Shayes frome i Loasterie Quiver.

ITI.—THIE DLACK

HORSIEMEN OF NISHA, THIE SEIR.

By Crarnes ] Maxsrorn, BUA.

I. T looks as if the grass had been set on fire,” responded Denviers, - answer to a re- mark of mime, when I called his attention to a long,

striking contrast to the rich verdure around 1t

“Very likely that 1s the reason,” [ assented ; “still, 1t scems strange that the rest of it should have escaped.”

“I'he Englishman speaks truth,” interposcd IHassan, ““the cause of what we see 1s far stranger indeed than those who have not travelled hither before would be inclined to supposc.”

“1 have not the shightest doubt but what ITassan has some mysterious and wholly imaginary expla- nation of it to offer,” said Denviers to me 1 a low tone, then turning to the Arab, he asked : —

“Well, Hassan, can you cnlighten us on the matter? What do the people of Kho- rassan conjecture about 1t ?”

“Tt 15 no adle rumour, saliub, which is told concerning this scorched tract,” answered our guide, “for they who have bheen the cause of 1t arce surely the scourges of the plain through which we are passing, for tears and lamentation m despoiled houscholds do they Teave hehind them, in obedience to the commands of Nisha, the Scer. But vou arc wearted with the long journcy through the desert of sand and need the repose which the tent affords. At some other time T will explan the cause of this strange tract, cven when we are safe i | Meshed, or wander amid the plashing foun- tans and clustering roses of Nishapoor.”

the dovely city of

“Which is another way of saying that vou prefer to tell us the cause when we shall e unable to test its truth, I suppose,” interposed Denviers. The Arab shook his head gravely mn sign ol dissent.

“Allah forbid ! he exclaimed. “1If you think that 1s my motive you wrong me indeed, since my only desire is to keep you from the danger which falls upon those who follow the black horsemen ; for the parched tract which you sce here, just where the desert gives place to the emerald verdure, has been made by the trampling of the hoofs of Nisha’s phantom horses.”

“Then, Hassan,” said Denviers, quietly, “T think we will pitch our tent yonder, ” and he pointed to where a grove of majestic wal-

“I THINK WE WILL PITCH OUR TENT YONDER."

nut trees stood out against the grey sky ; “the night is fast closing in upon us, and T suppose that spectres, even in Persia, wander abroad i the still small hours, much as they do in other countries.”

“ JTest not, sahib,” said Hassan, in the grave tone which he usually assumed when moved by the recollection of some Eastern tradition : “abvou care to hear the story T will narrate it to you, but, by the beard of the Prophet, blame not Hassan if cvil befall the Linglish-