The National tribune., 1894-03-22

large in his front. By their dirty sheepskin
and shaggy ponies he recognized Uzbeck rob
bers, the vilest of the nomads of the steppes
The leader shouted as they reined in the
horses to the master of a dozen kingdoms:
Down, Dervish, dog Such courser a
thine is too good for beggarly Santon. and il
| meet for thy betters."
The Khan crouched to tho very hump as bow.
| were bent and arrows whistled The point!
| that pricked the ribs of the dromedary only put
new life into bone and sinew.
May my soul never see Paradise" laughed
| Togrul in his glee If ever thou dost miss the
freshest dates and barley sugar for life!" and
| he stroked the camels silken hide
When Togrul saw diamond sparks flashing
| fire far away, ne knew it was the glitter OF the
sun Oh the tail minaretS of Samarcand.
Dismounting at the city gate, be had his
| gallant beast well bestowed after kissing the
| white spot between the soft. bright eyes. and
mingled among the people, his face closely
vailed under the folds Of his burnOus.
There was culver of excitement in the air.
The crowd had vague feeling of coming evil.
Everywhere the Khan heard curses called
down on his wszir. ss %,
Where is Togrul?" said a merchant, scowl-
ing in his doorway tothe little company squat
ted in front, that he leaves his Capital to the
mercy of the robber wazir? Only yesterday
he feeeed me of hundred purses. Twas
that or the head. What if Togrul has quelled
the men Of the steppe, when his servant can
close his eyes and ears with lies2 And now
may Sheitan seize the wretch! he takes with
both hands OPEN"
"Togrul the Just prays away off," laughed a
melon seller. Let him pray that his crown
be not snatched from his head. What else be-
token the Turcoman hordes which swarm to
the city"
''Noureddin has ever been the bane of the
people, but his master loves the playmate of
his youth" said grave Persian, with the ink
stand of the scribe slung to his girde.
These and other tales of evil-doing made the
ears of the pretended Dervish tingle and his
heart swelled with self reproach as be beat his
breast and cried, May Allah, the most merci-
full forgive his unworthy servant" Then he
betook himself to the gate of justice in the
great courtyard of the palace.
NOureddin stood at the side Of the throne, his
robes glittering with jewels. The officers of
IogruPs court were grouped about.
On the throne sat the kahn'S young -on, the
heir Of the realm, glancing about with boys
careless eye, puppet in the cunning mockery
of whose presence the wazir masked his
schemes till the return of the assassin Yacoub.
The great square was filled with armed men,
among them 10000 Turcoman troopers. Near
the throne stood the sinister form of the heads
man, Agib, black mute holding an un-
sheathen scimetar.
A vailed Dervish advanced, with bowed
head, up the steps, before the throne.
=" The counsel of Allah, the compassionate
and of his prophet; blessed be that holy name
forever, rest with thee. wazir," he said, and
waited in silence
Speak" was the "nswer "I am here in
the name Of the great Khan to listen"
" Hear, then, wazir the words of truth and
soberness. The people cry against thee for
abuse OF masters trust, in that he ever loved
thee from boy to man, and refused to think
that thy words were lies. They call thee
robber of the rich and grinder Of the poor-a
thief grown rich from the kidnapping of youth.
Bethink. lest Togrul should return and be no
longer blind and deaf"
The wazir's eyes grew bloodshot with rage,
and his speech was thick as it struggled to his
lips.
"The minutes of life were counted by the
breath that spoke those words, mad Dervish,"
he said. Then, half kneeling to the boy on the
throne In the name of thy father VIII gave me
the sword and the keys" And, turning to this
terrible mute he spoke also three words, "Do
thine Office"
The boy Murad watched with half-terrifed
eyes and throbbing heart. Perhaps he would
have spoken in stay Of the coming deed had lie
dared. as he saw the black hand pressing on
the shoulder of the cowled form and the Der
wish sank to his knees.
of Agib, flashed also Solomon's seal, which
rested on an uplifted finger-even as the GYM
balls clashed and the crier's words rang out:
Hear, . ye people, and witness the justice of
the great Khan !"
Agib's black skin almost grew gray with
amaZement and terror, and the sword fell clang-
ing on the marble.
AS the Dervish dropped his cowi crd rose in
the kingly figure Of ITogrul. the headsman
groveled and kissed his, masters naked feet
Murad sprang to his fathers arms with cry
that pealed through The great square.
Ten thousand Turcoman bows were bent but
not an arrow flew. -'9
The Khan stretched forth his hand, an his
form swelled with tho pride1of his race. TO the
breathless thousands who looked on the emerald
seemed to emit greenifames, and terror fell on
them as they remembered the power of the
talisman. e-wg
Even the savage Turcomans fancied the cir
thickening with squadronsi of giant shadows
for they, too, had often heard the legend in the
camps of the desert that aSolomon's seal COM
manded the fealty of the tribes of the Jinni.
Togrul turned to the traitor Noureddin. who
stood pale, quaking, speechless in face of his
doom, and said sssL
What deserves he, men of Samarcand
who has abused his office for plunder and op-
preston; who has squeezed the rich and trcrl-
pied on the faces of the poor; who has lice to
his master and betrayed his love; who has
plotted to slay him whose bread he ate Speak,
and it shall be done accordingly"
TogruPs speech was followed by G. great
shout, which even the voices OF the wild riders
of the desert, whose shaykh had taken the
wizir's pay, Joined to swell, and the word was
" "Death!"
And, while tho thunder of acclamcticn
roared, the master of dozen kingdoms, the
grandson of that scourge OF the nations who
had builta pyramid of 100000 human heads On
one battlefield, hid his face under his Dervish
robe. that he might not witness justice fall on
the head of the traitor he had loved as O bow
aud trusted as Q monarch.-BQstQa Globe