The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-02

forth a small silver hilted sword. supported
by richly wrought. variegated belt Of
camel's hair and leather. set OF with silver
edgings. "Thou shalt wear this" he said
warmly. "It once belonged TO the head of
the faith himself and never before dangled
by the side of an infdel. Nay, nay; what
said IL Thou wilt pardon the unthinking
haste of the tongue. Not an infidel, an
alien-thst is TO say, stranger such as
thou art"
Partly to cover his confusion. partly to
show the heartiness of his friendship, he in
sisted on investing me with the badge of
honor himself
'Fit TO be n sheik by the glories of AL
Raschid," he said, stepping back in admi-
ration when he had buckled on the weapon.
II tell thee that great are the swordsmith
and the maker of garments. Who confer
reth distinction like themg Thou art no
longer as straddling tongs. Thou hast the
grace of the waving palm; thou bendest as
the willow by the brook On a warhorse
thou woudst be the brayest of warriors.
Yea, and in the shadow of the court, in the
place of judgment, who could SO fitly de-
liver laws? Ia every line and look of thee,
save mayhap in the fairness OF thy face.
thou art son of Ishmael. And the Arabian
sky will quickly take that fair cast out of
thee. Then Of a truth thou shalt be as our
selvesl'
He walked deliberately round me noting
with words and beams of delight each point
of resemblance to the true born Arab. lie
could not enough admire. though / suspect
his pleasure in my gallant equipment was
rather due To his own share in it than to
the dignity and naturalness with which
carried it, Suddenly he got grave.
"Thou remindest me of them / would
fain have about me-" he said with some
thing of a sigh. AS if TO explain his change
of manner he added: II had three sons.
One sleepeth beneath the green waves that
bore thee hither; one lies deep under sands
heaped upon him by the fingers OF the lone
desert wind. The third is even now doing
battle. or IL may be he has gone the way of
his brothers. My heart is solitary at the
thought that l may never look on him
again. And thou art so like him. He re-
sembled thee in youth, in suppleness, in
bearing, in goodness ofappearance, his eye
had the hardihood of thine. and his arm
the same readiness 10 strike"
His comparisons were cut short by an
imperative knocking at the door, which
replaced his look of sadness by one OF
alarm.
w nht Uedncln lnlrf' ne Wllu
bated breath as he bent his ear To hearken.
The knock was almost instantly repeated
with an added imperiousness and empha-
sis. "It must he "a summons from the gov
ernor," he said, elancing at me with an ex-
preston of anxiety as he rose to meet his
visitors.
Ii was as he suspected. A dozen of the
castle guards. armed to the teeth, clustered
about the door, and il was evident they
were excited. Said Achmet endeavor
ed 90 temporize, but be was peremptorily
ordered 10 stand aside. and the men, with
weapons drawn, pushed past him. With
out word they seized me and began drag
gng me toward the door. The idea OF re-
sistance comes strong upon one so uncere-
moniously handled without cause, and |
had swift thoughts OF trying the quality of
Said Achmet's silver hited sword. He
perceived the danger and rushed TO my
side.
"As thou valuest thy life resist not" he
whispered, hurriedly. "The governor has
sent them TO take thee. Go and rely on
my aid"
I'm the grip OF dozen armed fanatics IL
would indeed have been folly TO make op-
position. SO, merely begging that might
be permitted TO take my green bag, quiet
ly suffered myself TO be thrust into the
midst Of n bristlng clump OF spears. The
greatest malefactor ON earth could not have
been more iealously guarded or more ig-
ANONYMOUSLY hustled. | had just one word
OF encouragement In passing through the
door | got n whisper from Said Achmet
that he would be at the castle by sunrise
on the morrow TO testify in my favor His
meaning was not clear, but IL was solacing
TO have even one friend at so dubious a
juncture.
The winds seemed 10 bear intelligence Of
my arrest. No sooner had we quilted the
garden than we were i'm "A clamoring crowd
bearing links that shed n grotesque aud
lurid light on the strange scene. As |
knew that I'm Arab towns the inhabitants
are rarely abroad after sunset, the demon