Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12

pAsseo uiH with q hoWl OF pam ana
rage the savage sprang round and charged
him second time. Again Aziel leaped to
one side. but now he struck with all his
force at the spear shaft. which his assail-
was the blow and so sharp the heavy
sword that 1t shore through the wood. sew
ering the handle from the spear, which fell
70 the ground. Casting away the useless
his girdle and before Aziel could strike
again faced him for the third time. But
ne no longer rushed onward like bull,
Tor he had learned caution: he stood still.
holding the skin cloak before him shield
tasnion and peering- at his adversary
from over the edge Of it. Now was
Azfers turn to tske tho offensive. and slow
~ ne circied around the huge barbarian,
watching his opportunity. At length it
came In answered. asfeint of his the pro-
tecting cloak was dropped little, enabling
LIN 10 prick its bearer In the neck, but
only with the point of his sword. The
thrust delivered, he leaped back, and not
100 soon, for, forgetting his caution in his
IuIy' the negro charged straight at him,
with roar like that of lion. So swift
ana terrible was his onset that Aziel, hav
i,s no tlme to spring aside, did the only
thing possible. Gripping the ground with
ms feet, he bent his body forward, and,
up MS muscles to receive the charge. An
other instant and the leopard-skin cloak
nuttered before him. With quick move
l ment OF his left arm he swept 1t aside.
linen there came sudden pressure upon
MS sword. ending in a jarring shock,
Iasn OF steel above his head. and down he
went 10 the ground beneath the weight of
the black giant.
Now there is an end" he thought;
left him.
When they returned again he perceived
d1mly that a white-draped figure bent over
MIN, dragging at something black which
crushed his breast, in her grief and fear
sobblng as she dragged. Then he remem-
bered, and with effort sat up, rolling
from him the corpse of his foe for his
sword had pierced the giant through breast
and heart and back. At this sight the wo-
man ceased her sobbing and said, in the
Phoenician tongue:
Sir, do you live? Then the protecting
gods be thanked, and to Baaltie the Mother
l vow gift of this hair of mine in graft
tude."
Nay, lady" he answered, family that
were pity and If any, it's my hair which
should be vowed"
You bleed from the head she broke in.
Say, stranger, are you wounded?"
r,,, i viii Lite, tell you nothing" he answered,
will not offer up your hair
SO be 1t, stranger. since I must. I will
give the goddess this gold chain instead.
1t is of more Value
You would do better, lady" said the
shrill voice of Metem. who now found his
wits again. "to give the gold chain to me,
whose head has been broken in resculng
you from tnat black thief.
Sir, she answered, lit is this young lord
who killed the man and saved me from
worse than death, and he shall be reward
ed
Listen to me-" said Metem. Did 1 not
rush in first in my folly and receive what l
deserved for my pains? But l am to have
neither thanks nor reward, who am but an
Old merchant; they are for the young prince
who came after Well. so it ever was; the
thanks can spare. and the reward l shall
claim from the treasury of the goddess
NOW, prince, let me see your hurt. All,
cut on the ear, no more, and thank that
God you worship it is so. for another inch
and the great vein of the neck had been
severed. Prince, draw out your sword from
the carcass of that brute, and then perhaps
TN. lady will Guide us to the city before
his fellows come to seek him, seeing that
for one night havesh had a stomach full of
fighting" "a
'Sirs. will indeed 1t is close at hand,
and my father shall thank you there; but
If 1t is your pleasure. tell me by what
names I shall make you known to him."
Lady, am Metem, the Phoenician, cap
tain of the merchandise of the caravan of
Hiram, King of Tyre, and this lord who
slew the thief is-none other than the Prince
Aziel. the twice royal, for he is grandson
to Solomon, the glorious. King of Israel,
and through his mother of the blood of tie
Pharaohs of Egypt" .f
And yet he risked his life to save me-"
the girl murmured, astonished; then, drop
ping to her knees before him, she touched
the ground with her forehead in obeisance,
giving him thanks. slF Cont .-.s.s..ts 49,.
Rise, lady he broke in because T.
chance to be prince have not ceased to
be man, and no nun could have seen you
in such a plight without striking a blow IN
your behalf" -
mo added Metem, none that is, as
you chance to be rich and young and
lovely. Had you been old and ugly and
poor, then the black man might have car
ried you from here to Tyre risked my
neck to stop him, or for the matter of that,
the prince either, though he will deny it,"
Men do not often show their hearts so
clearly" she answered, with sarcasm but