The National tribune., 1899-05-18

check my t!lankfulIieSs in the bud, and
cancel thy servicess bg'-making me thy
| thrailf'
'I will not answer thy demands" SAID
Abdalla. 81 call upon. thee, as a nobl,
and knightly soldier, fairly captured, il
oren war, by my hands, to acknowledg.
thySelf my captive; IND, as such, IN al
things, Justly at my disposition"
''lf thou dost exact II of me-" said tn.
cavalier, regarding him, with much sur
honor, so acknowledge myself. But be
gan to think better of'thee, Abdalla"
! "knd. as prisoner, to whose honor ID
confided the charge ofnhis own keeping
thou engagest to femain in captivity
without abusing the confidence which
allows such license, by any efforts Il
eScapc'"
"Dost thou demand this much of me7'
said Don Amador, with mortified and de
/ iected looks. ''If thou art thyself resolved
to remain in the Indulgence OF thy treason
| thou surely wilt not think TO keep mt
from my friends, in their difficulties ant
espe Cially from my poor kinsman; who /:
now greatly dis0rdcred, and chiefly,
think because thou hast robbed him o
Jacinto."
This am not called upon 10 answer,
said Ahdalla, gravely. 81 only demand o
thee what thou knowest thou canst no
honorably refuse,-tfy krightly gage, Il
observe the rules Of captivity, until such
time as may think proper to absolve and
free thee"
"Sir Almogavar, or sir Zegr, or what
SOever thou art" said the cavalier, fold
ing his arms. and surveying his laiiol
sternlv, "use the powers which thou hast
thy claims, and Thy magical arts; for
believe thou dealest with the devil get
me ready thy fettcrs. and thy dungeon.
Thou hast the right SO to use me, and
lItf | will
no word to keep in bonds, inglorious and
at case. while my friends are in peril.
However great the service thou hast done
TO me, | perceive thou art traitor.
command thee, therefore, that thou have
me chained and immured forthwith; for,
with Gods will and help, | will escape
from thee as soon as possible, and, eS-
pecially, whensoever my friends come to
assist me-"
"T grant thee this privilege, when thy
friends come near to u.s., said Abdaila,
cooily, whether thou art chained or not.
1t is not possible thou canst escape,
otherwise, at ell. Thou art far from the
palace, ignorant OF the way, and, be
sides, divided from it by wall of Mexi-
cans, who cannot be numbered. What
ask thee is for thy good, and for the
good of myself and Jacinto. If thou
leave this house, thou wilt be immedi-
ately seized, and carried to the stone Of
sacrifice"
Don Amador shuddered, and said:
81 trust in God, and the thought OF this
fate shall not deter me"
GO, then, if thou wilt" said the Zegri,
haughtiiy "The service have done thee
has not yet released me from thy debt;
and thou canst yet command me. be
gone, if thou art rcsolute; the door Is
open; | oppose thee not. Preserve thy
life, if thou canst; and when thou art
safe at the garrison, remember, that
4 Abdoul- al-Sidi and the boy Jacinto have
taken thy place on the altar of victims
"Xhat dost thou mcan' | understand
thee not What meareSt thou''
Gwen that thou csust not escape. with
out the same being made known 70 the
Me zicans; and that t cannot be made
known to this vindictive people, that /
have robbed them q their. prey, without
the penalty OF my Own life, and that OF
Jacinfo. being imnlediately executed.
When thou fiiest, the father and the son
.Dost thou speak me this in good
aith'" said the cavalier, greatly troubled.
God forbid should, bring harm 10 thee,
and especially to tha boy: If give thee
my gage,-thou wilt, not mold me bound
o refrain from joining my friends, should
be so fortunate as 10 see them pass by,
and am persuaded the Mexicans will not
Iiscover thou hast harEnred me-"
.II tfley pass by, will myself open the
loors," said Abdalla; "for | protest to
nee, I keep thee here only to insure tiny
security"
about 10 retreat. Dost thou intend shall
.en,ain in captivityLa single victim
among the barbarians-while my coun-
.ryuen are flying afar, perhaps returning
% Christendoni''
AZ swear to thee, senOr," said the LegrI,
that, when the Spaniards fly
ron, This city, thcu shalt he free to lily
With them. i repeat, ! make thee pris-
)ner, to prevent thy becoming victim.
"And what hinderS that we do not fly
opether TO the palace' Thy knowledge
may conduct us through the streets by
NIGHT: and, with my head, ! will engage
thec free pardon, and friendly recep-
ton"
God hath commissioned me to the
work. and it shall go on" said the Moor,
with solemn emphasis. 81 know that
fhnlI couidst not save me from the Jury OF
Don fernando; he would grant thee my
life at midnight, and, on the morrow,
hou wouldst find me dead in the court
ward. FIy, ii thou wilt, and leave me to
perish by the hands Of Mexicans; Span
Iards shall drink my blood no more.
II give thee my gage" said the cava-
lier. with this understanding, then, that
am free To fly, whenever ! may do SO
periling thy life, and the life of
)acinio." -,
"And thou wilt hold to this pledge, like
Il true cavalier" demanded Abdalia
quickly:
surely, l cannot break my plighted
word"
God be thanked" cried the. Zegri,
sras ping the hand of the cavalier, Tor, by
this promise, thou hast saved thy lhe!
here; Jacinto shall be thy jailor,
thy companion, thy servant. BE content
with thy lot, End thank God; for thou art
the only brand plUcted out of the burn
ing, while all the rest shall perish
God be praised.-1 save my benetactor"
With these exClamations OF satisfaction,
A bdalla departed IRON the chamber.
TO bc continued.)