Show t TIIB WONDROUS TALE OF ALROY r argo assembly engaged in a rough but A fin blazed at their merry banquet Ride its red and uncertain flame mingwith tho white and steady moonling beam and throwing a flickering light over their ferocious countenances their glistening ariqour ample drapery and hawled heads 44 A apy” exclajmed the captprs as they dragged Airoy before tho leader of 3- a Kill him! 77 said Scherirah “Stab him! 7’ exclaimed Kislocb 44 Give me the jewel77 said the third robber “ God of David be ipy refuge then P? exclaimed Airoy “ He is a Hebrew he is a Hebrew’7 Scherirah exclaimed jumping up “ Spare him spare him ! my mother ‘ ! was a Jewess77' The assailants - lowered their arms and withdrew a few paces Airoy still remained upon his guard “valiant pilgrim? said Sherirah ad- voice “ aye vanning with a softened 77 you for the holy city 2 “ The city of my fathers77 44 A perilous journey And whence ‘ ijjcbdpjr fjang him tlqn?’ said the chieftain without even loqkiqg up 443’his wine great Scherirah is excel-qn- f pr I am no true Mosleqin7? said a priqcipql rqfyber “but you arp too cruel I hate this summary punishment Let us torture him a little and extraot some useful information7’ As you like Kisloch77 said Scberi-ra- h “ (t may amuse us Fellow where do you come from? lie cannot answer Ijpoidedly a spy Hang him up7’ Ttje gaptoys half untied the rope that jjqunc) tfoy’ that it might serve him another purpose1 when another of the gentle companions qf Scherirah interfered f “Spies always answer captain lie is more probably a merchant in dis- f iii guise7 And carries Ipjden treasure77 added Kislqch “ these 'rqqgh peats often cover 'joyrels We had better search from?” 44 44 ifarpqdan77 A dreary wy You need fppqse ' Your name ? 77 44 David77 “ David you are among friends? Rest and repose in safety Yqu hesb tate Fear not ! The memory qf alis a charm that my mother me77 Scherirah unways changes sheathed his dagger punctured his arm and throwing away his weapon offered the bleeding member to Airoy The prince of the captivity touched the open vein with his lips My troth is pledged77 said the ban- dit u I can never betray him in whose veins my own blood is flowing’7 So saying he led Airoy to his carpet “Eat David7 said Scherirah “ I will eat bread77 answered Airoy 44 meat 'lyimt have y0U jja(j $0‘ lately that yqu will refuse this delicate gazelle that I have brought ‘down this morning with my wn lance ? 7Tia fp(qd for a caliph77 “ I pray yqu giye mo bread77 44 0 ! bread if you like Bpt that a man shquld prefer bread tq ipeat such meat as ‘this 7tis miraculous77 “ A thousand thank? good Scherirah but with our people the flesh of the gazelle is forbidden Jt ig unclean Its foot is cloven77 “ I have heard of thege things’? replied Scherirah with a thoughtful air My mother was a Jewess apd my father was a Kourd Whichever be right I hope to be saved’’ “ There is but one God and Mohain-me- d is his prophet ! ” exclaimed Kisloch though I drink wine Your 44 a( ‘4i him7 vAy! gearch him77 said Scherirah jis pough brutal voice “do what This only give me the bottle yqqliewine is cb'qice booty Feed the Efr'eqb flre me’q Are yoq asleep ? And then Kislocn who hates cruelty caii rqast him if he’ likes77 Tbo robbers prepared to strip their exclaimfriends friends paptiye ed AlrfW “ fbr there is no reason why you should nqt be friends spare me spare inel I aip poor I am young I am iqnqcent l am neither a spy nor q I have no plots no wealth I am a pilgrim7’ ' 44 ! 77 ' ad mer-cuq- 44 rah 44 AvtpGicled spy’7 exclaimed Scheri“ tjipy arp ever pilgrims77 Ho snqaks tqq well to speak truth77 $olp exclaimelj “ All tqlkers are liars77 exclaimed Scherirah That is tvhy Kislqch is the most eloquent of the baqd77 A jest at tho bapqqct may prqyp a curse in the field77 replied Kisloch “Pooh!77 exclaimed Scherirah Fellows why do you hesitate ? Search tie I prisoner say They advanced they se!p$ hjm In vain he struggled Captain77 exclaimed one qf the he wears upon his breast a band jewel ! 1 told you so77 laid the third yqb-b44 44 ! 