diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35615.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35615.txt | 9677 |
1 files changed, 9677 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/35615.txt b/35615.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7846e7e --- /dev/null +++ b/35615.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9677 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Treasure of the Tigris, by A. F. Mockler Ferryman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Treasure of the Tigris + A Tale of Mesopotamia + +Author: A. F. Mockler Ferryman + +Release Date: March 20, 2011 [EBook #35615] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TREASURE OF THE TIGRIS *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE TREASURE OF THE TIGRIS + + A TALE OF MESOPOTAMIA + + BY LIEUT.-COLONEL A. F. MOCKLER-FERRYMAN + + + AUTHOR OF "LIFE STORY OF A TIGER" + "HEMMED IN" ETC. + + WITH EIGHT FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS + IN COLOUR BY ALLAN STEWART + + A. & C. BLACK LTD. + 4, 5 & 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1 + + PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN + + _First published in 1908_ + + + + +[Illustration: "I BALANCED IT EXACTLY, AND SLOWLY AND STEADILY DREW IT +UP"] + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. INSTRUCTIONS + +II. ACROSS MESOPOTAMIA + +III. INTO THE DESERT + +IV. GUESTS OF THE AENIZA + +V. RAIDERS + +VI. THE SHEIK'S STORY + +VII. THE FIRE OF THE GODS + +VIII. RASPUL, THE SEER + +IX. IN THE TEMPLE OF SOPHANA + +X. A DASH FOR FREEDOM + +XI. ONLY HALF A CAPTURE + +XII. RIVAL DOCTORS + +XIII. WAR'S ALARM + +XIV. THE BURST OF THE STORM + +XV. FATE + +XVI. RESCUE + +XVII. THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT + +XVIII. TRUE FRIENDSHIP + +XIX. IN CLOVER + +XX. RE-UNION + +XXI. A DESPERATE PLUNGE + +XXII. BROTHERS AND CONSPIRATORS + +XXIII. DAUD'S ADVENTURES + +XXIV. THE DEVIL'S WELL + +XXV. FOR DEAR LIFE + +XXVI. A HAVEN OF REST + +XXVII. VISITORS + +XXVIII. MYSTERIES, SOLVED AND UNSOLVED + +XXIX. A PROPHECY FULFILLED + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR + +BY ALLAN STEWART + + +"I BALANCED IT EXACTLY, AND SLOWLY AND STEADILY DREW IT UP!" + +"THAT THIS WAS THE SHEIK HIMSELF WE INSTANTLY REALISED" + +"HE PROSTRATED HIMSELF BEFORE THE GODDESS, AND BESOUGHT HER TO GIVE HEAT +TO THE FIRE" + +"'BY THE WILL OF ALLAH,' HE SAID, 'THE CHILD IS SICK'" + +"WHEN NEXT I AWOKE, EDWARDS WAS SITTING BY MY SIDE" + +"DAYLIGHT SHOWED US, IN THE FAR DISTANCE, THE MOUND OF THE BIRS NIMROUD" + +"WE COULD SEE BELOW US ... THE FIGURE OF A MAN LYING ACROSS THE GUNWALE" + +"THE TWO OF THEM AS PROUD AS PEACOCKS" + + + + +THE TREASURE OF THE TIGRIS + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INSTRUCTIONS. + + +First of all, I must explain how it happened that I, Walter Henderson, +whom, I have every reason to believe, my masters regarded as a very +ordinary kind of boy, should have blossomed within a couple of years of +leaving school into a person of some importance. I say this with all +modesty, though my enemies will doubtless cast it in my teeth that no +modest man would write a book about himself. + +On events which prevented my getting a commission in the Army, after +nearly having completed my course at Sandhurst, I do not propose to +dwell. At the time I considered the whole affair to be an error of +judgment, though my father ascribed it to lack of brains and too much +cricket. Be all that as it may, the fact remains that before I was +twenty, all my military ambition had been nipped in the bud, and I was +incarcerated in the back premises of that imposing but dreary-looking +old building, the British Museum. My uncle, Professor Ambrose Wentworth, +had taken compassion on me, and had appointed me his private secretary, +at a nominal salary. It was not at all the sort of life that I had +mapped out for myself, as I had fully made up my mind to be a soldier, +as most of my ancestors had been; and, as a matter of fact, had it not +been for my mother's entreaties, I should have enlisted directly I left +Sandhurst. + +My uncle's particular line was Babylonian history, and probably no +living man knew more about history tablets, cylinder seals, and such +like things, than did he. As was, perhaps, only natural in a man whose +whole existence was wrapped up in deciphering cuneiform inscriptions and +hieroglyphics, he wrote an almost illegible hand, and it was my duty to +make fair copies of all his letters and documents--a task which I found +not only most uncongenial but also decidedly difficult. However, I did +my best, and my uncle was always kind and considerate; but I could see +that he was disappointed that he had been unable, at the end of a year, +to make me enthusiastic in the matter of his hobby. At last came the day +when I really thought that I could stand the life no longer. It was +towards the end of November; we had had a fortnight of dreary fogs and +drizzling rain, during which time I had worked by artificial light +continuously, and as I took my seat at my desk I made up my mind that +this day should be my last at the British Museum. Whether my uncle +observed my dejection, or whether his archaeological researches had +produced in him the faculty of seeing through a brick wall, I cannot +say, but when he entered the room in which I was at work, he came up to +me and laid his hand gently on my shoulder. + +"Walter, my boy," he said, "you don't like this sedentary life, I can +see." + +"It is the weather, uncle," said I. "I think it has got on my nerves." + +"Well," said my uncle, "I have been meaning to speak to you for some +time. You have stuck to your uninteresting work for months without a +murmur, and you have proved to me that you have plenty of grit. I can +now offer you a change. Mr Jenkins and I have been talking matters +over, and we want someone to go to Babylon for us. We have come to the +end of our arm-chair researches, and we can do nothing more without a +man on the spot. If you like to undertake to study hard for six months, +we will send you out on a voyage of discovery for us. You will have to +make up your mind to real hard work, but I promise you that you will +have a thoroughly interesting trip, and will see a good deal of the +world. I will tell you plainly what you will have to do. In the first +place, you must be able to read cuneiform inscriptions and translate +them readily; secondly, you will have to learn a certain amount of +Arabic, so as to be able to converse with the natives; and lastly, you +will be required to go on an expedition to Babylon by yourself, and +follow up the work that Layard and others commenced. You can think it +over for twenty-four hours, and let me know whether you will undertake +it, or whether we shall have to look out for someone else." + +I need, perhaps, hardly say that, as I was only too keen to travel, I +accepted the offer, and I began my six months' course of instruction +forthwith. It was hard work, as my uncle had foretold, and nearly nine +months passed before I was considered fit to start on my voyage of +discovery. But, at the end of that time, my study had resulted in making +quite an enthusiast of me, and I was most eager to get away to the land +which had already given to the world so many historical treasures. + +Then arrived the eventful evening when I was to receive my final +instructions, and I was closeted with my uncle and Mr Jenkins for +several hours, listening to the great scheme that I was intended to +attempt to carry through. Up till then I had had no inkling that my trip +was to be anything more than an ordinary digging undertaking, in the +hope of finding something new; but when I entered my uncle's sanctum, I +soon saw that he and his assistant had something important to discuss +with me. + +"Well, Walter," my uncle began, "the time has come at last; you are off +to-morrow, and now we are going to tell you the great secret that is +known only to Mr Jenkins and myself. If either of us were young enough +to undertake the work, you may be sure that we should not have let you +do it. But it wants a young and an energetic man to carry it through, +and that is why we have gone to the trouble of training you. What we are +going to disclose to you is absolutely in confidence; you must reveal it +to no one; for, as you will see, on the keeping of the secret depends +the whole success of your expedition." + +My uncle now unlocked a safe, from which he took a tin despatch-box. +Then, unfastening a bundle of papers, he began:-- + +"THE GIRDLE OF SOPHANA, THE GREAT QUEEN. That is what we want you to +find. It exists, or it did a few years ago, beyond a doubt. If you can +discover it and bring it to England, you will be a made man. If you +fail, we shall not blame you. But I will tell you what we know about it. +Mr Jenkins and I have devoted years to the matter, and, from what we +have been able to gather from scraps of information, collected from +history tablets and other sources, we know that Queen Sophana was +possessed of a girdle of solid gold. Exactly what it was like we do not +know, though several life-like snakes are said to have been embossed +upon it, and it was supposed to have been possessed of certain magic +properties. We have not much to go upon, but we will not keep anything +from you, and you shall hear how we have put two and two together. In +the first place, the ancient representations, on cylinder seals and such +like things, of the queen, always show the girdle or belt round her +waist; secondly, the old writers, in describing the queen, frequently +refer to the magic belt; thirdly, on a fragment of a history tablet we +have found clear evidence that, on the death of the queen, her favourite +handmaiden dressed her mistress in pure white clothes and carefully +fastened on the girdle before the corpse was laid in the coffin of baked +clay. + +"Then there are several other tablets on which mention is made of the +girdle; and we have copies of all these things ready for you to take +with you. But we should never have thought of trying to unearth this +treasure, had it not been for information of a much more recent date +that has come to us. Barely sixty years ago, some members of an Arab +tribe ransacking the ruins of Babylon, found, bricked up in a solid wall +many feet underground, a substantial tomb; inside the tomb were several +coffins, and within one of these, encircling a shrivelled corpse, lay a +belt of golden snakes--massive and of great weight. Now comes the +difficulty; for, according to the story which the Arabs relate, the +finders of the treasure, from the moment that they took possession of +it, suffered every species of calamity. But of all this you must read in +the manuscripts which we are handing over to you; it is too long a story +to go into now, and I need only tell you the end. The golden girdle was +eventually buried in the place where it had been found, by the sole +survivor of a family of the Shammar tribe, in whose possession it had +been for some years; and, in order that no one should notice that the +ground had recently been turned over, the man obliterated all trace of +his work by setting fire to the scrub jungle far and wide. Lastly, we +have the climax; the Arab committed suicide on the bank of the +Euphrates, by falling on the point of his broken spear. + +"What you have to do is to endeavour to find out the spot where the man +buried the girdle; dig it up, and bring it home. Mr Jenkins and I have +written down our views as to how we think this can best be done; but you +must consider what we have written as mere suggestions, and you must be +guided by circumstances. We do not pretend to be anything more than +students and theorists; and, unhappily, such men as Layard and +Rawlinson, who could have helped us, have long since passed away. In +reading through your papers, you will, of course, come across a deal of +Eastern superstition; but I think that you are matter-of-fact enough to +pay no attention to the supposed magical properties of the girdle, or +any nonsense of that kind." + +The remainder of the conversation it is unnecessary to give. I received +lengthy instructions as to the voyage, as to secrecy, and as to more +commonplace matters of business--how I was to draw money for my +expenses, and so forth. No detail had been forgotten by my uncle and his +assistant, who, I discovered, were staking their reputations on the +success of my quest. + +I was handed a despatch-box containing, as I was told, all papers +bearing on the object of my journey; and then, like many another, I, +Walter Henderson, buoyed up with hope and puffed up with pride, left the +Museum under the impression that I was fairly on the road to fame. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ACROSS MESOPOTAMIA. + + +About my voyage out I shall say little--for it was much like any +ordinary voyage to the East--and of the passengers one only need be +mentioned. That one joined the steamer at Marseilles, and became my +cabin companion. He was a German, named Kellner, an amusing and pleasant +individual, who talked English perfectly, and who, in spite of the fact +that he seldom lined up for his morning bath, was tolerably clean. For +some considerable time I could not make out what his business was, but +at last I discovered that he was a "traveller in glass and china," and +was going to Karachi. He interested me a good deal, as he appeared to be +thoroughly well educated, and able to discuss almost any topic. + +At Karachi I had to remain two days, waiting for the Persian Gulf +steamer, and when I embarked again I found, to my astonishment and no +little joy, that the only other passenger on board was my friend +Kellner. He explained his unexpected reappearance by saying that he had +had a telegram from his firm, telling him to go on up the Gulf, as there +was a good opening for trade at Bushire and Baghdad. I was delighted at +having his companionship, and during the next week our friendship +increased considerably, so much so, that when we put in at Bushire, I +persuaded him to come on with me to Baghdad, and first do his business +there, taking Bushire on his way back. As was only natural, I had +talked over my plans with him freely, though I had never divulged the +secret of the Girdle, merely telling him that I was going to excavate at +Babylon for the British Museum. He was politely interested in all I had +to say, but he was not enthusiastic, giving it as his opinion that it +would be much more practical to induce the people to take to European +goods and forget all about their past history. + +At last we got up to Bussorah, went on board the river steamer, and +after four or five days on the Tigris, came alongside the wharf at +Baghdad. I was duly accredited to the British consul-general, and was +met by a kawas, who removed me, bag and baggage, to the Residency at +once. Kellner went off with an Armenian gentleman, who, he told me, was +agent for the firm for which he was travelling, and we parted with many +expressions of regret that our long voyage was at an end. + +The Consul-General had, I found, received a despatch from the Foreign +Office about me, instructing him to assist me in every possible way, and +he was kindness itself. I soon decided that there could be no possible +harm in my telling him the object of my journey; in fact, I came to the +conclusion that it was absolutely necessary. He said that I would have a +most exciting hunt, and that he himself would have liked to have +accompanied me, but unfortunately he could not leave Baghdad for some +time. The Residency surgeon, who had only been in the country about +eighteen months, wanted to visit Babylon, and it was soon settled that +he should go with me--an arrangement that pleased me immensely, as +George Edwards was a man of the world, with a delightful personality. It +took a few days to get things in order: the _firman_ from the Turkish +Government examined and signed by the governor; servants and horses +engaged, and an escort of mounted zaptiehs provided. + +At length everything was ready, and, the evening before our departure, +I overhauled all the papers in my despatch-box, in order to refresh my +memory. I had studied them thoroughly on the voyage out, and knew their +contents almost by heart. I had even gone to the length of making a +_precis_ of everything in a note-book. I thought it advisable, however, +to have a final look through the papers, as I did not wish to encumber +myself with the heavy despatch-box, which I had arranged to leave with +the Consul-General. On opening the box I found, to my surprise, all the +papers in a state of confusion--confusion which could not have arisen +from the box having been turned upside down, because I always kept the +papers, which were docketed and tied up in order, in their proper +places, by filling up the box with two thick books. The books I now +found nearly at the bottom of the box, and the bundles of papers were +all untied and thoroughly mixed up. Someone had tampered with the box; +there was not a doubt of it. I hastily checked off the papers with the +inventory in my note-book, and, to my dismay, discovered that one was +missing. I went over everything again--the missing document contained a +carefully-drawn plan of the ruins of Babylon, with instructions as to +the best method of attempting to locate the burial-place of the Girdle. +It was, to my mind, the most important paper in the box; but its loss +was not irreparable, as I had fortunately made copious notes from it, +and possessed a duplicate plan. Nevertheless, it was most annoying to +find that someone had been turning over my papers, and I mentioned the +matter to my host at dinner that night. + +"What sort of lock have you got on the box?" he asked. + +"A Brahma," I replied, "and the key is on my watch-chain." + +"Have you ever left your watch lying about?" + +"Never; I have always been most particular about it." + +Then I remembered that the day I went on shore at Muskat, I had left my +watch in my cabin. I remembered the fact, because when I visited Jelali +Fort, the governor showed me his watch, and I put my hand in my pocket +to take out mine, wishing to explain the advantages of a repeater, but +discovered that I had left it behind. + +"Haven't you opened the box since then?" inquired the Consul-General. + +"No, I don't think I have looked at it since I left Karachi." + +"Well, probably the inquisitive steward went through your belongings +while you were on shore at Muskat, in hopes of finding a stray +bank-note, and I expect in his hurry he omitted to put all the papers +back." + +So we forgot all about the incident, and the following morning Edwards +and I, with our cavalcade of pack-horses, and our soldierly-looking +escort, left the Residency, and riding down the dirty, narrow lane to +the bazaar, crossed the quaint old bridge of boats and got away into the +desert beyond. As we looked back we saw the Consul-General in a _kufa_ +in mid-stream waving a last farewell to us, and then we put our little +Arab horses into a canter, and soon settled down for the ride to the +khan (or caravanserai) of Mahmoudieh. It was late when we reached the +solid gate of the khan, and it was closed for the night, but we managed +to find accommodation in the little coffee shanty just outside. + +A couple of Bedouin chiefs were in possession of the only room, so the +verandah was handed over to us, and, the night being warm, it was far +pleasanter than being inside, though the corporal of our escort did not +at all like the arrangement, and tried to persuade us that it was most +unsafe to sleep as it were in the open, in a country which was known to +be swarming with robbers and cutthroats. Being Englishmen, we laughed at +the corporal's fears, and after supper and a smoke we turned in on the +frail wicker-work, crate-like beds that had been provided for us, taking +the precaution, however, to have our revolvers handy, and to put +everything of value either under the beds or under our bodies. How long +we had slept I cannot say; I had been dreaming hard, and I had dreamt +that I had found the Golden Girdle--I held it in my hand and gazed at it +in wonder--I found the clasp--with great difficulty I unfastened it--I +put it round my waist--I felt for the clasp to fasten it--nothing would +induce it to close. I pulled with all my might--the Girdle was too small +for my waist. I seized both ends in my hands, held my breath, and pulled +again. My waist was growing smaller and smaller--my body seemed to be +breaking in half. I gave a wild yell, and the clasp snapped with a +report like that of a pistol shot. And it was indeed a pistol shot. + +As I awoke with a start, I found that the whole place was in a wild +state of commotion; the zaptiehs were all around us with lanterns, and +Edwards was standing by the side of his bed, with revolver in hand. + +"What on earth is the matter?" I asked. + +"Had a shot at a blackguard trying to loot our kit, but failed to score, +I am afraid," was the reply. + +Then Edwards told us all about it; how he had been aroused by my +restlessness, how he saw, in the moonlight, two men kneeling close to my +bed, and how he quietly took his revolver from under his pillow, and +sprang up, only, however, in time to get a flying shot at the men as +they made off. Their horses were just outside the verandah, and the +thieves were on them and away before he could get another shot in. Our +troopers wanted to go in pursuit, but it would have been perfectly +useless their going out into the desert, as they had not the remotest +idea which road to follow; so we contented ourselves with the +examination of our belongings, to see what we had lost. My heart +absolutely stopped beating when I discovered that my money-belt had gone +from my waist. It was a chamois-leather belt that I had had specially +made in England, with neat little pockets all round it, in which I +carried the whole of my money--about L50 in sovereigns, and a certain +number of silver kerans and rupees. + +We were not long in finding out who the thieves were, as the owner of +the house came running out to tell us that the two Bedouin chiefs had +disappeared without paying for their supper or lodgings. Then I +remembered that one of them had passed through the verandah to the inner +room while I was fastening the belt over my sleeping-suit, and he must +have noticed what I was doing, and guessed that the belt was worth +having. My dream all came back to me, and of course my long struggle +with the Golden Girdle was probably caused by the Bedouins taking off my +belt; but I cannot imagine how they got it off without awakening me. It +was gone; there was no doubt about that; and, turning to the +coffee-house man, I demanded what he knew of his two runaway guests. + +"Lord!" he replied, "I never set eyes on them before this night. They +arrived after the gates of the khan were shut, and, saying that they had +ridden from the Euphrates, they begged a night's lodging before going on +to Baghdad. What manner of men they were I knew not. I swear it." + +I believed him, for he was a Jew, and therefore not likely to give board +and lodging to two strangers unless he thought that they were +respectable and likely to pay their bill. Still, I was not quite certain +that the old gentleman was not a confederate of the Bedouins, so I +called the corporal and told him that I thought he had better take the +owner of the place into Baghdad as a prisoner, and report what had +happened. The consternation of the Jew when he heard the order is +indescribable. He grovelled on the ground at my feet; flung the dust +over his head, and swore to me that he was innocent of participating in +any plot. To be sent in to the Turkish governor of Baghdad would mean +his ruin. He would not be heard. He was a Jew, and there was no justice +for Jews. He begged and implored me to have mercy and to believe his +word. As a matter of fact, I had not the slightest intention of losing +the services of our escort by sending them back to Baghdad, and I was +quite confident that the Jew knew nothing of the robbery. The loss of +the money, however, was rather a serious thing, though, fortunately, +Edwards was carrying enough to supply our probable wants for some time; +and before making a start I sent a letter to the Consul-General, telling +him what had occurred, and asking him to send me some more money to +Babylon. As can be imagined, we were not too well pleased with the +result of our first night in Mesopotamia, and for the next night or two +we took the precaution to keep a sentry on duty while we slept. + +Getting away as early as possible in the morning, we rode hard all day, +and, after passing Khan Haswa and Khan Mahawill, at sunset we crossed +the remains of the ancient Parthian earthworks, and entered the ruins of +the Great City, taking up our quarters at dusk on a roof-top of the +little modern village of Babil, lying close by the Euphrates. Every +house in the village was built of bricks dug out of the ruins of famous +Babylon; on every brick was the superscription of Nebuchadnezzar; and it +was with almost sacrilegious feelings that we lay down to rest among +such romantic and old-world surroundings. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +INTO THE DESERT. + + +Riding over the ruins on the following day, I realised for the first +time the immense task that I had undertaken. In all directions there +stretched miles and miles of barren land, with here and there low +mounds, ditches, and heaps of rubbish, overgrown with scrub and coarse +grass. Actual ruins, such as walls and the remains of buildings above +ground, there were none, though an occasional long deep trench, dug by +modern excavators, disclosed the presence of a wall at a considerable +depth below the surface. For centuries the place had been ransacked for +bricks to build the towns and villages in the neighbourhood, and even +now I found natives with donkeys loading up the panniers with masses of +broken brickwork. + +With the scanty information that I possessed, to attempt to commence +digging for the Golden Girdle was, of course, hopeless--far more +hopeless than looking for a needle in fifty bundles of hay. I, however, +made a thorough exploration of the ruins, and corrected and added to my +maps, deciding that the next step to be taken was to get away among the +Bedouin tribes, and to try to discover some sort of clue as to the +burial-place of the Girdle. Why I thought of the Bedouins as likely to +be of assistance was this; I had among my papers a full-sized drawing of +an Arab horse-shoe, and my uncle had shown me the actual shoe, the +peculiar shape of which at the time interested me a good deal, though I +now found that similar ones were worn by all the Arab horses. It was a +thin disc of metal with a hole in the centre, but it differed from most +shoes in that it had eight nail-holes instead of the usual six. With the +drawing was the translation of a document, and a note to the effect that +the horse-shoe and its description were obtained from the Munshi Abdul +Aziz of Kerbela, and brought to England in 1899 by a certain Captain +Johnson, who was subsequently killed in South Africa. The document +itself ran as follows:- + + "_In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate, and, Said + Mohammed, Agent of the High God, and of the Companions of Mohammed. + Praised be the Lord, the Omnipotent Creator._ + + "This is the Na'l Talisman of the Muntafik, which at one time + adorned the hoof of the beautiful mare Shahzadi, by a Kuhailan + Haifi sire, out of the dam Labadah. The famous mare, known to all + the tribes, was captured by Feyzul, sheik of the Jelas Aeniza, from + the Sheik Jedaan-ibn-Mirshid, who was killed in battle, when a + portion of the Salama tribe of the Shammar was utterly defeated on + the 17th of the month Saphar, A.H. 1281. Of the ill-omened Salama + there escaped but one man, who was riding a brown horse, with four + white feet and a white mark on the forehead, said by some to have + been of the true breed of Saklawi, by others of Ubaiyan. The man + bore away the serpent belt of pure gold, coveted by the desert + tribes." + +On the back of the original paper was scribbled in pencil:- + + "The shoe and its history were given to me by my old friend, Munshi + Abdul Aziz, on his deathbed, in return for some slight services + which I had rendered him in connection with the annual payment of + pilgrim money. He told me that it had been carried, for many years, + as a talisman, on the neck of the mare ridden by a former sheik of + the Muntafik. How it came into his possession he preferred not to + disclose; but he said that it was well known that the mare Shahzadi + was shod on the off hind foot with an eight nailed shoe (the near + hind, of course, having no shoe). H. J., 8.4.98." + +I had already regarded this document as of very great importance, and I +now decided that my first object should be to discover Feyzul, and learn +what he had to say about the golden belt. It was true that Feyzul might +not be alive, and his tribe, in its turn, might have been wiped off the +face of the earth; but still it was the only clue, and it seemed to me +to be worth while following up. So we left Babil and went off to the +town of Hillah, where we imagined we might be able to get the desired +information from the Turkish police officer, whose duty it was to keep +an eye on the Bedouin tribes of the neighbourhood. The officer was most +polite, and, after inspecting my passport and _firman_, sent for his +sergeant, and asked him what was the latest information that he had of +the Jelas sheik. + +The sergeant, with much pomp and ceremony, produced a note-book from his +pocket, and rapidly turning over the leaves, at length came to the page +he wanted, when he read out deliberately and in a low voice:-- + +"Faris-ibn-Feyzul, tribe of Jelas, otherwise Ruwalla, of the Aeniza; 742 +men; 428 women; many children; valuable mares and stallions; also camels +and sheep. Blood feud with the Salama of the Shammar; constantly +fighting. The tribe was driven from the Ndjef marshes by the Turkish +troops two months ago, and was reported to have moved about four days +south." + +"Is that all?" + +"It is all that I know, captain, for, as you are aware, I have been out +in the northern district for the past month." + +"What age do you suppose this Faris to be?" I asked. + +"Oh, anything over fifty-five, might be seventy, but rides and fights +like a man of thirty." + +Then the officer suddenly appeared to become inquisitive, and asked me +why I was so anxious to find this particular Arab chief, who had not the +best of reputations. For the moment I was rather nonplussed, but I +satisfied him by saying that I had been told that he and his tribe knew +the ruins of Babylon better than most people, and that they would be +sure to know what parts had been explored by previous excavators. In the +end the sergeant was told to try and find out where the chief had his +headquarters, and during the next few days I and my party were +entertained by the police officer, who showed us all the sights of the +neighborhood--including the so-called Tower of Babel, or Birs Nimroud. + +Before the end of the week Faris-ibn-Feyzul had been discovered, and the +sergeant proudly related how one of his men had seen him in the bazaar +at Kerbela, and had tracked him for three days and nights out into the +desert, and had found his tribe encamped barely two days' ride from +Hillah. + +So far so good. I knew that the Jelas tribe still existed, and though +Sheik Feyzul was dead, his son Faris reigned in his stead. The next +point was how to open up communications with him. + +"It would be perfectly useless my sending for him," said the Turkish +officer, "for he would not come. They are most independent devils, all +these Bedouins, and you cannot even bribe them. You might send a dozen +messages to this Faris, and tell him that you would pay him a thousand +kerans a day for his services, but that would not be an inducement to +him. He would imagine that we had designs on him." + +"I must get hold of him somehow," I said; "what do you think I had +better do?" + +"There is only one way that I can see," was the reply. "Leave your +zaptiehs here, and ride off with your friend to Faris's camp without an +escort. I will give you a guide to show you the way, but he must leave +you as soon as you are within sight of the camp. It will be somewhat +risky, as, of course, the Jelas people may take you for Turks and make +short work of you, but if you pretend to be simple English travellers +having lost the way, I daresay it will be all right. I shall, however, +have to get you to give me a paper saying that you left Hillah against +my wish, in case you come to grief, as otherwise I might get into +trouble." + +Edwards and I agreed that we had better make the plunge into the desert, +and leaving our belongings in charge of the zaptiehs, with strict +injunction that if nothing was heard of us within a week, they were to +follow us up, we gave the Turk his clearance certificate, and rode off +with our guide at daybreak next morning. + +After a somewhat uninteresting ride of a long day, with always in front +of us a mirage rising out of the sandy desert, and enticing us to put +spurs to our horses and gallop to the shade of the palm-groves, which +appeared to grow on the edge of a lake surrounding a great city and its +thousand minarets; after halting for the night in a real date garden, we +arrived late in the afternoon of the second day on a low ridge from +which the country around was visible for many miles. Here the guide +stopped, telling us that we would now have to proceed alone. He then +pointed out the line which we were to take--roughly south-west--showing +us, in the far distance, a tiny speck, which he pronounced to be the +encampment of the Jelas sheik. Looking through our field-glasses, we +could just discern the resemblance to an encampment, but the prospect of +reaching it before dark seemed small. The guide, however, assured us +that it was not as far off as we imagined; the country was deceptive; +and we should probably reach our destination before sundown. With hearts +none too light, we parted from the guide, and started in a bee-line for +our goal. + +Before going any great distance, we got hung up by a morass, which had +to be circumvented; then the horses showed signs of being fatigued, and +we were obliged to get off and lead them. + +"A jolly wild goose chase this seems to be," said Edwards, somewhat +sulkily. + +"Not very cheerful, is it?" I replied. + +Neither of us spoke again for about half an hour. The sun was gradually +nearing the horizon. It would be pitch dark in less than an hour. +Edwards stopped. + +"What are we going to do?" he asked. "We can't possibly reach the +beastly place before dark, and we are not likely to find it when we +can't see where we are going. I vote we chuck it, have some food, and +bivouac here till the morning." + +"Don't you believe it," said I, "what sort of a person do you take me +for? Do you suppose I have been looking at this compass of mine ever +since we left the guide simply to amuse myself? I have got the bearing +of old Faris's centre wigwam to a nicety. The compass is a luminous one. +Look at it. Do you see the luminous paint? Well, as soon as it gets +properly dark and the stars are nice and bright, I'll take you along +quite gaily." + +Edwards was interested. He had never seen a luminous compass before, and +confessed that he had no idea that anyone could wander about in a desert +at night and discover where he was going. Now, as a matter of fact, I +was not at all confident of my ability to use a compass at night; for, +since leaving Sandhurst, I had never troubled about these matters. +Still, I could see that my companion did not much like the look of the +situation, so I thought it best to reassure him. + +The compass worked far better than I expected--indeed so accurately as +to almost result in our coming to an untimely end. The darkness that had +settled in very shortly after sunset was of the blackest, the stars +standing out with remarkable brilliancy. Whether it was that my nerves +were strained to the utmost, or that it was the first night that I had +spent in the absolute solitude of the vast desert, I cannot say, but I +can never remember in all my subsequent travels any night that +approached this one for inky blackness. On we trudged over the hard, +baked sand, still warm to the feet, and making the air warm as high as +one's chest; above that, a cool invigorating breeze blew about our +heads. Under other circumstances, we should have delighted in the night +march; as it was, we were both too jumpy to appreciate it. + +Suddenly, at a little distance to our right, a dog barked, and almost +instantaneously half a dozen shots were fired. Fortunately, they were +evidently fired haphazard, for none of them came in our direction, but +our reception was far too warm to be pleasant, so I shouted in the best +Arabic that I could command:-- + +"Salaam Aleikum! We are two English travellers who have lost our way. We +seek hospitality for the night, and to be put on our road in the +morning." + +There was no reply, though we could hear voices quite close, and could +now distinguish the form of the tents of the encampment. My compass had +landed us within a hundred yards of the right spot, but I had no thought +for the moment of congratulating myself on its accuracy, or on my skill +in handling it. It was a question whether we should have a volley fired +into us, or whether our account of ourselves would be accepted. All +doubt, however, was soon swept away, when a stentorian voice came out of +the darkness:-- + +"If you are, as you say, Ingleezee who have lost your way, let one man +advance and the other remain a while behind." + +I immediately advanced, while Edwards stood his ground. At the doorway +of a large tent I was received by a handsome young Arab, around whom +clustered a number of wild-looking men and women. Oil wick lamps were +raised to my face, and after a few searching questions, the men +appeared to be satisfied, and told me that my companion could come in. +As soon as Edwards appeared, the young Arab, who was evidently the chief +of the party, looked intently into his face, then, flinging himself on +the ground at his feet, became almost convulsed with emotion. + +"It is the great _Hakim_ (doctor)," he exclaimed, "_Alhamdu +l'Illah_--Praise be to Allah--I have met him again. The blessed Hakim +who saved my life when I was left for dead by the accursed Shammar. Oh, +God is great to let me see him again, and befriend him in the desert." + +We were soon surrounded by as many of the tribe as were able to crowd +into the tent, and the doorway was blocked with the remainder. Edwards +was the centre of attraction, and his Arab friend regaled his +fellow-tribesmen with countless personal experiences of the Hakim's +skill. But, in the excitement, our wants were not forgotten; our horses +were taken away and cared for; women brought in vessels of sour _leben_, +and dishes of meat and unleavened bread, of which we ate with an +appetite whetted by a hard day's march and by the keen, crisp air of the +desert night. Neither was this all, for the floor of the tent was +rapidly piled up with carpets and rugs, conveyed by numerous eager +hands, and after taking the most affectionate farewell for the night, +Sedjur, our host prepared to leave us to ourselves. + +"But, Sedjur," said Edwards, holding the young chief's hand, "you have +not told me why you are here, six days' journey to the west of Baghdad; +when in the hospital, you always said you came from the north, from near +Mosul." + +"True, O Hakim," was the reply, "but we of the desert have no fixed +home. We wander hither and thither. Yet I confess that I lied to you +when I said that I came from the north. To have disclosed my identity +would have imperilled the safety of my tribe for the son of Faris would +have been a rare prize for the Turki Spahis (a curse on them!), and they +would have tortured me until they had discovered the movements of my +father and his people." + +"Are you, then, Faris's son?" inquired Edwards. + +"Even so." + +"Where then is the sheik, your father?" + +"He left, two days since, with ten picked men, to effect the capture of +the horses of some Shammar robbers who were reported to be at Babil. He +will return before sundown to-morrow, and he will then offer you the +full hospitality of the tribe." + +"Well, peace be with you, Sedjur, at any rate for this night, and plenty +of hard fighting before long. That is the greatest joy I can wish you, I +know." + +Sedjur's face brightened, and his keen eyes glistened as he turned and +left us. When we were alone, I asked my companion to explain how, in the +middle of the night and in the middle of the desert, he had suddenly +found fame. It was not a long story, because George Edwards was the sort +of person who made a story about himself as short as possible. The +Consul-General, it appeared, was riding out, with a small escort, near +Zobeide's Tomb, one evening about a year before, and came across a man +lying in an exhausted condition under a bush. The man was unable to give +an account of himself, but he was evidently in desperate straits, with +several sword cuts on his body and one or two ugly spear gashes. The +Englishman made his escort carry the wretched Arab into Baghdad and hand +him over to the Residency surgeon, and, as Edwards concluded, "I looked +after him, tinkered up his wounds, and was just going to discharge him +from hospital, when he discharged himself--made a bolt of it one fine +night." + +"Edwards," I said, when he had finished, "you are a marvel. There never +was such a stroke of luck. If all accounts of these people be true, you +have secured the everlasting friendship of Faris and all his tribe. We +are made men--that is to say if Faris really knows anything of the +Golden Girdle." + +Edwards's reply was a long, loud snore, and it was not many minutes +before I myself sank into that blissful state of oblivion which is +begotten of sheer exhaustion. