Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-05-02

Koor Alt and htS little band ercrc at last
Spicd emerging from dcfle.
atory. But intelligence was at hand. Just
as the morning star was fading out Of sight
Koor Ali and his little band were at last
spied emerging from defile in the noun
tains. Abou Kuram watched them with
never a word but his face was set, and in
his heart were the elements of fearful
explosion.
As Koor Ali approached we saw that he
was accompanied by stranger of rank,
whom we judged to be an emissary from
Amood Sim. At sight of him Abou Ku-
ram became sterner than ever.
Behold, now we shall have a feast Of
words" he said to me, land we shall be
talking idly when we ought to be driving
Yumen Yusel to destruction"
When at length the company drew up, he
received their salute coldlv and listened
with a mixture of scorn and naughty i'm
patience to the forid speech which the en-
voy FASTENED to make. The many express
sions of personal good will with which the
oration was interlarded he acknowledged
s'iffly; indeed the responses were so unwill-
ingly made one with half an eye could
have seen 1t would be far more congenial to
him to draw his sword and fall furiously on
this man of smiling face and fine words
than to stand and listen. Koor Ali, per
ceiving the temper of his chief and well
knowing what it meant, advanced with the
object of making his report, and 80 cut
short the palavering. But he had not utter
ed dozen words when Mohammed ben Ell.
dad Hassam (such was the strangers i'm
posing name) interrupted him.
"Peradventure. may be permitted to say
to my lords brother" said the envoy, beam
ing upon Abou Kuram with n feline soft
ness and craftiness of expression, that as
to the delay which hath occurred the good
and gallant Kour Ali and his followers.
who showed the courage of lions in coming
to u.s. are in nowise to blame"
"My lord ought not to trouble himself
with such small matters" returned Abou
Kuram, with the slightest of bows and the
faintest of smiles. "They become not his
rank. Besides he is weary and needeth
rest"
II am indeed weary" responded Ben FL
dad with unruffled urbanity. "And 1t is
because of that would speak in behalf OF
Koor Ali for may never have the holy
joy of sitting in the prophets presence ii
he hath not driven US as if we were things
of iron ind steel and not men Of simple
flesh and blood"
ut is not proper that my lord should
thus add to his weariness," interrupted
Abou Kuram. LET him withdraw to my
tent and have his feet washed by his serv.
ants slaves and food set before him and
take the rest of which he is so much In
need. Koor Ali will himself tell his story"
and with an imperative manner that was
not to be resisted he led Mohammed ben El'
dad Hassam to the retirement Of the tent.
In minute he was back again.
'Now," he said to Koor Ali, drawing
himself up with soldierly sternness. I'VE
will hear what thou hast to say. Where
fore didst thou tarry so long, and what It'd.
ings hast thou brought"
Koor Ali gave his story briefly and clear
". To begin with, he said, they did not
find Amood linn ut the place appointed,
an excursion of the man on the black horse
and his maranders having driven him deeper
into the mountains. This change Of situa-
tion involved an arduous search of 4S
hours, and when at last Amood Sim was
found he was skulking among the rocks rs
if he were fox, with his army scattered be
knew not whittier.
His heart was as the dust under his
feet" pursued koor Ali, land he rallied up
on the evil spirit on the black horse who
had come to destroy him. | asked him if
he intended to let Yumen Yusel harry his
kingdom and carry away his horses, his
camels, his wives and his little ones, and he
answered, If it is the will of God Nay
replied, that is but the voice of craven
fear We are come hithcr to help thee with
great host, and are we to go back because
thou liest among the rocks afraid to come
forth and give the enemy battle" Where.
upon there were shame and confusion on
his colntcnnnce, and lie arose and said that
of surety they woUld fight. But how
shall prevail on E!y men, he asked, for
they think these arc evil spirits lcagued
against themf' Gather them unto one
place. said unto him, aud he sent ou,
messengers and gathered them into one
place-a great hollow in the midst Of the
mountains. Speak uii;o them / said.
Nay, it will bc better f thou speak unto
them,' he answered. for they no longer
heed my words.
BE CONTINUED.