Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-25
XVIII
OVER THE MOUNTAIN.


opened my eyes, and the first thing
they tell on was the venerable countenance
of our old frcnd Bllali, who was seated
by the side of the improvised bed upon
which | was sleeping. and thoughtfully
stroklug his long beard.
Thou hast slept long, my Balloon,
said old Blllali.
How long, my father?' | asked.
"A round of the sun and a round of the
moon, day and night, hast thou slept,
and the Lion also. See, he sleepeth yet. -
blessed is sleep" answered, -" for it
swallows up recollection.
Tell me, he said, what hath befallen
We, and what is this strange story of the
death of Her who dieth not.
Thus adjured | set to work and told
him-not everything, indeed. for did not
think it desirable to do so, but sufficient
for my purpose. which was to make him
understand that She was no more, haying
fallen into some fire. and, as put it-for
the real thing would have been incompre-
told him some of the horrors we had I'M
dergone in eifecting our escape, and these
produced great impression on him. But
| clearly saw that he did not believe in the
report of Ayesha's death.
And now, said Bilali, what wouldst
thou do, my Baboon?
Nay. | said, know not. my father,
! Can we not escape from this country
1t is very difficult. BY Kor We can not
pass, for We would be seen, and rs soon as
those fierce ones found that ye were alone
well, " and he smiled significantly. But
there is way over the cliff whereof
once spake to We where they drive the cat
tie out TO pasture. Then beyond the pas
lures are three days journey through the
marshes, and after that know not, but
have heard that seven days journey from
thence is a mighty river, which tloweth to
the black water. ye could come thither
perchance We might escape, but how can
We come thlther?'
"Billali, | SAID, once, thou knowest,
did save thy life Now pay back the debt
my father, and save me mine and my
friends, the Lions. 1t shall be pleasant
thing for thee to think of when thine hour
comes, aud something to set in the scale
against the evil doing of thy days, if per.
chance thou hast done any evil. Also, if
thou he right, and If She dost but hide
herself, surely when she comes again she
shall reward thee. "
My son the Baboon, answered the old
man, "think not that have an ungrateful
heart Well do remember how thou
didst rescue me when those dogs stood by
10 see me drown. Measure for measure
will give thee, and if thou canst be saved
surely | will save thee. Listen: by dawn
tomorrow be prepared, for filters shall be
here to bear we away across the mountains
and through the marshes beyond. This
will do, saying that it is the word of She
that 1t be done, and he who obeyeth not
the word of She food is he for the hvenas.
Then when We have crossed the marshes,
We must strike with your own hand, 50
that perchance if good fortune 90 with
We, we may live to come TO that black wat
er whereof We told me. And now, see,
the Lion wakes and We must eat the food
have made ready for ye
} Leo's condition when once fairly arous
ed proved not to be so bad as might have
been expected from his appearance and
we both Of US managed to eat hearty
meal, which indeed we needed sadly
, enough After this we limped down &c
: the spring and bathed, and then cam,
back and slept again till evening, when W,
once more eat enough for five Billal
; was away all that day, no doubt making
! arrangements about filters and bearers.