The Washington times., 1904-10-23
A FAIR SLAVE TO THE F1AHDI-n @

{ RUN him through cried a score Of
+ voices. Down with the unbeliever.
/ Hasten and tell the Mahdi. Go!
who art th0ug" cried a khaiifah,
rushing forward
/ The prince was silent, struggling in
the mighty arms
81 know him" responded the guard
"ite is The Prince Bagdou, Russian vice
consul or EEarto-m. O noble khalif--
I'm the melee IL, prince had struggled
toward lie two emiTs, one OF whom lay
on his face dead, and the other already
F bound i'm chains
Tie syvore against the Mahdi and so
killed him. was The surviving enir
pleading. -Fa sWUre 10 xiii the Mahdi
/ because the master took away his king
dom in the far Dor country. j swear H.
by Allah, noble khalifah. He was going
back 90 kin tho Mahdi this very night
aud SO 10 save our master ] slew
him"
Prince Ba-don broke away and
dropped by the bound mans side.
81 heard it au." ne whispered u was
( Iy ms by the mimosa tree and / heard
every word. Save me now save me, or
/ SHAH tell the truth
what do you mean, dog OF ara inf
del2' be- groaned.
-I mean" said the prince, sulemuly,
that I am captured and shall be- killed
straishtWay. But before am killed
{ cam tell uII L know about the angel Of
EGht DO you remember me now
The emir WINGED Then he laaped mp
/ iU q sitting posture
Save tins man, be cried, 'tor he
iuIoue heard the sad Emir I'll Hammiu
when He cursed the 1iahdi, Tor which /
slew him. Save this infidel that he may
+ bear witness for me-
Tie kuaGlah turned 10 the Russian.
what DID ST thou hear barbarianF
S-eaIs The truth on you shall die ON the
SPOT What ueard'st thou2
The prince shook himself from his
eaptors "TEa noble emir speaks -ae
truth. before Allah hc said Erayely
1.-THE dead man oiasphcmed and said
f that I'D Mahdi Was "a liar-tEat he was
( not 'the expected one 1 swear IT, no.
/ bile khaHlan.
"Aud thou diG-st km the renegade
/ eail lor that blasphemy2" said the NLa-
I ufuu. turning 90 the man in chains.
/ AYE. noble sire of the faithful for
that I slew him."
"Sot him free" commanded the kha-
IuIal ''set him free. and put his chains
upon this dog or an unbeiieyer.
/ .'But J spoke the truth, noble kha-
]
entitled TO my liberty as a reward
Your Iiberty?" cried the khalfah
/ satauicaIIy do you wish your lib
I erty for telling the truth when / should
have killed you for telling a lie2"
The prince now turned to the emir,
who was shaking on his chains.
.I leave It with YOU, noble emir. Am
/ i not entitled to my liberty ia that /
told tine truth and saved your hfe?'
The emir smiled, showing his hideous
pointed teeth BE thankful that you
/ live, iufdel." he said
The guards began pliing The chains
I upon the raging captive, fastening them
/ about his ankles. mis- wrists, his neck.
/ Once mere despairiugly the prince APP
| peaIed TO the liberated emir. who was
/ gathering up his effects and wiping his
/ sword upon tufts Of grass.
J '.I have saved you, be said, and you
must save me. Is that fair:
"I have saved you. he growled-
what more do you wantT
'I want ay freedom waited Bardon
/ You did not ask that" was the reply.
You saved my life, saved yours.
What remains now is tn the hands OF
the NahdL ] have Eaidi' And he turn
! ed away.
+ Take him TO the zerebar' commanded
the khaHfah.
/ CresJIaueu. heaTtsiCk, weighed down
with many chains. poor Bardom was
dragged toward the imprOvised prison,
followed by q j=erius. Insulting, bowling
mob that made The midnight hideous
with tho DT0fauities and curses heapcd
upon him.
In SORT of thorn hedge iucl1sure,
strongly guarded. the captive was
thrown among "a lot of wretches half
clothed. half starved. shackIed 10 one
another. amazed al the coming or their
new recruit.
And there in abject misery Prince
BardoH. himself a prisoner, who had
made such "a solemn promise Of rescue
TO the angel of light, prayed for the
coming of the dawn. yet not knowing
what If might bring fOrth-Iife or death.