The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A MONTH IN THE MOON. 103 tower, and swept the vast plain with the powerful glasses, in the vain hope of seeing the beloved form in the distance. One day she saw, not him indeed, but a numerous troop of Arabs. wrapped in burnouses, negroes armed with spears, a whole squadron of ir- regular cavalry, armmid which gleamed the brass of two cannons, and the steel of five hundred sabers or guns. She hastened to inform Norbert, who had no sooner verified the news for himself than Virgil received instant orders to put Tehbali into a state of defense. ‘The cannons were loaded, the machine guns put into position ; the guard drawn up on the esplanade in readiness to repulse an attack. Virgil, at the head of a detachment of twelve men, descended to the foot of the mountain to form an outpost, with orders to fall back on the observatory if he was assailed. 3 Norbert surveyed the position through the telescope. At the end of an hour he saw the enemy halt, and a little group of horsemen detach them- selves from the rest and advance, waving a flag of truce. Virgil met them and led them along the peak road. Norbert was soon able to distinguish the black faces of the newcomers, as their spirited little horses, shaking their shaggy manes, which were almost as long as their tails, galloped swiftly up the zigzag route to the observatory. At the edge of the esplanade the troop stopped short, and the chief alone, accompanied only by a trumpeter, entered the hall, where Norbert, the baronet, and the doctor awaited him. He was richly dressed ; the saber that hung by his side was exquisitely embossed, and a sparkling aigrette surmounted his turban. Norbert advanced courteously a few steps to meet him, and, addressing him in terms of warm welcome, asked wherefore he had come to Tehbali. ‘Art thou the chief?’’ inquired the barbarian, in evident astonishment that no outward sign of authority was apparent about Norbert. ‘“Tam the chief,’’ replied Norbert, with dignity. ‘‘ Who has sent thee to me?”’ ‘“I come,’’ said the Arab, drawing himself up to his full height, ‘‘on the part of the holy prophet, the most high and powerful lord, the Mahdi !’’ He stopped, as if to enjoy the effect he thought these words would doubt- less produce. He evidently expected that at the sacred name of the holy prophet every head would be bowed in the dust. But instead of the respect- ful fear to which he was accustomed, he saw a mocking smile on the doctor’s lips, whilst Norbert, with the slightest of bows, simply asked: ‘What does the Mahdi want from us?’’ ‘This,’’? said the Arab, with gleaming eyes; ‘‘the Mahdi summons the unbelievers of Tehbali to surrender at discretion, and come to his camp at Omdurman, there to embrace the Mussulman faith.’’ ‘Is that all?’’ muttered the doctor. ») ‘And what right has the Mahdi to send us such a summons?’’ asked Norbert. ‘The right of his divine mission,’’ answered the Arab. ‘‘ And for those who refuse to recognize this, the right of the strongest !”’ EoOmicbooks 3