The Shasta courier., 1866-02-03

seven daughters, the choice of which fair
damsels | will give to the man who fetches
me the wonderful steed Kyrat Also | will
give him half of my possessions. Now let
the trumpets be blown, and let the herald
proclaim to the four winds, that he who per-
forms for me this service shall be my son in
law, be he young or old, rich or poor, hand
some or delormed."
Now it happened that there was in the
tribe poor miserable drudge of all work,
whase name was IIamza. He had not a
selisGrv hair upon his head, and his eyebrows
were equally destitute of that adornment,
while the general expression of his coarse
features was such as is common to half
witted persons. As soon as this fellow heard
the proclamation, he rushed frantically, and
IN half naked condition, to the vizier, of
whom he demanded to know what it meant.
8 Dog with the bald head" replied the
vizier, what business is that of yours ?''-
Nevertheless he gave HIN the desired infor-
nation, adding: The man who performs
this service for the pasha will be rich."
" What care | for riches ?" exclaimed
Hama, bitterly. Some old kitchen stuff
ay, the peel OF melon, even, suffces to shed
a flood of joy..upon my sumptuous residence!"
6 But the Pasha viii give one of his
daughters in marriage to him who shall
bring unto him the steed Kyrat."
Then Hanna clasped his hands together.
and said: :" For the youngest of the Pasha's
daughters | pledge myself to capture the
steed kyrat." And as nobody else appeared
to volunteer for the service, arrangements
were made for his departure on it without
loss of time
In due course Hanna arrived at Shamel-
Blel, just as Roushan was celebrating his
nuptials with a princess of neighboring
lbe. The arrival of so sqIalid wretch, at
such time, of course created no attention,
and he dwelt for a month in the fortress,
unquestioned, and almost unnoticed At
last he managed to obtrude himself on the
notice of Deli Neither, the director of the
stables, by seating himself upon a heap of
stable litter, where he rocked himself to and
fro, moaning, and beating his breast.
" Bald headed stranger said the director
of the stables, "what means all this lamen
tation and rending of garments that are
already ragged enough ~
am an orphan and destitute wander
err" replied Hama, meekly. Nature has
made such an ugly dog of ~ that nobody
work for food only"
Deli Neither, touched by the destitute con-
dition of the man, dashed a bucket full of
water over him to cleanse him. and then,
having supplied him with a half. worn suit
of clothes, told him to go into the stables and
try his hand at helping the grooms. Here
Hama showed so much address that he was
soon entrusted with the charge of Kyrat, who
was keft fastened by one leg to post with
a chain and paddock, of which Roushan
hi ,coif l-a,.f +I.. l.
chained the second best horse in the stables.
a bright chestnut courser, Durrat by name
One morning Roushan came to visit the
stables. and observing Hama for the first
time, said to Deli Neither, . Who is this fel.
much the air of horse thief or else | am
greatly mistaken"
''Oh, not he, indeed !" replied the drec-
wretch why, if he was made of iron, one
and he is a half idiot, besides p
{. Well l don't like the look of him." re-
joined Roushan " nevertheless, the poor
must eat of my bread and salt. and you can
employ him until further orders"
Day after day, night after night, Hanna
watched for an opportunity of stealing away
as he looked, however, and by and by
steal Durrat instead ?'' said be to himself.
g The Pasha has never seen Kyrat-
| can pass the other off for him. and so win
the young princess of my Affections Now
Deli Neither kept about him the key of the
paddock with which Durrat was fastened, and
as he slept in the stables. that might be OBJ
tanned by strategem.
One night Deli-Mether came into the
stables rather the worse for wine, which for.
hidden beverage he had been enjoying in
company with his chief. Hanna SAID to
him, /" How happy your excellency looks to-
night All the winel the bright wine y a
luxury hitherto untasted by this wretched
dog of an orphan with the bald head. II |
could but taste once of the bright wine -
Moved by these words of the poor groom.
Deli Neither took pitcher, and, going to
Roushan' S cellar, returned with it full of
wine. OF this Hanna declined to partake
until his entertainer had first taken a
draught of it. They applied themselves to
the pitcher by turns, Hamaz feigning great
expressions of delight, until the intoxicated
director of the stables, quite overcome by the
depth of his potation, sank down upon the
litter, and fell into a heavy sleep. Then
Hanna, having stripped off the vestments of
the sleeping man, clad himself in them, and
having unlocked and saddled Durrat, mount
ed him, and galloped away swiftly to the
douar of his tribe.
Morning was just dawning then, and Rou-
shan, awakened by the sound ofthe horses
hoofs, went quickly to the stables, where he
found Deli Neither still asleep, and only par
tally covered by the rags which Hanna had
thrown upon him.
Scoundrel r' cried he, kicking the pros
trate director into state of half waketul.
ness. what means all this? Did l not tell
Won that the rascal whom you took into my
stables was a horse thief? Saddle Kyrat,
op;ck ~ And while the horse was being
saddled. Roushan scanned the horizon with
his telescope. and could just descry the
fu sitiye speeding on his course like an arrow
from bow: then, leaping upons kyrat and
brandishine aloft his scimetar, he dashed
away in pursuit.
As Roushan gained upon the fugitive, he
raised his voice and shouted after HIM with
terrible threats of vengeance. Now Hanna
knew that the redoubtable kyrat was upon
his track and he gave himself up for lost.
when seeing little on one side of his course
a rov;ne ut the bottom Of which he knew
there was a mill. he made for it, and dash
inc down among the rocks. ieaped from his
horse at the mill door, which he entered
The miller was absent, but Hamza, per-