Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

tee cael “ 206 said Kahleel, and the rocks echoed the ar S laughter. Ali Hassan had crept so close that he could have touched them. He took the pistol from his belt; it was a muzzle-loader, with one charge; he could fire, but that would leave him without protection on his return journey. He clubbed the pistol and struck once. Kahleel pitched forward with a groan; the girl screamed and whirled about. ‘“ Ali Hassan!”’, ‘“ Aye,” said their pursuer, ‘“ the for pig with the thick wits.” He put out his hand toward her, but she fled away from him among the rocks. ‘One at a-time,” said Ali. ‘‘ Catch one of a pair, and the mate will come.”’ He touched the man with his foot. Kah- leel stirred and groaned. Ali raised his pistol, but lowered it again. Instead of _ firing, he cut the cord which bound their luggage, and tied Kahleel hand and foot. Kahieel opened his eyes and gazed up at the face above ehim-—a face in which the eyes were shot with blood and the lips black and swollen almost to the size of © ripe figs. He turned his head and saw Mirza crouching among the rocks. ‘Why dost thou not kil me?” he said. “Thou canst not frighten me by looking at me. I am no child, to be frightened at goblins.” ‘““T am studying how to kill thee,” Ali Hassan. » “ Take me,’ go.” ; “And why,’ exulted the — pursuer, “should I not kill him and take thee, too?” The girl said nothing, but moved closer to her lover, and put out her hand as if to touch him, ‘onl Ali seized her by the wrist. oe hee a heart,’ said Kahleel, “‘ as oth- ers have. Put the point of thy knife under my fifth rib and thy revenge will be done.” “That were too much kindness,” said Ali musingly. ‘‘ If we were but in the city now I would know how to deal with thee. I could give thee such a drug as would make thee an idiot the rest of thy days, or have thee garroted, or killed in a hundred ways. But I am no desert dweller, and said ’ said Mine, ‘and let him _ THE ARGOSY. know not how men may best revenge them- selves in this waste.” The sun was fully up now, and a beam struck across the rock. ‘“ Move him out of the sun,” said the girl, “if there is any pity in thee.” Ali looked at her a moment, laughed wildly. , ‘“ Maid,” he cried, ‘I have to thank thee.. His blood will not be upon my head, but upon thine!” Still holding the girl by the wrist, aan fumbled among the baggage and found the tent pegs. He drove four of them deep into the sand with a bit of rock. He let the gis hand go and said: “If thou art quiet, I may have mercy on him.” She sank to the ground. and wept be terly, while Ali rolled his helpless victim and between the tent pegs and bound him hand and foot to them. Kahleel lay stretched upon the burning sand like a man on a cross. ‘Ali Hassan,” “thou shalt. be kind to the girl, or I Will haunt thee.” | Ali laughed again. “Thy spirit will see things that will please thee,” he said, “if it comes to my harem.” He sat down, threw out his arms, and said: ‘“ Bedy of Allah! I am hungry for the first time. What hast thou_here for a fam- ished man? Nejed dates, sam, and clot- ted cheese!’” When he had devoured as much of their food as he could, he said: ‘‘ Now this is the mercy I will show him, maid. I will leave the rest of the food in his sight, so that if he should escape from his bonds he shall not starve. Thoti and I will ride the camel.” He walked toward the camel, but the Oman threw up its head and trotted away a few steps. He tried again, but it evaded him, and he went back to his horse, mount- ed it, and tried to catch the camel. The horse was too weary to go beyond a shuf- fling trot, no matter how much he beat it. ‘The devil rot thy bones!” he cried in a fury, pulled his pistol from his girdle, and shot at the beast. said the young man, It broke into a long | (Eo) m Gomichoo