The Northern News. — 1896-07-04 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

CHAPTER IV.  A few minutes later only Omar, Jonas, and Otba were left in the open square. "What does this mean? Does she love the man still?" said Jonas.  .` Don't ask me," said Omar. "Omar," said Jonas, in an undertone, "this man must die, and you must kill him" "God forbid!" exclaimed Omar.  "You alone have entrance to the house. You are to come here to-night. I know it—l heard you," said Jonas.  "But what has he done I" said Omar.  'Done ? " said Jonas. " Nothing that the Basha can lay hold of, and therefore we must work his will withlut him. Let this madman go on for a year, and there will not be a Basha left in Barbary." "Even so, what of that I" said Omar.  , Otba laughed bitterly. " Are you afraid of a blood feud," he said. "Well, let the saints decide. We'll draw lots. Here !"  He took off his satchel, his money bag, and handed it to the Jew. "I'll mark one moozoonah," he said He took a copper coin out of the bag, marked it with the point of his knife and cast it back. "It is done. Now I draw." With that he dipped his hand into the bag. "And I," said Jonas, and dipped his hand also. " Your turn, Omar."  But Omar hesitated. "What has the man done to me? Nothing" he faltered. "So ?" said Jonas, insinuatingly, "Omar, what do the Christians say 'the fire is soon rekindled when the hearth is hot."  Saying this he laughed knowingly and pointed to where Rachel and the Mandi had gone into the house together. The stab went home.  "Come !" said Omar and he dipped into the bag. Jonas and Otba glanced at their coins and smiled, but Omar without looking offered his coin to Jonas. They started at the sight of it. " I knew it," said Omar, solemnly. "The deed is written on my forehead. I must have come to it." The moon had risen by this time, and Othtnan, with a light heart and a light step, was coming to his assignation with Asma, when he saw three men under the walls of Rachel's house and stepped back. "Go to him at midnight," said Jonas. "The merchants from Tadla are with him now. When they are gone let it be done. At the sound of the Mooddin's voice strike home. We will be near and others with us. When he is down you will throw the door open to us, and we will enter at your watchword. Then each will fling a weapon into his body. That will be for your safety, so that if a blood-feud should come of this night's work, it will be the family of one against the families of all." Omar was in a stupor. "And the watchword I" he asked.  " Allah-u-Kabar ! God is great !" said Jonas. Omar was m wing towards the steps of the house. "At the voice of the Mooddin, you say 1" "At the voice ot the Mooddin," said Jonas. "Remember, God is great." "God is great," repeated Omar._ __ _  „ Then he ascended the steps and disappeared over the balcony like a man walking under a spell. Jonas and Otba stood a moment in the empty market-place watching him. ” I half mistrust him," said Jonas. "He's brave to excess, and that's cowardice." Then thny went off together. Othman came panting from the ambush of a door and called up at the balcony in a voice of fear, " Asma ! Asma ! Aetna !"  The girl appeared in the moonlight, hooded for their flight. 'Are you ready, Othmau ?" the whiipered down. "Yes—no--we must wait," said Othman, in a bewildered way. " What'b amiss? speak," said Asma. " Hush ! There's to be murder in this house tonight. Omar is to kill the Mandi." Omar! He's with my mistress now. I'll tell  her." "On your life—no," said Othman. "But as soon as he is alone tell the Mandi. Quick, girl, quick !" Asma went back into the house and Othman hurried away.