The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-10-12

I
El-Malek's encouragements. Hassan
Bey's cries seemed to grow more faint.
Had he given up the chasel
But whence come these camors that
seem to start from the heights above
them2 Have his followers climbed the
rocks and found a shorter way2
1t is not the chiefs escort that utters
these cries. They come from a cabin
high up in the mountain; the occupants
are watching the exciting chase. Will
El-Malek find allies among these people,
or will he meet new enemies1 His tribe
is not far away; if he is recognized the
fugitives are saved. Arms are raised;
they are calledl
No, the bows send forth their arrows
Yussuf utters painful neigh and Ell
Malek responds with a cry of anguish.
An arrow has struck the horses flank
and another has pierced the riders
shoulder.
"Faster, Yussufl Fasterl" beseeches
El-Malek.
With a desperate effort, Yussuf
straightens himself out aud flies under
the whizzing arrows. He bounds like a
gazelle that feels that the lion is on her
track.
"Well done, Yussuf"
Now there are no more arrows to fear;
a wall of rocks crowns this height. But
death is only STAYED off - blood is
streaming from the side of the noble
beast; he begins to slacken his pace.
ElMalek plies his spurs in vain and Zu-
leika wastes her caresses and praise, for
the poor animals hoofs slip in the mar
row path and he staggers. El-Malek's
arm trembles; he is beset with fever; the
cool of the falling night does not suf.
fee to refresh his brow; the profile of
the violet mountain aud the confuse
shape of the turpentine trees, with their
blood-red clusters suspended over the
abyss, are mingled before his eyes. He
is blinded by vertigo. He cannot stop to
drink at the brook which flows in the
ravine, though swallow OF water
would, perhaps, save him.
Hassan Bey has seen traces of blood
upon the rocks, and his cries of hate
have become cries of joy.
"We have them," he cries; "they are
oursl"
And yet his voice trembles; he fears
the final struggle and Ell Malek's terrible
lance.
Night has again passed and the light
of morning chases the jackals that have
come, scenting their prey from afar.
Yussuf still runs, but much more slowly.
Two days journey separates HIM from
81 IL = ~. l.; =
Two daysl and Yussuf has but a few
hours to live He feels that with his
last breath his beloved master, too, will
die. The path becomes narrower. Yus.
suf reaches the ridge, and, reeling, stops.
"The end has come!" murmured Zu.
leiks, terrified, and for the hundredth
time she besought El-Malek: "Do not
remain with me. Your horse can still
save you alone. Flyl"
"Yussuf can save neither you nor
me-"
"Then kill me-"
81 have promised to save you'll"
"God has not wished it to be so. Save
me from this mani"
"That is what 1 am going to do.
Ahght."
"Ah, yes; understand you-death is
at the bottom of this abyss. 1 shall
seek it."
"You do not understand me. Look!" |
aud, with his hand, El-Malek pointed to
the north, to the other slope of the
mountains, which could be seen through |
the hollow of the rocks.
"You see," he said, 'that mirror that |
shines down thereY 1t is Lake Zahrez.
The mountain on the other side of the
lake is the Djebel Sahari. There is the |
tribe of my fathers, there are camped
my people. Hasten with all your
strength. Order the frs. herdsman YOU
n eet to call in my namo to his nearest |
neighbor, so that, from summit to sum
nit, my name nay wake my warriors.
Cry to all the echoes of the mountains:
'El-Malek shall not die unavengedr
Col"
"But it will take two days, at least"
"God be with you'll She kissed the
hand of the chief who had saved her
life; then she ran down the road as
quickly as her failing strength would let
her.
El-Malek planted his lance in the
ground aud supported himself against
it, erect in his saddle. He talked for a
long time to Yussuf, and the animal
shook his bleeding head.
"Haltl" ordered Hassan Bey. Reach.
ing turn in the road, he had seen Ell.
Malek planted across the dete, aud this
new attitude astonished and disturbed
him.
"Does he pretend to oppose us nowl
Let us wait, aud in the meantime
breathe a little"
The advice was good, and no one
yainsaid it. Men and horses sought
spring. Hasssn Bey, however, did not
lake his eyes of the redoubtable man
who sat there motionIess upon his horse
the two walls of rock.
''And now that all have rested enough,
.orwardw
No one stirred. So long as it was a
question of pursuing El-Malek, the
,hiet's followers felt brave enough.
Now that they were called upon to at
acl1 him face to face, the boldest were
.irald. Hassan Bey himself trembled.
"Let him begin" said one, ''let him
come on"
"Yory we'll, " growled the chief.
The day declined; the redoubtable
sentinel, who had CLEANED white in the
burning sun, now stood out 10 black
silhouette against the starry sky. Neither
lorse nor master stirred, aud the lance
'till stood planted in the ground.