The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-21

"What is this strange thing that the In.
dian princess sayeth" asked, putting my
mouth close TO his ear, for there was need
of dead secrecy.
NAY, / am not a magician" he an.
swered, with the oily evasiveness Of the
oriental who is chary about committing
himself.
LET us have no pretense of ignorance, 1"
said, feigning anger. ''What do they
meang"
MY lord frighteneth me-"
The voice OF Suleiman was heard calling
for some one, and in the same instant the
fires leaped up, shedding a fitful, lurd
light on the scene. If we were caught con
sulting, our lives would not be worth IC
minutes purchase.
Look here, Baruk," said. II am thy
friend. What is the state of affairs? Tell
II clearly"
May never be in such position again, y
groaned Baruk. "Hark you, we deal with
treachery and cruel lances. What is oui
bloodS Nothing. What is the spoil and
the price of these womeng Everything
Yet we talk of that which, were it known.
would make us dead men on the spot"
My thoughts were exactly like his, but q
woman had asked my aid, and 1 could not
refuse it.
Freedom is more than life,"I / said, with
an audacity that was not entirely genuine.
ave must not be timorous Now. look
you, / am a stranger Thinkest thou
came here to robi We help ourselves, good
Baruk, in helping the Indian princess"
"She hath untold riches; she can recon-.
pense, murmured Baruk. yet perchance
when she was safe she would forget u.s."
And IL thou remainest here, art not thou
bondsman forever' Nay, who is to hinder
these fellows from taking thee out into the
desert and stripping thee naked and leav-
Ing thee, so that when the wolves were done
with thy bones they would be the sport of
the windsi"
There is much in what thou sayest."
Suleiman was calling again and more iin
patiently than before.
Will speak with thee again" whispered
Bsruk hurrledly. 1T is not safe now"
And he disappeared
Sauntering carelessly back to the fires,
which burned red and low now, L threw
myself on the ground to ruminate on all
had just heard
We were riotously merry. There was an
indeed superabundance, of
season, and the coffee and tobacco were the
best on earth.
Suleiman, rising presently, went TO see
Shat the ladies were being properly attend
ed and came back praising the wondrous
docility of the Indian princess. smoked,
looking up at the brightness of Orion, and
said nothing. But in my heart was the
quivering exultation Of the schemer who
A.
that failure is death.
My next move was 20 enlighten Tabal. IL
was done in few words, for now that the
heavens were bright the chance of private
talk was small. But Tabal quickly under
stood all aud fervently swore vow Of
fealty. To Tabal's mind there was but one
serious difficulty in our project OF escape.
"We go with the caravan to Mecca" he
said
"Assuredly: IL will do us all good"
"But thou art not Of our religion. Think
what that meaneth."
IL am better Mohammedan than thy
self, good Tabal. There will not be in the
great mosque a more deyout hadii than
him whom thou callest Christian. Are we
not brothersi Did not thy father put the
light of the Koran into my souli Dost
thou think am careless ABOUT getting 10
heavenf Tabal, will do the pilgrimage as
q follower Of the prophet"
Tabal was convinced. and we parted TO
ignore each other very studiously for the
rest OF the night.
Near the dawn, when the world was
black and men were heavy, Baruk returned
TO me. He had got over his wavering and
was ready for the most desperate exploit.
1--WE will put on the green turban 1.-THE
badge or sign of such as have performed
the pilgrimage 10 Meccal together. Baruk,"
said joyfully. after listening TO his prom
ise Of help. Now, tell NE the name Of
eur nrinesssAy