The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-18


the historians again differ widely. The
Persian chronicle says the army OF Mo-
hammed lost 40, 900 mon, while the enemy
lost but three Another writer states that
the army of Mohammed did not lose
man, while the opponent lost 33,000 Per-
haps in this case also the real truth lies
half way between the two statements. All
agree that the army of Mohammed speed
lily gave leg bail and proved that no one
could catch them.
The followers of Sidi Achmed, finding
themselves victors, made 1t their first care
TO plumber the villages in the nelghborhood
as being the best way of freeing the people.
"By the beard of the prophetW cried
Barak Hageb seeing the flight of his sol
diery II almost think Jedibah's prophecy
Is not going TO be fulfilled. On the con-
trary our own country appears to DO lost"
"Have patience" murmured the proph
etess consolingly. "The sun has not yet
sunk into the sea-"
The observation being just, Barak phi
losophized no more, but spurred his horse
and with his spouse sought safety in flight.
Sidi Achmed had heard of Barak's
wealth and of his wives, and so soon as he
was informed of the flight he FASTENED In
pursuit. Until late in the afternoon two
dust clouds might be seen, one chasing the
other, the one beaten up by Barak Hageb
and his wives, the other by the troopers of
Sidi Achmed.
"By the holy apron Of the prophets
wife," growled Barak, "Roxanas prog
nostication likewise fails to be fulfilled. l
shall be the dead man today and not Sidi
Achmed."
"The stars are not yet visible, replied
the white Roxana. "There near yonder
pond we will take rest. You may take
your evening bath and pray; let the rest
be our care"
In the meantime, the women were not
idle. When Barak returned from his even.
ing devotions, he found, instead of his
pious family of wives, an army of bearded
troopers. Great at first was his fright, for
the warriors were of fearful aspect.
The women had cut off the names and
tails of their horses, and had made them
selves false boards. From q neighboring
grove they had cut bamboo canes, TO the
ends of which they attached their dainty
daggers, making thereby elegant lances.
Yarko, the Tartar, and Zibella, the In
dian, commanded the gentle cavalry. The
troops were divided into three divisions.
Sidi Achmed came on In wild haste. AS
soon, however, as he saw these warriors,
whose long boards swept down to their
stirrups, his heart sank into his wide
breeches. At once a portly hero rode up
to him, calling him to come forth to single
combat.
This was Zibella, so expert with the
knife. The very first throw of her lance
killed Sidi Achmed.
Under the guidance of the Tartar, Var
ko, the other amazon, now pressed upon
the enemy. The troopers Of Sidi Achmed
were but lukewarm. Five pennies Is a
nice sum, but it hardly pays for hole in
ones hide. Each of these fellows, there
fore, took his shield upon his back, and
turning that quarter to the enemy fled as
fast as his feet could carry him, and as
they went they roared:
"The Tartars are coming! The barba-
rians are behind us Ten thousand-20,
000--100. 900 horsemen have come to the
relief of Barak Hagebl Save himself who
canl The Turks shoot with lightning"
"Now you see the fulflllment of my pre-
diotion," said Roxana, turning to Barak
Hageb.
"And mine will be fulfilled, too, " added
Jedibah, "for tho kingdom of our enemy
will go to pieces. Let us hasten to Ker-
mau."
The head of the sultan was struck from
his body and stuck on the point of lance.
With this token of triumph the party
pressed on to Kermau. Hour by hour their
following increased; the runaway soldiers
came from their lurking places and Joined
the expedition, so that at last an immense
army passed over the frontier of the coun-
try, The city gates were cheerfully opened,
for now everybody knew that Sidi Achmed
was a tyrant, while Barak Hageb was
praised as the liberator of the nation and
was finally asked to be its sultan.
Barak Hageb assembled his wives and
said to them:
"Glorious women, thank you for my
life Yes, 1 have more to thank you for
my fame and my kingdom. Name, then,
the reward you desire; swear by Allah to
grant It,"
Then came forward the smooth Zibella
and spoke:
80 great sultan, we do indeed deserve a
reward, for we have fought for you like
men. We ask nothing small, therefore;
we ask for freedom, and our desire is that
all the women in your kingdom shall be as
free as men,"
Barak Hageb was touched, very much
touched. He shed tears. Then he said:
"You ask for something unheard Of
something that has never yet been. Yet II
must be, for l have sworn. In Kermau,
from this time forth, woman is as free as
man, and the wives of Barak Hageb may
proclaim that they have gained this free
dom by their own personal efforts"
And so the new sultan won the hearts OF
his people, and even in the neighborin9
realms his fame increased
All the sultans around claimed his
friendship and solicited his kinship.
The makers of marriages besieged his
house. Even the Sultan Mohammed, AT
whose court Barak had once been embas.
sador, offered him sisters and cousins
To him Barak replied: 81 choose neither
your sisters nor yet your cousins, for
want not friyolity, but rather wisdom. II
you really desire to be kinsman of mine,
give me for wife-your mother"
And so 1t happened.
After having had 1856 wives. he content
cd himself with one, and found it enough,
Adapted From the Hungarian For Sar
Francisco Argonaut.
On Intimate Terms With Him.