Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-04

inlay Allah grant you lifelong bounty
and the prophet receive you III the home OF
the faithfulr he answered in {; burst OF
fervent piety. "The brave are ever gener.
ou5," he added, following NE down the
companion ladder, convinced that was the
king of buccaneers.
Pronouncing fervent bismillah, or grace,
he fell to ravenously, swallowing the VIC
tuals in huge mouthfuls and washing them
down with copious drafts-frst of coffee,
then of rum.
"Were it not for the sweet reality OF this
eating and drinking" he said in his bland
est manner, II could believe IL all vision
and you benefcent genie. But this ban
ouet is 200 good for a genie. III do not re-
turn thanks day and night and remember
your name perpetually, may Azraei drag
me to the uttermost depths Of the pit"
Though eating with vigor that would
have been too much for the capacity OF any
two ordinary men and never forgetting
what was due to succoring host, he show
ed lively interest in his surroundings, and
when the meal was over we proceeded at
his suggestion to make a complete survey
of the brig. To explore the hold, with
which we began, it was necessary to get a
light. This ! gave to Abram ben Alden,
making him preccde me, so that by no
chance might he take me unawares from
behind.
It is a good plan to keep u doubtful
guest always in front you.
Aswe made our examination, coming on
pile upon pile OF stuffs from the looms of
India, he was ready to burst in sheer covet-
business, though striving to hide it. He had
never known man to take such prize, and
he would be happy if Only allowed him to
be my slave that he might learn from me
the secrets of successful piracy.
'sYou are greater than Ran Dahid, whose
prizes made him so rich and powerful that
he married princes daughter, for he had
his crew, and you are alone and but a
youth. It is great day for me when am
permitted to know you and be near YOU"
Again l made light of my achievement;
treating the taking of ship as if were o t
the amusement of an idle hour. swag-
gered good deal. but am sure that in
spite of all my bravado looked but an in
different pirate
When we returned on deck, the wreckage,
which he haG not noticed at his first coming
on board, caught nlS atIenIlon.
''You have been amid the terrors of the
Deep" he remarked, land yet perchance
the tempest has favored you"
"You speak like a magician" replied.
NAY, by the prophets beard, you are the
magician" ne said quickly. "You ride
the storm to fortune; the very elements
are your slaves. A magician indeed you
are. Yet the ship ishurt. The helm hangs
useless as broken bough, nothing to guide
the ship, and over yonder is the Persian
gulf" he added, significantly.
II know it," l answered carelessly.
''There you may be among friends" he
ventured, with look of intelligence.
'.If am among foes, the worse for them" !"
responded.
verify, 1 believe it." he said, with unc-
tion.
Thoroughly confirmed in the belief that
I was man of desperate and bloody deeds,
he grew confidential, entertaining me with
an account of some of his own exploits as
freebooter and corsair, and dwelling with
the relish of devil on scenes of cruelty
and death.
'Then you lied when I took you on
board,'' said sternly, interrupting him in
the midst of his narrative Even u sea rot-
ber may have his code of honor, and for the
present my foible was to hate lying.
"Could guess your trade from that girl
ish face?" he asked with an impudent grin
"You might be missionary ship"
''I am no liar" / said severely, while con-
science whispered "Impostor."
"And I swear by the rover,s flag will
follow truth" said the rogue, with a broad
er grin than ever. "Are we not brothers,
and should not our souls be as dials in the
sunlight? Yea, and I love the brave Eng
ishman. In Egypt and Africa have not
known him, and in the Persian gull have
not seen with JOY his skill in slashing of
heads? He is the angel demon of the world.
He will make good the black Ethiopian,
and sell run and take ships and make HIM
self rich with what others have gathered.
I love him as brother"
Naturally l was gratified by this high
and impartial testimony to the noble quail
tiles OF my countrymen.
In his rummaging Abram ben Alden came
upon my armory.
what man of arms you are to be boy
in years." he exclaimed, with some excite
ment. Here are weapons for a whole ships
crewn And selecting a sword he drew it
from the scabbard and began to feel it's
edge.
mot so fast" I said, stepping up to him.
"These are dangerous. You talk of magic;
let me warn you of the magic there is in
these weapons"
"Yea, believe in their magic" he an
swered complacently, 'but is it not the
magic of the arm that wie!ds them? know
q good blade when l see it. Choose ye one,
and we will have some sport. May per-
ish if am not forgetting the ring and the
CLEAN Of STEEL See, see how it bends! 'Tis
well tempered blade. Yea, and it is light
IN the hand" And he made circle of sum
beams about his head. stepped back, my
hand instinctively seeking the hilt Of my
pistol, and said lodifferently that was not
in the humor for sport. The truth was
was not in humor to take any present
risks not absolutely necessary. With a
shade of disappointment and veXation he
(. thrust the sword back into it's sheath and
returned it to its place.
We had an early supper and went early
to bed, my guest getting closed off berth
to himself. lay awake until heard his
stertorous snore; then l crept softly up
stairs, and gathering all the weapons to-
pether carried them down and hid them in
my cabin. 1t was better that Abram ben
Alden should not be tempted to do mischief
while slept.
CHAPTER x.
ALONE ONCE MORE.
Whatever evil Abram ben -Aden may
have harbored in the secret chambers of