The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05
CHAPTER XN.

~ y hour later the captain ABDUL
lah might have Deen seen walk
iDg careleesly towarN the tent
where the brethren slept Also.
had there been any who cared
10 watch something else might have
been. seen in that low moonlight; for
now the storm and the heavy rain
which followed it had passed. Name
ly, the fat shape of the eunuch Mes
rour, slipping after him wrapped in
a dark canei-hair cloak. such as
was commonly worn by camp fol-
lowers. and taking shelter cunningly
behind every rock ana shrub ana
rise Of the ground. Hidden among
some picketeo drorneGsries. he saw
Abdullah enter the tent of the brethren,
then. waiting till a cloud crossed the
moon, Mesrour ran 10 il unseen. and
throwing himself down on its shadowed
side, lay there like a drunken man, and
listened with all his ears. But the
thick canvas was heavy with wet, nor
would the ropes and the trench that
was dug around permit him, who did
not love 10 lie in the water, 10 place
spoke low, and he could only hear
single words, such as garden, the
star" Princess
So important did these zeem TO him,
however, that at length Mesrour crept
under the cords, and although he shud-
dered al its cold. drew his body into
the trench Of water, and with the sharp
point Of his knife cut a little slit in
the taut canvas. To this he set his
eye, only to find that il served him
nothing, for there was no light in the
tent. Still, men were there who talked
in the darkness.
Good said a voice-it was that OF
one Of the brethren, but which he could
not tell, for even to those who knew
them best they seemed to be the same.
Good: then ii is settled Tomorrow at
the hour arranged you bring the Prin-
cess TO the place agreed upon, disguised
as you have said. In payment for this
service l hand you the Luck OF Hassan,
which YOU cONet. Take there it is
and swear to do your part, since other
wise it viii bring no luck TO you, for
will kill you the first time we meet
yes. and the other also
4 swear it 10y Allah and his proph-
et," answered Abdullah in q hoarse,
trembling voice.
1t is enough; see that you keep the
oath. and row away; it is not safe that
you shall tarry here
Thea came the sound Of q man leav-
ing the tent. Passing round it cautious
ly, he halted. and opening his hand
looked az its contents TO make sure that
no trick had been played upon him in
the darkness. Mesrour screwed his
head round to look also, and saw the
light gleam family on the surface OF
the splendid jewel, Which he too desired
so eagerly. in 50 doing his foot struck
q stone anG Instantly Abdullah glanced
down, 10 see z dead or drunken man
lying almost at his feet. With a swift
movement he hid the jewel and started
TO walk away Then. bethinking him
that il would be wei TO make sure that
this fellow was dead or sleeping, he
turned and kicked the PROSTATE Mes
rour upon the back, and with all his
strength. Indeed. he did this thrice
putting the eunueh 10 the greatest
agony.
4 thought I saw him move" Abdul
lsh muttercd after the third kick: I'll
is best 10 make sure, and he drew his
knife.
Nov had not terror paralyzed him
MesroLF would have cried out, but
fortunately for himself before he found
his voice Abdullah had buried the knife
three inches deep in his fat thigh With
an effort he bore this also. knowing
that II he showed signs Of life the next
stroke would be TO his heart. Then, sat
might De. wss either a corpse or in
sensible. Abdullah drew out the knife
wiped il on his victims robe and de-
parted
Not long afterward Mesrour departed
also, toward the Sultan's house. bel
lowing with rage and pain and vowing
vengeance.
It was nct long delayed.
That very night Abdullah was
seized and put TO the question In his
suffering he confessed that he had
been 10 the tent of the brethren and
received from one Of them the Jewel
which was found upon him, as a bribe
10 bring the Princess TO a certain gar
den outside the camp. But he named
the wrong garden. Further. when they
asked which of the brethren il was
who bribed him, he said he did not
know, as their voices were alike. and
their tent was in darkness; moreover
that he believed there was only one
man in it-at least he heard or saw nc
other He added that he was sum-
moned TO the tent by an Arab man
whom he had never seen before. but
who told him that If he wished fol
what he most desired and good for
tune, he was to be there at a certain
hour after sunset. Then he tainted
and was put back in prison till the
morning bv the command of Saladin
When the morning came AbduIIaf
was dead. who desired no more tor
ments with doom at the end of them
having made shit to strangle himself
with his robe. But first he had
scrawled upon the wall with a piece OF
charcoal:
May that accursed Star of Hassar
which tempted me bring better luck tc
others. and may he'll receive the sou
OF Mesrour."
Thus died Abdullah, as faithful as ht
could be in such sore straits. since hs
had betrayed neither Masouda nor hi
son. both of whom were IN the plot
and said that only one of the brethrer
was present in the tent. whereas hi
knew well that the two of them were
there and which OF these spoke and
gave him the jewel
Very eSriv that rnorninp ffne bretf.