A PENITENT SON 285 



at times was pleading, at times convincing. As he went 

 on I could see the lad's face soften a quiver flew at 

 times across his mouth ; as he had come in I thought him 

 ill-looking I found he was really a handsome lad. 



The caliph went on, plainly telling the youth how he 

 had failed in duty and common-sense alike, and explaining 

 to him that where lay his filial piety there lay also his 

 present and future happiness. I turned from one to the 

 other, for each was a study of character of extreme in- 

 terest. ]STot a word of all the judge said could I under- 

 stand ; but the tone was such as to yield the hearer its 

 closest import. In a moment more came the climax. The 

 lad had been swallowing his emotion in great gulps, and 

 now, with an outburst of sobs, he broke into a flood of 

 tears, threw his arms around his expectant father's neck, 

 and wept audibly. Recovering himself he turned to the 

 caliph, said a few low-spoken words, and waited for what 

 more he had to say. Bidding him continue on his good 

 resolution, the caliph waved an end to the matter, and 

 father and son left the court-room with arms around each 

 other's shoulders. I have rarely been witness to a more 

 impressive scene, and the dignity, graceful diction, and 

 beautiful voice of the caliph have lingered with me ever 

 since. 



But I am afraid that the title to this volume has been 

 given amiss. It should have been "Yarns of a Globe- 

 trotter, and, Incidentally, Horseflesh." I must strive to 

 keep to my subject. 