77 44 44 44 77 44 “Give it me77 said ‘Scherirah But Airoy in despair at the thought of losing the talisman remembering the injunction of Jabaster and animated by supernatqral courage burst from his searchers aqd seizing a brand from the fire held them at bay The fellow has spirit77 said Scheri7Tis pity rah calmly it will cost 44 44 him his life77 “ Bold man7? explained Airoy 44 for ft uiomeqt hear me! J qiq q pilgrim poorer than a beggar The Jewel they talk of is a holy emblem worthless to you to me invaluable and to bo forfeited only by my life Yqu may be ca:e: less of that Beware qf your oyn The first iqan whoadyqqces dies pray you hmpjy chieftain lpt pie go7? grdhar&yM health Hebrew’’ “ I will join you” said the third robber d My father was a Guebre and his sacrificed property to his faith and the ponseqqence is his son has got nejther” As for me paid a fourth robber of very dark complexion and singularly “ I am aq Indian and I bebright eyes lieve in the great golden figure with the carbuncle eyes iq temple of Delhi” “I have noreligiqn” §aid a tall nen red a turban gro grinping with his white tpetk “ they have nqno in my country but if I had hoard qf your Calidas I would have Gotf before in him” 4‘ I almost wish I had been a Jp7” exclaimed Scherirah musipg My mother was a good woman” “ The Jews are very rich” said the third robbfir When ypp get to Jerusalem David you will sqq the phristians7’ continued Scherirah The accurspd Giaours” exclaimed Kisloch “ we pro all against them” With their tyjte japes ” cxclaipied ' 44 44 44 Jhe pegro 555 “ And their blue eyes” said the In dian ik What can you expect of men whq live in a country without a sun ? ” ob' served the Guebre Airoy awoke about two hours after were iq midnight His companions deep slumber The moon had set tha fire had died away a few red embers yet remaining dark masses of shadow hung about the amphitheatre He arose aqd cautiously stepped over the sleepJle was not in strictness ing bandits a prisoner but who could trust to the caprice of these lawless men ? Tomorrow might find him their slave or their companion in some marauding expedition which might make 'him almost retrace his stepa to the Caucassus or tx Hamadan Tbe temptation to ensure his freedom was irresistible He clambered up the rqiqed wall descended into the intricate windings that led tq the Ionic fane that served him as a beacon hurried through the silent and starry streets gained the gret portal and rushed once more into the desert A vague fear of pursuit $ade continue his course many hours without resting The desert again became sandy the heat increased The breeze that plays about the wilderness and iu early spring is often sceutcd with the wild fragrance of aromatic plants sank away A lurid brightness suffused the heavens An appalling stillness pervaded nature even the insects were silent For the first time in his pilgrimage a feeling of deep despondency fell over the soul of Airoy His energy appeared suddenly to have deserted him low hot wind began to rise A and fan his cheeks with pestiferona kisses and enervate his frame with itu embrace His head and poisonous limbs ached with a dull sensation more terrible than pain his sight was dizzy his tqngue swolen Vainly he looked aroupd fqr aid vainly he extended his forlorn anqs and wrung them to thei remorseless heaven Almost frantic with thirst the boundless horizon of the desert disappeared anj the unhappy victim in the midst of his torture found himself apparently surrounded by bright and running streams the fleeting water? of the fal$e mirage ! the sky The $qu became blood-red- ? darker the sand ro?e in fierce eddies the moaning wind burst into shrieks and respired a rpqrq ardent and still The pilgrim morp malignant brqatb cqqld nq Ipnger sqsln himself Faith coqrqge devotioq qeserted him with his fftiliqg cuergiqg He strove no longer with hs deiny he delivered himself pp to despair and death He fell upoq opq knee with drooping head supporting Micpself by one quivering hand and thenj full of the anguish of baffeled purpose? and lost affections raising his faqq and arm to heaven thus to the elemept? he poured his pas' sionate farewell O life once yainly deemed a gloomy toil I feel thy sweetness now farewell 0 life farewell my high reand proud copyiction of alsolves mighty fame Mydays my short un- profitable days melt into tbe Past j and death with which 1 struggle horriblo arrests me in this wilderness Jeath P my sister could thy voiced tjpy sweet yqjce but murmur in ray ear one single could thine eye with its ?igu of love ?oft radiance but an instant blend with the pang wpre niy dim fading vision Farewell Miriam ! my heart nothing is with by thy fountain’s side Fa 44 |