San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-01


good humor ON both sides
BY this time it was getting pretty
late in the day; nevertheless we burned
with such impatience to be near our
dear Moll that we set forth for Thad-
riir, which lies upon the seacoast about
seven English leagues east of Algiers
But cool. refreshing air from the sea
and the great joy in our hearts made
this journey seem to rs the most de-
lightful of our lives And indeed, after
passing through the suburbs richly
planted with gardens, and crossing the
river, ON which are many mills, and so
coming into the plain of Mettegia, there
is such an abundance of sweet doors and
lovely fertile views to enchant the
senses that dull man would be inspir-
tied to happy, cheerful mood.
Twas close upon o o'clock when we
reached the little town, and not soul
to be seen anywhere nor a light in any
window, but that troubled us not at all,
having provided ourselves with good
store of victuals before quitting Algiers,
for here tbs as sweet to lie o. nights in
the open air as in the finest palace else
where. Late as it was, however, we
could not dispose ourselves to sleep be-
fore we had gone all round the town to
satisfy our curiosity. At the farther ex-
tremity we spied building looking
very majestic in the moonlight, with a
large garden about it inclosed with high
walls, and deciding that this must be
abe residence of Ali Oukadi, who, we
had learned, was the most important
merchant of these parts, we lay us down
against the wall and fell asleep, think
ing of our dear Mol, who perchance, all
unconscious, was lying within.
Rising at daybreak, for Dawson was
uneasy unless we might be
breaking the law by sleeping out of
doors (but there is no cruel law of this
sort in Barbary), we washed ourselves
very properly at neighboring stream,
made meal of dry bread and dates,
then, laying our bundles in a secret
place whence we might conveniently
fetch them, if Ali Oukadi insisted ON
entertaining Us day or two, we went
into the town, and finding upon inquiry
that this was indeed his palace, as we
had surmised, bethought us what to say
and how to behave the most civil posi-
~-aa2X; NV ourselves at his
gate, stating oINzs~Siness.
Presently we were admitted to an out
err office, and there received by very
bent, venerable old Moor, who, having
greeted us with much ceremony, says:
ST am Ali Oukadi. What would you
have of me?"
my daughter Mol, I" answers Jack in
an eager, choking voice, offering his let
ter. The Moor regarded him keenly, and
taking the letter sits down to study it,
and while he is at this business young
Moor enters, whose name, as we shortly
learned, was Mohand on Mohand. He
was, / take it, about 25 or 80 years Of
age and as handsome man of his kind
as ever saw, with wondrous soft dark
eyes, but q cruel mouth and most
high, imperious bearing, which, together
with his rich clothes and jewels, beto-
kened him a man of quality. Hearing
who we were, he saluted us civilly
enough, but there was a flash of enmity
IN his eyes and Tightening of his lips
which liked me not at all
When the elder man had finished the
letter he hands it to the younger, and
he having read it in his turn they fall
to discussing it in low tone and in a
dialect of which not one word was intel
hgible to us. Finally Ali Oukadi, rising
from his cushions, says grayely, address
ing Dawson:
at will write without delay to Sid
ben Ahmed in answer to his letter"
.sBut my daughter" says Dawson,
aghast, and as well as he could in the
Moorish tongue. "Am I not to have
her?''
my friend says nothing here, " an
swers the old man, regarding the let
ter, nothing that would justify my
giving her up to you. He says the mon
ey shall be paid upon her being brought
safe to Elche."
"Why, your excellency, I and my
comrade here will undertake to carry
her safely there What better guard
should daughter have than her father?''
care You more powerful than the ele-
ments? Can you command the tempest:
Have you sufficient armament to COM
bat all the enemies that scour the seas:
If any accident befall you, what is this
promise of payment? Nothing"
cat least you will suffer me to make
this voyage with my child?"
2 st do not purpose to send her to
Elche," returned the old man calmly.
Z. IT'S risk viii not undertake.
have said that when I am paid 5000
ducats Twill give Lala Mollah freedom,
and I viii keep my word. To send her
TO Elche is a charge that does not touch
my compact. This will write and tel
my friend, Sid ben Ahmed, and upon his
payment and expressed agreement l will
render you your daughter Not before.
We could say nothing for awhile, be
iuy ao foundered nv This reverse but al