The Armourer's Apprentice — page 35: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

iN THE | ‘PALACE OF THE SHEIK—THE FALSE _ BERASKIR—THE MAGIC MIRROR—THE ‘DEATH OF THE SHEIK FORNTOLD—SIR STEPHEN STERNHOLD AND GIAFFA PRI- ilinincetat PLOT DISCOVERED. Dp AUSING on the rocky path, Giaffa | pointed to what seemed a city built Fi right into the mountains, “That,” We cried—“that city of white Bto one is the city of the sheik Mohammed Ak . That is the place which holds the , ‘treaeures which we most value upon earth. : a ae, mine frou? it, or it shall be my BN } % ay! take not rashyows. Let us swear ene 1s we will save them or be revenged. ‘Who knows? they may already be beyond he within our reach.” vA “Be it so. We must hasten, for soon tl ey will change the guard at the city “41 te. . If we arrive astie guard is changed ee ‘arrival will be announced directly.” ny The} hurried forward, and had the good fox une to arrive at the very moment | fa so desired. A , Whom have we here?” demanded the ficer, rudely, as he thrust Giaffa aside. a all me quickly your business, and from ; wh ence do you come e ad My master is the great doctor and - Tnag cian Ben Ezra, so nanied in the town % ie on: by the valley of Salt, south of the one nmph! {” said the officer. ‘“* And what me usiness be here?” : me | e hath some terrible secret to deliver “ante the Sheik Mahomed Abu.” Hath he so? Then he had better oye ad unto me, and I will take it to ne f eik, or his favourite, our general-in- ief, the renowned Almanzor.” _ “Peace, dog!” cried Sir Stephen, assum- pee » Eastern style. “Know ye not that the vadlitrtg 3d by nature, by hard study and o: ) 6 no ght, silence and solitude in the | 3 of the mountains, or the wilds of the ‘ 2 Jerness, are not to be spoken aloud at _ the city gates, or even in the houses of the rich vith out proper precaution? No, they eines a mentioned in the private pale of eat to chiefs alone. Be asaval At this my answer, O, my son, conduct me at once to the palace of thy = eebsyerrant that he will reward Mee will do. your bidding, O, learned sage,” p ted the officer, who was tuite overcome r Stephen's sternness of manner, “ but a en : “pes > “ ne eis “y our help; but while we live, revenge may : ep and dark sciences gained and | m a e, mr Be ee ay MeN hee 3 - | a . se | | . Pore vals x: ee oy Mrs me : | = aS EET es THE PALACE or THE SHEIK, 33 = Nee: , ie one should Almanzor hear of thia i fear me he CHAPTER XII. will be no friend to thee, and if you miss his friendship death follows.”* “Fear not. I will take all blame upon my own shoulders. Lead me to the palece.” This was said with such an air of com- mand, that the officer of the guard at once obeyed, and led Sir Stephen and his humble follower to the palace, where they were soon ushered into the presence of the Sheik Mahomed Abu. He was a man not more than sixty, yet his beard was of a snow white. He was dressed in the rich oriental style, and was reclining back in a divan. By his side was a small table, on which was placed fruits and a jar of sherbet. After courteous observations in the high- flown style of the Kast, the sheik demanded to know the secret which had caused the holy sage and recluse to leave the city of Zoar by the valley of Salt. “Follower of the true prophet!” said the supposed magi, Ben Ezra, bowing his head low, and crossing his hands upon his breast, so as to hide his face, as did also Giaffa for the same purpose. “ Follower of the true prophet! in the solitude of my mountain retreat, “ue the stars pour — forth knowledge into the soul of the — enwrapt, and unveil the secrets of the future, whilst the night winds speak the secrets of the dead unto the ears opened by prayer and fasting, I have heard most wonderful things of you—things I can prove to be true if you wii give me a patient hearing.” “Speak on.” “ And what I have to tell, beit unpleasant to thine ear—as well I know it willi—swear upon the holy Koran that I and my assist- ant shall be allowed to depart in peace. Do that, asd you shall know the terrible danger which now hangs over your head. Refuse, and the secret shall never he divulged,” “How dare you threaten me? I will call guards and have youimpaled.,” HS raised his hands to clap them to call his guard, but the pretended Ben Ezra stopped him. “Stav!’ he said. “You can kill me I = know. I have not the power to resist ou.” “Then, slave, why do you not obey me?’ cried Mahomed Abu. “Because I do not fear dtath. I know that which comes after death. Hence I fear it not.” The old man paused, and then, lifting up the scroll containing a passage from the Koran, he kissed it devoutly, end, haying held it to bisforehead, saic— EOMMIE OOO! KS.)