‘Dear children of the garden, field and wood

, Sparkled upon your petals, and the sun,

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAREWELL TO THE FLOWERS.

 

_And wayside, ye have come and ye have gone,
Like players in some merry interlude,
Between the tragic acts of winter; on
In gay procession o’er a brilliant zone
Ye’ve traveled, holding up before the eye
The shape of perfect beauty. and the tone
Of that harmonious coloring which we try
In vain to equal, or indeed come nigh.

Sweet was the honey which ye gave the bees,
Industrious sippers of your golden cells;

Rich was the fragrance which ye gave the breeze,
As he ran ringing all along your bells:
Glad were ye when the rain from cloudy wells

Like one who in the blessed heaven dwells,
Came down and fondly kissed you every one,
And every day until your course was run,

Like one_bereaved. upon your graves I gaze,
Mourning your absence with unfeigned grief;
Remembrance paints me all your pretty ways,
In your fine progress from your first green leaf,
Until ye stood up like an autumn sheaf
In mellow splendor. Oh, ye fairy things!
Why should ye go down like a sunken reef?
Why like the swallows ply your farewell in s,
And cause the desolation which you a sauce
brings?

Thou Snow-drop, rival of the taintless snow;
Thou Crocus, symbol of the monarch‘s crown;
Thou Primrose, Shiner in a golden show
Which glittered richly all the green bank down;
Thou Daisy, wearer of the bridal gown;
Thou Lily, lady of the ancient Hall:
Thou Poppy, soldier in thy red renown;
Thou Rose, the queen of every bush and well,
How hafie ye all gone down under the spoiler’s
pa ?

Farewell! companions of the singing bills,
Of the reen grass, and of the yellow crop;
Ye frien s of rivers and of glassy rills;
Ye watchers on the lofty mountain’s top;
Ye worshi ers beneath the crystal cope,
And in the aming. shining. solar fane;
Farewell, farewell, in sorrow and in hope;
Our hearts will linger on in daily pain,
Until we see your happy looks again.

Lance and Lasso:

OR.
THE CHILDREN OF THE CHACO.

BY CAPT. FREDERICK WHITTAKER,
AUTHOR or “ THE IRISH CAPTAIN,” " THE SEA CAT,”
“THE ROCK RIDER,” ETC., nrc.

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXVII. 3
THE WARNING.

THE Indians did not seem to be perfectly
certain of the position of our friends, for they
came galloping past the edge of the breast—
work, within fifty feet, all gathered in a. dense
body and perfectly exposed.

Just as they reached the center of the little
fortification a loud voice shouted a warning,
and the whole body sheered off in confusion.

The revolver of Captain Hernandez cracked,
and a close and well—delivered volley of rifles
followed, the bullets tearing their way through
the dark mass of men and horses with fearful
effect. ‘

As if stricken with a. perfect panic, the sur-
vivors fled like the wind, leaving dead and dy-
ing horses and men by the dozens behind them.

Their numbers seemed to be much increased,
as could be seen even in the dark, from those
who had attacked in the morning.

“ Some other tribe has joined them,” said
Captain Hernandez, as he looked at the retreat-
ing mob. f‘ There are at least six hundred
warriors there. He! we’ve no time to lose. I
thought they wouldn’t stay beaten. Here they
come again. Load up and keep coo .”

Sure enough, the dark mass on the pampa
was agitated bya tumultuous movement, and
in a very few minutes down came the whole
body with a fierce yell, in one of their resolute
charges.

The earth trembled beneath the thunder of
hoofs; a front of glaring eyes and tossing
manes became visible in the moonlight, while
dark, weird figures crouched above, and a for—
est of lance-points glittered before the horses’
heads. Like a vision of the night the strange
spectacle burst on the sight, while one shrill,
gathering yell rose higher and higher above
the thundering of feet and the snorting of the
steeds.

Then, with a tremendous shock, the Indian
horsemen crashed through the fringe of palms
that hid the breastwork, and came dashing up
to the very foot of the breastwork.

Even as they came, a second volley was
fired, but they did not seem even to notice it,
except by a. fiercer yell.

Then there was a shock and crash, as the
horses blundered into the abattis, plunging
Wildly about up to the very barrier, their sav—
age riders thrusting their spears over the bul-
wark, and raising their horses to leap.

