Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

THROUGH RABAT’S ‘“¢« And when the waters did subside ac- cording to the wi:! of Allah, and all were came out of the ark upon the mountain of Ararat, lo! the seed of the grape was not! And Lord Noah lifted up his voice and prayed in exceeding fear of the wrath of Allah. And behold, the devil laughed and spoke, saying: ‘‘ Verily did I send one of my chosen with thee that he might con- found thee in the eyes of thy God!”’ ‘‘* And Lord Noah was confounded and wept yet more bitterly. And it came to pass that the devil agreed to return unto our Lord Noah the seed of the grape upon conditions that he shared with Lord Noah the honor of planting the seed. And so it was. They departed to the hillside, and the devil cut the throat of a peacock with which to water the newly planted seed; upon the next moon was a monkey sacri- ficed in like manner; upon the third moon a lion; and upon the fourth moon even an unclean pig. ‘* And so it is even unto this day that he who drinketh of one drop of the juice of the grape is swollen with the vain pride of a peacock; he who drinketh of two drops hath the mischievousness of a monkey; he of three drops as bold as a lion is he; but he of the four drops walloweth in the mire of the roadside as an unclean pig!’ ” ‘“‘ By the beard!” quoth one, chuckling, “indeed doth the infidel wallow like unto an unclean pig in the gutter! Have I not seen him oftentime in the city of the Tanga! ”’ ‘“Let us to another cup that we may emulate the peacock!” urged another, “ for verily the night is yet as young as a virgin.” ‘Thou hast more sense than the holy men of Koreish,”’ affirmed Rabbit, manipu- lating the whisky bottle. To the accompaniment of prodigious smacks of the lips, which is the cream of courtesy inasmuch that it shows the ex- tent of appreciation of the refreshment pro- vided by the host, the tin mug went again the round. ‘‘ By the beard of my father!” snickered one as the spirit warmed his soul, “ would that we were in Fez this night, for I know of a houri who hath surely descended from EYES. 13 paradise who danceth like a true daughter of the desert!” ‘““ Nay,” said Rabbit dreamily, ‘“‘ more would I give to hear once again the song of the Walladah (mountain dancing girls).” ‘Allah hath not taken my memory,” said a young man with a profile like unto a Greek god. ‘‘ Give me thy gimbri!”’ Taking the two-stringed guitar from Rab- bit, he rose with the effortless grace of an antelope. Swaying against the blue volume of the opposite hill, he thrummed a note- falling lilt to a chant of amorous adventure full of folk symbolism, while his dancing limbs grew more bronze in the flickering fire, and his eyes became romantic rivals of the stars. Beyond the fence around the huts rose the persistent munch of animals whose shapely forms were domed with the great saddles: squeals and the impact of irritable hoofs against a neighbor’s ribs; scuffle of disturbed earth, and another fierce love-challenge rang down the still valley. When the troubadour had tired, came applause in guttural oaths, and a merry quip that the company should imitate the monkey in the tale. ‘“May Allah in his goodness yet permit me to gaze down from my tent of pearl upon the infidels burning in hell!” quoth Rabbit heartily, after extracting the last drop from his mustache by the aid of his tongue. ‘ Verily,”’ chortled Larbi, “ if the heuris of paradise be half as fair as Ramah, the moon of Wazzan, then may Mohammed in his bounty bid Gabriel to snatch me in his arms this night.” ‘““And may the mercy of the Lord belong To Sidi Hammo, singer of this song!” chanted young Wakid. ‘‘ Nay,” murmured Rabbit, reminiscently smacking his lips, “‘ the monkey chattereth, but verily do I feel the throb of the king of beasts within me!” “Aye,” assented Larbi with a thick laugh, ‘“‘ truly am I athirst for the blood of the unrighteous!” ‘“’ He who lusteth after riches desireth.a vain thing,” quoted a sardonic voice from the shadow. “Aye,” agreed another, “thou hast GOMIIGIOO S CO