The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-14


useless shaft the warrior drew a long
knife from his girdle and before Aziel
could strike again faced him for the
third time. But he no longer rushed
onward like a bull, for he had learned
caution: he stood STILL holding the
skin cloak before him shield fashion
and peering at his adversary from over
the edge OF it. Now was Aziels turn
to take the offensive, and slowly he
circled round the huge barbarian,
watching his opportunity. At length
I II came. In answer TO a feint of his
the protecting cloak was dropped a
little, enabling him to prick its bearer
in the neck. but only with the point
of his sword. The thrust delivered,
he ieaped back. and not too soon, for.
forgetting his caution in his fury, the
/ negro charged straight at him with a
roar like that of lion. So swift and
terrible was his onset that AzieI. hav-
ing no time to spring aside, did the
only thing possible. Gripping the
ground with his feet he bent his body
forward, and, with outstretched arm
and sword. braced up his muscles to
receive the charge. Another instant
and the leopard skin cloak fiuttered
! before him. With a quick movement
of his left arm he swept il aside; then
there came sudden pressure upon his
sword, ending in a Earring shock, a
flash Of steel above his head. and down
he went to the ground beneath the
weight of the black giant.
Now there is an end he thought;
heaven receive my spirit" and his
+ senses left him.
! When they returned again he per-
( ceived dimly that a white-draped fig
ure bent over him, dragging at some
thing black which crushed his breast,
{ in her grief and fear sobbing as she
dragged. Then he remembered. and
with an 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
woman ceased her sobbing and said, in
! the Phoenician tongue:
Sir do you live? Then the protect
! ing gods be thanked, and to Baaltis the
Mother VOW a gift of this hair of
mine in gratitude
Nay, lady" ne 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?"
L will tell you nothing" he answer
ed, with a smile. unless you promise
that you will not offer up your hair
SO be it, stranger since 1 must. l
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, ITO give the gold
chain to me, whose head has been
broken in rescuing you from that 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 rewarded"
Listen to her." said Metem. Did
not rush in first in my folly and re-
ceive what l deserved for my pains?
But | am to have neither thanks nor
reward, who am but an old merchant:
they are for the young prince who came
after. Well, so ii ever was; the thanks
can spare, and the reward I shall
claim from the treasury of the goddess.
NOW, prince, let me see your hurt. All.
. cut on the ear, TO more, and thank
that God you worship it is so, for an
other 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 this
lady will guide US to the city before
ms fellows come to seek him, seeing
that Tor one night have had a stomach
full of fighting"
Sirs, L Will indeed 1t is close at
hand, and my father shall thank YOU
there; but if it is your pleasure. tell
me by what names 1 shall make you
known to him."
Lady, l am Metem the Phoenician
captain of the merchandise of the ca a
van of Hiram, king of Tyre. and his
lord who slew the thief is none other
than the Prince Aziel. the twice roval.
Tor he is grandson to Solomon. the eIo-
rious, king of Israel, and through his
mother of the blood Of the Pharaohs of
Egypt"
And yet he risked his life to save
me, the girl murmured, astonished.
then, dropping to her knees before him.
she touched the ground with her fore
head in obeisance, giving him thanks
Rise, lady" he broke in, because
chance to be prince have not ceased
to be a man. and 10 man could have
seen you in such a plight without strik-
ing blow in your behalf"
NO. 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
carried you from here to Tyre ere l
risked my neck to stop him. or for the
matter of that, the prince either.
though he will deny it,
Men do not OTTER show their hearts
so clearly" she answered with sar-
casm, but now, lords, will guide you
to the city before more harm befaus
us. for this dead man may have COM
panions."
Our mules are here lady; will you
not ride mine?" asked Aziel.
L thank you, prince, but my feet will
carry me-
And SO will mine" said Aziel. ceas-
ing from a fruitless effort to withdraw
his sword from the breastbOne OF the
savage. 'On such paths they are safer
than any beast. Friend, viii you lead
my mule with yours?'
"Ay, prince" grumbled Metem for
so the world goes with the old: you
take the fair lady for company and l a
she ass. Well, of the two give me the
ass"
Then they started.
How are you named, lady?" said
Aziel, or rather 1 need not ask; you
are ELISA, the daughter of Saxon, gov
ernor of Zimboe, are you not2"
Il am so called, prince, though how
you know it l cannot guess.
I heard you name yourself, lady. in
the prayer you made before the altar
y on heard my prayer, prince she
said, starting. DO you rot know that
it is death to that man who hearkens to
the prayer of priestess of Baaltis ut
tered in her holy grove? Still, none
know it save the goddess, who sees all |
therefore ! beseech you for your sake
and the sake of your companion, say
nothing of it in the city"
Certainly il would have been death
to you had 1 not CHANGED to hear it.
having lost my way in the Darkness
answered the prince. laughing. We'll |
since l did hear it, 1 Will add that il
was a beautiful prayer. revealir@
heart high and pure, though grieve
that ii should have been oftered 10 one
whom l hold to be a demon"
oh.