The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-11-11

they disappear in the night, and my
life has become burden to me in con-
sequence Of this thing"
The elder. son said, "Be of good
cheer; I will watch with the tree this
night and bring you the ripest fruit at
daybreak."
"God is great" exclaimed the King,
stroking his beard. His three sons
kissed his hand, and withdrew.
| CHAPTER II.
When it was evening, the elder son
went out and sat under the apricot
tree, and bent his watchful eye among
the branches; the fruit ripened, but
while it was very still the watcher
slept, and when he awoke at dawn all
that was ripe had been plucked off of
the branches, and the King mourned
again.
Then spoke the second son: "Sire,
I will watch tonight" So he watched
and slept, and between watching and
sleeping the tree was robbed again.
On the third night the third son said /:
Let me watch; it may be I shall save
the fruit"
Then they laughed at him, for he
was young and handsome. But at
night he gfrded on his sword and took
in his hands q ball of snow and went
out to watch. Placing the snow in the
branch of q tree, he lay down under it.
When he slept the melting snow fell,
drop by drop, on his eyelids, and he
kept watch until midnight. At mid.
night he heard 8 movement among the
branches. The stars were bright, but
he saw nothing. He arose and cut the
air with his sword till he heard cry OF
pain, and the ripe fruit fell at his feet
At daybreak he returned to the pal
ace, offered his trophies to the King or
a tray of ebony, set with jewels, and
the King fell upon his neck and kissed
him.
CHAPTER III.
The youngest son said to his broth.
ers, "Let US capture the thief" He
took with him his sword and long
cord and went out to the apricot tree
the GROUND was stained with blood and
the three followed the bloody stains till
they came to the mouth of deep pit.
The youngest son tied the rope about
his waist, and his brothers let him down
into the pit, deeper and deeper until he
came to q cave in the side of it. The
floor of the cave was blood stained,
and he entered cautiously and CROPPED
about until he came upon marvellous
garden in the underworld. In the
midst of the garden was palace, and
in q window of the palace sat lady of
such beauty that the boy exclaimed at
it. She turned to him with unfeigned
joy and cried, "Abdallah Gt was his
name), at last we meet"
Then she babe him steal in at the
palace door, and find genius sleeping
in lower chamber. "Smite him as
he sleeps" said she, "but when he
bids you smite him again, BEWARE fol
the first blow is fatal the second re.
stores him to life.'
Abdallah entered the palace chamber
and smote the genius, who cried F." Smite
again." and then he died in his OWL
blood.
The fair lady fell upon Abdallah's
breast, and tore from her arm q brace.
let of wonderful workmanship, which
she clasped upon his wrist as q token
Together they returned to the mouth
of the cave, and the lady sat in moose
while the two brothers drew her out Of
the pit.
When the rope was let down again
Abdallah seized it, but the brothers,
who were filled with envy, no sooner
felt his weight upon the rope than they
let it drop, and Abdallah fell into the
bottom of the pit.
| CHAPTER Nv.
Stunned and bruised Abdallah Law fol
some time on the heap of rubbish at the
bottom of the pit, which had fortunate.
ly broken his fall. When he had sufi.
GENTLY recovered he looked about him
and discovered another cavern close al
hand. He entered, threaded its mazes
and came at last into a great lovely
land, through which he wandered hour
after hour. Faint with hunger and
thirst he hailed with joy the low walls
of cottage standing under a distant
hill.
A woman sat alone in the doorway
He begged of her draught of water
and morsel of bread. These she gave
him, but added: "Drink little, o stran.
ger! for our fountain is guarded by q
dragon who is SO watchful that only
when he sleeps can we obtain our life
giving water" Abdallah offered his
services to the good woman in return
for her kindness, and was directed to
her flocks over the brow of the hill and
warned to keep them from
the jaws of the hungry dragon. The
lad went out with his sword and drew
the goats about him. He wandered
from one hilltop to another until he
came to the dragons fount, and there
he paused. The dragon slept with his
huge paw over the mouth of the foun-
tain, SO that little or no water escaped
from under it. Abdallah approached
with caution, having first taken in his
arms young kid, and when his steps
awoke the dragon he threw the kid in.
to its open jaws. At that moment he
rushed upon the monster and slew him
with a dexterous thrust in vital part,
and then returned to the old woman
and related his adventure. No sooner
was the good news known in that won.
der-world than the King summoned the
young victor, and, having embraced
him, pressed upon him favorite daugh.
ter and royal palace; but these gifts
we're refused by Abdallah, who desired
only to be returned to his own people.
"That is beyond my power" said
the King sadly, and he gave the boy a
splendid garment and q purse of gold.
Then Abdsllah went forth into the
lonesome land, and when it was in the
heat of the day he entered a forest to
seek repose. A great serpent swung
from bough across his path. There
was fierce battle, but Abdallah won
and the serpent fell dead at his feet in