Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-09-24
CHAPTER NXIV-CoNTINUED.

as lie went down the winding stairs Of
the miuaret, Point Pescade glided
rather than stepped. 50 that his weight
would not cause the wooden stairs t.
creaL. At the bottom he founda second
door. II was shut but he had only 10
push it for it 10 open.
The door opened on 10 gallery OF
little columns, (which access was giver
TO a certain number of rooms After til
complete darkness OF the minaret the
gallery seemed light 70 Point Pescado
but there was no light in the .aterio-,
and not a sound.
In the centre of the courtyard wa7 2
basin of running water surrounded by
large pots of shrubs preparedness, palms,
laurel-roses and cacti, tho thick foliage
forming clump of Nert!1re round the
edge
Point Pescade stole round this gallery
like wolf stopping before each room.
1t seemed they were inhabited. Not all
of them, however; but behind one OF
the doors he distinctly heard the muir
muir of q voice he knew.
He stepped back. 1t was Sarcany's
voice The voice he had often heard at
Ragusa; but although he kept his ear
to the door. he could hear nothing q
what was going on.
At this moment there suddenly came
n loud noise, and Point Pescade had
only just time TO Sip behind one of the
hower-pots round the water.
Sarcany came out OF the room. An
Arab Of tall stature accompanied him.
Thcv continued their conversation,
walking up and down the gallery Of tho
courtyard.
Unfortunately Point Pescade could
rot understand what Sarcany and his
companion were saying, for they We're
talking in that Arab tongue which no
did not know Two words he frequently
heard, or rather two names. One of
these was Si3i Hazam. for it was the
moaaddem himself who was talking
with Sarcany the other was Antekirtta
which was mentioned several times dur
ing the conversation.
THAT is strange, thought Pescade
"Why are they talking about Ante
kirtta? Are Sid Hazam, Sarcany and
all the pirates of Tripoli thinking of a
campaign against an island? Confound
it And not to know the lingo those
two rascals arc using :!
Aud Point Pescade tried hard TO catch
another suspicious word, keeping him
self well hid behind the hower-pots
when Sarcnny and Sid Hazam came
near. Bat the night was too dark for
them to see him.
And vet, said he to himself, eff
Sarcany was alone in this courtyard /
might have jumped at his throat and
put it ont of his power for him TO
damage us But that would not help
Sava Toronthal. and it was for her
made that risky jump Patience! Sar-
cany's turn will come some day"
The conversation between Sid Hazam
and Sarcany lasted abolt twenty
minutes. The name of Sava was men
toned several times, with the qualif.
cation "arronee," and Point Pescnde
remembered that he had already heard
the word, and that it meant betrothed
in Arabic Evidently the moqaddem
knew of Sarcany's projects. and was
asss ting him.
Then the two men retired through
one OF the doors III the angle Of the
courtyard which put this gallery in
communication with the other parts of
the house.
As soon as they had disappeared,
Point Pescade glided along the gallery
and stopped at this door. He had onl
to push it to find himself in marrow
corridor, whose wall he felt his wa
along. At its end was double arcad
supported by central column, an,
giving access to the second courtyard.
A few bright lights from between the
bays by which the skifa obtained it's
light from the courtyard, were throw
in luminous sectors on the soil, and at