Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-25

FIT to be sheik, by the glories of AL
Raschid," he said, stepping back in admi
ration when he had buckled on the weapon
II tell thee that great are the swordsmlth
and the maker of garments. Who confer
reth distinction like them? Thou art nc
longer as stradd!ing tongs. Thou hast tine
grace of the waving palm; thou bendest as
the willow by the brook. On warhorse
thou wouldst be the bravest Of warriors
Yea, and in the shadow of the court, in the
place of Judgment, who could so fitly de
liver laws? In every line and look of thee
save mayhap in the fairness Of thy face
thou art son of Ishmael And the Arabian
sky will quickly take that fair cast out OF
thee. Then of a truth thou shalt be as our
selvesm
He walked deliberately round me noting
with words and beams of delight each point
of resemblance to the true born Arab. He
could not enough admire, though suspect
his pleasure in my gallant equipment was
rather due to his own share in it than to
the dignity and naturalneSs with which
carried it, Suddenly he got grave.
''Thou remindest me of them 1 would
fain have about me-" he said with some
thing of sigh. AS if to explain his change
of manner he added: II had three sons.
One sleepeth beneath the green waves that
bore thee hither; one lies deep under sands
heaped upon him by the fingers of the lone
desert wind. The third is even now doing
battle, or it may be he has gone the way 0
his brothers. My heart is solitary at tie
thought that 1 may never look on him
again. And thou art so like him. He re-
sembled thee in youth, in suppleness, in
bearing in goodness of appearance, his eye
had the hardihood of thine, and his arm
the same readiness to strike"
His comparisons were cut short by an
imperative knocking at the door, which
replaced his look of sadness by one of
alarm.
.sWhat meaneth this?" he said, with
bated breath, as he bent his ear to hearken.
The knock was almost instantly repeated
with an added imperiousness and empha-
sis. "It must be summons from the gov
ernor," he said, glancing at me with an eH-
preston of anxiety as he rose tC meet his
visitors.
1t was as he suspected. A dozen of the
castle guards, armed to the teeth, clustered
about the door, and it was evident they
were excited. Said Achmet endeavor-
ed to temporize, but he was peremptorlly
ordered to stand aside, and the men, with
weapons drawn, pushed past him. With
out word they seized me and began drag
eing me toward the door. The idea of re-
sistance comes strong upon one so uncere-
moniously handled without cause, and
had swift thoughts of trying the quality of
Said Achmet's silver hilted sword. He
perceived the danger and rushed to my
side.
''As thou valuest thy life resist not" lie
whispered, hurriedly. The governor has
sent them to take thee. Go and rely on
my aid"
In the grip of dozen armed fanatics it
would indeed have been folly to make op.
position. So, merely begging that might
be permitted to take my green bag, quiet
ly suffered myself to be thrust into the
midst of bristling clump Of spears. The
greatest malefactor on earth could nothave
been more jealousy guarded or more ig-
ANONYMOUSLY hustled. had just one word
of Encouragement. In passing through the
door I got whisper from Said Achmet
that he would be at the castle by sunrise
on the morrow to testify in my favor. His
meaning was not clear, but it was solacing
to have even one friend at so dubious q
juncture.
The winds seemed to bear intelligence of
my arrest. No sooner had we quilted the
garden than wewere in clamoring crowd,
bearing links that shed a grotesque and
lurid light on the strange scene. AS
krew that in Arab towns the inhabitants
are rarely abroad after sunset, the demon
stration was evidence of unusual, indeed
OF extraordinary, commotion.
The PEOPLE, pressing about us, speculated
aloud OIL the doom that waSin store for me,
and their euguries were anything but
cheering. What was more disquicting, they
once or twice showed 4 disposition to take
matters into their own hands. If they had
done that, have notion this history
would never have been written. AS lis
tened to the shoutings and mutterings
about me had a very vivid remembrance
of Said Achmet's tale Of the Egyptian and
Persian.
Here may be the very place where they
were killed." thought to myself as we
went along. Here their blood may have
Deen poured OUT. 4Aese "a!4s may nave
echoed their dying groans." And some
times in sudden flares and sweeps Of the
torches the crimsoned ground had grewsome
suggestions of violent deeds.
On reaching the castle walls, which were
surprisingly thick, we entered through q
narrow gateway, fanked With towers, to q
sort of esplanade crowded with soldiers.
Then we entered an outer court, passing
through another narrow gate to an inner.
This also we traversed; then we passed
through several crooked corridors till we
came to gap in dead wall Into this
was thrust, q door was banged and bolted
behind me, and was alone in utter dark
ness Amoment's groping proved Twas in
o windowless dungeon-probably con-
demned cell.