Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-02
Copyright, 1898, ty John Alexander steuart.l

sport enough. Ere the sun go doWn aSain
we shall be on the march to meet Yumen
Yusel and his helper satan. We shall see
how thou canst sheathe thy sword in flesh.
'Tis merry game, and methinks there will
be plenty of it going"
And then in the hearing of all he re-
peated that was to ride by his bride in
the character of physician and personal at
tendant, and that was to be mounted on
a favorite mare from his own stable. Alb
dallah sat looking on the ground with a
clouded brow and compressed lips, but
dared not speak word. The crowd gaped
and beamed on me as one basking in the
favors of an all powerful prince, though
doubtless puzzled by the change of senti.
ment that conferred on me my distinctions.
IAN Arab can confer no more signal honor
than to present a guest with horse OF high
pedigree. Awife from his harem is small
thing in comparison.
.urhou wilt find the little Fatima of the
unrest Kohlani breed" he went on, ad-
dressing me, ''in shape and spirit un-
eoualed outside my royal stables. In her
veins is the unadulterated blood OF the
prophets own mare. In feetness rs the
deer. in courage as the lion, in gentleness
as the lamb, in beauty as the gazelle, in in
telligence as the serpent, she will be to thee
both companion and protector, obeying thy
wishes ere thou hast time to express them.
She will carry thee bravely to victory or fly
with thee swifter than the wind in defeat.
She will nurse thee when thou art sick, re-
ioice with thee when thou art glad. She
will be thy lover and thy slave. See thou
prove worthy of her. And now there is
but one thing more; when thou seest the
sun looking for his bed in the west, come
bither and thou shalt find her ready for
thee"
He waved his hand to signify the audi
ence was at an end, and rising passed into
the interior of the castle.
'tVerily the great Abou Kuram hath
shown thee favor beyond example," re-
marked Said Achmet as we returned for q
little to his home. II think thou hast thy
fair face to thank The truth of nature
will overturn many lies. AS for the enter
prise on which thou goest it accordeth well
with thy adventurous spirit. The scent OF
danger is to thee as the scent cf prey to the
lion. Thy gladness is shining in thine eyes,
I would I could see thee again."
"And may I not return to Marabel in tri
umph?" asked.
'aTruly thou mayst, but something tells
me thou wilt not. Itwas pleasant to sit
with thee over the evening pipe or pluck
ing the ripe fruit, hearing thee talk OF thy
country and adventures. But the bitter
must be with the sweet. All things have
an end, and that which once WAS becomes
but dream. The time of parting is at
hand, and I shall lie awake on my bed Mt
night thinking Of the stranger who came
from afar to cheer me in my solitude"
"And the stranger will think OF thee
with gratitude" returned. 'sIt is all he
has to offer, and thou hast it in full meas
ure. Wherever he may go, whatever may
be his lot, he will remember thy kindness
in the day Of his trouble"
''It is surely enough" he answered in n
low voice that had q quiver in it. when
thou returnest to thy people, tell them that
beneath the burnoose there beat human
hearts. Now one last favor ask of thee
thou art now man of influence: | COM
mend my Tabal to thy care, and the Lord
prosper thee"
"May my best friend forget me if l for
get thy son." I replied, and he thanked me
with gushing eyes.
Early in the afternoon, in accordance
with Abou Kuram's orders, Said Achmet,
Tabal and myself went to the castle,
which presented a scene of frantic commo-
ton. An esplanade or parade ground in
front was thronged with gaunt, fierce Wis
aged troops, some on foot, some mounted
on horses and some on dromedaries, wheel
ing and plungng and rushing to ard fro
with maniacal yells and brandishing Of
weapons.
On first catching sight of them through
Il vista Of palms and tamarisks l thought
that either they had suddenly gone star;
mad or t.,.G the enemy, following up his
successes in the field, had pushed OH ard
captured the castle. Itaddcd TO my amaze.
nlent when Tabal, seeing what was going
on, bolted forward, shouting frantically,
as though he, too, were magically bercft OF
his wits. Having 10 taste to advance
among the flying spears, was meditating
flight when Said Achmet touched ME reas,
suringly on the arm.
'It is the ArZah" a wardance perform
ed before going to meet an enemy, he said
with smile. 'They are getting up the
spirit of war. Methinks it will be bad for
the enemy"
Whatever might be the issue, there was
no denying the imposing ferocity OF that
wild wardance.
The men were armed with variety of
queer and uncouth weapons ancient
matchlocks, pistols, spears, swords, javelins
and daggers, which flew and flashed pro-
miscuously as if company Of bedlamites
had somehow possessed themselves of half
dozen armorles.
As soon as we were seen approaching a
band of horsemen dashed to meet us, whirl-
ing their swords in the air SO furiously that
in spite of Said Achmet's assurance that
the display was mere sport, had an un-
easy suspicion that they were bent on cut
ting us down by way of preliminary prac-
tice. But just at the crucial moment, when
their lances were within a few feet of US,
they wheeled with inconceivable quicknesS
and dexterity and dashed back the way they
came, yelling savagely. Two or three times
this maneuver was repeated, each time Wit h
a madder dash and quicker turning, then
drawing up suddenly they faced US, salut-
ing with rigid precision that was in strik-
ing contrast to the wild movements they
had just gone through.
They had scarcely turned to get back to
their original positions when great shout
went up, and Abou Kuram, superbly mount
ed on a gay charger, came curveting and
prancing on the esplanade with drawn
sword. His appearance was the signal for
anoth.r mad outbreak of the entire body
Of troops, horse and foot. Yelling and
flourishing and throwing their weapons,
they circled about him rather as if he were
a captive for whose blood they thirsted
than q commander whom they wished to
honor, while he rode quietly through the
maze, sitting his high spirited horse like
one born to the saddle. By and by the
tumult died down, and Abou kuram, still
riding about, noticed Said Achmet and my
self With two or three bounds of his leap
ing steed he was beside us.
'Here thou art" he said, smiling down
upon me. ut pleaseth me to see thee pune
tually, according to thy word. Hast said
farewell to the good Said Achmet, for the
time has come to mount and be off,"
81 am ready, my lord" answered.
sit is we'll for the shadows grow long