The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-04-07
Faster, Yussufl Fasterl' beseechcs

ZllR urTONS. nc DCuuuS lliNc u SdLSllo
that feels that the lion is on her track.
"Well done, Yussuf."
Now there are no more arrows to fear;
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. El-Malek plies his spurs
in vain and Zuleika wastes her caresses
and praise, for the poor animals hoofs slip
in the narrow path and he staggers. Ell
Malek's arm trembles; he is beset with
fever; the cool Of the falling night does not
suffice to refresh his brow; the profile of
the violet mountain and the confused shape
of the turpentine trees, with their blood
red clusters suspended over the abyss, are
mingled before his eyes. He is blinded by
vertigo. lie can not stop to drink at tho
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.
eve have Them" he cries; 'they are
oars!"
And yet his voice trembles; he fears tho
final struggle and .El-Malek's terrible
lance.
Night has again passed and the light of
morning chases away the jackals that
have come seeming their prey from afar.
Yussuf still runs, but much more slowly.
Two days journey separates him from the
tribe of which his master is chief. Two
days! and Yussuf has but few hours to
live! lie feels that with his last breath
his beloved master, too, will die. The
path becomes narrower. Yussuf reaches
the ridge and, reeling, stops.
"The end has comep murmured Zuleika
terrified, and for the hundredth time she
besought El-Malek. "Do not remain with
me. Your horse can still save you alone.
nyp'
"Yussuf can save neither you nor mel"
"Then kill me-"
81 have promised to save youp'
"God has not wished it to be so. Save
me from this mani"
"That is what am going to do Alight."
"Ah, yes, understand you-death is at
the bottom of this abyss. l shall seek It,"
"You do not understand me. Lookp
and 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 there? 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 first herdsman you meet to call
| in my name TO his nearest ne1gnSor, SO
that from summit to summit my name
may wake my warriors. Cry to all the
echoes Of the mountains, 'El-Malek shall
not die unavengedp Col"
"But it will take two days at the least"
NT will wait On If ic nv 6pcirn ~
"God be with you'll" She kissed the hand
of the chief who had saved hen life; then
she ran down the road as quickly as her
failing strength would let her.
El-Malek planted his lance in the ground
and supported himself against it, erect in
his saddle. He talked for q long time to
Yussuf, and the animal shook his bleeding
head.
"Haltl" ordered Hassan Bey. Reaching
a turn in the road he had seen El-Malek
planted across the defile, and THIS new at
| titude astonished and disturbed him.
"Does he pretend to oppose us now? Let
US wait, and in the meantime breathe u
little"
The advice was good, and no one gain
said it. Men and horses sought u spring.
Hassan Bey, however, did not take his
eyes off the redoubtable man who sat there
motionless upon his horse between the two
walls of rock
"And now that all have rested enough,
forwardp'
No one stirred. So long as it was ques-
ton of pursuing El-Malek the chiefs fol-
lowers felt brave enough. Now that they
were called upon to attack him face to
face the boldest were afraid. Hassan Bey
himseiftrembled.
"Let him begin" said one; "let him
come on"
Every WE'LL" growled the chief.
The day declined; the redoubtable sen.
tinel, who had cleaned white in the burn
ing sun, now stood out in black silhouette
against the starry sky. Neither horse mol
master stirred and the lance still stood
planted in the ground.
The moon rose, and it was an awesome
sight to see this motionless warrior under
the pale light. He watched the enemy
with his steady eyes still open like dia
monds
"He is covering Zuleika's retreatw Has
san Bey had said to himself at the very
first. lie felt that it would soon be toe
late to continue the pursuit. And yet he
remained in his place, changed into @
statue, powerless to conquer the fear that
eman0Ueu lTOiii WIS tsrdnu Sudruldn.
After the rosy dawn, the leaden sky
after the red twilight, the blue night; ther
the aurora again, and the sentinel ever
motionless, as well as those whose way he
bars. Sometimes the shadow of an eagle
makes fleeing spot on the rocks, ther
the shadows increase and great birds come
from all corners of the heavens, drawing
closer their rapid circles; now it is M
longer eagles, but vultures.
They almost touched the lance of the cav
Alier, but he did not appear to see them
One Of them perched upon his shoulder
El-Malek did not stir.
"He is deadp' cried Hassan Bey, mao
with anger and spite, and turning toward
his men. who still hesitated. he gave tn,
order, Forward"
Neither Hassan Bey nor his men ad
vanced twenty PAGES. The noise that pu
the vultures to fight was the gallopinl
of the Bedouin horses that had come from
the Djebel-Sahari. The threats that HassaI
Bey uttered to keep up his courage wer
never finished, an arrow pierced his throat
: and falling from his horse he rolled int
the abyss. -