260 YN0

forchead was a single hoop of gold, in the centre of which a jewel was sct, and which hcigh- tened with its flashing light the contrast between its white bril- liancy and the intense black colour of the wearer’s face. “Let us get closer to them,” whispered Denviers, “and try to learn what the fate of the cap- tive is intended to be” W moved nearcr to them, cautiously hiding behind another boulder. “ At present we arc unob- served,” T began, “and the men evidently find too much pleasure n taunting themr cap- tive to sct a watch upon the

Cospare e

tomb,” As if the hideous negro wished to contradict my words, a shrill scream of laughter rang through the tomb; then a voice exclaimed :—

“ Come necarcer, thou encmy of On, the mighty one, come, that thou mayest join In the number that are doomed to appease his Great Shade.” We saw the captive fling himself wildly at the fect of this strange being as he cried :(—

“Sparce me, and T will worship at the tomb of On until the sands of my life arc run out ! The negro uttered an appalling laugh of derision as he answered @ --

“ Art thou not of the pam of Khorassan, over which pass many whose wealth makes the eyes of my slaves glad when they look upon it?”

“Frank,” T whispered, “this is a band of marauders who have migrated to this tomb, and who rob the people around with impunity hecause the eredulous people think they are not mortals.”

“Tixactly what T thought when Hassan told us about them, but listen to the questions which they are putting to this captive,” he replied. We ceased our conversation and heard the captured one reply :

“1 swear by the Koran T am poor: T could not pay one-tenth of such a sum ”

STRAND

MAGAZITNT.

“Then there s for thee no escape,” answered the black ruler, ““surcly thou shalt dic!” He made some move- ment with his hand, inresponsctowhich the men around attempted to scize their captive. The latter turncd and made a sudden at- tempt to escape. He had darted past the boulder behind which we had hid- den, when the fore- most of the slaves e reached him. Just v as he did so Den- e viers wrenched the sword from the hands of the dead o | On,ncartowhichwe - had stealthily crept,

| and thrust himself

betweenthe captive and his pursuers.

“Back ! he eried, “lay but a hand upon him and all the magic of the Last shall not save the one who does so from the fate which he deserves.”

The men stopped for a moment, astonished at our sudden appearance, and then, as we heard the captive retreating down the tomb to the second entrance, we turncd and followed him. In a moment we had {lung ourselves cach upon onc of the horses that stood there, and slashed hastly through the halters which held them, and then, as the captive led the way, we dashed wildly through the ravine

closcly followed by some of the horse- nicn. [t was a race for hife that we long afterwards remembered, but, as we

urged onoour horses, we found that our pursucrs were dropping behind, and lTooking hack we saw them o a discomlited crowd watching us with surprise as we galloped over the plain after passing through the ravine. We stopped at Jast; and while the captive msisted on riding home on the horse which he had so strangely acquired; we dismounted; and turning the ammals - the dircetion whenee they had come, saw them rush riderless back towards the tomb.

The peasant, poor fellow, was full of grati- tude to us for rescuing him, and called on Allah to reward us. We parted with him some