne.”

“ For the men, yes. ut we have twelve
hundred horses in camp, coun ‘ the train and
the battery, and there is not a e of hay left
after to morrow’s ration is eaten up, my friend."

“But the plain is full of grass, colonel."

“ True, but to reap that grass and corn will
cost a hundred lives, unless we have a battalion
of infantry to put on guard. No, no, Jabot.
Make no mistake: If Bon sends us a battalion,
we can cut the hay and save this station for the
winter. If he does not we must abandon it."

“But he will, colonel.”

“ He will if he knows our straits. But to send
a dispatch through by daylight in the face of
these Arabs woul require a guard of two-thirds
my force, and the brown devils would swoop
down on the camp as soon as our backs were
turned. No, this corporal‘s offer is our only
chance to avoid evacuatin Bou Farik and leav-
inithe crop to Abd-el-Ka er.”

s he spoke they saw a little group of chas-
seurs ride out of one of the squadron streets,
headed by a corporal, who got off his horse in
front of the colonel’s tent, and came up with a.
respectful salute.

‘ We are ready, my colonel.”

Colonel Bugeaud looked at him close] .

“ You are a young man for a corpora . How
lon have you serve i”

“ ot quite two years. my colonel.”

“And our name is Cannon. Where have I
heard it fore?"

“ At Toulon, I fear, my colonel. You did not
join the regiment till the close of my career in
the Seventeenth."

And Co ral Cannon looked down as if he
felt asham of himself, as, in fact, he did, when
he remembered Toulon.

Colonel Bugeaud ruminated.

“I forget now. Had you any nickname then"
I remember them best.”

Jean Cannon colored deeply.

“Yes, m colonel. The! called me at first
Corporal dine, and after goined the Africans
I got the name of the Man 0 Thirty-eight—”

‘ Duels! Yes.”

Bugeaud started and looked curiously at the
kindlv‘faced corporal.

“ What! Are you the man that fought so
many duels? Comrade, there must have been
some grave cause to make a man like you so
reckless. I ho on are not quarrelsome. 1
hate this silly ueling business.”

“ No worse than I, my colonel. I swear to you.
I have never challenged any man to fight. I
have only defended myself.’

Bu ud shrug ed his shoulders.

” irty-eight uels are too much fora peace-
able man. But come' here are your dispatches.
See if you can fight Arabs as well as you have
fought comrades. Are those your men, out
there! I will inspect them.”

He walked over to the little group and looked
at them all closely.

To Krupp he said:

“ You look pretty old for an affair like this.”

The Dane grinned broadly.

“It takes an old fox to steal the hens from a
roost while the farmer watches.”

Tho colonel laughed.

“ Perhaps you’re right.”

“ Hola!’ he cried to Blondel. “Do you sup-
pose ou can fight an Arab in the dark and get
out ive?"

“ I can at least die trying, inv colonel.”

He nodded approvih ly to. Broche, who was
a bronzed, ath etic f ow but when he saw
Gautier, he frowned and said:

“ You aretoo young and green for this. How
come you here? .

“ To save the life of a better man for France,”
answered Gautier simpler; and the refily‘pleased
Bugeaud so much the he nodded ‘n ly and
answered:

“God speed you, my boy. Here, take these
dispatches, and if an of you get killed, let the
rest make for Gene Bon’s camp as best they
can. The road goes straight and you cannot
miss it, if the Arabs will let y'w kee it."

He handed each one a dispatch, s ook hands
with Corporal Cannon, and then the little

mu 0 wyo ega 0 seem,
q'tetnodslol fltoth te fth p
Just as it was growingnquite dark.

At the gate they ted, and Jean Cannon
said to his men:

“ Dismount and btighten your girths. We
have a long gallo ore us, and it is not et
quite dark one While we wait, I will I
you how we wil act."

The men dismounted and bed up the
horses another hole or two, wh' e the audacious
corporal pursued: ,

“ As soon saith dink £13 Argbshride up close
toour parape , an pa up t ever gate.
Lolgk out theedrei; flj hite figurey th t

e point a tting w ' a

llded swiftly across the plain, as if flying
rough the air.

“ That’s the white cloak of one of them, on a
dark horse. Yonder are more. The plain is
full of them. Now, we’ve two chances; if any
of us could talk Arabic we might pass for one
of their scouting parties—"

10

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

“ But we don’t,” gruflllzrinterrupted Kra p.

“Hold your tongue, app. know t at.
Well, there’s another chance. We must teach
the Arabs French. Who plays the bugle—
calls?”

“ I do," cried Gautier eagerly.

“ The very man we want. Here is a bugle I
borrowed from the trumpeter and chief. We
will go out as a regiment. Kragp, you will
command the first squadron, ondel the
second, Broche the third, and you, Gautier, will
be the colonel's trumpeter."

“Eh, morbieu !" cried Broche, “what is all
this? Who, then, will pla colonel?”

“ Eh, parbleu, Colonel ean Cannon, at your
service,’ cried Cannon gayly. “Now gentle-
men, mount your squadrons, and we will charge
out on the rascals.”

The others. half Catching the idea, hesitated
when Jean Cannon sprung on his horse, and
“9&2; t W

was prepare 0 moan .

“ Isee,” cried Gautier eagerly; and with that

he set his bugle to his lips and low the regular
'mental call, “ Prepare to mount."

t needed no more togive the cue tothe quick-
witted Frenchmen behind him.

“ First squadron! Prepare to mount,” roared
Kra p like a bull.

“ Second squadron, prepare to mount,”
howled Blondel, in the very voice of Captain
Lemaitre.

“ Third squadrongirepare to mount l” shrieked
Broche, in the sh ll treble of another well-
known ca tain.

“Moun !” bellowed Jean Cannon, and the
bu le repeated the signal, while his three com-
rades made it sound as if the whole regiment
was mounting up for a sally.

The chasseurs inside the camp, with the same
native quickness, aided the deception by raising
a great shout, while Gautier, by a sort of in-
spiration, screamed out:

“Cannoneers and drivers, mount! Forward,
trot march!"

“by fours, trot, march!" roared 'Jean Can-
non; and his faithful followers repeated the
order, one after the other, as these five men
trotted out into the darkness, and laughed to see
the white cloaks of the Arabs flitting away in
dismay before them, as the dark sons of the
desert fancied that the whole force of the camp
was coming out to chastise them for their te—
merity.

“ far, so good,” uoth the co ral, as the
lights ofthe cam fa ed away an they found
themselves trott ng along the white road to
General Ben’s fort. “ But we must keep up our
noise, or they will come close and find out how
few we are.’

Then, exerting his voice to the utmost, he
roared out, as if to a regiment:

“In each squadron, form platoons, gallop,
march! Close up there! Closeu l"

Gautier blew the signal four es over, in
different keys as if four trumpeters were at
work; Blonds , Broche, and Krapp, shrieked,
bellowed and roared their orders to imaginary
squlfi-drons; and Gautier capped the climax by

e :
y “ Fgrm sections, gallop, march! Let the cais—
sons follow the pieces closely.”

As they galloped away a ter this, they could
not help lau bin at the entire success of their
stratagem; or t e plain seemedto be entirely
deserted on either side, though they could see,
far ahead, some fiittingswhite figures, hurrying
to warn the other Ara .

They kept along at a. steady
time at a sharp trot or hand gs
covered more than ten miles,
far ahead of them, a, dense bod of Arabs,
gathered round'the uare dark on 'ne of what
the knew to be a lock-house, one of those
bu“ t by General Bon a few weeks before, and

rrisoned by a com ny of infantry.

“Here the plot t ’ckens,” observed Cannon
sententiousl . “If we try to cha these fel-
lows, they’ find out who we are.- 0 must go
out into the grass and give them time to get
tri htenggotli‘efge :3 corn?: on

he ,0 r e on in e ong grass,
which was hei’e almost up to the backs of the
horses, and almost instantly concealed them
from sight. . 1

They rode along in single file, bending down
on the necks of their horses, and imitating with
a boldness that no one but Jean Cannon could
have shown, the tactics of their desert foemen
on a raid.

The very audacityof their change of lan
aided its success; for, as they stole along hey
could see the white cloaks of the Arabs in vio-
lent commotion, as the horsemen rode to and
fro, uncertain what had become of the regiment
they behaved tobe coming along the road to
meet them. .

The regiment had vanished; but where had
it no to?

uting parties pf Arabs dashed down the
road, and scoured the grassup to the edge of
the block-house, while the five daring chasseurs
crept alon a good mile of! on the flank, past
the block- cuss. and had the satisfaction of
finding that the Arabs were in their rear at
last. '

e, most of the
0%, till they had
w on they saw,

 

Then they halted, and Jean Cannon gave his
orders to his friends.

“We have ten miles more to go, and if we
can get to the road we can kee ahead of

the  saved the post.

with Colonel Legal of the Forty-fifth of the line
and said heartily:
“ Welcome, my friend. Your arrival has

To—merrow we will reap the

Arabs. Now is our time to give them a last I ha and the corn, and let Abd-el-Kader stop us

fri ht. Get your muskets ready.”
ith their (pieces erect they marched on to-
ward the roa , till they could see the bewildered

Arabs clustering together again, uncertain,

whether to advance or retreat.

“ Form column of s uadrons,”bellowed Jean
Cannon at the top of is voice, over the silent
plain. “ Fire by uadrons! Commence firing!”

Gautier sounde his bugle in five keys, and
the chasseurs fired three volleys at the Arabs,
first with their muskets, then with their, long
pistols, aimin at the white cloaks.

The effect 0 these volleys from a quarter so
unex ected, completed the demoralization of the
dese ' horsemen; for the men in the block-house
opened fire at the same time.

The Arabs shot off a hasty, ill-directed volley,
and fled like the wind, while several riderless
horses came galloping up to the chasseurs,
neighing wildly, and as much bewildered as
their masters. .

“ Catch the horses and run," yelled Corporal
Cannon, and no difficult was experienced in
so doing with the docile b steeds.

Five minutes later, the chasseurs weremgallop-
ing way, full speed, on the deserted ro , each
lea ing a horse, and within an hour ‘after they
saw fires gleaming ahead of them and heard the

she cha lenge: /
“ altel Qm' to la?" [Halt Who gOes
there7]

“Friends of the First Chasseurs,” shouted the
daring corporal. “ Dispatches for General Bon,
my friend. We have fooled the Arabs!”

As he spoke they drew up, just in time to es—
cape a bullet from the vigilant infantry out-
post, and after a close examination by the
corporal of the guard, to make sure it was no
Arab trick, they were admitted to the out-
gosts, and taken in triumph to the presence of

eneral Bon, a. grizzled and red-faced veteran
of Waterloo.

When the general had read the dispatches
with great attention he turned to Corporal Gan-
non.

“ How many men have you?” he asked.

“ Four, my general." '

“Onl fourl and how did you get throu h?”

“In aith, my general, we made the abs
think the whole regiment was behind us and
I took the liberty to play colonel for one night.
The Arabs are learning French very test, my
generaL”

The general looked at the bronzed face of the
daring corporal with a good deal of admiration
as he said:

“Corporal, you have done somethin that
should earn you a third stripe to-night, if you
behave well. Do you ever drink Macon?”

Macon is one of the
of Southern France an
broadly.

“Macon is good, my general, when, one can-
not t Chablis or—”

“ este!” cried the general laughing. “ We
are in Africa, corpora , not aris. Here, go to
my steward and tell him that you and your
comrades are to have a bottle apiece to help
you es the night in comfort.”

“ ardon, my neral,” returned Jean Can-
non, “but thong Macon is I have my
dutytoattend to. I am rea yto go back as
soon as I get in dispatches.”

The general s ook his head.

“No, no, corporal. Such a risk must not
be run tWioe over. I am going to Colonel
Bugeaud’s camp myself as soon as the sun is
up and you can march with us. Go and finish
the wine with a clear spirit, for you deserve
the indul nce.”

Jean annon relieved in his mind saluted
and departed to his friends whom he found
nearly asleep outside the general’s quarters, but
who roused up very quickly when they heard
the had no further to go that night.

nder the guidance of the general’s orderly
they fed and stabled their horses, with great
care; for the Chasseurs of Africa had already
learned the Arab lesson that a cavalier must be
one with his horse, and that, if the beast suffer,
the man will be useless in war.

This duty attended to they passed a jolly
night with the eneral’s head-quarter ard
and listened ,to t e bustle outside which sted
till daybreak and announced that the troops
were a ut to move.

In the early dawn of next morning two bat-
talions of infantry marched out of General
Ben’s camp in the direction of Ben Farik, and
at the head of the column followin after the
leading colonel’s staff rode our five c asseurs.

The country looked desorted around them,
but as they traversed the white road, they
co (1 see the white cloaks of Arabs in the dis-
tance flitting to and fro, observin them; but
not venturing near enough to axe ange shots
with the infantry of whom the desert warriors
already stood in awe. An hour before sunset
they came in sight of the camp of Bou Farik
an just as the shades of twrli ht gathered
over the earth, Colonel Bugeau shook hands

leasantest of the wines
Jean Cannon grinned

l if e can."

 

 

CHAPTER X.
ran BLOODY mavnsr or non rams.

EVERY one at Ben Farik supposed that when
two battalions of infantry were added to the
chasseurs, there would be no further trouble
about reaping the harvest on the plain. So
confident were the French that about a hundred
of the “ citizen colonists” who had been kee
ing little shops in Algiers took advantage of e
escort of, the troops to come on and claim their

“ hts.‘

They had parchment deeds to the whole plain
emanating om Paris, and they now demand~
ed protection while they reaped the hay har-
vest, which had grown up under the protec-
tion of Providence. ' ,

The ha thus cut they proposed to sell to the
French ver'nrnent at a handsome price and
thus make a nice little rofit at each end of the
bargain; for they pai the soldiers nothing for
cutting the hay.

They had done this the year before, and it
was only necessary to repeat the operation.

This year, however, they had overlooked a
person who also claimed a right in the harvest,
on the plea that his eople had owned the land
for five centuries at east.

This person was Abdel-Kader who at this
time began to rise into prominence as the aven-
ger of Islam against France.

0n the morning after Colonel Legal with the
Forty-fifth Infantry came to Ben Farik the

. camp was aroused at daybreak b]; the sound 01’

droppinfishots, and the amazed rench saw the
whole p in covered with parties of Arabs, gal-
loping. to and fro trampling down the long

rass and skirmis 'ng boldly up to the very
ines of the infantry.

It was obvious that the Arabs were under
some new and energetic head so that the
French commander was forced to act with
promptitude to~drive them off.

Leaving four companies of infantry-to d
the camp, Father Bugeaud sallied out wi b all
the rest and opened a furious fire, scattering
the Arabs in ap nt dismay, when the
“colonists” salli out and began to cut the
ha as fast as they could.

he whole of the cavalr was dispersed with
a long skirmish line to inc ose the scene of the
harvest and on them the brunt of the action
frail, for the Arabs seemed to have little fear of
t em. '

Corporal Jean Cannon, with his four comrades
of the previous night found themselves on the
most remote post of all and noticed that the
Arabs were gathering in wild and
seemed resolved to break in the line somewhere
near them.

“What say you, Krupp?” asked the reckless
cor ral,cpo n ‘n to a knot of white cloaks
un or a um ‘0 date palms. “If we don’t
scare those fel ows they will 0 in on us in
afew moments. If you will f0 ow me we‘ll
d‘izvfa”he"if“"’ea his

p s ugg shoulders.

“WE; are two: they have six in‘a group. It
ma be an honorable way‘to get killed, but we
sh 1 leave a hole in the l e.’

Corporal Cannon turned his head to look be-
hind him and answered:

“Not a bit of it. There is an infan line
right behind us. To tell you the truth, ,
I am tired of these corporal’s stripes,.an I
mean to turn them into epaulettes, or go into
the hos ital to-day.”

Old pp looked disgusted.

“ I thong t you had more sense. What good
are epaulettes to a man like you or me? We
have nothing to live for, and should only get
drunk (1 lose them before we’d had them a
week. t the epaulettes go.”

Jean Cannon made a grimace.

“ Well, then, to be frank, I Want to get even
with those brown devils for stealing Fiflne.
I see in that up ,a fellow Who has a l
sleeve to his oak and a lame to his tuggn.
He must be a chief, and want to have a bout
with him."

Old Krupp growled out a curse.

“You’re never tired of duelipg. Take my
advice and keep in your place. ou’ll fight one
duel too much yet.’
hi{stint €23: Cgpnon gorild liliothbe dissuaded. from

pro . otca n w at or twereagainst
orders or not he itched his musket to his shoul-
dsr, fired a shot into the group of Arabs he had
noticed, and then rode out of the line, drawing
and wavingahis saber as if defying an Arab to
sin 10 com t. '
' t the time when-he did this there was a lull
in the firing, and hisshot attracted general'at-
tention from both sides. ' v

No sooner did he ride out than the Arabs
raised a general yell, in the midst of which the
chief, wi h the gold-embroidered sleeve to h'
bornous or cloak, gall out of the clum 0
date palms and came ga lantly on to meet I

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

11

 

 

The challenge and its acceptance were in the
true spirit of Arabian chivalry.

The two horsemen approached each other in
the midst of an open plam and resented a. strong
contrast in their types of M em and Frank.

Both were wel mounted, for the African
chasseurs had already found the excellence of
the barbs as war-horses, and Jean Cannon had
changed his own troop horse for one of the cap-
tured steeds of the previous night.

The Arab and be both rode hays with black
points, slender and vigorous.

Jean Canon, in his simple uniform of dark
green laced with black, his scarlet kepi and
browsers lending color to the picture, was com-
pact and serviceable all over.

The Arab, in his flowing robes of gag colors,
was splendid and imposing to the has egree.

Both had their long muskets at their backs,
and each had a saber in his hand.

The Frenchman’s blade was the straight
sword of his regiment ground as sharp as a
razor, while the Arab bore a. curved cimeter,
which he waved defiantly.

Pretty soon they came up to each other, when
Corporal Cannon noticed that his antagonist,
instead of the usual dark face and gleaming
black eyes of the Arabs, had a countenance
whiter than his own and large fierce blue

eyes.

He had no time to note anything more, when
the blue-eyed Arab made a swinging cut at his
head, stopping it before it met the opposing
blade, and changing it to a slash at t 6 leg,
which he actually succeeded in touching, cutting
through the thick leather reinforce on Jean’s
trowsers and drawing the blood freely.

Such a thing had never before happened to
this redoubtable master of the sword, and what
added to his mortiflcation was that his own re-
turn blow, which be dealt full at the Arab’s face
missed its mark as the other ducked his head
with a laugh, his horse carrying him out of
danger in another moment.

Jean Cannon, the victor of thirty-6' ht duels
had been wounded by a. wild Arab but had
never taken a lesson in arms!

The corporal of chasseurs ground his teeth
and wheeled his horse to close with his wil an-
tagonist, but the blue-e ed Arab avoide the
shock with another laug , and proved so much
the superior in horsemanshi that in another
moment) he had come upon can Cannon’s le t
rear, and had the saber lifted over the Frenc -
man’s head threatenin to cut.

Now, the left rear 0 a. man on horseback is
his one weak point, for he cannot cut back with
any effect at his enem , and can only guard his
head with extreme d' culty.

Jean Cannon was too old a cavalier not to
know this, and he wheeled his horse round in a
moment to get out of the scrape but not before
he had received another light slash this time,
to his intense mortiflcation, on the back, while
he had not yet been able to cross swords with
the Arab.

His last wheel, however accomplished this
object, and as he made a thrust at his foe the
blades clashed.

In the same moment Jean Cannon closed in
and rained a shower of blows on the Arab, who
seemed to become confused at the style to which
he was unaccustomed; and the end of it was
that Jean got in a. single blow at the other’s
head, which, had it not fallen with the flat of
the blade, would have cloven his skull in two.

As it was, the chief cut back in the same mo-
ment, with a. fierce Arabic oath, and Jean Can-
non saw him reel in his saddle and fall on his
horse’s neck ‘ust as he felt a sharp slash on his
own foreh and the blood poured down over
his eyes, blinding him completely.

He made his sword plug instinctively round
his head in moulinets, an let his horse cany
him where it would. When he came full to
 at last, he found himself in the m dst
of a crowd of Arabs, whither the horse had car-
ried him, and his late antagonist was calling
out something to men in white cloaks, who were
poiming their muskets at the chasseur.

Jean saw that be was in a bad scramif he
did not get out very quickly, and, if it (I not
been for that blinding blood, would no doubt
have got off.

Butas it was, before his horse had takena
dozen bounds, he found his sight failing again,
and in another moment he was plucked rom
his horse by a noose skillftu thrown from be-
hind, and the hero of thirti-eight duels was
knocked senseless b the shoe .

How lon he la. here he could not tell, but
it could no have n 10 , for the blood was
still wet on his face when 9 locked dizzin up
and saw above him the wavin stems of the
date palms, while the cracking o firearms was
quite livel all around.

Corpo Cannon, with all his recklessness
was no fool, therefore he lay still as if dead, and

resently had the satisfaction of hearing the
end cries of his own comrades, who came
chargi up into the date clum , when he rose
on his e w and saw that the he were run-
nirlgg away. .
e struggled up to his feet, feeling very sick
and dizzy, and old Krupp galloped up, leading
hishorse and shouting:

 

“ Get up, get up.
have no time to lose.’

Jean scrambled u on his horse with some
difficulty and cast a asty glance over the plain.

A crowd of Arabs, numbering several hun-
drfid, was gathering behind the gold—sleeve chief
an eviden preparin to char ‘e.

“Get backyto the resegrve. Yofi’re only fit for
the hospital. I told you you‘d fight one duel
too much,” cried Krupp, excitedly. “We shall
have hard work to stop those fellows.”

And in fact within a few moments after the
Arabs made a desperate charge under the lead
of Gold Sleeve driving back the thin line of
chasseurs like chaff, an only repulsed at last b
the steady fire of the infantry su rt, w ' e
Jean Cannon, for the first time in his life, had
to sit on his horse, weak and powerless, looking
on at a battle in which he felt he was no longer
fit to take the part of an able-bodied man.

When it was over at last he rode slowl off to
find the surgeon, who washed and boun up his
wounds, and observed:

“You have had wonderful luck to-day, cor-
poral. An_ one of these wounds, an inch
nearer wou d have disabled you for a long time.
As it is, on can go on duty to-morrow if you
wish. T ey are only flesh wounds. This on

our forehead is the worst, for it will leave a
ig scar but it will not hurt you.”

Jean annon impacted his face in the little
hand-glass of the surgeon, and found that the
Arab’s saber had sliceda piece of flesh off his
forehead, close to the roots of his hair and the
strips of plaster made him a singular object.

“And can I go on duty tq—morrow, doctor?”
he asked curiously.

“ If you please. To—day- you feel dizz , but
that is onl the fall from your horse. t will
wear off a ter a ni ht’s sleep. In the morning
you will be all righ .”

Corporal Cannon went away to his tent and
took no further part in that day’s encounters.
He had had enou h and felt intensely angry
with himself that e had permitted an Arab to
get the best of him.

“It was all through feeling too sure,” he said
to himself. “I thought I could deal with him
as I dealt with the others. It was a regular
duel and I may as well own it. Corporal Jean
Cannon you have met your match at last in an
Arab chief, and your honor will never be satisfied
till you are even with him. I can beat him when
we meet. I’m sure of it now‘, for I know his

ints. I must keep him at close quarters. And
a? think that I, Jean Cannon, the man of thirty—
eight duels, should have let a sword turn in my
hand and strike with the flat of the blade. You
deserve it all for your clumsiness, Jean.”

Thus he continued scolding himself in the soli-
tude of his tent, while the lain of Bou Farik
lwas the scene of an anlma contest all day

ong. .

