Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-09-26
CHAPTER X.
In the Dungeon.

In the Dungeon.
The robber chieftain had been placed
in one of the most gloomy dungeons
beneath the royal palace, his legs and
arms loaded with chains. and his feet
shackled to bolt in the floor. How
long he had been there he could not
tell. Night and day were the same
in the living tomb. Food and drink
had been brought to him thrice, and
a masked mute had been in to remove
the tray. He had but one hope of es-
cape, and even that was so feeble that
1t would not bear the entertainment.
He thought If his followers should dis
cover where he was, they might pos
sibly dare to attempt his release; but
when he came to weigh all the cir
cumstances, he dared not think they
would do it. In short, Julian had made
up his mind that death was very near
to him.
And what had he to live for? What,
but revenge upon the King of Damas-
mus? He had no parents-no rela-
tives-nothing on earth of his own
blood which he could claim. There
might be living in the city some hui
man being of his kin; but he did not
know of such. He loved his brave
fellows; but they could do without
him. They were bold, stout men, and
could look for themselves. What else
was there? There were some poor
families in the mountains-some
friends upon the plain-and few de-
pendent ones near the river; but Ho-
baddan would care for them. What
else was there?
The youthful chieftain bowed his
head, and pressed his heavily laden
hands upon his heart. There was one
more-one whom he had hoped to see
again in the coming time-one who
had left an impression in his soul
which had warmed and quickened his
whole being. But why think of her?
What could the beautiful daughter of
About Cassem be to him? In a few
short days she would be the wife Of
his bitterest enemy.
Thus unused the prisoner. standing
erect, with his manacled hands fold
ed upon his bosom, when he was
aroused from his reflections by the
sound of creaking bolts, and in few
geon was opened. and the rays of a
lamp penetrated the place. Two men
entered, closing the door after them;
but the eyes of the chieftain were not
yet used enough to the light to dis
tinguish either their forms or features.
Presently. however, as they addressed
each other, he recognized the two
blacks who had so fatally deceived
him, and his first impulse was to raise
his heavy chains and smite them
down. but they were not near enough
to be thus reached.
"Osmir-Selim," he said, ARE you
here?"
Eyes, my master" replied osmir.
''Have you come to kill me?"
"No"
"To bear me to the king?"
what, then? You have the watch
over me?"
YES"
Anu tuc ming icaio uot " trust
your"
"You see he does trust u.s."
"Aye-as trusted you. o, you are
two ungrateful villains. When you
came TO me in the forest, l believed
your tale of woe, and took pity upon
you; and l meant to be kind to you,
and make your lot pleasant one. l
looked into your faces, and | thought
you were honest. / did not trust you
from your speech. but from your hon
est looks. However. it is past. And
now what seek ye?"
Good MASTER" said Osmir. speak
ing earnestly. before l tell you why
We are now here, let me say to you
that we are not without hearts, and
that we have some store Of honesty.
When we went to your camp, we went
in the service OF another master, whom
We were bound to serve. We had
sworn that we would capture you II we
could. But, sir. after we had seen you,
and known you, we would have re-
canted had the thing been possible. We
asked Judah to free us from the task,
but he refused"
why do you tell me this story
now?"
THAT you may know the reason of
our action"
you action speaks for itself. Look
at these chains: and mark the fate to
which l am doomed"
Il meant not the action of the past,
good master; alluded to action that
was to come"
action to Gomez"
Eyes. Selim and I are here to speak
OF your release from this dungeon.
Hold-let our words be few, for the
time is short. We have promised that
we would lead you forth from Horam's
power II the thing were possible"
Promised whom" asked Julian.
The black hesitated. He knew not
that he should use the name of the
princess, so he finally answered:
'Hobaddan is in the city, and our
promise has been sent to him. But
there is something more. II we lead
you from this place, we do so in the
face of great danger. We have plan
ned for that, and have freely staked
our lives in the work. But. II we sue
coed, and you are free. We can never
more return to Damascus. II We go
with you from this dungeon. We must
go with you from the city, and remain
with you"
Julian believed that the black was
speaking truly and honestly.