The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-24

square to the temple of life: there.
'sweepings in semi-circle half round
the huge building. it resumed its
! straight course. The ambassador hest
tated before crossing the moonlit
[ square, but a moments reflection
showed him that no suspicion could
possibly attach to his movements in this
direction, for the temple of life was the
only sacred edifice forever open.
The temple of life consisted of huge
dome, which was supported by a dou-
BILE circle of pillars and beneath this
dome had been erected a gigantic mar
BILE statue representing the god of life,
who stood motiOnless with outstretched
arms, as if invoking blessing upon
the city. A circular opening at the top
of the dome allowed the rays of the
moon to penetrate and illuminate the
head of the statue. Against the white
polished surface of the broad marble
slab which lay at the foot of the
statue, the ambassador saw the dark
forms of several PROSTATE figures, and
knew that each was there to beg of the
sightless statue life fir some friend ly
ing at that moment somewhere on
bed of illness. For this reason the tenn
pie of life was always open, and sup
plicants Frustrated themselves within
il at any hour of the night or day.
Remembering this, and knowing that it
was the resort of high and low alike,
for death respects not rank. Haziddin,
with gathering confidence, entered the
moonlit square. At the edge of the
great circular temple he paused, meet
ing there his third surprise. He saw
that the stream was not DETECTED
around the lower rim of the edifice but
that a stone had been swung at right
angles with the lower step, cutting off
the flow of the stream to the left, and
allowing the waters to pour under
Meath the temple. Listening, the am
bassador heard the low. muffled roar of
pouring water. and instantly his quick
mind Jumped at an accurate conclu-
sion. Underneath the temple was a
gigantic tank for the storage of water,
and it was being filed during the night.
Did the authorities of Baalbek expect
siege. and were they thus preparing
for it? Or was the filing of the tank
an ordinary function, performed peri
Odically to keep the water sweet? The
ambassador would have given much
for an accurate answer to these queS-
tons, but he knew not whom to ask.
Entering the temple. he prosD'ated
himself on the marble slab. and re-
manned there for few moments. hop
ing that, if his presence had been OBJ
served, this action would provide eX-
cuSe for his nocturnal wanderings.
Rising, he crossed again the broad
which he had entered it. This street
led to the northern gate, whose dark
arch he saw at the end of il, and just
as he was about to turn down a lane
which led to his palace he found him.
self confronted with a fourth problem.
One leaf of the ponderous gate swung
inward, and through the opening he
caught a glimpse of the moonlit coun- !
try beyond. Knowing that the gates |
were never opened at night, except !
through the direct order of the prince, |
he paused for a moment. and then saw
a man on horseback enter, fling him. |
self hurriedly from his steed, leaving it |
in care of those in charge of the gates, |
and disappear down the street that led |
directly to the princes palace. In 3. |
most perturbed state of mind the am |
bassador sought his own house, and !
there wrote his final dispatch to Da
He told of his discovery of /
the water tank. and said that his for
mer advice regarding the diverting of /
the stream, was no longer of practical I
value. He said he would investigate |
further the reservoir under the temple |
of life, and discover. if possible, how |
the water was discharged. If he sue
ceeded in his quest he would endeavor,
in case of a long siege, to set free /
Baalbek's store of water, but he reiter-
ated his belief that it was better to at
tempt the capture of the city by sur
prise and fierce assault. The message
that actually went to Damascus, car
ried by the third pigeon, was again
different in tenor.
Come at once" it said. "Baalbek is
and the prince has gone
on hunting expedition. March |
through the pass of El-Zaid, which is
because it is the longer
route. The armies of Baalbek are at /
~ =
without even a garrison. The southern
gate will be open awaiting your COM
ing"
Days passed, and the ambassador
paced the roof of his house, looking in
vain toward the south. The stream
flowed as usual through the city. Anx-
iety at the lack of all tidings from Da-I