The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26

been quite so simple and that he had been content with some luxurious apartment in the palace
 The wise man. of course, paid his re- spects daily to his patron. as any con- scientious attending physician should. One day, when Aben Habuz was in weighing against the unreasonableness of his neighbors and th cir wicked de- sire to fight and foray, which allowed him no ease and peace of mind, he laid especial stress upon the fact that no watehfulness of his would suffice to tell from what direction the next dan ger would come. 'Know, o King said the doctor, stroking his beard, that when I was in Egypt pursuing my studies l beh cid a great marvel de- signed by a pagan priestess of old. On a mountain above the city of Borsa, overlooking the great valley of the Nile, was figure of a ram, and above it the figure of cock, both of brass and turning on pivot. Whenever the country was threatened with invasion the ram would turn in thN direction of the enemy and the cock would crow to give warning of the danger. "Ah?' ex- claimed the king, what treasure would such a ram be to keep watch upon these mountains around me and such cock to crow in the time of dan ger. Allah Ach hbari How securely might I sleep in my palace with such sentinels on the top"
 The astrologer then told this wonder ous tale; After the victorious Amru (may he rest in peacel had finished lis conquest of Egypt I remained among the priests of the land, seeking to make myself master of their hidden knowl edge. I was one day seated on tic banks of the Nile conversing with an ancient priest and he pointed toward those mighty pyramids which rise like mountains out of the neighborins desert. All that we can teach thee said he. is as nothing compared to the knoweldge locked up In those mighty piles. In the center of the cen tral pyramid is a sepulchral chamber in which lies the mummy of the high priest who aided in rearing the stu pendous pile. And with him is buried wondrous book of knowledge con taining all the secrets of magic and art This was given to Adam after his fall and was handed down from generation to generation to King Solo mon the Wise. By it's aid he built the Temple of Jerusalem How it came into the possession of the builder of tle pyramids is known alone to Him who knows all things"
 Then Ibrahim told how being able to command the aid of many soldiers, he had broken into the central pyramid even into the sepulch ral chamber, and rifed the mummy of the dead priest of the books of wisdom. By the aid of the knoweldge thus filched from the hands of the mighty dead Ibrahim declared he could construct for Aben. Habus a talisman which should warn and guard him against his foes
 "Oh wise son of Abu Ayub," cried the king. give me such safeguard and tine riches of my treasury are at thy dis posal."
 Ibrahn immediately set to work. On top of the palace he caused to be erected a lofty tower built of stones brought from Egypt-some said from the pyramids themselves. At the top of the tower was circular chamber with windows looking toward every point of the compass Before each win dow was table on which was ar ranged, as on a chess board a mimic army of horse and foot with the ef- hgy of the potentate who ruled in that direction, all carved in wood. To each of these tables there was a small lance on which were engraven certain Chaldaic characters. The entrance to the hall was closed by great gate of brass with a lock of steel. On top of the tower stood the bronze figure of Moorish horseman with a lance up- lifted. The face of this horseman was toward the city, as if keeping guard over it. but the astrologer averred that if any foe should threaten the horse man would turn and, lowering his lance, point in the direction of the danger.
 When the talisman was finishes Aben Habuz was all impatience for an op- portunity to try its virtues. He did not have to wait long. Early one morning all Granada was agitated by the news that the bronze horseman had turned his face toward the mountains of Elvira and lowered his lance toward the Pass of Lope. The king at once gave the word to sound to arms; but the sage said: Let not your city be disturbed King. nor your warriors called to arms. Dismiss your attendants and come with me to the chamber in the top of the tower"
 When the King, leaning on the arm of Ibrahim. entered the chamber he was astounded. The window looking toward the Pass of Lopek as open and on the table before it the miniature army was all in motion. The little horses pranced the pigmy warriors branished their weapons and there was the faint sound of drums and trumpets and of the clang- humming of houseny in drowsy sum mer day.
 "The enemy, King. are advancing through the Pass of Lope,' said 1brahim. would you cause them to retreat with out loss of life? Then take this little lance and strike these little effigies with it's butt end. Would you cause bloody feud? Then strike with the sharp point" The old devil was aroused in Aben Ha- bug. ..I think we will have a little blood,'' said he, and began thrusting the sharp