The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-29

BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER HIM
SELF. THE SOLDIER WAS UPON
HIM.
the very steps of the tomb. which would
you choose? Are Inc raiment and soft
living to be desired above all things?
We are not poor men; we have enough.
each of us, and no prince needs more.
Think of the miserifess alone, 10
squander this treasure that men have
split their life blood over, as Wazir-ud-
din rightly says, upon our old bodies
So much for that. And the second:
are we not long past such folly? We
have passed these things. When / was
young. l loved a woman, and hupgered
after her, and went through fire and
water to get her, as young men will.
What does il avail me now? She faded
as quickly as Mower that has been
plucked, and the beauty that / had
striven for went from her even as |
looked. She died of the black cholera
she that had seemed the loveliest
thing on earth for half an hour. IL is
a bitter sweet thing this love, an emp
tiness and shadow that flies even as we
pursue, and-we be wise men. My
brothers, is not this the truth?"
The graybearvls nodded.
Say on, my father"
There remains, then, only power to
strive after. Power! 70 rule men; 10
hold them in the hollow of your hand;
to see them cringe to you, slave for you.
die for you! To say: 1T shall be so, to
a million people, and see IL done. TO
have the mothers hold up their children,
as you go by, and bid them mark your
features, for you are their master Mas
ter! With these lalshs at our feet, with
out terror of sickness, with all the ex-
perience of a mans life, we shall be
masters indeed. 1 see-I know it all.
Every Mussulman with us, the holy re.
Hgion triumphant--a Moslem empire
that shall be vassal not even to the sui
tan of Roum. AS Mahomet is the
prophet of God, he will not desert his
servants!"
For once Esdaile's daring played him
false. He had been craning forward
and creeping steadily nearer during the
old mans speech, in order to lose not a
syllable of the strange colloquy. when
his foot went suddenly into an unex-
pected hole. and with crash of under
growth he fell upon his face almost ut
Jan Khan's feet. Before he could re-
cover himself, the soldier was upon him.
and there was knife at his throat.
He struggled violently TO reach re-
volver, but another man had ssized him
by the arms, and a pair of muscular
hands, in which be recognized none Of
the feebleness of age. pinioncd him
thus. Jan Khan rolled him over, his
face toward the light, and the five sur
veyed him, painting and mad with rage,
by its glare.
"a spy!"
No, il Is an Englishman. All, yes,
the policewala sahib. He has been set
upon us, doubtless to discover all. We
are undone."
Esdaile's voice broke in, hoarse and
choking:
let me up you sons Of unclean
fathers! Who are YOU to hold n sahib
thus? You shall suffer for this. Ze-
sahib. take that knife away
from my wndpipe. Let me up, sayl"
ut is as | said." said Azim-ud-din. "He
knows us, and some enemy has done
this thing--unless-" and he blinked
under his white eyebrows at the other
four--"there Is traitor among us!"
Jan Khon advanced the knife until
Il pricked the flesh. "In the fighting
days." he said, with deliberation, when
there was one man too many. he--vns |
seen no mrre. Who knows whittier he |
went? And this sahib is the one too |
many. Shall send him out, my fnther.
n find The way that all others have trod? |
II is easily done"
Valid Ali had taken no active part |
n the proceedings OF the last few min |
ties. nor had he spoken. but his eyes |
iad bcen employed busily scrutiniziny |
;sdaile. lie watched narrowly for the |
iaiutest sign Of blenching. and the re. |
'ult must have been in the prisoners |
avor. for his answer showed note |
" admiration.
let lie, old bloodhoundl This man |
$ no spy. neither is he coward, and he |
5 better worth than 90 max. food for |
ackals Besides. know him 20 be one |
~ n thousand IN many things. An Eng |
tslmnn's homer Is sacred thing. Sup
;ose we trust TO that" Then TO Esdaile:
'sahib, DO not know what strange
.hancc has brought you here tonight: |
Iut take w. 90 bc charcc ard not de- |
ign. IL we place ourselves in your
hands wdl you swear 10 keep silence?
This IN no common affair OF murder or
-obbery. aud your honcr's conscience
nay be easy. n not But I will not
"A -. a. -, -. .,