Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-02
CHAPTER WI.

something of the portentious mysteries OF
statecraft that make such havoc of the con-
science of rulers and understood that be
hind the personal will and inclination of
Abou Kuram were reasons of such fearful
cogency as no prince who valued his secur-
ity could ignore. However friendly the
governor might be at heart, he was not
free agent, but merely the instrument OF a
tyrannous system which sentenced and
slew with ruthless disregard of the sanctity
Of private thoughts.
This was driven in upon me with stag
rering emphasis when the leather faced in
crate had relieved OF his pains, humbly
yenturing to commend the wisdom OF his
masters speech, enlarged on the abso-
lutte necessity of preserving the state from
foreign intrigue ut all hazards and at what
ever cost of blood and ending up with the
proposition, Let my lord decree death
forthwith, and while he dispatcheth weight
ier matters will see this rogue executed. !"
But we had both mistaken the force of
Abou Kuram's character. a weak llan IS
the slave of his Office; a strong man is its
master and director. Perhaps it was the
working of humanity in his breast, per-
haps it was a sudden conviction of my in
nocence, or, what is more likely, it may
have been q princes dislike Of dictation
and interference that influenced my judge
but he unexpectedly took q course OF his
own.
.sWords of wisdom drop from thy mouth
as honey from n honeycomb, Abdallah,"
he said, with q severe look at his counsel
or. Foreign intriguers and spies must
indeed be given to the fowls of the air and
the beasts of the earth. 1t is my duty and
privilege to guard the state. will take
care they are not neglected. Again, busi-
ness, as thou we'll sayest, presseth hard, and
in order that thou mayest give thy mind to
other and more important affairs will
myself execute justice on this stranger.
Get thee forth with all haste, and thou,
Koor Ali, who will command next to my
self, 90 with him and take no rest until
my army be ready for war;"
The two men bowed very low and has
tened out. He watched until they had
gone, with Il clamorous mob at their heels,
then turning to me he said briefly:
II have purposes that will astonish thy
friend Abdallah. Thou shalt ride by my
bride rein, and we shall see of what stuff
thou art made. Nay, nay; no speeches" as
he saw the fitness of heart coming into
my face ''Tni5 is u time for action. Be
side thou miGhtest lind cause to repent of
thy fair words, for if thou shouldst prove
false thou shalt die the cruelest death Alb
dallah can devise to atone for this present
clemency."
With that he turned abruptly to fawn-
ing official and said in Il brusQue tone:
''The stranger will have need of food. Sec
thou to his wants, and thy head answer for
his safe keeping" Whcreupon, rising
quickly, he swept majestically into IN in
ner room without giving me the opportuni-
ty Of saying word Of thanks.
Ny first impulse was to sit down and sob
aloud. 1t seemed that nothing else could
relieve my pent up feelings, and indeed
careful observer might have noticed an I'm.
usual moisture about the lashes, which
wiped furtively while trying to jest with
my attendant.
The rising sun, they say, is worshiped,
and certainly the favor Of q prince insures
many smiles and obsequious attentions.
The demeanor of the people toward me
changed as singtlarly rs my shifting for
tune. Those who had spat on me with foul
imprecations but an hour before now sa-
luted me with loud calculations Of friend
ship and blessing. Many a man probably
would have valued the tokens of good will
more than did. had been defiant to the
mob in my adversely; in my triumph hope
Twas not insolent, but assurcdly WAS in no
mood to respond with ans coraiality to the
greetings of people, who, if Abou kuram's
humor had been different, would have
shouted themselves hoarse with glee at see.
ing my head slashed Off my shoulders.
The sight Of one eager face, however,
among the many fawning ones gave me
genuine thrill of pleasure. Said Achmet
had haunted the place all the morning like
a perturbed spirit, and now on the first op-
portunity he came running forward to con-
gratulate me on my new lease of life. had
not much to say, but gave the good souls
hand hearty Christian wiring, and he did
not resent it, though to shake hands with
an infidel or stranger is pollution to the or
dinary Musselman.
When sorrows come, says the poet, they
come not in single spies, but in battalions.
Once or twice in n lifetime few happy
mortals have the sweet experience of find
ing joys, too, come trooping in companies.
While my benefactor and myself were in
converse together, to the further delight Of
US both, word came from Abou kuram
that until the troops were ready l was to
be his guest or Said Achmet's, just accord
ing to my fancy. Needless to say what
choice made nor how deeply grateful
was to Abou Kuram for this fresh sign OF
his graciousness.
Said Achmet carried me off with as proud
heart as if were the greatest man in the
land and treated me with tenderness that
mere greatness could never have evoked.
Indeed if T had been his own son risen from
the dead he could not have been more Law
ish of the caressing attentions in word and
act that the tremulous affection of an old
man delights in or evinced livelier regret
at .he parting that was near.
For the most part of three happy days
was with him, listening to wondrous tales
of the diabolical proves of the man on the
black horse from Tabal, or discussing the
prospects Of the campaign with him, or
drinking in the wise and varied discourse
of my host himself as we sat inhaling fra
grant essences in the shade of his garden
palms.
strangely tinged with mystic hues! Said
Achmet has long since gone to his account
And on his grave, with shining eyes,
The Syrian stars look down,
but the memory Of his benign refuge re-
mains with me as a beautiful dream of q
day spent on an azure summer isle after
escape from devastating tempests.
The preparations Mt the castle went on
with more hustle than speed, for it ap-
peared to be the determined object of every
man to get into his fellows way and thwart
him in his work. The scene was one of
constant confusion and uproar. Night and
day the hubbub went on, waxing ever
louder and shriller, till it seemed like PAN
demonium come again, but at length order
began to rise out Of chaos, and even the
novice mind could see that the preparations
were really going on.
Men came hurrying in from outlying dis
tricts, horses and camels were got ready,
swords, spears and matchlocks were fur
bished up, ammunition was Laid out, water
skins ,re filled. provisions were loaded