But, just as with the rope before, so now
with the log, the singular anomaly was pre—
sented of perfect horsemen utterly unable to
leap, and horses that seemed to be spellbound
before a four—foot barrier. Many of the Wild ,
steeds, entangled in the prickly abattis and
plunging to get out, reared themselves up high
enough to have leaped the barrier again and
again, but they never seemed to think of doing
it, and the shots of the revolvers that now rat-
tled about their cars so incessantly soon settled
the question.

Fierce and desperate as were the Indians,
the rain of death was too severe, and they fell
back at last, leaving twenty dead bodies and a.
number of badly wounded men and horses.

As they galloped off, Captain Hernandez ob-
served:

“ We are safe for to—night. Let us make our
fires and go to sleep. They will not attack
again before daylight.”

The captain proved to be right. There were
but three or four hours remaining till morning,
but these were passed in perfect quiet.

They could see the Indians lighting fires up-
on the pampa, and, as in the evening before,
the fires were three in number. When the
day broke three black columns of smoke were
seen ascending into the air, and the effect was
quickly apparent.

Even as the sun rose, they could‘see little
strings of horsemen emerging from the distant
woods, and making their way toward the fires.

It was plain that the latter were signals, and
that the whole of the tribes of the Chaco were
assembling to punish the intruders on their
soil.

Don Luis began to look much troubled as he
scanned the increasing forces of the savages.
The forty-seven men on whom they could de-
pend had been reduced by three more in the
last night’s assault, having been speared as
they stood behind the barricade by those In-
dians who had blundered through the abattis.

The dead bodies of the enemy were out of all
proportion to those of the whites, but the lat-
ter could less afford their losses, however
small.

Captain Hernandez was the first to utter
words of encouragement as the daylight came.
The brave officer was as cool as a cucumber,
and his soldiers were equally at their ease, to
all appearance.

“ Cheer up, lads,” he said, laughingly.
“Had we stayed with the wagons, we should
be ten times worse off than we are, for there
would be no means of escape and nothing to

 

fish; we are intrenched so strongly that all the
Indians on the Chaco cannot dislodge us; and
we have plenty of ammunition for a long fight.”

“ In my opinion,” said Don Luis, in-a low
tone, “ we shall be kept here for weeks, unless
we find a. way to give those devils the slip. I
see no earthly way to do it, either. ”

“ Never fear,” said the dragoon, boldly. “ I
shall try the effect of a vigorous defense first,
and if that does not answer, why, we must
even make a raft and float ourselves down the
river. If we cross, we shall be comparatively
out of danger. The other bank is free of foes.”

“ HOW long Will it be so?” asked the estan-
ciero, gloomily. “They can swim the stream
on their horses without much trouble.”

“ At all events,” said the captain, impatient-
ly, “it’s no use to borrow trouble. We are
safe where we arepa‘nd those fellows are pretty
well disgusted with their losses. Let us go to L
breakfast. W'e shall all fight better on full
stomachs.”

The matter—cf—fact soldiers were already
employed in preparing the morning meal, as
coolly as if no enemy were near them. The
fish in the river were so plentiful and vora-
cious that ten minutes sufficed to Catch enough
for the whole party, and they were soon broil-
ing on the coals.

The boys, young and light—hearted as they
were, easily caught the infection of Hernandez’
cheerful spirit, and Manuel Garcia was the only
one who looked serious. He knew the real
danger as well as his father, for Manuel had
heard terrible tales of the reckless daring and
implacable revenge of the Chaco Indians.

While they were eating their breakfast, the
Indians were slowly assembling, till a cloud of
mounted warriors, at least a thousand strong,
were gathered together in the distance.

Then there was a movement in the mass, and
four glittering figures rode out from the throng,
and came galloping toward the bulwark that
surrounded our party.

“A flag of truce,” said the captain, as he
watched them. “ That’s a point in our favor.
If they chose to attack, we should be badly
off, for they might break in at some point, and
then where would be our chances?”

Tom Bullard, who said nothing, as usual,
went to the bulwark and looked at the four
advancing cavaliers. The gold ornaments
that glistened on their bodies told that their
rank must be that of caciques, for no one but
the elders were any sort of jewels.