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GUESTS OF THE AENIZA. + + +How long we should have slept if left undisturbed I cannot imagine. The +sun must have been up an hour or more before we were suddenly awakened +by shouting in the camp almost amounting to an uproar. On jumping up and +looking out, we found that the small black tents were being hastily +struck, and the whole place was in confusion. We saw, at a little +distance, Sedjur talking excitedly to a couple of dozen horsemen armed +to the teeth. Presently he moved towards our tent, the mounted men +following him. As they drew near we stepped outside to receive them, and +were greeted by a shout from Sedjur, who was walking by the side of the +horse ridden by a great gaunt Arab. That this was the sheik himself we +instantly realised--so much alike were father and son--and any doubt +that we had was soon dispelled by the introduction that followed. + +[Illustration: "THAT THIS WAS THE SHEIK HIMSELF WE INSTANTLY REALISED"] + +The sheik welcomed us cordially, and thanked Edwards for all the +kindness that he had shown to his son in Baghdad. Unfortunately, he +said, he could not now ask us to partake of his hospitality, as it was +absolutely necessary that he and his people should get away at once, to +avoid capture at the hands of the Turkish authorities. Sedjur then +related to us what had occurred. His father had, the night before, had a +brush with a strong party of Shammar, some of whom had been left either +dead or wounded on the field, and the fight only ended when it did +because of the sudden appearance of a Turkish patrol. + +"We must get away immediately," concluded Sedjur, "but my father and I +hope that some day, when things are quieter, we shall be able to show +you and your friend true desert hospitality. You will easily find your +way back to Hillah, and so to Baghdad, by keeping straight for the high +mound yonder, from which you will see the river and the roof-tops of +Hillah at no great distance." + +"But," replied I, not at all wishing to lose Faris just as we had found +him, "my friend the Hakim does not desire to return until he has seen +more of the desert. Besides, we might ourselves be captured by the +Turkish soldiers, and be forced to betray your whereabouts." + +"That would be difficult," laughed Sedjur, "for, look, our women and +children are already out of sight, and safe; and, ere the sun has crept +up another spear-head in the heavens, our horses will have carried us +out of harm's way." + +I looked round. The camp had vanished, the tent in which we had slept +included. Our horses, with their saddles on, stood hobbled close by. The +sheik, standing by his horse, was shading his eyes with one hand, and +scanning the horizon. + +Suddenly there arose a cry of "Tourki," and with one accord the sheik +and his men swung into the saddle, and commenced to move off. Sedjur +quickly mounted his mare, and calling to us that he regretted having to +leave us thus discourteously, soon caught up the rest of the party, now +settling down to a fast canter. + +"Well," exclaimed Edwards, turning to me, "they are in a desperate hurry +to clear out. I cannot even see the soldiers, can you?" + +I looked for some time, and at last, when my eyes had become accustomed +to the glare, I thought I could detect some small black objects, like +flies, in the far, far distance. + +"I think I have spotted them," I answered. "There, miles away to the +north-east. Look along my finger." + +"Oh, I see them," said Edwards. + +"Well," said I, "I suppose we had better wait here till they come up, +tell them that it is useless for them to try and catch the wily Arabs, +and ride back with them to Hillah, or wherever they come from." + +"Not a bit of it," said Edwards excitedly. "We must not meet them. I +know the gentlemen; and if they find us here and their quarry gone, they +are quite capable of shooting us off-hand as conspirators, and quietly +putting us into a hole in the sand. Come on; there's plenty of time." + +"Where to?" I asked, as we ran to our horses and mounted. + +"After our Arab friends," was the reply. "They are not going any pace as +yet." + +So we dug our spurs into the flanks of our little beasts, and made them +gallop over the baked desert. But gallop as we would, we did not appear +to be gaining on our friends, and it seemed to us, on glancing back, +that the Turkish troopers were overhauling us. Then, as we looked ahead, +we saw the Arab horsemen suddenly disappear. + +"Where on earth have they gone?" asked Edwards, turning to me. + +"Heaven only knows," I replied, "unless they have got into a +watercourse. We shall probably see them come out again in a minute." + +We kept our eyes fixed ahead of us as we rode on, but no sign did we see +of the reappearance of the party, and before long we discovered the +cause. The track brought us to a deep dry watercourse, running almost at +right angles to the route that we were following, and there, in the +loose sand which formed the bed, we could see the footprints of the +horses. We drew rein, and looked at each other, for the horsemen seemed +to have gone both ways--up the watercourse and down it. + +"Which way?" I asked Edwards. + +"Haven't a ghost of an idea," said he. + +"Well, it cannot matter very much," said I; "whichever way we go, we +shall find some of them. We must trust to luck to take our Turkish +pursuers the other way." + +So we rode westward in the trough of the nullah, which in places was +sunk almost twenty feet below the surrounding country, and which turned +and twisted at every fifty yards. For half an hour or more we pressed +on, ever looking behind, to see if we were being pursued, until at last +we reached a point where a smaller nullah joined the main one, and here +again the horsemen had divided, as many going one way as the other. + +"This is worse than a paper-chase," said Edwards, drily. "Suppose we +give it up, wait for the Turks, and hail them as our friends and +deliverers." + +As we stood at the junction of the watercourses, debating which one to +follow, we suddenly became aware of the presence of a horseman, standing +motionless at the bend of the smaller nullah. He beckoned to us, and, on +riding up, we found, to our joy, that it was Sedjur himself. + +"You were fortunate, Hakim," said he smiling, "in taking the right way. +We could not wait for you, for fear of the Turkis. We are all safe +enough now, for they never follow the windings of the watercourse, +knowing that at any turn they might be ambuscaded. Come along to our +tents, and we will make you truly welcome." + +The mention of tents was a great relief to both of us, for I at any rate +had had visions of travelling day and night for ever so long, and +enduring endless privations. Still, the encampment was not as near as I +at first imagined, for, although Sedjur described it, with a wave of his +hand, as "yonder," it proved to be distant several hours' ride. For a +mile or more we followed the bed of the nullah, until it grew too narrow +to ride in, when our guide suddenly turned his horse's head up the steep +bank. Thence we crossed a wide strip of desolate desert leading +gradually up to a sandy ridge, from the summit of which Sedjur pointed +out, several miles away, a green patch of vegetation, around which +there appeared to be a goodly collection of tents. + +"What are all these tents?" I inquired of Sedjur, as we drew near the +encampment. + +"This is our large camp," he replied, "with all our people and flocks. +Where you spent last night was only a _ghazu_ camp, from which my father +was making a foray." + +We were duly impressed by what we saw before us, and we began to +understand that the sheik was a man of some importance. A considerable +number of horses, camels, and sheep were grazing on the outskirts of the +encampment, and quite two hundred tents lay scattered among the tamarisk +and other bushes. On the extreme flank was pitched the somewhat +imposing-looking tent of the sheik--large enough, as we afterwards +found, to accommodate not only himself and his family, but also two of +his mares. In front of the tent, fixed upright in the ground, was his +long, gleaming spear, adorned with tufts of black ostrich plumes. As we +approached, men came to take our horses, and we were ushered into the +audience-room of Faris's tent, where we were received with much +ceremony, being reintroduced by Sedjur, as if the sheik had never met us +before. This procedure puzzled me at first, but later on I discovered +that it was a matter of Bedouin etiquette, as at our previous meeting +the sheik had had nothing to offer us. Now we were made welcome to all +he possessed, and a special tent was handed over to us. + +The conversation was most formal; spiced coffee was handed round, and +long pipes were brought in. Then, after a short while, Sedjur relieved +our minds by suggesting that we might like to go to our tent and rest, +after our long ride. We jumped at the idea, and being warned that we +were expected to have supper with the sheik a little before sundown, we +sought the seclusion of the goat's-hair dwelling that had been reserved +for us. + +"Thank goodness," said Edwards, sitting on his saddle-bags, which had +been brought into the tent, "that they have given us a place to +ourselves. Now let us hold a mass meeting of two, and discuss the whole +situation." + +"What situation?" I asked. + +"Why, yours and mine," said he. + +"Right you are," said I. "So far I think we have done pretty well. We +have discovered old Faris, and have become his honoured guests. We have +only got to persuade him to tell us about the Golden Girdle, and then we +shall be as right as rain." + +"All very nice," said Edwards. "But suppose it does not come off, what +is going to happen? We are miles and miles from anywhere." + +"Oh, we will get along. Don't you fret," I replied. "Besides, we are +seeing desert life, living with real Bedouins, and all that sort of +thing. Do be a bit romantic. But, to be serious, I will take on our host +to-night, if we can make him at all communicative; and if we fail to get +anything out of him, we will take an affectionate farewell in the +morning, and ride back to Hillah. I daresay we are not more than fifty +miles away." + +"How shall you start the subject?" asked my companion. + +"That is the difficulty," said I. "I expect the best way will be to +mention Shahzadi and her shoe, and see how the old man takes it." + +So we continued to talk and puff at our pipes, until at last Sedjur came +and told us that supper was ready. We found that one or two of the +headmen of the tribe had been invited to meet us, and after going +through the usual ceremonial introductions, we settled down to our meal, +Edwards being placed on the right hand of the sheik, I on the left, and +Sedjur on the other side of Edwards. It was our first Bedouin feast, and +the novelty of everything interested us considerably. A huge copper +bowl was brought in and placed in front of us, its steaming contents +consisting of a kind of porridge in which lumps of meat and vegetables, +some hard-boiled eggs, and dates were concealed. Into this each member +of the party plunged his hand, and after the manner of dipping in a +bran-pie, brought out a prize in the shape of something to eat. Hunger +and the desire to appear _au fait_ in the customs of the desert enabled +Edwards and myself to do fair justice to the meal, even without spoons, +knives, or forks. Little conversation was indulged in while the eating +was in progress, but at length the dish, replenished again and again, +had satisfied everyone, and at a signal from Faris we rose, washed our +hands, and went and sat outside, to smoke our pipes and chat in the cool +evening air. + +While at supper I had made a study of our host, and although apparently +a reserved and silent man, his quiet dignity and courteous manner made a +great impression on me. In appearance he was tall--far above the average +Arab height, spare in form, but with broad, square shoulders, which made +his flowing robes hang loosely from his body. He was a fair man, and his +brown beard as yet showed few white hairs, though his handsome face was +weather-beaten, and bore more than one tell-tale scar. His eyes were +remarkable, and their actual colour impossible to describe; at times +they were the eyes of an eagle--almost golden red, wide open and +piercing; then, while he was speaking, they would suddenly change to the +soft liquid eyes of a deer, full of tenderness and compassion. As I +learned later, the sheik's whole character was discoverable from a study +of his eyes. + +Puffing at my pipe, I began to think that the time had come when I ought +to give our host some idea of our future movements, for I knew that he +himself would consider that he would be outraging all the laws of +hospitality if he even displayed any curiosity as to our wanderings in +the desert. How I was to turn the conversation round to the Golden +Girdle I could not see, but I made a beginning by discussing the day's +ride, and the relative merits of our horses and the sheik's horses, +their paces and staying powers. To my delight I found that the great man +gradually unbent, and in a few minutes became voluble. Thinking that I +was deeply interested in the subject, he insisted on taking me into his +tent to see his two favourite mares, one of whom he fondled, and +addressed in the most loving terms. + +"She is your favourite, sheik," I said. + +"Yes," he replied, "even so. She has carried me in many a bloody fight +with the accursed Shammar, and has borne many good colts. Moreover, her +grand-dam was my father's much-prized mare, a true Kuhailan, so he +always affirmed. He captured her from the Shammar--a fact which I cast +in their teeth when I prevail over them by reason of the handiness and +swiftness of the mare. She is indeed a bird without wings." + +I now had my opening, for of course I remembered what was written in the +document wherein mention had been made of the Golden Girdle. + +"I have heard of the Kuhailan mare," I remarked quietly. + +"Of what mare?" inquired Faris, looking at me intently. + +"Shahzadi," I replied, "the daughter of a Kuhailan Haifi, out of the dam +Labadah. Was it not so?" + +"That indeed was what my father always told me, and the Shammar +themselves told him how the mare was bred. How do you, an Ingleezee, +know of such matters as these? It may be that you have learned them from +the Shammar." + +"Not so, Sheik of Sheiks," I replied. "What I know of the mare I have +read in my own country." + +"Wonder of wonders!" exclaimed Faris. "They speak truly when they say +that you Englishmen know everything. Tell me more of what you know." + +"I will tell you _all_ I know," I said, "and if you will allow me to go +to my tent, I will fetch you a translation of what I believe to be a +true document relating to the famous mare, which your father captured +from the Shammar." + +"You astonish me beyond measure," said the sheik; "be pleased to go and +bring the paper." + +At that moment the thud of horses' hoofs broke the stillness of the +night air, and, thinking that it meant a night attack, I turned to the +sheik, who stepped out in front of his tent, and shouted a few words in +a deep voice. An answer came back out of the darkness, and then Faris +explained to me that the horsemen were those of his party whose duty it +had been to lay a false scent for the Turkish police to follow, and who +had ridden into camp by a circuitous route. + +"For years," said he, "we have done the same thing. On reaching the +nullah, some of us go one way and some another. The Turkis fear to +follow either party, knowing that if once they enter the nullah, they +are liable not only to be ambuscaded by one party but to be taken in +rear by the other party. But they are simple folk these town-bred +Turkis, and in driving us as far as the nullah, they consider that they +have done their duty. So they return to their coffee-houses to drink +their coffee and tell their companions how they encountered the +Bedouins, and defeated them. Yet, to-morrow, if we wished, we could ride +in and pillage half the villages on the outskirts of Hillah. However, +the ways of these Turki dogs are of no interest to either you or me, for +I know, from my many friends in Baghdad, what you Englishmen think of +them. Let us talk again of our horses, and let me hear what you know of +Kushki's ancestors." + +I went off to my tent, and returned with my note-book, when the sheik +took me into his private apartment, and motioned me to a seat on a pile +of soft cushions. I showed him the sketch of Shahzadi's shoe, and he at +once commented on the eight nail holes. Then I turned to my copy of the +document, which, re-translating into Arabic, I read out to my host. He +was deeply moved, and drank in every word that I uttered, nodding his +head as I concluded each sentence, and vouchsafing that what I said was +true. When I came to the last line I hesitated for a second--from +excitement, I suppose--but, recovering, I translated leisurely, "The man +bore away the serpent belt of pure gold coveted by the desert tribes." + +"Quite true," said the sheik. "Everything that you have read is true. +But now tell me, was it indeed an accident that brought you and your +friend the Hakim to our tents?" + +The question came so suddenly, that I confess it quite staggered me. But +I felt that the man with whom I was dealing was upright and honest, and +I decided that I would meet him on his own ground, and risk the +consequences. I stood up and met his gaze. + +"Faris-ibn-Feyzul, Sheik of the Jelas Aeniza," I said, "I am an +Englishman, and, I trust, a man of honour. Believe me, that in accepting +your hospitality, I had no intention of deceiving you. I waited only for +an opportunity to speak to you, and that opportunity has now come. It +was no accident that brought us to your tents." + +I then explained fully the nature of my mission, and how I hoped to be +able to obtain from him some information about the Golden Girdle. He +listened attentively, and without showing any sign of displeasure. At +last he took my hand in his, and spoke solemnly and quietly. + +"Friend and honoured guest," he said, "you have spoken to me +straightforwardly, and straightforwardly shall I always deal with you. +Stay with us as long as you will, and you shall be welcome, but take my +advice, and abandon all idea of possessing that accursed belt of gold. +Did you but know the havoc that it wrought among the tribes ere it +disappeared, you would let it lie for ever in its resting-place. If you +would hear more of it, then to-morrow will I tell you what I know, and +willingly. To-night we have already talked late." + + * * * * * + +"What a time you have been," grunted Edwards, as I entered the tent +after saying good-night to the sheik. "You have lost all your beauty +sleep. I have been in bed for hours." + +"Business, my boy," I replied. "I have been having a most interesting +talk with Faris." + +Edwards sat up wide awake, while I related, as shortly as possible, what +our host had told me. + +"Do you think I did right," I asked, when I had finished, "in making a +clean breast of everything?" + +"You could not well have done anything else," he replied. "Both the +father and the son are thorough gentlemen. Besides, one cannot humbug +these Bedouins; they would see through you at once. I wonder if they +really know where your golden treasure is buried. I did not say a word +about it to Sedjur, as I was afraid of making a mess of things. By the +way, he and his father are going off in the morning to an oasis +somewhere or other miles away in the desert, where they have got some +brood mares and camels, and he thought we might like the ride with them. +So I accepted for both of us. Are you on for it?" + +"Of course I am," said I. "I don't let old Faris out of my sight until I +have heard what he has to tell about that blessed belt." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +RAIDERS. + + +Barely a streak of dawn had shown itself in the eastern sky, when Sedjur +clamoured at our tent door, shouting to us that it was time that we were +up and in the saddle. Silence reigned in the encampment, as we stepped +out into the grey morning, to find the sheik and his son already +mounted, and awaiting us. An Arab stood close at hand holding the two +horses which we were to ride, and the sheik, giving us a friendly +greeting, told me that the beasts which he had selected for us were both +sons of his favourite Kushki, the fleetest that he possessed, and far +better than our own. He and Sedjur we noticed were armed with spear and +sword, and before starting they made certain that we carried our +revolvers. + +"One can never tell," said Sedjur, "what the day may bring forth, and to +go unarmed in the desert is to court death." + +So, with the cold invigorating air almost cutting our faces, we set out +on our ride into the unknown, at first picking our way slowly among the +low bushes, then, on reaching the great sandy wastes, quickening our +pace to a gentle canter. How our companions knew the way puzzled us +considerably, for no landmark could we distinguish in any direction. +Everywhere was sand--hard, red, baked sand; a veritable ocean of sand, +and, like the ocean, wind-swept into mighty billows. The sun gradually +rose, and we soon discovered that no landmark was necessary, as our +route evidently lay due west, and the sun at our backs gave us our +course. + +For several hours the ride was monotonous in the extreme, then, at about +noon, the sandy plains began to show signs of a change of country. +Stones cropped up here and there, and in the far distance we could +distinguish the filmy outlines of hills and mountains. The hills +gradually drew nearer, and in a short time we found ourselves in a new +land. Below us was a hollow filled with verdure, date trees, acacias, +tamarisks, and luxuriant grassland, through which flowed trickling +streams. This was the principal grazing ground of Faris's camels and +mares, which we saw scattered in all directions, their herdsmen--all +armed with spears and matchlocks--keeping a good look-out on the +surrounding high ground. + +"Hide yourselves behind the rocks," said the sheik, quietly, "and we +will soon see if the men are on the alert." + +Then stepping forward himself on to the sky-line, he stood quite +motionless, while we peered from behind our shelters into the valley +below. Far down in a date grove we heard the neigh of a horse, followed +by the barking of a dog; then, as we looked, we could see each sentry +turn instinctively towards the figure of the sheik. They had discovered +the cause of the alarm, and Faris, satisfied, shouted a watchword which +was evidently understood. The chief of the herdsmen rode up to greet us, +and we descended with him to the shady spot where his tent was pitched, +and where he soon regaled us with coffee and dates. + +"Well, Hussein, what is the news?" asked the sheik. + +"Nothing of great consequence, Lord Protector," answered the herdsmen, +"but I am glad you have come. For three days now single Shammar horsemen +have been observing us from different points, and we fear that they +intend a raid on the beasts so soon as the moon gives sufficient light. +We fully expected it last night, but no one came." + +"Ah, Hussein," said the sheik, "it is the old story which you always +have to tell. Rest assured that no Shammar dares to touch the property +of Faris-ibn-Feyzul. Bring some more coffee, and then we will smoke our +pipes until it is time for us to start again for our tents." + +The sheik was in the best of spirits, and even talkative. Sedjur and he +were evidently devoted to each other, and we could see that the father +was as proud of his son as was the son of his father. They had ridden +side by side in many a fight, though even now Sedjur was but +twenty-four; and each had many tales to tell of the prowess of the +other. + +"How many of the accursed robbers did you say you encountered at Babil +the day before yesterday, father?" asked Sedjur. + +"Ten of the Shammar," was the reply, "and one other, of what tribe or +nationality I know not. He was not of the desert, though wearing the +dress. Perchance he came from Bokhara, or Yarkhand, or, God knows, from +India. But whatever land gave him birth must be glad to be rid of him, +for he showed not the courage of an Arab townsman. When we bore down on +the band he incontinently rode off, and did not rein up and turn to see +what was going on until at a safe distance. The dog valued his skin +greatly." + +"And you put them all to flight?" + +"Surely did we," answered the sheik, vehemently, "and sent that black +villain, Abbas, to Gehennum." + +"What, Abbas-ibn-Rashid?" + +"Even so, he who nearly killed you outside Baghdad, when our good +friend, the Hakim, here, saved your life. It was an old score, my lad, +and I wiped it out, praise be to Allah! We would have sent some more of +his followers after the scoundrel, had not the soldiers come down on +us, and I doubt not but that Abbas himself had previously warned them to +be prepared." + +"I am almost sorry, father, that you slew Abbas," said Sedjur, softly. + +"Why?" asked the sheik, frowning at his son. "Have you turned woman? Do +you wish to show mercy to your bitterest foe?" + +"Nay, father, but I had lived for the day when I should meet the man +face to face, sword to sword, and spear-point to spear-point. I grieved +that you had robbed me of my chance of revenge." + +"Well, well, Sedjur," laughed the sheik, "save his ghost, the desert +will hear no more of Abbas." + +"You secured no booty, then?" inquired Sedjur. + +"His mare galloped off when her master fell," replied Faris, "and I +brought away only his broken spear, and this." + +The sheik raised his cloak, and revealed to our astonished eyes _my +chamois-leather money belt_. Edwards and I instantly recognised it, and +involuntary uttered an exclamation of surprise, when Faris, not +understanding the reason for our excitement, but thinking that we were +admiring his prize, took it off and handed it to us to examine. + +"It is filled with money," said he, "and of much value. How Abbas gained +possession of it I neither know nor care. It became the prize of war, +and is now mine." + +"Sheik of Sheiks," I exclaimed, holding the belt in my hand, and looking +into his flashing eyes, "I can tell you what money that belt contained a +little while since; for it was stolen from my waist as I slept outside +the khan at Mahmoudieh not half a moon ago." + +"Wonder of wonders!" ejaculated Faris and Sedjur simultaneously, the +former appearing to be somewhat sceptical, though fearing to show any +distrust of his guests. + +"Let us examine the pockets one by one," I said, wishing to prove my +_bona fides_. "In each of the five small pockets on either side of the +buckle there should be five English gold pieces, and in the larger +pocket at the back some odd kerans and rupees. Come, let us count them +out." + +I turned out the pockets one by one, and emptied their contents on to +the sleeve of Sedjur's cloak. The thief had had no opportunity for +spending the money, which was found to be exactly as I had stated. +Faris's face wore an expression of utter bewilderment. + +"We knew," said he at last to Sedjur, "what manner of man was our guest +the Hakim, but we knew not that his friend was a magician, who, when he +lost his property, could recover it at his pleasure. Yet now that I +bring it to mind, he did but last night read to me the true description +of Shahzadi, the grand-dam of my beloved Kushki, and, moreover, he +showed me, on a paper, the impression of her eight-nailed shoe, the old +Talisman of the Muntafik of which we have heard. All this is magic." + +I felt that I had suddenly acquired a reputation by no means desirable, +and I hastened to reassure my host, who, having replaced the money in +the belt handed it to me, saying that, now that he knew that it was +stolen property, he wished to restore it to its rightful owner. + +"Nay, nay, sheik," said I, "you obtained it in a fair fight. I lost it +through my own carelessness, and I can no longer claim it by right. I +never thought to see it again." + +"Then," answered Faris, "I see but one way out of the difficulty. If you +refuse to take back your own, I offer the belt and all it contains to +your friend the Hakim, as a present, in return for all the kindness +which he showed to my son Sedjur. We of the desert have an unwritten +law, by which no guest of the Aeniza can decline to accept a present +from a sheik. Were this not so, then would I straightway ride to the +Euphrates, and hurl the thing into its depths; for, knowing what I know, +I can never now lay finger on it again. Come, Hakim, my honoured guest, +buckle on the belt, and end the trouble; otherwise, who knows? it may +prove to me as evil a possession as did that golden curse to many a +Bedouin in the days gone by." + +So Edwards, at my suggestion, took the belt and fastened it round his +waist, offering profuse thanks to his host, who was apparently greatly +relieved. + +"Tell us, sheik," I said, seeing that he had recovered his equanimity, +"something of the golden curse to which you alluded just now, and about +which I spoke to you last night. We are all friends here; Sedjur has +doubtless heard it all before, and the Hakim and I are one." + +Faris looked stealthily round, to make sure that there were no +eaves-droppers, and then suddenly turning his eyes on me exclaimed:-- + +"Think no more of it; forget it; for it will bring you nothing but ruin. +I called you 'magician.' Whether I did so rightly or wrongly I cannot +say, but this I do know, that your magic, be it ever so strong, can +avail nothing against that circlet of gold. As you are aware, it +disappeared long years back--even before dear Kushki saw the light of +day. No man could ever say what became of it, though there be +necromancers (not reckoned by us as men) who have the reputation of +knowing all things, and who have been heard to affirm that they could, +were they so minded, unearth that hidden curse. Yet even they fear to be +so rash. As soon would they let loose in the world Shaitan and all the +Jins. Do you suppose your Western magic to be more powerful than that of +the East? Do you imagine that you are capable of combating all the evil +that fell on every man who ever touched the dreaded thing? No, I cannot +believe that you have such conceit." + +"I am no magician, sheik," I said, interrupting him, "and I make no +pretence to any power not possessed by yourself or any other man. We +Englishmen consider all those who practise magic to be impostors. In all +honesty, I told you last night that I had come to the desert in search +of the Golden Girdle of the Great Queen; and I told you how my +acquaintance with the story of the Muntafik talisman had led me to seek +information from you." + +"I know," said Faris, sorrowfully, "I remember all you said, and if I +ever doubted you, the doubt has left me. I believe all that you told me. +I swear it. Gladly would I help you to carry out the task imposed upon +you; yet, I, Faris-ibn-Feyzul, Sheik of the Jelas Aeniza, who have faced +death on countless occasions, and who would face it again at a moment's +notice, out of pure love of fighting, I confess to you that I fear to +have a hand in resuscitating the golden circlet. Mere death I count as +nothing. All must die--whether it be sooner or whether it be later; and +so long as I die, as every true Bedouin should, fighting the foes of his +forefathers, I care nothing for myself. But how should I feel if, when +dying, I knew that I had been instrumental in reviving, and in leaving +behind me as a legacy to posterity, a curse on the inhabitants of the +world?" + +I began to think that the Golden Girdle had a most fearsome reputation, +but I remembered that my uncle had specially warned me not to be +influenced by the superstitious dread of the natives. I had always +laughed at superstition, and though I had sufficient good sense not to +laugh at the sheik, I inwardly considered his fears as ridiculous and +childish. + +"So be it, sheik," I said. "Far be it from me to attempt to influence +you to do anything against the guidance of your conscience. Let us +forget that we ever spoke of the Golden Girdle. Let us forget that it +ever existed. There are troubles enough in the world without adding to +them. We will converse on other matters." + +"What thought you of the horse you have been riding?" inquired Faris +proudly. + +"Perfection," I replied. "Never have I sat on the back of his equal." + +"I thought so," said Faris, beaming with delight "He is indeed a worthy +son of my Kushki." + +"And to think that we foreigners," said I, "possess her grand-dam's +shoe!" + +I had hardly finished speaking, when the sheik sprang to his feet, +seized sword and spear, and rushed to his horse, shouting as he did so +that the Shammar were upon us. Sedjur was in the saddle almost as soon +as his father; and Edwards and I, not fully realising what was going on, +followed suit in all haste. Then we saw what our host's keen eyes had +seen a couple of seconds earlier. Over the ridge above us a long line of +horsemen were sweeping down into the valley; the watchmen posted among +the rocks fired their matchlocks as a signal of alarm, and ran for their +horses, which were mostly tethered close to the spot where he had been +resting. There was little time to think, but it was easy to understand +the enemy's intentions. The mares and camels were all grazing down the +valley, a quarter of a mile or so below us, while the herdsmen, in order +that they might be able to obtain a wide view of the surrounding +country, had been stationed on the higher ground above us and to our +right and left. The raiders, evidently well aware of this somewhat +faulty arrangement, had somehow crept up unnoticed to the vicinity of +the ridge, and had then galloped in between the herdsmen and the herd, +the foremost horsemen descending swiftly into the valley and rapidly +working round and overlapping the grazing animals. This was an almost +instantaneous evolution; in fact, when Faris first gave the alarm, the +line had already shaped into a crescent, and before we had mounted, it +had become a semicircle, separating the mares from the camels, and +driving the former before it and away from us. The camels, being too +refractory and slow to carry off, were left behind. + +"Quick, Sedjur lad," shouted the sheik without any sign of excitement, +"rally the herdsmen, and get ready for pursuit, while I watch the +direction they take." + +Then the lad, as his father called him, opened his lungs and sent up a +war-howl, which rang through the whole valley, and came echoing back +from every rock and every hollow. If it did not strike terror into the +hearts of the raiders, at any rate it had a most inspiriting effect on +the wretched herdsman, who showed the greatest keenness to get to their +horses and form up for pursuit. How long it was before all the men had +come in I do not remember; it could not have been many minutes, though +it seemed like an hour. At last all were ready, and away we went at a +hand-gallop, up the stony side of the valley, to the spot where the +sheik awaited us. Sedjur--no longer the calm, imperturbable youth, but a +fierce warrior, with long, gleaming spear raised aloft--led the party, +Edwards and I abreast of him, on either side. + +"This is no work for you," said Sedjur, addressing me as we rode along. +"You and the Hakim had best drop behind and await our return." + +"Have you such a poor opinion of us town-dwellers, then?" I replied. "We +are your guests, and it is our duty to assist you. Besides, we want to +see the fun." + +"Bravely said," exclaimed the sheik, who had overheard my reply as we +approached him. "Come on and help us to deal death to the Shammar +thieves. They have crossed the plain, and are away on the other side of +the ridge yonder." + +How our little well-bred horses flew over that sandy strip! Their hoofs +seemed barely to touch the ground. In front galloped the sheik; close +behind him, we three; then the Bedouin herdsmen, some twenty in number, +like a troop of cavalry in single rank. + +We topped the ridge, and without drawing rein drank in the scene before +us. There lay another stretch of rolling desert, which in the far +distance appeared to slope gradually up to a network of bold hills. +Midway between us and the hills, we could see clearly enough the mares +being driven off, and raising a vast moving column of dust, resembling a +sand-storm. That our enemies were expert cattle-lifters was evident, +for they kept the beasts all going at a swinging trot, in one compact +body. + +Faris raised a wild shout as his quarry came in view, and pressed +forward into the plain. + +"Take half to the left, Sedjur; quick lad, and work round, so as to head +them off from the hills. I will take the rest to the right. If the +devils reach the hills, we shall not recover a single mare." + +A strong breeze was blowing from one side, and carried the dust raised +by the fugitives well away to leeward, enabling us to see and almost +count the number of men with whom we would have to reckon. That they +out-numbered our party was certain; though, as far as we could judge, +not by very many. For the moment, however, actual numbers were of small +account; speed was the sole thought; for the necessity of cutting in +between the enemy and the hills was now very apparent. Though they were +almost a mile away from us, and had little more than another mile to +traverse before reaching the shelter of the hills, we certainly had the +great advantage of being unhampered by loose beasts; while our opponents +had to keep the mares together, so as to prevent them from breaking +away. As our party divided, Edwards and I happened to be rather more to +the left than to the right, so we naturally drifted off with Sedjur, +who, waving his spear above his head, led his handful of men away to the +flank. Rapidly we gained on the bulky column of dust; we were soon +abreast of it, and it blew across our path and enveloped us, so that we +were almost choked. As we emerged from the dense cloud, we saw that the +sheik's party had out-distanced us by a little, and had already reached +a point between the enemy and the hills, so Sedjur wheeled half right, +and went straight for the stolen mares; while his father, observing the +movement, instantly swung round and brought his men down pell-mell on +the foremost of the enemy. Panic seized the raiders, and before we could +reach them, they abandoned their booty, and fled in a disorganised mass +away to the flank farthest from us. The mares were saved, though there +was still the risk of their terror causing them to scatter over the +desert. Sedjur and his party, however, understood their business, and +rounding them up, soon pacified them. Meanwhile, the sheik had seen his +opportunity, and at the very moment that the enemy took flight, he +suddenly changed his direction, and went off in hot pursuit of the +fugitives. + +"Come on, Henderson," said Edwards, "let's be in at the death." + +"Right you are," I shouted. And away we went. It was a stern chase and a +long one; but when we had almost caught up our friends, we found that +they had overhauled the tailmost of the band, and that a brisk fight was +imminent. Then Edwards, who was a little ahead of me, suddenly reined up +his horse, so that it nearly fell over backwards, and I instinctively +did the same. + +"What is the matter?" I asked. + +"This is not _our_ game," replied Edwards, somewhat sternly. "The poor +devils could not stand our revolvers. It would be sheer butchery to use +them. _I_ don't want to shoot any of them, and I am sure _you_ don't. +Besides, look, the sheik is drawing off his men, and I expect he +considers that honour is satisfied." + +At first I felt that I had been rebuked; for, on joining in the pursuit, +I certainly had had every intention of using my revolver freely. But I +soon saw that my companion's argument was perfectly sound, and I was +glad that the combat had suddenly come to a close without our being +called upon to take part in it. The sheik and his party presently +returned, the enemy having disappeared into the hills, and we now +learned the reason of the rapid withdrawal. + +"They were leading us into an ambuscade," said Faris, as he rejoined us. +"If it had not been for you, I, in my excitement, should have gone on, +and doubtless we should all have been killed. I saw you pull up, and I +instantly understood that you realised the stratagem I thank you both +for giving me the signal." + +Now, although I believe that Edwards and I were as honest as most men, +we did not think it at all necessary to enlighten the sheik as to our +real motive in suddenly coming to a halt. As a matter of fact, we were +so astonished at what he said that we did not reply, thus leaving him +with a high opinion of our astuteness, which, as we never undeceived +him, he probably retained to the end of his days. There was, however, +little time to think about what had occurred, for the main object now +was to return to the mares, and conduct them back to a place of +security. Naturally, everyone was very jubilant at having recovered the +stolen beasts, and Sedjur and his party had already set them in motion +towards home. Then the great cloud of dust once again rose upwards, +almost obscuring the fast sinking sun, and darkness had set in before +the mares were once again at the grazing ground from which they had been +carried off. