The Holly chieftain., 1901-08-30

WIN 942ScvO taot - seNs0 ~AO 49,
hn1aah peWes. etill vs viii Do IT,
hsst thst vs can"
.You have Aot told - what "
sssks. Answer ne that ausstion-an-
swsr Il without furthar hesitation"
-Hs seeks tie maiden whom the
king 10 to take tor wife"
'sesks met" utt~sd the princess.
with q start.
''Yss. my lady. Such q his avoval."
I'm mercy's mare. good Aswad. pro-
tsct me. Let not thit 1ssadful robber
szia access to The valley"
Hurry. hurry" ertsd Attis. Away
to your compalions, and bid them
strain evsry nerve. II thsy suffer the
6courys Of Damascus TO gain passage
hithsr they know what the wrath Of
the king must be."
clasped hands and auivesing frame
the demon must not nnd u.s.
(, you are not 20 anxious to see him
a. you were" remarked Abba. II
thought your whim was strange
one"
Speak not OF that" said Ulin quick
" and severely. II meant not that I
would have him come to seek me. o
Abba, what can he want?"
Indeed. my mistress. I dare not
think. But let US look in another direc-
tion. II he does not ind US, we care
not why he comes. Ha! See! Hero
comes Aswad again. He looks fright
ened."
Aswad entered the chamber with
trembling step and seemed afraid to
speak; but the demand Of the princess
opened his lips.
Lady. fear that the robber will
prevail against Us. He 10 accompanied
by fierce. furious men. who fight like
lions,and his own sword Is irresistible.
His body 10 covered with scales Of nm
est steel and the blows of our men fall
harmless upon him."
"But the dreadful man has not yet
broken through said ulin eagerly.
mo. lady. Our brave men fight as
well as they can"
Has the robber entered the pass"
mot far" sis
Then you may hold him at r yet.
o, Aswad. II you would BE- blessed for
evermore let not the Scourge gain the
valley!' s.
We will do our best. lady; but you
must be prepared for the worst. II we
are finally overcome you must hide
yourself" 80
Where? Where can we hide ?"ask-
ed Abba.
I'm the palace or somewhere in the
gardens; or upon the mountains"
There is no hiding place which a
keen eye would not detect. have
looked In every direction. So, Aswad,
save US BY your stout arms"
Il fear the demons will prevail"
said Ulin, in q tone Of breathless sus-
pense. iis q SS-s.=,.
Il dare not hope otherwise" return
ed Abba.
III they do come. we must ind
some place in which to hide.
Alas, my dear mistress, there is no
such place. II We go up among the
rocks. we not only run the risk OF be-
ing easily found, but we run the
greater risk Of starving"
II would rather starve than fall into
the dread Julian's hands,: said Ulin.
1T would be = terrible death to
starve upon those bleak tocks!" re-
turned Abba. with a shudder. "But
will share your fate. my mistress, let
it be what 1t may"
And would not death by starvation
be preferable to the fate witch must
meet us IL that monster captures US?
o. Abba. j cannot think Of IT."
Before the slave could reply they
saw Aswad again coming toward them;
but he did not enter the palace. He
struck on into path that led to the
westward, and fed with all his might,
Directly afterwards score Of the
guards came rushing from the pass,
and when they had gained the open
space, they threw down their swords
and sank upon their knees.
What means that" cried Ulin.
Are they killed."
NO." answered Abba "They are
overcome. and have surrendered. See!
there come the victors!"
let N hee!' exclaimed the priu-
cess. starting to her feet. 20, We must
find some place Of refuge!"
Abba was more thoughtful. She
saw very, plainly that flight would be
useless.
my dear mistress" she said, taking
ulin's hand. We must hope for the
best. II we leave the palace. We shall
be cvertaken at once; for the way to
the mountains lies only through the