Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-04-25

1auner, my mother, old Duncan ahd Ciie
rest rose before me with the vivldness OF
reality. Sir Thomas Gordon with his
brown face was there, too, and SO was lsa-
bel, looking as had so often seen her, with
her melting eyes and her abundance OF
glossy hair. trenbled with feeling
half of Joy, half of superstitious dread-as
T looked from one to another Of the vision
ary company. 1t was pleasant to see them
ali as of old. Should l ever see them
again? The meeting was giadsome, but
would it be the last?
In some agitation Of spirit rose, and my
foot struck against the green bag. 1t was
an electric link connecting me in very real
itv with those of whom was thinking. /
picked it uD, drew forth the pipes, hurried
IL turned them and the next instant was
playing highland airs with might and main.
Very weird and strange and thrilling sound
ed the music of my native hillSln that close
subterranean cell-thrilling as the grasp OF
friend in the day of i;aversity, strange as
the Gaelic speech amid Arabian sands.
played till 1 knew no fear and forgot all
danger, till there rose within me q spirit OF
revolt and resistance that would have de-
fled the united power of all the caliphs
from Aboo-Bekr to Mustassim. The first
and last of the real caliphs. Under the
Mamelukes there were, properly speaking,
no caliphs, and the claim Of the sultan to
rank as caliph is absurd.]
Nv 1ailers beat upon the door with the
butts of their muskets to demand silence,
but they might as well have whistled to
the charging lion. Needless of their pound
ing, indeed scarcely hearing it, I played on,
the wild slogan of the clans almost burst
ing the walls asunder. Faster and faster
danced the fingers of the piper; ever more
and more furious rose the strains that
never yet failed to give the strength OF &C.
stasy to a Highlander. Itwas the pipes that
won Waterloo, that saved Lucknow, that
broke the Russian swoop at Balaklava. On
reeking fields of gore their scream has made
men forget death and Danish the thoaght
of yielding. What they had done in the
stress and havoc Of battle they were now
doing in solitariress and darkness. With
their music in my ears, could dare any.
thing.
All at once the door opened, and re1lec-
tion of far away sunshine dribbcd fecbly
in. A band of grisly warriors stood with
out, grasping their weapons and bearing
countenances of distrusr and apprehension.
'Come FORTH" said one, stepping little
in advance of his fellows. THE great \ Abou
Kuram waiteth to hear the charges against
thee"
For half q second held my breath, I'M
certain whether or not to put up my pipes.
Then with fierce gathering of spirit
blew again, harder than ever, and swept
forth, my chanter cumming so bravely that
the Arabs fell back with their fingers hard
in their ears. Perhaps it was out of char
ity, or it may have been from fear to med
die with thing so unearthly, but the
guards suffered me to have my own way,
and I, determined to make a good appear
ance, put my whole soul into the playing
We passed along devious passages Of
treacherous suggestion, then through an
open circula" court, whence we had Il
glimpse of enormous walls, stoutly bas-
toned and buttressed, and of massive tow
ers flanking arched gateways; then into
another large court surrounded by balco-
nies. All the while blew with unabated
defiance and independence, much to the
to the evident terror of not few who
clearly regarded the skirling of the pipes
as the screeching Of evil spirits. Ny tune
on entering was the Highland Laddie,' -
and a very singular figure must have cut
with my bandaged head, my pulled checks
and trailing garments. had vague feel
ing of being second Macpherson march
ing VIGOROUSLY to death to my own quick.
step, and dare say the bit of bravado sus.
tanned me.
Though it was yet little past the dawn,
the court was densely thronged with citi'
zens and soldiers, for the Arabs are abroad
with the sun. On raised seat facing the
entrance sat the governor. Benches OF
stone and beaten earth that ran round the
sides were occupied by courtiers, castle Of
ficials and the more prominent citizens,
while the common people and the soldiery,
some with bristling arms and some with
out, elbowed each other to find standing
room rs best they could.
Marching with my proudest step into the
center, abruptly ceased playing and 81
luted my Judge He did not return my sa,
lutte, but sitting motionless as a statue
watched me with sharpeyes and contracted
brows.
For en- Arab he was uncommonly hand
some. In the prime OF life, he was tall
broad chested, clean featured and bore him
self with the imperial mien of the Caesars
His hair was jet black; his eyes, also black
were as keen as the falcons and more de
termined, and his countenance in general
EXPRESSED haughtiness and infeXible reso
luton. just then it was inauspiciously
severe.
He was arrayed with regal splendor. Over
a cleaning white shirt hewore cashmere
robe richly embroidered by the artists Of
Delhi, and above that again small deli
cately worked cloak of camel's hair, a DIS
tinction reserved for sheiks and princes
alone. His tasseled turban was of the fin
est red and yellow silk gorgeously brocaded
and was fastened by fillet of cameps hail
inwoven with gold and silver and blazing
with precious stones. His leather girdle
worked with gold and set with brilliants
supported q gold hilted sword and a steel
and ivory handled dagger, flashing with
Jewels and embossed and inlaid with the
precious metal. His feet were in crimson
sinners, on which were bound elaborately
decorated sandals.
There was an uncomfortable silence as he
examined me minutely from head to foot.
On both sides of him sat his ministers
ugly, crafty, pitiless looking dogs, with
sort of grin OF expectation on their faces
but none dared to disturb the governors
scrutiny. Presently he gave signal, and
without word the guards pushed me
closer to hins Fora moment he scrutinized
me again, and his eyes had in them the
leaping lights of hawks when it bends
over it's prey.
"Thou hast the face of a Christian, an
infidel, and the garb of in Arab, a believer" "
he said sharply at length. How cometh
it?'
my lord," 1 replied, with profound
bow, "a generous and charitable man OF
this town bestowed these clothes upon me" ."
"EIis charity was i'll at ease, me thinks.
What is his names"
I hesitated, not wishing to compromise
Said Achmet.
"Thou wilt find it best to be quick with
thy answers" said Abou kuram sternly
"His name," replied, "is Said Achmet.' y
"Thou meanest to tell me lie sheltered