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE SHEIK'S STORY. + + +That night we stayed at the grazing-ground, half expecting another +attack, the sheik thinking it by no means unlikely that there was a +large number of the Shammar tribe on the hills. But nothing occurred to +disturb our rest, though we took it in turns to watch all night, Edwards +keeping Sedjur company, whilst I sat with Faris. For half an hour or so +after we came on duty the sheik remained silent, then he began to speak +in a low tone. + +"Magician," he said. + +"Do not call me by that name," I said laughing. "I am nothing of the +kind." + +"Well," he replied, "if the name does not please you, I will not call +you by it. Still, the man who can tell one all about the breed of a mare +directly he sees her, who can recover his own stolen property whensoever +he chooses, and who has just now returned to me all my stolen mares--a +man who can do such things, I say, must possess powers of no ordinary +kind. Such a man we desert folk call by the name magician." + +"So be it, sheik," said I, not caring to argue further about the matter, +"call me what you will. But what was it you were going to say when I +interrupted you." + +"It was a small thing," said he. "I had been thinking of Shahzadi's +shoe, the Muntafik talisman. Where did you say it was kept?" + +"In the biggest building in the biggest town in all England," I replied. + +"Why should your people wish to keep in such a place so unimportant a +thing as the shoe of one of our mares? I cannot understand you +Europeans. Men come and pay much money for bricks and pieces of stone +picked out of the ground at Babil, and carry them away on the backs of +asses. The Bedouins laugh at them. Do these also go to the big house +where the horse-shoe is?" + +"Yes, the house is full of such things, and were it possible to obtain +the Golden Belt of the Great Queen, that likewise would be placed +there." + +"Better not," said Faris, "for the big house would totter and fall, and +the whole town would be destroyed. Such things have happened in years +gone by in this land--and, they say, because of that accursed belt. I do +not know if what they say is true, but you have yourself seen what is +left of such a great town as Babil, and I know of many another which has +been levelled, and swallowed up by the sand. I say again, forget that +belt of gold. Tell those who live in the big house that it is lost for +ever. But Shahzadi's shoe is a different thing. Tell me, do the people +who live in the big house keep all they possess for ever?" + +"You want to know," I said, "whether you could possibly obtain the +horse-shoe. I will copy the drawing, and write out for you, in Arabic, a +copy of the document which I read to you." + +"It would be of small value," said the sheik, with a sigh; "but, oh, if +I could obtain the real shoe of the great Shahzadi, then would I be for +ever happy." + +"Sheik," I replied, "it can never be--at least it would be very +difficult. Perhaps if I were to find the Golden Girdle, and were able to +lay it before the keepers of the big house, perhaps, I say, they might +regard me with favour and ask what I would in return. If at that moment +I could reply, 'One, Faris-ibn-Feyzul, a great Sheik of the Aeniza, and +my devoted friend, even he whose assistance enabled me to be successful +in my quest of the Golden Girdle, is the owner of the mare Kushki, whose +grand-dam was the famous Shahzadi. He desires above all things to +possess the shoe of his noble Kushki's grand-dam, and this shoe is in +your keeping.' Then, perhaps, the great men would consult together, and +might say to me, 'You have done well in recovering the Great Queen's +belt, and Faris ibn-Feyzul must be a truly worthy man; it is well that +he should receive a fitting reward for his valuable services; therefore +we ordain that the shoe of the mare Shahzadi shall be handed to you for +conveyance to the sheik.'" + +"That would indeed be a day of days for me, and for all the Aeniza," +said the sheik. "But, alas, it can never be more than a dream. For, if I +understand you rightly, the price of the shoe is that belt of gold." + +"Yes," I answered, "that is what I meant." + +"You cannot forget the wretched thing," said he, almost angrily. "Let +the world go on its way. Do not seek to destroy all that is good in it. +There are things which Allah has decreed shall be left alone; and if its +history has been handed down to us truly, this golden circlet is one of +them." + +"Sheik," I said, "you are a great man, and chief of an important branch +of a great tribe. Your men regard you with reverence and respect, and +your position has doubtless given you a vast knowledge of men and of the +affairs of the world. Yet you believe in superhuman and supernatural +occurrences; or you think that you believe in them. You think that I am +a magician, because I have been connected with certain events which had +results different from what you expected. You believe in the mysterious +powers of this Golden Girdle, because you have always heard wild stories +about it." + +As I concluded, I was astounded at my audacity in thus rating a Bedouin +sheik in his own country, but my object was to draw him out, and to +induce him to divulge what he knew of the Golden Girdle. I was aware +that I could not persuade him that I was not a magician, and I now began +to hope that he was superstitious enough to think that I could see +through him and everything else. I firmly believe that he had the idea +that there was something mysterious about me; otherwise I cannot account +for the fact that this man, the terror of all the neighbouring tribes, +should now, and on many other occasions, have allowed me to speak to +him, and even dictate to him in a manner such as I often did. + +Faris remained silent for a long while. I was afraid that I had insulted +him. I did not dare to break the silence, and in the black hours before +dawn this silence became oppressive. At last I summoned up courage, and +put the question-- + +"I trust, sheik," I said, "that I did not offend you by my open speech." + +"No, my son," he replied. And I knew that by thus addressing me, he bore +me no malice. + +"You townsmen," he went on, "and especially you Europeans, do not +understand the minds of the dwellers in the desert. Sedjur, after his +return from the Hakim's house in Baghdad, told me many things about you +and your curious ways. In the towns you may not have strange things +influencing your destinies, as we in the desert have always with us. +Perchance, you are protected from them by the soldiers and the watchmen. +In this manner your eyes are blinded, and you do not see such things as +we see." + +"Perhaps you are right, sheik," I replied, wishing to appease him. "But +tell me some of the strange things that this golden belt has done?" + +"Of myself," he replied, "I know nothing about it. All that I know and +believe was told to me by my father, who saw and was an actor in many of +the events. Other tales, as numerous almost as the stars in the +heavens, I have heard from time to time. Some of them may be true; +others are undoubtedly false. Of the long, long ago, when the belt was +worn by the living queen, I am ignorant. My knowledge is only of modern +times, when my father was a young man. Before I had arrived at years of +discretion the belt had been laid to rest again. I can just recollect my +father's return to camp with his prize of war, the beautiful young mare +Shahzadi, to whose daughter in later years was born my mare Kushki--and +she was born full twenty summers ago." + +"You never saw the belt, then," I asked. + +"Never," said the sheik, "but my father and other men with whom I was +acquainted had often handled it, and they were fond of describing its +magnificent workmanship--so much so that I have often thought that I +must have seen it myself." + +"What was it like?" I inquired, curious to know if his description would +agree with that furnished to me by my papers. + +"It was of pure gold," said Faris enthusiastically, "and wonderfully +fashioned. It represented on the outer side, as seen on the waist of +anyone wearing it, twelve life-like serpents intertwined in various +contortions. The flat head of each serpent was thick-set with rare gems, +and the body of each beast was composed of a thousand or more small +links, so that the belt was as flexible as a piece of cord. It was solid +and of great weight, and the fastening consisted of the heads of four of +the serpents, two on either side, with wide-opened jaws whose fangs +interlocked. Thus much I remember of what was told to me; and I remember +also that my father affirmed that no man fastened the belt round his +body with impunity. So great was the power contained in it, that the +wearer appeared instantly to become demented, to rave, and foam at the +mouth, and in some instances even to die before the belt could be +removed from his body. A party of the Khazail who first dug up the +thing suffered considerably in this respect, and perhaps it was +fortunate for them that when attacking a caravan of Persian pilgrims +returning from Mecca they were worsted, and in the fight lost their +treasured circlet. The Persians, shortly afterwards, perished to a man, +when the winds of the desert swept up, and buried them and their camels +in the hot sand. The belt was lost for a while, and forgotten. Then came +the day when some merchants of Hayil, on a journey to Baghdad, chanced +to come across the remains of the Persian caravan, and found the belt +lying half buried in the sand. The finder's claim to its possession was +disputed by his fellows, and in the altercation that followed, he, as +well as three friends who espoused his cause, were killed. The others, +deciding to sell the belt in Baghdad and divide the proceeds, went on +their way. They travelled by night, hoping thus to avoid the bands of +robbers by whom the road was infested, and they lost the direction, so +that they found themselves at length far to the south of Baghdad near to +the river Tigris. One night they slept in the great ruined hall of the +Kosroes at Ctesiphon, and while they slept a vast portion of the walls +gave way and fell, crushing all that remained of the party save two men +who fled in terror, but not before they had secured the golden belt. +They were almost immediately overtaken by robbers, who stripped them of +their clothes, took all their possessions, and decamped with everything, +including that girdle. All those things occurred when my father was +quite a young man, and when my father's father was sheik. I have said +enough to show you that there was a curse on the belt, and that all who +touched it paid the penalty--usually a severe one." + +"But, sheik," I said, "tell me more of these weird tales, which interest +me greatly. Had you been a servant of the great Harun-al-Rashid you +could not have learned to tell stories better. Come, the Shammar have +no intention of annoying us, so relate all that you know of the +mysterious workings of the belt until it disappeared for ever. What +became of the robbers who left the two merchants naked in the desert, +and what became of the merchants?" + +"Well, story-telling passes the dark hours pleasantly, and though I +would prefer to hear from you the doings of your own people in your +native land, I am your host and therefore your servant, who needs must +obey his master. What became of the merchants I cannot say, for no man +ever knew. Perhaps they perished from exposure to the scorching sun; +perhaps they died of hunger and thirst; or perhaps they fell an easy +prey to the wild beasts. But in what manner they met their death Allah +alone knows. Of the robbers I can tell you what was told to me. They +were Khazail, and strange as it may appear, there were among them some +men who had been of the party that dug up the belt and afterwards lost +it to the Persians. Now these men had been witnesses of the evil that +befell those of their tribesmen who had worn the belt--how some had +died, and some had for a time become mad--and they cautioned their +companions against having anything to do with it. After a long +discussion, they decided that they would bury it on the bank of the +river, send the chief of the party to Baghdad to interview a Jew dealer, +and endeavour to sell it. The Jew eventually returned with the chief, +examined the belt, and bought it for a thousand kerans, after which he +rolled it up carefully in his cloak and conveyed it home. Next day, he +repaired to the palace of the Governor-General and offered the belt for +sale for five thousand kerans; but the Governor-General refused to buy +it for so great a sum. That night the Jew's house was consumed by fire, +the Jew himself being burned to death, and nothing remained of the +contents of the house. + +"That the golden belt did not perish in the flames is certain, since it +appeared again after some little time; and many years afterwards a +slave-attendant of the palace harem stated that she had seen a +mysterious snake-girdle hanging therein. It may be that its presence +there accounted for the fact, which was well known at the time, that a +grievous sickness attacked the ladies of the harem and their children. +Many died, for there was nothing that would cure them. But of that +little ever came to light. + +"In the course of time the Governor-General, returning to Turkey, took +the road to Damascus, accompanied by a large following and a strong +escort. The news that so large a party was leaving Baghdad to cross the +desert soon got noised abroad among the tribes, but none were found +daring enough to risk an attack on it. A band of Shammar, however, +followed on the heels of the great caravan at a safe distance for some +days, watching their opportunity to waylay stragglers, and eventually +came up with two camels which had broken down and were being urged on by +a few men. The Shammar made short work of the men, and looted the +packages carried by the camels. They contained much valuable property, +and sewn up carefully in several silk _kaffiyas_ was found the Golden +Belt. Fearing to be followed, the robbers made off with their booty as +rapidly as possible, and did not stop until they had put many miles +between them and the caravan. Now it would seem, from what has been +related, that the silk covering which enclosed the belt deprived it of +its power of causing harm; for, it is on record that so long as it was +wrapped up, no man suffered any evil effects from touching it, and it +remained in the possession of the Shammar for some years. Those Khazail +who had first dug it up, and later on sold it to the Jew in Baghdad, +came to see it in the Shammar tents, and identified it as the same belt. +They warned the Shammar of its hidden power, but were derided. Other +tribes, hearing of the Shammar treasure, for which even a Baghdad Jew +had paid a thousand kerans, made friends with its owners, so that they +might inspect it. In this manner this offshoot of the Shammar made +alliances with many tribes who had hitherto been hostile to them, and +the Aeniza--too proud to approach their ancient enemies--were forsaken +by many of their old friends. + +"About this time my father's father died, and my father became Sheik of +the Jelas. When he addressed his people, he told them that their +hereditary foes, the Shammar, had grown strong because of their +ownership of the serpents of gold, and he urged upon them the necessity +of breaking the power of the Shammar, by attacking the small Salama +tribe who held the belt, and seizing their treasure. It was my father +himself who told me of this, so I know it to be true. He picked thirty +of his best fighting men, rode all night, and attacked the Salama's camp +at dawn. They resisted bravely, and a fierce fight ensued, but so sudden +had been the onslaught, that the victory was easy. In those days, the +Jelas neither gave nor expected quarter, and though they lost several +men, they utterly destroyed the whole family of the Shammar Salama +occupying these tents, with the exception of the sheik, +Jedaan-ibn-Mirshid, and his spear-bearer, who, leaping to their horses, +fled away. The pursuit was immediately taken up. Jedaan's mare cast a +shoe, which caused her to stumble and fall, and my father, riding up, +slew his enemy with his own hand--capturing the priceless Shahzadi, who, +as you know, was none other than the grand-dam of dear Kushki." + +"But how," I asked, "did Shahzadi's shoe become the talisman of the +Muntafik?" + +"Ah, that," said the sheik, "is a story for another time." + +"And so," I said, "your people secured the Golden Girdle." + +"No," replied Faris. "Do you not remember what was written in the paper +which you read to me? Jedaan's spear-bearer escaped in the confusion +attending the combat between my father and the Salama sheik; and, as was +discovered later on, he carried the belt with him. What happened to him +and the belt was only learned many years afterwards. He fled for refuge +to the abode of a seer with whom many of the Bedouin tribes were on +friendly terms, and whom they were in the habit of consulting. This seer +dwelt alone in an underground chamber amongst the ruins of a town named +Katib, at no great distance from Meshed Ali, and he received the refugee +kindly, hiding him in his chamber for several days. When he heard the +tale that he had to tell, and saw that he had with him the Golden Belt, +he was much troubled; for he was convinced that, since the Shammar had +worn the belt round his waist, he would either die before long or become +mad. The seer determined to do what he could to save his guest, and +after going through various ceremonies, which we people do not +understand, he affirmed that he had held converse with the spirit of the +dead Queen, who had told him that if the man proceeded to the ruins of +Babil and buried the belt in the spot from which it had been dug up, so +that no man should ever be able to find it again, and if he afterwards +went and bathed in the Euphrates river, then no further harm should come +to him. The Shammar, now beginning to feel ill, said that he was willing +to obey any command that the seer should give him, but that it was +impossible for him to discover the spot where he should bury the belt. +This his friend assured him would be simple, since the spirit of the +Great Queen could be procured to lend assistance. The Shammar late that +night was given a potent draught; and the seer, after lengthy +incantations, declared that the spirit had entered into him, and that he +could conduct his guest to the very spot. So the two, taking the belt, +proceeded to the ruins of Babil, and there buried the thing. Then the +seer said that the spirit of the Queen required that a great fire +should be lighted over the burial-place, as a signal to the gods that +the Golden Belt was once again at rest. The bushes grew dense all +around; to fire them was a simple matter; and the wind blew the flames +till the fire spread far and wide. This done, the seer commanded the +Shammar to ride with all speed to the river, and there bathe. The +serpents, however, had already eaten into the flesh of the man, and he +was no longer sane. He reached the river bank at dawn, and there, after +a few hours, his body was found impaled on his own spear. Such was the +end of the Golden Belt, and of the last man who wore it. That it +happened as I have told you I am certain, as I had it from the very lips +of that self-same seer." + +"Then you knew him yourself," I exclaimed, in astonishment. + +"Certainly," replied the sheik. + +"How long ago did he die?" I asked. + +"He still lives," said the sheik. "He is an old man, but many believe +that he will never die." + +The day was already dawning as Faris concluded his strange story, and +the mares were being collected together to continue the journey to the +sheik's headquarters, as it was not considered safe to leave them at +this outlying grazing ground. I thanked my host for having taken the +trouble to talk at such length for my entertainment, but he impressed on +me that his main object had been to show me how useless it was for me to +think of endeavouring to find the Golden Girdle. As a matter of fact, +the end of his story had quite the opposite effect; for the knowledge +that the seer was still in the land of the living gave me a ray of +hope. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE FIRE OF THE GODS. + + +"Well," said Edwards, after I had given him the sheik's account of the +mysterious girdle, "what is your programme now? We cannot with any +respectability go on sponging off Faris much longer. Besides, I am not a +free man like yourself; I only obtained a month's leave, and three weeks +of it have already gone. In fact, I am beginning to be nervous about the +prospects of my being able to reach Baghdad before my leave is up." + +"Never mind about your leave," I replied. "Forget the wretched fact that +you are tied down to time. Think of the honour and the glory of running +the Golden Girdle to earth. We are on the scent, man. It is breast high. +With any luck, we shall kill in the open. So take a bit more leave, and +risk it." + +Edwards laughed. + +"All right," he said, at last, "I suppose I cannot help myself. But I +was beginning to have visions of being able to slip off with this money +belt of yours, which I think is more likely to be useful than the other +golden one that you are worrying about." + +He took off the belt and threw it across the tent to me; as I caught it, +some money dropped out of the pockets; and in picking up the gold coins, +I noticed that two of them were not English sovereigns, but 10-mark +pieces. + +"That is curious," I remarked; "I wonder where these came from. I am +perfectly certain my gold was all English. I suppose the thief had found +a German wandering about the desert at some time or other." + +I then examined all the pockets carefully, and found all my own money +where it had always been; but there were two pockets at the back which I +had not used, and in these I discovered, to my astonishment, eight more +10-mark pieces, and a sheet of paper on which something was written in +German. + +"Can you read German?" I asked. + +"Yes, a bit," said Edwards. + +"Then come along," said I, "and let us see what it is all about." + +Edwards took the scrap of paper, looked at it for a second, then gasped. + +"You have been properly done. Listen to this:" + + "To the merchant of Baghdad who shall be nameless. This to acquaint + you of my success. The bearer will hand you the Serpent Belt of the + Great Queen. On receipt of it, examine it thoroughly, and having + assured yourself that it is genuine, pay the Arab 5000 kerans. Pack + the belt carefully in a box of dates, and proceed with it + immediately on the steamer to Bussorah. I send the Serpents to you, + so that the sheik may be paid his money, and because I fear that I + may be robbed of it if I keep the belt on my person. Your own + reward as agreed upon you can deduct from my account. A thousand + thanks for your assistance, from your devoted friend whose name you + know." + +"Is that all?" I asked. + +"Every word," replied Edwards. "Isn't it enough?" + +"I should have liked a date," said I. + +"There isn't one," said Edwards; "but it has not been written long. You +can see that by the pencil writing." + +I looked at the paper again. There was no doubt that someone else had +found my treasure, and had thus anticipated me. Then it suddenly +occurred to me that the man who was carrying this note had been killed; +that the note had never been delivered, and that consequently the Golden +Girdle had never been handed over to the nameless Baghdad merchant. +Still, the fact remained that, to all appearances, the girdle had been +dug up by a European--German, Swiss, Austrian, or some other--and was +undoubtedly above ground. I had lost it, that was certain; for, if +another European had become possessed of it, he had just as much right +to it as I should have had if I had been fortunate enough to find it. I +was bitterly disappointed; and Edwards, who hitherto had rather scoffed +at my enthusiasm, was even more angry at the turn of events than I was. +We held a long consultation as to what we should do, and we came to the +conclusion that we were powerless to do anything. It was evident from +the note that my rival knew the value of his find as well as I did, +otherwise he would not be paying away large sums of money for it. +Therefore it would be useless to try and find him and offer to buy it. I +decided to take Sheik Faris into my confidence and ask his advice; so I +went off to his tent, and told him about the note. At first he laughed +at the whole thing, saying that it was absurd to believe that anyone had +been able to find the girdle. + +"When I slew Abbas-ibn-Rashid the other day," he said calmly, "I took +care to search his body carefully. He certainly was not in possession of +the Golden Belt of Serpents, or it would now be with me." + +"Perhaps," I suggested, "some other member of the party had it, and rode +away with it." + +"I cannot believe," said the sheik, "that anyone has found it. Still, +now that I reflect, there was that stranger--Indian, Syrian, or +whatsoever he was--who, as I told you, fled in such haste from the +field. Can it be possible that he was escaping with the serpent belt? +Can he be the writer of that note?" + +I saw it all. Undoubtedly the foreigner, aided by this party of +Shammar, had succeeded in finding the girdle, and the dead man had been +entrusted with it to convey to the Baghdad merchant. When Faris and his +men appeared on the scene, the foreigner probably took the girdle and +rode off out of harm's way. This seemed to me a very obvious solution of +the problem, but when I put it before Faris, he shook his head. + +"If," he said, after a pause, "I could believe that that was really so, +I would gather every Jelas horseman, and I would hunt down that Shammar +family until I found the stranger and the girdle. I would destroy the +whole gang, and would lay the girdle at your feet." + +"And thereby become entitled," I replied, with a laugh, "to the shoe +once worn by the renowned Shahzadi." + +The sheik smiled and rubbed his hands together with delight. + +"No, sheik," said I, "I would never accept the girdle obtained in such a +manner. If another man has found it, and has lawfully become its owner, +I should honour him in that he had succeeded where I had failed. To take +from him what was his own by right would be theft." + +At this my host was somewhat abashed, though he explained that in the +desert might was right, and that what a man could not keep he must lose. + +"But," said he, "my curiosity is now as great as your own, and I will +satisfy it. There is one who can tell me truly if the Great Queen's +Girdle has returned to curse the world." + +"Who is he?" I asked excitedly. + +"That same seer," said the sheik, "who was the last to see the serpent +belt. If anyone has disturbed its resting-place, the seer, by +communicating with the spirit of the Queen, will be able to discover all +that has occurred. You smile! You would mock at my belief in the powers +of the seer! Such incredulity we desert folk ascribe to town-bred +ignorance. We are aware that you of the towns--and especially you +Ingleezee--know many things of which we have never so much as heard; +yet, I tell you, there are things in the desert which no townsman can +fathom. You are a strong man, and courageous, as I have seen with my own +eyes. Therefore, I make this proposal to you; that you shall leave the +Hakim here with Sedjur, and shall come with me to the abode of the seer, +to hear from his lips if aught hath disturbed that accursed girdle. I +warn you that the journey will be no easy one; two days and two nights +in the saddle, carrying our own food and water; always liable to be +attacked by roving Shammar, Muntafik, and Khazail; and only our two +selves to resist attack, or to trust to the speed of our horses." + +"Enough, sheik," I replied, "I will accompany you whenever you are ready +to make the journey." + +"It is well," said Faris. "I did not misjudge my man. We will have +supper, and start with the moon an hour later. But you cannot go in +those clothes of yours; the seer would be afraid of you. You shall wear +garments which Sedjur and I will lend you." + +Poor Edwards! I can see his face now. How he argued with me about my +madness in thinking of such a crack-brained expedition! But he argued in +vain, and when he saw that I was too obstinate to listen to him, he +changed his tone and did all he could to help me prepare for my ride, +dressing me up in my borrowed clothes, packing my light saddle-bags, and +insisting on stuffing my pockets with enough revolver ammunition to wipe +out half the Bedouins of the desert. I handed him over my money belt, +for safe keeping; gave him instructions about returning to Baghdad if I +failed to put in an appearance within a certain time; then, after +grasping his hand, I mounted my little horse, and rode off by the side +of the sheik. + +We followed no visible track, but my companion never hesitated. +Occasionally he looked up at the stars, but otherwise he sat motionless +in the saddle, forging ahead at a fair pace hour after hour. I kept +close on his heels, with my eyes intent on the blade of his spear, which +was visible high above his head. I did not dare to break the silence, as +I had been warned that at any moment we might run across Bedouins who +would probably prove enemies. Throughout that whole night, I may say, I +rode with my heart in my mouth, and with my hand on my revolver. When +the moon had sunk, the darkness was intense, and Faris slackened his +speed, and more than once dismounted, to place his ear to the ground and +listen. At dawn we halted on a rise, from which we could see the whole +country for many miles around, when the sheik told me to get an hour's +sleep while he watched; and I required no second bidding. On being +awakened, I found my companion preparing to continue the journey; and +after eating some dried dates and small cakes, we set out again, just as +the sun commenced to rise over the boundless plain. No incident occurred +to break the weariness of that day's ride; no human being, no beast, no +bird was visible at any time; but before us always lay the mirage of +distant water and the reflections of many buildings. Sometimes we halted +to rest the horses and to snatch a meal or a nap; but such halts were of +short duration, as the sheik insisted on pushing with all haste through +what he now explained was a waterless region. We had almost expended on +our horses and ourselves the water that we carried in our water-skins, +and it was, therefore, a relief, at sundown, to see before us a far +extending lake and marsh, which my friend assured me was no deceitful +mirage. Tired as I was, I fully appreciated the delightful change of +scene, as we rode through the scrub and green grass bordering the swamp, +flushing snipe and waterfowl at almost every step. + +"Are you sorry that you came?" asked the sheik, as we watered our +gallant little beasts. + +"No," I replied, "this alone is well worth it all. But, tell me, how far +have we yet to go? I confess to you that I feel that I am in very truth +a townsman, and not made of the same stuff as your horses and +yourselves." + +Faris smiled, and it was a pleasure to see his face relax, for +throughout our ride he had worn a hard set expression, with eyes ever +keen and restless. I knew, from the change, that he was no longer +anxious, and he apologised profusely for having taxed my powers of +endurance so highly. + +"The worst is over," he said. "Because of the water, it was advisable to +hurry. By midnight we shall have accomplished our journey." + +It wanted yet an hour of midnight when, having ridden for some miles +beyond the marsh, the moon showed us that we were entering extensive +ruins. After picking our way through the debris of stone and brickwork +for a considerable distance, the sheik stopped, and taking out some +cords, thrust his spear into the ground and fastened our horses to it. + +"Now listen," said he. "Twice will I call the owl, and once the jackal. +If the cry of the hyaena comes back in reply all is well, and we can +proceed." + +Then, raising both hands to his mouth, he imitated both shriek-owl and +jackal, the weird cries echoing again and again through the ruins. We +listened intently, but there was no reply. Again the owl and the jackal +called; and yet a third time. Then, after a short pause, there arose, +within a few yards of us, the unmistakable cry of the hyaena. + +"Good," said the sheik, "he has heard. Do you remain here, while I go +and interview him. It would not be wise to take you with me, for I must +first warn the old man to expect a stranger." + +So Faris disappeared into the darkness, and I sat on a heap of brickwork +anxiously awaiting his return. He may not have been absent long, though +it seemed that he was away for hours. I was dead tired, and more than +once I found myself dropping off to sleep, waking up suddenly each time +with a start. Then I began to think that I saw beasts crawling about +among the ruins; I slipped off my seat, and crouched as low as I was +able, with my finger on the trigger of my revolver, which I had drawn +ready for an emergency. Lions, I knew, were not uncommon in these parts, +and each moment I expected to be set upon by some hungry beast. +Gradually I worked myself up to the highest pitch of nervous excitement, +prepared to empty my revolver into the first moving object that became +visible. As I looked, I saw something crawling towards me; there was no +doubt about it. I raised my revolver, fingering the trigger, and nerving +myself for the shot, but the object had dropped behind a rock before I +could fire. A moment later, I heard the sheik's voice calling to me in +an almost inaudible whisper, and fearing that he would discover the +state of nervousness at which I had arrived, I hastily put away my +revolver, and answered him. + +"Quietly," he said, on creeping up to my side, "do not make a noise. +There is trouble, and other people are about. The seer is expecting +visitors, some of the ruffianly Shammar, of whom he is in great fear. It +is within an hour of the appointed time, and I have promised to watch, +and help him should he call on me to do so. Keep quiet now, and listen +with both ears." + +Faris lay flat on the ground with his ear close to it, whilst I sat +listening intently. The minutes passed, and no sound disturbed the +deathly silence. Suddenly, the sheik whispered to me that he could hear +their horses galloping towards us. Save the beating of my own heart, I +could hear nothing. + +"They have left their horses," said the sheik, "and are walking up to +the seer's abode. We will give them time to enter, and then we will +follow." + +In a few minutes Faris arose, and, bidding me keep close behind him, led +the way up a slight incline, and then down into what appeared to be a +deep hollow. In the feeble light I could just distinguish some roughly +cut steps, which with difficulty we descended. At the bottom, the sheik +took me by the wrist and guided me rapidly along a paved path ending in +a narrow gateway. Through this we passed, and entered a courtyard, at +the far side of which we could see a light streaming through the wide +cracks of a massive wooden door. On reaching the door, my companion +gripped my arm, and motioned me to halt. Through the cracks we could see +clearly all that went on in the chamber within. Several oil lamps burned +in little niches in the walls, which were white-washed and bare; from +the centre of the domed ceiling hung an iron lamp, containing half a +dozen lighted wicks; and another lamp hung over a doorway leading to an +inner chamber. Seated on a low couch against one of the walls was a tall +thin old man, clothed in a camel's-hair cloak, the hood of which +concealed the upper part of his face. Opposite to him sat three +stern-faced Bedouins, each with a spear in his hand and daggers +protruding from his waistband. High words were already in progress. + +"You agreed, Gat-tooth," said one of the Bedouins, "to sell it to us for +2000 kerans; my friends here are witnesses." + +"Yes," said another, "and you agreed to meet us at the grove outside +Babil, four days since, and deliver it to us." + +"I was ill," said the old man, "and unable to do so." + +"Know you," said the first Arab, "that your illness cost us the life of +our sheik, Abbas-ibn-Rashid, who was ever your friend?" + +"I know that he was killed," was the reply, "but he died as he would +have wished, and you must all die at one time or another." + +"That is indeed true both for you and for us," said the first speaker, +"but I would have you know that I am now sheik in my uncle's place, and +I have neither his generosity nor his kindness. I have sworn to avenge +his death, not only by slaying his murderer, Faris of the Jelas curs, +but also by demanding that you shall render up forthwith that for which +you would have received 2000 kerans had you kept to your agreement." + +"Fine words, Ahmed," replied the seer, quite unperturbed. "Yet pause +before you act foolishly. You and your men have come here with naked +spear points, which in itself is an insult to the goddess whom I serve. +You come to this sacred spot prepared for robbery of the basest +kind--robbery from an old man, unable to defend himself with weapons +made by human hands. Now, look you, I take these eight beads from my +rosary, and I shall let them fall one by one to the floor; when the +fourth bead drops you will know that my appeal has reached the gods whom +I serve; ere the sixth strikes the ground you must have gone out from +this chamber; for, the seventh is the bead of ruin and destruction, and +the eighth brings the avenging fire." + +What was about to happen I could not conjecture; the old seer, now +standing, broke the string of his rosary, and slowly counted out eight +beads. I held my breath as I watched him, and wondered if I were +dreaming. Faris laid his hand on my arm and held it as in a vice. Then +the seer, muttering a few words, stretched out his hand with a bead +between the finger and thumb. It dropped to the ground and, rebounding +from the bricks, rolled away. The three Bedouins looked at one another +and smiled; and Ahmed, rising, addressed the seer. + +"Let fall your beads," said he, "and invoke your gods to the utmost. We +know them not, and we curse them as vile impostors." + +The seer did not vouchsafe a reply, but holding out his hand, let fall a +second bead. A slight pause ensued, then the third bead dropped. It +seemed to me that the Bedouins now showed some signs of wavering; they +no longer smiled; and they shifted in their seats uneasily. The fourth +bead was already between finger and thumb, and, like the others, it fell +to the ground. Then the Bedouins rose, and I momentarily expected to +see them hurl themselves on the strange figure confronting them. But the +fifth bead had dropped before they moved, and as it struck the brick +floor, it broke in pieces, and, as I thought, gave out some sparks. +Whatever occurred was better seen by the Bedouins than by myself, and I +noticed that all three of them recoiled. As the sixth bead was raised by +the seer, I thought that I saw Ahmed clutch at his spear, but he and his +companions now seemed unable to move. The sparks this time were +unmistakable; and their effect on the Bedouins was to cause them to step +hurriedly back, as if in flight. It was, however, too late, for the +seventh bead left the seer's fingers immediately after the sixth; and +the eighth followed the seventh as rapidly. In place of dropping this +last one like the others, he hurled it with all his force at the very +feet of the Arabs. It struck the ground with a report like that of a +bomb, and instantly that portion of the floor seemed to open, and give +forth great tongues of flame, which leaped up to the roof, and filled +the whole chamber. It was a dreadful sight, and I could not restrain +myself from shrieking aloud at the horror of it all. + +"Fly," shouted Faris, clutching convulsively at my arm, "fly, before we +also perish." + +Great flames licked up the door in front of us, sweeping it away, then, +bursting into the air, shot up, and cast a lurid glare over the ruins. +By the light thus given, we were able to dash up the steps and through +the piles of broken masonry, out of the hollow, with all speed. At last, +when at a safe distance, we stopped, and turned to look back. The flames +still poured forth, but now spasmodically, and the smoke grew thicker +and blacker. Neither of us spoke, and from what I could see of his face, +my companion was as much puzzled at what had occurred as was I. Dawn was +approaching, and, as if afraid of the daylight, the flames died down, +though the black smoke continued to belch forth through the doorway. + +"Sheik," I said in a low voice, hardly daring to break the silence, +"what was it?" + +"As I have told you many times," he replied, "things happen in the +desert which no man can account for. Can you, with all your knowledge of +magic, say why fire suddenly issued from the ground and destroyed the +inmates of that chamber?" + +"I have no knowledge of magic," I said, "and the shock occasioned by +what I saw has left me without power to think of a reason for it." + +"Then I will tell you," said Faris, impressively. "The seer called on +his gods to bring fire and burn up his enemies, yet he as well as they +must have perished in the flames; for no man could have remained alive +in that chamber." + +I knew the uselessness of attempting to argue; neither at that moment +was I at all sure that the sheik's solution was not the correct one. So +I held my tongue, and sat and watched the smoke hurtling into the air, +until, before long, my eyes grew heavy, my head dropped forward, and I +sank into a deep sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +RASPUL, THE SEER. + + +I slept for hours, and should have continued to do so for many hours +longer, had not the sheik roused me. + +"It is past mid-day," said he, "and we must be thinking of doing +something. You have slept soundly, and should be refreshed. See, the +fire is almost out." + +Then the horrors of the past night came back to me; it had been no dream +after all. I looked towards the doorway in the hollow, and now only a +thin wreath of smoke was issuing from it. + +"Shall we ride back to camp?" I asked. + +"Not yet," replied Faris. "I must go down to the chamber and look. Will +you also come?" + +I hated the idea, but I felt that it would be cowardly to let the sheik +go alone; so we walked down together, and finding that the smoke had now +ceased, we peered through the doorway into the blackened chamber. A +thick grimy soot caked the walls and the stone ceiling, and the air was +laden with a foul smell, not unlike that of the boiling asphalt being +prepared for a London street. Hesitating to enter, we stood on the +threshold, not knowing that the flames might not burst out afresh; and +the remembrance of those long tongues of fire curling through the +doorway was sufficient to make us cautious. After a little, Faris took a +step forward, and shading his eyes with his hand, looked into the gloom +of the interior. I followed, but not without some misgivings. I looked +first at the spot where the seer had been standing when I saw the last +bead leave his hand. The couch from which he had risen had disappeared; +nothing remained but a handful of ashes on the floor. I gazed across at +the other side of the chamber, and when my eyes had become accustomed to +the dim light, I was able to see a large hole in the floor exactly where +I recollected to have seen the couch on which the three Bedouins had +been seated. Faris saw it at the same instant, and uttered an +exclamation of surprise. + +"Let us go carefully, and look at it," he said. + +We reached the edge, and found a great pit, how deep we were unable to +see. Pungent fumes still issued from it, and we were forced to draw +back. I turned to my companion for an explanation, and he dragged me out +of the chamber, the atmosphere of which was oppressive. + +"It was a bitumen well," said he, "and the seer purposely set it on fire +through the agency of his gods. I am as much astonished as yourself; +for, I have