Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 103 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

a = ee — == —-—_—_--—- — i ie aes “abounding pazelle of a woman, one to whom the ~tarts of fascination were as familiar as the rings upon her fingers—why, she could not fail to in- -manare the indolent and somewhat satiated ruler “et Algiers. «ie reckoned shrewdly, for the Frenchwoman made an almost immediaté conquest. She fair- i $9 danced herseif into the affections of the Dey, wand the barbarous master of Algiers fell com- fotos into the power of the wily and unscru- —- » hs f ous Frenchwoman, who in her nature strong- resembled a tiger-cat, being as graceful and FT, ), 4 . asTfascinating in her wild beauty as the pride of ’ * “the jungle, and fully as artful and dangerous. H “During her life of adventure—for the French been fairly born in the gutter and . - geared in the streets—Marie had acquired some i ’ few habits which she found it difficult to shake i —_— though now she wore the queenly 8. e was of a passionate nature, and when ex- generally ‘‘swore like a trooper.” ‘boo Hassan was noted for his fickleness in rd to his wives; the favorite of this year i very seldom the woman who had occupied ? that place the previous one. With “par 4 every -. mew moon the Dey had had a new wife, until a ovens of the zrenne se ro wife, w or a time, completely outshone the rest; : but Marie, with her wonderful art, changed a <this. New wives the Dey had as usual, after YySherarrival, but he very soon tired of them and [féturned again to Gulnare. No matter how ywamany new beauties entered the harem, its ¢ squeen, the Frenchwoman, always remained. And why? ‘Because s!1c was a “ Frank” and not a Turk; because she used her wits, had her spies and her fillies; intrigued and fought with terrible ear- nestness to keep the proud position which she had won. No friend was she to the English renegade— the dark, stern minister of war. In the first place, she ha‘ed him because he was an English- nan, and, like a true Gaul, she believed that every native of foggy Britain was a natural foe from birth, to sunny France. In the secon place, she knew that she could not use him to serve her purpose; he had his own views—his own ends to attain, and he was not the kind of man who would be content to be subordinate to @ woman. But with El Tokar, the Holy Man—a cunning, greasy rascal, who cared not by whose aid he climbed, so long as he still kept going upward— her relations were more than friendly; they were confidential. El Tokar was her creature spoke with her voice, carried out her will and served her to the utmost extent of his power, ‘fer he had faith that in the end her influence wrould prove superior to any that could be Srought to bear upon the Dey. @And so, having explained the intimate rela- tionship whi ‘h existed between the two, it is no ‘matter for w>nder that, on the night of which awe write, E| Tokar was seated by the side of Whe Frenchwoman, engaged in busy conference with her. "“#*She has come, you say?’ Marie demanded, a “wery upladyiike scowl upon her mobile fea- tures Vos.” ™* And is she beautiful?” “As one of \Iahomet’s angels, they say.” ™ They say!” cried the Frenchwoman in con- ‘temptuous anver. ‘ And is not that what they say of every new face that is brought to tempt the Dey?’ “Ah, but I have this from one of the crew of the vessel, a knave of a nk whom my spies brought because they thought that he would be able to give me some information.” *< El Boro feels that his power is on the wane, and so he brings this girl to make his hold over the Dey more secure; but, it will be for a little while only. The Dey will soon tire of her, and then he will come back to me, as he has done twenty times before.” The Lion of the Sea. eee —_—-. — -_—-— - Oo ee —_—— — —- “This girl’s success means ruin not only to you | that you keep awake for we shall want to pass but tome. El Boro bears me no good will. through the aid of this girl he secures the ear of the Dey, my power is gone forever. Amla dog, then, that this hound of a Frank forsaken both his Saree and his God, shall kick me from the palace? Oh, no! I am the Holy Man; the people at large believe in me; I carry the odor of sanctity about ~~ eden < have | shake the