Two Years Under the Crescent

y talking of the retaking of Tripoli with rifles and swords, of what loot they would get, and how the warriors had all come to get an Italian rifle to carry back to their homes. At this place the real business had begun before I started. I had to inspect and photograph the Zanzur contingent (reserves); a fine fierce body they looked too. Apologising for the smallness of his forces, the Kaimakhan explained that I should meet other regiments on the march to Gergorish and Fonduk Touar. We struck off now across the desert, and soon got involved in a maze of barren sandhills; but the Arabs seem to follow the blank tracks by instinct. We passed the encampment of Zarwia's legions, and struck the fonduk at midday. I was warmly welcomed by the commandant, an Arab Bimbashi, whilst a sumptuous repast was soon in course of preparation. Whilst waiting I walked to the top of the nearest sand dunes from whence the broad panorama of gleaming sand, palpitating in the rays of the noonday sun, quite pained my eyes; but the alternative view, the ever refreshing blue of the distant sea, cleared and cooled my vision. I saw Tripoli, a fair white arabesque resting on the ei x p! chapter{Section 4verge. From a big grim gun-boat belched forth flame and wicked volcanic smoke, as she sent shell after shell hurtling through the regions of space it seemed against nothing in particular, unless it were the Turkish camps at Ain Zara, carefully concealed in the desert-hollow, and invisible e...