Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

72 So it came about that a few hours later, from high up on the hillside shrouded in blue night, came a wailing in a minor key to the twanging as of harps chanting the sorrows of the hills. As the votce faded reluctantly the patient silence was merely scratched by the lament of a distant donkey, who was contradicted by the abrupt neigh of a stallion scornful of such feminine complaint, corroborated and as- serted by the fretful yapping of village dogs. | In the midst of a paler blob of mud- huts, from which were stretched goat-hair blankets, the red glow of a fire gently painted the edges of gray robes and brown skins in the scented air of dung, smoke, and food. Once more began the tentative twang of the gimbri and the chant wailed sadly to the night: “By what fair shrine did Fadma’s parents pray, That earth and sky grow bright about her way? O Fadma! queen of beauty and of grace; Uncrowned, for none save one hath seen her face! “ All beauty, brothers, is a shrine, A gift of Heaven, half divine! “To match, fair dove, thy dainty, snow- white plumes Be straight prepared the castle’s marble rooms; Wherein he'll pledge thee, queen of all delight, In porcelain goblet, like thyself, all white! “The stream’s in spate for very joy and pride That Fadma’s feet tripped through the crystal tide. “ And may the mercy of the Lord belong . To Sidi Hammo, singer of this song.” “ Subhan Allah!” grunted a bearded face which protruded from a mass of gray robes upon a rug. ‘‘ The soul of Sidi Hammo, whom Allah bless, will speak with our Lord for such a sweet nightingale as thou, O Rabat, son of Bussulham!”’ ‘My soul is but an earthen goblet into which is poured the soul of Sidi Hammo,” explained Rabat softly. ‘“ I do but lift the goblet to worthy lips.” “By the beard of the Prophet!” mur- THE ARGOSY. mured: another man, “ thy song is as the fluttefing of the wings of Gabriel!” ‘“ Aye, and as sweet as the rustle of the robes of the houris of paradise, by Allah!” swore a third. “* Let the flute of the throat caress our ears once more,” demanded the bearded man. ‘* Nay; O Larbi,”’ protested Rabat lazily, “ the vessel is fouled with the Hiquor of the infidel.” ‘Yillah!”’ exclaimed the bearded Larbi with a mighty smack of the lips, “ the sons of Shaitan are well served by their master— may Allah burn them!” ‘‘ Even as our Lord Mohammed hath said —may Allah bless him! That which is made by the hands of the infidel is lawful prize unto the sons of the faithful,” com- mented Rabbit. Guttural clamor accompanied an _ ex- pectant stir as Rabbit rolled over and fumbled in the great pocket of his saddle- bags which lay beside him. ‘‘May Mohammed be thrice blessed for his wisdom!’’ Whisky gurgled into a tin cup. Larbi swallowed half a cup of the neat spirits at a gulp and smacked his lips. ‘“‘ May Allah bless the faithful!” ‘‘ May Allah burn the infidel!” came from the next man as toast. ‘“* Even the infidel was not made in vain,” commenced a third«thirstily. ‘‘ Great in- deed is Allah, the All-Giving!” ‘“‘O son of Omar,” suggested Rabbit, cup ia hand, “ let a story from the holy book be told that our souls may rejoice at the wisdom of the Ullema (holy scribes)!” ‘* Aye, let it be so!”’ Then did Larbi cease the smacking of lips and begin the story of the grape-seed. ‘“* In the name of Allah, the All-Com- pagsionate, Merciful, and Mohammed, his Prophet, thus is it written in the book_of Mulai Idrees which lies in the sacred mosque at Fez. ‘““« And when Allah in his wrath decreed that the earth should be covered with water did he command Lord Noah to gather to- gether two of every kind: beasts of the field and the birds of the air, seeds of grain and fruits that are of the soil. And so it was. GOMIIGIOO SS (CO