The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-02-01
CHAPTER xv11.-CContinued.)

but they had lacked the sineW ana
force of the attacking party. In TACT
upon foot. hand to hand, and front to
front; either Julian or his lieutenant
might have been a match for half OF
them.
"Those two rascals are not worth
pursuing" said our hero, as he noticed
that Hobaddan was looking after the
fleeing Arabs. Let them go. we
have gained all we sought"
After this Julian turned towards the
females. Uli1 saw him coming. and,
with no thought save that Of tenderest
| gratitude, she moved forward to meet
him.
Heaven bless you kind Sir" she
said. as she extended to him her
hand.
Sweet lady," returned the chieftain,
fervently. talk not Of blessings to
me. Let me be the one to call down
blessings. | know to whom l owe my
life and my liberty. Hobaddan has
told me all. oh, let me bear ever with
me the blessed privilege of remember
ing thee in my prayers to God!'
Tears gathered in the eyes of the
maiden, and her lips, trembled; and
when she spoke her voice betrayed
the deep emotion that stirred her soul.
Indeed. fair sir" she said. with her
hand still resting in his, you should
not deny to me the privilege which
you claim for yourself. II you can
feel pleasure in c%herishing a holy graf
itude. I can feel the same. When 1
remember the dreadful fate to which
the Arabs had doomed me. l cannot
forget the blessings which are due to
the kind power that delivered me-"
LAS you please, lady" replied Julian,
letting go her hand. THE thought
that thou art blessing me will be a
blessing indeed. And here is our fair
Albia.' he continued, turning to the
Northumberland a close observer
might have seen that he thus turned
in order to subdue emotions that were
rising to trouble him. Il do not for
get that some blessing belongs to
YOU"
81 have served my mistress" said
Abba, modestly. And then, perceiving
that a change of subject would be a
relief to both parties, she added, 1--WE
owe you so much, sir, that you will be
forced to accept my grateful blessings
with those of my lady. And now, if l
may dare to interrupt you. will you
tell us how you CHANGED to discover
us?"
1T was very simple, lady," replied
Julian, directing his answer to the
princess; land though seemingly an
accident, still l cannot help thinking
that some kind spirit must have super
intended the work. When we left Da-
mascus we took a course slightly diff
ferent from this; but on the. way we
met a poor traveller who Informed us
that he had been robbed. He did not
tell us that the robbers were Arabs,
and I fancied that they might be some
of my own people. Fearing this, I
determined to follow them. Their
course was a crooked one, and when
I finally reached the grove of date
palms, I had made up my mind to
search no more. We were asleep in
the grove, and Osmir awoke just as
q party of horsemen were leaving the
spring. He ran out and discovered
that the strangers were Arabs, and
that they had two females with them"
= y
The chieftain directed the slaves to
drag the bodies of the dead Arabs to-
gether, and take from them the gold
and jewels which had been taken from
the princess, and then to cover them
up in the sand: after which he re-
quested Hobaddan to examine his
wound. 1t seemed to be but a slight
puncture, just below the collar bone,
upon the left side. and as it was
bleeding but slightly, Julian concluded
Tot to have it probed. A simple com
press staunched the blood, and it was
thought that there could be no dan
ger.
When the slaves had done their
work, the chieftain approached our
heroine, and asked her whittier she
wished to go.
Il will see you safe to your journeys
end" he said, "even though it be to
the gates Of Damascus"
Il go lot that way, sir" she replied.
II wish to find the cave of an old her
nit named Ben Hadad."
Julian started as he heard this; but
he quickly recovered himself.
do you know that old MANI" he
asked.
mo, sir-I never saw him: but he
was a friend to my mother and l think
be will be a friend to me-"
"Ah-do o go out from Damascus
to find a friend?"
Il pray you, sir, ask me no ques-
tons. If you know where Ben Hadad
lives, and it would not trouble you too
much; freely accept your escort"
Noble lady, l not only know his
place OF abode, but my own course lies
directly thattway. If we: start at once
end meet with no further obstacle.
we may reach it by the rising of an
other SUM-"
THE sooner we start the better
said Ulin; land l can ride a long time
without resting"
We will ride as fast and as far as
our horses are willing" added Julian,
as he truned to prepare for the move.
In a few minutes they were mount
ed, Ulin and Abba once more taking
the horses that had brought them
from Damascus; and when all was
ready, the chieftain and his lieutenant
led off; leaving Shubal to ride with
the females. while Osmir and Selim
brought up the rear.
A few hours past noon they stopped
in a pleasant grove, where pure fresh