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

N@~sSSSS-=-
wright, 1898, by John Alexander Steuart.i
e1ed. do not think mis- feCIItals Wefc 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-
ploits and ali the raptures of the brightest
realms of fancy. He made the Arabian
Nights tame and Baron Munchausen q
common lals:fier.
To give variety to the entertainments,
cne day he proposed that he should teach
me Arabic.
"Know that Abram ben Alden, though q
rover, is likewise master of literature, "
he said, with a superb flourish of his arms;
1.-THE poets are his especial delight. They
are greater than the magicians; they are as
q fame in the soul which Eliminates the
universe. But how is the adventurer, the
corsair, to carry the songs OF She poets with
him? Why, here" tapping his forehead.
Here is the chamber in which the poets
have their abode, and here" producing a
greasy volume from the folds of his dress,
sis what the prophet gave to the faithful
as consolation till they are translated to
enjoy forever the love of the houris.
''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 man. You hope to get to heaven.
l will show you the way, and while show
you shall learn the Arabs tongue. Come,
my merry infdel, you shall yet converse rs
a 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.
'Tis 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 sore trial Of
patience ut first, but persevered and in a
week-such was my diligence-was able
to converse with tolerabie flueacy. The
second week was deep in the Koran and
able to follow my teacher in his recitations
from the Arabian poets; the third week l
was reciting myself. Abram ben Alden was
delighted with his success.
"By the prophets mantle," he said, u
will have you in paradise.yet. Your speech
already is rs 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!"
4. diversion to our studies he lured me,
rather against my judgment, into daily
bout with the sword. ut 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 el 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 like restraint over his blade. Indeed,
on second thoughts, his proposition seemed
to me ruse to try my mettle and wheedle
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 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 60 off. Neverthe-
less I had given my consent, and it would
have been both folly and cowardice to go
back So 1 put on my stoutest front,
though, to be candid, the naked, wicked
flash 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 a 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 a
glow of satisfaction. Wewere both nimble
as goats, and 1 believe q 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 q month. During
all that tins the weather was glorious, and
we enjoyed it undisturbed. 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.
If Abram ben Alden was better informed,
he 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 ard ate and
drank and fenced and studied, and all alone
on derelict. waterlogged ship led the
most delectable existence imaginable. My
companion fairly adored me. He anticl-
pated my wishes, spoke increasingly of the
unequaled deeds l had done, and nlore
than once showed strong disposition to
fall down and worship me.
81 have been rover" he would declare,
with the JUNCTION of man saying his
prayers, "but may Azrael seize me this mo-
ment if I speak not the truth in saying that
never have my eyes seen a man who
matches you in bravery and good fortune
And you are but youth" he would add in
a most engaging tone.
This continued till began to fancy 1 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
IL as the most 'docile and obedient genie in
any Arabian tale of wonder. dare say l
plumed myself on my ascendancy, dare
say put on airs, and have no doubt what
ever that Abram ben Alden, most adrolt OF
courtiers, most subtle of flatterers, saw
through me and took my measure with
perfect accuracy.
One evening in our fencing exercise l
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 I was both confident
ITo want ot IL a rO;lcl in