Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-22

| stiffiy; indeed the responses were so unWltl-
ingly made one with half an eye could
have seen it would be far more congenial to
him to draw his sword and fall furiously on
this man of smiling face and fine words
than to stand and listen. Koor Ali. per-
| ceiving the temper of his chief, and we'll
| knowing what it meant advanced with the
object of making his report, and so cut
| short the palavering. But he had not utter
ed dozen words when Mohammed ben Ell
| dad Hassam (such was the strangers i'm
posing name) interrupted him.
"Peradventure. I may be permitted to say
| to my lords brother" said the envoy, beam
| ing upon Abou Kuram with a feline soft
ness and craftiness of expression, that as
to the delay which hath occurred the good
and gallant Koor Ali and his followers,
who showed the courage of lions in coming
to us, are in nowise to blame"
MY lord ought not to trouble himself
with such small matters" returned Abou
Kuram, with the slightest Of bows and the
faintest of smiles. ''They become not his
rank. Besides he is weary and needeth
rest
Il am indeed weary" responded Ben FL
dad with unruffled urbanity. And it is
because of that l would speak in behalf of
| Koor Ali, for may 1 never have the holy
| Joy of sitting in the prophets presence if
hath not driven us as if we were things
of iron and steel and not men of simple
flesh and blood"
ut is not proper that my lord should
| thus add to his weariness," interrupted
| Abou kuram. Let him withdraw to my
tent and have his feet washed by his serv-
ants slaves and food set before him and
take the rest of which he is so much in
need koor Ali will himself tell his story"
and with an imperative manner that was
| not to be resisted he led Mohammed ben Ell
| dad Hassam to the retirement of the tent.
| In minute he was back again.
Now" he said to Koor Ali, drawing
| himself up with soldierly sternness. I'VE
will hear what thou hast to say. Where
fore didst thou tarry so long, and what It'd
| ings hast thou brought"
Koor Ali gave his story briefly and clear
| ly. To begin with, he said, they did not
| find Amood Sim at the place appointed,
| an excursion of the man ON the black horse
and his marauders having driven him deeper
into the mountains. This change of situa-
| ton involved an arduous search of 4S
hours, and when at last Amood Sim was
| found he was skulking among the rocks as
| if he were n fox, with his army scattered he
| knew not whittier.
His heart was as the dust under his
| feet" pursued Koor Ali, land he rallied up
on the evil spirit on the black horse who
| had come to destroy him. l asked him if
he intended to let Yumen Yusel harry his
kingdom and carry away his horses, his
camels, his wives and his little ones, and he
answered, If it is the will of God Nay
replied, that is but the voice of a craven
fear We are come hither to help thee with
| great host, and are we to go back because
| thou Hest among the rocks afraid to come
| forth and give the enemy battle?' Where
upon there were shame and confusion on
his countenance, and he arose and said that
of a surety they would fight But how
shall prevail on my men, he asked, for
they think these are evil spirits leagued
against them?' Gather them unto one
place said l unto him, and he sent out
messengers and gathered them into one
place-a great hollow in the midst of the
mountains. Speak unto them said.
Nay, it will be better If thou speak unto
Them he answered, for they no longer
heed my words
"Whereupon I stood on a rock and spoke
to them and told them how my lord had
come to help them, and hearing this they
took heart and shouted with mighty voice
that they yearned for vengeance and were
ready to do battle with Yumen Yusel and
the man on the black horse. And ], think
ing it we'll to take them while the spirit
was strong upon them, babe them come
trembling greatly, said, Nay, it is better
for us to remain here until all things are
| ready Thou art more afraid than thy
men, said. They are but common SOL
diers,' he answered. The enemy seeketh
not their life but mine. Peradventure if
we go down with thee he will fall upon us
| by the way and slaY me- Whereupon l.
answering, said that forasmuch as no bat
tie could be fought among rocks and gorges
| they must come down to the plain. If they
| did not, then would my lord return to
Marabel and Amood Sims possessions
would go from him and his posterity for
| ever And being again sore ashamed he
consented to come down and now lieth
yonder close by the foot of the mountain
awaiting my lords behest."
Thou hast done the part of a brave man,
| Koor Ali" said Abou Kuram, when the
recital was at an end. II was wroth at the
| delay, and now my anger is kindled against
| Amood Sim. Thou hast done right well
| in taking the cowardly dog by the ear and
| dragging him to the foot of the mountain.
| We have been surprised here, and battle
| is at hand. Get thou things ready, Koor
| Ali. We will move to meet AmOOd Sim.
| And now must go to Mohammed ben Eldad
Hassam. He lieth i'll at ease in my tent,
| full of excuses for his brave master and
peradventure for himself"
YES, it Is likely" returned Koor Ali.
my opinion is that he cometh to spy my
lords strength. He will return If thou let
| him to report to Amood Sim, and if my
| lords army be not enough in their eyes
they will betake themselves to the rocks
again"
1.-TWO can play at every game, said Abou
Kuram significantly. pointing toward his
| tent.
The warming which Koor Ali had given
was well timed, for sure enough, when Mo
| manned ben Eldad Hassam had washed and
| eaten and rested and paid Abou kuram the
| regulation number of compliments, he pro-
posed that he should get an escort and pre-
cede the troops in order that Amood Sim
| might be prepared to receive their illustri-
Gus general i'll Il fashion becoming his rank
| But \ bou kuram had not studied diplo-
| macy for nothing.
''Ny lord troubleth himself too much, -
| he replied, with an insinuating grace that
| was wonderful to behold. I'VE are soldiers
and will be satisfied with a soldiers well
come. We are not come hither for feast
ing and ceremonies, but to destroy Yumen
Yusel and his evil ally on the black horse,
of whom we have heard SO much"
Mohammed ben Eldad turned his eyes to
heaven at this, mentally invoking its pro-
lection. ''Thinkest thou steel or lead will
avail upon him1" he asked "'Tis hard to
| kill satan"
IF he come in our way, we can but try
our weapons upon him." answered Abou
| Kuram.
Thou speakest like the valiant man
thou art" said the envoy sweetly. Where
fore 1 would again crave nay lords per-
mission to return in advance of the troops.
My royal master will be sore displeased If
he be denied the opportunity Of preparing
for my lords reception"
1.-The good Amood Sim knoweth we are
coming" said Abou Kuram suavely, land
thou needst not fear for his princely be
neficence. We do not look for ceremonies
with the foe in sight. Besides, see the
troops are even now ready to march. 1t