The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-01

such receive you on terms OF equality
with myself
The ambassador. at first nonpiussed with
a !aglshnaEs that was most unusual. grad
ualiy overcane his diffidence and became
warm with the wine, and SO failed 10
notice ,aat the prime. himself remained
cool and drank sraringly. At last the head
OF HazEdaIn sank on his breast. ard he
reci.ne6 at full length On the couch pc
occupied. falling into a drunken ssupor,
for indeed he was despiy fatiguea, and
had spent ;ae night before sisepiess AS
his cloak fell away from him, 1t left sx-
posed a small wicker cage attached to h.s
girdIe, containing four pigeons, closely
hu6dled. for the cage was barely Urge
enough 10 hold them. and here the prin..e
saw the ambassadors swift messengers 10
Damascus Let loase from the walls OF
Baaloek. and flying direct, the fid.ngs
would. in a few hours. be In the hands OF
the governor OF Damascus. Haxiddin then
WIS spy as well as ambassador. The
prince also possessed carrier pigeons, and
used them as a means OF commua.cat ton
between his armies al Tripoli and a. Anti
och, so he was fJt ignorant OF their con-
sequence. The fact that the ambassador
himself carried this small cage under =
cloak. attached to his glrdIe, showed the
great Importance that was attached 20
these winged messengers. otherwise =
i6din would have entrusted them to one
of his saburdinates.
Bring me-" whispered the prince to his
general, -four Of my own pigeons Do
not disturb the thongs attached TO the
girdie when you open the cage. but lake
the ambassadors pigeons out and su5sti-
tute four OF my own. Keep these pigeons
OF Damascus separate from ours, we may
yet have use for them in communicating
with the govern or OF Damascus"
The general. quick to see the scheme
which was In the princes mind, brought
four Baalbek pigeons. identical with the
Others n size and color. He brought with
him also a cage, into which the Damascus
pigeons were put, and thus the transfer
was made without the knowledge Of 3he
slumbering ambassador. His cloak was
arranged about him SO that Il concealed
tho cage attac hed 10 the girdle, and then
tho ambassadors own servants were sent
for. and he was confided to their care.
When Hazddin awoke he found him.
self In sumptuous room OF the palace
He had but haxy remembrance OF the
latter part OF the meal with the prince
and his first thought went with a thrill
OF fear toward the cage which had been
under his cloak; finding. however, that
this was intact. he was much relieved
In his mind, and could but hope that in
his cups he had not babbled anything Of
his mission which might arouse suspicion
in the mind OF the prince. His first meet
ing with the ruler OF BaaIhek after the
breakfast they had had together set all
doubts finally at rest, because the prince
received him with friendship which was
unmistakable. The physician apologized
for being overcome by the potency OF the
wine, and pleaded that he had hitherto
been unused to liquor of such strength
The prince waved away all reference 10
the subject. saying that he himself had
succumbed on the same occasion, and had
but slight recollection of what had passed
between them
ismaei assigned 10 the ambassador one
OF the palaces near the Pantheon, and
Haziddin found himself free to come and
20 al he pleased, without espionage or re-
stFiction. He speedily learned thar one OF
the armies OF Raaibek was at the north
near Antioch, the other TO the west at
Tripoli. leaving tho great city practically
unprotected. and th.s unprecedented state
or affairs, jumping cotncident with the
designs Of his master. that he FASTENED
To communicate the intelligence. He
wrote:
IF Haalbek Is Immediately attacked. II
cannot he protected. Half Of the army
y at the shore OF the Mediterranean near
Trspoli. the other half is north al Antioch.
THE prince has no suspicion IL YOU con-
ceai the main body az your army behind
the hills 10 the south OF Baalhek, and come
on yourself with small retiuue sending
notice TO the prince of your arrival he
Will likely himself coma out 10 the gates
TO meet you, and having secured his per-