The Holly chieftain., 1901-10-25
CHAPTER XII.
A Royal Disguise.

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A Royal Disguise.
Until the present time Julian had
thought Of overcoming the king with
out word-of Telling him to the pave
ment and binding him, and leaving
him In Ignorance q who had done It;
but different fancy seized him a. he
saw the monarch enter the dungeon.
The temptation to face his deadly
enemy, and let him know to what he
owed his disgrace, was too strong to
be resisted. The thought that he could
now place his foot upon the neck OF
the king of Damascus. and grant the
poor life which he had the power to
take. was not to be passed by. And
then the robber chieftain had an
other reason for wishing to speak with
the king. since the opportunity had
thus Unexpectedly offered itself. Ho-
ram had come on purpose to see him.
to learn some secret Our hero had a
curiosity to know what this meant.
Stay a moment where you are," he
said, addressing the blacks; and thus
speaking he passed into the dungeon
Just as the king had discovered that no
prisoner was there.
"Ho! Selim!" shouted the monarch,
turning his face to the door. What
is the matter here? Is not this the"
He stopped. for the light of his Ian
tern, falling upon the face Of the man
who had followed him in, revealed an
other face than that Of selim.
"Horam," spoke the chieftain, "you
find the Scourge Of Damascus not quite
as powerless as you had expected"
What no! selim! selim!"
Easy, old man. Selim will not
come at your bidding. Let me inform
you that 1 am master. for the present,
OF this lower region, and selim is my
| slave"
Mercy" sasped the terrified king.
What no! Benoni! Benoni!"
"Benoni Is In my power" said Ju-
lian. HE is bound hand and foot, and
cannot help you. And thou base.
false man.-thou, too, art In my pow
er. Down In this deep dungeon, where
the light OF day cannot come, and
where the noise Of the upper world
cannot penetrate, here have thee
as thou did'st hope to have me. Ho.
ram. | am thy master!'
The kings knees smote together
and the lantern dropped from hi
hand. ess,y4-,..5l
'.Mercyi" he cried. And then, .,
though remembering that he was kine
Of Damascus, he clenched his hands
and tried to speak with the voice oi
authority.
"vile miscreant," he said, 'let mt
pass! II you dare to oppose me, yor
shall be torn limb from limb!"
Easy. old man. am your master
now. and II you give me occasion.
may do you harm"
There was that in the look, tone and
bearing of the stalwart chieftain which
caused Horam to quail. The Lantern
had fallen in an upright position, ant
Its light revealed quite plainly tht
features of the two men.
"You will not kill met" whispered
the king. Nj.
NO." replied Julian. II shoult
scorn the deed; and l should despis,
myself II l did 1t. wish simply to d.
this. must leave this palace tonight
and you must remain here in my place
Some of your slaves will find you IL
the morning. You must strip OF thai
purple robe, and that golden chain;
and + must have the jeweled crown
from your head. Gomez have nj
time to waste"
aye gods Of heaven!" calculated
Horam. "how can this thing be! VIII.
ever heard OF such thing! VIII,
dares to disrobe the king?"
II dare to do IT," replied the rob
ber, sternly and quickly, at the SAM
time taking . step forward. "Remov'
the garments instantly. or I shal
tear them from YOU"
mo. no; you dare not rob you
king"
Peace, poor fool! Hesitate anothe
minute, and will smits you to tn
door! on with the robe!"
The trembling monarch cast one lool
into the face of the man before him
and then shrank back against tn
wall. He was as mere child, and TO
the time, while unable to do evil. h
seemed An object of pity.
III I give you these things will yo'