At sunset, with a great creaking of wheels
and cracking of whips the whole wagon train
of the garrison at Ben Farik rumbled into camp,
piled with :13 in enormous loads, most' of it
on] half on , and Colonel Bugeaud remarked
to lonel Legal: 1

“ We have collected to-day about one hundred
tons of hay. Do you know how much it has
cost the Government?"

“ lydy faith, nothing but the cutting.”

“ on are mistaken. I have just been mak-
ing the calculation. It has cost the state one
day’s wages for twenty-five hundred men, with
their oflicers and eighteen hundred horses. I
have not had time to bring it down to the exact
figures; but asnearas I can get at it, I find
this he w‘ cost- France about forty sous a.

und, sides the risk of its all s oiling before
it be eaten. The only consolation have is that
we have here twelve day’s rations for all our
horses, and that within a week we shall gather
eno h for all the winter.”

00 one] 9.1 looked out over the plain.

“ We’ve d ven off Abd-el-Kader, anyway. If
the hay costs us forty sous a pound it has cost
him as much to lose it."

“ That is another consolation. Besides, we
can afford it better than he can.”

That night the camp at Ben Farik was roused
three times b night attacks in one of which a

’ ey’re coming back. We

party of Am actually rode in over the para-
ts, at an un uarded point, and stain ed the
Egrses of the rain, shooting several tors

and escaping unhurt.

At the head of this party was recognized, by
the light of a bonfire, the golden-sleeved chief
who had made so much trouble the day before'
and he had the audacity to throw a ligh
torch into Colonel Bugeaud‘s tent as he dashed
through the camp, reckless of the shots whist-
lin round him, setting fire to the dry canvas
an consuming the whole structure.

The exasperation of the French was so great
that the commandant ordered out the whole
force in the morning, with the battery, and pre-
pared for a. general engagement.

But when they went out and drew up in line
on the plain not an Arab was to be seen and the
vicinity of Ben Farik was to all seeming entire-
ly deserted.

Disappointed in getting a. battle out of his
wil foes Bugeaud yet determined literaglg, to
me e hay while the sun shone and order out

all the train, followed by the colonists and the
cam idlers who cut and loaded up another
hun red tons of hay in a few hours.

Corporal Cannon, who found the doctor’s
words verified went out as usual on dot and
the French had begun to grow careless thinking
that the Arabs had left the plain. The wa ons
were all loaded at noon and had started out eir
lmarch to cam , when the crackle of fire-arms
was heard on t e cavalry picket line and a dense
body of Arabs made their appearance as if by
magic coming out of all sorts of unexpected
places and came rushing down like the Wind on
the train.

So furious was their charge that they broke
through the line of chasseurs, set even the in-
fantrymen into a panic, and, before the latter
could form a square had penetrated to the
wa ons.

hat followed for some minutes was a scene
of wild confusion and random firing.

When the hubbub subsided the Arabs were in
full flight, leaving twenty or thirt dead and
wounded behind them, but the w ole wagon
train was a mass of smoke and flames, with the
teams plunging frantically to get loose.

CHAPTER XI.
YUSUF BEN BAADI.

As had been the beginning of the bloody haro
vest of Ben Farik so was it to the close of a.
week of constant strife and alarms.

When at last the hav and corn were gathered
into stacks within the line of works, the French
had lost fifty men, killed, wounded or missing,
all their wagon train was more or less damaged
by fire, whi e at least two hundred horses had
to be shot to put them out of their misery.

But the dpost of Bou Farik was safe for the
winter, an the Arabs had also lost a great
many men and horses in their perpetual raids.

At the head of all their attacks, and seeming-
] proof against steel and bullet, the bluereyed
c of with the olden-sleeved bornous had been
a. conspicuous gure. -

0 he was, none of the French knew till the
harvest had been gathered, when the chief him-
self was seen riding toward the gate one morn-
ing, followed by a fParty of warriors, one of
whom bore a white ag.

The young Arab was mounted on his beauti—
ful bay horse, dressed with his usual splendor,
and carried a hawk on his wrist, in token of his
rank and peaceful intent.

He was met at the outposts b an ofiicer with
a party of chasseurs; of whom or ral Cannon
was one, and made the usual Arabic salutation:
“ Peace be unto you.”

By this time some of the French officer- had
begun to learn Arabic, and each regiment had
several interp

 

reters, so that there was no dim-
culgy in openin communication with the chief.

e announce himself as “ Yusuf ben Saudi,
chief of the tribe Bou Fari come with a mes-
sage from the most valiant mi: Abd-el-Kader
to the chief of the Franks.”

When asked to state the message, he said that

it could only be done personally. as Abdel-Ka-
der was too 1girl‘ieat a man to treat with any save
the head of ' foes.
, After several messages to and from Colonel
Bugeaud he was fln y admitted to the pres-
ence of the French chief, to whom he explained
his mission as follows:

“ Abd-el-Kader, Emir of the Allied Tribes of
the Desert, sends greetixg to the Frank chief.
We are all children of lab. Why should we
gparrel over a few loads of hay any lcn rf

be great Emir is tired of fighting, and wi es
to make peace, for \why should men strive
against what is written in the book of Allah l”

Colonel Bugeaud politely replied that he “ had
not begun the war. The De of Algiers had
made war on peaceable Frenc sailors, and had
been punished for it. Now the country belonged
'to France. If Abd-el-Kader wished to make peace
let him come in and surrender. The French
would treat him well and confirm him as chief
of the tribes who had banded together with him,
if he would swear to keep the peace.”

_ Yusuf ben Sandi listened respectfully and
then answered through the interpreter:

“The French chief is old and wise. Yusuf is
but a boy: but he bears a messa e from one
wiser than himself. The plain of ou Farik has
belonged to our people since the days when the
Arabs possessed Spain. The Emir says: Keep

our post for this winter, but if you do not leave
it in the spring he will come with horsemen in
number li e pe bles in the desert, and will not
leave one Frank alive to tell the story of his
vengeance. ”

Colonel Bugeaud stared, smiled, and then
frowned when he heard this messa e.

“ Is Abd—el-Kader a child that e boasts so
loudly of what he vn'll do? Tell him that I have
kept Bou Farik so long that I intend to keep it
a httle longer. He cannot frighten me awa
with words, when he has failed todo it wit
bullets and steel.”

Yusuf listened calmly and then replied:

“ It is well. The Emir expected such an an—
swer for he knows that you underrate his pow-
er. ear what he oflers you: Send one of
your officers with me to see our power, and let
him come back and tell you what he has seen.

 

_12

Corporal Cannon, the'Man of Forty Duels.

 

If you then refuse to go let your blood be on
your own heads."

Colonel Bugeaud hesitated. He saw the ad-
vantage offered him by such an embassy; but
he feared an Arab plot to entrap a hostage out
of the Fr nch.

“Who you so is fair,” he answered; “but
are you not afraid to let us know how strong
you are!”

Yusuf ben Sandi smiled roudl .

“ The lion shows himsel to his enemies and
fears none of them. When they see his mane
and hear his voice it is enough. He does not
love a battle. He asks only to devour the prey
in peace. We ask for our harvests, and we
would sooner have them peaceful] than let
another ear go by in a strife. ext year
yOu will ave no harvest, nor shall we, unless
we make peace. Let the past go into eternity.
We want next year to ourselves: and we mean
to have it. Will you send the ambassador, to
see for himself that we do not boast vainly?”

“ No,” answered the colonel, blufliy. “ I will
not order out an man on such a service of
dan er. You mi t kill him.”

usuf looked displeased.

“I myself, will answer for his head. Does
the chief think we are dogs to break a truce?”

Here Colonel Bugeaud, glancing round the
room, met the eyes of Corporal Jean Cannon,
who had come in with the guard, and now stood
shifting from foot to foot, with an eager, nervous
expression on his face, as if he longed to speak
but dare not.

The colonel was struck by the look, but he
said to Yusuf ben Sandi:

“This is an im rtant matter. and I must
have time to thin over it. Will you permit
me to ofler you some refreshment while I con-
sult with my advisers?"

Yusuf bowed gravely.

“ The counsels of t e old are good. I will
retire; that the Frank may talk with his wise
men.

He rose and made his obeisance, retirin with
Captain Jabot, who treated him to some ench
confectionery and a glass of champagne, both
of, which be pronounced “ tahib ” or “ good,”
making no scruple-abont the wine on account
of its whiteness the Koran prohibiting the
“ wine that is red," the only kind found n the
south.

Colonel Bugeaud sent for his fellow colonel,
Legal, and consulted with him as to the policy
of sending an ofllcer to Abd—el-Kader’scam ;
but both agreed that, while such a man mig t
render im rtant service to co as a spy,
the proba ty of his murder was too strong
30 justify them in ordering any one on such a

at .

“ f we could find a volunteer "—suggested
Legal doubtfully. “ But who would gol’

‘ He must understand Arabic," said Bu-
geaad; ‘ ‘ and there are not flve officers in camp
who know anything about it.”

” We mi ht send an interpreter."

“ None 0 them would go. They are all Arabs
or Jews, and their old friends would call them
traitors and kill them for reveng."

“ While they were discussing e matter, they
heard a gentle cough and a tap on the canvas of
the tent, and Corporal Cannon asked:

“ Can I see the colonel a moment?"

Colonel Le I looked amazed. Such resump—
tion was un esrd of in the Forty- fth; but
Father Bugeaud smiled and said:

“ Come in, Co ral Cannon. Aha! I see you
have had one due too many—the thirty-ninth.
I believe. That is finite a handsome cut on the
forehead you have.

Jean Cannon looked down and fldgeted with
his ca . as B ud continued:

“ ell, who is it? I saw your eyes when the
Arab was in here. What do you want?”

“ leave to go to the camp of Abd-el-Kader,
my colonel " was the firm reply.

‘Youl Why, what in the name of fortune
do‘you want there? Do you talk Arabic?”

A little, my colonel. I can say ‘ good-day ’
and ‘ good-by,‘ and ask, ‘ what is his? and
‘ what do you call that?’ Is that enough?”

“Hardly, for our urposes. But that is not
the question now. What makes you so tired of
your life that you want to throw it away in
such a fashion ’

Jean Cannon looked very sheepish.

“ Please, mv colonel, I am—in love—and m
-—the girl I love—is in the camp of Abd-e-
Kader. ’

Father Bugeaud looked amazed.

“ You] In love! You, who have never been
knowntolook at a girl, who have the name
amon your comrades of being a sulky fellow
onl t to drink. In love and with an Arab
gir at thatl”.

“She is not an Arab girl, my colonel; she is
full French on both sides.”

Both col‘onels looked interested.

“ Aha! what is this?’"asked Le 1.

“Tell us your meaning,” said ugeaud.

“ Simple enough, my colonels both. When I
was ten years old, my father and mother took
me to Corsica, with my sister, little Fifine, in
the brigI Creole, Captain Bart. The Algerine
pirates illed all our people but my mother
and Fiflne, whom they took to Algiers.”

 

“ But you! How did you—3"

“Escape? Simple enough, messieurs. My
father lashed me to a hen-coop and threw me
overboard, and I was picked up by a French
vessel next day.”

“ Well, but you said that—”

“That the girl I loved was in Abd-el-Kader’s
camp. Iam coming to that. Do you not re-
member the time the Emir came'to our countr
as an embassador?” ‘

“ Certain! . He had a troop of dancers, but
I did not cal it dancin at all,” said the infan-
try colonel briskly. “ t was shuffling."

“ Very true, my colonel. Well. I was put on
duty in the theater at Toulon as corporal of the
guard, the night they came there, and in the

rincipal dancer I recognized my lost sister,
E‘iflne, that I had not seen for ten years.”

“ Your sister? But you said—”

“The girl I loved. You shall hear, my colo-
nel. I was so mad at the sight of my lost Fiflne
that I leaped on the sta e the moment I saw

her, and called her bye or name. I was put
under arrest; but not fore she called back to
me. “Oh Jean! oh! my mother!’ The next

morning I had a letter from her, in which I
learned of the death of my supposed parents,
and also that Fiflne was not my sister; while,
alas, she was the slaveof the Arab ambassador
and torn from me forever as I thought. Can
you wonder, my colonel, that my cruel fate
made me mad and des rate, and that, when a
foolish coward taunte me and called me ‘ Cor-
poral Fifine,’ I entered on that series of duels of
which I am now so much ashamed? But now,
colonel, I see a chance, sent ‘me from Heaven,
to find Fiflne again.

“ Let me go with this Arab chief to the very
stronghold of the Emir. I have wit and cour-
age. I can learn Arabic, for love will teach
me. I shall have a friend in the rrison, and
I shall yet escape with Fiflne, ren er a double
service to France, and 've her at one time, a
recovered daughter on news 0 importance to
you. Only let me o.”

The poor corpo had become so earnest in
his‘appeal that his eyes were full of tears, and
Colonel Bugeaud observed to Legal:

“ He will be of no use if he stays: for I have
often observed that men in love are no use as
soldiers till they are married. And if he does
come out alive, he will do as well as an oflcer."

Then he turned to Jean Cannon.

“ I will let you go, if the chief will take you.
He wanted an ofiicer.”

J ean Cannon’s face lighted up with sly fun.

“If gold lace will not make me an oficer,
what will, my colonel? He will never know the
difference, as long as I have the e ulettes.” ,

“A good idea, corporal. You 5 all have the
uniform of r Lieutenant Marcot who was
killed yeste y. If you are successful in your
mission, you may get the right to wear it in
earnest."

Jean Cannon colored up high with pleasure at
the hint; for the ve same man who had been
so desperately ho ass a few hours ago was
transformed into t a most ambitions of mortals
by the sudden access of hope infused into him.

The colonel gave him a note to the adjutant
and quartermaster, and a. ver short time after
Yusuf ban Sandi was intr need to a stout,
brOnzed young officer, in the uniform of a lieu«
tenant o the chassenrs, who was announced to
him asthe omcer chosen to accompany him to
Abd-el-Kader’s fortress.

It was noticed b all present at the time, as
these two stood si e by side, that there was a
remarkable similarity of face and be-
tween them. Both were stoutly built, he chas-
seur much the heavier, but there Was a nervous,
wiry strength about the Arab that made him
look as dangerous as the other. Both had blue
eyhost and very light hair and boards, nearly
w 1 e.

“ One might swear they were brothels, if one
did not know one to be a Frenchman, the other
an Ara ,” uoth Colonel Legal.

“Say rat or a Berber,” answered Bugeaud.
” I have heard that blue eyes are quite a com-
mon thing among the Berbers. As for Cannon,
:3 131,1,“ come from Normandy, from his white

ea .

The Arab chief bowed gravely to Cannon,
whom be scrutinized closely, and then said
somethin to the interpreter.

“Yusu ben Sandi says that this man is not
an officer. He knows him from the cut across
his forehead, which he gave him only a week
since with his own goomta." '

When the interpreter had translated, Colonel
Bugeaud answered tranquilly:

‘ He has just been romoted for bravery, hav-
' killed or wound thirty-eight men.”

usuf ben Saadi started.

“ Thirt -eight men! He must be a great
fighter. at him come along. He shall be wel-
come, for Abd-el-Kader loves brave men.”

His chivalrous nature seemed to be taken cap-
tive by the news of the thirty-eight duels, and
he and Jean Cannon were soon engaged in con-
versation through the medium of the inter-
preter.

“How comes it, if you have fought so many
men, that you let me overcome you the other
day i” asked Ynsuf curiously.

 

“You did not overcome me," answered Jean
in the coolest manner. “I was only laying
with you, and, had we been alone, I shou d have
taken ofl’ your head in another min ute."

“ Perhaps. We may try that another day.”

“ Whenever you wish.”

. “That is, after I have sent you back to your
camp in safety."

“ Exactly. I would not dream of fighting
till 1 had accomplished my task."

“ You need not. When will you be ready 1”

“I am ready.”

” Then let us go to our horses.
for ou, from the Emir.”

“ t is needless. My own is as good as any in
all our stables.”

hey went outside. and, mounting their
horses rode off across the bloody plain of Ben
Farik, without any farewells to those behind.

The Arab was very silent and haughty as he
rode along, and inasmuch as Jean did not un-
derstand more than a few words of Arabic, they
did not seem as if they were likely to become
intimate.

Yusuf, when they had got about half a mile
from the camp, turned to the chasseur and
made him a sign that they were about to go
faster.

“ With all my heart ” responded Cannon,
and they shook their bridles and galloped awav
over the ha -stubble passing several black
patches that s owed w ere the Arabs had fired
the cut hay.

As they passed these Yusuf ben Saadi looked
sullen and angry, as if he re tied the destruc-
tion; but he said nothing t' they had ridden
for several hours at a re. id pace, when he

ulled up to a walk and spa o to one of his fol-
owers in Arabic.

Then this man, a short swarthy fellow who
looked the Moor all over suddenly broke out to
Jean Cannon in Frenc , with a strong Mar-
seilles accent:

“ Well, lieutenant or corporal, whichever
you be, are you tired with our ride yet?"

Jean Cannon stared at b m angrily:

“ Who the dance are you?" he asked. “ There
is only one class of Arabs that talk French and
those are—”

“Renegades, my faith,” answered the other
coolly.

I have one

CHAPTER XIII.
m JOURNEY.

Jam CANNON looked at the renegade with a
strong feelin of distrust and dislike. He had
been broufh up an enthusiastic Frenchman,
and the i es of any man willingly renouncing
such a grand nationality to become what Jean,
in his heart, called a “ miserable Pagan,” struck
aim ats indicating a base nature worthy of con-

mp

“A renegade, are you?” he responded stifll '.
“Then I suppose you listened to all the talk in
our cam to report to your masters. A noble
occupa on for a Frenchman.”

The renegade lau hed.

“ Who to d you was a Frenchman?"

“Your own tongue. There is no hiding the
accent of the Marseillais.”

“That is true. I am a Marseillais by birth
and I care not who knows it, corporal."

He seemed to take a malicious pleasure in
calling the other by his real title rather than
that indicated by his uniform.

“Yes,” he proceeded, “ when I was plain
Baptiste Biglgt, cabin boy of the Creole I was a
Marseillais, icked and culled by ca tain and
cook, and I was so proud of being a ranchman
that I had to live on my pride and the scraps of
the brig.”

Jean Cannon looked at him with more atten-
tion and asked:

“ What! were you. too, on board the Creole?"

“ Yes,” answered the renegade with a shrug.
“If you want the truth, I was there a slave to
every one, till the Arabs set me free and made
a man of me.”

“ Set you free!”

“ Yes, set me free. You would call it making
a. slave of me, but for my rt I found slavery
a better lot than being cabin boy of the Creole.
I was not cold, for the climate was warm; I was
never hungry as ion as my master had enough
to eat, and I foun when I joined the Arab
church that the only difference between that
and Christianity is that the Arabs act their
religion while you, Christians, only talk about
it

Jean Cannon colored an ' y as he retorted:
” I have heard Father Mar t say that a rene—
gade Christian is the worst foe to his old reli-
gion, because he feels that he deserves the for-
ments of hell for deserting it. "

Bafijtiste Bigot lau bed scornfully.

“ e torments of ell! Yes, that is the we
they keep us in terror, threatening us wi
something no one can prove. Give me the reli<
gion that makes men honest and charitable like
the Arabs, not liars and thieves, like you
French."

Jean Cannon was so gig]? that he had dini-
culty in restraining hi from striking the
renegade, but he answered: '

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

 

“ Very well. I see you are a complete Pagan.
There is no need of further talk, for I must not
quarrel on this mission. I am an embassador."

The renegiide laughed again.

“ An em assadorl Say a spy, rather. Do
you think I did not hear lyour men sa to each
other: ‘ There‘s Corpora Cannon. e is the
fellow to cheat the Arabs.’ Suppose I tell the
chief who you are! What can prevent his kill~
in you?”

gean Cannon gathered up his horse for a bolt,
as he replied, defiantly:

“ My right arm. Do you know who I am?”

“ My faith, no. I never heard of you till the
men called you by name.”

“ Then let me tell you, Master Bigot, that my
camp name is the ‘ Man of Thirty-eight Duels,’
and that if you and your friends wish to try to
assassinate me here. now is your time.”

And Jean Cannon wheele( his horse, drew his
lonysword and shook it defiantly at the Arabs
who had been riding quietly by his side, paying
no attention to the conversation that was going
on in a strange langgage.

The young chief, usuf ben Saadi, seemed to
be greatly surprised at the sudden outburst of
the Frenchman, and began to talk excitedly in
Arabic to Bigot. ‘

What passed the chasseur did not, of course,

comprehend; but the chief appeared to be 'ving
the renegade a severe ratin , the other to ex-
cusing himself; for at last e came forward and
said sullenly:
“The chief begs you will pardon my loss of
tem r and continue on with us. He says that
his onor is responsible for your safet , and
that you may go unarmed through :11 our
camps as securely as if at home in France. ".

The an cor ral immediately sheathed his
saber anflhook ands with Yusuf in the most
friendly fashion, saying:

“ I’ll trust you, for you are a brave man; but
as for this renegade, let him keep a civil tongue
or I’ll slice him up."

Yusuf looked curiously at him and spoke in-
quirin 1y to Bigot, who answered him in a sul-
len, re nctant tone, as if unwilling to translate
the remark.

Then the chief and all his Arabs laughed
loudly and seemed to he pokln fun at the
renegade, for Yusuf came u Jean and
pointed inquiringly at Bigot, t on made signs
as if cutting a throat.

Jean Cannon nodded and the Arabs lau hed
louder than before, while Yusuf said comet ing
in Arabic to Bigot, and watched him closely as
he translated to the ohasseur.

“ The chief says he gives you perfect liberty
to kill or beat me whenever you feel that our

health requires exercise," said the rene e in

a mumbling voice.
Then Jean Cannon, complete] pacified,
other on

is hed ood-humoredly slapped
thlegbackgand cried out: ’

“Very well, take care you don’t make me
angry again. And now letusgoon our jour-

ne .’

groin that time everythin passed more
pleasantly and Yusuf entered to alon con-
versation with the Frenchman throng the
medium of Bigot, expatiating on the beauties
of life in the desert, on the root glories of
Abd-el-Kader and on the certs nty that in an-
other year the Arabs would drive the rich
out of the country.

Jean, on his part, confined himself to '
questions on everything he saw and layed s

rt of admiring audience so well the Bigot at

tremarked:

“Ah, you'll be converted as I was at last.
There is no life like that of the desert. We
shall have m a good Moslem before you are
ready to go kto Bou Farik."

This time Jean was on his guard and ready to.
play his part throng-bx, so he answered gaily:

“ W ho knows? the mean time w ere is

this palace of the Emir of which you have all ‘

been giving such marvelous accounts?”

Bigot painted to the mountains, which they
were now fast approaching.

“ When we have crossed these rocks, we shall
be in si ht of the great desert. The Emir’s

sands at the border by the Lake of
west Waters.”

“ The Lake of Sweet Waters! Do they have
lakes in this desert of dr earth?” .

“ Only that one, but t is fit for the abode of
houris. Damascus itself is not to be named in
com ' on therewith.”

“ amascus! Ah where is that?”

Jean Cannon had all a Frenchman’s contempt
.for gography outside of France. '

“ amascus is the most beautiful place in the
world after Paradise and the Lake of Sweet
Waters.‘ But you will see it before to-morrow
morning." . I
Piggy rgdl:3 on and at has; 13ft the plai:l of Bog

an gun to ascen e r o o
the Atlas mountains. ugged pea

As they paused to let their horses breathe,
Jean Cannon looked back from a plateau of
rock and saw, far away on the plain, a thin
brown haze of smoke, hovering over one spot as
large as a man’s hand.

I was all he could see of the camp of his bri-
gade with its hundreds of men.

 

Yusuf ben Sandi saw him look and observed
to him: -

_“ The works of man are small in the balance
With the works of Allah, but we can cover all
that plain With horsemen. Judge what chance
your people Will have when Abd-el Kader gives
the word.”