sat on that couch scores of times, never thinking that such +a thing was beneath me. Perhaps it was not always there. Perhaps it was +brought by the gods only when the seer invoked their aid. But little did +he think that in thus destroying his enemies, he would also bring his +own death." + +The sheik had hardly finished speaking before we heard a low wailing +chant coming from beyond the fatal chamber. Spellbound, we stood and +listened. Now the sound grew louder; now died away. Again it came clear +and strong. It was a strange unearthly crooning; and, had I been alone, +I should have fled from it. That I trembled I have no doubt, and Faris +saw my fear. + +"Courage, lad," he said, taking me by the arm. "It is someone in the +temple beyond. Come, let us go and see. Death only comes once, and our +fate has already been arranged for us. If we are to die to-day, then we +shall die. We cannot alter our fate." + +I made no reply, but nerving myself with a great effort, walked with him +through the chamber to the inner doorway. There was no door--whether it +had been destroyed by the fire, or whether there never had been one, I +cannot say. Beyond the doorway was a narrow bricked passage, with here +and there long slanting slits admitting the daylight. A steep flight of +steps led us to another stone doorway, on the lintel of which were +carved queer figures of beasts. Here we stood and listened. The chanting +still continued; and we moved on for a short distance along the +tunnel-like passage. Presently we found ourselves in a circular vaulted +room, with bare walls rising to a height of some fifteen feet before the +dome of the roof began. In the centre of the dome was a hole, a foot or +so in diameter, through which the sky was visible. Eight passages, +similar to that by which we had entered, radiated from the chamber, so +that its walls appeared like solid pillars supporting the roof. We +listened again, but no sound could we now hear. + +"Sheik," I whispered, fearing to speak aloud, "do you know which way to +take?" + +"No," he replied, "I know not this place. I have never before penetrated +it." + +"Then let us return by the way we came," I urged. + +"Courage, lad," said the sheik; "we will go on." + +The rebuke, uttered a second time, stung me, although I knew that it was +meant kindly. I had always thought that I possessed an ordinary amount +of courage, but it seemed now to have deserted me. + +"Well, which way shall we go?" I asked in desperation. + +"We will try this one," said Faris, moving to the nearest entrance on +his right. + +I followed him closely along the new passage, just able to see the way +by the glimmer of daylight falling through the occasional narrow +loopholes, which slanted upwards towards the heavens. That the walls +were thick and solid we could see from the depth of the loopholes--four +feet they must have been, at the least. For some thirty yards or so the +tunnel was straight; then it took a sudden turn to the left; then, after +a few yards, a sudden turn to the right; again to the left, and twice +more in succession to the left; after which we turned at right angles to +the right, and going for a short distance, found ourselves in another +circular chamber, alike in all respects to the first one. There was +again the hole in the vaulted roof, and there were the nine passages +leading out of it. + +I sighed audibly, and the sheik looked at me and laughed. + +"You are a magician," he said, "come, try your magic. Divine for us which +path we had better take." + +"I know no magic that could avail us in this accursed spot," I replied. +"Let us take the way that we came, and retrace our steps out of these +underground dungeons; or shall we cast lots as to the road we shall +follow?" + +"We will do that," said Faris. + +I took nine revolver cartridges out of my pouch, and, shaking them in my +hands, said that I would throw them on the floor; then we would enter +that passage whose entrance lay nearest to a cartridge. The sheik seemed +much impressed by this, imagining, no doubt, that I was working magic. +So, hurling the cartridges into the middle of the chamber, I watched +them roll away. One of them stopped quite close to an entrance, and the +sheik forthwith led the way into the tunnel. Our wanderings were much +the same as before, and had the same result, in that, after several +turns and twists, we arrived at another circular chamber, from which +nine passages radiated. + +The sheik was now beginning to lose his temper, and he cursed the man +who had designed the building that was causing us all this trouble. Then +he suddenly stepped forward, and stooping down, picked up something, +which he handed to me. That something was one of my own revolver +cartridges! + +"Do you understand?" asked the sheik. + +"I must have just dropped it," I replied. + +"No," said he, "it is one of those that you threw on the ground. We have +returned to the chamber from which we set out. These tunnels have made +fools of us. Shall we leave them, and abandon our search?" + +"Yes," I said eagerly, "it is the best thing we can do, for I see that +you are right; we certainly have come back twice to the same place." + +But now arose a difficulty; there was no difference in appearance +between the entrance to one tunnel and that to another. Nine of them +confronted us. We knew which one we had just issued from, but we knew +nothing else. We walked round the chamber and examined each passage, but +found no clue. My heart sank, for I observed that the scanty light which +came into the dungeon was rapidly growing less, and that the day, in the +outside world, was evidently fast drawing to a close. Faris, though +annoyed at being outwitted, was still cheerful--and his cheerfulness +irritated me. + +"Come, magician, cast lots again," said he. "Maybe this time they will +avail us better. The nearest cartridge to the tunnel which shall bring +us freedom. Throw the nine." + +Again I threw the cartridges, and, as before, we wandered through a +passage, now almost dark, expecting each moment to reach the flight of +steps by which we had descended some hours before. We were, however, +doomed to disappointment. The passage turned and twisted, and eventually +brought us back to the prison chamber, with its high walls and its domed +roof. + +It was now so dark that we could barely see the entrances to the various +passages; there seemed to be nothing for it but to spend the night where +we were and again attack the tunnels in the daylight. I, myself, was +dejected, dead tired, hungry, and thirsty; perhaps, I thought, we should +never get out of the place, but wander about until we died of hunger and +thirst. Faris, however, was quite hopeful. + +"We will sleep here in comfort," he said, "like true townsmen, with a +roof over our heads. There is no water, certainly, but I have some dried +dates in my pocket, and they will sustain us. When daylight returns, we +will try each passage in turn, until we find that one which leads to the +steps." + +"Could not we break through the wall," I asked, "and so escape?" + +"The walls are thick and firmly cemented, as you must have noticed," he +replied. "Save my knife, we have no instruments with which to pick out +the bricks. Still, if, when the light comes, we fail to find the passage +that we want, then will we attack the walls. Come, here are some dates, +eat and be joyful; after which we will sleep and have pleasant dreams. +Then to-morrow we will gallop our little horses across the desert. Poor +beasts, they must be tired of waiting for us." + +All light soon left the chamber, and through the opening in the roof we +could see the stars mocking at us. From each of the nine tunnels the +chill air appeared to pour in upon us, so that, for warmth, we sat close +together, with our backs against the portion of wall which separated one +passage from the next. In this position, in absolute darkness, we ate +our hard, dried dates, and tried to sleep. Whether or not the sheik and +I actually slept I am not certain. I think that I, at any rate, must +have done so, because I have no recollection of hearing or seeing +anything until I felt the sheik's great horny hand gripping my thigh, +and I became aware that something was happening. A light was streaming +into the chamber, and, as I looked, I saw the wall between two tunnels +exactly opposite to us gradually opening like a hinged door. The portion +of wall was, in fact, an actual door, and when it had opened wide, I +could see behind it a narrow passage, lighted with small lamps. In the +doorway there stood what appeared to me to be an immensely tall naked +figure, and so thin that it might have been the representation of a +living skeleton. The head and face were streaked with paint, so that +they resembled a fleshless skull, and the ribs and other bones of the +body were also painted to look like the outline of a skeleton. For a +second it hesitated on the threshold, with one arm stretched out towards +us; then slowly stepping into the chamber, it closed the door, and thus +left us again in darkness. + +Neither of us spoke. I, personally, imagined that what I had seen was +merely in a dream; but I was wide awake, and could clearly hear my +companion breathing. The spectre, or whatever it was, was shuffling +about in front of us, and I expected each moment to feel the touch of +ghostly hands. Then in a deep sepulchral voice came the words:-- + +"Strangers are here within the sacred precincts. Let them account for +themselves, ere the fire comes to destroy them." + +"We are not willingly here," answered the sheik, fearlessly. "We are +lost, and if you will guide us to the outside world, we will gladly +follow." + +"Who are ye who speak thus lightly?" inquired the spectre. + +"Faris-ibn-Feyzul," replied the sheik, "and a friend." + +Then we heard a click, and the wall-door opened, showing the strange +figure standing in the entrance to the lighted passage. The outstretched +arm pointed down the passage, and presently the figure turned and +motioned to us to follow. + +"Come," whispered Faris to me, "we will see what it means, even though +it be Death that is enticing us on." + +So we started on our new and fearful journey, being led, as it seemed to +me, to execution. The passage was not of great length, and it ended +suddenly in a blank wall. There was again a clicking sound, and a +portion of the wall swung back to allow us to pass through, and what a +sight met our gaze! + +We entered an octagonal-shaped temple, evidently of a most ancient date, +with walls of glazed bricks of various colours and arranged in strange +patterns. All around was a species of colonnade, supported by carved +pillars, standing on the heads of winged bulls, and in the alcoves of +the colonnade were long stone benches. Numerous small lamps illuminated +the interior, and in the centre was a black wooden altar, with, +immediately above it, an opening in the roof. Even at such a moment as +this I could not help thinking what my uncle would give to see this +magnificent specimen of a Babylonian temple; and I wondered how it had +happened that all the scientific excavators had failed to discover these +extraordinary and interesting remains. Such thoughts as these, however, +did not occupy my mind for long, for the stern reality of the present +soon drove away all musings on the past. + +As soon as the door had shut to with the uncanny click, the sound of +which was beginning to be familiar, the ghost-man turned and faced us. +My hand involuntarily moved towards my revolver; for I had made up my +mind that, whatever line the sheik might take, I would defend myself in +the event of attack. The figure saw my intention. + +"Fear not," said he, in a soft voice, "you are my guests here, in the +Temple, and are under the protection of the gods. Faris, it is I, Raspul +the Seer, who welcome you. When I heard you in the outer chamber, I was +offering a sacrifice to the gods who have recently befriended me. It is +a great occasion, and before attending to your wants, I must finish the +ceremony required of me." + +The sheik's face was a study of utter bewilderment. He looked at our +strange host, but said nothing. Neither had he time to do so; for the +seer abruptly left us, and began his devotions, while we sank on to a +bench in the nearest alcove. The air of the temple and its surroundings +was heavy with intoxicating perfumes, which appeared to mount to one's +brain; and I noticed that Faris more than once put his hand to his +forehead, as if feeling their effects. As to myself, I found it +difficult to realise that I was not dreaming. But that things happened +as I am about to relate I firmly believe; for I afterwards +cross-questioned Faris carefully, and what he described that he saw +agreed exactly with what I am convinced that I saw, and he could have +had no object in deceiving me. Yet, I have often thought that both of us +must have been under some extraordinary influence, which, for the time +being, at any rate, warped our intellects, and caused us to see, or to +imagine that we saw, things which in more sober moments we should have +ridiculed. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +IN THE TEMPLE OF SOPHANA. + + +One by one the lamps that flickered in the temple were extinguished by +the seer, who left burning only those two which hung on either side of +the altar. Then Raspul stood before the altar, with arms upraised, and +head thrown back so as to look through the roof-hole, apparently wrapped +in meditation. His lips moved rapidly, and at times his whole body +became convulsed. Finally, he bowed before the altar, and threw dust on +his head. + +As we watched, we saw the weird figure rise up and walk slowly across +the pavement to a small door, through which it passed, and disappeared +for a while. When the seer entered the temple again, he was a changed +man. He was no longer disguised in paint, but was clothed in a long +yellow silken robe. I now for the first time saw his face clearly. It +was thin and wan, with a parchment-like skin almost of the same colour +as his robe, and clean shaven--as was also the whole of his head. Such a +face I had never seen before, and I gazed on it in wonder. + +"Is this really the seer of whom you told me," I whispered to Faris, +"and the same that we thought had perished in the fire?" + +"Yes," he replied, "but do not speak, for fear of breaking the spell +which is upon him." + +So I remained silent, and watched intently the movements of the seer, +who was now busying himself around the massive wooden altar. From the +doorway he brought faggots, and piling them up, poured oil over them; +then he took a lighted wick from the hanging lamp, and set fire to the +pile on all sides. The burning sticks crackled, and the flames shot up +towards the hole in the roof, and we could see that the altar itself was +ablaze. Why should the man--or priest, as he evidently was--destroy his +own altar, I wondered. Could it be that the seer had become mad? Yet he +appeared to be perfectly calm, as, standing back from the heat of the +fire, he gazed on his handiwork. + +He was now praying earnestly, and at times stretched out his hands +towards the altar in supplication. At first only his lips moved, and no +sound came from them; but, presently, in his fervour, he began to speak +aloud, and then slowly but clearly came the words. + +"O Queen! Great Goddess-Queen! Think not that Raspul, thy slave, thy +worshipper, hath done aught to merit thy displeasure. Never had he any +intention of betraying his trust, and had not the fire come to help him, +he would have willingly died in the defence of the secret. He lied to +the tribesmen who sought the treasure, and he made false promises. For +such things, I, Raspul, humble myself before my Queen and the gods, and +seek their pardon. Manifest thyself, Immortal Sophana, and thus let thy +slave know that his deeds have not been misunderstood." + +As he spoke, the seer continuously flung handfuls of incense on to the +fire, and the flames streaked upwards in varied colours, while the +temple was filled with penetrating odours. The glare, the heat, and the +heavily-perfumed air made my head throb until I thought it would burst, +and the sheik, I noticed, was equally overcome. The altar was rapidly +being consumed; the flames had died down; curls of smoke ascended; while +the massive timbers, glowing red, began to crumble away and fall to the +ground. Then, suddenly the whole structure tottered and fell with a +crash, an immense volume of smoke leaping towards the roof-hole, and +filling every corner of the temple. Nearly blinded and half-suffocated, +I began to fear that the seer was attempting to destroy us in the same +way that we had seen him destroy his three Bedouin foes. + +"Let us escape," I said to Faris, as I jumped to my feet; "quick, before +we are smothered." + +"Lie down flat on the floor," he replied, "and keep quiet. The smoke +will, in the course of time, all pass through the hole." + +"Look!" he said presently, touching me on the arm. + +I raised myself from the floor, and turned my eyes towards the spot +where the altar had been. The smoke was clearing off; and, as it +cleared, I saw, by the dim light of the single lamp, two figures among +the pieces of charred wood. One was kneeling, and I recognised in it the +form of the seer. The other was standing, and it was the figure of a +woman. + +"O Goddess-Queen!" muttered the seer in a low tone, "I thank thee for +once again coming to me in my old age. It shall be as thou commandest. +It were better to destroy it for ever, than to permit it to be the cause +of further bloodshed. Maybe, its spirit shall be wafted to the palace +wherein thou now dwellest; and, Great Goddess, if it be thy pleasure, +permit the spirit of Raspul, thy slave, to pass, at the same time, into +thy service in the other world." + +The smoke had by this time completely cleared away, and the sheik and I, +eager to see the better, quietly rose from the ground, and stood behind +one of the pillars. I was now able to see the figure of the goddess +distinctly. I looked intently, and it seemed to me that what I saw was a +corpse, tightly swathed in grave-clothes. It stood motionless, and as +the face was turned away from us, we were unable to distinguish its +features. Once or twice I thought that I detected a slight quiver in the +body; but I was in a state of intense nervous excitement, and was +capable of imagining almost anything. Thus, behind the shelter of the +pillar, we stood looking at the strange pair, and anxiously awaiting +developments. There was now no sound; Raspul still knelt before the +goddess, who neither spoke nor moved; and the moments that passed seemed +to us to be endless. At length, the seer rose slowly from his knees, and +stood erect, his head bent forward, and his arms hanging by his side. +Then, turning in our direction, as if suddenly remembering our presence, +he spoke in a solemn, impressive voice which resounded through the whole +temple. + +"Faris-ibn-Feyzul and that other man," he said, "listen to the command +of the Great Goddess Sophana. When you leave this her temple, if you +ever leave it alive, you must banish from your minds aught that you have +witnessed herein. You will not move from the spot whereon you are now +standing until the goddess grants you permission to do so. Should you +disobey, then will the curse of the gods be upon you, and by their fires +shall you perish. These are the words of the Beloved of the Gods, that +Immortal Sophana, who during her sojourn in this world was Queen of the +Assyrians. I, Raspul, her slave, have said it." + +Having delivered himself of this warning, to which neither of us +replied, the seer turned again towards the goddess, and raising his robe +took from his waist a roll of silk. Sweeping clean a small space on the +floor, he laid the roll upon it, and then began to unwind fold after +fold of silk wrappings, and it was soon apparent that a belt was hidden +within. Have I lived another life, in another world? I kept saying to +myself, as I watched what was taking place. I had, perhaps, dreamed of +it; but certainly I had somewhere before seen it all clearly enough. I +knew exactly what was going to happen, and that which I expected did +actually happen. The last fold of silk was unwound, and there lay in +Raspul's hands the GOLDEN GIRDLE. I was not astonished, but the sight +of it made me shiver with excitement, until my teeth chattered, and so +close was I standing to the sheik that I could feel that he was in much +the same state as myself. Even he, the immovable Bedouin, was showing +emotion. + +"The Serpent Belt," he gasped out in an undertone. + +"Yes," I whispered in reply, "it is good to have lived even to have seen +it. But what will he do with it?" + +"Hush," said the sheik, "let us wait and see." + +We were not left long in suspense as to forthcoming events, for no +sooner did the seer expose the belt to view than, kissing it reverently, +he clasped it round the waist of his goddess. Then, kneeling once more +before her, he prayed aloud. + +"To the Immortal Goddess," he said, "I, her servant, return that which +in her worldly existence ever bore her to victory, and which, when she +was taken to rule over the gods, remained behind to become the curse of +the covetous inhabitants of the world. It was at thy command, Great +Goddess-Queen, that I caused the last man who ever saw it to re-inter it +in its abiding-place. It was at thy command that death afterwards came +to him. It was at thy command that I, Raspul the seer, recovered it, and +by none other than thyself, Sophana Great Goddess-Queen, was I appointed +its guardian. The time has now, doubtless, come when it is meet that I +should quit this world and pass into the service of the gods. For that +reason I willingly obey the behest of my mistress, who ordereth that, +through fire, the spirit of the Sacred Belt shall soar into the realms +of the Great Unknown." + +Much more he said, but he spoke in an undertone and we could only catch +a word here and there. I now feared the worst. He was evidently going to +destroy the Golden Girdle; and the thought that all my hopes of +obtaining it were about to be dashed to the ground made me forget +fatigue, hardship, fear, and everything else. I quietly drew my +revolver, hardly knowing what I intended to do, but Faris saw the +movement, and seized my wrist. + +"Fool," said he, "would you murder a priest in the presence of his +goddess, in her own temple? Tush! it were madness." + +I knew that it would be so; yet, was I to stand by and see the whole +object of my journey, the one thing that I imagined that I lived for, +destroyed before my very eyes? There was the Golden Girdle almost within +my grasp--barely twenty paces from me. I could see each serpent that +composed it clearly outlined on the white figure of the goddess. One +shot from my revolver would secure the treasure. But the sheik's grip +brought me to my senses and saved me from being a murderer. + +"Speak to him, then," I said, in a state of agitation. "Offer him a +price for the Serpent Belt." + +"It would be useless," answered Faris. "He is possessed, and cannot +control his actions. See, he is preparing the fire which is to consume +it." + +The seer had already brought cakes of bitumen and charcoal, and had +kindled a small but hot fire. With difficulty he placed a heavy iron +vessel over it, and then, blowing on it through a hollow bamboo, watched +the fuel ignite and grow red. Every now and then, he prostrated himself +before the goddess, and besought her to give heat to the fire, which, it +seemed to me, she must have done; for, before long the iron vessel began +to glow, and was soon red hot. That the end was near I realised; and as +Raspul, after examining the vessel carefully, moved towards the goddess, +my hand again sought my revolver--but only again to be arrested by my +companion. + +[Illustration: "HE PROSTRATED HIMSELF BEFORE THE GODDESS, AND BESOUGHT +HER TO GIVE HEAT TO THE FIRE"] + +Then Raspul knelt, and began to unclasp the belt, while I held my +breath. It was undone. The seer took it in his hands, turned it over, +and fondled it. Great beads of perspiration stood out on my forehead as +I saw the glitter of the golden serpents, which seemed to writhe and +twist about as if alive. Faris grew impatient and, to my horror, stamped +his foot on the ground. + +Whether Raspul and his goddess heard that stamp no man can say; but, as +if in response to it, there occurred the most fearful noise that has +ever fallen on my ears. With a terrific crash, huge portions of the roof +surrounding the hole rained down on the head of the unfortunate seer, +who must have been instantly killed. Enormous masses of masonry hurtled +on to the goddess, who, however, stood unmoved. At first, I imagined +that the wrath of the gods had overtaken Faris and myself for my +companion's thoughtless stamp, but why the faithful Raspul should have +suffered I could not understand. All this, and many other thoughts, +passed through my mind in the space of a second; for, no sooner did we +see the seer stricken down than we forgot all dread of the consequences +and rushed to his assistance. Yet, barely had we advanced a couple of +steps into the actual temple, before another portion of the roof fell, +and with it the lamp which provided the only light. Suddenly we heard a +chorus of voices above us; and, looking up at the great gap in the roof, +we could see that day was just dawning, and that a number of men were +peering down into the temple. + +"Stand quiet," said the sheik, softly. "Get your revolver ready, and we +will fall on them when they enter. By their speech I take them for some +of the twice-accursed Shammar." + +Then, by the scanty light coming through the hole, we saw a rope lowered +from above, and immediately a man descended to the ground. In another +second he gave a shout, and before we realised what was taking place, he +was swiftly hauled up again through the gaping roof. We waited for +others to descend, but no others came. Presently, we heard a wild shout +of exultation, and the sounds of many feet hurrying over the roof. Then +all was quiet. + +"What is it that has happened?" I asked the sheik, when I could find my +tongue. + +"Allah alone knows," said he. "It may be that the Shammar came to avenge +their three friends whom the seer caused to perish by fire. They are +satisfied, and have gone. But, come, there is light enough now, let us +see if the unfortunate man is truly dead." + +Over the pile of fallen masonry, in the fast growing light, we clambered +to the spot where Raspul lay. There we found his body, with the life +crushed out of it by great heaps of stone and brickwork. Close by stood +the goddess, beautifully sculptured in white stone, but broken and +chipped by the avalanche that had recently descended on it. Faris looked +at the figure with a certain amount of reverence, then sat on some +stones in silence--a silence which I, for my part, felt no inclination +to break. I had passed through enough in the last few hours to desire +nothing but quiet, so, sinking on to the ground, I endeavoured to +collect my thoughts. + +After a while, the sheik suddenly turned to me, and looked steadily into +my face. + +"You are a great magician," he said, "to have caused all this to happen. +I told you once that your magic could not prevail against that of +Raspul. I spoke foolishly, for he lies dead before you." + +"Sheik," I replied, vehemently, "I have denied to you that I am a +magician. I swear it before my God, before Allah, and before the gods of +the heathen. I have had no hand in these terrible events. I possess no +power to work good or ill; and I beseech you to believe my words." + +"Then I will believe you," he replied, holding out his hand and grasping +mine; "for, under such circumstances as these, I doubt if any living man +would dare to speak otherwise than truly. But what is done is done, and +we cannot alter it. It was Raspul's fate to die thus, and from what we +heard him say, he knew that he was to die soon. His spirit has doubtless +gone whither he wished it to go, but he cannot have taken the Golden +Serpents with him. That will be your reward for all that you have passed +through." + +It seemed to me that there would be something of sacrilege in taking the +belt from the hands of the dead seer, lying at the feet of the image of +his goddess. I did not like the idea of it--in fact my heart failed me. +I argued with myself on the folly of neglecting the opportunity now that +it had come; but the longer I reflected the less inclined did I feel to +have anything to do with the mysterious girdle. I brought to mind all +that the sheik had told me of its strange history, and I remembered that +so long as it remained wound round with silk it was harmless. Here with +my own eyes I had seen a dire calamity follow the unwinding of the silk +wrappings, and the exposure of the shining metal. Superstition had +seized hold of me, and I dreaded to touch the thing. I confessed my +misgivings to Faris, and I saw him smile. + +"You are a Christian," he said, "yet you fear the wrath of the gods of +the heathen! I myself will take the serpent belt, and if evil befalls me +then I shall count it my fate. I do not want the belt, nor the money +that it is worth, but if I can but obtain the shoe of Shahzadi, as a +reward for sending it to the big house of which you spoke, then shall I +go down to my grave in happiness." + +He stepped across to the pile of rubbish under which Raspul was almost +buried, and I felt impelled to follow. We looked on the ground among the +debris, but could not see the object of our search. Removing the stones +and bricks from the body of the seer, we placed it gently on a bench in +one of the alcoves. The belt was not in his hand, as we imagined that it +would have been; neither could we discover it anywhere near the spot +where he had fallen. I became as excited as did the sheik, and together +we removed the stones, and hunted everywhere for the lost treasure. At +last we desisted, and looked at one another in bewilderment. + +The Golden Girdle had disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A DASH FOR FREEDOM. + + +"Possibly," I suggested, "the unfortunate seer flung the belt into the +cauldron as he fell, and it was melted." + +"No," said the sheik, "that he did not do. I saw the serpents glittering +in his hand when he was on the ground. Besides, look, there is no melted +gold in the cauldron." + +That was certainly true; for, though the great iron vessel had been +overturned, there was no sign of gold upon it, or anywhere on the ground +about it. + +Suddenly leaping to his feet, Faris swore a fearful oath. + +"Fools that we have been!" he almost shrieked in his rage. "Fools, ten +thousand times fools! That Shammar devil with the rope came to steal it, +and he carried it off. I see it all now; and we let him escape! To think +that I, Faris-ibn-Feyzul, should have been outwitted thus by my enemies! +I swear by yonder corpse," he continued, solemnly extending his hands, +"that I will avenge the death of Raspul; that, so long as my life +continues, I will war against the Shammar scoundrels who have done this +thing. I will pursue them to the uttermost ends of the earth, though it +may cost me my own life, and though it may cost my tribe the lives of +all the fighting men. I have sworn it, and may the curse of the Golden +Serpents, which is the curse of Sophana, the Great Queen, again harry +the Shammar, as it did of yore." + +The man's wrath was terrible to witness. I did my best to calm him; for, +in reality, the disappearance of the girdle was rather a relief to me +than otherwise; and, after a while, he became more reasonable, and +suggested that I must be hungry. Under the circumstances it was a +somewhat prosaic suggestion; but it was certainly a fortunate one, in +that it recalled both of us to our senses. More dried dates furnished us +with a meal; and, to our joy, we found, standing in a corner of the +temple, some pots of water, of which we drank greedily. To sleep, or +even rest, was out of the question, for neither of us wished to remain +longer than necessary on the spot. How to get out of it was our next +thought, and we simultaneously decided that our only possible way of +escape would be by the hole in the roof. The idea of again attempting to +enter the maze of tunnelled passages we never for a moment entertained; +and we at once set about to discover a means by which we might reach the +opening above us. The height of the centre of the dome was at least +fifteen feet from the ground. We searched for a ladder, but could find +none; we sought in vain for wood and cords out of which we might +improvise one; and after each fruitless search I became more and more +dejected. Things had been bad enough before; but now I saw before me a +lengthy incarceration in this temple prison, if not even death by +starvation. Yet, the sheik's courage never left him. He was impatient, +certainly, at not being able to pursue his enemies forthwith; but he did +not appear to think for a moment that there was any great difficulty in +our way to freedom. + +"Well," I asked at last, "what do you propose that we shall do?" + +"Build a tower," replied Faris, laughing, "like that of the Birs +Nimroud, until we reach the outer world. Then for our poor little +horses; a long gallop home to our tents; and, before many days, with +spear and sword against the Shammar." + +I caught the sheik's enthusiasm when I realised that his plan was +feasible; and we both set to work with a will to collect and arrange +carefully the blocks of stone and brickwork that lay scattered about. +The goddess, we found, was firmly fixed in the ground, so around the +figure we formed the foundation of our tower, and before long we had +built up to the level of her head and had completely concealed her. Each +of us in turn, like children, climbed to the top of the loose pile to +see how high we were from the ground, and then continued to add stone +after stone to the fast-growing heap. Occasionally we were delayed by a +sudden collapse at the bottom; but we built up again rapidly, and at +length came the time when, standing upright, I was able to place my +fingers on the edge of the broken roof. It was a glorious moment, and I +could almost sniff the desert air outside. The thought of being once +more free sent a thrill through me, and I remembered a certain gymnastic +feat at which I had excelled when at school. It occurred to me that I +was confronted with the identical thing, the only difference being that +in place of having to pull myself up over the edge of, and on to, a +smooth wooden platform, I now had before me a rough, jagged edge of +brickwork. It was worth the attempt, and I tried it. + +Firmly, with both hands, I gripped the edge, and slowly I let my weight +hang on my hands, when, horror of horrors, an immense portion of roof +broke off, and fell with a crash to the ground. At the same moment I +lost my balance, and though, fortunately, I kept my feet, my descent was +so unpremeditated that I brought down half our loosely-built structure +on my heels. Faris, standing at a little distance, could not make up his +mind whether to laugh or be angry. Of one thing, however, both of us now +became aware: it was improbable that the roof of the dome would support +our weight, so loosened had the materials composing it become by the +rough treatment it had received at the hands of the Shammar. Still, +there remained the fact that we had heard people walking about on it +with impunity, and this gave us hope; moreover, I had brought down such +a huge sheet of the roof, that it was now broken away in one part almost +to the wall that supported it. We soon made up our minds, therefore, +that our tower would have to be built over again, and closer in to the +side wall, so that, by breaking down another piece of the dome, we +should be able to climb out over the actual top of the wall. How we +laboured at the new tower! Hours passed before it had attained the +required height; but, at last we were able to again reach the edge of +the roof, when, with the greatest care, we pulled down the foot or two +that remained between it and the wall top. Then we added to the height +of our pile, until the happy moment came when the sheik, climbing slowly +upwards, was able to rest his elbows on the wall, and haul himself up. I +quickly followed; and there we two lay panting, and looking down with +joyous eyes on the surrounding ruins and the boundless desert in the +distance. + +If I had had my way, I should have remained there for hours, and rested; +but Faris was on his feet in a few minutes, and urged me to hurry after +him, so that we might get to our horses, and start on our journey. When +I come to think of it now, after a lapse of many months, I am astonished +at the absurd confidence that we had, that we should find our horses +where we had left them. I myself never gave the matter a thought; and if +the sheik had any misgivings, he did not disclose them. As can be +imagined, therefore, when we reached the spot where the hobbled horses +had been left, and found that they had disappeared, our hearts sank. The +sheik examined the ground in all directions, and soon broke it to me +that the Shammar had carried off our horses; he was able to trace their +footprints among those of the Shammar horses; and they had added insult +to injury by breaking his spear in pieces and taking away the blade. + +"I ought to have known that it would have been so," he said, almost in +despair. "The Shammar dogs have again made fools of us." + +"Never mind," I said, trying to treat the matter lightly; "we must +walk." + +"Walk!" he replied, derisively. "How think you we shall walk through +that waterless waste, when even to ride through it is courting death?" + +"Perhaps," I suggested, "Sedjur, finding us gone so long, will come to +meet us." + +"He may do so," said the sheik hopefully "In any case, we may as well +die in the desert, as among these infernal ruins. So, come, let us +walk." + +I never in my life felt less inclined to start on a long tramp; and the +knowledge that we had no water and nothing to carry it in, and no better +food than a few dried dates, did not add to my spirits. However, I +pulled myself together, and stepped out behind Faris, whose swinging +pace was terrific. Towards sundown we approached the marsh through which +we had ridden two days before, and to our astonishment saw, on the far +side, a thin curl of smoke rising upwards. + +"Sedjur to the rescue," I said. + +The sheik smiled, and bade me remain where I was, while he went to +reconnoitre. On looking carefully, we could see that there were tents, +camels, horses, and a goodly number of men, and the spot which they had +selected for their encampment was close to the edge of the lake, a mile +or so from us. To approach them was easy, as the rushes of the marsh +grew almost up to the encampment. Divesting himself of his clothes, and +cutting some of the rushes, Faris quickly knotted them together in large +bunches, and tied them in wisps round his head and the upper part of his +body. Then he waded into deep water towards the edge of the rushes, and +concealing himself carefully, gradually worked his way round towards +the tents. As he said, there was little chance of our being noticed, as +no Bedouins would think of looking out for anyone on foot in such a +desolate and remote part of the desert. + +I sat on a tuft of rush grass, and watched the waterfowl taking their +evening flight, hopeful that relief was not far off, and expecting each +moment to hear a wild shout of welcome from across the water. I thought +of the delight of finding George Edwards, Sedjur, and others, waiting to +receive us, with fresh horses, good food, and a comfortable tent in +which to sleep in peace for hours. So I dreamed on, and nearly fell off +to sleep, but no shout came. Then, in an hour or so, the sheik returned, +and shattered all my hopes. He had crept up close to the tents, and had +discovered that the party evidently consisted of some important +personages, probably proceeding, from some interior town, on a +pilgrimage to Meshed Ali, or returning home, with a strong escort of a +tribe, the men of which he was unable to identify. + +"Suppose," I said, "we go boldly up to the encampment, tell the +strangers that we have lost our horses, and seek their hospitality. They +cannot refuse to befriend us." + +"It would be worse than folly," said the sheik. "For all I know, they +may be my bitterest foes. Besides, they would never be taken in by your +disguise, and would suspect us at once." + +"But," I argued, "I could tell them from the first that I was an +English traveller." + +"No," said the sheik, "it would not do. The risk would be too great I +have a better plan. I observed how their horses were fastened to +pickets; and where their water-skins lay ready filled. When it is dark, +and they have gone to rest, we will take two of the horses and some +water-skins, and proceed on our journey." + +I did not like his plan, and I told him so. + +"If we are caught," I said, "they will give us what we deserve as +horse-thieves." + +"Inshallah!" he replied; "what matter? As good a death as starvation, +and, at any rate, a quicker one. But, if you will follow my +instructions, we shall not be caught." + +"All right," I unwillingly acquiesced, "I will do whatever you wish." + +We waited for a couple of hours, and then moved through the rushes in +the direction of the encampment. The moon was in the first quarter, and +gave us a little light, thus enabling us, when we approached the tents, +to see how things were situated. The sheik pointed out to me the +position of the water-skins, and two outlying horses which he had +decided that we should seize. We were now in the lake itself, standing +almost up to our necks in water, and not more than ten yards from the +bank. About a hundred yards to our right front were the tents; between +us and them, lying on the edge of the lake, were the filled water-skins; +while fifty yards or so to our left front stood the two horses. Faris +now gave me my orders. I was to wade straight to the water-skins, secure +two of them, and make my way as stealthily as possible to the horses; +while he himself cut them loose, and waited for me. + +I at once started to carry out my instructions; reached the water-skins, +but was appalled by their weight. I was afraid to stand up and carry +them in the ordinary way; to crawl on the ground with a bulky skin in +each hand was out of the question. Fortunately, however, I had always +possessed a certain amount of ready resource, and I quickly took out my +knife, ripped my saturated cloak into strips, with which I secured a +skin loosely to either side of my waist. Then I began to crawl towards +the horses, and a toilsome operation it was; but it was successfully +accomplished, and in far less time than I had expected. Faris, too, had +played his part, and not only had he freed the horses, but he had +managed, moreover, to find saddles for them. + +"Quick," he said, seizing the two water-skins and flinging them across +his saddle, "mount and away." + +I required no second bidding, and I followed my fellow-robber, as he +forged ahead into the sandy desert skirting the lake. Hour after hour, +through the night did we keep going, and when, soon after dawn, the +sheik pulled up among some low sand-hills, and dismounted, we had put +many miles between ourselves and the former owners of our horses. Faris +was in better spirits than I had ever known him to be; he appeared to +have forgotten all our strange adventures, and to be living only in the +present--a free man in a free land; but even he, inured to endless +hardships, I soon discovered, was suffering from exhaustion. I inwardly +rejoiced when I observed it, for I myself was completely done up. All +our garments were wet through, and most of them in a filthy condition of +slimy mud; so we agreed unanimously that it would be quite safe to rest +for a time; and, taking off our clothes, we spread them out in the sun +to dry. + +We hobbled the horses, partook of a few hard dates and a mouthful of +water, and, stark naked, lay down on the slope of a hummocky sand-billow +to rest our wearied limbs. How delightful was the warmth of the sun to +my damp body! But how miserably tired and sleepy I felt! + +"A little sleep, sheik," I said, "would be a good thing." + +He made no reply, and looking at him, I found that he had forestalled my +suggestion, and was already breathing heavily. I roused myself to a +sense of duty; both of us must not sleep at the same time; I would watch +while he slept; and then my turn would come. I began to wonder how long +it would be before he woke up. I wondered why people wanted to sleep, +and I remember that I found it most difficult to find a solution for the +problem--so many things kept crowding into the argument. I was annoyed +with myself for not being able to work it out successfully; and then, +somehow or another, all my good intentions must have faded away, and +unwittingly I must have dropped off to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +ONLY HALF A CAPTURE. + + +I awoke suddenly with a start. People were talking. I rubbed my eyes and +looked. Was I dreaming, I wondered; for, within a couple of yards of me, +I saw Sedjur and George Edwards in Arab dress, sitting on their horses +and talking to the sheik. I jumped up to greet them, but I grew dizzy +and sank back again. Edwards dismounted and ran across to me. + +"What is the matter, old man?" he asked, taking my hand. + +"I am a bit done," I replied. + +"You are in for a bout of fever," he said, "and no wonder, from what I +have just heard from the sheik. But we will soon put you to rights. You +have been lying out in the sun here for some time, I expect, judging by +the blisters on your body. You had better get into your clothes again, +and have another snooze." + +I struggled into my dirty garments as best I could, and wished that I +had something cleaner to put on, but I had hardly finished dressing +before Faris and Sedjur rushed up to us in a state of excitement, +telling us that they could see a party of horsemen galloping towards us +from the direction of the lake. + +"They have followed our tracks," said the sheik to me, "and hope to +recover their horses. We must get away at once." + +I looked over the sand-hill nearest to me and could just make out a +small black mass some miles away. I got up and moved towards my horse, +but I was too feeble to mount. + +"I cannot manage it, George," I said, "I shall stop here, wait till they +arrive, and give myself up. You clear off with the others--I shall be +all right." + +"Likely!" replied Edwards, indignantly. + +Faris, seeing that something serious was the matter, came back to us, +and asked why we were not hurrying. + +"We are not coming," said Edwards; "he is too ill. You and Sedjur escape +while you have time." + +"No," replied the sheik, "we will stand here and fight." + +But Edwards and I besought him to go, and at last he consented. + +"We should have no chance against them," he said; "they are ten to one. +But Sedjur shall take their horse, and leave you his, when they will +find that you two have your own horses, and are not the thieves that +they are after." + +A hasty word of parting, and our two Bedouin friends were in the saddle +and away. For some reason, they did not take the direct route by which +Faris and I had ridden a few days before, and which Edwards and Sedjur +had followed, but struck off, half right, towards a low ridge. The +country was undulating, and, to our relief, in a few seconds we saw them +disappear from view. Then Edwards looked over our sand-hill, and told me +to prepare myself, as the band of horsemen were approaching; and in +another minute we were surrounded by some forty wild-looking Arabs, +armed with matchlocks and spears. I fully imagined that they would +finish us off, without inquiry; but the chief of the party motioned to +his men to stand back, and advanced towards us. Edwards stood up, and +greeted him. + +"Where are our horses?" demanded the chief. + +"Horses," said Edwards, "you appear to have many." + +"I speak," said the Bedouin, frowning, "of the two that you stole from +us in the night." + +"I have stolen no horses at any time from any man," replied Edwards, +with considerable force. "I and my friend here, who is sick with fever, +are Englishmen, travelling in the desert. We have only our own horses, +as you can see." + +The chief and his followers looked perplexed, and not a little surprised +at the sight of two foreigners. A long consultation then took place, +after which the chief, regarding us with evident suspicion, addressed us +again. + +"See, now, Ingleezee," he said, "last night two horses were stolen from +our camp. We have followed their footprints up to this point; and here +we find you, but with two other horses. We do not believe that even you +are able to change a horse's skin and shape. Tell me, from which +direction did you ride hither?" + +Edwards pointed out the direction. + +"I believe it," said the Arab, "for the hoof marks which brought us here +are certainly not those of your horses. Answer me yet again, did you +meet any Bedouins as you rode hither?" + +"Not a soul," replied Edwards, equivocating perhaps, but nevertheless +speaking the truth. + +While this cross-examination was going on, some of the party were +casting round and looking at the horses' footprints on the ground. I +soon saw that they were on the right scent, and one of them shouted to +the chief that he had found the marks of their two stolen horses. This +caused tremendous excitement, and a dozen horsemen were sent off in +pursuit, while the chief and the remainder looked after us. Then came +another surprise, when someone discovered that, besides the hoof marks +of our own two horses, there were also the marks of two other horses, +though apparently two or three days older, but all coming from the same +direction. + +"What abominably cunning brutes they are," I said to Edwards. + +"Yes," said he, "they will worm it all out of us before they have done. +But they will have their work cut out if they mean to overtake the +sheik and Sedjur, with the good half-hour's start that they had." + +We could see that this new discovery had upset their calculations +considerably, and presently the chief informed us that, though he did +not now suspect us of being implicated in the theft of the horses, we +must accompany him to the camp, in order that we should be properly +examined by his lord and master, the Governor of Adiba. Ill as I was, I +was compelled to mount my horse and ride with the party. As we started, +we found that two or three men had taken up the tracks left by the +horses which Faris and I had ridden on our journey to the seer. They had +not come across them on their way from the camp, as they lay a +considerable distance to one side, since Faris had taken a straight line +to the margin of the swamp, and the spot from which we had stolen the +horses was a mile or more to the east of it. + +We appeared to have hoodwinked the party most successfully, and the +chief discussed the situation with us quite affably. His views were +fairly reasonable, and he was convinced that he had fathomed the mystery +up to a certain point. He imagined that, two or three days before, two +horsemen had passed through the gap in the sand-hills, and had proceeded +to a point at the southern end of the lake. The footprints, he affirmed, +were not those of our horses, and our horses had evidently never gone +beyond the gap; neither had the other horses ever returned from the lake +to the gap. The men who had stolen the horses might have been those +whose horses' tracks were now being followed towards the lake; but what +he could not understand was why they should have discarded their own +horses and stolen the others. + +"Of course," he said, "there may be no connection whatever between the +two horsemen and the thieves, and that matter is of no real consequence. +We know where the scoundrels have gone, and our men will doubtless +catch them. Who they are is immaterial--so long as they suffer the +penalty of their crime." + +The only point of doubt seemed to be whether we were or were not in +league with the robbers, and that, the Arab said, was for his master, +the Governor, to decide. He himself felt certain of our innocence, and +thought it probable that the thieves had passed through the gap and +disappeared before we had reached it from the opposite direction. + +Eventually we came within sight of the encampment, and, from the +excitement that prevailed, it was apparently thought that the thieves +had been caught. Bitter was the disappointment when it was learned that +the stolen horses had not been recovered; and the Governor, who stood +waiting for us outside his large tent, vented his wrath on his +unfortunate captain before the latter could offer an explanation. When, +however, he had heard what the chief of the escort had to relate, the +great man changed his tone and ordered us to be taken away to a tent and +looked after, until such time as the two absent parties should return +and give an account of themselves. As it proved, the ride had not done +me much harm; I was wretchedly weak, but the fever had passed off, and I +was able to eat heartily of the supper which our friend the chief +provided for us. After my diet of dried dates, the steaming dish placed +before us was a positive feast, and neither before nor since have I ever +partaken of a meal with greater relish. + +How Edwards and I talked that night! I had to tell him all my +adventures, and answer a thousand questions; but, all through, I had the +feeling that he thought I was romancing, and he politely but firmly +refused to believe that I had really seen the Golden Girdle. + +"I am afraid, my dear boy," he said, "that was hallucination, produced +by your old friend's intoxicating perfumes." + +"All right," I replied, almost angrily, "you need not believe it unless +you like; but if we ever meet old Faris again, we will get him to give +his version." + +"I wonder," said Edwards, changing the conversation, "how we shall get +out of this hole. It seems to me that ever since we left Baghdad, we +have been in a perpetual state of jumping out of the frying-pan into the +fire. However," he concluded philosophically, "they say that everything +has an end, and I trust that our end may be peace." + +At an early hour next morning, the captain of the escort paid us a +visit, and brought us food. We discovered that he considered himself our +host, and he chatted with us in a most friendly way. He told us that +both parties of horsemen had returned; that those who had tracked the +two horses to the lake had come in early in the night, with the +information that the horses had passed through the swamp and had gone +straight on, so they had given up the search as not likely to lead to +any result. The other party, he said, after a fruitless pursuit of the +missing horses, had just come back. They stated that they had seen the +two thieves riding in the far distance, but all hope of overtaking them +had gone, and, their horses being exhausted, they had been forced to +abandon the chase. The Governor was very angry, because the stolen +horses were his own property, and what attitude he would adopt towards +ourselves was extremely doubtful. But this before long we would discover +for ourselves, as he had given orders that we should be brought before +him in an hour's time. + +"For my own part," added our friend, "I think he will order you to +proceed with him to Adiba. If you cannot satisfy him as to your +innocence, he will probably take your horses from you. But he will be +afraid to keep you at Adiba for any length of time; doubtless he will +give you asses and tell you to depart to Baghdad." + +Our interview passed off much more satisfactorily than we had +anticipated. Ali Khan, the governor, asked us endless questions as to +who we were, where we had been, and where we were going, and finally +gave his opinion that we knew nothing about the theft of the horses. He +upbraided us for our folly in wandering about the desert without an +escort, and he told us that we should remain as his guests until he +reached his home, when he would endeavour to send us with some caravan +to a place from which we should be able to return to Baghdad in safety. +We thanked him profusely, and, afraid of showing any disinclination to +accompany him, we agreed to accept his offer. We were soon on very good +terms with our new host, and, in the course of the conversation that +followed, I told him that Edwards was a great doctor. + +"If that be so," said the Governor, turning to Edwards, "when we reach +Adiba, you shall try your skill on my small son, whom none of my own +doctors are able to cure." + +"That will I certainly," replied Edwards enthusiastically. + +"Good," said the Governor, "and should you want for anything, ask for +it, and it shall be yours. We shall proceed on our journey in the +morning, and, if it please Allah, in about two weeks from now shall be +in the town." + +Edwards and I were overjoyed at our good fortune, for it seemed to us +that we were going to make a most interesting expedition under the most +favourable circumstances, and when we returned to our tent we solemnly +shook hands and congratulated ourselves. + +"We shall be back in Baghdad in no time," said Edwards. "I have already +overstayed my leave, but I daresay, when I turn up safe and sound, the +Consul-General will understand, and will put matters right." + +"You do not mean to say," said I, "that you propose rushing back to +Baghdad?" + +"As straight as a die," said he, "and jolly glad I shall be to get +there." + +"But what about our old friends, the sheik and Sedjur?" I asked. + +"Oh," said he, "I can find out what happened to them when I get back to +Baghdad. You surely do not suggest that we should continue to fool about +in the desert any longer?" + +"My dear boy," I said, "you can think of nothing but that wretched leave +of yours. Do, for goodness' sake, forget it. You are overdue now, and if +you start from Adiba the day after you get there, you will be weeks +late. In all probability, the authorities have killed us, buried us, and +put up memorial tablets to us by now. Much better let them go on +grieving a bit longer." + +Edwards looked at me and laughed. + +"You are the most extraordinary person that I have ever come across," +said he. "Here you are, a perfect wreck, and looking as if you had seen +a hundred ghosts in the last few days; yet you do not seem at all +anxious to get back to an ordinary life of peace and comfort." + +"You do not understand," I argued. "You have not been inspired by the +sight of the glittering serpents. Think, George, what it would be to get +hold of it, and ride into Baghdad with it!" + +"It would be tolerably nice," he replied, "to ride into Baghdad even +without it. Honestly, I do not much care which it is. I waive all claim +to carrying the Golden Girdle." + +"What a scoffer you are," I said. "You do not really believe in its +existence. For my part, I should not be a bit surprised if at this very +moment it was in the Jelas camp. Faris is as keen about it as I am, and +he would not waste any time in preparing for his raid on the Shammar. I +agree that we must go to Adiba now, but as soon as we leave the place, +we will make straight for our old quarters, see what the sheik has been +about, and find out if he has heard anything of the girdle." + +"All right," said Edwards, "I will see you through the business. You +shall have your way, and I will stick to you. But I beg of you not to +let me in for adventures such as you and Faris have just been indulging +in. My feeble brain would not stand that sort of thing." + +During the journey of the succeeding fortnight or more, we made friends +with all the members of the caravan, and George Edwards covered himself +with glory by looking after the ailments of the party. Fortunately, no +one had attempted to rifle his saddle-bags, and, when starting with +Sedjur on the ride to meet me, he had taken the precaution to bring with +him his travelling medicine-case and instruments. It was an uneventful +ride, through a barren and ugly country, and glad were we when, at last, +we came in sight of the walls of Adiba, and saw a body of horsemen +issuing out to greet their Governor. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RIVAL DOCTORS. + + +Our entry into Adiba much resembled the procession in the Lord Mayor's +Show. There were trumpeters and drummers, camelmen armed with +matchlocks, horsemen with spears, and foot soldiers carrying bludgeons, +knives, and a variety of weapons. Crowds of people lined the principal +thoroughfare, leading from the gateway by which we had entered to the +palace of the Governor--for it was dignified by the name of palace, +though in reality it was by no means a sumptuous dwelling. Edwards and I +rode on either side of the great man, and our presence created a +considerable amount of interest, since the news had already spread that +we were Englishmen, and that one of us was a famous doctor. Yet, I +noticed that there were faces in the crowd that did not look on us with +favour, which, as I said to myself, was only natural in a country +hitherto practically forbidden to Europeans. + +A separate apartment in the palace was allotted to us, and we were made +thoroughly comfortable, the floor being spread with rich Persian carpets +and hung with silken draperies; but the most delightful part of our +quarters was the flat roof, up to which a flight of steps led from the +corner of the room. The palace itself abutted on the fortified wall of +the town, and our room and roof-top formed a kind of bastion, surmounted +by a low parapet with loopholes. It had the advantage of seclusion, +since it was a little higher than the other buildings of the town; and +on the roof, during our stay in Adiba, we slept at night and enjoyed the +cool hours of the day. + +Hardly had we settled down than Edwards was summoned to visit the sick +child, and as, during our march, I had always assisted him in his +medical duties, I went with him. We were conducted, through several +apartments, to the women's quarters, where we found Ali Khan and his +chief wife, sitting by the side of a frail boy of about twelve years of +age. The mother was weeping bitterly, and begged us to do what we could +to save the life of her only son. Three grave-looking and aged native +physicians were also present, and were evidently none too well-pleased +at our interference, one of them even going so far as to remonstrate +with the Governor for having called in a foreigner and an unbeliever, an +act which he pronounced to be equivalent to lack of faith. + +"By the will of Allah," he said, "the child is sick; by the will of +Allah, he will either live or die." + +[Illustration "'BY THE WILL OF ALLAH,' HE SAID, 'THE CHILD IS SICK'"] + +"You speak with wisdom, O Sea of Learning," said Edwards quietly, "but +does the Prophet anywhere forbid the use of medicines for the relief of +a sufferer? If so, how comes it that you yourself practise medicine?" + +"I and my brethren," replied the other, with an obvious sneer, "are of +the True Faith, and though we may possess as great a knowledge of the +art of healing as even yourself, we do not take to ourselves any credit +for our cures. They are effected through Allah alone. The works of +infidels----" + +"Enough," shouted the Governor, cutting him short; "this is no place or +time for wrangling. These are my guests, and must be treated with due +respect." + +Edwards's rival bit his lip with rage at the rebuke, and with a sullen +gaze watched the "unbeliever" examining the little patient. This did not +take long, and after offering some consoling words to the parents, +Edwards said he would go and prepare some medicines for their child, +adding that, if his instructions were properly carried out, he saw no +reason why he should not eventually recover. The Governor and his wife +were overjoyed at the news, but the old Arab doctor merely shrugged his +shoulders, and remarked "if it be the will of Allah." + +"Well, what is the matter with the poor little chap?" I asked, as we +walked back to our room. + +"He is pretty bad," said Edwards. "High fever. Been hideously neglected, +I should say. I shall try antipyrine, and then pile in quinine for all I +am worth." + +"Those old native impostors mean to be nasty," I said. "The chief +villain would cut your throat as soon as look at you." + +"I believe he would," said Edwards, laughing, "and display very little +surgical skill in the operation." + +The medicine was soon prepared, and sent off by a servant, with +injunctions that he was to deliver it into the hands of the Governor or +his wife, and that it was to be administered at once. A little later, we +repaired to the Guest Hall, where a feast was to be given in our honour, +and where we were introduced to all the notables of the town. It was a +magnificent entertainment, and there was no lack of food, the principal +dishes consisting of camel's flesh, and sheep roasted whole. The Arab +physicians were there, and it seemed to me that they went out of their +way to make themselves affable, so I imagined that they had got over +their scruples concerning the infidel practitioner. Our old friend +Haroun, the captain of the Governor's escort, was also present, and he +told us that he was leaving Adiba in a few days, as he had to take his +men off on another expedition. Until then, we had thought that he and +his men were in the permanent service of Ali Khan, but now we gathered +that he was more or less of a free lance, and that he hired out himself +and his horsemen for the protection of caravans wishing to cross the +desert. + +The supper passed off pleasantly enough, and the guests eventually +dispersed, when, expressing many good wishes for the speedy recovery of +his son, we took leave of our host, and, accompanied by Haroun, made our +way to our room. At the door we found two of Haroun's men armed with +naked swords; and, on inquiring why they were there, we were informed +that the Governor had given orders for them to be posted, to prevent +anyone entering our apartment. Haroun came in with us, and closing the +door behind him, said that he wished to have a word with us in private. + +"Before long," he said, in a low voice, "you will desire to return to +Baghdad. Indeed the Governor dare not detain you here for any length of +time; for the news of your presence in the town will soon reach Majma +and Hayil, when the Governor will receive peremptory orders to send you +on your journey. The Amir of Hayil will not permit foreigners to sojourn +in Nejd; but, since he finds it to his advantage to keep on good terms +with the Turks, he will be afraid to lay violent hands on two Europeans. +Otherwise, so far as he himself is concerned, he would not hesitate to +have you put to death. Now, I myself make a living by safe-guarding +travellers in the desert; moreover, it is my desire to visit Baghdad, +where not only have I many friends, but also a brother who is a merchant +in the bazaar. For the protection afforded by my horsemen I will charge +but a small sum--only just sufficient for their maintenance. What say +you?" + +"What can we say," I replied, "except that to journey with you would be +a great joy to us. But you told us a little while ago that you were +shortly leaving Adiba on other business." + +"True," said Haroun, smiling, "but when I spoke I was counting on being +employed by yourselves. Shall we, then, fix a day for your departure?" + +"That is hardly possible," said Edwards, "for I have undertaken to treat +the sick child of our good host, as a return for his kindness to us, +and it may be many days before he recovers; it may, indeed, be many +weeks." + +"And you would remain here for so long?" asked Haroun. + +"If the Governor wishes," said Edwards. + +"But he will not wish it," said Haroun; "for, before the child can be +restored to health, Hayil will have ordered Majma to march against Adiba +and destroy it, for harbouring foreigners. The fear of Hayil is great." + +"Well," said I, "if you will give us a day or two to see how events turn +out, we shall be able to decide as to the future." + +"The future," said Haroun, with a sigh, "is known only to Allah. I +shall, however, remain here, in Adiba, for a space, in the hope of +journeying with you to Baghdad. But I would warn you that there are some +who, even now, are desirous of your speedy departure from the town." + +The next few days were full of interest, as well as of a certain amount +of excitement. Both Ali Khan and Haroun were keen sportsmen, and each +morning we rode out with the former's hawks in search of gazelles, which +gave us some glorious gallops. We had also a lion hunt--not in the +programme, but forced upon us while hawking, and the memorable occasion +gave us an insight into the characters of our two Arab friends, at whose +dauntless courage Edwards and I were simply astounded. We were riding +home after a successful morning, when we saw a shepherd running across +the plain towards us and gesticulating wildly. He told us that a lion +had for some time played havoc with his flocks, and that he had just +marked him down into some thick bushes at a little distance. We all went +off at once, and Ali Khan, stationing the matchlock-men who accompanied +him round the beast's lair, ordered other men to throw stones into the +bushes, with the intention of driving the lion out. To everyone's +astonishment, this had the desired effect almost at once. There was a +loud roar, and, without any further warning, out bounded the great +brute, who knocked over one of the matchlock-men before a shot was +fired. Edwards and I, sitting on our horses a little way off, +instinctively pressed towards the lion, now standing defiantly over the +fallen man; but, before we reached the spot, we saw both Haroun and Ali +Khan simultaneously leap from their saddles and rush in. They were armed +only with the daggers which they had drawn from their waists, yet they +never hesitated until close up to the beast, when, to our surprise and +no little amusement, they stopped and addressed it in the most flowing +language. + +"O lion," said the one, "do not waste thy strength on so feeble a man as +that." + +"O king," said the other, "thy victim is an unworthy meal for thy royal +jaws. Try something of more noble blood." + +Then with one accord they attacked their enemy in the most reckless +manner with their knives, and several men with spears coming up, the +lion was soon dispatched, when it was found that the matchlock-man had +received only a few scratches, though suffering from a severe shock to +his nerves. Many were the tales which we subsequently heard of the +daring of our two friends on similar occasions, and no one could say +which of them had slain single-handed the greater number of lions. + +Such recreations as these, however, occupied only a fraction of our +time, and the remainder was decidedly dull, or if not dull, then full of +anxiety. Edwards soon discovered that his skill as a doctor was being +put to the test, for the days passed, and his patient seemed to make no +headway. + +"Do you suppose," I asked him at last, "that they have been giving him +your medicine properly?" + +"That is just what I have been wondering," he replied. "I do not believe +that they have. But I cannot imagine how Ali Khan and his wife, who are +both devoted to the child, would fail to do what I told them. However, I +will make certain about it, by going straight to the Governor and asking +him." + +So Edwards went off, and, in the course of half an hour or so, returned, +with a face almost livid with rage. He did not wait for me to ask him +questions, but relieved his mind forthwith. + +"Could you possibly conceive," he blurted out, "that the world could +contain such a pack of bigoted idiots? The poor wretched little beggar +is weaker than ever, and had not been given any of the things that I +prescribed. I only discovered it by the merest accident. When I got to +the room, I found one of the waiting-women watching over the sick child, +and she told me that his mother, worn out with grief, had gone to her +chamber to rest, while Ali Khan was busy administering justice in his +hall. I seized the opportunity, and tackled the woman about the +medicine. At first she pretended that she had never heard that I had +supplied any medicine; but after I had reassured her by swearing that I +would respect her confidences, and worked on her fears by telling her +that if the boy died she would undoubtedly be held responsible for his +death, and would probably frizzle in Gehennum, the old lady found her +tongue. Bit by bit I dragged from her the whole miserable story. It +seems that when my first draught was delivered at the sick-room, those +abominable old native doctors were all there, and they harangued the +Governor for his folly in consulting an infidel, about whom he knew +nothing, and whose medicines might be, and probably were, poisons. High +words followed, but in the end Ali Khan agreed that he would abide by +the decision of the mulla, who was immediately sent for. Perhaps you +have never seen a mulla playing the oracle. It is quite simple: he shuts +his eyes, opens the Koran, plumps his finger on to a line, and then +reads it out. Well, in this case, of course, the mulla said that the +Koran decreed that my medicine would be most harmful to the child, and +it was accordingly thrown away. The same thing has been happening every +day since, and the only medicine given to the poor little chap has been +some water swilled round a cup inside which the mulla has scribbled a +text. Is it not positively sickening?" + +"What are you going to do?" I asked. + +"I have done it," he replied, with a chuckle. "I saw that it was neck or +nothing, and fortunately I had taken some antipyrine with me. I made the +woman fetch the cup with the text inside, and I told her that I was a +bigger mulla than any mulla she had ever seen, and that I possessed the +Evil Eye, which I would cast on her and her relations for ever and ever, +if she disclosed a word of what I had said, or even mentioned that I had +been there. She was what they call 'all of a tremble,' and I gave the +child as strong a dose as I dared--antipyrine, Koran text, and all." + +"Well done, old man," said I, slapping him on the back. + +"It may be all right," said Edwards, "but it may not be. I am not very +sanguine, for I am half afraid it was too late. However, we shall know +to-night." + +When we went down to the sick-room before going to bed that night, we +found the Governor, his wife, and the Arab doctors in a state of +ecstasy. The child was in what Edwards described as a "beautiful +perspiration," and we were naturally overjoyed. Then the principal +native doctor stepped forward and addressed Edwards. + +"We have to confess to you," he said, "that none of your remedies have +been applied to the patient, as the mulla, whom the Governor consulted, +decided that they would be harmful to him. By the will of Allah, I and +my learned brethren have been able to ease the child's sufferings." + +I looked at my companion, whose face was ashy white, but who kept +himself under perfect control. Addressing the Governor quietly, he told +him that he thought it would be injurious to the health of his son if +any further discussion took place in the sick-room, and he begged that +he would permit us to adjourn to another apartment, as he wished to make +a disclosure to him in the presence of the Arab physicians. The Governor +agreed to the proposal, and, bidding the doctors and ourselves follow +him, led the way to his private audience hall. + +"What is it, my friend," he asked, "that you wish to say?" + +"Great Lord of the Arabs and Protector of the Poor," said Edwards, +standing forth boldly, "it is most unpleasant for me, who have received +the greatest hospitality at your hands, to lay a complaint against the +members of your household. But I would beg of you to bear in mind that I +have only at heart the welfare of your sick child, and that anything I +say is solely for his good. You yourself did me the honour to place +confidence in me and seek my advice; yet, when I gave that advice, you +pretended to be satisfied with it, but, unbeknown to me, you rejected +it, because your mulla, who is in league with your court physicians, +pretended that your sacred book forbade the application of my remedies." + +I trembled at Edwards's temerity, and the Arabs looked at Ali Khan as if +they expected him to rise in his wrath and destroy us both, but our host +merely bowed his head and told Edwards to proceed, which he did with +increased warmth. + +"I am aware," he continued, "that I am not of your Faith, but I hold to +as great a belief in the powers of Allah as do yourselves. I maintain, +however, that although I am younger than the youngest of your +physicians, I have had far greater experience in the treatment of +diseases than he or any of his brethren. From the first I prescribed +such medicines as I considered likely to benefit the patient. You +yourself know that those medicines were thrown away. I knew it for +certain some few hours ago, though I had suspected it earlier. I only +discovered the truth on visiting the patient when he was alone this +afternoon. Then I understood that he had never been given my medicines, +and, in your absence, I took it upon myself to administer at once a +strong dose, the result of which is now apparent." + +"Sire," broke in the chief physician excitedly, "believe not a word that +he says. He is seeking to misappropriate to himself the good that your +own physicians have accomplished. What proof is there that the child had +any of his medicines?" + +"One person," said Edwards, "was present, and saw everything. It was the +waiting-woman, Habisha, but I made her swear to reveal what she saw to +no one." + +The Arab doctors, evidently still believing that they had treated the +child successfully, openly derided Edwards's assertion, and Ali Khan, +wavering between loyalty to his own men and politeness to his guest, +thought to settle the matter by interviewing the waiting-woman. Edwards +at once realised the difficulty, for it was improbable that the woman, +with the foreigner's Evil Eye in her mind, would disclose anything; so +he volunteered to accompany the Governor, in order that the woman might +be assured that she could now speak. The quarter of an hour that the two +were absent was an uncomfortable one for me, left alone with the +physicians; but, to my relief, they ignored my presence, and conversed +amongst themselves. + +The expression on Edwards's face, on his return, conveyed to me plainly +that all had gone well; and a moment later Ali Khan told the Arabs that +he had convinced himself that what his guest had said was true, that he +had actually administered a dose to his son, but that fortunately it had +been given in the cup which was inscribed with a text from the Koran. +Ali Khan now assumed a judicial air, as if pronouncing judgment in his +hall of justice, and he said that, after due consideration, he had come +to the conclusion that, although the foreigner had acted wrongfully in +secretly administering the medicine, nevertheless he had been requested +to treat the child, and that having once given the child his medicines, +it would be most dangerous to alter the course which had been commenced. +He therefore decreed that the foreigner should continue to treat his +son, and that his own wise and worthy physicians should refrain from +visiting the sick-room, until such time as he should invite them. I +could see that the decision was a terrible and an unexpected blow to the +Arab gentlemen, but they bowed politely to their master, asked +permission to retire, and pompously sailed from the room. + +No sooner were we alone than Ali Khan, throwing off all reserve, seized +Edwards by the hand, thanked him fervently for what he had done, and +apologised for his own weakness in allowing himself to be influenced by +his doctors. Henceforward, he said, Edwards should have sole charge of +the sick boy, and he begged him to forget the past and to do all that +lay in his power to bring about his recovery. Edwards, of course, agreed +to do his best, on the condition that he was not interfered with in any +way, and he returned to his patient, with whom he now decided to spend +the night. + +The next week was a most anxious one. Edwards almost lived in the +sick-room, being unwilling to risk the chance of some busybody undoing +all his work. The child had ups and downs, but by the end of the week he +was pronounced to be out of danger, and after that he regained his +strength so rapidly, that before many days Edwards was able to hand him +over to his parents to be taken care of. Their gratitude is +indescribable; there was nothing that they would not have done for us. +Ali Khan offered us horses, permanent quarters in the palace, and many +other things, all of which we politely declined, Edwards assuring him +that he had done nothing more than that which was due from a guest to +his host. + +All this while, we were surprised that the Arab doctors never put in an +appearance, but we came to the conclusion that they were nettled by +Edwards's success, and so kept out of the way. That they had lost their +practice in the town soon became evident, as the gates of the palace +were besieged each day by sick people, begging for the advice of the +all-powerful foreign doctor. For some time Edwards did his best for +them, but at last he grew weary of the increasing labours thus thrust +upon him, and asked our host where his own physicians were. Ali Khan, +with some hesitation, then confessed that they had left the town, and +had gone off in high dudgeon, he knew not whither. + +"But," he added, "while you are my doctor, I care not how long the +others remain away." + +That night, just as we were going to bed, we heard a knock at the door, +and Haroun, who was still in Adiba, entered the room. We at once became +aware, from the mysterious air that he assumed, that he was the bearer +of news of no ordinary importance. