Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-16
CHAPTER X.
ALONE ONCE MORE

CHAH1ER N
ALONE ONCE MORE.
Whatever evil Abram ben Alden may
have harbored in the secret chambers of
his heart his bearing toward ME was the es-
sence of courtliness and friendship. Ny
own brother could not have been more so
licitous for my happiness and welfare, nor
the most loyal of henchmen reader to
do me service. When, from some chance ex-
pressions Of mine, he discovered that was
just recovering from a mortal illness he
broke into fresh chantings of my valor
and fortitude and insisted on taking on
himself the duties of cook and general per
sonal attendant.
1T is not meet that heroes should do the
work of slaves" he said. Leave it to me,
who am but common mortal. l am hap
Ply in serving so valiant a master and so
generous a benefactor, one whose deeds
should have been the inspiring theme of
the peerless Kaahel Albar la famous Ara
bian poetl himself"
A blunt man like myself is at grave dis
advantage in dealing with courtier In
spite of his fine words, mistrusted my
guest as much as ever. That he coveted
my possessions l knew, and that he had
designs on my throat l more than half sus-
pected, yet could not resist his advances
nor deny his sallies of wit and humor the
need of a smile. He was insistently and
infectiously light hearted, for he took life
like a gamblers game, in which success
and failure should be accepted with equal
equanimity. Evidently he had made up
his mind not to be depressed.
He had other popular and charming
qualities besides. To the aplomb of the
man of action and the peculiar knowledge
of the man of the world he united the i'm
Gin Of he and tho hannU az
dacity of the born romancer. His adven-
lures had been many and marvellous, and
no man was ever his own Homer to finer
effect. He had seen more with his two
bodily eyes than had ever dreamed of, and
he invested his tales with glamor that
professional story tellers would have en-
We'd. do not think his recitals were re-
markable for strict adherence to fact, but
there could be no question of their fascina-
ton. His talk was like sojourn in the
land of enchantment and flowers and fra
GRANGE and fair women and palaces and
gold and precious stones and heroic ex-
PLOTS and all the raptures of the brightest
realms of fancy. He made the Arabian
Nights tame and Baron Munchausen
common falsifier.
To give variety to the entertainments,
one day he proposed that he should teach
me Arabic.
know that Abram ben Alden, though
rover, is likewise master of literature"
he said, with superb flourish of his arms;
the poets are his especial delight. They
are greater than the magicians; they are as
a flame in the soul which Eliminates the
universe. But how is the adventurer, the
corsair, to carry the songs of the poets with
him? Why, here" tapping his forehead.
Here is the chamber in which the poets
have their abode, and here" producing
greasy volume from the folds of his dress,
lis what the prophet gave to the faithful
as a consolation till they are translated to
enjoy forever the love of the hours.
You are an infidel, but what of that? You
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 infdel, you shall yet converse as
brother with the children of the desert.
Yea and eat Ell Shelebi 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 dew shalt feed
And drink the milk of paradise.
TITS 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, l 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-such was my dilgence-was able
to converse with tolerable fuency. The
second week was deep in the Koran and
able to follow my teacher in his Rotations
from the Arabian poets; the third week
| was reciting myself. Abram ben Alden was
delighted with his success.
"By the prophets MANTLE" he said, Il
will have you in paradise yet. Your speech
already is as of one bred in the desert. You
have the Arabs 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 insinuatingly.
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 a
fighter in you. This ship with all its plum
| der shows it. Yet you will not let your
blade drink your servants blood"
1t was 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 a ruse to try my mettle and wheedle
me into 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 / was far
| from thinking myself an expert. So that
| it was no light matter to stand up before a
man OF unknown skill and suspicious mo-
! tive, whose greatest delight it might be to
spit me at the very first go off. Neverthe-
| less l had given my consent, and it would
have been both folly and cowardice to 60
back. So l put on my stoutest front,
! though, to be candid, the naked, wicked
fash Of our weapons In the sun caused me
| a nasty sensation. 1t was but momentary,
| 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 q skillful swordsman, with a 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 q
| glow of satisfaction. We were both nimble
as goats, and / believe a spectator would
have said the fencing was lively. For an
hour each day we exercised thus, and my
| companions good hunaor continued I'M
! abated.