“Then, if he can do so much,” Jean very
naturally observed, “why does he not do it at
once instead of talking about it?”

“ Because the men of the tribes are too busy
gathering the harvests elsewhere ” answered
Yusuf. ‘In the spring they are ree to do as
they please when the send the camels and
sheep to pasture with t e women of the tribes.
Then let the French beware of our vengeance.”

The chasseur made no answer, for he thought
that the Arab was making only an empty boast
to im ose on his credulitK.

Th y rode on over t e mountains, the air

owin cold and sharp as they came near the
imit 0 perpetual snow, but the active little

'barb horses carried them gayly along, and

shortly after noon they had crossed the ridge,
and came in sight of the vast yellow sea of sand
which Jean Cannon beheld for the first tinie—_—
the terrible and mysterious desert of Sahara,
toward which they began to descend from that
moment.

Below them lay piled a confusion of black
basaltic foot-hills, With little ponds hiding awa_
in the hollows like specks of silver. Dwar
pines and birches grew rqpnd them as they rode
and changed to dense forests further down the
mountains, while thin curls of smoke rising
from a hundred different quarters announce
that the countr was retty fairly inhabited.

“Here,” said i t ohis companion “begin
the dominions of t e Kab le tribes of Ben Am-
mens and Ben Saudi. ey live among the
rocks, fight on foot and will laugh at all your
cavalry and guns. See how our path is com-
manded on every side by preci ices. Behind
every rock, even now, lies a Ka yle with his
long un, and were we a French army we could
not a Vance a mile.”

Jean Cannon saw the stren h of the place,
and said nothing, but thou ht himself:

“ A few companies of in antry could clear the
rocks in short order."

“Below us,” continued Bigot, pointing, “ at
the foot of the mountain you may see several
dark patches in the yellow desert. Every one
of those is a donor."

“ A what?"

“A donor. The camp of a tribe of Arabs
with their flocks, herds and horsemen.”

“ How many horse to a donor I” asked Jean
Cannon innocently.

:1: 38mm five hundred.” ti" d m

was a gross exaggera on, an 0 young
chassenr knew it; for he had not been a year in
Africa in nothing.

He quietly counted the [$15th that Bigot
had pomted out and made 0 of them; so t at
he calculated on a force at the outside of about
two thousand Arabs in the tribes confederated
under Abd—el-Kader.

“It is a game of boasting, as .I thought," he
said to himself. “In the spring it will not be
we who are driven out”,

Yusuf ben Sandi watched his face as he
scanned the landscamnd said something in
Arabic to B ot, who 0 rved:

“ The chie wishes to remark that these are
only the douars of one-tenth of our horsemen,
an that all the Kabyles of mountains promise
to he] us in the spring. Besides this there are
thesodiers of the Emir whom you have not
seen, with their ns.”

Jean Cannon 3 rugged his shoulders. He did
not believe a word of it.

Yusnf said nothing, but looked vexed as he

rode on down the mountain, where they began.

to meet men in striped cloaks, with long guns on
their shoulders.

These men saluted them with grave courtesy
and vanished into the now thickening woods of
oak and beech, fast turning into walnut, almond
and chestnut trees as they kept on toward the
lower und.
At last they arrived in a dark'valle with the
mountains on one side and a eingu or square
block of granite on the other several hundred
feet high as if it had been thrown into their

th hundreds of years before by some giant’s

and.

Several little mountain streams, arrested by
this obstacle had united into one and skirted
its base in quite a deep black rivulet about fifty
feet broad.

Here the Arabs came to a walk, and Bigot
said to the chasseur:

“ When we pass this rock. which we call the
Stone of Solomon we shall see the palace of
the Emir Ahd—el- er. This stone was placed
here by the great King Solomon’s orders, by
the giant fallen angels to hide the Paradise of
Sweet Waters from the outside world. None
but a good Moslem is allowed to know the we?
in. You must now submit to be blindfolde ,
or else you can turn back and go home."

Jean Cannon hesitated a moment. As far as
his mission from Colonel Bugeaud was con‘
earned it was substantle over, for he had
learn all he cared to know.

 

But such a mission would never have lured
J can Cannon away from his comrades but for
a more powerful motive.

“Behind that rock,” he thought, “Fiflne is
languishing in captivity and I me. be able to
see her, perhaps to rescue her. ho can tell!
By this time perhaps she has married the Emir
and become one of his wives. I am possibly a
fool to go after her. But I cannot help it. I
love her and while there is the least chance of
saving her it is in duty to try it."

He turned calm y to Bi 01::

“I am ready to be blinded. I sup so you
will let me’see when I enter the palace ”

“Once we have passed the entrance, you can
inspect eve thing, my bravo Frenchman, and
I fancy it Will make you open your eyes. As
yet, you have seen nothing of what Arabs can
do if they like.” '

Yusuf ben Saadi said something to his men
who gathered round Jean Cannon and bound
his arms behind him.

‘ “ That is to keep you from being tempted to
pull off the bandage,” reElied Bigot.

Then they took away is weapon!

“ That is for fear you may be tempted to com-
mit violence on the way," was the consoling dic-
tum of Bigot.

Finally they tied his feet together under his
horse's belly and cast the hood of a bornous over
his head nearly stifling him and completely de-
priving him of sight. .

The chasseur submitted quietly to all this
and then heard his guardians gives great shout
and begin to fire off pistols and ns round his
head, the bullets screaming past im in uncom-
fortable proximity.

Then came mular volley close b , with the
shouts of him s of men, and he fe t his horse
gallop wildly away up and down hill, twisting
and turning in every direction, while the firing
continued.

How lon this lasted he could not compute,
but at last efound that he was galloping over
a level road, and felt that some one had hold of
Bis bridlereins from the regular motion of the

arse. -

Then he heard a loud about in front and the
rattle of a tremendous volley, the balls from
which went screaming over his head, and in the
midst of it his horse was throw on its haunches
while some one plucked the bornous of! his head
leaving him in the full glare of sunlight sur-
rounded by hundreds of abs, all dressed in a
sort of scarlet uniform, who were galloping
round him like madman executin the fantasia
of welcome of which he had he ut which he
had never seen before. '

He gazed round him dazzled b the glare and
found himself in the most lov 1? scene he had
ever beheld by the borders of a ttle lake, with
palms and all sorts of tropical trees growing in
profusion around it.

And in the midst of the garden, like a dream
of Fairyland rose a nd white lace! of fan-
ciful Saracenic arch tecture, sue as Jean Cau-
non had never imagined possible in any coun-

, much less Algeria.

‘ How do {on like our home now?” said a
voice beside im, and Jean Cannon beheld the
renegade and Yusuf watching him closely.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
ran man's PALACE;

FOR the first time since he left Bou Farik,
Corporal Cannon, felt.amaled and. a trifle dis-
concerted, for he felt that he h d greatly un-
derrated the power of the Arab it.

Any man who was master of such a lace as
this must be a'man of education on intelli-
gletnsce, with followers possessed of skill in the

a .

Before he could collect his scattered wits to
anal no the scene, he heard the loud re rts of
artil e in regular salvos, and realized hat the
Arab mir had more cannons than the French
had given him credit for possessing.

The horsemen round him, moreover, as near
as he could see, were armed with s of Euro-
pean make, and their crimson reeses had a.
civilized up arance.

As he loo ed, the renegade loosed his bonds
and released his feet from the cords that had
bound them; while he said in a low voice:

“The Emir himself is coming to meet you.
Show him respect, for he is the greatest man in
these parts."

“I shall treat him as an ,embassador is en-
titled to treat him," responded the chasseur
firmly; “ thatds, with the same respect I accord
tom colonel.”

“ at isnotenough,” answered B‘ ot. “You
must do as the rest do, dismount an lay your
face to the dust.” .

As he s ke, the cannonade died away, to be
re laced y the strains of trumpets and cym-
ba 3, while the Arab soldiers drew oil to each
side and opened to view a slowly advancing
procession, headed by. a man in white robes,
mounted on awhite horse, resenting ashadowy,
ghostlike appearance in t e midst of the blaze
of color that surrounded him.

The moment he made ill-i appearance all the
Arab cavaliers ’umped of! their horses, includ-
ing the young 0 ief, Yusuf ben Sandi, and pros-

14:

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

 

.trated themselves on the grass, while the white
horseman rode forward at a foot ce.

Pretty soon therefore, Jean ‘annon found
himself the only mounted man in a vast silent
assembly, and, remembering his pledge to show
the Emir the same respect as his own colonel,
he 0t off his horse and stood before the animal,
wit his hand up at the regular military
salute.

The white horseman came on, followed by a
procession of grave white—bearded men on foot,
wearin huge green turbans and long brown
robes, till he came in front of Jean Cannon
whom be inspected closely.

Jean saw before him a dark handsome man
of near forty, with an e 6 like that of an eagle
and a keen intellectual ace.

The countenance was the same that he had
seen, a year before, in the box of the theater at
Toulon; and he felt a thrill of hatred pass
through him as he thou ht:

“T at is Abd-el- er, who has stolen my-
Fifiiie from me.”

The great Emir looked at him with the grave
imperturbable pride that formed his habitual
expression, and then made the chasseur an im-
perious sign to kneel as the rest had done,

Jean Cannon stood immovable at the same
salute, and Abd-el-Kader frowned at him and
repeated the sign.

‘Down, fool,” hissed Bigot, in a fierce half—
whisper. “ Do on want to lose your head?”

Jean Cannon ooked the Emir in the eye and
called out in French: ‘

“Acknowledge my salute if ' on be an oflicer.
I am tired of holdigg my him up.”

To his surpriseA -el-Kader smiled and made
an acknowledgment, as correctly as Colonel
Bugeaud could have done.

‘ Ohol” though Jean, “so the chief learned a
little French with us. That is something to
know. But he did not make me kneel.”

Abd-el-Kader pronounced some Arabic words
in a loud voice, extending his hands as if in bless-
in , and the multitude s owly rose up and stood
be ore him. '

Then he beckoned to Jean Cannou and said to
him in broken French: ' '

“ You. Whence you come? Who?”

“1 am Lieutenant Jean Cannon, very much
at your highness‘s service,” replied the young
chasseur boldly. “I was told you wished to
see one of us. Well, here I am?”

Abdel-Radar seemed a little uzzled at the
rapid French, and beckoned to B got, who came
forward in a cringing, abject manner and did
his dut as an interpreter. .

The ir smiled approvineg and replied,
through the rene de:

“ The French 0 cer is ver welcome. He can
see the power of Abd-el- der, and tel his
countrymen how useless it is to strive against
the men of the desert. Let him attend my
adopted son, Yusef ben Saudi, who will show
him everything, and in the morning I will give

him audience.’

He waved is hand and turned away, when
Yusuf ben came forward and touched
the chasseur on the arm.

“Come,” said Bigot, “we will take you to
your a merits in the palace. You are to be
treate like a prince, which will be uite a
change from the corporal’s mess—eh, my ‘end?
You are in luck.” ,

Jean Cannon felt disgusted at the man’s tone
of familiarity, but he forbore to show it, for
now he was acting a part.

Moreover, the thought that he was every
minute coming nearer Fifine made his heart
beat?l and caused him to hear everything pa-
tien y. ‘

The young chief, for whom he had begun to
conceive a. strange liking, led him to the palace
and ushered him into a. magnificent suite of
apartments, the like of which he had never so
much as dreamed of beholding.

Inlaid marble floors; Persian rugs, cushions
of silk and brocade; silver lamps, swung from
the ceilin ; balconies of carved woods, with
curious la ces, looking out on the arden; all
formed a picture of luxu that azzled the
chasseur,used to the bare oor of the barrack

room.
attended by Yusuf who

He was close!
called some blac slaves; and Jean annon
rince, with

found himself waited on like a
silver basins to wash in, an exquisite repast,
served on bended knees, and so much of beauty
and luxury that, when they gave him his
chibonque at last, he said With'a sigh of con-

tent: '

“ That is beautiful. ‘What a pity I must
leave it all so soon! It islike the old stories of
the Arabian ni hts.”

Bigot said a ew Arabic words to Yusuf, and
then observed blandly: '

“There is no need to leave it so soon. You
can sta .here forever if you like,”

Jean ooked round him longin ly. '

“I should like to; but no. 1‘ all, it is not
France. Still, I should like to try it for a
month, I confess.”

“That m,wwl{ easy,” answered the rene—
gade in the same land tones. -“ His highness
is happy to have you for a guest. Besides, we
are to that you are a great fighter. You can

 

stay here as long as you like, if you will teach
our men to fight, French fashion.” '

Jean Cannon winked slyly at him.

“ You are a deep one, my chicken; but not
deep enough for a man from Tarascon. -' So
vou want me to (798% these Arabs to fight like

renchmen, do ou.

“Wh not? t will make your fortune for
life. T e Emir would make you a colonel at
onge.”and give you a palace and a pretty Arab
wx e.

Jean Cannon started. He saw the drift of
all this politeness. Ahd~el-Kader wanted to
bribe him into entering his service.

“I don’t want an Arab wife,” he said in a
doubtful way, us if hesitating. “I don’t talk
Arabic. My wife could lay plots to make a
fool of me under my nose, and I none .the
wiser.”

Bi ot lau bed. '

“ ou cou d soon learn. I did so in a year,
and now every one takes me for an Arab.’

“That may be. I don’t want tobe taken for
an Arab. France is good enough for me, my
friend. Now, if the Emir could give me a
French wife—some captive for exam le—we
might talk business tOgether, Monsieur i 0t.”

The renegade seemed to be struck by t e re—
mark and held a rapid conversation in Arabic
with ’Yusut, after w ich the latter suddenly re
tired and Bigot said:

“We might arrange that matter, if you were
content with such a wife.”

“ But I must see her first,” pursued the chas-
seur slowly. “ I am told you Arabs never see
your wives till y6u are married; and you might

ut me off on some old hag' without a tooth in
her head.”

Bigot laughed heartily.

“You are sharp, corporal. No. we will not
treat you so mean y. It all de nds on the will
of the Emir. He may not feel ' posed to grant
such a favor. Yusuf ben Saadi has gone to see
him about it.”

“Ah by-the-by Monsieur Bigot, who is this

.Yusuf ben Sandi fl asked the chasseur curiously.

“ He behaves like an Arab, yet there is some-
thing in his appearance so different from the
rest that—is he, too, a rene ade like on?"

“My faith, no, asfar as can to . He was
an Arab child in the tent of the Emir when I
was sold to Abd-el‘Ka/der, andthe girls even
then called him the Emir’s son.” ‘

“ But he is not his son. The
ture in common. In fact,
say that he was like enough to me to be my
brother.” a

Bigot looked at him sharply.

“ here is a likeness,” he admitted, “ but that

have not a fea—

Vis nothing uncommon. Yusuf ben Sandi has

one thing that distinguishes him from all men,
not marked on pu .,”

“ And what- 's that 5”

“The Arabs say that he has, on his ht
temple, marked by the hand of God from is
b‘rt , a blue, zigzag streak, like a thunderbolt,
exactly the same as all the tribe of Bou Farik
have tattooed there, when they are made Mos-
lems at fourteen.” I

Jean Cannon listened intently and asked:

“Do you mean that? Are you sure that it
was not tattooed there also '1”

“So I have heard the old mollah sa .
mark is different from a tattoo, lig ter in
color. See, I have the tattoo on my own
temple.”

He put aside his head-gear to show the mark
and went on:

“They marked me thus when I was‘taken
into the tribe. They say that any man who
has such a mark b nature is held sacred in the
tribe of Ben Furl It may be that Yusuf is a
foundling, who was taken into the tribe on that
account, but no one can tell that save the
Emir, who calls him his son.”

Jean Cannon seemed to be much struck by
this a parently trivial spiece of informati
and fa into a brown dy, from which al
the eiforts of Bigot could not rouse him till the
entrance of Yusuf, who seemed to be much ex-
cited and leased about somethin .

“The mir has consented,” o rvedBigot.
“You are to have a wife from among his slaves.
Let us hear what he says. ”

The youn chief advanced to Jean Cannon
and saluted im with at cordiality, making
him along address in bio, which the rene-
gade translated thus:

“ Yusuf ben Saadi hopes that the Frank will
become his brother, forever, for the Emir has
consented to let the stranger have a wife from
among his Christian slaves, whichever shall
please him most. If he would become a Moslem,
Abd-el~Kader would give him his own daughter
to wife, but, so long as he will enter his service
and teach the Arabs the French way of fighting,
he is content to let the Frank retain his religion
and marry a Christian wife.”

Jean Cannon could hardly believe his luck
while this speech Was being translated.

“ I shall see Fifine,” he murmured. “ I shall
save her, and we shall find means to escape.”

To Yusuf he said:

“ Very welL If the Emir has the wife I want,
I will enter his service for this winter, on con-
dition that he lets me go back to my regiment

heard our men .

The .

' a little flaxenvhaired,

 

in the spring, when I will tell them they had
better leave the country quietly before the Emir
forces them out of it.”

Yusuf seemed deli hted and immediately
caught hold of Jean annon. whom he em~
braced heartily, showering Arabic blessings on
his head while Bigot observed:

“ The Emir has ‘ven orders to have his Chris-
tian slaves parade for your inspection; and as
a special favor, you are allowed to enter the
bageir'u’,y with the chief eunuch and Yusuf ben

1.

Jean Cannon got up feeling very much as if
he were drunk or dreaming and slowly followed
Yusuf down a number of long corridors,till the “
came to a heavy door in a bare wall, at whic
the Arab gave a knock, when it was opened by
:e tall, gaunt negro, who carried a drann cimer

r.

The black frowned till Yusuf held up a ring,at
si ht of which he bowed and‘gave way, though

th a dissatisfied expression of countenance.

A moment later the chasseur found himself
for the first time in his life, in a place of which
he had often dreamed—an Arab harem.

The luxury of this portion of the e(palace was
indescribable. Abd-el-Kader seem to be de-
termined, if he must imprison his women, that
they should have a lendid cage.

Silver and gold, ve vet rugs, brilliantly illumi—
nated' walls marble pavements, satin cushions,
fountains o rose-water, clouds of incense, fig»
ures of slaves in gorgeous dresses flittinwa and
fro; such was the scene that saluted the eyes of
Jean Cannon. ‘

He saw lovely girls of all shades of color,
from the milk and roses of the Circassian to the
dusky satin skin of the maid from Abys-
sinia; every variety of costume, from the rich
silk mufilin s of the Turkish head wife to the
simple gird e of cowrie shells of her black slave.

And all of them were unveiled and staring at,
him with a mirthful curiosity that made im
feel exceedingly bashful; for they seemed to
think him a stran e animal.

Yusuf ben Sea 1 led him forward through a
suit of lofty halls, each more splendid than the
other, till they came to a terrace looking out
over a steep precipice at the foot of which was
gisible the rown esert, all sprinked with

ouars.

On this terrace stood a row of girls, all in
mean and looking thin and downcast,
to which Yusuf pointed, saying:

“ 0mm.”

Jean Cannon had learned enough Arabic to
understand this word.

“ Christian women. ”

He advanced eagerly and looked at the or
girls, his heart swelling with pity; but a the
while looking for- Fiflne.

She was not among

Instead of that, he was saluted in a Babel of
tongues, not one of which could be comprehend—
ed and realized that while these girls might be
Christians, not one was French.

“ Ah, mademoiselles,” he cried instinctivel ,
” pardon a thousand times. I would I co 6
marry you all to save Won from Paganism; but
that is impossible. ho knows a French girl
called Fiflne Cannon? Itis she I seek.”

The irls shrunk bank in dismay; but one of
them 0 led/out in bad French;

“Fifine is a renegade. She is to marry the
very man beside you."

 

CHAPTER XIV.
anon Goon.

Poon Jean Cannon! When he heard that he-
staggered as if some one had struck himaheavy

blow.
“Fifine a renegade!" he faltered. “Who- V

says it?" u . .

'Me—Katrin Scheller,” cried the voice,.and
-looking girl came
forward, speaking with the Alsatian accent of
the Rhenish rovinces. “Fifine is tobe mar—
ried to the mir’s son, after the fast of the.
Ramadan.”

Jean Cannon looked at Yusuf ben Sandi; but
it was plain that the young Arab did not take
in the sense of what was going on.

Then he turned to ,tnn Scheller. He
noticed that neither she nor an of the other
girls was at all attractivein face gure or dress.
They had a forlorn, dejected look as if they
were badl treated. -

“ Look ere, mademoiselle ” he said, “ how is
it. that you all come here and who are you all?”

“My faith, we all came the same way,” she
answered drearily. “Some are S anish, some.
Italian; I am the only one from rance. Eh,
but they make us work all the time and give us
no peace. There is not much pleasure in a
harem for us and they don’t try to convert us
either. The Moslem women prefer to have us
do the washing and hard work.”

The other girls had gathered round them,
staring at the chassem‘ and trying to make out.
what was going on, while usuf ben Saudi
stood apart with his arms folded, a look of cold
disdain on his handsome face, as if be regarded
them beneath his notice. Jean Cannon listened
to the querulous talk of the Alsatian slave, but,

{I

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

_15

 

his heart was too much occupied to pay much
heed till he had ascertained his object.”

“And this Fiflne Cannon,” he asked gently.
" Was she one of you and how came she to
apostatize?” I

Katrin laughed bitterly.

“She one of us! Oh, no; she was always too
proud of her pretty face for that; and when the
mother of the dancers took her to train, she was
prouder than ever. She knew what she was
about. It was not for nothing she was so
sweet to the Emir, whenever he entered the
harem, quarreling with the pipe girl, and pre-
tending to be eager to serve im. She is one of
those 31 girls that will always deceive the
men. I wouldn’t like to be her husband
though, I can tell you."

It was evident that the harem drudge was
bitterly envious of what she thought to be the

good fortune of Fiflne, and Jean, who felt some '

share of the anger himself, asked:

" And why would you not like to be her hus-
band if on were a man, mademoiselle?"

“My aith, I know," returned Katrin, tossing
her head with a sneer. “ It is not for nothing
she keeps making signals and Ifussing notes to
. Abou Goum, the renegade. er husband had
best look to himse .“

“ And who is Abou Goum?" asked Jean.

Here he happened to glance at Yusuf, and
noticed that the Arab seemed, for the first time
to be paying attention, attracted by the sound
of an Arabic name.

Katrin was only too eager to talk.

“ He is the interpreter. You must have seen
him. His French name is' Bigot, and he and
F‘iflne understand each other too well, in my
opinion." ‘

Here Yusuf hen Sandi said something in
Arabic to the girl, who colored and seemed to
be confused. as she answered rapidly.

“ What did he say to you?” as ed can.

“ He asked me what we were saying about
the interpreter, and I told him a lie. ‘It is easy
to deceive these Arabs.” .

Jean, now rather disgusted at the petty

ites and jealonsies he witnessed, turned to
sIgusiif and said:

“ Let us go."

The Arab looked a little surprised, but made
no objection: for he understood the gesture, if
not the words of the chasseur, and they slowly
left the presence of the Christian girls, who
looked deserted, but did not dare to follow
them.

Onl Katrin called out: i
“ on‘t you come again, monsieur? They
said you had come to set us all free."

“ I will do my best,” answered Jean, and then
they left the harem without any further adven-
ture.

But, look round as the chasseur might, among
all the faces in that harem he saw no sign of the
one for which he was looking.

Fiflne seemed to have vanished.

They came out and returned to .Jean’s suite
of apartments, where they found Bigot waiting,
and where Yusuf hon Sandi asked:

“ Has the Frank made his selection of a wife,
and is be willing to enter the service of the
great Emir, Abd‘el-Kaderf" I ‘

The chasSeur listened to the question as it
came through the ii of Bigot, and repheds

“ Tell the chief I ve no made up my mind,
but I will let him know to—morrow. hen,
Monsieur Bigot, I wantto have a little talk With

.0“. )Y

Yusuf hen Sandi bowed with grave courtesy
when he heard the message, and re lied:

“ I will attend the Frank envoy in the morn-
ing, and the Emir will grant him audience. In
the mean time the palace and all within it are
his. Tell him that, and ask him if he wishes for
anything?”