As they came closer, he recognized the white
locks of old Nabidagua, WhOSB/ left arm was
bound up in a sling. By his side rode two
other old men, each a. perfect ’bounterpart of
the old cacique, tall, erect, and still muscular
and powerful, while their abundant hair was
snow-white.

The fourth member of the party was no oth-
er than the Princess Malmora, mounted on a
piebald steed, that Tom recognized as belong-
ing to Nagua, the war-chief.

As they came nearer, it was observed that
all were unarmed, while the princess carried a
green palm branch, which she waved as she
came, in token of amity.

“ Senorito,” said Captain Hernandez to Tom,
“you have already done so much for us that I
cannot ask you to do more; still I Wish that
you would meet those people and ask what they
want. You know their language. Sergeant
Gonzalez shall go with you.”

“ All right, Cap,” said “ Plug,” curtly.

He leaped on his horse, put the animal at
the barrier, and leaped him over with an ease
that showed that the pampas horses only need-
ed a little training to become perfect leapers.
Then the Paraguayan sergeant followed by a
gap that was left for the purpose, and both
walked their horses out of the wood to meet
the envoys. '
Tom and Gonzalez each carried a revolver in
his hand, for the tales of Indian treachery
were too fresh in the minds of each to trust to
the seeming absence of weapons among the old
caciques.

When the latter were about fifty feet off,
“ Plug ” presented. his pistol, and shouted:
“Halt! Walk your horses, or I’ll fire.”

The Indians, with one accord, curbed their
foaming steeds, and advanced at a foot—pace to
where Tom awaited them.

“Keep your revolver ready, senorito,” mut—
tered Sergeant Gonzalez. “I don’t trust those
devils. I’ve known them to throw knives be-
fore this.”

Tom took the hint.

“Halt; you’re near enough,” he said. “ What
do you want?”

The three caciques halted, and each raised
his hand to his head in a gesture of high-toned
courtesy. Old Nabidagua muttered a few
words to the rest, and it was evident that they
all recognized and admired Tom.

“My son is very brave for one so young,”
said Nabidagua. “ Thrice has he foiled our
best warriors. He is braver than all the rest
of the White men. As for them, they are
cowardly capinchas, that flee to the water;
but my son is a jaguar that faces his prey and
tears it.”

Tom bowed his head.

“What do you want, then?” he repeated.
The lad was certain that the adroit flattery
of the old chief covered some ulterior design,
and he was not going to fall into a trap.

“ I want my son,” said the old man, grave-
ly. “ He was well treated with the Abipones;
no cord shackled his limbs. We gave him a
horse to ride. He was to wed the youngest
daughter of Nabidagua, a maiden whom all
the warriors toiled after in vain. Why has
my son left the children of the Chaco, whose
horse-hoofs are terrible in the ears of the
whites? While he was with us, he was a man.
Now he has joined himself to the cowardly
whites, whose fireweapons slay from afar,
who hide behind logs; and who fear to meet
the lance of a naked warrior, because their
hearts are small. Come back to us, and let us
exterminate the whites; then shall my son be
king of the Chaco.”

“ Is that all 3” asked Tom, quietly.

“ Not all. My son must give up the horses
he has taken from us.”

“ And what if we do this?” asked the boy.
“Can my companions go free?”

“Not so,” said N abidagua, gravely. “ They‘
are in our power, and their lives are ours.
Still, we will give them their lives, if they
will give up their weapons and horses.”

“Then we may as well stop talking,” said
Tom. “If you want our horses and weapons,
you must come and take them. Good—by.”

As he spoke, he waved his revolver with a
gesture of dismissal, but the chief did not stir.

“My son will think better of this,” he said.
“We will give the whites till sunset to decide.
When the sun touches the mountains it will be
too late. Even my son’s life will be forfeit.
Beware.”

He quietly turned his horse away, and was
' followed by the three caciques. Malmora im—
petuously approached Tom, and looked ear—
nestly at him.

“ Why will the Jaguar~heart refuse?” she
said, pleadingly. “ We have forgiven him all,
and spared his-friends for his sake. To-night

 

. sort of fun and frolic.

“Look at those breastworks, and tell me if
we need ask for mercy yet,” said the lad,
proudly.

