The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-16

IN
'sYou are an infldel, but what Of thats on
know what JOY is you know what sorrow is.
You have feelings, appetites, aspirations
you are a man. You hope to get TO heaven.
/ will show you the way, and while show
you shall learn the Arabs tongue. Come,
my merry infidel, you shall yet converse as
brother with the children of the desert.
Yea, and eat Ell 5helebi dates and dip thy
fingers in the dish that swIms with the fat
Of sheep and goat. More, my gallant cut
throat
And thou on honey dow shalt feed
And drink the milk of paradise.
IT'S the song Of one Of our poets which
thou shalt learn, my brave one" And with
an air Of having the erudition Of Alexan-
dria at his fingers ends he forthwith began
my instruction.
He proved good teacher, and was not
an inattentive nor, think an inapt pupil.
One rule my tutor made and adhered to
rigidly, and that was that we should talk
nothing but Arabic 1t was a sore trial OF
patience at first, but persevered and in
week-suoh was my diligeuce-wss able
to converse with tolerahle fiuenoy. The
second week was deep in the Koran and
able to follow my teacher in his recitations
from the Arabian poets; the third week
was reoiting myself. Abram ben Alden was
delighted with his success.
by the prophets MANTLE" he said, 81
) will have you in paradise yet Your speech
d already Is as Of one bred IN the desert. You
have the Arao's tongue, and next will come
the Arabs faith. And all thy brave deeds
will be forgiven. Why should not the bold
corsair have happiness at last"
As diversion to our studies he lured me,
rather against my Judgment, into daily
bout with the sword. "1t will keep your
hand and eye true" he said insnuatingly.
Let the master practice on his slave. Me-
thinks you take Joy In the flash and ring of
the steel. All brave men do. By the sword
Of Sikandar Ell Rumi, there is the stuff Of q
fighter in you. This ship with all its plum
der shows it. Yet you will not let your
blade drink your servants blood"
Itwas not likely would, but there was
no assurance that my servant would exer
else a like restraint over his blade. Indeed,
on second thoughts, his proposition seemed
to me ruse to try my mettle and wheedls
me into an overweening conceit with my
self that would give him his opportunity.
Happily, was not entirely ignorant In the
use Of the sword, for my graver studies had
been interrupted, perhaps too often, by pro-
longed fencing bouts. But then i was far
from thinking myself an expert. So that
it was no light matter to stand up before
man Of unknown skill and suspicious mo-
tive, whose greatest delight 1t might be to
spit me at the very first 20 of. Neverthe-
less had given my consent, and 1t would
have been both folly and cowardice to go
back. So ! put on my stoutest front,
though, to be candid, the naked, wicked
fash Of our weapons in the sun caused me
a.. TO- L,.A
however, for the demand of every faculty
OF mind and body was too keen to leave me
time to be afraid.
soon discovered that Abram ben Alden
was skillful swordsman, with sure and
rapid eye, great length and suppleness of
arm and the confidence which comes Of
many triumphs. Yet rung him blow for
blow and ended the first encounter in n
glow OF satisfaction. We were both nimbe
as goats, and l believe a spectator would
have said the fencing was lively. For an
hour each day we exercised thus, and my
companions good humor continued un-
abated.
We lived this life for month. During
yll that time the weather was glorious, and
we enjoyed it undisturbel. The brig float
ed lazily along, whatever wind there was
being mostly steady in the same quarter.
Not sail nor soul did we see, and had
but the haziest notion of our whereabouts.
II Abram ben Alden was better informed.
be kept his knowledge sedulously to him
self He seemed Indeed too intent on pro-
viding entertainment to give a Thought
either to our course or our destination. We
told tales and sang songs and ate and
drank and fenced and studied, and all alone
on a derelict, waterlogged ship led the
most deleotable existence imaginable. My
companion fairly adored me. He antici-
pated my wishes, spoke increasingly Of the
unequaled deeds had done, and more
than once showed a strong disposition to
fall down and worship me.
"I have been a rover" he would declare,
with the unction OF man saying his
prayers. but may Azrael seize me this mo-
ment II speak not the truth in saying that
never have my eyes seen man who
matches you in bravery and good fortune.
And you are but youth" he would add In
most engaging tone.
This continued till began to fancy had
enchanted the man, that he was verify my
slave, and had only to exercise my magical
power to bend him to my will as complete
1y as the most docile md obedient genie In
any Arabian tale of wonder. dare say ]
plumed myself on my ascendancy, / dare
say put on airs, and have no doubt what
ever that Abram ben Alden, most adroit OF
courtiers, most subtle of fiatterers, saw
through me and took my measure with
perfect accuracy.
One evening in our fencing exercise
thought he pressed harder on me than ever
before, and that his blade rang with unac-
customed sharpness. But the quickened
movements only made my blood run the
faster, for by this time was both confident
and dexterous. We went at 1t as much in
earnest perhaps as any two men who ever
crossed blades for amusement, and re
member the thrill caused by the thought
What II he is trying to kill mef My op.
ponent was the first to cry halt. He was
flushed and out Of breath, and l fancied
that under his everlasting smile there was
feeling Of vexation.
by the right arm Of the prophet, you
are gallant swordsmanp' he cried, recov-
erlng his breath. 'tYour eye Is the sun and
your stroke n flash of lightning. would
not fight you for 10 shiploads of gold. The
man who fights you puts his life on your
sword point. As q jest you have taken my
wind away, and by the breath of the desert
am hot. Come, thou champion brandisheI
of steel, and let us refresh ourselves"
Ordinarily we put away our weapons as
soon as our exercise was done, but this
evening we took them with US, and they
lay across our knees as we ate and drank.
Are we enemiesi" cried Abram ben
Alden, laughing immoderately at the idea
of two peaceabls aud friendly men sitting
down to meat armed as for battle. Yet
somehow we did not lay the swords aside,
and when we went to bed we still had
them.
slept soundly that night and was late
in awakening next morning. On reaching
the cabin / found that Abram ben Alden
had not yet risen, and thinking to surprise
him, / crept to his door. 1t stood ajar,
showing an empty bunk, made up as It had
|. been left the day before whistled softly
to myself, then going quickly on deck
looked for his boat. But 1t, too. was gone.