“ I wish for an attendant who talks my own
ton us,” said Jean.

“ on can take Abou Goum; he is at your or-
ders. Peace be with you."

And Yuan! ben Saadi departed.

As soon as he was gone. Corporal Cannon
turned on the rene do and asked him:

“Are on Frenc or Arab at heart. Come,
we are one, with none to hear us now. Which
is it?”

Bi ot looked surprised. .

" hat makes you ask the guestion? I have
told you already. In France am no one; here
I am Abou Goum with in horse and arms, the
favor of Abd-el‘IIader, an the chance to marry
into the famil of a. chief. I should he a fool to
remain Frencli."

“ Then why,” asked the chasseur slowly, “ are
you in correspondence with. a French 1, and
trying to deceive the Emir’s son, w o is to
marry her?”

13’ at or Abou Goum turned deadly pale.
“lfiow do you howl-It is not true—I—in
shortr—it is not true."

“It is true. Your face shows it. Now, my
friend, how far has this thing gone! Tell me,
or it will be the worse for you.” .

“ I swear I am innocent. I do not in the least
understand you," protested Abou Goum. “ I
have never——" ‘ . _

“ Never a note to a dancing—girl in the
harem !" asked Cannon quietly“

_in truth, inonsieur

 

He was watching the rene ado keenly and saw
that some mystery was hi den behind his cou-
fusion and protestations.

“Dancing girl! 0h, es, that is—”

He seemed to be para yzed at the knowledge
possessed by the soldier: but pursued:

“That was a more nothing. She is a girl
from France, a d had a wild notion that it was
possible to get t e French Government to ran-
som her.” ,

Jean Cannon smiled bitterly. - .

“A wild notion indeed!- But how came she
to write to you, and how many notes have
passed between you, Bigot?”

The rene ade ooked round fearfully.

“ Notso oud. There are others who under-
stand a little French, though-they pretend not.
I will tell you the honest truth, monsieur; but
do not betray me, or my head would not be
worth a dugle hour’s )urchase."

“ I never betraya rem-hman," answered the
chasseur, quietly. “ On the contrary, I would
do all I could to help one out of the power of
these Pagans. "

Bi 0t looked round zigaiii and whis red:

“ onsieu'r corporal, we are watc ed. The
E'mir has spies everywhere. I have‘had to talk
to you as I have because I knew that others
were listening who would report my words. But

I woud I were back in
France. Ah, men bieu, you do not know what
it is to be a renegade."

‘Jean Cannon watched his face while he was
whis ring, and. then said steruly: -

“ 0 on with your story; but if you tr to
deceive me, you might better be dead. his
girl—how much do you know of her?"

The renegade drew closer.

“ It happened this way, monsieur "he said, in
a low tone. “ To make my living I have to do
all sorts of things here, and, among others, I
play the doctor. It is easy enough, for you

iave on] to write charms and give them to the

fools, w o believe they are cured by them.
About three months ago I was sent for to the
harem, to rescribe for a sick girl. She was
closely vai ed, but I was allowed to feel her
pulse, and I found there was nothing the matter
with her. She was only‘shamming.”

“ Did you tell her so!”

“ Not I monsieur. We doctors would starve
if we told the truth. I told th’em—the people
round—that she had a complication of diseases
and required reat care. I knew' there was
something behind this sham, probably a. lover;
and, sure enough, as I felt her pulse a second
time, with in back to the rest, she slipped a
note into my and.”

- “ Have you that note?” asked Jean sharply.

it Y“ ll

“Give it me this instant.”

The renegglde looked at him amazed. ‘

“You! by, what have you to do with—"

“ Never mind. Give me the note. It was
written in French, was it not 3"

I“ Yes, but how did you know?"

“ I know everything, and I know that if you
do not give it to me 1 shall tell Yusuf.”

Abou Goum seemed paral zed with fear.

“For heaven‘s sake, noi eis going to marry
her, and he would slice 0!! my head like a blade
of grass under a sickle."

‘ So much the more reason I should see the
note. Give it me, quick.”
“ Here it is, monsueur.

nothing in it.”

Jean Cannon clutched the dirty piece of paper
and glanced at it eagerly.

It contained these word :2

“ You are a Frenchman. if you remember ‘ our
mother, help to save me from a fate worse han
death. Meet me at the Lion‘s Rock at midnight.

“Fir-ma Omen."

“ Where is the Lion’s Rock?" asked the chas-
sour.

Abou Goum shuddered.

“ It lies at the edge of the desert, and there is
not a man in the tribe would dare go there af-
ter dar .”

“ Why not?” -

“ Why not! Eh, rbleu, because it is well
named. It is the p ace where the old Sultan
takes his walk at nights, and if a man meet him,
it is cod-by man.”

“ he old Sultan? Who is he?”

“ It is the name the Arabs give the Lion.
You will hear him to-night. He takes toll of
eve camp in turn."

“ d this girl asked you to meet her there.
Did on go?”

“ youthink I am a fool? . No. But I have
since thought she must have been ve des-
perate to name such a place to meet a. man like
me. '

" And how long ago was it that you received
this note?” .

“ About three months.” '

“ Did you answer it?”

“Yes, monsieur, on my next visit. That is,
I did not answer it, but received another.”

“ Where is it?”

“Here, monsienr.”

Jean read thbse words:

“ You did not come to the Lion‘s Rock. You are
no true Frenchmen. The edaia has passed and I ac-
cept my fate. As for you, God will punish you."

On my honor there is

 

,. . ' . . _;.__,__'

“ And is that all that passed I"
“All, monsieur, on my word. I do not even
know who the girl is. I never saw her face
(ragga? may be sure I never went to the Lion’s

« 0

Jean Cannon eyed him with some scorn.

“ I do not doubt it. Show me from the
den, if you can, where is this Lion's Roc
which you speak.”

“ But you will premise to tell no one?" urged
the renegade, who did not like the chasseur’s
cold. haughty manner.

“ Not unless you force me by treacher . See
here, Bigot, we are countrymen; an if we
stick together we can do a great deal. Keep
your own counsel, and in the mean time let me
see this Lion‘s Rock.”

He suspected Bigot to be a traitor, and had
resolved not to rust him in any manner:
but lie-was also determined to use the renegade
as far as he could to further his plans.

He suspected that Fiflne had been ut under
severe ressure ,to induce her to e race the
faitho Islam, and that it had been in a mo-
ment of desperation she had appealed.to the
rene ads to help her to esca .

W ere was she now? Did any one suspect
his own relations to her!

Thus ruminating, he followed Abou Goum
throIi h the arden, to where it terminated at
the e go of t e precipice, under the wall of the

ar-
of

. harem inclosure.

Here Abou Goum showed him the steep bank
of rocks that stretched down to the sands of the
desert, and pointed out a little 1, of water,
far below, which sparkled like gem in the
sun, shaded by three date palms. .

By the side of the sprin was a shelf of rock.
that rese obliquely from t e desert, and formed
a little natural couch, just above the pool,
about thirty feet away.

“ That is the Lion’s Rock. The Sultan takes
his eat there, to watch for the gazelles and
wil asses, as they come to drink. A nice
place for a man to meet a girl!"

“They would be pretty safe against intrud-
ers, if what you on say be true,” observed
Joan Cannon mu ugly. “Does any one ever
come on this side of the ardenl”

“ Heaven forbid l” sai the renegade fervent~
ly. “ Why, do you know the Sultan often comes
up here at nights; and, but for the hi h wall of
the harem garden, it would not be e for the
ladies.”

“But there is no wall to protect the rest of
the garden,” observed the chasseur.

“There needs none. The Sultan is no fool.
and he knows there are a hundred men on

guard
, with loaded muskets. They turn out fast enough

when they hear him.”

Je n Cannon said nothing as they went back:
but ekept a close watch on the windows of
the harem as he passed, and saw a sudden wave
of a white handkerchief instantly withdrawn.

The wave of that handkerchief told him that
he was recogpized, and his heart began to beat
more tumul ously than ever.

“It is Fiflne," he thought. “She knowsl am
here. She has friends somewhere. How shall
I let her know that I will be at the Lion’s Rock ‘
to-night.”

He saunterod on with up arent unconceni
for a few step:i following t e renegade; and
then suddenly lted and cried out:

“Come back I want to look at the Lion’s
Book in. I have a fancy that way.”

A litt e an rised at the preference, the rene-
gade follows him back, and they stood at the
top of the precipice looking down. '

‘It seems to me,” observed Jean, “that an
active man might go down this bank as easily
as the goats do. See, there are more than fifty
of them cro ping the grass. ”

“,Yes. I ancy that is what brings the Sultan
up here at nights,” said Abou Goum in an un-
easy we . “ You will please observe, Monsieur
Corpora , that it is now very near sunset, and
that the goats are feeding up bill. It is time
we were off, for the Sultan goes on a walk as
soon as it is good and dar .”

In truth, even while he spoke. they heard a
low distant mutter, as of far ofl thunder, and
the goats begun to bound up thehill, as if they
had taken a ittle fright.

Abou Goum pulled Jean’s arm nervouslv.

“ That is the Sultan now. Come away. There
is no telling when or where he will come. He
must be hungry when he begins to roar soearly .
in the evenly.” -

But Jean annon remained looking down the
pr‘eci :32, and muttering: h n

agoodmoon onem‘ teasygo
down. And no one would dare ffilow.”

He lingered there till the sun had set, in 8 its
of the renegade’s entreaties, and at last A on
Goum cried out:

“ For heavon’s sake let us go, or the lion will
be here after us.”

CHAPTER XV.
ran: LLON’S ROCK.

ABOU GOUM was so much fri htened at the
bore idea of the lion coming a r him intho
shadows of night, that he finally set of! at a
run, leaving J enn Cannon still standing at the

 

 

16

V Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

 

edge of the precipics, looking down into the
e rt

se .

Not that the chasseur felt entirely at ease.
On the contrar , there was something in the
vast solitude o the desert below him only
made more perfect by the isolation of the few
Bedouin camps, scattered by the foot of the
mountains, that awed him.

Then, too, the distant muttering sound had
become more lain at intervals, and hebe an
to realize that e was hearing, for the first time
the roar of a wild lion.

Then what kept Jean Cannon alone and un-
armed! He had been deprived even of his
saber, fyet remained standing_at the edge of that
wall 0 rock, looking down.

Simpl , this was what kept him.

Behin him, not ten feet off, was another
wall, twenty feet high; and, behind this wall,
as he knew, was the girl he adored.

And in this wall, a ittle way to the ri ht, he
saw a small low door, about tall enough or the
passage of a dog or sheep.

Yet it was from this door, not a moment
later, that he heard his own name called, and
out crept, on hands and knees, the figure of a
girl, who ran to him and hung on his neck, sob—

mg:

“Jean, Jean, you have come at last before it
is too late to say farewell.” _

“ Ay, before it is too late,” he answered ten-

derly. “How glad I am to hear you say that
Fiflne. And you have not forgotten me in all
these years!”

“ How could I forget you?" shesaid simply.
“You were my only he to France after mother
died; and, since I learned that you were not
my brother, the tie seems even more tender, for
if. you have no sister by blood, I must be one to
you by affection, my brother.” :

It was strange; but these words struck a cer-
tain chill to the heart of Jean Cannon.

“But I am not your brother,” he said in a
low voice. “ I do not even know who I am. I
only know one thing Fiflne, that, if ou will
fly with me I will take the risk of al Abd-el-
Kader’s bullets and swords, that I may take
you back to France as my wife.”

To his surprise and mortification Fiflne drew
back from him.

“You mistake ” she said, coldly. “ I came
here to-night at t e risk of my life, to meet my
dear brother, Jean Cannon. As for being your
wife, that is im ossible.”

Jean started ack.

“ Impossible !" he echoed.

“ Yes, impossible.”

“ And why?”

“ Because you have come too late.”

“ But you said that it' was not too late.”

“ Not too late to see and greet you, my
brother, before I bid you farewell forever; but
too late for any other thought.”

The chasseur was petrified.

“ Explain, if you please mademoiselle,” he
said in a stifled voice. “ I heard today that
vou were to marry—I hope—is it true! Oh,
Fifine. do not say that you love a Pagan! I have
lon (1 so for this hour, and now—”

e aused, unable to continue.

“ Listen. my brother,” said the girl softly.
“ I am a most unhapp creature, but I have re-
tained my honor an truth amid a hundred
dangers; and it was on] when all my country-
men deserted nie, that gave my word, which
must not be broken, to marry the Emir Yusuf.
\Vill you hear me?”

“ Continue,” he said sadl . “Let me hear
what has caused Fiflne to orget her country
and her religion at once.”

“ I forget neither, monsieur. If you have
nothing but reproaches to offer, let us part. ”

She seemed about to leave him; but he said in
a broken voice: . -

“ Go on. I will say no more. Only tell me.”
“ I will. You remember when you saw me
at Toulon.”

“Too well, Fiflne. That ni ht changed the
whole course of my life. Till t an I was a care
less boy. That made me a desperate man; who
only wished for death.”

“ You are wrong, Jean. Brave men do not
despair. There are hundreds of women in the
world fairers-J’

“ But only one Fifine."

The‘interruption did not displease her. No
woman dislikes to be adored in vain.

“Listen, my brother. Had you been able to
claim me then; had you' done some bold deed
to take me from the Arabs1 power, I should
have loved you forever. But you did not.”

“ How could l! I was a soldier, and the col-
onel told me my first duty was to France”.

“Very good. As a soldier you may have
been right, but as a lover you were wrong.
waited and waited till my heart was sick.
Years passed on, and you never came. I was
ordered one day before the Emir, who told me
he had noticed me with favor, and had resolved
to bestow me on his adopted son, the Emir

Yusuf. That was three months ago, Jean.”
“ And on?”
“I never seen the Emir Yusuf. and I

hated the idea of being the slave of a stranger.
l was a Christian and a slave, with no rights. I
resolved to appeal to the only Frenchman 1

 

knew to be here, Abou Goum, the renegade. I

was mad, desperate. I feigned sickness to get

him near me as a physician, and gave him a

[iota]; ,asking him to meet me at the Lion’s
oc

“ I know it. What was your object?”

“ I knew that any man who would dare to
come to such a place would dare to help me
escage; and I trie him.”

“- ugpose he had come?”

“ I s ould have fled wth him.”

“ Indeed. But in such a case—"

“ I should have been in his power. Yes, but
I said to myself that it was better to be in the
power of a Christian than a Pagan. And I can
take care of m self. See here..

She showed im a small poniard. ,

“That is poisoned. One scratch would kill
the strongest man. I kept it as a last resort
against insult.”

“ But if he had behaved honestly, there was
still the lion. The danger—"

“ Is nothing, as you shall see. Hark, here he
comes now.” -

Asshe spoke, they heard a tremendous roar
that seemed to proceed from almost under their
feet, and the chasseur started with a cold sweat
all over him.

Fifine actually laughed.

“It sounds terrible, does it not, J ean'é But I
have heard it so often that I fear it not. See, I.
have had nothing to do for ten years but watch
the lion and I know all his ways. He is not
had, only hungry. Give him somethin to eat,
and he will never harm you. He will uiet
to-night, for I have provided for him. L00 2”

Far below them on the face of the steep rock
they saw two lowin green balls of fire, an
Jean shuddere in spite of himself. The green
fireballs were stationary.

“ He is looking at us,’ whispered Fifine; “ and
thinking whether it is worth while to come up
here after us, when he has better food close be-
side him.”

“ What food i” asked the chasseur.

As if to answer the uestion, the heard a
scrambling struggle be ow, and t e pitiful
bleat of a goat in extreme terror.

“ He is tied there,” whispered the girl. “ See,
the Sultan has chosen him.”

The green balls of fire disappeared.

“He has turned his hea ,” said the girl.
“ Now listen, and you will hear him go to his
feast in peace.”

Another scramble and a pitiful bleat, drown-
ed b the roar of the king of the desert, then a
den silence.

“ He is drinking the blood," whispered the
girl. From henceforth we are safe. Let us
continue our conversation.” -

It was remarkable that this delicate girl
showed less timidity than the hardy soldier——
such is the influence of familiarit ; and she
continued as if nothing had happens , while the
lion, not a hundred feet below, lay with his
eyes closed, drinking the blood of the unfortun-
ate oat.

“ on see,” continued Fifine, “ that there are
worse dangers than lions. But let me go on.
The renegade dared not come, and I was to be

iven to the Emir Yusuf as a slave, in three

ys. - Only one choice remained to me. If I
hoped to escape the miserable lot of a slave I
must become). free woman. In only one way
could I do that, save by escaping.”

“And that way was?”

“ To embrace Islam. Once a believer, the
Emir must free me, and I could become no man’s
slave henceforth. I did so, and the Emir was
compelled to free me and announce that his son,
Yusuf, had asked for me in marriage.” . ‘

“ And you consented ?"

“ I did.”

“ And why?”

“ Because it is better to be the honored wife
of an Arab chief than a girl without parents
among stran ers.”

“ But the mir—”

“ Had no further call toprotect me after I
had changed my religion. I had the choice be.
tween beggary and marrying Yusuf.”

“I do not understand you, Fiflne. You say
you had a choice only between beggary and
marriage. How was it?"

“ It was this way: While I was a Christian I
was a slave, and my master was bound to take
care of me. As soon as I became free I was
obliged to take care of myself, and a woman
can do nothing in this country but starve or
marry. It is true I could have become a pro-
fessional dancing- 'rl, but if you knew what
they are you woul not wonder I refused such
a lot. No. I have made my decision and must
abide by it. I shall never see France sin, and
I wip try my best to make a good wi e to the
Emir Yusuf, who is brave and good.”

The chasseur turned away with a sick feeling
of Jealousy at his heart, sayieng:

‘ It is well. I have follow you amid a thou-
sand dangers and have found you at last; not
the Fiflne that I loved, but a woman who has
sold herself to be the’head of' an Arab harem.”

He felt very bitter and angry, and this time
the girl seemed to feel for him; for she said, in
a gentle, soothing tone:

‘Do not reproach me, my brother. Is not

 

11.1 let hard enough to beer as it is? Do you
think it is nothing for me to renounce forever
the hope of seeing France? It is our fate to be
unhappy. Who can defy fate?"

“ I would defy it to-nigbt ” he said, impetu~
ously, “ if I only knew one thing.”

“ And what is that?”

“That you do not love this Yusuf. Ah, you
are silent. Then I am indeed unhapp .”

He turned away and was about to {save her,
when they heard the clink of steel on stone not
far off, and the lion below lifted his enormous
head and showed his glowing een eyes with
an ominous growl like mutteregr thunder.

Fiflne clutched the soldier’s arm.

“ We are watched,” she whispered. “It
must be a bold man who is near us. Stand
still and do not utter a sound. I will be here
to—morrownight at the same hour. When the.
lion returns to his meal move away. If he
growls, stand still.”

Then Jean Cannon felt his arm released and
stood watching the lion, sensible, for the first
time, that he was in danger from the beast be-

ow.

All had now become perfectly still, but the
glowing eyes of the lion remained’in the same
spot, g anng upward.

The cold sweat stood on the chasseur’s fore»
head: but he stood perfectly still, and after
awhile he heard the renewed crunching of bones
which showed that the grim beast had returned
to its meal.

Thembe began to steal away.

The lion turned its e es toward him, but
made no attempt to stop im beyond a smoth-
ered rattling grow], and he succeeded in get»
ting to the corner of the wall, where the rest of
the garden lay open before him. ,

As he did so, the rays of the rising moon
shone into his face over the tops of the trees in
the forest and Jean Cannon saw that an Arab
with 9. Ion gun in his handswas kneeling be-
side the wa l as if watching for the lion.

This man made no motion when the chameur
appeared, but remained in the same spot and
Jean Cannon slowly approached him and'dis-
covered to his intense surprise that the watcher
was none other than Yusuf hen Saadi.

“Peace be unto you,” said the soldier.

“Unto you peace” was the ave response
which closed Jean’s owledge 0 Arabic.

Then Yusuf ben Sandi rose softly to his feet,
took the Frenchman by the arm and led him
back into the garden for some distance before
he said another word.

Then he halted and called out:

“Abou Goum! Abou Goum 1"

Jean Cannon heard a rustle in t'e garden and
found himself surrounded by a number of Arabs
with long guns, who must have been hidingand
watching.

Among these was the renegade, who came
forward like one in extreme fear, and to whom
Yusuf spoke in Arabic.

“The chief says,” explained Abou Goum to
the soldier, “ that you must not go out there
again. You do not now what danger there is,
and heis responsible for your life."

“ Tell the chief,” responded Jenn Cannon,
“that Frenchmen never fear anythin . I went,
there to look at the lion, and if he is a raid him-
self I will kill the beast myself to-morrow

night.”

hen Abou Goum had translated this speech,
there was a hum of incredulity among the
Arabs and Yusuf replied:

“ It does not becomea brave man to boast of
what he can do. What do the French know
about the Sultan? We know him and fear him,
and we are no cowards. We know that the

,lion will kill a whole tribe of armed men if he

be angry. Let this Frenchman keep within the
alace after dark, for we cannot let him sacri-
ce his life."

“And I say,” retorted Jean Cannon firmly,
“that I can and will kill the lion if the chief
will let me have my arms for to-morrow night.
Tell him this and tell him that if the lion does
not come I will wait for him till he does come,
for I am resolved to show the French nation is
afraid of nothing.” ,

Yusuf listened gravely and asked:

“Is the Frank willing to give us a writing to
show the Frank chiefs that we are not respon-
sible for his death if he do this foolish thing!"

“ I am rfectly willing,” replied Jean.

He re 'zed that the liberty to hunt the lion
would be an unlimited cloak to cover his
meeting with Fifine and eagerly embraced the
opportunity.

“Not that I have any hope of killing the
lion,” he thought to himself. “ But as long as
lIcan,flnd goats for his majesty he will stay be«
OW.

Yusuf ben Saudi seemed to he uneasy at the
readiness with which the soldier accepted the
proposition.

“ It depends on the consent of the most holy
Emir Abd-el-Kader,” he observed, “ and if the
Frank gets killed his blood be on his own head.
Let usg‘pvnow. Night is for sleep in time of
peace. e are not watching for the chem .”

He led the way back to the palace an per-l
sonally conducted Jean Cannon to the apart-
ments provided for him, where the soldier was

 

 

 

 

 

‘ say, a wanderer over all the earth, with every

. totakewithmem

Corporal C‘annon,  of Duels.‘

’17

»

 

fain to remain, though he would much rather
have returned to the garden, on the chance of
seeing Fiflne. He lay on the divan, . broad
awake, half the night revolving his position.

vDid Fiflne love this Yusuf’! Did the Arabs
outside of Abou Goum 3 ct his own connec-
tion with the girl? Woul Abou Goum betray
him! Had Yusuf ben Saudi heard him talking?
Was be honest in his a parent solicitude to save
Jean’s life from the ion, or was he only play-
ing a part!

All these questions vexed him not a little but .
he could not solve them: so he lay awake rack—
ing his brain to no purpose, till his eyes grew
heavy and he fell fast asleep. -

There let us leave him, while we return to the
camp of Bou Farik.

CHAPTER XVI.
ran sacrum or run BLACK cnoun.

FROM the day of Corgiral Cannon’s departure
from the camp at Ben arik, the Arabs were no
more seen on the plain around the fort.

They seemed to have vanished utterly from
the country, and all the scouting parties that
could be detached found no traces of them,
save in the little mud-walled villages, where a
few ragged cultivators eked out a scanty ex—
istence out of the remains of the harvest left by
the French.