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WAR'S ALARM. + + +"What is the matter, Haroun?" I asked, "you seem perturbed." + +"And small wonder," he replied. "The Governor's spies, whom he sent to +discover the whereabouts of his physicians, have just returned, and have +brought grave tidings. They tracked the men to Majma and then to Hayil, +where they found that the ungrateful dogs had spread false reports about +affairs at Adiba, denouncing the Governor as an infidel and a companion +of infidels. The Amir, ever credulous, accepted their statements, and, +moreover, gave all three of them appointments in his household. Majma +was ordered to prepare for war against Adiba, and to assemble all its +fighting men, three days since, at a certain ford on the road to Hayil. +The spies remained in Hayil and watched the preparations, which the Amir +declared were for the purpose of suppressing the tribes dwelling in the +mountains to the south. But this they knew to be false, and they have +ridden day and night in order to warn their chief of the coming storm." + +"What will the Governor do?" I asked. + +"He will fight his old enemy of Majma to the death," said Haroun. "On +that point he is determined. Moreover, he has ever rebelled against the +authority of the Amir, and he is prepared now to defy him." + +"Surely," said Edwards, "that will be the height of folly, when an +explanation would probably prevent bloodshed. We two Europeans are, +doubtless, the cause of all the trouble. Let the Governor publicly expel +us from the town, and secure its safety." + +"That course," said Haroun, "he would never consent to take; but he has +ordered me to inform you privately of the events that are likely to +occur, and to request that you will save yourselves while there is yet +time. He does not wish you to risk your lives by remaining here, and +though he cannot spare my services at present, he will mount you on +swift camels and give you a guide, who will conduct you to Baghdad, or +at any rate as far as some place of safety in the neighbourhood of that +city." + +Edwards and I discussed in English the situation as it presented itself +to us, and we each thought that our presence in Adiba was accountable +for all the unpleasantness; that if, therefore, we removed ourselves, +Ali Khan would patch up peace; and that in all probability he wished to +get rid of us, but was unwilling to appear inhospitable and ungrateful. + +"If," I said, addressing Haroun, "we accept the Governor's suggestion, +will he then send an envoy and sue for peace?" + +"No," was the reply, "whether you go or whether you remain, he will +defend the town, and he will perish in its defence rather than humble +himself before the Amir. You yourselves know that he is a man who, his +mind made up, cannot be talked over." + +"Well," said Edwards, "we cannot decide off-hand what we will do. +Besides, we should like to discuss matters with the Governor himself. +When do you expect that the town will be attacked?" + +"The army," replied Haroun, "must still be some seven days' march from +us, but the horsemen will ride swiftly, so as to intercept any +fugitives, and it is therefore advisable that you should get away as +soon as possible." + +"Will you allow us the night to decide?" I asked. + +"If it be your wish," he acquiesced; "but you should leave the town by +dusk to-morrow." + +As soon as we were alone, Edwards began to pace the room in silence, and +continued to do so for some little time. + +"You seem to be excited, George," said I, at last. + +"You do not mind a bit," he replied. "In fact, as far as I can make out, +you positively revel in this frying-pan-fire existence of ours. What are +we going to do?" + +"Why, stick it out, of course," said I, "and see the old man through his +fight. I expect the whole thing will be rather interesting, and when it +is all over we will begin to think of moving off." + +"About time!" said Edwards. "I have had enough of this place, and should +like to see another--Baghdad, for choice. It is not much fun spending +all one's time prescribing for the rag-tag-and-bob-tail of Adiba, free, +gratis, and for nothing. But we may as well turn in now, and interview +the chief early in the morning. Perhaps the whole story of the impending +attack is a deeply-laid scheme to get rid of us, though when Ali Khan +told me to-day that I was his one and only physician, my heart +positively sank. I thought he was under the impression that I was going +to set up in Adiba, and remain with him for ever. I had intended +disabusing his mind to-morrow, and I certainly shall do so, if I get the +chance." + +"You will not chuck him over until after the fight, will you?" I asked. + +"No, I will play the game all right, though I cannot say that I am +desperately keen about it," was his answer. + +Next morning, when we went to see our host, we found that he took a much +more serious view of the state of affairs than we had anticipated. He +evidently intended that it should be a fight _a outrance_. In vain did +we try to dissuade him. We even offered to ride off and surrender +ourselves to the Amir of Hayil, so as to stay the war; but he was +adamant itself. He said that he and his people were growing rusty for +want of a fight, and that our departure would make no difference. +Whatever happened, he would not rest until he had dipped his spear in +the blood of his old enemies. Seeing, therefore, that argument was +useless, we told him that we intended to remain his guests until he was +at peace once more with his neighbours, and that we were ready to assist +him in the defence of his town. He was greatly touched at our desire to +help him, though he expressed his unwillingness to allow us to run the +risk of losing our lives in a quarrel which was no concern of ours. + +"The whole matter," said Edwards, "concerns us. Had we never come to +Adiba, there would have been no quarrel." + +"And," replied Ali Khan, "my son would have surely died. That is enough. +Praise be to Allah that he sent you to me." + +Our conversation was interrupted by Haroun, who came to consult about +the preparations for the defence of the town, and we accompanied the two +warriors on their inspection of the fortifications. Haroun, I soon saw, +had little idea of a passive defence, and placed no confidence in the +strength of the walls. He was a cavalry leader, pure and simple, and his +sole notion was to employ all available horsemen in attacking the enemy +as they advanced on the town. The Governor, on the other hand, was +sublimely satisfied with his walls of sun-baked bricks, and proposed +that when the enemy appeared, the gates should be barricaded and the +walls manned by the matchlock-men; then, when the assailants had +expended all their energies in attacking the walls, Haroun should issue +with his horsemen, and smite them with vigour. This, he concluded, was +the plan adopted by his father, half a century before, when Majma had +attacked the town; and so successfully did it work that barely a handful +of Majma's fighting men returned to their homes to tell the tale. The +only thing that appeared to trouble him was the fact that he had been +told that the Amir of Hayil possessed European weapons of war, presented +to him by the Turks, and he had heard that the big guns had been known +to knock down walls from distances beyond the range of his matchlocks. + +It did not take me long to realise that, although I knew practically +nothing of war, Haroun and the Governor knew considerably less. Neither +of them had ever seen a field-gun or a rifle, and consequently they were +absolutely ignorant of the effect of such things. To enlighten them was +no easy matter, and for some time I was afraid that it would be +impossible to bring the situation home to them until the first shell +landed in the town. However, after much explanation, Ali Khan confessed +that he did not understand anything of the inhuman practices of which I +had told him; he and Haroun understood the honest warfare of the desert, +but to attempt to fathom the mean devices to which the Turks and their +adherents stooped was quite beyond them. + +"Then," I said, "let us ride out unarmed to meet the Amir, and sue for +peace." + +"Never," said Ali Khan, firmly, "never. I care nothing for their tricks +and stratagems. Our fate is already written down. On my side I have +right; Allah protects the righteous, and punishes the oppressors." + +I did not try to persuade him that might, in the shape of modern guns, +was stronger than right; but I did all in my power to harrow his +feelings by describing what it would be like when the shells began to +burst in and over the town. I could see, however, that he did not +believe half I told him, and when we returned to the palace, he bade us +leave him to himself, to think out how it would be best to frustrate the +evil designs of his enemies. Edwards and I went off with the intention +of occupying ourselves in a similar manner. + +"Our friends," said Edwards, "seem to be a trifle sanguine." + +"Antediluvian asses I call them," said I. "But look here, George, if old +Hayil is bringing modern guns against this mud-heap, we are in for a +pretty warm time. If his people have learned how to serve the guns, the +place will be knocked to smithereens before we know where we are. If +they have rifles, then our ancient matchlock-men will never get a look +in." + +"Surely something can be done to fortify the place," said Edwards. "They +do not expect to be attacked for another six days or more." + +"Yes," said I, "if we can only get Haroun and Ali Khan to grasp the +situation, we might certainly work out some scheme of defence. I wish I +had not forgotten most of the things I learned at Sandhurst. I might +have run the whole show for them. Suppose we send for Haroun and hold a +council of war; he is more modern in his ideas than the Governor." + +Accordingly, we sent a servant with an urgent request to Haroun to come +and see us, and then we began to talk. He was still absurdly obstinate +about the use of his horsemen, and he quite thought that his seventy +men, with the addition of some forty or fifty others which the town +could muster, were capable of ambuscading the hostile army before they +came near the town, and wiping it off the face of the earth. He had +fixed on the very spot where he would lay in ambush, and he scoffed at +the idea that it would be possible for his plan to fail. So convincing +was he in his arguments, that both Edwards and I began to think that +perhaps, after all, he was right, and that we were ignorant of the +methods of Arab warfare. + +"Suppose," I said, "you do not succeed in all you propose. Suppose you +are defeated, or your retreat cut off. Then where would Adiba be? She +would have lost the services of a hundred trained fighting men, and who +would be left to repel the eventual attack on the town?" + +"There are plenty of others for the purpose," said Haroun, "and the +defence of the town walls is no concern of mine. As you are aware, I and +my men have nothing to do with Adiba, and it is only my personal +friendship for the Governor that has induced me to espouse his cause. To +be honest, I am a child of the desert, and a friend of anyone who hires +me. The role of my men is to smite in the open, and not to sit down +behind the walls of a town--that is the duty of the town guard." + +"I am beginning to understand," I said. "Hitherto I was under the +impression that the Governor regarded you as his sirdar." + +"He himself is sirdar," was the reply, "and he has already ordered every +able-bodied man to be at his allotted post on the walls this afternoon, +so that he may inspect them in fighting array." + +While we were talking, a messenger came to ask us to wait on the +Governor, who had assembled the chiefs of the various quarters of the +town in the Audience Hall. We went at once, and found rows of +respectable-looking old Arabs seated on the ground in front of the +Governor's dais. With many of them we were already acquainted, and all +greeted us most cordially. The Governor then opened the discussion by +explaining that, as Europeans, his two guests were thoroughly acquainted +with the barbarous methods of European warfare, of which they themselves +were entirely ignorant. He had therefore decided to beg us to undertake +the defence of Adiba, and show them how to defeat their enemies. The +suggestion quite staggered me; for I knew what broken reeds the +unfortunate people were being forced to lean on. George Edwards, civil +surgeon, aged twenty-three, Walter Henderson, ex-Sandhurst cadet--and a +failure at that--aged twenty-one, suddenly appointed to the joint +command of all the forces of Adiba! But, knowing that it was a case of +the superiority of one-eyed men over the blind, we accepted the +responsibility without a blush, and we were soon bustled off to inspect +the fortifications and their defenders. Had it not been that we +considered the state of affairs as most serious, we should have laughed +at the whole thing as a huge joke. There were some rusty old guns and +mortars, which probably had remained loaded and undischarged for half a +century, and behind each loophole on the parapet squatted a +matchlock-man, in deadly earnest and intent on slaughter. But it was no +time for jesting, and, having seen all that there was to see, Edwards +and I had a long consultation with our host and Haroun. In the end we +two promised to think out a plan for defending the town, and lay it +before Ali Khan the next morning. + +We now went off with note-book and pencil, and walked leisurely round +the whole extent of the walls, making notes and sketches at various +points, and carefully examining the surrounding country. The town was of +no great size, covering an area of barely half a square mile; and from +outside had the appearance of a square fort, situated in a slight +depression. The walls in most parts were some fifteen feet thick at the +base, and stood about twenty feet above the general level of the plain, +but were somewhat higher at the four angles, in one of which, as I have +said, was situated that portion of the palace given over to us. There +were four gateways, known as the Hayil, the Majma, the Bussorah, and the +Baghdad, and placed each in the centre of one of the side walls, our +quarters occupying the angle between the Hayil and the Baghdad gates. +From attacks by ordinary Arabs, armed with no better weapons than +matchlocks and spears, the place had nothing to fear, the walls being +unscalable, and the gateways being so planned as to be capable of great +resistance. Against modern arms of precision it would stand no chance +whatever, unless strenuous efforts were made to provide some sort of +cover for the defenders, as well as for the women and children. + +All that night we sat up, with pencils and paper, working out our +scheme, which was simplicity itself. We decided that, as we might have +to withstand a siege of some duration, and as it would be quite +impossible to store sufficient fodder for horses and camels for more +than a few days, we would send Haroun, in command of all the horsemen +and camelmen, out of the place, with instructions to keep well away to +the north, and to watch his opportunity for dealing a blow at the enemy. +We thought it would be useless to tie him down to stringent orders, +since he knew more about the country and the methods of desert warfare +than we did. Moreover, we knew that he was an independent individual, +and would take his own line. With regard to the actual defence of the +town, there was no time to do more than provide shelters from the +bombardment which we anticipated. These we arranged to place close under +the walls which faced towards Hayil and Majma, and we went into all the +details of each portion of work, so that we might be able to tell the +Governor exactly how many men would be required for digging and +such-like operations at every point, and how long they should take to +complete the work. In order to have a good margin, we calculated to get +the defences finished within three days, after which, any time that +remained could be devoted to drilling the inhabitants to seek shelter +rapidly. + +"There," said Edwards, standing up and stretching himself, "that is good +enough for them. I am quite anxious to see the result." + +"So am I," said I. "Give me another cup of coffee, and then let us go up +on to the roof and watch the day break." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE BURST OF THE STORM. + + +Standing on the parapet of our bastion roof, Edwards and I gazed out +into the blackness which preceded dawn. Across the town, we saw +presently a pale glimmer in the eastern sky. Day was breaking. We +watched the light gradually spreading upwards; then, turning, we looked +westward, where the outline of a low range of hills, a little more than +a mile away, bounded the view. Each portion of that outline remains +engraven on my memory, although, since that day, I have never set eyes +on it. + +The fitful light appeared to me to be continually altering the shapes of +the rounded hill-tops. Want of sleep, I imagined, had upset my powers of +vision; for the more I looked the more I became convinced that the +outline kept changing. Edwards also had noticed the phenomenon. + +"It is an extraordinary thing," said he, "but those hills over there +look as if they were moving." + +"Just what I was thinking," said I; "I did not like to mention it, +because I thought you would say that I had got the jumps." + +"I tell you what it is," said Edwards, shading his eyes with both hands, +"there are people walking about up there. Look. Do you see them?" + +Before I could reply, a bright flash shot out from the hill-side, +followed by a volume of smoke and then a loud report; and simultaneously +a weird shrieking noise rent the air. We saw the shell fall short of +the town by a hundred yards or more, and, exploding on impact with the +hard sand, send up a column of dust. + +Never did sleeping town receive a ruder awakening; and Edwards and I, +rushing down to see what could be done, encountered Ali Khan hastening +to meet us. + +"What is it that has happened?" he shouted. + +"They have surprised the town," I answered, "and are shooting with their +foreign guns. We must prevent the people being seized with a panic. Send +messengers in all directions to warn everyone to seek cover close +beneath the western walls, or in their underground chambers, and wait +till the fire slackens. Order the matchlock-men to be prepared to hasten +to their posts as soon as the enemy advances to the attack; and despatch +Haroun, with the horsemen and those who fight on camels, immediately, by +the Bussorah gate, to ride round and attack any who come down from the +hills." + +Ali Khan was calm and unruffled, issuing his orders rapidly, and +disdaining to notice our suggestion that there was still time for him to +hoist the white flag and submit. Then came a fearful moment, when a +shell, bursting in the principal street of the town, produced the panic +which we had hoped to allay. Wild shrieks and yells went up on all +sides, and the women and children and the majority of the men rushed +madly about in every direction. Edwards and I dashed into their midst, +and literally drove them in herds beneath the shelter of the wall. It +was then that we saw Haroun, marshalling his horsemen, ready to leave +the town; and his men, as they passed us, cursed us freely for belonging +to a people who had invented such diabolical instruments of warfare. +Haroun, however, forced them to restrain their feelings, otherwise their +spears would doubtless have made short work of us. + +Seeing the horsemen and camelmen leaving the town the inhabitants +imagined that flight had been ordered, and soon long streams of +fugitives were pressing on the heels of Haroun's horses, through the +Bussorah gate, and out into the desert. But a small body of the enemy's +horsemen had already swept round to that side of the town, and was +menacing the fugitives, who, seeing their predicament, turned and fled +back to the gate. Haroun by this time was out in the open, and was soon +engaged with the hostile force. I had run across to the eastern wall to +order the Bussorah gate to be closed, and I had an excellent view of the +sharp little cavalry skirmish then in progress. I remember thinking at +the time what a picturesque sight it was, and I could hardly believe +that what I witnessed was real warfare. Now one side fled, and the other +pursued, their spears glittering in the sun, and their loose cloaks +flying in the wind. Now, opening out and circling widely, the pursued +turned and swiftly bore down on their pursuers, who, as if following the +rules of a game, allowed themselves to be chased. Again the positions of +the combatants were reversed; and it was not until I had watched the +evolutions for some little time that I became aware that each side was +manoeuvring for a purpose. Then I understood that Haroun was striving +to lure the enemy towards the spot where the men on the camels sat ready +to discharge their matchlocks; while the enemy appeared to be +endeavouring to draw our horsemen towards the hills, behind which the +whole army was doubtless concealed. + +As far as I could judge, in these preliminaries neither party was +particularly anxious to close with the other, but as both were equally +well mounted, and to all appearance equally skilled in the art of +manoeuvring, it may not have been possible for the one to overtake the +other. At length I observed that Haroun allowed himself to be drawn +farther and farther into the plain, until, after a while, the curious +struggle was being carried on midway between the town and the enemy's +guns. So far, the fire from the guns had done very little real damage. A +second shell had landed in the town very soon after the first one, but +the gunners husbanded their ammunition with care, only firing at long +intervals, and generally ranging short. This was a great relief, and +reassured the people, who had now got over their first alarm, and were +busily employed in throwing up retrenchments within the town. Edwards +had formed a hospital in the palace, and had the few people who had been +wounded carried in and attended to; while Ali Khan and I superintended +the work going on from positions on the parapets, whence we could also +watch the progress of the fight outside. + +How many guns the enemy had in reserve we could not say, but so far he +had only brought three into action, and these soon found their fire +masked by the horsemen in their front. For some hours, therefore, the +guns remained silent, and it was quite evident that Haroun had grasped +the situation, and was holding his opponents to the ground which +intervened between the guns and the town. Hour after hour passed in this +way, but towards sundown we heard a mighty shout go up from the +direction of the hills, and before it died away we saw Haroun's foes in +full flight, with Haroun's men straining every nerve to outstrip them. +Fondly we hoped that our gallant friend's opportunity had come, and I +trembled with excitement as I watched the stern chase. Inch by inch our +men gained on the enemy, until they were almost within striking +distance, when suddenly, as we watched, we saw, to our horror, a fresh +body of horsemen issue from a gap in the hills by the side of the guns, +and descend with fury on Haroun's flank. At that very moment the +long-silent guns belched forth a salvo at the town, two of the three +shells falling among the houses, and causing hideous destruction, though +fortunately no casualties among the people. Concerned with the havoc +wrought by the shells, we lost sight of Haroun, and when we again +looked out on the plain, no trace of any horsemen was to be seen. + +Satisfied with their work, the guns did not fire again that night; and +when darkness had set in, a messenger came from the Amir of Hayil, +offering terms to Adiba, but such terms as no self-respecting chief +could accept. The town was to surrender unconditionally; the Governor's +property to be confiscated and he himself deposed; his two European +guests to be handed over forthwith to the Amir; and all the horses and +camels to be given up. The Governor was to be allowed until daybreak to +accept or reject the terms; and if he refused to accept them, then at +sunrise all the Amir's guns would play on the town until it was levelled +to the ground, and no quarter would be given either to the Governor or +the inhabitants. The message concluded by stating that the Amir's force +consisted of no less than ten cannon and eight thousand soldiers. The +messenger did not wait for an answer, which was perhaps fortunate, as +Ali Khan was so incensed by the Amir's high-handedness, that his reply +probably would have been a most insulting one. As it was, he decided to +send no reply, and to occupy the night in the further strengthening of +the defences of the town. + +While we were debating how best to continue the work, who should arrive +but Haroun, cool and collected, and even smiling, but dishevelled, +begrimed, and bloodstained. His long day of manoeuvring had been +entirely satisfactory, and in the end he had reaped a brilliant +victory--far more brilliant than he had ever dreamed of. There was no +time now, he said, to describe what had occurred, for he had come to +warn the Governor that the situation was critical, and that something +must be done at once; but he could tell us this much of his fight, that +not one of the enemy's horsemen whom we had seen pursuing him at dusk +was now alive. + +"The name of Haroun," said the Governor, with emotion, "will be for ever +in the mouths of Adiba." + +"Alas," said Haroun, "it is already too late. I have come to tell you +that your people are quitting the town. As I brought my men back, I +encountered hundreds of the townsmen in the desert, and though I did all +in my power to persuade them to return, they mocked at me, and continued +their flight in the direction of Bussorah. When, having left my men at a +little distance, I came to the Bussorah gate, I found it so densely +thronged with people passing through, that I was forced to obtain +entrance by the Baghdad gate." + +Ali Khan, with a look of intense anger on his face, sprang to his feet, +and said that he would go and see for himself what was happening. We +followed him as he strode rapidly out of the palace, and the deserted +streets through which we passed soon confirmed what Haroun had told us. +Reaching the Bussorah gate, we were just in time to see the last of the +panic-stricken people crushing through. They were making no noise, and +were evidently in a condition of abject fear, intent only on escape from +the town. Ali Khan and Haroun, getting among the crowd, alternately +cursed them as cowards and cajoled them to return, but their threats and +their persuasions were of no avail. No mortal man could have stemmed the +tide, so great had proved the moral effect of a few shells on a people +ignorant of modern arms. + +Between grief and rage at the disloyalty of his subjects, the Governor +was, for a time, completely overcome, and was only roused by a stern +rebuke from Haroun, whose courage never seemed to forsake him, and who +remained unmoved by what had occurred. + +"We will go round," said Ali Khan, hopefully, "and see if our captains +and their men are not still at their posts. It may be that the fugitives +consist only of the women and children, and such of the men who are too +old to fight." + +"I fear it is not so," said Haroun, "for I met many of the matchlock-men +on the road outside, and they told me that it was impossible for anyone +to stand another day of the accursed thunderbolts." + +Ali Khan, however, was sanguine, and it was not until he had visited +several parts of the town, and found the whole place deserted, that he +abandoned all hope and returned to the palace. There the same thing met +us; the panic had spread during our short absence, even to the servants +of the household and the wounded in the hospital; so that there remained +with the Governor's wife and child only one faithful man and two women. +The others had joined in the flight. + +Seeing that our host was now in a state bordering on madness, in that he +insisted that our small party should barricade the palace and defend it +to the last, Edwards and I determined to take the law into our own +hands, and not permit such folly, while there was yet time to get away. +So we took Haroun aside, and informed him of the terms that had been +offered by the Amir, telling him also that there were still many hours +before an answer would be expected. No sooner did he hear what we had to +say than he promptly made up his mind how to act, and without replying +to us, he went across the room to Ali Khan. + +"Lord," said he, in a determined and clear voice, "you are my master, +but you are also my friend and my brother. We have all seen you +challenge the lion, on many occasions, to single combat, and we are +aware of your personal bravery. The lion which you would now fight has +claws which no human being can resist, and to engage him single-handed +is certain death. Were there any hope of success, I should be the last +man to counsel aught but resistance. As it is, I counsel you to accept +the fate that has come, and to leave Adiba for a while, if not on your +own account, then for the sake of your wife and child. Come, forget your +own vanity, which would impel you to display your courage to the last, +and remember that there are others to be thought of. All your camels +and mares have already left their grazing ground, as before riding in +here I despatched an escort to drive them away to the north, and they +have been now some hours on the road. My own men, as well as the riding +camels with their matchlock-men, are waiting for me at a little distance +from the walls. I will go and bring them in, while you prepare your +household for departure, and I will escort you to Meshed Ali, where you +can remain until such time as Adiba is restored to you." + +Ali Khan made no reply, until Haroun, growing impatient, moved towards +the door, and said he would fetch his men. Then our host, with a +deep-drawn sigh, spoke slowly and sadly. + +"So be it, Haroun," he said. "I will go, but only that I may not see my +child suffer before my eyes, and with the hope that he may live to wreak +revenge on the tyrant of Hayil, and on those cowardly physicians who for +years ate of my salt and then betrayed me." + +Haroun hurried off, and we remained to assist the Governor to get ready +for the journey. That he had no intention of leaving many of his +personal belongings for his enemies was evident, and he, his wife, the +servants, and ourselves were kept busy carrying his possessions to the +courtyard of the palace, until we heard the clatter of Haroun's horses +outside. The camels were brought in, loaded up, and sent forward, half a +dozen at a time, under small escorts. Most of the horsemen and camelmen +were employed for the space of nearly an hour in securing everything of +value in the Governor's stores, all being promised extra rewards if +Meshed Ali were reached in safety. Then, when the last bale of silk had +been hoisted on to a camel's back, we saw the women and the child placed +on other camels, and leading our horses out of the stable in the +courtyard, we rode through the dark and silent streets to the Baghdad +gate. It was a most painful experience, and I pray that I may never +assist at a similar one. No word was spoken; but, mingled with the noise +of the horses' hoofs, I could hear, as I rode close behind Ali Khan, +what were, only too plainly, his suppressed sobs. + +As far as I could estimate, it was about eleven o'clock when we left the +empty town to its fate, and we had before us six or seven hours of +darkness within which to escape. For, until daybreak, the Amir would +take no measures against the town, and it was probable that he was +already confident of the acceptance of his terms. That he would pursue, +Haroun said, was most unlikely, as the capture of Adiba and the sacking +of it would keep his army employed for many days. + +So it proved; and throughout our long journey we were never troubled by +the thought of pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +FATE. + + +We travelled fast all night, and overtaking the laden camels, the milch +camels, and the mares, at different points, left them to come on with +their escorts, while we trotted ahead as rapidly as the riding camels +could go, though Haroun's horses were somewhat knocked up after their +hard day's work. No regular halt was made next day, as Haroun wished to +put as great a distance as possible between ourselves and Adiba, and we +must have covered quite sixty miles before it was decided that we might +encamp in safety, and await the arrival of the parties still in rear. +The route followed was that which we had taken in the reverse direction +a month or more before, when we accompanied Ali Khan to his town; but +how different were the circumstances--then it was the triumphal +home-coming of a great man; now, the best that could be said for it was +that it resembled an ignominious flight. + +Once only during that long day's ride did Ali Khan recover his spirits. +It was when Haroun related the details of his fight of the day +before--as bloody an encounter as perhaps the desert ever witnessed. It +seems that when, towards sunset, the guns opened fire on the town, and +the fresh body of horsemen issued from the enemy's position, to relieve +those who had been engaged all day, Haroun welcomed their appearance on +the scene. Throughout the day he had manoeuvred, as we had surmised, +in such a position as to mask the fire of the guns; but his plan was +twofold, and he had great hopes of being able to draw his opponents away +to the trap which he had carefully prepared for them. About a mile and a +half to the north-west of the town was a steep-sided watercourse, at +this season devoid of water, and at a certain point the pilgrim track +descended into it and out on the other side. In the bed of this +watercourse Haroun, in the morning, had ordered the matchlock-men with +the camels to ensconce themselves and await events. In vain he tried to +break away towards the watercourse, but each time he found himself +outmanoeuvred and headed back, and he began to think that his foes +understood his design. When, however, in the evening, they fled from the +field, and he followed in pursuit, he became hopeful of cutting them off +and driving them in the required direction. But since they rode straight +for the hills, he feared that if he followed he himself would be +ambuscaded. His heart, therefore, gave a great leap when he saw the new +arrivals riding down upon him, for he felt confident that horsemen, +probably waiting for hours to be slipped from the leash, would not +refuse to pursue him whithersoever he should lead them; and his judgment +was not at fault. + +Before the wind flew Haroun's men, driving in their spurs, and urging +their tired beasts to a final effort; behind followed the exultant +pursuers, overhauling their quarry at every stride, and filling the air +with their victorious war-howl. Barely fifty yards separated the one +party from the other, as they galloped down the incline into the bed of +the ravine. Haroun, glancing to the right and left, assured himself that +his camelmen were prepared, and without checking his pace, crossed the +watercourse, and led his men, now in a dense mass, up through the +cutting in the bank on the far side. Then commenced the fusillade of the +matchlock-men, and the sound of the first shot told Haroun that the +moment for decisive action had come. He pressed forward until he saw +that all his party had reached the level of the plain, when, with a +mighty yell, he ordered them to wheel round and descend again into the +watercourse. Half way down the slope they encountered the foremost of +their pursuers, attempting to force their way through the cutting, and a +fierce fight ensued. Then, seized with a panic, the unfortunate men of +Hayil broke back into the watercourse, where they were met by the fire +of the camelmen, who had now closed round their flanks and rear, and +fired into them from a distance of only a few yards. Many of the eighty +or ninety had already been killed, but the others fought gallantly, and +made repeated charges on the camelmen, as well as on Haroun's horsemen, +who, now frenzied by the sight of blood, made use of their spears with +deadly effect. Haroun gloated over the affair as he related the tale, +and Ali Khan was no less delighted at the Arab's exploits; as to +myself,--and I fancy that Edwards had much the same feeling,--the +wholesale butchery of brave men made me positively sick. That Haroun did +not do things by halves was clear; for, not content with the slaughter +in the ravine, he pursued the few of the enemy who succeeded in cutting +their way out, and ruthlessly slew them. As a proof of his prowess, the +chief drew attention to the spears of his men, and we could see that the +blood that had been spilled still clotted the tufts of ostrich feathers +on each man's bamboo. Disgusted at the whole thing, we two Englishmen +could hardly speak for the rest of the day; but when we discussed it +afterwards, we came to the conclusion that it was not fair to judge +these men according to our accepted standard. Their business was to +kill, by fair means or by foul; to them the bloodshed was of no more +account than the shooting of pheasants to ourselves; moreover, they knew +that their enemies would not have let slip a similar opportunity. + +We halted two days at our first camp, so that all the camels and horses +might be assembled before we went any farther, and it was a comfort to +everyone to learn from the last party that came in that there had been +no sign of pursuit. Then we resumed our journey northwards, and, with +all the horses and camels, made a goodly show. Day after day passed +almost without incident; occasionally a small body of Bedouins was seen +hovering about on our flanks, but they always made off as soon as a few +of our escort rode out towards them; and at last we pitched our camp on +the memorable spot, beside the lake, where, alas, Faris and I had stolen +the horses--an act which I now grieved to think had been at the root of +all the misfortune that had fallen on Adiba and its ruler. There we +remained almost a week, as the beasts required rest and good grazing, +and before we moved on again, I had grown to loathe the place. + +"I wish you would cheer up a bit," remarked Edwards one evening; "you +have been in the blues ever since we got here, and it is not very lively +for me, especially as it is all your show, and I only came to keep you +company." + +"I simply cannot help it, old man," I said; "I am beastly sorry, but my +conscience worries me dreadfully. If I could only go off to our poor old +host, and tell him that I assisted in the stealing of his two wretched +screws, I should feel ever so much better. Do you think I might?" + +"Rubbish!" said Edwards. "What earthly good would it do? You cannot undo +what has been done. Besides, the knowledge that he had been humbugged +would only add to his sorrow. Try to look at things as he does; ascribe +it all to Fate, or, if you prefer it, to the Will of Allah. Think how +ripping it will be to get back to Baghdad!" + +"I am not desperately keen about it," said I, "though I must confess +that I would not mind a general clean up and a white man's dinner, +before having another try for the Golden Girdle." + +"Haven't you forgotten that miserable bauble?" said my friend. "I hoped +that it had quite gone out of your mind. As far as I am concerned, I +have a return ticket for Baghdad, _via_ Meshed Ali. My circular tour is +complete, and I do not propose to break the journey at Golden Girdle +Junction." + +"All right," said I. "You wait till, one fine day, I walk into your +house in Baghdad and tell you that I have got it." + +"Then," said Edwards, laughing, "I will send for the kawas' trusty +tulwar, smack your kneeling form severely, and give you the order, +'Rise, Sir Walter Henderson, Knight of the Golden Girdle.'" + +"Scoffing sceptic," said I, "likewise sceptical scoffer--but here comes +Haroun, and bubbling over with news, I can see. Well, sheik, what have +you got to tell us?" + +"Something that will amuse you in these dull times," said he. "Last +night some Shammar were disturbed in the camp while trying to steal our +horses, and they succeeded in getting away. Of course, we thought that +they were the same men who had stolen our other horses here on the +occasion that you will remember. Some of my men pursued at once, and +they have just now returned with three men and their horses, which they +succeeded in capturing two hours from here. Last time we lost two +horses; now we have got three, so we are the better by one, and two of +them are of a good breed. Come and see them." + +No sooner did I see the captured horses than I recognised two out of the +three as the property of Faris, and as the beasts that he and I had +ridden on our visit to the seer. The horses were tied to the pegs of the +Governor's tent, and the three Shammar, bound hand and foot, lay close +by, awaiting sentence. I looked furtively at Haroun, wondering if he +could possibly know anything, and my fear increased when I saw him shake +out the contents of my own saddle-bags. There was my long-lost brush and +comb, tooth-brush, underclothing, and various precious odds and ends, +and I longed to seize them all up in my arms, carry them off, and purr +over my old friends. Yet, I had to be most circumspect, and I dreaded +lest Edwards should unwittingly give me away. A glance, however, told me +that he quite understood the state of affairs. Then my discomfiture was +further increased by Haroun calling to Ali Khan to look at the things, +when the two turned over everything, while we explained their use. + +"Some unfortunate fellow-countryman of ours," said Edwards, "must have +been robbed by these scoundrels." + +"So it seems," said Ali Khan, "but what I would like to know is what all +you Englishmen are doing in the desert; is your country going to +appropriate Arabia, as it has done, they tell me, nearly all the rest of +the world." + +He was in a good humour, and I saw that he was only chaffing us; so I +laughingly told him that when England conquered the country, he should +be proclaimed Sultan of Arabia, which appeared to please him a good +deal, for he forthwith made us a present of the Ingleezee's stolen +property. + +"It's an ill wind, and so forth," murmured Edwards, as we bore away our +treasures in triumph. "Lucky for you that Faris is not here; for after +this you would never be able to induce him to believe that you were not +a real live magician." + +"To tell you the truth," said I, "I am beginning to think that I _am_. +But my conscience is troubling me again; I wonder if they will slaughter +those three wretched thieves. I have a kind of fellow-feeling for them. +I think I shall go and intercede for them." + +"Much better not," said Edwards. "It might only lead to complications; +besides, as I said before, we really must try to be fatalists." + +"Yes, I know," I answered, "but perhaps it has been written in the fate +of those men that a foreigner shall save their necks. Of course it was +vile and wicked of them to try and steal the Governor's horses, and it +certainly was more vile and more wicked of them to steal the horses that +Faris and I had left in the ruins; but, after all, did I not myself +steal a horse and sundry water-skins?" + +However, I thought that for once I would act on my own initiative, so +while my companion was taking a siesta I slipped away and found Haroun, +who was just going to take the thieves before the Governor. I asked him +what sentence he thought they would receive, and was told that it was +doubtful, but I was glad to hear that, in any case, it would not be +death. Out of curiosity I went to the Governor's tent to hear him +dispose of the prisoners, and I was much impressed with the trouble he +took to arrive at all the facts. Haroun explained to me aside that if +they were found guilty of attempting to steal from friends of their +tribe, they would have their right hands cut off; otherwise they would +be kept as prisoners until their tribe ransomed them, the ransom going +to the men who had caught them. The trial took an immense time, but in +the end Haroun proclaimed all Shammar to be his enemies, as his own +tribe was a branch of the Aeniza; and Ali Khan declared that they had +attempted to steal from their enemies, and would therefore remain +prisoners until ransomed by their people. The next question was the +amount of the ransom, and how their tribe was to be informed that they +were prisoners. The Bedouins pleaded poverty, but finally suggested that +if one of them were allowed to go and interview the members of the +tribe, the necessary amount might be forthcoming. This course Haroun +refused to allow, explaining to the Governor that it would undoubtedly +lead to a powerful band of Shammar attacking the caravan, rescuing the +prisoners, and probably looting everything. It was, therefore, arranged +that the men should accompany us to Meshed Ali, from which place they +should be permitted to communicate with their tribe. + +The day after this, we started on the last week of the march to Meshed +Ali, and we soon learned that a prisoner's lot was no pleasant one. Each +morning the wretched thieves were brought out, with their legs and hands +tied, and placed on the backs of camels; and at the end of the day's +march, three grave-like holes were dug in the ground for their +reception. In these they were laid, with hands tied, legs chained to +pegs, and their twisted hair fastened to other pegs on either side of +their heads. Neither was this all, for, in order to render escape quite +impossible, sticks were laid across the graves, and on them were piled +up as many weighty articles of baggage as were thought necessary, only +one small breathing-hole being left over the face. I remonstrated with +Haroun on this harsh treatment, but he declared that it was the +invariable custom, and that they did not really mind it. + +On the third day's march one of the prisoners was taken ill, and Edwards +was asked to go and see him. + +"Now's your chance," said I, "tell the Governor that they have all three +got symptoms of small-pox or something, and had better be turned adrift. +The poor devils have had quite enough punishment for a crime which, in +this land, is really no crime at all." + +"I will see what I can manage," said Edwards, as he went off. + +When he returned later on, he said that his courage had failed him at +the last moment. He had quite made up his mind to act on my suggestion, +but he was afraid that Ali Khan or Haroun might know the symptoms of +small-pox, and so find him out. He thought, however, that by judicious +questioning he might discover what the two chiefs knew of the disease, +and if he found that they knew nothing, then, the next day, he would +settle with his conscience whether humanity or honesty should have the +first place. + +"The unfortunate man," said Edwards, "has dysentery, and is as weak as a +cat. I have done this much for him: I went to Haroun and told him, +without mentioning what was actually the matter, that the prisoner was +very ill, and unless properly attended to might die at any moment. I +pointed out that if he remained in that prison-hole he would certainly +be dead before morning. Haroun, at first, went off on the old fate tack, +and said he could not interfere; but when I told him that I would go and +interview the Governor, he gave me leave to do what I thought best about +the man. Well, the long and the short of it is that, if you do not mind, +I am going to give the invalid a shakedown for the night in our tent." + +"Of course I do not mind," said I. + +"I thought you would not," said Edwards, "and I arranged with Haroun +that, as soon as it was dark, he should come and help us bring the man +over here. The only condition he made was that I would be responsible +that he was handed over, dead or alive, in the morning, before we +march." + +Great was the astonishment of the Shammar when we took him out of his +hole, and conveyed him to our tent; and when Edwards explained to him +that he was to remain with us for the night, so that he might be looked +after, he almost wept with gratitude. He willingly promised that he +would not betray our trust in him by attempting to escape, and he swore +that, if he ever recovered his health and freedom, he would find a means +of repaying us for our kindness. + +Little did we imagine that we were entertaining unawares, if not +actually an angel, a man who, before long, would influence our every +action. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RESCUE. + + +So ill was the unfortunate prisoner, that Edwards insisted that during +the next day's march he should ride unfettered and in comparative +comfort on a camel. He stood the journey well, and on reaching camp he +was no worse than he had been at starting in the morning. Again he was +consigned to our care and accommodated in our tent. + +We were now within four days' ride of Meshed Ali, and the Governor (as +we still called him) decided that, before entering the town, it would be +necessary to send forward messengers, with presents to the notables, +requesting an asylum, and asking permission to rent suitable quarters. +This, we learned, might take some considerable time, and in the +meanwhile the _kafila_ was to halt and prepare for the entry into the +Holy City. This delay was most annoying to Edwards and myself, for +having returned, as it were, to the outskirts of civilisation, we were +anxious to take an affectionate farewell of our friends, to whom we +could be no longer of any assistance, and get away on our own business. +Edwards, of course, wished to return to Baghdad as soon as possible; and +I was equally desirous of seeking out Faris, with a view to learning if +he had discovered anything about the Golden Girdle. + +"I have been thinking," said Edwards, "that we might clear out from +here. I do not see any use in going on with Ali Khan to Meshed Ali. Our +presence cannot make much difference, and I do not suppose that he and +Haroun really care whether we see them all the way to the town or not. +They will not want a doctor any longer, and they know that as soon as we +reach Meshed Ali we shall continue the journey to Baghdad." + +"I quite agree," said I; "the only thing is that we must not do anything +to wound the feelings either of Ali Khan or of Haroun. I am still +haunted by the idea that it was entirely through us that the poor old +Governor came to grief, and he has been a perfect brick about it. Just +think what it all means to him." + +"Of one thing," said Edwards, "you may be certain. Directly I get back +to Baghdad, I will induce the Consul-General to espouse his cause, and I +will do my utmost to persuade him to worry the Turkish authorities to +death, or at any rate until they have seen justice done to Ali Khan. If +they choose, they can easily give Hayil a slap on the face, and +reinstate Ali Khan at Adiba, that is to say if the town has not been +destroyed." + +"Well," said I, "shall we go and suggest that we would like to go off to +Baghdad at once, without waiting to go to Meshed Ali?" + +"We cannot tackle the business to-night," said Edwards. "It is too late +now; I expect they have all turned in; but we will see about it in the +morning. We have not yet settled what we are going to do about this +feeble prisoner and his two friends." + +"Perhaps," I suggested, "they will let them go as our guides." + +"Not they," said Edwards. "Each of them means a bit of money--a ransom +of a hundred camels for the lot, at least." + +"There is nothing for it then," said I, "but the small-pox yarn." + +"But I told Haroun to-day that I thought the sick man was ever so much +better," remarked Edwards. + +Just then we noticed that our patient was sitting up on his rugs in the +corner of the tent, and gazing at us intently. + +"Do you want anything?" asked Edwards. + +"Yes, Beg," said the Shammar, "I want to speak to you. I am so much +better, thanks to your care, that I can now talk." + +"Probably you wish," said Edwards, "to ask me to let you escape. If that +is what you want, I must tell you at once that, although I would gladly +see you and the others go free, it cannot be, for I have promised that +you shall not escape." + +"That does not trouble me," said the Bedouin, "since I have friends in +Meshed Ali, and as soon as I reach the place, we shall be ransomed." + +"Then what is it that you wish to say?" asked Edwards. + +"I have travelled," said the man, "for several days now with you two +Ingleezee; and, without your knowledge, I have watched all your actions. +You are both kind and good men, but neither of you is the man whom we +were seeking when we entered your camp by the marsh and were captured as +supposed stealers of horses. We had no intention of taking horses or +anything from any man, but we had heard that there were two Ingleezee +travelling with the caravan, and we thought that one of them would be +the man with whom we have a blood feud. We knew that two Ingleezee had +come to the desert, because we found, at the ruins of Katib, the horse +and saddle-bags of one of them, and had actually seen him. The other we +know well, and for him have dared much, but only to be deceived, to be +cheated, robbed, insulted, and even murdered. There must have been three +of you. What have you done with the other?" + +"According to you," said Edwards, "there should be four, that is two +besides my friend here and myself. There is the man with whom you are so +anxious to settle accounts, and there is the man whose horse you say you +found at the ruins of Katib." + +"No," said the Shammar, turning his eyes on me, "only three. The horse +that we took at the ruins belonged to your friend." + +"How do you know this?" I asked, thrown off my guard by the suddenness +with which the statement had been made. + +"Thus," he replied; "I met with an accident at the ruins, and was lying +alone among the stones, not ten paces from the spot where you had left +your horse, when you and that Faris of the Jelas came by, and I laughed +when I saw that my friends had taken your horses and left you to walk. +But of this I have spoken to no man outside of my own tribe." + +I now began to feel uncomfortable, for, as I said to myself, if this man +were to disclose what he knew to Ali Khan, I should be in a very awkward +predicament. Here was evidence that I and Faris, deprived of our horses, +had been seen walking away from the ruins towards the marsh, just at the +very time that Ali Khan's horses had been stolen, and I was quite sure +that any Arab of ordinary intelligence would be able to put two and two +together. + +"Why did you not tell this to your captors when you were taken?" I +asked. + +"Because," said the man, "they would not have believed me. But when I +felt very ill, some days back, I was on the point of disclosing +everything. Then you came to succour me, and since that time I have been +filled with gratitude towards you both--so much so, that even if I were +now to be in peril of my life, I would hold my peace concerning what I +saw at those ruins, unless it should be your wish that I should speak." + +"What harm would it do my friend," asked Edwards, "were you to proclaim +that you saw him at Katib? The ruins are free to all." + +"Even so," said the Shammar, "but we in the desert know all things. News +travels fast. We have heard that Faris did not enter the Jelas +encampment on foot, but riding a horse stolen from this self-same +Governor of Adiba, then encamped by the marsh at no great distance from +Katib. Another horse was stolen at the same time. By whom was it +stolen?" + +He looked at me, and smiled; but I did not reply at once to his +question. I was convinced that he was trying to drive a bargain; that in +return for his silence he was to be given his liberty; and I felt that +he had got me up into a corner, with power to do much as he pleased with +me. At first I thought I would bluff him; then I remembered a piece of +advice that Faris once gave me, which was to the effect that one might +humbug a townsman with success, but that with a true Bedouin, honesty +would be found to be the best policy. + +"What matter does it make," said I, "by whom the horse was stolen? The +man who stole it required it. The man who lost it could well do without +it. So we will say no more on that point. But tell me of this third +Ingleezee whom you know so well, and whose blood you wish to shed." + +"Whence he came," said the Bedouin, "I cannot tell you, but our sheik, +after a visit to Kerbela, brought him back with him to our tents. Since +that time, I and all the men of the tribe have had misfortunes. Sheik +Abbas was slain in battle by your cruel friend Faris; his nephew, even +he who became sheik at the death of Abbas, disappeared at Katib with two +trusty companions. We doubt not that they were murdered by a shaitan who +dwelt in the ruins. I and ten others--all that remained of our +family--went to Katib to find them, but our search was fruitless." + +"So, in revenge," said I, "you slew the shaitan, otherwise Raspul, +Priest of the Goddess Sophana." + +"How know you?" asked the man. + +"How I know matters not," I answered. "But I know it, and, furthermore, +I know that you stole from his dead body that golden belt, which +undoubtedly has proved as great a curse to you as it has to all men who +have touched it." + +"Since you know these things," said he, "you and Faris must have watched +us from some hiding-place." + +"True," said I. + +"Then you saw all?" + +"We saw you break in the roof of the temple, and kill Raspul; and we saw +a man descend by a rope." + +The Shammar opened his eyes wide, drew a deep breath, and sighed. + +"Come now," said I, "tell me what happened to you afterwards." + +"There were eleven of us," said he, "and that Ingleezee. As we fled from +the ruins, my horse tripped and rolled over with me, leaving me with an +injured leg, and galloping loose after the others. It was then that I +lay among the stones for many hours, and after a time I saw you and +Faris go by. Next day three of my friends came back to fetch me, and we +went together to the place where they had left the Ingleezee and the +others. All had disappeared. We found the horses' hoof marks, and we +followed them up. They were galloping fast, and though we rode rapidly +we could not overtake them. At length, after several days, we found the +body of one of our friends, lying in the desert. He had been shot by a +bullet from the Ingleezee's pistol. Farther on, we came on another of +our men, who had also been shot, but was not yet dead; and from him, +before he died, we learned all that had occurred. How the Ingleezee had +seized that serpent belt, refusing to pay anything that he had promised; +how he had ridden away with it; how my people had pursued him; and how +when they were overtaking him, he turned upon them and shot them with +his pistol. But that was not all the evil that he did; for as we +journeyed on, we overtook the rest of the men in a _wadi_, four of them +had been wounded, three, as it proved, mortally, and the others had +abandoned farther pursuit, in order to attend to their friends. Then we +all bound ourselves by an oath that we would not rest again in our tents +until we had buried our knives in the body of that Ingleezee. Whither he +escaped we could never discover, for shortly afterwards a great +sand-storm blew over us, and we were unable to again find the footprints +of his horse. It may be that he perished in the storm, but we continued +to search for him in all directions. After some weeks, we heard that two +Ingleezee were living at Adiba, and I and my two companions started for +that place; but, before we had gone very far, we met some Bedouins who +told us that the town had been captured by Hayil, and that the Governor +and the two Ingleezee were fleeing in our direction. So we halted near +the marsh of the great lake, and the rest you are acquainted with. But +when I am again free, I shall continue the search for your countryman, +and one day, if it please Allah, I shall see him die." + +I had purposely refrained from interrupting the Shammar as he told his +tale, though I frequently wished to break in and ask questions. Now, +however, I could satisfy my curiosity. + +"What manner of man," I asked, "is that Ingleezee?" + +"A fat man," was the reply, "and dark, not of a red colour like you +two." + +"Are you sure that he is an Englishman? May he not be a native of some +other country of Europe?" + +"That I cannot say. I know nothing of the distinctions between the +inhabitants of one country and of another. I only know that he is a +European." + +"Did you not know," I asked, "why he came with your sheik from Kerbela?" + +"At first, we were told that he came to see the desert, as Europeans do +sometimes. Then, one day, Sheik Abbas called us together and told us +that the seer at Katib possessed a gold belt, which the Ingleezee +desired to buy; that he would give 5000 kerans for it, and that two of +us should go and ask Raspul to sell it. So I and another went to the +ruins, and interviewed the seer. He told us that he had no belt, but +afterwards he brought it and showed it to us, and expressed his +willingness to part with it. We arranged with him that the price should +be 2000 kerans, so that we might all share with Sheik Abbas the other +3000, and he agreed to bring the belt to a certain spot near Babil on a +certain day. Proudly, we returned to our tents, and told the sheik what +we had done, and the Ingleezee, on hearing it, gave each of us some gold +money as bakhshish." + +"But," I inquired, "had the Ingleezee 5000 kerans with him, so that he +might purchase the belt?" + +"No," said the Bedouin, "he had only a little money, but a Jew in +Kerbela had told our sheik that, if the Ingleezee wrote on a piece of +paper the amount of any sum that he required, then Yusuf Mersina, the +Baghdad merchant, would pay it. So the Ingleezee wrote down 5000 kerans +and gave the paper to the sheik, and it was agreed that when Raspul +delivered over the belt, Sheik Abbas should take it and the paper to +Baghdad, and receive the money, and we were to ride with the Ingleezee +to Bussorah." + +"Why was not the Ingleezee to take the belt?" I asked. + +"Because Sheik Abbas would not let it go out of his possession until he +received the money, since he was to be responsible to the seer for the +payment of the 2000 kerans." + +"I understand," said I. "But tell me, did the seer bring the belt to the +appointed place?" + +"No," said the man, "a curse on him! We waited for him for three hours: +in his stead came your Faris; and Sheik Abbas fell at his hands. Then +the Ingleezee spoke to Sheik Ahmed, and said that if he procured the +belt he would give 5000 kerans. Ahmed went to Katib to see Raspul, +taking with him two men; and those three we have never seen since. It +was thus that the rest of us went to the ruins, and carried off the +belt, hoping to obtain the 5000 kerans from the Ingleezee. But my +friends tell me that he took the belt and sewed it up in his cloak, and +when they demanded the money, he told them that he had already paid +Sheik Abbas 5000 kerans, and that he could pay no more. It was then that +he rode away, as I have already related." + +The man was so exhausted by talking, that Edwards now insisted on his +taking a draught and going to sleep. We ourselves sat up for some time, +discussing matters, and trying to unravel the mystery of the stranger +who had defeated me over the Golden Girdle. As we worked it out, the +whole thing seemed clear enough. Some foreigner knew as much as I did +about the Girdle, and had somehow learned that it was in existence above +ground. He had apparently discovered this from someone at Kerbela, who +had handed him over to the Shammar. The German note which we had read +was, of course, his order for the payment of the 5000 kerans to Sheik +Abbas. The courage of the man astounded us; he made up his mind to annex +the Girdle; to keep it, he had made free use of his revolver, and though +I did not admire his bloodthirsty methods, it was a bitter thing to me +to have to acknowledge that I was not in the running with such a man. + +"I am afraid it is all up with the prize now, George," I said. + +"Yes, I am afraid so," said Edwards. "But we will get back to Baghdad, +and put the screw on this Yusuf Mersina, until he divulges the name of +the villain." + +"That will not help much," I said. "He has probably reached Bussorah +long ago, and is half way to Europe by now." + +"A wire will stop him at Karachi, or Aden, or somewhere, and have him +arrested for murdering Turkish subjects," said Edwards. + +"That would not be very sporting," I replied. "I expect the best thing +will be to say nothing of what we have heard." + +We were both soon asleep, and of what actually happened after that, and +when it happened, I have no knowledge. All I can say is that at some +time in the night I was aroused by a slight rustling noise in the tent, +and before I was half awake I felt myself being smothered by something +like a rug being held over my face. Thinking that I was suffering from +nightmare, I kicked and struggled, and wondered when I was going to wake +up, but the comforting feeling that it was only a dream never came. +Instead of it, several hands seemed to hold me down, and presently, as I +still struggled, they gripped me harder and harder, and I found that my +legs and arms were being bound with ropes. Then suddenly, fingers passed +across my face, under the rug; my mouth was prised open, and, before I +could utter a sound, a great wooden gag was thrust between my teeth, and +secured by a string behind my neck. In this state, and in total +darkness, I was left for a few minutes; then two men quietly lifted me +up, and carried me outside the tent, away into the black night, at a +jog-trot One man had his arms round my knees, while the other supported +my shoulders; and I soon found that by no amount of struggling could I +free myself. After travelling in this uncomfortable manner for, it may +have been, half a mile, I was deposited on the ground, and a moment +later was hoisted on to the back of a squatting camel, and secured with +ropes to one side of a pannier-like framework. What weight on the other +side balanced mine I could not see, as, although there was a certain +amount of light from the stars, the great hump of the beast blocked my +view. Several men held on to me as the camel was made to rise, and it +was as well; for otherwise, in all probability, I should have had many +broken bones. A lurch backwards, a lurch forwards, and a final lurch +sideways, brought me high above the ground; then came a frantic plunge, +and I knew that the "ship of the desert" had set sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT. + + +The pace was rapid, and the motion painful in the extreme. So +uncomfortable was I, that I found it quite impossible to collect my +thoughts, and I could not understand why I was being subjected to this +hideous torture. My bones ached all over, my body was becoming numbed, +and the gag in my mouth almost choked me. Yet I was powerless to do +anything, except gaze upwards at the stars, which appeared to swish +wildly backwards and forwards, as if attempting to fall in with the gait +of the camel. Was I another Mazeppa? Was I to be thus carried about the +desert until death came to my relief? Had all this been brought about by +the goddess Sophana, wrathful at my desire to possess her sacred girdle? +Such thoughts passed rapidly through my brain, and became jumbled up +with countless other thoughts. I lost consciousness, and regained it +only to find the same eternal condition of affairs, to hear the same +thud of the camel's feet, and to feel the same dipping plunge, as the +legs on my side of the beast flew forward. At last, I felt that I could +stand it no longer, and I prayed fervently that I might die before I +went mad. I thought that my prayer was about to be answered; I thought +that I was dying, when suddenly I heard shouting, and, without any +warning, the camel's legs appeared to scatter in all directions. The +"ship of the desert" had cast anchor, and so severe was the shock to my +feeble body, that every atom of breath was knocked out of it. + +When I recovered, I found myself lying in a delightfully shady grove of +date trees, my arms and legs free, and a saddle-bag supporting my head. +I looked listlessly around, and saw a few camels and horses, and, at a +little distance, a group of Arabs squatting round a fire, and eating +their food. I turned over, and looked on the other side, and there, to +my surprise and delight, I saw George Edwards lying peacefully asleep, +within a yard of me. I tried to speak, but my jaw was stiff, and my +tongue would not move; so I sank back, and, utterly exhausted, dropped +off to sleep again. When next I awoke, Edwards was sitting by my side, +and our Shammar patient was holding a vessel of water to my parched +lips. How I drank! And, as I drank, new life seemed to enter into me. + +[Illustration: "WHEN NEXT I AWOKE EDWARDS WAS SITTING BY MY SIDE."] + +"If this is a dream, George," I remarked, "it is the most beastly +nightmare that I have ever assisted at." + +"It is no dream, old chap," he said. "It is a stern reality. Thank +goodness that it is over." + +"What has been going on, then?" I asked. + +"I have just been hearing about it from our sick friend here," said +Edwards. "Unbeknown to him, his pals planned a rescue, and it seems that +they had been watching us for days. They managed to bring away all three +of the supposed horse-thieves, as well as their three horses and two +others, so they did pretty well." + +"Why did they bother to bring _us_?" I asked. + +"They have apologised most humbly," said Edwards, "but they say that it +was absolutely necessary that Ali Khan should be induced to believe that +we had assisted in the escape of the prisoners." + +"Rather rough," said I, "that we should be made the scape-goats, +considering all the trouble you took about the sick man. Nice sort of +Englishmen old Ali Khan will think us, eating of his salt and accepting +his hospitality, and then assisting to rob him of his lawful prisoners +and his horses." + +"I know," said Edwards; "but we will look up Ali Khan some day, and set +matters right. How are you feeling after that awful jolting?" + +"Limp," I answered, "disgustingly limp. Were you also trussed up on the +side of a camel?" + +"Much like yourself," said he. "I was on the same beast as +yourself--only that mountain of a hump between us. But I did not +discover it until I was taken down. I expect we shall be stiff for +days." + +Then we talked over all that had occurred, and I found that our +experiences had been very similar, except that our kidnappers very +nearly did for Edwards by keeping the cloth too tight over his face +while they were tying him up. In fact, he had no recollection of +anything until he felt the cold air rushing across his face, as the +camel bore him along. We congratulated each other on having weathered +the tempestuous voyage, and we actually laughed over it--so ludicrous +did it seem, now that it was all over. According to what Edwards had +heard from the men, we must have come sixty or seventy miles straight on +end, as they were afraid of being followed; and how our sick man had +survived the journey we could not understand. There did not, however, +seem to be much the matter with him, and while we were talking he +appeared on the scene, bringing us some food. + +"We were just wondering, Daud," said Edwards, addressing him, "why you +are alive. Surely you must be feeling ill after the long ride." + +"Lord," answered the Bedouin, "it is good to be once more free in the +desert. It was the confinement that was killing me." + +Naturally anxious to find out what was in store for us, we set to work +to cross-question our friend, while we ate the food which he had +brought. We learned that he and his two fellow-prisoners knew nothing of +the proposed rescue until it was an accomplished fact. Their rescuers +had never been able to communicate with them, although they had entered +the camp on more than one night, and had discovered how everything was +situated. Then they formed their plan, which was certainly a bold one. +Originally, the party had consisted of no more than six men, but not +daring to attempt the rescue with so few, the chief went off and secured +the services of ten of his kinsmen; and to each of the sixteen was +allotted a separate task. That they were all men to be trusted to carry +through a desperate enterprise the chief knew well; for he was aware +that if the courage of one man failed, the plan would be wrecked. He +himself and three others were to remain at some distance from the camp, +in charge of two camels and the horses of the party; five men were to +capture the horses; three to release the two prisoners from their holes +in the ground; and four to carry off ourselves and the man lying sick in +our tent. Nothing was left to chance; each man knew exactly where he had +to go, and each had sworn that if he were detected in the act of +performing his part, he would do all in his power to induce his captors +to believe that he was a thief who had entered the camp alone. +Everything worked without a hitch, and our friend was delighted at the +brilliant success. + +"I am sorry," he said, as he concluded his story, "that it should have +been necessary to put you, my two kind friends, to so much discomfort, +but you may be sure that I will ever look after your welfare, and when +you shall have accomplished that for which the chief brought you away, +then you shall take your horses, and we will see you to within a safe +distance of Baghdad." + +"I thought," said Edwards, "that you said that we were carried off, so +that Ali Khan might be deceived about your rescue." + +"That was so," replied the Arab, "and that was what the chief of the +party at first told me. He has since given me a second reason; but he +will come presently to pay his respects to you, and will then explain +everything." + +It was not long before the promised visit was paid, and our visitor, who +was accompanied by nearly all the members of the party, delighted us by +his urbanity--if such a term can be used of a real child of the desert. +He was frank and open in his speech, and he told us that he and his men +felt greatly honoured by having us with them; that he hoped that we had +not suffered much bodily pain by our long ride; and that we would not +want for anything while we remained their guests. Then he shook each of +us warmly by the hand; smiled on us; and, before we realised that he had +told us nothing, walked away. We were on the point of calling after him +to stay and explain matters, when Daud, our sick man, whispered to us to +have patience; the chief, he said, could not speak fully before all his +men, but he would return later, when the camp had settled down for the +night. + +So we possessed our souls in patience, and spent the remaining hour or +so of daylight in making ourselves comfortable in the little wigwam that +had been erected for us. Soon after dark, Daud returned with the chief, +who brought with him his long pipe, whereby we knew that the sitting was +to be of considerable duration. His conversation was delightful, and he +discussed nearly everything under the sun; but, to our intense +annoyance, kept away from the only topic which for the time being was of +interest to us. He recounted deeds of personal valour, and told us of +his many encounters with the Aeniza; he dilated on the pleasures of +Baghdad; and described the fanaticism of the pilgrims who visit the Holy +Shrine at Kerbela each year; and I verily believe that he would have +left us in ignorance of the future, had I not summoned up courage to put +a direct question to him. + +"Tell us now, sheik," I said, "how we can be of service to you. We are +willing to assist you in any way that we can, but my friend is eager to +return to his duties at Baghdad as soon as it shall be convenient to +you." + +"Dear me," said he, "I had almost forgotten the object of my visit, so +pleasant have I found your company. But now that you have recalled me to +myself, we will discuss business." + +Long and earnestly did he then speak, and he gave us a full explanation +for his having carried us off from Ali Khan's camp. There were three +reasons. The first was, as Daud had told us, in order to deceive Ali +Khan, and so prevent him from having a cause of everlasting feud with +the Shammar tribesmen. As matters stood, it was his hope that Ali Khan +would think that Edwards and I had released the three prisoners, and had +assisted in the theft of the five horses, for them and ourselves to +ride. The second reason was that the sheik knew that Daud was ill and +might require the attention of a doctor; he knew that one of us was a +doctor, but being uncertain which, had thought it advisable to bring +both of us. But the third reason was the most important, and doubtless +the real cause of our having been kidnapped. + +"From my friend Daud," continued the sheik, "I have learned much +information concerning you. From him also you have learned many things, +and you know of your mysterious fellow-countryman, as well as of his +evil deeds. You know also of the gold belt which he has with him, and +for which he promised to pay 5000 kerans. But of more recent events +neither you nor Daud have heard." + +Then he related how he and his men had come to know that the "ill-born +Ingleezee," as he styled him, had taken refuge with two Jews who lived +in a hovel close to the Birs Nimroud--the reputed Tower of Babel, a few +miles from Hillah. These Jews had always been firm friends of the +Shammar, and had helped them out of many difficulties, and for that +reason they felt bound to respect the person of the man who had become +the _dakhil_, or protected guest, of the Jews. They were thus cheated of +their revenge, and the blood feud was at an end. Yet, there was now a +hope that the Ingleezee, who was very ill, would be induced to pay them +the money for the belt; in fact, he had told the Jews that he would do +so, if he should recover sufficiently to reach Baghdad. The long and the +short of it was that Edwards was to go and treat the man, so that the +Shammar might get their 5000 kerans. We were, we were told, barely +twenty-five miles from the spot, and it was proposed that we should rest +the next day, starting on the journey at nightfall. We willingly agreed +to undertake the work, for we were naturally inquisitive as to the +strange individual of whom we had heard such queer tales. Moreover, I +saw before me a chance of striking a bargain for the Golden Girdle. I +was prepared to pay the Shammar what had been promised, and to give the +mysterious foreigner something for himself in addition. I built palatial +castles in the air, and continued to build them until long after our +host had brought his visit to a close. The Serpent Belt of Sophana lay +within measurable distance of my grasp. Two days hence it might be +actually mine. Before the week had ended, Edwards and I might be back in +Baghdad, when a wire to my uncle announcing my success would make the +name of Walter Henderson famous, if not in the world, at any rate in the +British Museum. My mother had often told me how, when I was quite a +small boy, she had been present, at the Albert Hall, at the reception +given to the great Stanley, on his return from the Emin Pasha +expedition; and how the Prince of Wales and all London were there to do +him honour. I trembled to think what was in store for me. Would I also +have to face tier above tier of London society? Would I have to deliver +an address, and relate all my experiences? Undoubtedly all these things +would happen, and more besides. I should, of course, be commanded to a +private audience of the King at Buckingham Palace, so that he might +inspect the Girdle, before others had seen it. Then I thought of the +endless dinners of various learned societies in London, whereat I should +be the guest of the evening. I began to wonder if I could stand it all; +or if it would not be better to seek the post of commander-in-chief to +Ali Khan, when he should be reinstated at Adiba. + +So I dreamed on far into the night, and the sleep that followed was +unbroken for many hours of the following day. + +At dusk we prepared for our new journey, and our friend Daud himself +brought us our horses, smiling as he told us that the chief presented +them to us. I was given the horse that I had ridden to the ruins of +Katib with Faris, while Faris's own horse was bestowed on Edwards. + +"Little did you think," remarked Daud to me, "that you would ever ride +this horse again." + +"We never know," said I, "what is written in our fate." + +"True," said he; "Allah alone knows." + +[Illustration: "DAYLIGHT SHOWED US, IN THE FAR DISTANCE, THE MOUND OF +THE BIRS NIMROUD"] + +Then, by the light of a glorious moon, we all rode out across the +trackless expanse--a few men ahead, a few on either flank, and others in +rear; and thus we continued to ride, Daud and the sheik ever conversing +with us, until the moon paled before the rising sun, and daylight showed +us, in the far distance, the mound of the Birs Nimroud. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRUE FRIENDSHIP. + + +During the heat of the day we halted in a grove, while two men rode on +to inform the Jews that an English doctor and his companion were on +their way to visit the Ingleezee refugee. Late that night they returned, +saying that our arrival would be welcomed by the invalid, who was no +better. So, shortly afterwards, we continued our journey, and in the +early hours of the morning reached our destination, when the sheik, +bidding us remain a few yards away, went on to interview the Jews. He +came back almost at once, with the news that the Ingleezee was alone in +the hut, as the Jews had left him some hours before. The man was +evidently very ill, and wished to see the English doctor as soon as +possible, but requested the sheik to keep his Arabs outside the hut. + +The squalid dwelling which we entered had but one small room, which was +badly lighted by an oil lamp standing on the floor. In one corner lay +the man whom we had come to succour. Speaking with a feeble voice, he +addressed us in English, but with a foreign accent. The voice was +familiar to me, but I could not remember ever to have seen the +scrubbly-bearded face of the speaker, who was shading his eyes and +gazing into my face. + +"Valter 'Enderson," he said, "you do not recollect poor Fritz Kellner." + +I stared at him in amazement, and, completely overcome, I could find no +words with which to reply. It was a terrible shock to me to see my +ever-cheery cabin companion in so desperate a plight, and to think that +he and his revolver had played such havoc with the Shammar. I turned +away from him almost in horror, while Edwards knelt down and examined +him; then, when I had roused myself to a sense of duty, I went across +and took his hand. + +"My poor friend," I said, "how _could_ you have come to this?" + +"It was that accursed Girdle," said he. "Take my advice, and touch it +not; for within it lies a devil incarnate, goading one to madness, and +impelling one to do such things as no sane man would dream of doing. But +it is a lovely treasure--the most superb piece of workmanship that I +have ever handled; and to have been the possessor of it even for a few +days was well worth all the hardships that I have endured." + +"Do you not now possess it?" I asked. "You speak as if it were a thing +of the past." + +"Alas," he replied, "I had to let it go. The Jews who are my hosts heard +a few hours ago that a strong party of Aeniza were in search of it, and +had discovered that I had it here. They may arrive at any moment; but +they will be disappointed, for the Girdle is now being conveyed by the +two Jews to a place of safety." + +No sooner did I hear that we were likely to be visited by Aeniza, than I +slipped out of the hut, to warn our people. Day was already breaking, +and the Shammar sheik laughed when I told him that the Aeniza were +coming. They feared no Aeniza, he said; though, even as he spoke, he +motioned to his men to get to their horses; and as I returned to the +hut, I saw him lead them away, at a canter, to a hollow in the ground +situated half a mile or so from the spot. For a long while Edwards and I +sat silently watching the unfortunate German, who now had sunk into a +restless sleep. + +"Can he possibly pull round?" I asked in a whisper. + +"I should not like to offer an opinion," said Edwards. "I have not +overhauled him properly; but, as far as I can make out, he is in an +awful state. If I had him in hospital at Baghdad, I might do something +for him. Here, without any appliances, I am powerless." + +"What can we do?" I asked. + +"We ought to send, or one of us go, into Hillah," said he, "and get our +friend the Captain to take the man into his hospital. It cannot be many +miles from here, as you will remember that we visited the Tower one +morning from Hillah." + +"I'll go off myself," I said, "if you will stay and look after the man. +I daresay the sheik will see me on the way, as he is interested in +Kellner's recovery, though I had better not say that the Girdle has got +adrift again." + +The words were hardly out of my mouth before the sound of countless +galloping horses broke on our ears; and, rushing to the door, we opened +it a couple of inches and peered out. The whole place seemed to be alive +with Bedouin horsemen, and before we could secure the door, the two +foremost of the party, springing from their horses, had torn it open. We +recoiled towards the corner where lay the feeble Kellner, who, either in +a state of delirium, or from force of habit, sat up and snatched his +revolver from under his pillow. Edwards, however, seized his wrist, as +his finger touched the trigger, and the bullet buried itself in the +roof. But the report of the pistol was the signal for a general assault +on the hut; we ourselves were quickly overpowered, and the whole place +was levelled to the ground almost before we knew what had happened. +Then, above the din, I heard a voice which to me was music. It was the +rallying shout of the great Faris; there was no mistaking it; and, a +second later, my hand grasped his, and Sedjur and Edwards simultaneously +recognised each other. + +"So it is you," said Faris, after he had recovered from his first +surprise, "whom I have been hunting for so long. How did you succeed in +carrying off that serpent belt?" + +"I have it not," I answered. "I have never seen it since that horrible +night when Raspul was killed." + +"But they told me," said Faris, "that an Ingleezee had secured it, and +had ridden with it to this spot." + +"That may have been true," I replied, "yet----" + +I broke off suddenly, remembering then for the first time that our +Shammar friends were lying in ambush close by, ready to fall on the +Aeniza. I was in a dilemma, and I could see that Edwards had also +forgotten everything, in his joy at meeting Faris and Sedjur again. To +betray the Shammar, I felt, would be base in the extreme. To allow them +to surprise the Aeniza would be still more base. Bloodshed must be +avoided at all costs. I knew that the mere handful of men of which the +Shammar party consisted, would stand no chance against the hundred or +more Aeniza who were with Faris; I felt convinced, also, that, however +great the risk, the Shammar sheik would not hesitate to attack. All this +passed through my mind in the space of a minute, and within that minute +I had also decided on the course I would pursue. + +"Sheik Faris," I said, and I spoke rapidly, "I am well acquainted with +your generosity. Grant me a favour." + +"To you, magician," he answered, laughing, "I will grant anything you +ask, knowing, as I do, that you possess the power to take it, whether I +grant it or not." + +"Then," said I, "bid your men mount at once. A score of Shammar lay +concealed over yonder. They are my friends, and I ask of you that there +shall