lad- | climbed high, and no man sha der upon which I stand without danger of feel- ing the weight of my fist. It was just by acci- dent that I learned of this girl. One of my spies was on board of Ali’s vessel, escaped the wreck and came in contact with one of the Frankish oo who came in the lugger with the girl. When my man heard the fellow’s story of the vailed lady and in the captain of the craft recog- If | out in a couple of ho ” the Greek replied. ‘*'You are late to-night,” the Algerine re- marked, as he removed the fastenings of the who has | gate and admitted the horsemen. ‘¢ Yes; our great mistress has had a dream to- | L) ate it troubled her so that she could not sleep. ‘* Indeed!” cried the warder, in wonder. ‘She dreamed that the English dogs had | made a sudden attack upon the harbor and that | our mighty master, in repulsing the attack, had | content her but my | the city and assuring myself with my own eyes é been terribly wounded, and so nothing would ing to horse, riding to that all was well.” the gate, in amazement; “ but what imagina- nized El Boro’s right-hand man, then to his | tions these women have!” acute mind the plan of the minister-of-war was at once apparent. He had sent for the girl on ey aw to fascinate the Dey and so secure a new old upon him.” ‘“‘No doubt—no doubt!” the Frenchwoman murmured, her dainty hands clenched tightly together and the fire of rage flaming in her cheeks, ** What would you do to prevent this English girl from taking your place?’ the Holy Man asked, craftily. “Do? Anything!” “The Dey has not seen her yet; he does not know that she exists.” Few and simple words, and yet there was a fearful meaning back of the speech. Marie was quick to catch the idea. ‘Can we not arrange it so that Aboo Hassan shall never see her?’ she asked, sinking her voice to a whisper and looking fearfully around her as though she was afraid that the very walls us L listen and reveal the horrid suggestion. Tokar gave alow chuckle. It pleased him to have the Frenchwoman enter so readily into plan. **Oh, yes; it might be arranged.” “Tt must be!” she cried, decisively. ‘‘T know a secret stairway built within the solid wall which leads directly to the room where El Boro has placed the girl.” ‘““A secret stairway!” cried the woman, in pleased surprise. ‘‘- Yes, the secret of the stairway is a sacred one known only to Holy Men like myself. With- out the apartment the followers of El Boro keep vigilant watch.” ‘But by means of the stairway a small force of wel!-armed, resolute, discreet men would gain access to the girl!” Marie cried, her active mind quick to devise a plan. ‘Yes, yes, it could be done!” the Holy Man exclaimed, rubbing his hands and chuckling gleefully. ‘* Tt must be done!” When?” ‘*To-night! If the blow is to fall the quicker the better.” ‘* But, where is she to be carried?” “Here!” and the Frenchwoman drew herself up, her eyes darting angry fires. ‘‘I must look upon her face—I must see how beautiful this charmer really is, and then— “What then?’ El Tokar asked, in a whisper. ** Death!” Marie responded. CHAPTER X. THE BLOW IS STRUCK, At twelve that night, when the clouds of heaven hung darkest over the earth, for there was no moon, forth from the gate of the Frenchwoman’s palace rode a small troop of horsemen, five men all told. Well mounted, well armed, and the Greek renegade, Selim, the most trusted servitor of the Frenchwoman was at the head of the band. Straight for the walls of Algiers the part rode. It was but a short fifteen minutes’ val- lop and soon they drew rein at the western gate “Do not be too sure of that, this time, my | of the city. princess!” El Tokar warned, ‘‘ This irl is no common beauty, glad to bask for awhile in the favor of our lord and master. She is Eng- lish, and if she consents to reign she will reign supreme, and that will settle you.” * Mon Dieu ! I will drive a knife to her heart!” exclaimed the Frenchwoman, leaping to her feet, her face black with passion. The warder peered forth from his grated win- | dow as the renegade Greek knocked loudly with the butt of one of his pistols on the gate. ‘* Who is there?” the warder calied aloud. “Friends to Algiers!” Selim responded. ‘Show a light, and behold the signet-ring of our great Dey.” The warder brought a light to the window ““Would you do that, my princess?” the pre 4 | and Selim flashed the huge carbuncle stone sur- | Man asked, speaking very ana A and cas ing a careful glance around him ere he spoke. ‘Indeed I would! Do you think that I am a child to let this stranger usurp my place?’ ‘*Pay heed to what I say,” the old rascal con- t: e near to the angry beauty. rounded by diamonds, the signet-ring of Aboo Hassan, in the eyes of the guardian of the gate. ‘‘Oho! is it thee, Selim?’ the warder cried, | has r ud n | forgive the hands that tore her from him, if he | recognizing the features of the renegade by the | light of the lamp. | “Yes: hurry and open the gate, and look | ‘** So keep awake until J return, for not a wink will the peerless Gulnare sleep to-night until she is assured that our great master is well, and that Algiers is safe.” * All right; I will watch for you.” | The Greek and his party passed on, going straight to the palace, and on arriving there Se- lim sought the proper officer and made known to him the dream of the fair Guinare. Of course assurance was at once given that the bh dogs of Franks had not essayed the storming of Algiers and that Aboo Hassan, in perfect health, slept the sleep of the just. And then the of- ficers of the palace, not to be wanting in hos- pitality, took the messengers into a pvivate. apartment, and there, under bolt and bar, they entertained their guests with the rare, heady wines of the Franks, a drink denied to the fol- lowers of the Prophet, but more or less in- dulged in by the majority of them in secret. And while the debauch was at its hight Selim — a companion withdrew, promising soon to: return. The Greek and his confederate went at once to the apartments of the minister of finance, where. El] Tokar was in readiness for them. The Holy Man had completely disguised him- self in coarse clothing, and he also had dark hooded cloaks in readiness for the renegade and his assistant And when they had arrayed themselves El Tokar led the way through a secret door into a narrow, winding way which led down into the. ms center of the earth apparently. e Holy Man was no stranger to the under- ground region and he had provided himself with. a wax taper to afford light. After descending as it were into the very bowels of the earth the party commenced to ascend. Before starting El Tokar had sworn Selim and his companion to secrecy regarding the secret. way, but so full of twists and turns was the pas- an alley here and an alley there, that it: was extremely doubtful if either the Greek or the other would have been able to find their way out of the passage if they had been left te- their own devices. Again the winding path went up through the: solid wall of the castle and at last came to an abrupt end, a heavy mass of solid masonry blocking the way. _ But upon El Tokar touching a secret spring in the stone a portion of the wall rolled noise- lessly to one side, affording ample space through: which to pass. As the walls of the room into which the pas- sage led were hung with heavy silken hangings: of course the door was concealed, even when open, from the view of any one within the apartment. Motioning to his companions to move with the utmost caution, El Tokar stole forward, ssed through the door, and, parting the silken. angings, carefully looked into the room. A waxen taper, burning on a stand within, afforded light, and there, reclining carelessly upon a low divan whither she had, in dreamy reverie, cast herself, soundly wrapped in slum- ber’s chain, was the beautiful English girl. A look of triumph appeared on the fat and greasy face of the Holy Man as he gazed with gloating eyes upon the face and figure of the; sleeping girl. iBishmillar!” he ejaculated, ‘the Frankish girlis indeed beautiful! What a pity that death will sosoon Claim her! Ah! if I could only con- trive to carry her off and keep her for myself” —and the ugly little rascal chuckled at the bare idea. ‘‘ But, that is impossible,” he continued. ** Dangerous it would be, too, for some one would be sure to betray me. Itis lucky that the Dey has not seen this fair beauty for he would never had ever looked upon her lovely face and per fect form.” CcOtTri ‘*Glory be to Allah!” cried the guardian of* JOOKS.COM