Colonel Bugeaud improved the opportunity i
of rest to extend his ines and strengthen his
position, while a regular line of dili ences be-

an to run between the City of Agiers and

u Farik.

In the midst of these his labors, one day he I
was informed that a corporal wished to see him L
with a note front Captain Lemaitre and a tall g
gaunt man with a grizzled sandy beard pre— 3
,sented the note

This missive merely said:

“The bearer, Corporal Neil Krupp, is one of the ;
best soldiers in the command, except for a love of .
wine. He wants to ask a favor, and I have‘con-

, t 'f willin .
sen Ed‘ I you are “  Lnuaxrrm. Captain."

“Well, corporal,” asked Father Bugeaud
“and what can i do for on?”

“ A good deal, my co onel. I have lost my
only friend, and I want leave to go after him.’

"And who is your friend?”

“Corporal Cannon, 1%}! colonel.”

" Co ral Cannon! by, he is in the camp of
Abd-el- ader, and heaven knows if he will ever
get back alive.” _

“That is why I want to go after him, my
colonel. ,

Father Bugeaud looked surprised.

“You! But you forget. Corporal Cannon
went under the‘protection of the Arabs, and
unless they violate hospitality he is safe. But ,
gzm could never reach the Arab camp alone.
{'ou have no protector.”

“ If my colonel will let me try, I have a plan
that will take me there.” .

“You are crazy, corporal. It is enough to
risk one man. You cannot go.”

Krupp looked much disap inted.

“Very well, my colone . But you do not
know my plan. I can talk Arabic.’

“ You can? Where did you learn it?”

“Many ears ago, my colonel, before I en—
tered the Fiench service.” .

“ Ahl then you are not a Frenchman?” w
“No, my colonel. I am a Dane, that is to.

 

1801350388 as good as my own, and none very

“But how did you get into our army, .when
we admit no fore ere?”-

“I entered be ore the law was passed} my
colonel, that is to say before the bat e of

i ic.”

(‘Eionel Bugeaud looked at him with more in-
terest and observed: . .

“ Then you are a veteran of the Empire?”

“1 am, my colonel. I entered the service in
1812, and passed through the Russian campaign.
I was then twen -flve. Now I am getting near
fifty: but as as ever.” I

“ ell, tell me, then, why you want to go on,
such a desperate semce, ”

“Simply my colonel, because I have been
thinking of, late that I can resolve a great mys-
tery h following my friend the camp of
Abd-el- der.” ” -

“ A mystery? Explain. _ _

“ I cannot, my colonel. ’Tis but an idea I
have, and if it be wrongi you will say I was a
fool to entertain it. All ask is leave of absence
for sing’months. I havenot had a leave for ten

Father Bugeaud hesitated. _ I

“The leave is easy to grant, Since we are in
winter-quarters, but Icannot grant it if I know
youare ‘ totrypenetratingtothecampof
Abd-el- der.” . .

“ You need know nothing about it, my
colonel. All I ask is the leave, and permission

horse and arms.’ '

“ That, too, co be ‘done, .but only if the
quartermaster and your captain were relieved
of res usibili ." .

“ I ve se ed that already, my colonel. If

 

. you sign the leave, I have paid into the military

; drumming on the table wi

 

cheat the agnount neceuary to cover the coat of

méooutflt. . v
lonel Bu ud was more astonishedthan
ever and exc imed:

“ Is that the case? Then how comes it that a
man who is able to deposit three thousand
francs in the treasury is a simple corporal in
the African chasseurs?”

Neil Knapp smiled. _

“A fi'ien paid it for me, my colonel."

“ \Vhat is lfi's name?"

' oor, my colonel, named Abd-el-

Where did you meet him ‘5”

“In a lod e of the Brothers of the Black
Cloud, m co onel.” r .

Colqne Bugeaud started and stared at the
Dane in amazement. He had heard that there
was a secret order amon the Arabs entitled
the Brothers of the Blac Cloud, which was
said to be allied to Free Masonry but into which
no Frenchman had ever been admitted, though
iXiHiy had sought to enter in the lodge at

giers. - .

:IWhen did you join them!” he asked pres-
en .-

“ Twenty years ago, my colonel.”

“ Then you have been in Algiers before?"
dies’im 00101131; 1 ' ith

oone ugeau gan. a ing w a pen
ay thou htful and
absentminded manner, while the
patiently watcbin him.

At last he said a ruptly: ..

“ If ,I‘ let you go it ieunderstood that you use
any information you may get for the service of

. France, corporal

“That is im
“ And why _
“ Because if I go it will be under the protec-
tion of the Brothers and we know no distinction
of politics or religion. You are aware of that
in other orders, my colonel.” ' v
As he spoke he looked his chief in the face and
made a peculiar sign at which the colonel ex-
claimed:
“ Ahal are on there?”
Colonel an corporal clasped bands, and Bu-
geaud said in a low tone:
“ Since you are a Brother, I am compelled to
rant your request, thou h, as a soldier, I know
it is gtoolish one. I wi I sign the furlough at
once.
He pulled out a furlough blank and filled it
out With his own hand, when Neil Ki'app took it,

an ‘ g gravel :

x123 a solrger I thank my colonel, and as a
soldier I will do my- duty to France; but as a
Brother I will see that no harm comes to my
French brethren through my mission.”

Then he retired from the tent and went to the
sutler’s marquee, round which was gathered

ble, my colonel.”

, quite a little colony of Moorish tents occupied
1 by wandering Bedrllers who came under the pro-

tection of the each flag to trade with the sol-

diers.

In one of these tents sat a short, gray-bearded
man, with broad shoulders and a coarse face a.
thick nose and large
usual refined Arab features. This man was
richly dressed in Moorish fashion, and was sell-
ing ipes and tobacco to the soldiers, apparently
d g a thriving trade to good advan e; for
his stock was nearly sold on? and he kep drop-

r

 the francs and half ancs into a huge
eat or at his girdle.
Neil pp walked into this man’s tent and
saluted him in Arabic. I
“It is done. I am ready to depart with you
whenever you think best.’

The Moor kept on sellin as he answered:

“I shall beready when h’ "e sold these few
pipes. You have a horse?”

“ Yes, my own, that I ca tured from an Arab.
Have you a speedy animal ” -

“I have one that it will sale you to pass on
the road. Go and get y. I will meet you
“stifle this with” ith hi  talki

ewen quie yonw s , .nga
little broken French at-rare interv to his cus-
tomers; but enerally using the of
signs, till the t pipe was one, when. a c need
his purse, summoned two b slaves by clog»
Kin his hands, and left them to take down i; e
't etentandégaok iton acamel;

As for him lf, he mounted a handsomely-
caparisoned horse that had been standing pa-
tieiitl?r by the tent all this time and rode awa
out o the camp, displaying a pass at the guar -
house before he do .

Out over the plain of Bou Farik he rode, de-
scrying, far, in advance, a solitary are on
horseback riding toward the mountains in a di-
rection away from Algiers.

The Moor put his horse to a cantor, and after
a half-hour’s ride came close enou h to this
figure to perceive that it was a Franc chasseur

in full uniform, covered by a white cloak to.

keep ofl the dust. .

As he came up behind the soldier turned and
called out in Danish .'

“ Holloa, old Hansen, what made you boast
of your horse? It’s taken on a long time to
overhaul me, and I was no trying to ride fas .”

ThexMoor laughed and replied in the same
language: , x

\
\

one stood .

mouth, very unlike the

“ You were always good at running, Krap
aethe cefound when the hon for yogi
after t e duel with the R ii. Let us walk
our horses.”

The ease with which he spoke showed that he
was using his native tongue, and Krupp ob-
served:

“Who wohld ever have thought that little
Hans Hansen. that used to get more flog ‘ gs
than any boy in father Holsen’s school, 1 on
account of his geograih y would some day be a
Moorish merchant, w o knows every port in
the Mediterranean, and talks Arabic so well that
half the ople forget he was ever a slave?”

Hans nsen allowed a slight grin tocrom his
rug ed Norse features as he said:

t was no fault of mine I- came here any
more than dozens of others. There are ty
of renegades all round the country, an they
are the best men the Arabs have got. If‘you
have a taste that way, I can put you where you
will be a rich man in ten years.”

Neil Krap shook his head. I

“ Not in t is country. Hana; It will not be
ten years before these
themselves. If I wanted to enter a cervical
would 0 to India. There is a, good chance for
a man t are, I have heard.” :

“ There is enough here,
tent with enough to end his

ifamanbeoon‘
ysinpeaceinhis

anothe%ear.”
Neil app sighed. .
“Ay, ay, you were always good at the t—
tin of money.
an l’ve had enough of it to not me till 1‘ ie.
In the mean time, Hansen, tell me what you
know about these boys.” , .
“ What ho a? I never said boys. I said one
boy that’s a "
"Well. onebo ‘ then. How long is it since
you saw him an where?”
“ It was in Italy, in the mountains near
Naples in 1809." - .
‘ The very year,” said Krapp eagerly. “ How
came you there and what how on?"
‘ Hansen cogitated a while an answered:
“Don’t hurry me.
memory and I’ve nearly forgotten 'all that took
lace before I we a slave. I was with a
7rench duke, a great traveler. He had taken
me at Copenhagen for his body servant, because
I had a trick of shaving that he used to say “'88
the lightest hand he had ever sat under. You
know I was bred a barber. Well.
mountains we met the troop of brigands headed
by Cornaro and Cartouche and my
I were ca thred. It was while they had he as
the moun in: that I saw this bah
the brigands so he was the son 0 the Danish
embaAsxssdor at D_ s. That is all." ‘ . ‘
. , you. you escape or were our-an-
somed from the robbers i"  .
“Neither. The band was broken u by the
Fienph troops; in master killed by rob-
bers in 91:23,. and t rest of us, myself among
the num , fledto the sevshorefitole a boat
andwitttosea,babyandall.” ,
“ y did on not run awealyi" :
“ You won dn‘t have ask that question if
you had been in my place. ~ I had to stay with
, ham or get shot atby both sides.” ‘ ,
“Well, what happened in the boat?” ,
“We were pic ed up, almost in sight of

“ Yes, and then?” .
Krap waited eagerly for the answer.
“ then? That’s all. Here I’ve been ever

since, till I turned Hans into Abd-el-
Rachman the i seller."
“ But the ob What became of it?”

“It was sold in open market teen Arab
chief, whose son I knew then asbeing the some
person now called Abd-el-Kader."

Krupp drew a deep breath. - . - V

“Then .it may be the same. Stranga‘that
two men who had never seen each other . should
be such images, one of each other. .~-If it be in-
deed the boy I mean I shall know him-h ,a
private mark that was on the baby. But ll
me, Hansen, are you suretha
one child there? Did noneof the robbers
about there having been twins!”

“Not that I remember. Stay, it ma be

onl saw on a stout boy with blue 9 es."
/ Igra p sighed. y

are onl ihle how much 0 it would brin -
g the dime of Limiiioim.ll ,y g

Hansen laughed rather sneerin  .
- “Perhaps. On the other hand t might not
do any such th' ." .

“And why not ’

partic e of know!
time the cagtléahofh . thob}? hastybeen in (st
possessiono e airs or wen ears. a

pose you find’ your master’s .twin gliildren how
can on rove who they are. and what welcome,
thin y u will the receive from the people
they would despoil their inheritance!" .

I
o

 

That’s true enough,” said Kra p gloomil
“I never thought of that. Who? badpeople
there are in this world, Hansen.” _ .

.\

"French will have it all to.‘ I

‘own country. I shall be ready to go home in y

I Was always fond of a lit '

It’s all a matter of,

intbose.
masterand-
andhear‘

N b .A d and
has» “n “WW” ““V 

ttherewas my“

ID .
but if it were, the other one must have ied. I -

n a a too much to hope do find both; but if a y

“M r Kra , ou soldiei‘s havs not a ‘
poo Eggyof the world. By this '.

‘. x. ""e‘

...p

 

 

 

 

' » not'that‘l heard him."

 

 

18.

“Plenty of them. The only way to make
in: all good is to have plenty of money. And
new I have told you al this, tell me how it
comes that you obtained entrance into the
Black Cloud twenty years ago, when I who
have liyed here twenty-two years was'only ad—
mitted two seasons ago.”

“Simple enough, my friend. I was a rover
with the Algerines myself, once on a time. You
l'now we Danes take naturally to being pirates

,hke our ancestors.”

“ And when were ygu with them, Neil 2'”

“When I was a y of sixteen and I staid
with them till I was twenty—one, when I got
into one fight too many.”

“ How was that?”

" Our vessel sighted a Danish brig and took
her forf- a mefclm.  out to be a
brig-o -war n ' an as

“ Indeed?"

" Yes, and on board, going to Naples was no
less a person than Count Lindholm, my master.
' lie was a passen r and he saved my life when
all the rest were ung at the ard-arm. That is
why 1 would have given my its at any time to
rervve him. He was my master from that day
forth and a good one too.” ‘

" But he'was killed."

" Yes, by my side. And when I found I was
not to die I took a solemn oath never to rest
till I had found my master’s children ami re-
stored them totheir inheritance."

" It seems to me, Neil Krapp," observed the
WNW presently, “ that you have heard of

ristians taming Pagans from necessity like
myself; but yOu say you joined the Algerine
pirates from choice.’

" It is true, my friend. I can only say in ex-
cuse that I was a boy then and led away by the
romance of the life. After I found out what
they were I never shed a man’s blood in anger;
but have saved man from death. And all the
memory I have of oseda s is that Ihavea
shin to wipe out ifit can eifaced with my
own blood.

As he spoke they neared the mountains.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
ran Imam-mm Dunn

h Emir Abd—el-Kader was seated in' his
vatetézheambfirdon a divan, while Ref:er him,
one tneo ee respect,stood is oted

son, Yusuf ben  p

“ Continue, my son,” said the Emir in a grave
tone. “ You so that you have a suspicion of
the fidelity of 'cha, whom I have promised
, you for a wife.”

“I have more than a. suspicion, my father.- I
heard her, last night talkin to this Giaour, for
whose life my word is p ."

“ Then let the Giaour to his fault by the
sword. He has profaned erltes of hospitality
and deserves death.”

“Not so, my father."

:1 tdo ogitmimlwi f h nod f

meanta snecessary orteg 0
Islam that he should live to teach our soldiers
how to fight in the way of these strangers. If
the necessary, who is Yusuf, your property,

slave that he should stand in the way?

this Frank take Aicha to wife. Yusuf ben

, ditakesnowomantohisbosomifshelove

any other man. It ivaell to be wise in time."

Ky son is wise beyond his years; It is not

thenture of youth to be socold. lsittbat

you care not for Aloha?”

. Yumf closed his lips firmly and changed’color
as be answered: ‘

"Io. But when Ynsuf weds, there must be
none to say of hiswife, “She metandtalked
with a Frank at night!”

Abdel-Kader seemed to be disturbed as he
looked at the young man.

I “Wei-e there any who heard her speak tothis
. man besides yourself?"

Yusuf’s eyes gleamed.

" None or he would not be alive. He knows

" Where were they?” . .

" outside the harem wall, above the Rock of
the Lion, in father.”

I TheEmir ooked surprised: ‘

Filters! Why, there is not a man in our

camp dare go there at night. Was this Frank

" No, in father.”

" Then, y Allah, he must he a brave man, or
a fool under heaven’s protection.” -

"'E’e is a brave man, my father.”

I The admission came from the young Arab in
a reluctant tone, as if wrong from him; but he
added with more generosi :

“He is the bravest man ever saw. He has
offeredto go alone tonight to kill the lion if we
do not sto him.”

“Let ’ to go,” said Abd-el-Kader quickly.
"' If he slay the lion, it is well. If the lion slay
him, it is well too. My son will not be troubled
byhim any more, and Aicha will turn to him
when the other is dead.”

The young Arab curled his lip slightly.

“Yusuf takes no woman that has 1015 a lover.
He must be first or nothing.”

The Emir looked thoughtfully at him and
seemed.“ be pondering something.

_  from us." '

 

At last he said:

“Iwill send for Aloha. I have known her
since she was a child, and have found her to be
truthful above all women. Besides she must be
as brave as Rustam if she could talk calmly toa
lover above the Lion’s Rock at ni ht. Such a
woman would not lie to save horse] from death.
Tell me, my son, was the lion out last night?”

“ Did not my father hear him roar?"

“True. I did. But it seemed afar off.”

“ He came u the path and took a goat that
had been tied t ere. I found the mark of the
stake this morning and the print of a woman’s
foot near the stake. "

“ A woman’s foot?”

“Yes, my father and it was Aloha herself
that tied it there. Itis plain that this man is
her lover, and has come here to aid her in es-

el-Kader frowned, and a cold, cruel look
came across his face.

“ You may be right," he said. “I thought I
knew his countenance. Now I remember, it is
the same dog that leaped on the stage and laid
his hand on Aicha herself, two years ago. He
mustdie.”

Yusuf raised his dowucast eyes.

“ He shall die, and she too; ut it must be by
my hand, when they think they are the most
happy; and none must know w y they die, for
it is not fitting that the name of my father
should be shamed, when men say he could not
protect his harem from the intrusion of a Giar
our. ,

“My son is right. Therefore let me send for
Aiohm’and find from her if she love this Frank
or not.

“ M father speaks like the chief of his tribe.
Andi she love the Frank, let my father give
his consent to the marria The Infidel will
then enter in father’s servxce.”

, “ And wha then?" asked the Emir.

“ And then,” continued Yusuf, his eyes spark-
lin , “ the when the weddiu feast is spread
an the foe thinks all is safe, on let him take
care of himself, for then will be the hour of my
ve canoe." .

e Emir smiled coldly, with a certain pride
in the young man, as he replied:

“ Be it as ou will. In the mean time let us

send for A Do you retire into my closet,
and hear what sea.”
Yusuf bo and retired into a little room

behind the divan, when the Emir clapped his
hands and said to the slave who appeared:

“Tell the kistar a' to bring to me Aicha,
that I may speak wit her."

hTh4;1 black retgf‘aid, and sooni afferdtihe chieth
te arem sapeare eaug ca,
otherwise Eggs, closelxy veiled.

“ Let the slaves retire," said Abd-el—Kader.
“ Let Aicha. remain.”

The rl stood silently before him, with her
hands olded on her bosom in the attitude of re-
spect she had been taught. '

“ Remove your vail,” said the Emir. “I
would see your face, to find if it be yet the face
of the Moslem maiden I set free and promised
to my son Yusuf for a wife.”

The rl nnvailed and stood before him, with
a ace and an o ression of defiant humili-
ty that irritated the ab. '

“You werd‘talking to a man last night,” he
said. harshly. “ What have you to any?"

“Nothing,” she answered, briefly.

“ Is it true?” ,

“ It is true." .

“Whowas the maul".

“ My brother.”

The Emir started and the expremiou of his

film chan to one more kind.

i‘Your therl" he echoed. “Are you wil-
ling to have him brought here that we may see
if you tell the truth?” '

‘ I am willing “ she answered. “ As for the
spy that listened behind the well, let him come
again to my lord with his tales. Aicha fears
not the truth. I met the man, whom I have
not seen for ten years. He is my brother and
came hither to seek me.”

The Emir looked at her searchinglg;

“How know on that ax man ' toned be-
hind the wall, chai”-he ed.

“ Became I heard him when his sword struck
against the stones and I knew that there was
only one man in the Emir’s‘ palace would dare
to come so near the lion.” ‘

" And who was that, Aichal”

“ Yusuf ben Saudi, who draws his courage
from a source be little suspects.”

Abd-el-Kader looked unled.

“ What do you mean he asked.

The captive irl drew herself up, and her
eyes gleamed wi h pride. '

“ I mean that he is of our blood; not yours.
No Arab would dare whatvhe dared lastln ht,

and that makes itall the more shame for int»

to betray his own blood, as he has done‘when
he came to you with his tales.”

For the first time in the interview the Arab
chief ap ed to be disturbed; for he rebuked
her hers ly, saying:

“You are a daughter of the Evil One and
know not what you say. Be silent. I will see
to this matter in self. You shy this Frank is
your brother. ‘ I it prove so, I pardon you; but

I I

 

Corporal- .Ca-nnon, ' the "Man. of ,Eorty Duels;

if he prove to be your lover, woe betide you.
Retirel"

He summoned the harem guardian and Aichn
retired haughtily.

When she was gone, Yusuf hen Saadi came
forth from his concealment, looking pale and
angr , and the Emir asked:

“ id you hear her my soul"

“ Ay, my father, I, heard her. She seeks to
dishonor me by casting a stain on my blood;
but it shall not avail her. All the tribe knows
that I am the son of Saudi, who died in battle
with the infldcls, and that I spit on all Chris—
tians. I was a fool to think of marrying Aicha.
She is a Christian still at heart.”

He seemed to be incensed at the bare idea
that he was accused of being other than an
Arab by blood, and Abdel-Radar smiled as one
well pleased.

In truth, the Emir loved his adopted son with
a devotion that was made more fervent by the
fact that he had carefully concealed from him
the circumstances of his entrance into the tribe
by adoption, and none of the Arabs had dared
to speak of the subject, so that it might come to
the young chief‘s ears; though it was a matter
of common report throughout the tribes.

In those days, owing to the previous habits of
the Alger-ines as corsairs, the countr was full
of’renegades and adopted children of hris
who were noticeable as being the fiercest a
most fanatical in their devotion to Islam, and
Yusuf was no exception to the rule.

Abd-el-Kader was therefore well masod at
the way in which his adopted son taken
Aicha’s revelation, and continued:

“Let us send now for the Frank. We will
ask him if this woman be his sister, and Allah
will‘dirgct us aright in our course, after he has;

en.

Yusuf nodded sullenly.

“ Let him come. Shall I retire again 9"

“ Do so, in son.”

Then the ief summoned another slave, and
ordered that the Frank who had come there the
day before should be admitted to an audience
with the interpreter Abou Goum, adding:

“Let there be two more inte raters of the
converts present, that we may to if this Abou
Goum translates our words correct] ."

A little while afterward, Corpo Canon, in
his chasseur dress, and wearing, as a special
favor, his sword, was introduced tothe ace
of the Emir, whom he found attended y three

rim-looking Arabs, in whom no one would.

ave recognized the renegade Frenchmen they
really were.

Onl Abou Goum knew them, and he felt dew
cided y uneasy as be marked this evidence of
mistrust on the part of the Emir toward him as
an interpreter.

As for Jean Cannon, be advanced boldly be-
fore the Arab potentate, and saluted in the
military style, when Abd-el-Kader said in a
harsh tone: ‘ . ‘

“ Tell the Infidel it is the custom of our coun-
try that men how before me and do obeisance
as to the emissary of God.”

“And it isthe custom of my country” said
Jean Cannon, when is speech was given to
him by Abou Goum “that our soldiers stand
upright before the kin himself, and salute as I
have done. Is Abd-e -Kader a greater man
than our king, who has threehundred thousand
soldiers under his ordersil I bow to no man,
and only kneel in church.”

Abdoel-Kader frowned.

“ Let the executioner be summoned,” he said
harshly. “Tell this son of a burnt father that.
he must do obeisance to me. or lose his head."

“Ican lose my head easily,” answered the
chasseur boldly; “ but if you will let your exc-
cutioner alone with me for five minutes, you
will see whose head will come 0!.” .

The chief ground his teeth furiously and
made a sign, when in a moment stall negro
strode into the room. carryingin his arms a long
cimeter in a gorgeous sheath, and exclaimin :

“Seyd, the son of Selim, is ready; Let t

cious Emir five his orders, and shall see

he heads fall 11 e ripe'a’pples.” .

“There is your man, said Abd-eLKader in
his starnest tone, pomtin to Jean Cannon. ‘ 5‘ He
as. s that you cannot ki him alone.”

he executioner laughed and looked at the
chasseur with scorn.

