Year: 1872

thlS-he knew every man-and then he
turned his thoughts and energies in another
direction.


He began to wander about the mountains,
and at length he found the place he sought.
1t was where q narrow shelf of rock ran
around an almost perpendicular mountain
side, and overlooked frightful chasm,
along the far-otf bottom of which dashed
and roared a swift, white torrent. 1t was
wild, fearful place, but the boy was not
afraid. Day after day he made his way to
that giddy height, and there worked right
bravely


The shelf, which seemed to be midway
up the steep mountains side, led from q
rugged pathway which only the wild gazelle
had trodden before. 1t was not over six
feet wide at the commencement, and then
led for some distance in circuitous way
but when it became straight it widened to a
broad inclined plane This plane descend
ed at such an angle that no man could have
held himself on it, and at distance of
twenty yards it ended abruptly, a broad
chasm open at its foot. Some convulsion
Of nature seemed to have split and opened
the shelf at this point, for at the distance Of
few yards it commenced again, and led
of around the mountain on plane. But
the chasm had been opened clear to the
roaring torrents in the dim, deep distance.
The side Of the mountain had been wholly
cleft III twain, so that between the two ends
Of the shelf there was q yawning gulf


Mulek got long strong vines, and, having
secured them to the rocks above, he let him
self down the inclined plane. Then he
brought long dry sticks, and laid them care
fully over the chasm and when he had
framed groundwork thus, he brought
grass and twigs, and broad fakes of light
moss. At times he let himself down upon
the sweeping plane, and at others assembled
the mountain by another way, and worked
upon the opposite side.


Months had passed since the boy Moor
commenced his work 1t had been work
Of great mOment-of great magnitude
work which few strong men would have
dared to commence alone. But the boy
had done it. Day after day he labored
when he dared, and week after week he saw
but little done. But when the months had
gone, and the rainy season was at hand, the
work was complete.


One morning Ben-Zama sat in his tent,
and With him were the seven men who
helped to murder the Moorish merchants
While they conversed, Noonas boy entered
their presence. He had waited over a week
to find these eight men together.


"What now, asked Ben-Zama, half an
grily.


The boy drew piece Of yellow metal
from his bosOm-a piece which he had OBJ
tanned from that very room a month before
and handed it to the chief


What is that Ben-Zama r. he asked.
This !" cried the Tibbou, starting
" "Tis gold pure gold Whence came it r.
''From the mountains"


"Ha The mountains E


Yes, valiant chieftain, 1 found it in a
bed where is a wonderful mine"
"You did r.


Yes But the way is difficult of access.


Never mind 'Tis pure gold Lead
me there r


"Aye-lead US there cried the others


Ben Zama dared not object to his aids
following him, and ere long Mulek was
leading the way over the rough path of the
mountains.


1t was a wild, difficult passage, and the
chieftain wondered what could have led
the lad thither. The latter said he had come
in search Of eggs for Noona. At the end
Of three hours they came to the marrow
shelf upon the steep mountain side but as
the boy went boldly on the men did not
hesitate. When Mulek reached the edge
Of the dsclivity he stopped and turned to
his followers


''Do you see that bed Of moss and
gravel 7" he asked, pointing down to the
strange work he had DONE


'Yes-we see it, but how do you reach
itl


"Why-it is easy to slide down to 1t. All
you have to do is, to settle down and start.
You'll stop when you reach the bottom :"
And the gold-is it there 7"


Follow me, and look fer yourself Here
l-so-now come on"


As the boy spoke he settled to STOPPING
posture, and balanced himself for the slide.
The greedy men followed his example. The
shelf was wide here, and they had room to
start nearly altogether. Mulek went on
ahead -down-down-dow with a
keen eye and a steady nerve. At the edge
| Of the moss his right foot touched the end
, of concealed stick-his form assumed an
upright position, and with one flying leap,
the foot Just touching 6rmer spot in the
center of the moss, he reached the opposite
|, rock.


And there he turned as quick as thought
and snatched away the stout cross-stick
upon which he had stepped.


Remember the Oasis of Lebon, and the
Moorish merchants :" he shouted, at top
of his voice


The boy caught the quick, frightened
look of Ben-Zama, he heard the fearful cry
of terror, and on the next instant the
bloody chieftain was at the edge of the
precipice. He gave one more wild cry,
made a desperate plunge for the spot
where the bOy-avenger stood, but he might
as well have tried to leap to heaven. He
touched the baseless fabric, and in . mo-
ment more he was lost to sight.
The others comprehend their dreadful
fate now. They threw themselves upon
their backs, and pressed their hands upon
the rock, but the smooth surface afforded
them no holding place. Down they went
l-down-down-down-the voice Of the
young executioner sounding still in their
ears-dOwn-down.


A low cry-the cry of death-came from
the depth of the chasm-and in q few mo-
ments more naught was heard save the dull
roar of the dismal torrent as it bore upon
its foaming bosom the forms Of eight dead
men.


81 buried six beneath the sauds Of the
desert. have buried eight here Father
-mother-brothers you He avenged -
Noona never saw her adopted son again
but In few weeks afterward Mulek, the
son of Yezid, arrived in Tripoh and when
he told his story he found no lack oi
friends.