“You will see when it is too late,” she said.
“ Farewell. ”

A moment later she was galloping away,
and Tom returned slowly to the ramparts.
When he reported the result of the inter—
view, Captain Hernandez locked grave. He
said nothing about it to any one, but immedi~
ately issued orders to strengthen the log ram~
parts, and to extend the abattis by cutting
more timber.

The light stems of the palm trees yielded to
the blows of the ax with an case that was as-
tonishing to those used to hard woods. Louis
noticed it, and spoke to Manuel.

“Manuel, how is it those great trees come
down so quickly? It seems as if they were
made of nothing but pith.”

Manuel pointed to one of the prostrate
palms.

“It’s not far from that,” he observed.
“You see there is onlya ring of hard wood
outside, and the inside is all full of this pith,
as soft as so much new bread. Most of these
palms are sago palms, and if we had them on
the dock at Buenos Ayres, they would be
worth a good many dollars. As it is, they’re
light as cork.”

Here Louis noticed that the men under Her—
nandez’ orders, having cut and trimmed ofi
the palm logs, began to roll them down toward
the river, by whose banks a number of them
were soon collected.

This puzzled the boys, who could not con-
ceive that any defense was needed on that
side. The Indians on the plain were to be
seen lazily clustered round the fires, apparent-
ly taking no interest in the motions of the
whites, although fresh accessions of strength
were constantly reaching them.

Such was the posture of affairs, when Cap-
tain Hernandez, noticing that noon was ap—
proaching, and wishing to save provisions,
proposed that our boys, who were not strong
enough to do the heavy work of hauling logs,
should cross the river On a little raft made of
palm logs, and try to shoot something for din-
ner.

All consented with alacrity, and Manuel
Garcia, who was known as the oldest and
most prudent, was put in charge of the party.
“By no means venture out of sight of the
river,” said Don Luis“ “As long as you see
and hear us, you are comparatively safe; but
there is no telling how many of the foot In-
dians of the forest may be hidden in these
shades. Therefore take care.”

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE PECCARIES ON THE VVAR-PATH.

THE voyage over the river was safely and
speedily performed, two of the light palm
logs, lashed together with lassoes, being ample
to float our four boys and Dona Inez, who had
joined the party at her own request.

The young girl seemed as happy as a lark,
now that she was under the protection of her
lover, Captain Hernandez, and was up to any

As for the captain, he saw her depart with
perfect unconcern, for he well knew that all
the real danger lay in their front, as the foot
Indians of the forests are generally quite
peaceable.

The little raft was poled across without any
difficulty, and our young adventurers landed
at the entrance of as beautiful a forest as they
had ever seen. All the luxuriance of tropic
vegetation was displayed around them in the
utmost variety. The dark—green leaves of the
caoutchouc or indie—rubber tree contrasted with

'desert, and mounted on splendid Arab steeds,

 

the bright foliage of hundreds of palms, while
the flowers of gay—colored orchids hung in
heavy festoons from the trees; and, hid be—
hind their clusters, the arch~looking, agile
monkeys skipped about from branch to
branch, and looked down, chattering and
screaming, at the intruders on their haunts.

“ Oh, what a beautiful place!” exclaimed
Dona Inez, enthusiastically. “And what love-
ly birds l” she added, a moment later, as several
tiny hummingbirds, looking like winged jew—
els, flashed past them in the rays of the sun—
light, as they pierced the leafy screen above.
Then came a lo'ud screaming, making such a
discordant din that they all shut their ears in-
voluntarily. A flock of purple and blue ma~
caws went flying past them, and disappeared
into the recosses of the wood.

A step further and they roused more game.
There was a great rush and grunting, and a
herd of capinchas dashed past them and plung—
ed headlong into the’river, some of them drop-
ping off the bank twenty feet above the water,
without fear.

One of them was not quick enough, however,
for Manuel’s double—barrel was at his shoulder
like a flash, and one of the capinchas rolled
over, with a charge of buck~shot through his
lungs.

The carcass was rolled down the bank in
short order to the raft, where it was loaded on,
the raft firmly secured by the ends of the las—
soes, head and stern, while the young hunters
proceeded further into the wood.

