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mar's Queen,” when he received an inti- mation that we thought of returning to England, when his cmpl(n ment as our uuulc \\()Lfld, of course, cease. His features were bronzed with sun and exposurce to the wind, so that he scemed even more swarthy than the vest of his tribe, while the spotless white turban which he invariably wore served to heighten the effect still further, Besides his experience, which had benefited us considerably in our travely, he was a man upon whom we could depend in time of danger, for his bravery had more than once been put to the test when our course lay through unscttled districts. Added to

these qualmu he had an admirable way of

]Clallll(’ m his own lancuage the various ]nglltlh which are connected many of the singular ruins which we visited. Tt was

chiefly owing to this power that ifrank came to the conclustion that the Arab was accustomed to mix fablesand facts together until he was unable to distinguish between them.

[t was our custom when the dav had de- clined to sit before our tent and listen to Hassan as he recounted some one of his numerous legends. While we drank our colfee the Arab would throw himsell at full length upon the ground, and, resting his chin upon his crossed arms, look away dreamily into the distance. His voice then assumed a different tone ; hewas no longer the servant of two Isnglishmen but a child ol the East, and one who sometimes seemed to forget that we werc present at all,

1t happened that one evening during our stay 1 Mecececa, where, for the time being, we enjoyed the lLl\Lll\ of aroof other than that of our tent, a pilgrim passcd by who differed considerably from any of those we had already seen. We were c sitting at the door, and summoned Hassan to tell, if he Could, the district from which the stranger came. Iiyeing him closcly, the Arab de- scribed him as one living in the neighbour- hood of Metra, a city of ruins, but which still possessed an absorbing interest for those who knew its history and what it contained,.

When Hassan had excited our curiosity suflaciently, he suddenly stopped, and asked vhen we imtended to return to Isngland. Flcaring the time fixed upon, he madg an expressive gesture, and replicd—

“Then the great sceret ot Metra will not be known to you. The city is twenty leagues from here, yvet it is worth a visit aye, and more, 1t has that i it which \\()uhl astenish the s thlbs to see”

STRAND

MACGAZTN

“Very likely,” responded Frank ; “all these p]dus you have taken us to have been surprising in their way, but one gets tired cven of wonders.”

“T'he sahib s speakimg true,” responded hassan, “ but this wonder is t}u orcatest ot them ;.1]]. The stranger, whom vou have

just noticed, knows well what is Tidden in

Mectra, but dare not venture thither for his Tile h

“And yvou, Hassan," T interrupted, “have VOU seen this wonder of w hich you speak " He gave a gesture of assent as he answered—

" have seen the city, but have not viewed IS treasure ;. no Arib could look upon 1t and live, for) by the beard of Mahomet, if he ventured there, surcly lxlsmu \\()uld [olTow hlm in Shomar's name.’

S WCll" sard Irank, *if vou want to persuade us to travel thLlL vou had better tell us what the city does contain it you know : | (ldlud\, like all your yarns, it is

llL[l\ cgenuine, considered from the Qtzmd ard ol an Arab u_x_k of morals.”

That same evening Hassan related to us the legend, and the result of it was that we agrecd not only to visit the city, but to give him a sum of oold if our (mupn\c pmvcd successtul, for e would not accept our offer of a s]mw in the treasure.

So matters stood, and our tent was at this time within a few miles of the city to which we were bound when the conversation be- tween Frank and myself took place as nar-

rated. IMassan, when called, came slowly forward and (lmtppcalcd within the tent, soon afterwards reappearing with the bC\- crage which he had been ordered to pre- pare.

“When will the sahibs be ready to visit the city of Mcetraz” Hassan asked, as he stood betore us.

“You say it is but three miles hence,” sard I ‘and 1t now wants two hour._ to sunzct ; I think we might venture there to-day." Then, ceveing the Arab, he asked—

• Do yvou still declare that this treasure

is to be found there, or is it, after all, one b\l\lll]() 1 your own lllld(’lllall(\ll 2

“The sahib is not ready of beliel 17 re- plicd the Arab, “but he will soon learn that [ have spoken the truth.”

• Rest there,” said Ifrank, pointing to the

ground just before our feet, “and repeat this story, that we may be able to judge of your sincerity.”

[Massan poscd his body in the usual atti- tude which he assumed on such occasions,