“I should not want such an on‘e held,” he
observed contemptuously. “I will throw him
down alone.” . .

The Emir smiled.

His 'aded tastes, used to the excitements of
unbri ed power, craved a fresh sensation. He
had seen heads fall by the dozen at the hands of
this same executioner, but the victims had al-
wa s been'held fast.

0 see a man beheaded in spite of all the re-
sistance he could offer, was a new idea. ‘ n-
time, Jean Cannon, not knowing what was
going on, yet recode the figure of the exe-
cutioner, and tea ‘ d that he was in grave
danger: ~

The negro was a giant in stature and seemed
flipable of crushing any common man With one

ad.
The Arabs in the room drew awe to the sides
of the walls, and Abd-el-Kader ‘ I | . 9 , l ‘

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Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty 

.19

 

 

 

“Tell the Frank in take care of himself if he
can. lfy executioner will out ofl his head or
make him do obeisance.”

Abou Goum translated the sentence, and in a
moment Jean Cannon fleshed out his sword and
cried defiantly:

-“ Let me see him'do it.”

“ What does he say i” cried Seyd fiercely.

“ He says, kill him if you can,” answered
Abou Goum with a laugh. _

The huge negro echoed the la b, and drew
his long saber, throwing the sea hard to the
floor With a clash.

Then he made profound obeisance to the Emir
and ohssrved vauntin 1y:

“ The noble Abd-el- or shall see this infidel
behede by his slave, before he can make a

cry.

He strode toward the chusseur extending his
huge left hand to grasp him, when, quick as a
flash, Jean made a cut at the hand and, had it
not been withdrawn with eq quickness,
would have taken it off.

Seyd uttered a snarl like a . ‘ld beast, and
made a feint at Jean‘s head, which the chasseur
met with his sword, and in another moment
had retaliated with a slash in the face that laid
the negro‘s nose in half and caused him to roar
with pain and fury.

He started bac , the blood streaming from
his face, and then made a bound at Jean, who
slipped to one side and evaded the clumsy rush,
the» closed in behind Seyd’s back, an threw
him flat on his face with a skillful trip, against
which the negro, with all his strength, was
h

another moment the long sword of the
l-‘i-enchman was pressing against Sgd’s back,
as he lay, half stunned, and Corpo Cannon
cried out: .

“ ickl shall I kill him?"

“ was looking at Abd-eviader as he s ke
knowing that the Emir understood a title
French, and the Arab hastily exclaimed:

“ No, no.” .

The chasseur leaped back and stood ready to
renew the assault, as Boyd began to struggle
upi but Abd-el-Kader cried out: '

‘ Let the son of Selim 0 back. He is not fit
to be an executioner. e Frank shall live.”

The negro was too much used to passive
obedience to hesitate when he received this
order, and he slole retired trying to stanch
the blood from his face, while Jean Cannon
coolly wiped his sword and observed:

“ Tell the Emir that was only play. Had
the man been tau ht well, he would makes bad
one to handle. ut he knows nothing. It was
like butcheri‘ngan ox.

The Arab ief smiled coldly when he heard
this remark, and answered: ‘

“I see that the Frank is a king among the
fighters. I will excuse his obeisance for the
way in which houses a sword. Ask iiim if he
be willing to enter my servsce, as he said he
would, if I gave him a wife?"

“ Tell the Emir,” answered Corporal Cannon
“ that I have seen all his Christian slaves, an
do not like any of them. I came here after my
sister I! he will give her to me, I am ready to
enter his service.”

_ CHAPTER XVIII.
0N m wares.

Ann-inrme looked fixedly at the bold
Frenchman and demanded:

“ Who is your sister, that you say she is here,
and how know on sheis here?" '

“My faith, mple enough. As for who she
is, I do not know what your Arabs call her, but
she is Fiflne Cannon stolen from us at ten years
old, and the same whom I saw and recognized
on the stage at Toulon, two years since, as the
Emir knows.” '

The chief smiled sli htly. He saw that the

W said nothing a at the meetin of the
previous night, and he did not wish t to be
spoken of before the interpreters.

“Well,” he said, more graciously, “if you

will enter our wiggle? figufe‘ach our men :1:
we peo e , ve on your
sarin indeed go be your sister.” y ‘

He wished to entrap the chasseur into an ad-
mimion of what be suspected to be a deception;
but Jean was too wary for him.

“ There is no doubt about it,” he answered.
" We were brought up together in the same
house, and I never knew the difference. Then
I suppose I can see her, now, whenever I please,
can ”

“ Have you seen her already?” asked the chief,
keenly, to entrap him.

“ Of course I have. You should remember it.
I know I do, for it cost me my first arrest," re-

the corporal, readily. ’

Abd-el—Kader smiled again. He was begin-
ni to like this bold fellow for his ready wit.

“' e it so” he said. “You shall enter my
service, with apartments in my palace; and
you can see our sister in the presence of the
chief of the stem guards, but only vailed.

- You must know she has embraced our faith

and is to be married to my son, the Emir Yusui
hen Saudi,”
He watched the Frenchman keenly as Abou
Doug translated this speech, expecting to see
, .

l

 

some signs of jealousy- but Jean had puttoo
close a guard on himself for that. '

“ If my sister must marry out of her own
people,” 6 said, indifl’erently, “ I would rather
she would wed in. chief than a common man.
When do I commence my duties, and who is my
first upil at the sword?”

“ ou shall be u to-morrow, and I will send
you six chiefs. hen you have taught them.
they shall teach their people. How long will it
take to teach them?"

The Frenchman appeared to be thinking, and
at‘l‘s‘s; (ifflWlG?) out: h h It

e , per aps a. ear;per aps tree.
depends on how ui they are. And in the
mean time, remem r that a man who knows a.
little only about the sword is no more use than
a shoe .” ,

Ab: -el-Kader looked incredulous.

“What is this you say? I thought that you
could teach them all in a few weeks.”

Jean Cannon laughed.

“That is what a good many think till they
find out that there are more ways than one to
handle a sword. But I am read to begin when-
ever your highness wishes. In he mean time I
have a favor to ask." ‘ ‘

“ What is that?”

“Permission to take my gun and go out to-
night to kill that lion that disturbs my rest.”

The Arnb’s e es glistened.

“And why 0 you want to risk yourlifei"

“ Simply cause he makes so much noise at
night that I cannot sleep.”

Do you not know,’ asked the Emir, “ that
the lion is the best guardian I can have for my
house? None venture near the wall above the
Lion’s Rock while the Sultan watches.”

“ There is one man who will venture there if
you will give him leave.”

“ Say two, my father." '

It was the voice of Yusuf that spoke, and the
'Oung Arab can e out of the room behind the
ivan and advanced to the Emir’s feet.

“ I will 0 with this Frank,” he said, “and

shew him t at he is no braver than we are"

Abd-el-Knder bowed his head gravely.

“ Be it as you wish " he said. ,

Jean Cannon stare 'at the oung Arab as he
came in, and wondered wba he was sayiizlg;
but Abou Goum did not offer to translate e
dialo 8 between the Emir and his son.

“ he go there,” ed Yusuf, in a low
tone, audible only to he Emir, “ I will see to it
that he attends only to the lion. This son of a
burnt father shall not laugh at our boards for
nothing.”

Then to Abou Goum he said: ,

“ Tell the Frank the Emir consents. He can
gosfter the lion to-night; but if he go, I go

“ With all my heart,” answered the chasseur,
gayly. “ On] I warn Monsieur Yusuf that the
lion will not nd trifling. ”

“Neither will I," retorted the Arab, mean-
ingl . “ Let us see who will go nearest the Sul-
tan n ht the Frank or I.’

After at the Emir broke up the audience by
a mute signal, and Jean Cannon returned to his
rooms alone. saying to himselfr

“This is all very‘nice, but I fancy that my
friend Yusuf has a shrewd idea of what is m
ob'ect in huntin the lion. Let us see who w'
ge thebestof t ' ”

True to the Emir’s promise, they brought the
chasseur his weapons that morning, and he
spent the best art of the day in !putting them
into order for. he undertakings: ore him. He
had but his ordinary smooth- re musket, for
that was before the days of minis rifles, but it
carried a. large bullet, and he took care to have
two cartridges of powder to each ball. ’

“ If the Sultan’s head is hard enou h toflatten
a bullet,” he said to himself, “ it w ll at least
stun him and Icon send another through his
heart. But to do the I must let him come
close. It would never 0 to miss.”

When he had attended to his wea one he
sauntered out into the palace gar on and
strolled around the little settlement of the
Emir’s followers in the neighborhood.

He noticed that wherever he went, he was
followed by hundreds of curious eyes, and that
the lances bestowed on him were rather re-
specgful than otherwise. The Arabs had heard
of his offer, and looked on him as a. man doomed
to destruction, but worthy to be honored for
his bravery. ‘

He went out into the outskirts of the little
settlement, where the ground descended toward
the desert, and admired the desolate immensity
of the pros ect. .

He won] have liked to visit one of the Arab
camps below; but as soon as he tried to de-
scend, he was‘stopped by a sentry, who pointed
"s gun at him With a gesture of warning that

as comprehensible enough.

“ So it seems I am under surveillance not to
leave the garden,” he thought. “ Well, it is no
more than I have a ri ht to ct. ”

“ Let us see how t lugs look at the Lion’s

They will not stop me there.” ,

Indeed he was not molested when he walked
in that direction, and soon found himself under
the harem wall, above the steep path that led
downto the Lion’s Rock.

IA: the even before, the goats were 1'

' pew-full on e herbage owin alo the
ace of thye bank- and, far beslrow, lazy thenbgrown

desert, dotted with black tents.

Jean Cannon took off his saber, which he
tucked under his arm for convenience in climb»-
ing, and descended the face of the bank on a

tour of discovery. .

i He marked the lace where the lion had been
the night before, y the remnaninof bones and-

the horns of the poor goat; but all the rest of"

the carcass had vanished.

“ The Sultan is a clean eater, and leaves no
dirty dishes behind him,” said Jenn to himself.
“ I wonder where his majesty lives in the day-
time. He to roar last night at the very
fol); 0! “he   . i t f

own e , egoatsjumpng ou 0
his wa and staring at him with much curiosity,
till he eard a sh
lookin around, saw hat one of the goats had
been ed to a stake by some one, and was strugvv
glin to free itself. ‘

“ that is how they keep his me from
comin to the of the hill at nig t," he
thong t to himse “ Now, if I loose this
creature without any one seeing me, it wil up—
set some of their calculations.” ’

Whether the act might bring himself into ad~
ditional danger he did not care: for Jean
non, since his interview with Fiflne, was in that.
desperate state that be welcomed any sort of
clan r that promised to end his suspense.

e cut the'cond that confined the goat to the
stake, and the poor creature scampered oi! to
its comrades, and stood bloatingniatsjoymhilo the.
gl‘ililisseur tranquilly continued escent of the

He thought it rather stran that no one had
come after him in broad day ight; but bad no
notion of danger till he had come near the-
Lion’s Rock, above the l. ‘ ;

Then he became sensi le of a strong odor like
mus that he recognized as that of ‘a wild
beast s'den,and paused to look round him before
he went any further. ‘

“ it seems that his majesty must be not Very
far off," he thought, “unless that be only the
smell of hyaenas. ’ ~

hill but couldsee no hiding- lane for a boss
while below him the Lion’s gtock stood,
and smooth, with no opportunity for any living
creature to be concealed there. ,

Suddenly his eye can ht sight of something
moving under one of e date palms bythe

cow’s tail brushing o the flies.

“ It is a tail!” he said to himself. “ But where
is the beast it belongs to? I see nothin .”

He watched attentively but non]: see no
symptoms of any living creature.

The date palms grew out of the brown stems
of the dry grass amid the browner sand, but he
could detect nothin else. ‘-

Preseutly came same ra id flap, and this
time hessw that it was ind a long tail with

the trunk of the palm.

tail flapped, this time vs impatient] ; and a.
moment later, with a surgrl and sue ’the libn
cameinto view, biting vainl at an dent
insect, and then rolling over sleep age . .

To say that this sight did not afiect the
nerves of the chasseur would be untrue. He
gave ailment start, and the sweat stood on his

“So that is why they did not follow me." be
muttered. “ The beast has taken up his abode
here, and is lord of the land around him."

Fascinated by the sight of the kin of the
assert, he stood there watching him fix- some

nie.

Thelion, on its part seemed to be takl‘n life
very small , like an a dennan after dinnegr, ly-
ing stretc ed out on its side, and only showing
life by an occasional flap of its tail when the
flies annoyed it. ‘

It was not five hundred feet away, and the
Frenchman could see it distin . . .

“ Oh if I on] had my gun here,” hethought.
“I could taket at fellow as he lies, and do the
business at once. I wonder if I can get time to
fetch it before he wakes.” ‘

hill among the goats.

Every now and then he would turn and look
back at the lion; but the brute never stirred
from its sleep. , _

Jean did not know that the secret of this
quiescence lay in the fact that the lion, from
long impunity and the nightly bribe of a t,
had come to regard the Arabs on the hill sizzle
as friends and purveyors, and never troubled

itself about them.

It saw the chassenr plainly enough from
under its half-closed lids; but did not offer to
follow him, and Jean arrived at the top of the
hill Without further adventure.

Then he turned and looked down, while a
spirit of mischief seized him. . _

A large bowlder stood out at the edge of the

bank, only slightly attached to the soil; and ’he

 

bloat behind him, and ‘

a tuft'at the end, while the animal to which it a
belonged was undoubtedly lying hidden behind

y he turned and began to climb up the ‘

~

He peered all round across the face of the .

pool.
Iii-resembled nothin so much as the lash of a: ‘

He watched closer than ever, and again the ‘

I

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

‘ tires at the edge of the preci we.

20

 

loosened this and sent it roll down the bank
among the goats noting that ts course Would
take it close to the slumbering lion.

Sure enough, it rolled directly toward the

reat beast, bounded of! the Lion’s Rock with a
, oud crack, and struck the king of the desert in
the middle of the back. V

The lion started up like a flash, with a sharp
roar of pain and alarm, and made a furious
pass with its paw at the rolling rock, like a kit-
ten playing with a ball of yarn, but never
looked up, and Jean Cannon stole away laugh-

in .

In the garden the first person he came on was
Yusuf ben Saadi, to whom he said laughingly:

“ Now is your time to show if yOu are a man.
I am going after the lion. ”

The Arab did not understand him; but he
followed him nevertheless to the palace, and
when he saw Jean Cannon getting his arms he
gave a short exolamation:

“ ’J'ahib 1” [Good]

He strode alwa to his own part of the palace;
and when the nch chasseur came out, soon
after, with his gunand a pair of long istols, he
found Yusuf ben Saadi waitin for im, with

,..an Arab musket at least six eet long, and a

pair of long Turkish pistols in his sash.

‘ “ What, are ou coming too?” asked Jean.

Yusuf nodd , as if he understood the tone if
not the words; and the two proceeded on their
wav to the edge of the precipice.

When they got there, they saw the lion walk-
ing uneasily up and down by the date palms,

while the sun was sinking slowly toward the
horizon of, the desert. .

The Frenchman pointed downward and said
to Yusuf:

"Dare on come down?" ‘

Again usuf understood the esture and he
bowed his head gravely and a vanced to the
ed 0 of the precipice. '

t did not escape the chasseur’s notice that he
was very pale; but he showed no other si n of
fear, 'and there was a defiant, haughty smi e on
his lip, as he glanced at his rival.

' Jean stopped him as he was about to descend
toward the lion, and said:

“ No need of that. Let him come up to us.”

Yusuf looked ' inquirineg at him, and the
chasseur sent another stone rolling down the
stee bank.

' time the great beast heard and saw the
Jnissile coming, and he gave an angry roar and '
started forward to meet it, as if it ad been a
live enemy. '

On rolled the rock, a mass of some two hun-

ds’ weight, and; such was its velocity
and t e rash anger of the lion, that it knocked
the great beast over amid a cloud of dust, and
the saw him claw and bite at the stone with
all is energy. _ ,

The rave face of Yusuf relaxed into a faint
.smile; ut Jean Cannon laughed ve heartin
as ‘ he watched the angry lion fight t e insensx-
ble rock. ,

‘ “ It is an easy thigtg to lay tricks on his
majesty," he observ . “if we must fi ht
him, I would rather do it from the top of t is
hill than down at the bottom."

As he spoke he sent a third rock rolling down,
and this time the lion hack, earned. enough pru-
dence to get out of the wa , though he fo lowed
and struc vicious] at the stone.

Yusuf ben Saa i watched the proceedings
with a haughty sneer on his face, and then went
upto the Frenchman and made a motion as if
daring him to fire his gun at the animal below.

Jean Cannon shook his head.

“Thank you. Not such a fool. If he won’t
come up here for the rocks, let him stay down.”

Yusuf smiled contemptuously; then went to
the edge of the precipice, knelt down and took
a slow, deliberate aim at the lion with his long

‘ Arab musket. ’

He was about to fire, when Jean pulled up the
gu‘nhcrying: 1 , _ _
‘ oo , you ll only enrage him and bring him

up here so uickly we’ll have no time to take a,

rain}. t me try another rock to rouse
up. .
Yusuf t his gun dOWn and leaned on the

barrel as f resigned, when the chasseur rolled

, dowii still another stone.

This time the lion looked up and saw the fig-

The enrage beast utte a tremendous roar‘

’ and charged the foot of the steep ascent in a

m at.

“ are he comes, sure,enough," muttered the
chasseur. “ NOW let 'us see how high he gets
up. There are five hundred feet of steep, rock
to climb, and he'll be tired out at the rate he is
going before he gets to the top to hurt us.”

So saying, he cocked his musket and lay down

‘ at the top to wait for the lion.

———.

CHAPTER XIX.
I EL KRAPPA. ‘
AT the very moment when Yusuf ben Saadi

and Jean Cannon lay down to watch the lion
climbin toward them, Abdel-Rachman, the

v glype-se er, rode into the palace garden followed
an Arab, whose gaunt figure and grizzled

 

Carperal Gannon, the  of Forty Duels.

beard showed no trace of Krapp, the Dane, be-
neath thadisguise, and salute the people he
met with the customer :

" Peace be unto you. ’ .

The new-comer was rooted with courtesy,
for he was well known aurough the country as
the best of the traveling merchants, and was
in uired of:

‘ Have you been near the camp of the Franks?
Have the accursed ones as many soldiers as they
pretend to have?”

“ The have them as the sands of the desert,
not to numbered," answered the renegade.
“ We have come to tell our lord, Abd-el-Kader,
all. the news. Are there any Franks to be seen
here?i The told us there was one sent to see
the noble mir.” ‘

d'fihgy told him that the Frank was there and
a e :

“ He is one of those doomed by Allah to die,
for he has one out with Yusuf ben Saudi, even
now to fig t the lion, and we are all getting
our orses read to flee.” 4

“ For, when e Sultan is angry ” said another,
“ he has no respect for the Emir himself.”

Even as he spoke, they heard the first roar of
rage given by the lion at the foot of the hill'
and the Arabs ran to their horses in a genera
panic of fear.

“ The Sultan comes!” was the cry and it
seemed as if every particle of courage had left
them; such 'was the influence of the supersti-
tious veneration with which they were accus-
tomed to regard the terrible beast.

As for Abd-el-Rachman, the pipe-seller, he
turned his horse’s head, saying hurriedly to his
disguised friend: ~ ,

“ Run while you can. If the lion gets
among us once, you’ll not get ofi? alive. "

But Neil Krapp, who was made of sterner
stuff, only unslung from’his back the long mus-
ket he carried, and allowed the Arabs to gallop
away unheeded; while he himself rode deliber-
ately toward the edge of the preci ice.

Before he got there, he heard t e lion roar a
second and a third time, and i moment later
saw the figure of his friend, Jean Cannon, with
an Arab beside him lying on the grass at the
top of the steep descent, pointing his gun down
the face of the precipice.

Neil Krapp rode his horse to the brow of the
hill and looked over.

The lion was just beginnin to leap up, com-
ing as fast as if he had he wings instead of

cat.

But this did not last over a' dozen or so of
bounds, when his wei ht told on him.

The bill was at is , five hundred feet in per-
pendicular hight and the slope was so steep that
even the goats had tozigzag to and fro to as-
cend it at all.

The lion, attempting the ascent straight up in
his rage. found himse ,winded and had to stop
and hEat loudly, half-way to the top.

T was the moment selected by the chasseur
to aim a couple of balls at his head, as he sat up
on his haunc es. , ’

' “ Bang!” ‘

As the smoke cleared away, Jean Cannon
gave a shout of triumph.

The lion was rolling over and over down the
steep hill, and never stop ed till he got to the
bottom, where he stru is to his feet in ,a con-
fused sort of way, asi azed, and made no fur-
ther attempt to ascend the slope.

Krapp muttered a Danish oath.

“ The boy has a good eye and steady nerves.
Why‘was he not a Dane? He looks like one,
and yet I cannot prove it.”

Then the chasseur at up and so did Yusuf
ben Saadi, when bot became aware of the
presence of a strange Arab, who saluted the
youn chief politely, and said:

“ eace be unto you. You have drivan of!
the Sultan, and you are’ both men.”

“ Unto you peace,” answered Yusuf., “ Whom
seekest thou, brother?"

The disguised Dane made a peculiar sign and
answered: ,

“I seek my brethren who live under a dark
cloud, that their good may be done in secret.”

Yusuf answered the si n eagerly, for he had
but latel been admitte a member of this
secret or or of the Arabs, and was still very en-
thusiastic on its principles, like most neophytes.

“ The Brothers of t e Cloud are in all the
land," he answered. “Is my brother in any
need of help? If so, let him ask.”

In the mean time Jean Cannon, recognizin
his old friend, spite of his disguise, was quic
enou h to stand aside pretehding not to know
him ut wondering all the while where or how

Neil Krap had learned to talk Arabic when he-

had never eard a hint of it before.

“I need no hel ,” answered Kra , “save
what will aid me find a person 0 whomJ
have heard much one Yusuf ben Saa '.”

The young Arab looked surprised.

“ I am' Yusuf ben Sandi. ‘ What would you
with me, my brother?”

Neil looked at him steadily.

“ Will my brother let me look at his right
fem 1e?” be asked. “ That is all!”

usuf readily consented, and the stranger
put aside/the hem of the other’s head kerchief

and closely inspected a small blue streak to be ,

 

fl

seen there in the form of a conventional
thunderbolt in a picture.

“ When was the mark made on my brother’s
tem Is?” he asked. '

“ t was put there by the finger of Allah,"
was the reverent answer, “at my birth.”

The Dane nodded.

“ I see. Then you are sacred in your tribe,
for God has given you somethin which they
can only compass by the point an the ink."

Yusuf bowed his head reverently.

“It is true, brother. But whence have you
come, and by what name may I call you as we
sit down to meat together?”

The Dana smiled, well pleased.

“You are worthy to be the son of a noble-
man, for you have the courtes and hospitality
of a king on his throne. call myself El
Krappa, the horse-dealer, and I came here with
Abd-el-Rachman to see if I can find good bar-
gains in your tribe. 1‘ can also shoe horses at a
pinch, and doctor them if they be sick."

gusuf waved his hand toward the palace, and
sai :

“ It must please you to share our hospitality,
for we wou d put force on you rather than
sufler you to depart unfeasted.”

“ I will come, ’ answered Neil.

“ And who is this Frank?” he continued,
with a nod toward Jean Cannon, who stood by
in silence, understandin nothing.

“That is one of the ench o s, curses on
them. He came here as a spy, an will die ‘as
Ilia-“span” if he have not the special favor of

a .

“Indeed!” observed the Dane. “Then that
lighy he was enticed into fighting the lion, is
1 .

Yusuf colored sli htly.

“ No one enticed im. He wished to do it. ”

“ And he seems to have driven off the beast.”

