The Lamar register., 1901-10-02
CHAPTER vi.

Howl" cried the king. ITS 1t the
Judah whom l sent from the Valley of
Lycanius?"
1.-THE same. sire"
Then send him to me at once. By
my life, About, he cannot have ac-
complished his mission SO soon.
dare not hope So"
LET us hope for the best" suggest
ed the minister: and before further
remark could be made Judah stood
in the royal presence.
"Ha, Judah-do / see thee back so
soon? Have you come to bring me
word of failure?"
"Nay, SIRE" replied the Israelite. II
have come to bring the robber chief
tain to Damascus"
Have you taken him?"
Eyes. sire"
"Alive?"
Eyes. sire"
"And have him here?"
Ready to be brought before you at
any time"
He is bound?"
"Yes, SIRE
"Then bring him at once. By the
host of Pluto. l would see the fellow.
But-hold. He is guarded?"
"Yes, sire. Osmir and Selim are
with him."
"A.e they all?"
"It needs no more. The prisoner is
securely bound, and can offer no re-
sistance.''
"Then let him come"
"Ye gods!" uttered Horam, turning
to his minister, after Judah had gone,
what manner of man shall we be-
hold?"
"I cannot guess. sire"
"A giant. think-as ugly as Cy-
lop. But he is bound. Aboul-he is
bound"
In little while the door opened, and
Judah entered. followed by osmir and
Selim, who led bound man between
them.
"Sire," spoke the Israelite. this is
the prisoner"
But where is Julian?" demanded
Horam.
This is Julian"
"This?" cried the monarch, taking
a step forward, and gazing into the
face of the bound man before him.
"This?' he repeated. in a lower tone.
advancing another step. and gazing
more earnestly upon the bold, open,
youthful face. This is not Julian"
This is he who hath commanded the
robber band" said Judah.
"Aye-and 1 am he whom you have
called the Scourge of Damascus" spoke
the prisoner, standing proudly erect,
and gazing full into the face of the
king. II am Julian, the enemy of
Horam. and the avenger Of wrongs
done years ago."
The monarch, as he gazed more in
tently upon those features, and as the
tones of that voice fell upon his ear,
seemed startled by the memory of
some old dream. And About Cassem
was not entirely uninterested. The old
minister gazed as fiAedly and as earn
! estly upon the face Of the young chief
4 tain as did his royal master; and he.
too, seemed puzzled and perplexed.
"Who are you?" asked Horam.
81 am Julian, the Scourge."
But what else?"
You should know what else, most
mighty king. 1 have tried to make
myself felt by YOU"
But" urged Horam, taking no no.
tice of the robbers tone, why have
you sought to harm me? Who are you
that can have cause for such enmity?"
"I am one who knows the bitterness
of deepest wrong" replied Julian. "Fa-
therless and motherless came I from
the feeble steps of childhood; and 1
know that Horam was the murderer of
my parents"
Hal" cried the king, with start.
who were your parents?'
st will not speak their names in your
presence"
Beware, robber! may compel you
to answer"
"If you have power to extract an
swcrs from dead men. you may force
answers from me-"
by the gods, thou art insolent."
Then bind my tongue, as these
yes have bound my arms"
No." said Horam, struggling with
passion. 81 have another plan.
le secret which you will not speak
me you shall never speak You shall
low your parents with all possible
iced. Judah."
"I am here. sire"
"You know the deepest, darkest dun
con, where the most dreaded prison
are confned?"