Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

“ Well, we must save them, that’s all.” The superior officer waved to his aide. ‘‘ Make a copy of that and hurry the original on to Suakim. Are they signaling still? ”’ “ Yes, sir.” “Then send this message by signal as well, stating particulars.” Soon the fact that there was a Russian prince and an American girl over behind the enemy toward the mountain range was spread abroad, and that last realization gave the vast concourse of soldiery a quickening stir. They were grateful for the tidings of the fall of the Mahdi, which seemed to make the contest over the dark continent doubly easy. They were now ready to prove their gratitude for the news by making a furious dash to the poor pilgrims’ rescue. Throughout the short evening there was a severe comparing of notes and memories, and every jot of fact regarding Bardoff and his fair companion eagerly sought and devoured. Men who knew the details of the Congo event, which some months since had run an icy shudder through all America and half the world beside, were speedily found. Others there were who knew that the Mahdi had claimed to have received an angel from heaven, and that she had brought him the tidings that he was never to be defeated in battle, and that he would live a hundred years, to conquer and reform the world. Others knew Prince Bardoff and something of his history. The whole matter fitted in like fragments of a mosaic. From dumfounded wonder and grateful content, there sprang a mighty chivalry. The thought of a young girl, escaped from Khartoum, and still in dire peril, inspired every manly heart with a desire to help her. “Do you know,” said the colonel of the regiment, ‘I believe that three hundred men could take up the Berber trail and bring those poor souls into camp before daybreak 7 “ Call for volunteers,” suggested his companion. “ Three thousand will respond.” “No doubt, no doubt,” said the colonel. “ But——” The sentence was never finished, for the reason that two messengers arrived at almost one and the same moment. One announced that a wounded Arab in the hospital tent had suddenly regained his legs, after having heard the conversation of the surgeons and become enlightened upon every detail it were best to reserve from the enemy, and sped into the closing darkness. Three shots were fired after him without effect. “An English speaking spy, undoubtedly,” mused the colonel, gritting his teeth. The other messenger brought the startling tidings that the outposts sig-_ naled the gathering of the enemy on the heights toward Otao; and that with- out doubt a night attack was meditated. It was a death blow to the proposed rescue of the Russian prince and the “ angel of light.” Within ten minutes the mighty army rose, after a little season of rest, and stared toward the bleak hills, over which was soon to pour the combined forces of the Mahdiists, intent on crushing the invading host before the light of another day. (TO BE CONTINUED.) GORGE OOO @ UN ceo