“ For the time, yes. But wait till it is dark.
Then we shall see.”

El Krappa uttered a cry of surprise.

“ In the dark! You will not surely go out
lifter the lion in the dark.”

“And why not, if the Frank wishes?”

“ Because he knows not the danger, and you
are bound to warn him.”

“ Why am I bound to warn him?”

“Because you took him away from the camp
at Bou Farik, and swore to be answerable -’for
his life to Allah and the French."

Yusuf looked amazed.

“ How know you that?”

“I have just come from the camp with
Abd-el-Rachman. .We traded there, and they
told us how one of their men had gone on a.
messa e to Abd-el-Kader, under the protection
of the mir Yusuf ben Sandi.”

“And the Emir Yusuf has not ceased to give
him protection ” said the young Arab in a
sullen tone. “ stay by him in the hour of
peril; and if the lion slay him, then my danger
is ual to his.”

“ ut wh run him into danger at all.“
asked Neil app quietly.

The young Arab glanced at Jean Cannon with
an expression of bitter hatred. ,

“Because he has come between me andmy

sun and moon,” he answered. “He ran into
danger with his e es open. Let him take the
resu brother, let

t of his own 011% Come, in
us go to the alaoe. ears safe mm a visit of
Elie ,l’ion, ti it be dark. The shot stunned

im. ‘

He led the way to the palace, and Neil Krupp
followed him, while Jean Cannon, wondering
much at the mystery, took his Wa to'his own
quarter, after exchanging a meaning look with
his disguised comrade. '

As for Neil Kra p, be devoted himself with
such assiduity to t e task of ingratiating him-
self with the young Arab that he succeeded,
long before it was night, in wormin out of him
all the secret of his jealous ' and he plan he
had formed for getting ri of the chasseur,
without being responsib e for his death.

This once accomfilished, it was comparatively
easy for the keen d Dane, with his crafty and
experienced nature, to persuade the artless

oung chief that it would be a foolish thing for
im to expose his own life to the lion to aid in
the death of Jean Cannon. , -

“ Let him die alone, as he wishes to go out
alone,” he said, “and if he wishes to meet this
girl, instead of the lion, let him runall the dan-
ger with her. The lion will be so angry, he is
sure to kill them both to-ni bt.~ But you do not
want to have the girl kille , do you?’

Yusuf hesitated and confessed: .

“I do not know. Sometimes I hate her and
wish it. At other times I only see her face, and
Ion for her for my wife.”

"gYou shall have,her for our wife,” said El
Krappa, encoura ngl ; an so rest was the
influence he had as y acquire over the boy,
that Yusuf had forgotten that he had never seen
El Krappa before that da .

“You shall have her or your wife and the '

Frank shall be given as meat to the lion. I my-
self can cast a spell over him if I will.”
Yusuf was all attention in a moment.
“ A spell. Can you cast spells!"
E1 Krappa looked mysterious. , .  h a
“ Hush! not so loud. It. is W; but as‘ the:

v
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I

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

corporal Cannon, the, Manet/Forty. Duels.

721

 

art is forbidden, I only practice it for the good
of my friends." _

Yusnf .00!' -d round apprehensively, and then
n. his red, eagerly:

“ an you cast a love spell, too?”

El Krappa nodded.

Yusuf fidgeted about for some time, and at
last burst out:

“ If you will cast a s 11 on both, I will give
you my horse Sabok hat is swifter than the
wind. Make her mad after me, and let me have
the triumph of knowing I am not supplanted by
R Frank.’

This was what the Dane had been working up
through the whole conversation, and he an-
swered, in a confidential way:

“I can do it for you, oh son of Saadi, for I
knew and loved your father in old days; but I
must/d0 things my own way :”

"You shall have free pass everywhere,” the
youn man assented, eagerl . “I will see to it
myse f. What do you require?”

“ I must go alone to the quarters of the Frank

' that I mag cast the spell over him,” was the re-

ly; “ an all the s ies that are round him must
1e removed while am with him. If any eye
behold my incantation, it will be useless, and
thistrank will be given fresh power. Then I
must see the girl, too, and to do that I must be
lri t entirelly alone for all this ni ht.”

" lt shal be done,” answered usuf. “I will
see that the guards are kept in the palacs all
night. But are you not afraid of the Sultan,
who is sure to return here in hi anger?"

El Krappa smiled.

“ Leave the Sultan to me. When the day
dawns you will see his body stretched on the
grass beside that of the Frank.”

As he spoke the Dane rose up and pointed to
the western sky, now crimson 1n the sunset, ob—
servmg:

“There is no time to lose. Give your orders
it you wish to have everything Well in the
morning. You will hear all sorts of strange
sounds round the palace at ni ht. Heed them
not, save to keep closer in the ouse. Any liv—
ing thing out to-ni ht is food for the evil spirits
I shall summon to o my will.”

Yusuf, thorough] awed by superstition, crept
out of the room wi h a. humility widely differ-
ent from his usual haughty bearing, and Neil
Krupp indul ed ‘11 a hearty laugh a] to himself
over the cre ulii% of the Arab, while he quietly

roceeded to t e uarters of his comrade,
rkezn Cannon, whom e found cleaning his mus-
e . ,

The Dane made a ture for silence till he
had examined the vicinit of the room for
spies, and then he came an sat down by Jean,

:1 sai :

“ Now tell me all that has happened here,
and why you are fooling your time around a
risking your life, and so on. Who is this

“M sister. No; that is, I thought she was,
but 8 8 isn’t,” replied Jean Cannon, simply.
“Don’t you remember the ' l on the stage at
Toulon, on whose account suffered so much?
She is here.” «

“ I thought as much: and who is she?”

“ She is the daughter of my foster-parents,
and until lately I believed .her my sister.”

“But she is not?”

“ No, so she was told by her mother on per
death-bed. I am a foundling, Kraplp.”

The Dane looked at him attentive y.

" So you told me once before: but on would
never tell me anything more of your ife. Will
you tell me now.’

Jeanhesitated and looked gloomy.

_ “It is a sad remrd. Why shou d I go into
it? ‘I only know that I am alone in the world.
I shall never be certain whether or not I am a
base-born waif, abandoned to hide my mother’s
shame. Let it go.”

" But it may be, my comrade, that I can
throw some lig t on the past if I knew all the
circumstances. Do you not know where you
were found and by w om?”

“ I was found by the highway at Bole as. in
Italy in a ruined hovel in 809: that is a that
is certain, Krapp.” .

The Dane nodded and muttered: .

“The very year. . Now if all the rest be the
same, I may yet find out what I ho for.”

. “ What is that you say?” asked ean.

"' Nothing, my comrade. But tell me, were
there no marks on your clothing?” ‘

“Only two letters, J. L." . _

" Good. We are getting on. But IS there no
mark on your body, no birth-mark!”

Jean was about to answer when the heard
outside the palace the dull thunder of t e lion‘s-
roar, and the chasseur started:

“ He is coming again. I must go after him.
I promised that Arab that I we d go and he
must not come to the place of meeting and
find me absent." ~ .

He snatched n his weapons and was gomg to
the door when rapp observed:

“The Arab will not be there; I have seen to
that. We shall have all the garden to ourselws
and the lion—be it understood the lion will be
there all the time.”

“ What do you mean?" -
.“I mean that it we are quick and resolute,

_ i
I a

\

 

we ma be half—way tO‘Bou Farik before mom-
ing an no one the wiser. Where is your horse,
comrade?”

“ In the lace stables butthedoorislocked.”

“ Ay, to eep out the lion: but the key hangs
above it. We can let all the horses out if we
please, comrade.”

“ But the Arabs will hear us.”

“I have provided against that too. They
think I am a great magician and that all the
flowers of the air are out to-night. We can

eep them uiet till the morning, (but, after
that when t ey find they have been deceived
we shall have to ride for our lives."

As Krupp spoke the lion reared a second time,
and the Dane rose to his feet. '

“ Come, it is time we were outside. if we hope
to do anything. Where is your girl?”

“She will wait for me at the little door in the
harem wall above the Lion’s Rock.”

“ Let us go there then so as to be on time be-
fore the lion comes to the to of the hill. He
will be hungry to-night an dangerous. We
must feed him well, or he will give trouble.”

Jean struck his forehead angrily.

“ And I let loose the goat that was tied there
for him. It is too bad. I was thinking Only of
getting him near enough to shoot.”

“ You’ll get him near enon h, Jean. The
trouble will be he will be too no r. But I have
been after lions before. Come.”

The left the palace and found the night very
dark or the moon had not risen and therawes
a mist on the mountain side.

Krapp led the way to the stables and unlocked
the door with the clumsy wooden key of Arab
manufacture that hung above the lock inguile‘

‘ less Moslem fashion.

The neighing of horses sounded their welcome
but it was almost immediately silenced as the
lion roared for the third time, and was close by
them in the garden.

“ We have no time to lose,” whispered Krupp.

“ Lead out the first horse as uick as ou can.”

The chasseur hastily led on one o the ani-
mals and almost at the same instant the lion
roared a fourth time.

CHAPTER XX. I "
ran FLIGHT.

THE ho that Jean Cannon was leadin
sto ped at t e sound of that roar, and trembl
vio entl , cowering down as it about to sink to
the cart and refusing to proceed, till the ter-
rible sounds ceased. ‘ _

Then Krapp looked round and clutched his
comrade’s arm.

“ There he comes,” he whispered. “ Letthe
horse alone. The lion will keep him there.”

Jean instinctively brou t his musket for—
ward, as he saw the glowing eyes of the lion, a
little way off, close to the ground.

“ Don t think of shooting,” whis red Krupp,

 

.“ his head is hard and you’ll on y angerlnm.

Come away slowly facing him all'the time.”

They slowl retired, step by step, and as
the retrea the green eyes slowly glided on,
wit out an audible sound. ‘

All this while the poor horse stood trembling,
seemingly unable to move. -'

At last when they were about fifty feet from
the animal the lion laid his head to the earth
again and hogan the succession of ighs and
moans which preceded his grand roar or series
of roars. ' - _

Firm as were the nerves of the Dane and his
comrade, neither could refrain from shuddering
'as they listened to these awful sounds.

The rear of a lion in a ca e by dayli ht is one\
thing, but at ni ht, ,when t e beast is oose and
not a hundred eet away, it is a very different
matter to listen to.

In the midst of their tremors, however, they
could not be] watching the strange conduct of
the lion and t e horse.

While the beast was roaring the horse stood
trembling: but as soon as the sound ceased, the‘
charger slowly advanced on the lion, a step at
a time, as if fascinated by the glowing green
eyes. _

Krapp laid his hand on the chasseur’s arm.

“ He will lead him to his den.” he whispered.
“ l have seen him do it before.”

Too much amazed to stir, Jean Cannon stood
andwatch the stran e drama.

The horse ept on a vancing toward the lion
and the king of the desert stood still making a
low purring noise as if pleased till the charger
was close to him. -

Then the lion turned and swe t slowly off,
and the horse followed submissive 3'.

They watched till both had disapgeared in
the darkness and then Krapp observe :

“ We are safe now. We can go to the stable
and saddle the best horses that are left. In the
morning we shall be among the rocks and it
will be our own fault if we fail.” ,

They went into the stable and the Dane struck
a match to i t the horses. '

“ Which of these belongs to the Emir Yusuf’!”
he asked. “He told me it was the best in the
tribe and we may as well take it.”

Jean Cannon pointed to an empty stall.

" He stood there. It is the one at followed
the lion so quietl‘y.” ‘

Krapp laughe .

\

'ing the Arabs.
0“ n

 

‘ “ So much the better. He will not be at the
head of the pursuit. Take the best and let as
lead all a few for remounts.” *
They saddled six horses; then momtod and
rode softly out past the harem wa_.ll.

All was silent in the garden.

“The lion has gone,” whispered Jean.

As if to give the lie to the assertion the voice

of the king of beasts rose again in the darknesa.

on the side of the hill but some distance below,
followed by the shriek of a frightened horse.

Then came a scramble and the sound 0 a
hea blow, after which the low rattl
Erow of the lion proclaimed that he had 

is victim.

Krapp turned to his comrade.

“Keep still now," he whispered. “It is the
moment when he is most dan erous, till he has
drank the blood. He would t ink we wanted
to rob him of his prey.” ‘ . ‘

The remained where the were, the horses:
trembing violentl asif t ey recognized the
danger in which t ey were: ' _

The moments seemed like hours, til] at last.
they heard the lion rise and go down the hill
dragging the horse after him. '

“ ow we can move,” said Krapp. “Only
tell me where you are to meet this girl about.
whom you are so anxious?”

“At the top of the bank.” answered Jean.
“We must tie up the horses flrst.”’

Krapp nodded and they dismounted and tied.

the horses to some of the trees in the garden,

then stole around to the low door‘in the, harem
wall, where Jean Cannon knocked softly.

“ Who is there?” asked a low voice on the-
other side of the wall.

“It is I, Jean, thy brother, Fiflne. If thou
hast courage, we can eacape tonight.”

“ Who is with thee?” asked Fiflne, suspiciously.
“ I heard a voice that I know not.” .

“ It is one of my comrades, Neil Krapp, who
has risked his life for us. We have horses, and

before mornin we shall be out of danger.
Curly come, Fi ne.”

6 door opened and the girl crept out. He-
could only make out the dim outline of her.

form in the dark; but he knew her voice as she

“ What have ou done with the lion? I
heard him pass in the garden, yet I 1m: goat
tied in his way.” ,

“ I loosed the t, and the lion has the best
horse in Abdel-Edens stable instead. Come
let us mount and flee, before any one comes on r
by chance.” , v

“ Where is Yusuf ben Saudi?” asked Fifine,
stopping with unexpected obstinacy. “ He said
he won d come out with you to meet the lion.

.Have you killed him l”

“Yusuf is in the palace, asleep. We have not
killed him. We have only deceived him.”

Here Neil Krapp interrupted them with giuli'
abruptness aging:

“If this] y is a Christian and wishes to go
to her own pecgile, we have no time to lose,.for
I have yet to ad my comrade Hans n.
This is no place 01‘ time to talk, comrade. .‘If
the girl wants to stay with the Arabs, let her
stay, and we will depart.”

She does not.want:to ste . she cannot,” ;
fine, as that )’
you were not in earnest when you of. .
wedding the Arab. Think of home friends _

cried Jean impulsively. “ Oh,

and that I am ready to take you there.” ‘

“ I have no home or friends,” answered Shejn‘

a drear tone. “Why should #0 from here
where have my only friends? bat have you,
a poor soldier, to ofler me in comparison. with
w at I give up when I flee from here! Go, Jean-
You can be hap y in France. As for me, my
lot is cast here. ~ v

Neil Kra p growled out an impatient oath.‘

“ If we ad known that we need not have
taken so much trouble,” he saidangrily. “ Come,
my comrade, it is time we were away unless
indeed this girl wishes to rouse the Arabs and
have us slaughtered"

Jean Cannon, who could not help hoping-f '
pe, that Fiflne still loved him,‘ re» ._ .V
doubled his entreaties toher, but she was firm ,

against ho

and insisted on as ing:

“ No. I have
must stay. But you need not lose this good
opportunityto esca . Go, Jean, and Heaven.
protect you. I she! always think of you as my
good dear brother.” ,

“ Very well,” he returned sullenly: “ then. I
will sfigland be killed. I came here for you
and I not go without you. In the morning
I shall confess all draw my sword and .die ht-

I will not leave here wit out

The menace had its eifect' for she saw that he
was in earnest and at 'last she said: '

“Well, 1 will go with you; but only cu one .

condition, my brother.”
“ And what isthat?”

“ThatI leave behind me aletter to Yusuf

tellin him where I have gone, and asking him
to Jfol owhnziedifréig have: me.” in! , *
ean s u e t only.
“As you please.’ ’ThenI am to understand
that in any event you love this man and do not
love me. 'Is that it i” '
".‘Yes, I love this man,” she said quietly.

v

you my wordto Ynsnf and I i

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22'

 

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

 

*gAnd I”love youtoo, Jean; butitis onlyas a

r. .

“ Very well," he said sullenly. "I consent.
But I warn you, he will never be your husband
:unlem he turns Christian, which is not likely.
if I am to b5 our brother, I claim a brother's
right to withh d my consent.”

fine made no answer save to draw from her
bosom a letter which she gave him.

" Leave that at his door, and I will go with
“you ” was all she said.

Then Kristal; with a mat of relief at the end
of what he ught a oolish piece of sentimen-
talit put her on her horse, and they rode
quiegy away through the garden past the

In theshadow of a toweraman was in wait-
:ing, to whom Krapp said:

“ Is it thou, Hans Hansen?" '

“ Yes,” answered the voice of the pipeseller.
““ I tliought you war: nevier gaming. . 7Are you
caret eysuspectn ing nt epa ce

“ As sure as a man can be that knows them of
old as children to our wits,” retorted Krupp.
“ Here, take this letter and nail it up to the door
of the Emir Yusuf. He will come after us in
the morning, and there will be good fun when
he and my comrade meet."

The two, were conversing in Danish which
neither of the others understood, and hnnsen
asked his comrade:

“ Why will there be fun?"

"Have you ever seen two stage ht about a
doe?” retorted Eran). “ M com e is in love
with this girl, who as a she eves the Arab, and,
in faith, ' hardly t ink she knows her own
1:) But the end of it will be there will be a
fight between the two white heads, and I will
bet on mine all the time.”

“ And which is yours?” said Hansen.

" My master’s son, of course. It is all trot:g

' I have seen the mark,‘and it musthe he.

for the other poor little creature, it must be
dead long ago.’

Hansen went to the door of the Emir Yusuf's
lpartmenin and nailed up the letter, after which

' he rode round to them and said:

“OOme along. We have hard riding to do
before the morning, when We shall have passed
the Kaebrvles and be in sight of Ben Farik.

Bel them 01!, by a number of by-ways in-
to the mountainsvavoidin the hu crock which
idem.me inated the 'glley obszvheetid 02%, am:

11 arapi pace y es quen
chagg‘egs horses during the night.

They met not a soul all the time and Jean
Cannon found Fifine so silent and sullen in her_
demeanor that be abandoned all attempt at

' - speaking to her after awhile.

When the morning dawned they found them-
selves in the upper passes of the Atlas moun-
tains, with the snow line just above them, and,
lookin 'hack could see the towers of Abdel-

_ Kader fortress like the turrets of adoll’s house

far below them, while the camps of the desert
were like black dots on the yellow sand.

Then for the first time Jean Cannon saw the
face of Mao clear) and found that it wore an
engrossion of grea sorrow and nude She
di not look like a captive escaping to ‘herty,
but rather like a slave being carried to the
market against her will. ,

Old Krrepgs and his fellow Dane had the
watchful. h look of men intent only on per~
soual safety and did not notice the girl. but the

» chasseur did, and observed in a low tone as they

halted to breathe their horses, 9. little apart .
from the rest: I

“ One wouldthink you were sorry to go back
amen Christians a ain, Fifine. This Arab,
with fine clothes as bewitched you.”

She looked at him coldly.

“ He is a prince among his people and would
have raised me from a slave to a rincess."

“Fet you have left him behin .”

“ have. ~ I was a fool to do it perhaps.”

" It is not too late to turn back, ’ he suggested
bitterly. " We will not stop you.”

She made no answer but zed down at the
distant fortress with such in ntness, that he in-
 at last: ' I

“ ell, what are on looking for?” ,

, As he spoke a hi white pufi of smoke was
stain to pinane fromto “tn: dongs housel below, and
n um ant y.

“ was loofiig for that ’Pshe answered. “ If

tyou listen you will hear' the reply to my letter
Yusuf hen Sandi."

They listened and at last came the low faint
boom of a gun.

“ That islny answer," observed Fifine to Jean
with a smile of strange im'port.

“Your answer to what‘ he re ted amazed.

“ The answer to my letter. , I 1d him that I
had fled to my own people, but that I loved him
better than any man on earth”:

Jean Cannon turned as white as a sheet, and
his e es blazed as he growled: _

.“. on told him that? You, Fifine Cannon.
that I have hunted for all these years tell an
Inflg'el Arab that you love him better than any
one
'zAnd why not, monsieur?"

, throw awa

 

‘ True, w not? V ood, mademoiselle-
but if that litter  this man toharm, it.
will be your own fault.”

“ To harm!" she echoed. " What harm can
it bring him? 1 have a right to marry whom I
please, for my father and mother are dead, and

am alone in the world.”

,Jean and his teeth to mother a curse.
“ An I, then, I an I am nothing.”
“That depends. you are my brother to

help me, you are much. If you are anything
else good-b monsieur."
e contra led himself with air-effort.

“ You spoke of an answer to your letter.
What answer did it requirel”

“ Simply this: I told him if .he made up his
mind to follow me and reclaim me at any baa-
ard, to fire a fill] as soon as he had read my let—
te , and that he had co to come alone I
wguld go back with him i he succeeded in
reaching us and still loved me.”

Jean stared as if he could hardly believe his

ears. ,

“ You told him that?"

“ Yes, monsieur. Why not? He will not come
with enough men to put you to any peril for
they could not find the horses swift enou h to
catch us. He will come, if at all alone, an you
will meet him in the plain of hon Farik. Do
you understand yet?"

He shook his head.

“ I confess I do not understand what is your
ob in all this, Fifine."

er manner changed from its air of defiant
mockery to one of deep seriousness as she said
to him: "

“Jean, my brother, I am not so heartless as
you think. In fact, I have too much heart.

but is my trouble I love you as a brother,
and I love Yusuf too. I came away with you
because I knew that if I did not you would
your life, and I owed that to
France. ve sent for Yusuf because I love
him, and I want to see if he really lovas me. If
he do, he will be ready to do anything for my
sake even‘to turning a Christian if he sees. that
I w' i not go back to Islam. If he do turn to
our faith, what shall I not deserve?”

“But if he do not," asked Jean, slowly, “ will
you turn to his once more?”

“lever,” she said, firmly. “I retended to
do it to save myself from alii'e o shame, but
that is all pastand gone. Henceforth I am-a
free Christian." _

Here old Krupp called out:

“ Time to ride on. The horses are breathed,
and the way is long. Besides, the are signal—
ing after us, and that means troub e."

“ 8i nalingl Where?”
The Ilene pointedtoseveral columns of smoke
at diflerent points on the mountains.

Every now and then these columns seemed to,
separate themselves with a series of rounded
Elude of smoke, like clouds, as if some one were

terrupting them from below.

“ That means that the Arabs are ' to
each other and scouring the country to ad
which way we have one,” said Hansen, the
pi seller. “When t e find the track, you
wrll”see every fire give our puffs and then go
out. ,

“ They'll find the track soon enough,” wied
his fellow Dane. “ No use to watch for be four
pufls.‘ Best get on at once.”

They rode on throu h the
reached the summit, ooked
had ne out. '

“ ey have found the track,” said the ipe-
seller, in a ve tone, “ and that is no the
worst of it, e ther.” »

“ Well, what is the worst of it?” asked Jean.

“The worst of it is that we had totake along
circuit to esoape running on the Kabyles,
while they will cut 03 more than all by com-
ing straight up the mountain. e must ride
fast if we ex to reach the French camp
without a figh with their best horsemen.”

“Gallop on then,” cried the chasseur, and
away thehy went at a; rattlin pace down the
slo of t e mountains tower the yellow plain
of u Farik.

and as the .
' Every fir);

 

CHAPTER XXI.

THE LAST DUEL.

TEE fugitives had in their favor the fact, that
they had each in horse to change: but they had
a inst them the disadvantage that they had
a read traveled nearly fifty miles of mountain
roads uring the night, and even the much en-
during barb islsubject to more or less fatigue
after a longljourney over rocks. '

They gs oped rapidly on down the moun-
tains, the sun risin higher and growing hotter as
they advanced; at it was near noon before

they at last reached the plain of Bou Farik, and‘

Krqu observed:
“ nly fifteen leagues more; but I wish it wrs
nearer five for my part.”