They seemed to be in a perfect paradise of
game, for at every step something started up
and vanished. Louis soon had a bagfull of par-
rots and macaws, which he had shot with his
revolvers; and even Dona Inez had caught the
enthusiasm, and was trying her shooting pow—
ers with a little revolver she had borrowed of
the captain.

Insensibly, they wandered on, away from the
river, forgetful of Don Luis’ injunction, till
Tom Bullard, who sauntered slowly in the rear
and had not yet fired a shot, was the only per-
son who could catch a glimpse of the water.

Dona Inez was in advance of all the rest,
with Jack Curtis near her. The little lady had
made several fair shots, and she was growing
ambitious to excel. She had given her empty
revolver to Jack to load, and borrowed his full
one. She stole forward, full of eagerness, and
suddenly stopped.

“ Oh, see there, Senor Juan,” said the girl,
delightedly, pointing; “yonder lie a herd of
capinchas asleep, and I shall take one to keep
company with that of Don Manuel.”

There, sure enough, were a lot of creatures
like small pigs, lying stretched in asunny glade
at their case; and they bore sufficient resem-
blance to capinchas to deceive a girl who had
never seen but one.

Dona Inez rested her revolver on the branch
of a low-spreading tree, took careful aim at one
of the animals, and fired, just as Manuel Garcia
came up from the rear with Louis.

At the sound of that shot such a commotion
ensued as surprised every one. The supposed
capinchas leaped up with a. chorus of fierce
grunts, and revealed themselves as so many lit-
ltle‘, rough-looking, black pigs, with white lips
and eyelids, which suddenly charged down on
them without a shadow of hesitation.

“ Peccaries I” cried Manuel, in horrified tones.
“ Run for the river, quick, senorita, while we
hold them at bay! They’ll cut us to bits.”

There was no need to tell Inez to run. She

 

 

cat. As it is, the river lies behind us, full of

the savage little creatures, and as luck would
have it, ran directly toward the river.

Tom, who was sauntering coolly in the rear,
no sooner saw her terror than he drew a re-
volver, crying:

“ What’s the matter, senorita? Indians?”

“ Peccaries,” was the breathless reply, as the
girl fled past him to the raft, with a. white
face.

Tom’s countenance clouded. He knew the
dangers of peccaries of old, and had heard too
many stories of their ferocity not to fear for
his friends. He heard revolvers cracking in
his front, squeals and grunts and cries of pain,
and he ran forward to the fray, a pistol in each
hand.

He had not far to go. In twenty steps he
saw the fight, Manuel, Jack Curtis and Louis
Ledoux, surrounded by the vicious little beasts,
which were grunting and snapping their
tusks.

The lads were firing at their assailants, and
striking at them with their pistols to keep them
off. Already Louis and Manuel had been cut
in two or three places, and there seemed every
chance that they would fare badly, when Tom
ran in and fired shot after shot, with all the
cool deliberation for which he was noted. His
fifth shot released the friends from their most
formidable enemies, and the peccaries all turn-
ed on Tom.

“ Run!” shouted he, as he blazed away his
last shots, as fast as he could pull the triggers.
The sudden burst stayed the fierce creatures
one moment. The next, they were in full pur—
suit, as Tom bounded away to the river, fol-
lowed by his friends. Had it been a long race,
the peccaries would have most undoubtedly
killed them all. As it was, they all four reach—
ed the bank with only trifling cuts, and «the
next moment leaped far out into the river.
Almost in the same breath, the peccaries fol—
lowed! '

Jack Curtis went down under the water, and
as he went, he heard a. loud scream. It pro-
ceeded from Dona Inez.

(To be cmti-ituew-commenced in No. 232.)

The Moor-Captives:

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE DAnING PROJECT.

IT was indeed Lionel and his two friends who
had ventured so near to the summer palace,
and placed themselves in a position where, if
discovered, they,l would have suffered certain
death.

A circle round the castle was marked as the
limit of all trespassers, and any found near,
were adjudged as having violated the laws of
the empire.

The young men, disguised as Arabs of the

 

 

had followed the cavalcade, and camped in a
cavern on the hillside, leaving a native serv-
ant to take care of the animals.

The moollah, who had returned to the city,
by order of his imperial master, directly after
escorting the empress—mother to her palace or
prison, had bade the friends await him there.

