Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-01-27

| If the abattoir were not burst somehow,
none would be left to enjoy the good things
that had brought us together.
At last some one got hold of ii torch,
| and kicking open stove that smoldered
| in a corner lighted it. Another and an
other followed suit till 20 brands We're shed
ding red glare on the CHASTITY scene. In a
swift glance we-reckoned the multitude of
| demons against us; then, clustering once
more about Suleiman, we reaped a path in
ward till we came to battered staircase.
Somewhere at the top of it were the secret
apartments in which Amood Sims most
precious possessions were kept, and we
made haste to ascend, staShiug and tear
ing down all that blocked or barred the
way. 1t would have saved much life and
considerable trouble had the several bands
agreed to combine and distribute the booty
share and share alike. But no man thought
of that, and probably would not have en-
tertained the idea had it occurred to him.
For why2 Because the good old rule
Sufficeth them; the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can.
So every ruffian did that which promised
the best and speediest return to himself
We gained thetop with the loss of only
one man, who went down clutching his
slayer and believing frightfully. Remark
ing that, everything considered, we had
done very well, Suleiman paused a moment,
trying to decide which way to turn. Lady
rinths of passages ran like an intricate net
work in all directions. Any one of them
might be right, but the probability was
that most of them were wrong, and it was
important to make the proper choice. AS
we Were debating in our own minds which
corridor to take, and with the aid of our
weapons endeayOring to maintain our foot
ing, Suleiman caught a man who seemed
anxious to escape and punched him under
the fifth rib till he yelled.
Have a little forbearance, friend, said
Suleiman, "what do they call thee?"
"Baruk," answered the man, ready to
fall in terror.
And thy Office, gentle Baruk:"
"Chamberain of the harem.'
by my faith, heaven is gracious" re-
marked Suleiman softly. Thou seest
this dagger" drawing a crimson blade
slowly before the mans eyes. Take note
of its color. 1t ii sharp and cruel and will
be on thy heart if we are not in AmoodS
most secret chamber within three minutes"
How can it be-" asked Baruk, with a
Hvid face
That is for thee to devise" answered
Suleiman quietly. Thou art at home and
shouldst know thy way about And pray
thee make haste, lest l be tempted to fall
on thee whore thou standest."
My lord would go to the harem?" said
Baruk
Thou art magician" returned Sulei-
man. 1t is even so"
The man turned, making an effort to get
on, but could not force his way.
1T is better to kill me, " he moaned My
ribs crack as dry twigs under the hunters
tread. Never have mine eyes looked on so
woeful n spectacle as this"
He wrunx his hands and would have
wept but that the point of dagger made
him leap in the air.
Thou hast forgotten that we are in
hurry" said Sulciman. Go on.n
He made another effort and failed as be
fore
The thing cannot be done, my lord,'
he gibbered in despair.
I'VE will see,'' replied Suleiman.
The dagger pricked and Baruk screamed
Like a plunging horse, he sprang at the
solid mass and came back like water from
a rock.
Thou art -: no avail i'll thy own house."
said Sueiman, do thou guide and will
make way fer thee"
Keeping his dagger on a level with the
small of mans back, Suleiman drove
ahead, the other covering close behind him
for protection, and we resolutely support
ing. Progress, however was slow, for the
light was bad the block exceedingly great
and the fallen were troublesome under foot.
But Suleiman's dagger was very busy
quietly busy, dealing blows that We're I'M
failingly effective, and we made steady way.
Baruk wept Historically at intervals, de-
claring his master would have him behead-
ed, and leapcd like roe at every prod from
behind.
Back, far back, we went along such q
course as l hope never to travel again. At
last Baruk. writhing us if the death agony
were upon him, touched with the tip of his
finger what seemed to be panel in the
wall. The next instant there was a crash
Of splintering wood and rendimg iron, and
through the broken door came Il gush of
warm perfume. The hours, my dove"
said Suleiman. The houris." The men at
hisback, shouting, wildly strained for para
disc, all except the guide, who groaned dis
nally as if he were on the brink of the pit
Surging forward, we entered a narrow
passage heavy with incense and darkened
by massy curtains. Then, bursting an
other door, we came to tapestried cham
Ter. Suleiman growled at finding it empty
and was turning to have satisfaction out of
Baruk when chorus of screams came ring
ing Oub Oh Iue GGIlOle lltFhllGSS DSN OlU.
Barnk was let alone. There was fun atTerd
thar prohibited ddllying
THE finer c1tamIJer!'' scrceched the
guide THE inner chamber, rnt lord! May
God md the hory prophet ptotet nref' ne
added TO himself tragfcaltt ~SurefS
shan be burned alive for Tins and never
taste the bliss Of the faithful. Never were
the sanctfties of the harcm and our holy re-
ligion so profaned before!'
Suleiman, ia another mood, was using
Inhallowed language in front, because we
we're again in a maze of deep darkness, from
which there appeared to be no outlet.
'Perdition seize thee. where art thou
now, thou varlet of the bedchamberf" he
called angrily to Baruk. by the prophets
sword, this dagger quivereth for fleshy
sheath. Thou shalt never escape alive if
there is more trouble or delay"
Surely. my lord, know these passages
as blind man knoweth the way to his
mouth" answered Baruk promptly The
press is lessened. l Twill Lead
Let me take hold Of thy skirt then, for
l have not the eyes of a cat" said Suleiman.
Thou feelest that point-yea, that shrink
ing answereth for thee. Now, my gazelle,
get us on if thou wouldst not be in the hall
of Eblis this night"
We passed on through suffocating waves
of perfume. past rustling curtains OF ines
Unable value, over Persian rugs that were
like deep beds of moss under foot-up stairs
and down stairs and around more corners
than Christian architect ever dreamed of.
Another door few into splintcrs, and we
found overselves in a gorgeously decorated
apartment illumined by swinging lamps
that emitted a delectable odor and full of
struggling men and women. Crumpled,
disheveled embroideries, torn fans, broken
musical instruments and various articles
of toilet were strewn about the floor for
the ladies and their attendants, not sus-
pecting the fate of their lord, had been
taken by surprise in the midst of music,
gossip and needlework.
A few of the women were negro slaves, in
coarse, scanty raiment, but the ma ority
were delicately clothed ladies of the harem
whose manifold charms were an eloquent
testimony to Amood's appreciation of di-
verse kinds of female Ioveliness Fair Cir
cassians there were, and tawny Egyptians,