The Red Cloud chief., 1901-07-05
A Story Of
the EaSt...
sYLvRxsvs
COBB. JR.

pass, anu Wnen tne last man naQ gone
from her sight she turned to her COM
panion.
Abba, what Is II about this terrible
robber-this Scourge Of Damascus?
have heard something about him. I
heard my father once speak Of him;
but my little knowledge of the world
did not lead me to be inQuisitive. Do
you know anything about him?"
Il have heard a great deal of him,
my lady. He has been a terror to Da-
mascus for a great many years.
How many years. Abba? I Was
thinking that my father said he had
not been long known in this section"
II may be mistaken" said Abba,
trying to recollect herself. 81 know
that he is a terrible Scourge, and that
men fear him; but I do not know how
many years he has been so. 1t may
not be SO many as I thought"
But who is he? Where did he come
from"
"Ah, there is a mystery, my dear
mistress. Nobody knows where he
came from; but 1t is said that he is
one whose family has suffered some
great calamity at the hands Of Horam.
He Is alone In the world, SO far as rela-
tives are concerned, and Horam hath
done 1t; and so he comes to seek yen-
geance. He has a large body of bold
men under him, and twice has he met
and overcome the forces which the
king had sent out to capture him. He
does not rob as common robbers do.
He never troubles the poor, or those
Of the middle class; but the rulers and
princes OF Damascus he causes to suf-
fer"
Did you ever see him, Albia?"
Mercy! no. l would not see him for
the world. He must be terrible to
look upon. l have heard one Of your
fathers officers say that he could
strike a blow with his fist to fell an OK.
and that before the lightning of his
eye brave men shrank in terror. O.,
/ should be afraid to see him."
1T seems to me that 1 should like
to see such a man." said Ulin, in a
musing tone. 81 have never seen such
men. The man whose arm can strike
down an OK, and whose eye flashes
forth such power, could not harm a
helpless maiden"
Upon my life, you have a curious
TASTE" Abba returned.
Because" added Ulin, with a smile.
II never had my taste cultivated.
Still, in all seriousness, 1t does seem
to me that I should love to lean upon
a strong, bold man. If I were to love
a man with my whole heart, I should
like him to be SO strong and so power
full and SO brave. that his very pres
ence would be protection to me. Is
that very stranger"
1T Is SO strange" replied the slave,
significantly, that I fancy the king
would feel new cause for jealousy II he
should hear you say So"
when / am the kings wife I shall
be true to him, and I'shall honor and
respect him. l will love him II I IAN.
But, Abba, there is no need of saying
more We will have our dinner, and
then we will walk out into the gar
den."
Suddenly a messenger appears ask
ing for assistance from the guard.
With 80 stalwart guards he hurries to-
ward the gates.
What can it be?" cried the prin-
cess, in alarm.
But Abba could not imagine. She
could only beg of her mistress to take
courage. and hope for no evil.
Ere long, however, another messen-
ger came to the palace, who made his
way to the room where the princess
was sitting. He trembled with ex-
element.
How now, Aswad?" demanded Ulin.
what is the meaning Of all this dis
%turbance?"
ALAS, my lady, an enemy is at our
gates. The terrible Scourge Of Damas-
Gus demands entrance into the valley"
what does he seek?"
81 dare not tell your"
What seeks he?" cried the princess,
authoritatively. III there is danger,
I would know what 1t Is"
There may not be danger for you,
lady. We may beat the robber off.
We will do SO II We can"
But the king told me that a hand
full of determined men could hold that
pass against a thousand"
But these are not ordinary men.
This Julian is q very demon, and I
verify believe that he hath more than
human power. Still We will do the
best that we can"
"You have not told me what he
seeks. Answer me that question-an-
swer 1t without further hesitation"
HE seeks the maiden whom the
king is to take for a Wife"
Seeks me?" uttered the princess,
with a start.
Eyes, my lady. Such is his avowal."
In mercy's name, good Aswad, pro-
tect me. Let not that dreadful robber
gain access to the valley"
Hurry. hurry" cried Abba. Away
to your companions, and bid them
strain every We. II they suffer the
Scourge Of Damascus to gain passage
hither they know what the wrath Of
the king must be-"
Powers OF heaven!" cried Ulin with
clasped hands and Uuiyerin1 frame