“ Be not rash. Bide your time,” he said.
“ I shall be at work—never idle—my whole
thoughts bent on saving those poor lambs from
the grasp of the vulture.”

“ You are our friend and sheet-anchor,” re—
plied Lionel, in warm accents, “ and I shall be
guided by you.”

“ And I,” cried Mr. Ashurst.

As usual, when the moollah was at all en—
thusiastic about the ladies, the captain was
cold and distant.

The evil influence of jealousy was at work
with him, and sapping the foundations of his
more generous sentiments.

“Remain secreted in the cavern. My serv-
ant Amli, who guards your horses, will provide
you with food.

‘ ‘ Whatever you do, be not discovered prowl—
ing round the castle. It would be death to
you, ruin to them.”

With which he took his departure.

The three friends seated themselves within
the shelter of the cavern for some time.

After which, venturing out on the mountain
side, they began to scan the battlements of the
castle with their powerful glasses.

They easily made out the figures of the girls
on the ramparts, and sighed deeply that they
could not communicate with them.

“This is a beastly country,” said the captain,
savagely.

“ I don’t see any use in it. The women are
all mooney slaves; the men all tyrants, fools,
or slaves.”

“It is their misfortune,” replied Mr. Ash—
urst. “ As for’the women in general, the life
they lead is suited to their lazy and apathetic
temperaments. ”

“ Pooh, pooh! all a mistake. All you want
is to give the rascal emperor a good thrashing,
liberate all the women and slaves, and things
would right themselves,” cried the captain.

“ Not a bit of it,” said Ashurst, smiling;
“hundreds of years would not eradicate the
lessons of a false religion and civilization.”

“ Religion, yes; that puts me in mind of that
fellow, the moollah. It is my impression that
we should not put too much faith in him.
There is something sly and cunning about
him.”

“ My friend,” said Ashurst, gravely, “you
are prejudiced against this man who is seeking
to serve us faithfully.”

“Everybody has a. right to their opinion,”
was the somewhat surly reply. “At all events,
I mean to be guided by events, and not by
him.”

Shortly after this conversation it was that
the party walked over to the castle, and had
the interview with the girls, of which we have
spoken.

“ When they were warned by Kate, they
simply concealed themselves in a thicket for
a short time, after which they returned to the
cavern.

At early dawn, the captain, who had been
uneasy and sullen all night, rose, and slipping
out of the tent, joined the domestic Amli, who
had charge of the horses.

At that time there were so many European
slaves, that a kind of language, similar to the
lingua Franco. of the Mediterranean, had been
constructed, in order to communicate.

The captain had picked up enough of it for
his purpose.

“ Have any of the slaves from the castle
gone down to the village yet?” said the cap—
tain.

“ No,” replied the slave.

The captain said no more, but drew the other
away to a thicket bordering on the path, by
which the servants of the castle would come
in search of fruits, eggs and vegetables.

He was brooding deeply.

The captain had striven to persuade himself
that his passion for Edith was an ephemeral

sentiment, one that he could throw off at will

 

 

 

mercy is at an end.”

dropped her pistol and fled the instant she saw

 

flirting in a garrison town—but he discovered
that the beautiful girl had entwined herself so
firmly round his heart as to menace it with
fracture if he sought to eradicate it.
He had made this discovery ever since he
had remarked the looks of the moollah.
’Without exactly knowing the secret, he sus—
pected him to be very different from what he
seemed.
Ashurst had given him a hint to that extent.
However this might be, it was evident that
he was devoting himself, heart and soul, to the
cause of the three girls, and not without hope
of reward.
His very soul burned within him with hate
and jealousy.
Some desperate scheme was in his head, one
which appeared to crowd upon his brain with
such intensity as to age him, as he thought.
Men talk of the hair turning white in a sin-
gle night—what must be the effect on the
brain of such intense and awful suffering?
“ Amli,” continued the captain, after a
while, showing him a small purse, “ do you
wish to earn that money?”
The man’s eyes dilated with pleasure.
“ How can I do it?” he asked.
“ I must procure admission to yonder cas—
tle,” was the startling reply.

"' But, oh, giaour! it would be certain death.”

“ I mean to risk it.”