They halted by a little stream that issued
from the mountain, and there watered their
horses, while Krupp suggested that, as they had
brought no corn With them, it would be well to
let the animals graze a little.

They took all the bridles, and the hardy little
steeds cropped eagerly at the remains of! the
barley harvest the had beenvleft by the French
in their arduous neap'ng, a few weeks before
that day.

 

And all this time they saw no signs of any
pursuit. '

At last, when they had rested for about half
an hour, Fifine Cannon, who had been sitting
apart from the rest, as if conscious of her pecu-
liar position, alone among so many men, cried
out:

“Look! look! they are coming round the
shoulder of the hills.‘ '

They all jumped to their feet and looked in
the direction indicated. ‘

A party of horsemen, in a cloud of dust, was

coming along, skirting the foot of the mountain,
and threatemn to cut them of! from the French
campat Bou arik.
_ In a great hurry they bridled up and rode out
into the plain at a sharp page, the cloud of dust
approaching so rapidly t they felt sure 'n:
must be pursuers.

So, for several minutes, the raced .on, till it
became evident that they be the heels of the
Arabs and would get past out of gunshot.

Aseoon as this became lain, they saw the
cloud of dust come to a. s ower pace, while a
single horseman darted on faster than ever, and
came racing toward them. «

“ That fellow must ride a wonder,” said
Kra p, the Dane. “ He leaves the other horses
asi they were standing still.”

" It is Yus-uf,” observed Fifine, smiling with a
strange look of pride. “ He said he would
come, and he has come. See: the others are
turning back.”

And to the amazement of the whole party,
they saw the other Arabs turn round and ri e
back toward the mountains, while Yusuf hen
Sandi came on, all alone. ,

When this became evident, Krupp pulled up
to aayurney amble and said:

“ hat is the use of killing the horses? It is
three against one in our favor. Let this young
man come on. I told you we should have fun,
Hans Hansen."

Igey ambled on at the usual easy pace of the
bar on a journey, while their pursuer came on
at the former swift gallop, and finally came
near enough to shout:

“Stop, villains and violators of hospitalityl
Turn, or the avenger of Allah is at hand!
Give up the woman you have stolen.”

“What does base i” asked Jean Cannon, in
an angry tone; an when ,Krapp had told
him, he said in a manner of concentrated
ferocity:

"Then, parbleu, he seeks his death and he
shall have it.”

He wheeled his horse, and drew his long saber;
then rode to meet Yusuf ben Saudi.

“I told you we should have fun” said old
Krupp, gleequ . “Now on will tee the two
white-heads fig t, and we shall see who gets the
best of it."

But Fifine Cannon, to the surprise of the
whole party wheeled her horse also, and node
faster: an the chasseur, whom she passed, call-

ou :
‘ No, no, Jean, it must not be. You do not
know. You must not ht him."

The two Danes turns the'r horses aiming?
the whole party came to ther in a con
bunch, Fifine in the mi st, between the two
angry youn men, entreating first one then the
other, each n his own tongue, to refrain from
bloodshed while Krupp and Hansen looked (I),
punled what to do. '

At Inst J can Cannon, furious at the ’ behavior
of the girl, shouted out:

“Awayif you do not wish me tothink you
have dishonored our mother’s name. I tell you
I must fight this man. One of us never goes
home alive."

He would not listen to her as she tried to say
something he did not understand, but' beckoned
to Yusuf: ‘

“ You talk no French,” he shouted: “ but you
can understand what this means.”

As he spoke, he leaped at his horse, threw
down his musket and pistol, tore of! his jacket,
drew his sword, and threw away the scabbard
on the grass. ‘

Yusuf understood the gestures if not the
words, for he followed the exam le by jumping
off his horse, throwing aside is superfluous

t. ants, and running to meet the chasseur on
€00 .

Fifine actually urged her horse in between
them tostop the battle, when old Krupp, with
a rim chuckle
br la and forced it away.

“You should have thought of all that before
you set them fighting,” hesaid rufly. “It’s
no use crying now. These w te-heads are
good stuff and they will fight every time.”

Then Jean Cannon and Yusuf ben Sandi
closed together fer Jean Canaan‘s fortieth and
last duel. ' '

They were evenly matched in‘hight and size,
while their faces were the very coun t
each other, and the blue eyes glared at our
other with equal fury.

They agenced slowl and cautiously. The
chasseur d not forgo ten the lesson he had
once received on horseback, and did' not err
this time through over confidence. ‘ My ,

he:
Saudi on his partknew his .

seen overcome, the exeeu

 

 

caught her charger by the ’

 

r' was», q. a;

 

   
       
  

«>-

>
I
x

   
 
 
    
  
  

F‘ "7.1;... ,.

Corporal Cannon, the Man of Forty Duels.

‘23

 

case, and he did not mean to give away a
chance.

They moved slowl toward each other, not
crossing swords, for ean Cannon knew it was
uselem to try ifiid reach Yusuf’s sword, and the
Arab had his own style of fighting.

Presently the Frenchman made a vicious cut
at the Arab, which Yusuf only escaped by a
supple movement of the bod and retaliated by
the same light slash at the ace with which he
had once before drawn blood from Jean
Cannon. ‘

The chasseur on foot and o posits to a duelist
was, however. too wary to taken na ping,
and he parried the slash with force, ma nga
nick in the keen blade of the Arab, while he
cut back again and found himself closed in
with the other at last. '

But before a down blows and parries had
been exchanged Yusuf broke away, for he
found that the Frenchman’s style was too much
for him.

With a ’bound he lea back and then
came on. leaping from side' to side, and first
fainting in one p ace then another, careless of
receiving a blow so that he got an opportunity
for a slash.

The chasseur laughed at him.

" I have you now, my chicken," he cried. " I
know your points and they are no good. See,
here is a true out.”

The Arab was making a wide faint and as he
came down with a cut at Jean Cannon’s lo the
chasseur cut right down at his arm and 1 it

from wrist to elbow.

“ Aha l" he cried sava sly. “ I havo seen your
blood at last, acoursed aganl Now take care
of onrself, for this duel is to the death."

a was rushing forward to repeat the blow
when, with a loud” scream, Filine Cannon came
running between them and threw herself on
Yusnf’s breast, shielding him and crying:

“Hold, Jean, Yusuf, you are brothers! Do
you not see it? Are on blind?”

The chasseur fell k a. ate and glared at
the pair in amaaement, while Fiflne hastily tore
up her vail to bind the arm of the wounded
Arab, speaking to him in his own tongue, and
en in :

‘ 8a you blind? Can you not see that this is
your brother?"

Yusuf ben Sandi looked calmly at his wounded
arm but answered:

N Willy do u speak these lies? All the tribe
knows am e son of Saadi, who died in battle
with the Christians. Let this man finish his
work since Allah has given me into his hand."

“Is there a man of the tribe that has blue
e es and yellow hair?" she asked. “ Look at
this Frankrand look in the mirror, and you will
see that you are brothers."

“ Not so," answered Yusuf, still more roudly.
"‘I have no brother. I am marked by he hand
of Allah as one alone—the sacred one of the
tribe of Ron Farik."

Here Jean Cannon, who had been at first all
in a daze of stupefaction at Fiflne’s words,
asked earnestly:

“What is it you say! What is it you mean?
What do you know. that you say we are
brothers?” .

Unlike the Arab, with his strong reli ous
prejudices, Jean was open to conviction, an the
words “you are brothers” set him to seeing all
the strange resemblances in the figure and face
of the other.

" I say that you are brothers, stamped by the
hand of God himself,” res nded the irl ear-
nestly. “ Do you know, can, that t .is man
has on his temple the same mark which was
found on you gh?!) yo?u’r father brought you to
m mother at o o ’

The chasseur stag-fitted, and threw down his
sword wivh‘a or of horror.

“It is truel"yhe ejaculated. “‘Abou Gpum
told me so, and I did not believe it. Ask him if
I ma see it."

Fi ne turned to Yusuf. I v

“ Will you believe you are his brother. if .you
see on his tem is the same mark which the
hand of Allah p seed on yours!” she asked him.

Yusuf ben Saadi began to tremble.

“ It is im osslble," he said. “What have I
done that h should make me raise my hand
to sla my brother? It cannot be.” .

“ ill you look at his temple and let him look
at yours?” she asked, quietly.

usuf heaved a deep breath.

“ I will," was all he said. _

‘Then the two men lately cutting at 
iothei’s life came slowly toward each other, as if

afraid to touch, and the Arab looked at the

chasseur’s right tern c. There, in the uninis~
takable blue of the birthmark, was the indelible
.ziz-zag streak of the thunderbolt.

Yusuf threw aside the folds of his own head-
gear and presented his temple to the chasseur,
who uttered a low or of amazed horror.

“ It is true! [ha nearlykilledmy brother I"

Then the two brothers, separated from in-
fancy and now so strangely met at the point of
the sword, stood looking at each other and
Fiflne stood with an arm around each, talking
alternately in French and Arabic. .

" i have known it ever since my mother died,
Jean, or at least have suspected it, since it

 

seemed impossible any but twin brother! should
have such a singular mark exactly alike in
each.”

Then to her Arab lover:

“ You me that I told no falsehood, but that
he is your brother. It is well known in that.
harem that you were not the son of Abd—el-
Kader, who adopted you as a baby, but none
knew who were your parents until I came here
 and ,i’net this grim old Dane they call
. e1 pp.

“And what knows he?” asked Yus'uf with a
glance of wonder at the two Danes, who were
:ihttihngion theiig-hhorses.hda little ugly; ollll',ti:]m(g(llilig

e ppesw a ‘oso ,ta‘a e t-
ing {WM to disl'gluéa ph: lard,” h g

hyitis ,tew ewent
on, in a low tone, “Sip; Abdel-Rachman, the
pipeeeller. What can they know about me or

my people!"

' twasEle asyoucallhiin,thatjust
now gave me the ow which has eluded me for
years," answered Fifine. “ Let us come and
see him and find out if he really knows who you
are.

Yusuf ben Sandi, as we must still call him for
awhile, bowed his head gravely and took Jean
Cannon by the arm while they wentforward.

It was singular to see the way in which the
two brothers—if brothers they were—looked at
each other from time to time with side glances,
as if ashamed to be caught looking, at rather
proud of each other, though unab e speak a
common language.

It was old Krapp that set them at ease when
the came up by talking alternatel in French
an Arabic and explaining eve h ng.

“ Yes," he said. “I see now w at a stupid old
fool I’ve been all this time, blind as a bat, not
to see what was straight before he nose."

He began to examine them close .

“ Yes, there is the regular Iiindho m nose, and
the thin lip that shows what a devil of a temper
the counts alwa s bad. There is the figure of
both just like ol Count Mathias, and above all
the two marks exactly alike on the temple.
Jean, you are not a Frenchman. I always told
you you were not. You have the true fighting
cut of the Norseman. And as for this be here,
he is your brother as sure as one pea is e an,-
other. And you are no baseborns either, as we
will prove when we t home, but the lawful
twin boys of Count rnest Lindholm, who was
killed at Naplesin the year 1809 by the bandits,
Cartouche and Camera, when you children
were carried 03 for ransom.”

“But how comes it ” asked Yusuf in Arabic
when he had heard this story, “ that one brother
was taken South and the other to the,Northf"

“Simple enough.”

“ How simple enough?”

" The soldiers broke u their band into tw0
parts after they had lied my master, and
while Comaro went to sea from , the bay of Na-
ples, Cartouche fled to the north and abandoned
one of the children at Bologna, when he saw
that there was no more chance of getting any
ransom for them.”

Here Jean Cannon, who had been unusually
thou htful while the story was going on, broke
in w th the remark: '

“ He must have been sorry and wished to
save my life or he would not have placed me
where my cries were certain to be heard. God
bless Father Cannon and my mother. I [shall
never forget that I am French by adoption if
not by birth."

Then he turned to Yusuf and held out his
hand to him with a smile. I

“ Mm mm,” was all he said.

And usuf only replied:

“ Akhwan.” .

Yet each knew the other had said:

“ My brother.”

As they all got to horse and rode on to the
French cam at Ben Farik, the Corporal of
Chasseurs said to Krupp:

“ My friend, I shall never fight another duel,
no matter what the revocation.“

Krupp shrugged his shoulders.

“You have made that vow before.”

“ You mistake. I said before I would never
fight another duel save for a blow, but now 1
have done with it forever.”

“ And why?" . .

“ Because I dare not run again the risk of
killing or being killed by, my own brother. I
have fought my last duel. "

 

Many ears have assed away since the be-
leaguei camp of on Farik saw the bloody
harvest reaped and great changes have come
over the face of the French province of Al-

ei-ia.

g Abd-el-Kader after a long and _ ant fight
against the forces of European civflization has
vielded at last, made his peace and retired to

masons to pass away the rest of his We
a ensionary of France. -

lie First Chasseurs of Africa have made
themselves a grand name and four other regi-
ments of the same magnificent cavalrzy) have
been organized at difl'erent times. The uaves
have flashed into life, with their brilliant uni-

 

form and dashing deeds.
Father Bugeaud the colonel has in course of

time become Marshal Bugeaud, Duke of Isly,
with a title derived from a famous battle where—
in he ilually broke the Arab power. And the
Arabs, too, the unchanged for the battaras
the French thi but‘very much for the worse

.as the old Mollaks insist, for many of themhave

taken service with the Infidels.

Especiall has ona,~a chief who has risen to
distinction in the French service and now bears
the rank of eneraL

“General usuf’s compliments and those of
Madame to Colonel Cannon, and he the
colonel will honor his tent wilh avisit, says a
white headed old soldier who seems to be a sort
of orderly invalid as he salutes the oolanelaf
the First Chasseurs in the year 1862 in the plain
of Ben Farik.

The colonel looks up from writing a report
and nods familiarly: ‘

“ Tell the general I‘m busy at myllquartmgz
report, Krupp," he to. s, “but I w he w
him and ma me in h an hour."

One may see that the old invalid has on his
sleeve nearly a dozen stripes, indicating long
service in the army and he has a we of saint
miwhich is old-fashioned hnd forma .

5 he comes out of the tent he looks out ovsr
$18! plain of Ban Farik, and mutters to him

“ It is changed since we saw it first.”

Indeed it is, for not a wild Arab has been sum
in Bou Farlk for many a car. The harvests
are there and the date- ms, but so are the
white walls of villas, and there is not onl a
mosque, but the spire of a Christian chur in
sight from the door of the tent.

And as far as necessity goes there might as
well be no tents there save that they are cooler
than houses.

The First Chasseurs are cantoued in big airy
barracks but the colonel and the staff of the
department jaural have had tents set out for (in
summer, principal] that the ladies and children
mfiy. enjoy themse ves.

9 ladies and children? Yes, there are at
least a dozen little white-heads and dark-heads
playing round yonder hn e marquee with the

icolor in front and a spa i standing guard.

That is the tent of General Yusuf, the only
Arab general in the French service, and depart-
ment commander at Bou Farik.

You can see him sitting on acarpet in the a
tent, for he has not got over his old Arab habits
yet, though he has married a French wife and
goes to the mass regularly.

His face is tanned with the sun to the color
of saddle leather, but there is that in his coin
plexion and blue eyes that shows he was origin-
;llyda fair man, and all his chldren are white-

ea 3.

A pretty matronly lady comes to him as he
smokes his chibouque, and says:

“ What is the matter with Jean that he does
not come, Yusuf?"

He sends word that he is busy with his quar-
terly reports, and will be herein an hour, ma
alien's,” he replies, with a smile. “ Why are
you so anxious to have him come?"

“ Is it possible you hava forgotten the day?"
she asks, with another smile. ‘ It is as much to
you as to him.”

General Yusuf looks puzzled, thinks, and
final] bursts out laughing:

“ by, it is our birthda , Fiflne, and I haw
forgotten all about it. ut you never forget
anything.”

“ I never forget to love you and Jean "she
replies fondly. “ Do you remember, Yusuf, how
jealous v'ou were of each other and all about

r me

“I do." he says sober], . “ It was the turn-
ing-point of our lives. Hid I not loved youI
should never have followed you. Had he not
loved yeou too, we might never have met. It
was fa that we should meet just as we did and
find that we were brothers of an hono
house.”

“Which never did you an good.”

“Say not so. It is true t at all the roperty
of our father had gone to distant relat ves, Lut
he had left us one thing worth all the rest."

“ And what was that?”

“ Our Danish fighting blood which has madu
me a general and Jean the colonel of that
famous regiment in which he earned his title of

THE MAN 01“ FORTY DUELS!

THE END.

Fable

 

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99. The Giant Rifleman. Oll Coomes
100. The‘ French Spy. By .A. P. Morris.
101. The Man from New York; or,
THE ROMANCE or A RICH YOUNG WOMAN. By Aiken.
102. The Masked Band. GOO. L. Aiken
103. Merle, the Mutineer. Ingraham.
104. Montezuma, the Merciless; or,
THE EAGLE AND THE SERPENT. By 001. P. Ingrahem.
105. Dan Brown of Denver, THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN DETECTIVE. By J os. E. Badger, Jr.
106. Shamus O’Brien. Col. Delle Sara.
107. Richard Talbot of Cinnabar:
or. THE Baal-HERE or THE RED HAND. By A.W. Aiken.
108. The Duke of Diamonds; or, THE
FLOWER or CAum'ITA. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker.
109. Captain K (I. By Col. Ingraham.
1 10. The Silent ifleman. By Herbert.
1 1 1. The Smuggler Captain; or, THE
SKIPPER's CRIME. By ed Buntline.
112. Joe Phenix, PRIVATE DETECTIVE;
or. THE LEAGUE or THE SKELETON Ksrs. By Aiken.
113. The Sea Slip er: or, THE AMA-
TEUR FREEBOO’I'ERS. By Pro . J. H. Ingraham.
114. The Gentleman from Pike: or,
THE GHOST or TRE CANYON. By Philip S. Warne.
115. The Severed Head. Whittaker.
116. Black Plume, THE DEVIL on THE
SEA; or, Tm: SORCEREss or HELL-GATE. By Ingrsham.
1 17. Dashing- Dandy, THE HOTSPUR on
THE HILLS. By Major Dangerfield Burr.
118. The Burglar Captain; or, THE
FALLEN STAR. By Pro . J. H. Ingmham.
119. Alabama Joe. By J. E. Badger.
120. The Texan S y. By N. M. Curtis.
121. The Sea Ga et. By Ingraham.
122. Saul Sabberday,THE IDIOT SPY;

123. Alapaha, the w; or, THE
RENEGADEs on THE BORDER. B rancis Johnson.

124. Assowanm. the Ave er; or,
THE DOOR on THE DEsTnorERs. By Franc s Johnson.

125. The Blacksmith Outlaw; or,
MERRY ENGLAND. By Harrison Ainsworth.

126. The Demon Duelist; or, THE
LEAGUE or STEEL. By Colonel Thos. H. Monetary.

127. Sol Scott. THE MASKED MINER; or,
DAN BIwwN's DOUBLE. By Joseph E. Badger.

128. The Chevalier Corsair: or, TEE

HERITAGE or HATEED. By the author of “Merle."
129. Mississippi Mose. By Ed.Willett.

‘ or. LULIONA, THE SEEINOLE. BE Ned Buntline.
Y

 

 

- Each Number Complete. Price 10 us.

130. Calgtain Volcano: or, THE MAN
on THE RED VOLVERs. By Albert W. Aiken.

131. Bu kskin Sam,THE TEXAN TRAILER;
or, THE BAND Ts or TEE BRAVO. By Col. Ingraham.

132. Nemo, King of the Tramps: or,
THE ROMANY GIRL’s VENGEANCE. By Whittaker.

133. Rody. the Rover; or. THE RIB--
EONMAN or IRELAND. By William Carleton.

134. Darkie Dan, THE COLORED DETEC-
TIVE; or. THE MISSISSIPPI MYSTERY. By Ingraham.

135. The Bush Ra er: or, THE
HALEBREED BRIGADE. By Franc sJOhnson.

136. The Outlaw-Hunter; or, RED
J OHN. THE BusH RANGER. By Francis Johnson.

137. Long Beard, THE GIANT SPY. By
011 Coomes.

138. The Border Bandits; or, TEE:
HORSE-THIEN‘S TRAIL. By ancis Johnson.

139. Fire-Eye, THE SEA HYENA; or,
THE BRIDE or A BUCCANEEE. By Col. P. Ingraham.

140. The Three Spaniards. By
George Walker.

141. Equinox Tom, TEE BULLY or RED
ROCK. By Jos. B. B ereJr.

142. Captain rimson, THE MAN or THE
IRON FACE. By Major Dangerfield Burr.

143. The Czar’s Spy: or. THE NIHILIST
LEAGUE. By Col. Thos. Boyer Monstery.

1 44. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
By Victor Hugo.

145. Pistol Pards. By W. R. Eyster.

146. The Doctor Detective: or, THE
MrsTEnr or THE GOLDEN Con-rm. By Geo. Lemuel.

147. Gold S ur. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS. Colonel rentiss Ingaham.

148. ne - Armed 1f, THE GIANT
HUNTER on THE GREAT LAxss. By 011 Coomes.

149. The Border Rifles. By Aimard.

150. El Rubia, Bravo. KING or THE.
SWOnDsNEN. By Col. Thomas Boyer Monetary.

51. The Preebooters. By Aimard.

152. Captain Ironnerve, THE Conn.
TEREEITER CHIEE. By Marmaduke Dey.

153. The White Scalper. By Aimard.

154. Joaquin, THE SADDLE KING. By
Jose 11 E. Badger, Jr.

1 5. The Corsair Queen. By Col.
Prentiss I am.

156. elvet Pace. By Major Danger~
field Burr.

157. Mourad. THE MAEELUKE.
Col. Thomas Boyer Monetary. ‘

158. The Doomed Dozen; or, Do--
nouns. THE DANITE’s DAUGHTEE. By Dr. F. Powell.

159. Red Rudi er. THE ARCHER By
captain Frederick Whit. nker.

160. Soft Hand. She. ; or, THE MAN
WITH THE SAND. By William R. yster.

161. The Wolves of New York: or,
JOE PHENIx‘s GREAT MAN HUNT. By A. W. Aiken.

162. The Mad Mariner: or, DISEON-
ORED AND DIsOWNED. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham.

163. Ben Brion, THE TRAPPEB CAP—
TAIN. By Dr. J. H. Robinson.

164. The King's

By

Pool; on, Tm:
KNIGHTs or THE CLAst HAan AND RED BRANCH.
By C. D. Clark.
. 165. Joaquin. the Terrible. By Jos.
E. Badger, Jr.

166. Owlet, the Robber Prince; or,
TEE UNKNOWN HIGHWAYIIAN. By Septimus RUrben.

167. The Man of Steel; or, THE.
MAsIIED KNIGHT or THE WHITE PLDEE. A. P. Mon-is.

168. Wild Bill, THE PISTOL DEAD SHOT;
or. DAGGER DoN’s DOUBLE. By Colonel Prentiss
Ingmham.

169. Go

FORTY DUELS.

oral Cannon. THE MAN or
y Colonel Thomas Boyer Monsterv.
Ready January 18th.

170. Sweet William, Tug: TRAPPER
DETECTIVE' or THE CHIEF or TEE RIEsON CLAN.
By Joseph’E Badger, Jr. Ready January 25th.

17 1. The Man of the Iron Heart; or.
TIGER DICE IN FREE-m OUT CAMP. By Phile S.
Warne. Ready February lst.

A new ism every week.

Beadle’s Dlme Library is for; (gale by! all
N sdealers ten cents .r cop or sen y me on
rei‘gi c of rivelve mnmpgsch ’DEADLEA ADAMS.
Publghefl. 98 William Street. New Your.