412 THE 1110X NAIL. 



suffered the bits to be again placed in their mouths and the girths to 

 be drawn tightly, with the docility natural to their generous nature. 

 In a moment more the stranger and the Arab were mounted. 



" Zahab, have you seen to your arms ? " 



" I am always prepared ! " 



" Once more will you be faithful ? " 



The Arab's dusky countenance flushed with anger. " Who shall 

 dare to doubt the faith of an Arab ? I have sworn it." 



" Enough ! now attend." A party of armed horsemen had appeared 

 in the distance, and they were now distinctly visible. " Do you see 

 in the midst of yonder group a venerable man?" The rays of the 

 moon now fell full on his long white beard. 



" Have I eyes ? " returned the Arab. 



" We must disperse his escort." 



" I can count a dozen men, all armed." 



" No matter ; they are but Persian slaves we must make the at- 

 tempt ; but their master is a noble old man, and age has not yet en- 

 feebled him. You are strong and skilful, and have address on your 

 saddle. Disarm the old man, pluck him from his horse and bring 

 him to me. But on your life, harm him not; rather lose your right 

 arm than injure a hair of his head, or our stake is lost, and we are 

 ruined for ever !" The Arab replied not; but loosened his carbine, 

 and grasped more tightly his sabre. The old man approached with 

 his escort ; he seemed, by the dignity of his bearing and the richness 

 of his apparel, to be a personage of importance. It was not long be- 

 fore the party discovered the strangers beneath the shade of the trees 

 to which they were directing their steps, when the Arab's compa- 

 nion gave the word, and spurring their horses they charged like a 

 whirlwind, sword in hand, into the midst of the throng. 



" Allah ! for the faithful ! Dog of a Gheber !" and at every sweep 

 of the sabre down fell a slave. The Arab's weapon brought death at 

 every stroke, and there arose a wild cry of panic and despair. The 

 poor wretches threw down their arms without knowing their enemy, 

 and, setting spur to their horses, fled in every direction, leaving their 

 master to his fate. The Arab threw himself upon the old man, nar- 

 rowly escaping the discharge of his pistol, and clasping him in his 

 sinewy arms, fairly lifted him from his saddle, and in that way bore 

 him to the well which his companion had already reached. Here 

 the old man was quickly disarmed and secured. 



" Old man," said the stranger, addressing his prisoner, <f we have 

 not met for the first time ; you remember Ali Effendi the Syrian he 

 who loves your daughter aye, who loves her more than all the 

 wealth of the world here, with nought but the heavens over us and 

 the sand beneath our feet, with no other witness but this Arab, I 

 ask you once more to give her for my wife ? " 



" God's will be done !" murmured the old man; " my life is in 

 your hands ; but the Prophet will protect my child." 



" You refuse her still ? " 



" I would refuse her to you, though my consent would insure me 

 Paradise !" returned the old man firmly. 



" Are you prepared to die ? " 