(t HOW :47)
' “ Look! yonder come a man and woman
with a donkey. Could you not induce them
to lend us their animal, and enter the palace
in disguise?”
“Allah kerim!” cried the amazed domestic,
“my master is surely mad.”
“I am not,” said the captain, sternly, as he
pressed the purse into the (hand of the other.
The gold was too much for him.
He could not resist the temptation.
Calling to the couple of villagers, who wore
the flowing robes of Arabs of the desert, he
drew them on one side with their beast of bur—
den, into the thicket.
The captain, with a dark and gloomy brow,
looked on while his servant was chaffering.
The Arabs listened with amazed incredulity,
but presently Amli turned round and said they
would part with the donkey, eggs, and vege-
tables, for three gold tomauns, loaning their
clothes at the same time.
Now in the desert the women are in the
habit of wearing untanned high boots of the
shape and size once so popular in this country
as “ Wellingtons.”
The captain had a similar pair, and being a
slight, elegant man of middle hight, it was
easy for him to hide his dress under the Wide,
waving cloak, and his face under the capacious
hood.
He had only to play a very modest part to
fear no discovery.
None would venture to peep beneath the
hood of a married woman in presence of her
husband.
The bargain was therefore struck, and, fur-
ther, the natives agreed to await their return
in the copse.
The payment in advance was very liberal,
and the captain promised further reward if
they were faithful.
“ I shall not speak a word,” said the cap-
tain. 
“ On your head be it,” replied Amli, who
looked rather rueful; “suspicion would be
death.”
“I know it. Fear not, oh, Amli, I will act
with circumspection and care,” was the answer.
Which, considering he had adventured on
one of the most daring and foolish of expedi~
tions, was saying a great deal.
The donkey, loaded with provisions, was
now driven up the incline toward the castle.
Evidently the visit was expected, for when
they reached the palace, the gates were open,
and they were admitted without difliculty.
Several other chapmen were coming up be-
hind.
Amli placed his donkey in a corner, under the
charge of his supposed wife, and then proceed-
ed to make the best show he could of his wares
in the middle of the road, where he was speedi-
ly joined by the purveyors of the harem.
As other dealers entered, the talking and
chaffering became loud and lively.
The captain looked around.
He was seated at the entrance of a vaulted
passage leading into the interior of the habita-
tion.
He was desperate.
No matter at What cost or risk, he would
see and speak with Edith.
Darting up the passage, which was deserted,
he found that it led to the foot of a. deserted
staircase, slippery, and cut in the thick wall of
the fortress.

It was gloomy and dark.

Not a moment was to be lost, for discovery
was certain death.

Clambering up the apparently long-deserted
steps, the captain found it long and arduous.

At length, however, some loopholes admitted
li ht.

gPeeping through one of these, he found him-
self on a level with the harem private gar-
den.

But several more steps had to be ascended.

He went up, and soon found himself in a
kind of cage with four windows, on the sum-
mit of a lofty tower, the watch-tower of the
fortress. He peered over. He was about ten
feet above the terrace of the ramparts, and the
same above the garden of the zenana.

No one was about.

With the luxurious habits of the Eastern
convents, this was natural.

But what was he to do?

To enter the sacred precincts would be an act
of supreme folly, of utter madness.

And yet he knew that at any moment he
might be surprised.

He looked round for a place of concealment.

Then he noticed a small staircase on the out-
side of the tower, covered in, which communi—
cated with the garden below.

Near this was a small, alcove-like opening
with some lumber. .

In case of surprise, this was the only retreat
which offered itself.

With a. dark and moody brow the young
man seated himself where he could look out
upon the scene below.

He was armed with dagger and pistol, and
earnestly determined to sell his life dearly if
discovered.

Presently, after he had been seated some
time, he heard a stir in the garden, which was
separated by a wall from the terrace of the
embattlements, and looking over, saw what
would have caused him a hundred cruel deaths,
if man’s ingenuity could have contrived it.

The empress and her ladies, in all the free—
dom and abandon of the morning, taking a
lazy stroll before going to the bath.

But though he gazed with fierce, hot, glaring
eyes, he saw not those he was in search of, and
resumed his listless attitude.

Presently, however, the veranda of the ter-
race was filled, and he saw Mrs. Bacon come
forth, followed by the three girls and one of

 

—as had happened once or twice to him, when

the attendants of the harem.

 

 

 

 

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