The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1894-06-22
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE INDIAN PRINCESS.
There was still much to be done and need
Of haste in doing it, but Suleiman's first
duty was to provide for the safety of the
prizes he had taken.
I'VE shall come with US, ye lovely Ones"
s ss saai d. s. addresslBs tbs llaasash Win
make you secure from the fury of man.
Far have we come to deliver you from ruth
less hands and ignoble bondage"
"And who instructed thee in our condi.
tion9" demanded the Circassian, flashing
with queenly rage. "Thy deliverance, me
thinks, will be slavery-thy care perpetual
evil"
sweet rose of the garden, replied Sulei
man, ut becometh not thy beauty to be in
tempest. Thy lord is far from hence, my
beauteous one, and his return to thy lovely
bosom is uncertain Wherefore shouldst
thou tarry here to be abasedP"
"There can be no worse abasement than
going with thee" she snapped. Leave US
to such chances as fate may bring and get
ye gone, for ye are but portionless Bedouins
Of the desert"
May" answered Suleiman, more insinu
atingly than ever. I'VE cannot leave what
has enraptured our eyes. Make thyself old
and ugly, my charmer, and we will fly from
thy presence. But while thou puttest the
rose and lily to shame thou must blame
heaven, not us, if we refuse to go from thy
side. And now, my adorable, there is bust
mass going on in which must bear hand
Will my queen therefore deign to accom-
pany us TO place Of safety, where she may
be guarded from harmS"
The lady would have broken out again,
but Suleiman had no more time to waste
on words. Conduct thy mistress the
queen, and her fair companion, the gem of
India, whittier we lead," he said, turning
sharply upon Baruk. us there spot of
safety about this neither pitt"
ut is as my lord seeth, answered Baruk
Suleiman considered for moment, then
turned again to the ladies.
Have the lights of Amood's eyes any
possessions they would fain carry with
thems" he inquired, with courtly smile
"Trinkets, jewels, costly robes' Methinks
they must have. And we will ourselves
help them to collect their riches. Ye stay
here while we search" taesD@
Accordingly, although the queen declared
vociferousIy she had no wish but to see the
last Of us, the ladies were consigned to the
care of a strong guard, of which was one,
while the rest, under the guidance Of Ba-
r.lk, went in search Of valuables. They re-
turned after little with many sparkling
ceskets full of precious gems, loads of vari
olls stuffs of richness misrepresentation
els hair cloaks deliberately inwrought with
gold, Indian silks of manifold dyes and
patterns, Khorassan brocades, bundles of
rugs and shaWls and sashes enough to fur
nish 10 regiments of sheiks, and, more i'm
portant than all, two more of the princi
pal ladies Of the harem.
"Just one thing more ere wedepart," said
Suleiman gleefully. "There is enough of
the wine of Shiraz to float thousand
ships, and, by the prophets beard. we 60
not without share of it,"
They went off again, presently coming
back laden till they groaned with skin bot
ties Of many sizes full to the brim of wine.
The burdens were setdown, and Suleiman
looked with JOY ut the pile, and from the
pile to the ladies, and from the ladies back
at the pile
1T is good" he remarked. said l not
that Amood was mighty benefactor of
bis kind' There Is enough here to make
the black tents merry for year."
But 1t was a hard question how to get all
this plumber away. We had won it by
force. and by force might lose it, for in such
adventures as looting castles properly
changes hands with UNREASONABLE quick
ness.
Suleiman stepped to the latticed window,
sent 1t into shivers, and looked down. We
were on the outer wall of the castle, and our
beasts could not be far off, Suleiman's
brow cleared.
There be ropes where riches so abound.
my gazelle," be said. turning to Baruk.
YEA, my lord"
"Take him and bring rope, ALI" said
Suleiman to q man at his side. 1.-Two, If
thou canst find them, and make thy best
speed"
Ali and Baruk were out Of sight in mo-
ment, and Suleiman went on with his in
structionsL
"And thou, Ibrahim, my trusty right
hand, take with you three others, cleave
your way down to where we left our horses
and tell our fellows to bring them under
this window. The matter will be easy.
Get camels, too, II thou canst lay hands on
them, and our fair ones would ride the
easier In ntters. Twill swing lamp in the
window as signal to thee, and forget not,
good Ibrakim, to make haste"
Twill not forget" said Ibrahim, choos-
Ing his companions.
In q few minutes Ali and Baruk were
back with two stout ropes, which were
made fast to two spearheads driven into
the floor.
I'VE will slip down these quicker than
the angels came down Jacobs ladder" re-
marked Suleiman, throwing the loose ends
out Of the window. Nov, my good Ibrar
him, do not tarry."
Ibrahim did not tarry. Even sooner, l
think, than was expected by our impatient
leader. there was sound of grunting and
snorttng and low voices In the darkness un.
derneath that made him smile.
Art thou there, Ibrahim" called Sulei-
man softly.