be no bloodshed." + +"You are certainly taxing my generosity," said he, "but, though I do not +pretend to be a Hatim Tai, your friends shall be shown the road to +safety." + +Collecting his men, and leading them out, Faris rode towards the spot +which I had pointed out to him while I watched anxiously to see what +would happen I had not to wait long, however; for, before the Aeniza had +gone a few yards, I saw, to my intense relief, that even the Shammar +were aware that discretion is the better part of valour, and were in +full flight across the desert. Faris pursued only to such a distance as +to lead his foes to believe that he was in earnest, and then, recalling +his men, brought them back to the shadow of the Birs Nimroud. + +What astonished the sheik more than anything was the recovery of his own +two horses, which we had lost at the ruins of Katib; and, as Edwards had +foretold long before, he ascribed it to my dealings with magic. + +"One thing is certain," said Faris, after he had heard all our +adventures, "and that is that we cannot remain here. Hillah is too near, +and the Turkis are in a restless state just now. Our tents are but four +days' journey away; our riding camels we can reach to-night; the Jews +who have made away with your heart's desire we shall yet reckon with; so +you and the good Hakim shall come once again to the Jelas tents, and we +will start as soon as possible." + +"But what shall we do with the sick stranger?" I asked. + +"Leave him to the vultures," was the curt reply. + +"Great sheik," I said reprovingly, "that was not spoken out of the heart +of Faris-ibn-Feyzul. What if the Englishman who found your wounded +Sedjur had uttered such words?" + +"Then what do you wish to do with him?" asked Faris. "You say that he is +too ill to ride, and we must move quickly." + +Edwards and I consulted, and, much against my will, I felt bound to act +as he advised. We could not abandon Kellner; to take him away into the +desert would probably kill him; moreover, since Edwards had no medicines +with him, he could do little or nothing for the ailing German, even if +the journey did not prove fatal. On the other hand, Hillah lay only a +few miles away, and the Turkish hospital there was well-equipped. So we +decided that Kellner must be conveyed to Hillah, and as, of course, the +Aeniza would not go near the place, we two would have to accompany him. +Now came the difficulty; to walk was out of the question, Kellner had no +horse, and the horses which we had been riding belonged to Faris, who, +however, was in possession of the two horses which we had brought with +us from Baghdad. In the end, we agreed to lay the matter before the +sheik, and trust to his generosity to help us. At first he was greatly +disappointed at the thought that we proposed to leave him, as he had +intended to give us a grand reception at his headquarters, and he had +hoped that we would have travelled with his people when they moved to +their winter grazing grounds in the Hamad. He argued with us about the +folly of abandoning our search for the Girdle, after all that we had +passed through, and when there was every hope of our obtaining it, but +finding that our minds were made up, and that no words of his would make +us change them, he accepted the inevitable, and acted in a far more +noble manner than we could have expected. + +"You shall have your wish," said he, "and some day you will again visit +the Jelas tents, where you will always be truly welcome. I shall send +away to their camp all my men save six, who, with Sedjur and myself, +will ride with you this night to the very walls of the town. There we +shall leave you ere day dawns, when we can gallop away out of danger, +and overtake our camels on the way to the tents." + +How grateful we felt to the great man for this fresh mark of friendship +we found it difficult to convey to him in words, and Kellner, on hearing +the news that within twenty-four hours he would be lodged safely in the +hospital at Hillah, sobbed with joy. The glittering spears of the Aeniza +soon passed away over the distant sky-line, and our small party, lying +in a sand hollow, awaited the fall of night. + +Almost before it was dark, we set out on what Edwards and I felt was our +return to the world. It was a slow journey, for we moved at a walk, two +of the Bedouins on foot carrying Kellner, who was found to be incapable +of sitting on a horse. But the distance was not great, and, soon after +midnight, we saw the walls of Hillah outlined against the starlit sky. +Faris led us silently to a small date garden, in the corner of which was +a hut, where dwelt an old man, who, he told us, was his friend--or, more +correctly, his paid spy. Entering the hut, the sheik soon found the +owner, sleeping within the doorway, and a conversation of some length +followed. Then a candle was lighted in the inner room, and we were +informed that we could stay there for the remainder of the night. + +Making Kellner as comfortable as was possible in a corner of the room, +we received our last instructions from Faris. As soon as the gates of +the town were open, the old man would go and interview the doctor at the +hospital, and relate how three Europeans had found their way during the +night to his house, and that one of them was very ill. In all +probability, a Turkish guard would then be sent out to fetch us in, +after which it would be for us to act as circumstances dictated. More +than that the sheik regretted that he could not arrange. We thanked him +profusely for what he had done for us, and I promised that, if it were +ever possible, I would come to the desert again and pay him a visit. He +made us a present of the two horses, saying that we might require them +to reach Baghdad; and then, to my delight, he lifted up his cloak, and +unfastened my chamois-leather belt from his waist. + +"I have worn it for safety," said he, "ever since I returned to my tent +from our ride to the ruins. Your other goods, and those of the Hakim, I +will watch over until we meet again." + +"And should we not come again," I answered, "then keep the things in +remembrance of us. There is little of value." + +"The money in your belt, O magician," continued Faris, laughing as he +handed it to me, "still remains untouched. Thus again does your magic +recover your long-lost goods. Would that it had brought you Queen +Sophana's Serpent Belt also? But I will find it for you. I will yet +prove that I am worthy of the reward of the great Shahzadi's shoe. +Return to Baghdad, and rest there until a message calls you to the +desert. I say no more. Be patient. Allah is great." + +Gripping our hands in silence, the sheik and Sedjur parted from us with +unfeigned grief, and strode out into the darkness. A moment later we +heard a muffled word of command, followed by a clatter of hoofs, and the +party had gone. + +Sleep was out of the question. The day's work had been full of incident, +and a dubious morrow was before us. We had much to think over, and many +things to discuss; so, leaving the exhausted Kellner asleep, we went +outside, and sat among the palm trees. + +"George," said I, "we are in the last lap. It is a straight run home +now." + +"Yes," he replied, "unless something goes wrong. Personally, I am not +altogether sorry, except for your disappointment." + +"I suppose the best thing we can do," I remarked, "will be to get away +to Baghdad as soon as possible." + +"Of course," said Edwards. "What else can we do?" + +"Why, slip back to Faris," I answered, "and have another try for the +Golden Girdle." + +"Believe me," said Edwards, "you will do no good with the thing except +through our German friend. He has fought hard for it, and you may rest +assured that he was not fool enough to part with it without being +perfectly certain that he would find it again. Besides, have you not +grasped the fact that it belongs to him. He got it in much the same way +as you meant to get it." + +"Not quite," said I, "for he did not play fair with the Shammar who +helped him to get it. If he had paid them what he promised, then I +should certainly agree that he had every right to the Girdle." + +"Splitting hairs," said Edwards. "Judging by what we have seen of desert +methods, he who possesses a thing considers himself its rightful +owner--until he loses it. If I were you, I should wait until Kellner +recovers, and then try and come to terms with him." + +"I believe you are right, George," I replied. "But, to tell you the +honest truth, I have rather lost faith in the gentleman. In fact, since +this morning my dull wits have been sharpened, and, if I am not very +much mistaken, the German 'shadowed' me all the way from Marseilles to +Baghdad, and got out of me all the information that he required. It +makes me positively sick when I think of it." + +"Never mind," said Edwards, consolingly, "it was not your fault. One +cannot go through life in a perpetual state of suspicion of everyone. +You have still got something up your sleeve; for, when you tell your +story, the world will not count Kellner as much of a hero." + +For some reason Edwards and I were both in the lowest spirits. I, for my +part, had every cause for being depressed; I had had enough pleasant and +unpleasant experiences to last an ordinary man for his lifetime; my +labours had borne no fruit; I should return to Baghdad without having +effected anything, and, in all probability, my absence would have caused +grave anxiety to my parents. But, perhaps, what troubled me most was the +knowledge that I had been such a fool as to be taken in by Kellner. +Edwards, on the other hand, had, to my mind, very little to complain of. +He had seen more of the desert than almost any European had ever done, +had come through everything without a scratch, and was as fit as he had +been at starting. We had been living a free life for so long, that now +that there was the immediate prospect of our having to conform to the +conventionalities of civilisation, neither of us relished the idea of +the change. That was what was the matter with us; and I believe that if +I had argued with my companion for a little longer, he would have agreed +to leave Kellner to the old man, and have set out with me in search of +Faris. But I restrained my desire to influence Edwards one way or the +other, for my conscience told me that it was our duty to look after our +invalid. + +We talked spasmodically until the stems of the date trees gradually +began to stand out against the increasing light in the heavens. Then, +when day had come, the old Arab set out on his mission, while we +returned to the hut to keep the German company. Thus we waited, it may +have been for a couple of hours, occasionally going outside to see if +the expected relief was coming; and at last we saw a party of soldiers +riding towards us, accompanied by men carrying a stretcher. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +IN CLOVER. + + +"Gentlemen," said the Turkish officer commanding the party, as he drew +up his men in front of the hut, and addressed us in French, "my +instructions are to have the man who is ill removed to the military +hospital, and to request that you will consider yourselves as my +prisoners, and accompany me to the barracks." + +We told him that, of course, we should obey any orders that he gave us, +and at the same time asked him if he knew who we were. To this he +replied that his orders forbade him to converse with us on any subject +whatever, and he begged us to understand that, disagreeable as his duty +was, he was bound to carry out his instructions to the letter. There was +nothing more to be said, and though we were permitted to see that +Kellner was comfortably settled on the stretcher, we were afterwards +ordered to mount our horses, and ride, like real prisoners, in the midst +of the guard. + +As we entered the town we soon saw that our capture had been noised +abroad; crowds of Arabs had assembled in the streets to witness our +arrival; but it was evident, from the remarks that we overheard, that +there was a good deal of speculation as to what it all meant. Until that +moment, I had not considered what queer-looking figures we must be, and +when I looked at Edwards and then at my own clothes, I almost laughed +aloud. Each of us wore dirty and ragged Arab garments; our hair was +long and unkempt, and our beards were thick and stubbly. That we were +respectable Englishmen no one would have guessed. Even our own mothers +would have failed to recognise us. + +In due course we reached the barrack gate and were admitted, when we +found ourselves within a large quadrangle, where numbers of conscripts +were being drilled. Here we were ordered to dismount, and, our horses +having been led away, we were conducted to a house at the far end of the +quadrangle and shown into a well-appointed room, when the officer told +us that we were to remain there until visited by the Commandant. + +As soon as we were alone, Edwards and I looked at one another, and burst +out laughing. + +"We are a jolly looking couple," said I. + +"Just what I was thinking," said Edwards. + +"What do you suppose is going to happen to us?" I asked. + +"Oh, nothing much," he replied. "As soon as we have proved our identity, +things will be all right. They seem to have a great many more troops +here than when last we were in the place. I wonder if our old friend, +the Captain who showed us round last time, is still here." + +While we were talking, the door was suddenly thrown open, and the +Commandant himself was ushered in. He was a stout and pleasant-looking +old gentleman, with a merry twinkle in his eye, and no sooner did he see +us than he broke into a guffaw, at the same time holding out his hand to +each of us in turn. + +"Pardon my laughing," said he, "but, for the life of me, I could not +help it. We will have you washed, and cleaned, and put into respectable +clothes, before you are taken before the Governor. In the meanwhile, now +that we have got you safe inside the barracks, if you like to give me +your word that you will not leave them, I shall be glad if you will +become my guests." + +At first we thought that he was amusing himself at our expense, but he +appeared to be in earnest, so we accepted his proffered hospitality, +and were soon enjoying the luxuries of really good coffee and a +cigarette. + +"How long, Effendi, have you been in Hillah?" I asked, for the sake of +something to say. + +"Barely two weeks," he replied. "We came up with reinforcements for this +place and Meshed Ali, as trouble was expected from the desert." + +"Some of the tribes in revolt, I suppose," said I. + +"Yes," replied the Commandant, smiling, "but when I have heard you two +gentlemen cross-examined by His Excellency, I shall know more about what +has been going on. Now I will give you a piece of advice: when you are +asked questions, answer straightforwardly, and tell all you know. You +will save us all a vast amount of trouble, and you will not do +yourselves any harm. Of course we have spies everywhere, but we cannot +rely on them entirely, and in any case the views and opinions of two +intelligent Englishmen will be of more value to us than the information +supplied by a hundred Bedouin spies. The Governor is to interview you +this afternoon, and I have no doubt that, before that takes place, you +would like the services of a barber, and would wish to have a bath, and +some European clothes. I daresay we shall be able to provide them for +you." + +We were delighted with the turn of events, and agreed to help the +Governor with any information that we were able to give, and we jumped +at the suggestion of cleaning ourselves up. So calling an orderly, the +Commandant told him to conduct us to the bath. There a real surprise +awaited us, for no sooner did we enter the room than we saw Edwards's +Persian servant boy, busying himself with towels and soap. + +"What, Aziz!" gasped Edwards, gazing at him in blank astonishment. "How, +in heaven's name, did you get here?" + +"Hoozoor," answered the lad, beaming with joy at the sight of his +long-lost master, "I was ordered some days back, to pack clothes for +your highness and the other sahib, and to leave Baghdad with the +dragoman and some zaptiehs, and to come to Hillah. I suffered much on +the road from fear of robbers, who were reported to be numerous, but, +praise be to Allah, we arrived here safely." + +"Where is Dimitri Sahib?" asked Edwards. + +"He journeyed a few days since to Meshed Ali," said Aziz, "saying that +he went to meet you, and would return with you here." + +Then we plied the boy with questions, in the attempt to discover what +rumour had said about us, but we could get no coherent story out of him. +From what we could gather, at first we were supposed to have been +murdered; but, after a time, a report came that we had turned +Mohammedans, and were living with the people of some distant desert +town. But he did not appear to know very much, and he harked back +continuously to what was evidently the most important thing in the +world, viz., that he, Aziz, had braved the perils of the journey from +Baghdad to Hillah--in his eyes as great an event as a pilgrimage to +Mecca. We forgave him, however, for his inability to provide us with +news, chiefly because of the skill that he had displayed in his +selection of the clothes which he thought we would require. He had +forgotten nothing; and it was a real delight to us, after we had passed +through the hands of the barber and revelled in our baths, to get into +true British suits again. + +Our toilet completed, we returned, with the patient orderly who had been +waiting for us, to our quarters, where we found the Commandant and +several other officers ready to accompany us to the Governor's audience. +The Commandant looked us up and down with apparent satisfaction, and +then we all marched off. Whether we were still supposed to be prisoners +I could not make out; at any rate, we walked along by the side of the +Commandant, and conversed with him as if we were his oldest friends, +until we reached our destination when everyone suddenly assumed an +official air. + +A verbatim report of what took place at the great interview which +followed I shall not attempt to give. I doubt if any shorthand writer +could have done justice to it, for it was what may be described as +unconventional. We were treated by the Governor with the greatest +deference, and we were asked innumerable questions on everything +connected with the desert and the people whom we had come across. The +Aeniza and the Shammar, however, did not interest them much, as they +were regarded, like mosquitoes, as necessary evils. What they wanted +information about was Adiba and the trouble with Hayil, and on this +topic we were considered to be (as indeed we probably were) the best +authorities. Between us, we related our experiences with Ali Khan, and +gave a graphic description of the bombardment of his town and of his +enforced flight, striving to impress upon our listeners that he had been +basely betrayed by his Arab doctors, and that the Amir of Hayil had +behaved in a most high-handed manner. The dropping of the proverbial pin +could have been heard while Edwards gave his account of his treatment of +the sick child, and his description of the way in which he had outwitted +his rival physicians was received with no little applause. Ali Khan +became the hero of the hour, and the tyrant of Hayil was freely cursed. +Many and various were the questions asked us about the road to Adiba, +about the town itself, and about the strength of its defences, and then +we learned that Hayil was in the bad books of the Ottoman Empire, and +that the Turkish troops would probably be ordered to conduct Ali Khan +back to Adiba. + +So far we had got on capitally, and had quite enjoyed the interview. +Now, however, the conversation took an awkward turn, and the Governor's +questions became more or less of a personal nature. + +"Some four months ago," said our inquisitor, "you two gentlemen were +here, in Hillah. You left the town against the wishes of the Captain of +Police; he, poor man, is no more, but I possess a document signed by +yourselves, and its contents you will probably remember. In it you +stated that you determined to visit certain tribes of the desert, even +although he warned you that to do so might place himself and his +Government in difficulties. What have you to answer on that count?" + +"Nothing," I replied, "except that we regret to have been the cause of +any inconvenience to your Government. We were anxious to visit the +Bedouins in their encampments, and we were willing to accept all risk in +so doing." + +"Have you considered," continued the Governor, "what has resulted from +your headstrong behaviour? Possibly you may not have given it a thought. +Know, then, that had you not cast yourselves adrift in the desert, all +this trouble with Adiba and Hayil would never have occurred, and my +Government would not now be called upon to expend vast sums of money in +restoring order in those outlying provinces. Think again of the +misfortunes of Ali Khan and of all his people, driven from their homes +into the pitiless desert. Think of those homes, even when the people +once more return to them; many destroyed by shells, many burnt to the +ground, and all pillaged." + +We stood before the assembly, with heads hung down, and feeling as +uncomfortable as any pair of naughty schoolboys, while our tormentor, +who was a word-painter of no mean order, continued to lash us with his +tongue. When, at length, he stopped, I took courage and spoke out. + +"Your Excellency," I said, humbly, "all that you have said, we +acknowledge to be true, and your condemnation of us appears to be just. +Yet, on more than one occasion, we offered full apologies to our +protector, Ali Khan, for the great troubles that we had brought on +himself and his people; and not only did he freely forgive us +everything, but he even told us that he would not have it otherwise, +since he considered that, had we not visited Adiba, his child would have +died." + +"And in return for such generosity," said the Governor, haranguing us +again, "you thought it right, when within a few marches of Meshed Ali, +to desert your kind host, and not only to desert him, but also to +liberate three of his lawful prisoners and to steal five of his horses. +Why you should have acted thus we cannot understand." + +The speaker was now wound up, and refused to allow himself to be +interrupted, so we were forced to remain silent and listen to what he +had to say. He told us how, when we first disappeared from Hillah, and +did not return, our escort had proceeded for some distance into the +desert in search of us, but failing to find any trace of us went back to +Baghdad with the news that we had surely perished. The British +Consul-General then induced the authorities to make inquiries about us, +and at last it was reported that we had reached Adiba, and were the +guests of Ali Khan. Subsequently came the news of the downfall of Adiba, +and that we were with the sheik's party in flight towards Meshed Ali. +Naturally it was supposed that we would enter that town with Ali Khan; +and the British Consul-General, having been informed of events, +despatched his dragoman, Dimitri, to meet us and take us back to +Baghdad. As far as he himself was concerned, concluded the Governor, the +matter was at an end; he did not wish to intrude in our private affairs, +as our Consul-General had agreed to hold a full inquiry into our +conduct, which would doubtless form the subject of lengthy negotiations +between the two Governments, in all probability ending in the payment of +full compensation. + +"On one point, however," said he, "I am anxious for information: the +sick man whom you brought with you. How did you meet with him?" + +"We found him yesterday," I replied, "close to the Birs Nimroud, and he +seemed so ill that we abandoned our intention of journeying to Baghdad, +in order to bring the man to your hospital." + +"He shall be properly attended to," said the Governor, "and for what he +has done he will have to account later on." + +We were not sorry when the call to evening prayer closed the interview, +and the Governor, shaking hands with us, consigned us to the care of the +Commandant. With the latter we returned to the barracks, and on the way +learned that we were to be on parole, until the dragoman should take +charge of us. Our restraint was not very irksome, for the Commandant and +other officers went out of their way to make themselves agreeable to us, +and were evidently proud of having the opportunity of making the +acquaintance of men who had penetrated so far into the desert. How much +more interested they would have been, if they had known the whole story +of our wanderings! + +That night Edwards and I talked matters over, and I found that he was +wretchedly down-hearted about the future. If things were really as bad, +he argued, as the Governor had made out, it was all up with him and his +appointment. The Consul-General would, of course, refuse to let him +return to duty at Baghdad, and though he might possibly be ordered to +India to assume medical charge of a native regiment, the chances were +that he had already been either cashiered, or removed from the service +for absence without leave. + +"As to you," he said, "you have nothing to lose, since you do not hold +any official appointment; and you do not understand what it may mean to +me to be thrown on the world, without anything to do." + +He was so doleful about it all, that he positively made me laugh. + +"There is always Adiba," I said. "Ali Khan will take you back with him +as physician in ordinary, I am sure, if you ask him nicely." + +But he was not to be comforted; and thinking it advisable to leave him +alone, I went outside and paced up and down in the moonlight. While thus +occupied, I encountered the Commandant, who had just returned from +dining with the Governor, and was coming to see us on important +business. I told him that my companion was not feeling well and had +already gone to bed; so he unburdened his mind to me. Our escapades had +been the subject of discussion at the Governor's dinner party, and the +end of it was that the Governor had decided that, as Dimitri had not yet +been informed of our arrival at Hillah, we should be sent to Meshed Ali +and be handed over to him there. It struck me at once as a somewhat +strange proceeding, because Meshed Ali and Baghdad lay on opposite sides +of Hillah, and there seemed to be no reason for sending us off on a +three days' journey and bringing us back again. But on my remarking on +this to the Commandant, I was told that the Governor considered that we +should be given the opportunity of renewing our friendship with Ali +Khan, and of explaining to him why we had deserted him. We were to start +early in the morning, and the Commandant himself would accompany us. I +expressed myself as delighted at the idea of a visit to Meshed Ali, and +of once again seeing Ali Khan; and after arranging that we would be +ready to set out soon after daybreak, I bade the Commandant +"good-night," and went off to break the news to Edwards. To my surprise, +he seemed quite agreeable to fall in with the new plan, saying that the +sooner he met Dimitri, the better pleased he should be, as he was +anxious to find out how he stood with the Consul-General. + +Our ride to Nejf, or Meshed Ali, was a three days' picnic; we had +everything that we could want, a large escort, the companionship of the +cheery Commandant, the services of a cook who served up excellent +dinners, and Edwards's boy, Aziz, to wait upon us. Even Edwards forgot +his sorrows, and agreed with me that we were being treated right +royally. + +"I suppose it will all go down in the bill," said he. + +"What bill?" I asked. + +"Why, the matter of the compensation to which the Governor referred--the +cost of all our evil deeds," said Edwards. + +"Let us live in the present," said I, "and eat and drink all the good +things that we can. What is the use of worrying about the future, and +about such a hopeless thing as compensation? When nations begin to +discuss compensation, it means thousands, if not millions, of pounds. +How do you imagine that anyone is going to squeeze a paltry thousand +pounds, or even a hundred pounds, out of two such paupers as you and me? +My worldly possessions consist of the fifty golden sovereigns in my +salvaged money-belt, and they really belong to my uncle. So away with +dull care, and let the future look after itself." + +"Excellent advice in theory," said Edwards. "However, I will try it for +a bit, and will be ever so jovial." + +"Good man!" said I. "By the way, I wonder how that poor unfortunate +Kellner is getting on. Do you suppose we shall be able to take him to +Baghdad with us?" + +"I should think not," said Edwards; "besides, he is much better off +where he is. I expect that the man in charge of the hospital knows quite +as much about his business as I do, and the long journey to Baghdad +would probably throw the patient back, and as likely as not kill him." + +"Then," said I, "I think I shall try and stay at Hillah for a week or +two." + +"What on earth for?" asked Edwards. + +"To look after Kellner," I replied. + +"What possible good do you think you can do him?" + +"He might want to ease his mind," said I, laughing. "People do have +things on their mind sometimes, when they are sick. He might wish to +tell me, for instance, what has become of the Golden Girdle." + +"Still that old, old story," said my companion sadly. "Surely you and +your Will-o'-the-wisp have done enough harm already. The words of wisdom +which we heard in Hillah the other day do not seem to have made much +impression on you." + +"Water off a duck's back, old man," I replied. "When I have laid +Sophana's Serpent Belt at the feet of my uncle, then will I repent of +all my sins, and be good for ever afterwards." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +RE-UNION. + + +We were both quite excited at the idea of meeting Dimitri, and hearing +all the news of the world. We had been cut off from everything for more +than four months, and had not had a single letter, or a scrap of +information of any sort. We speculated as to whether the dragoman would +have brought our English letters up with him, and we wondered what sort +of a reception the Consul-General would have told him to give us. We +could not imagine the obsequious Dimitri being anything but polite, and +we knew, of course, that, of himself, he could have no authority over +us. We presumed that he had been sent up with an order, or a message, or +a letter from the Consul-General, and our presumption proved to be +correct. No sooner did we pass through the gate of the town than we met +the dragoman, clothed in his best blue serge suit, and wreathed in +smiles. + +"Here we are again, Dimitri," said Edwards, greeting him heartily. "I +suppose you thought that we were lost. We are very sorry to have given +you this long journey." + +"I am truly delighted," replied Dimitri, "to see you two gentlemen +again, safe and well. The Consul-General ordered me to convey an +important letter to you, and to return with you to Baghdad." + +"Where is the letter?" asked Edwards. + +"I have it," said the dragoman, "at my lodgings, and I shall hand it to +you as soon as I have seen you accommodated in suitable quarters." + +Having paid his respects to the Commandant, with whom he appeared to +have business to discuss, Dimitri came and walked by our sides as we +rode through the streets of Nejf, pointing out to us the great golden +shrine of Ali, and the other buildings of importance. He told us much +news, but, to our great disappointment, we learned that he had brought +with him neither letters nor newspapers; and he confided to Edwards that +he was afraid that there was trouble in store for us. + +The next excitement was the Consul-General's letter to Edwards, which +was brought to him soon after we had settled down in the room allotted +to us. Dismissing Dimitri, with a request that he would come and see us +again at sunset, Edwards nervously broke the seal of the letter, and +read its contents to himself. I watched his face as he read; at first +pale and serious, it presently flushed crimson, and the puckered +forehead gradually grew smooth, then came a deep-drawn sigh of relief, +and I knew that things were not as bad as Edwards had expected them to +be. + +"Would you like to read it?" asked Edwards, handing me the letter. "It +is marked 'Private and confidential,' but I do not suppose that there is +any harm in your seeing it. You will not mind his abusing you a bit, I +am sure." + +I took the letter, and read it through. It was of considerable length, +and began by severely reprimanding Edwards in strong official terms, +after which the Consul-General appeared to have laid aside his wrath, +for the remainder of the epistle might have been written by one friend +to another. He hoped that we had made good use of our opportunities, and +would be able to add to the world's knowledge of the desert. He even +expressed his admiration of our pluck in having lived for so long in the +wilds; and, except that in one sentence I was alluded to as "that +crack-brained treasure-seeker," there was nothing in the letter with +which I could quarrel. Towards the end, however, he had evidently read +over what he had written, and perhaps repented of having said so much; +for he added a postscript, which ran as follows:-- + + "Do not imagine from the above that I am not annoyed with you both. + I am intensely annoyed, and at present I do not see how the matter + is going to end. I am unwilling to judge you until I have heard + your own explanation. I beg that you will inform Mr Henderson that + I request that he will be good enough to accompany you and Mr + Dimitri to Baghdad forthwith." + +"Well," said Edwards, anxiously, when I had finished reading, "what do +you think?" + +"I think," I replied, "that your chief is a gentleman, and, though he +may think me a hopeless idiot, you may be quite certain that he will see +you through any difficulties that may arise." + +"I am glad that that is your opinion," said Edwards. "The letter has +certainly made me feel happier." + +"After all," said I, "we have done nothing extraordinarily sinful or +foolish. The Turkish Government gave me a _firman_, which was +practically a passport to go where I pleased. We were certainly advised +by the police captain, poor chap, not to go into the desert from Hillah, +but that was only so that he might not get mixed up in a row himself. If +he had thought that there was any real harm in our going to visit Faris, +he would not have lent us a guide to put us on our way. The one mistake +we made was not coming back that first day, when we found that the +Turkish police were after Faris. From that moment we were done. We never +had a chance of returning until now. And we have returned; what more can +they want? There is the whole business, placed comfortably in a +nutshell." + +As I concluded my address, Dimitri knocked at the door, and we were soon +informed of the programme that had been arranged for us. Next morning, +our friend the Commandant was to pay a state visit to the Governor of +Adiba, who was in camp on the other side of the water, and we were to go +with him. It now transpired that the object of our having been sent to +Nejf was not so much to be handed over to Dimitri, as to be confronted +with Ali Khan. The authorities, apparently, had a sort of suspicion that +we had not played a square game with Ali Khan, and the Commandant was to +investigate the matter. Directly our visit was over, we were to start +for Baghdad by the direct route, passing some miles to the west of +Hillah, and Dimitri hoped that we should reach our destination within +four days. The programme seemed to us a most satisfactory one, for our +consciences were quite clear about Ali Khan, whom we felt certain we +could convince that our disappearance from his camp had been not only +unpremeditated but also undesired by us. I, personally, was a little +disappointed that we should not return to Hillah, as I would have liked +a talk with Kellner; but, after what the Consul-General had said in his +letter, I thought it best to accept the situation, and get back to +Baghdad as soon as possible. + +At an early hour next day we rode out with much pomp and ceremony, round +the shores of the Sea of Nejf, to the Adiba encampment, and were met +halfway by Haroun and his brave men. He did not recognise us in our +European clothes, and doubtless thought that we were two inquisitive +Englishmen bent on sight-seeing; while we, fearing to upset +arrangements, considered it best to restrain our desire to make +ourselves known to him. Ali Khan received the Commandant in front of his +tent, and, after the customary compliments had been paid, the latter +requested us to come forward and be introduced. + +"I have brought with me, your Excellency," said the Commandant, +addressing Ali Khan, with much solemnity, "two English gentlemen who are +desirous of renewing your acquaintance. This one tells me that he was +at one time your court physician, the other your chief military +adviser." + +I do not know what Edwards's feelings were, but I, at that moment, would +have been quite pleased if the earth had suddenly opened and swallowed +me up. The abrupt manner in which we were, so to speak, flung at Ali +Khan's head was disagreeable in the extreme, and he himself was so taken +aback, that for some little time he could do nothing but stare at us +open-mouthed. There was an awful silence, and nobody seemed inclined to +break it, until, at last, feeling that I could stand it no longer, and +observing that Edwards (as was his wont when things were going +unpleasantly) was signing to me to say something, I stepped forward and +spoke. + +"Great sheik," I said, "what the Effendi has said is true. We have come +to offer an explanation in connection with a matter which we fear has +caused you trouble and pain. We have come to seek your pardon; for I +doubt not you have been under the impression that, considering the +kindness and hospitality which you always showed to us, we behaved +ungratefully and basely towards you, when we deserted your camp some few +days ago. Your knowledge of us is not slight, and you must have found it +difficult to believe that two men of honour--as you knew us to be--would +have released your prisoners, stolen your horses, and deserted you. Yet +that is, doubtless, what you did believe, and do, even now, believe. +Now, I declare to you, before Allah, that of our own accord we did none +of these things." + +I then proceeded to describe fully and graphically how we had been +carried off by the Shammar, and the miserable journey that we had been +forced to take. I did not think it necessary, or desirable, to enter +into details about Kellner and the Golden Girdle, so I merely said that +we had eventually ridden away from the Shammar on two of the horses +which had been stolen from his camp, that we had now brought these +horses with us, and that we wished to return them to him. I concluded +by congratulating him on the prospect of his speedy restoration to his +kingdom, and expressed a hope that his little son was still enjoying +good health. + +My speech made an immense impression, not only on Ali Khan, Haroun, and +the rest of the Adiba party, but also on the Commandant and his escort; +and when I had finished, our two old friends, shaking off all +formalities, seized Edwards and myself by the hands, and overwhelmed us +with expressions of joy at our safety, and of regret at ever having +doubted us. Though pleasant, the _denouement_ was decidedly +embarrassing; for the Adiba men crowded round us with offers of +congratulation, and we were only saved from being carried off our feet +in the frantic rush of enthusiasm by Ali Khan's prompt action in leading +us to the inner apartment of his tent, to be welcomed by his wife and +their beloved boy. Their delight at again seeing us was most gratifying, +and they were truly sorry when they learned that we were not returning +with them to Adiba. Ali Khan and his wife did all in their power to +persuade us to accompany them; but finding that it was a matter of +honour that we should return to Baghdad, they made us promise that, +should it ever be possible, we would pay a long visit to Adiba, and see +the place settled down again in peace and plenty, as they hoped that it +would soon be. + +The time was all too short, for we had to return to Nejf, and thence +ride, some fifteen miles, to the nearest khan before dusk. We therefore +prepared to take leave of our friends, and I asked Ali Khan's permission +to use his two horses for the return journey to Nejf, promising that we +would send them back to his camp by sundown. + +"Nay," said the sheik, "I have horses enough, and I beg that you will +accept them from me. Take them back with you to Baghdad, to remind you +of your promise to visit us at Adiba." + +With expressions of gratitude from both of us, with many handshakes and +last words of parting, we at length mounted our horses and joined the +escort, which had been long waiting for us. Edwards and I rode in +silence for some distance; I fancy that we had similar feelings--a +decided lumpiness about the throat. Edwards spoke first. + +"I had no idea," said he, "that the desert possessed men like Ali Khan. +I always thought that all the big rulers were stony-hearted tyrants, who +only made themselves agreeable to Europeans for what they could get out +of them." + +"Dear old Ali Khan has not derived much benefit from us," I answered. + +"On the contrary," said Edwards, "we have been a dead loss to him. And +he finishes up by giving us two horses." + +"These two old horses," said I, "make me laugh. They are becoming rather +a stale present. Within the last week they have been given to us no less +than three times, first by the Shammar sheik, then by Faris, and now by +Ali Khan." + +"Well," said Edwards, "I hope that this time we shall keep them, and +take them safely back to Baghdad." + +Arrived at our quarters in Nejf, we packed up our belongings, and were +off again in half an hour, the Commandant seeing us for about a mile on +our road, and then bidding us a friendly farewell. In order to make +certain that we should not get lost again, he gave us an escort of +twenty irregular cavalry, and I firmly believe, although Dimitri denied +it, that they had instructions not to let us out of their sight until we +had entered the courtyard of the Residency at Baghdad. At any rate, +during our uneventful journey of the next four days, they were always +about us, and on reaching the city, their sergeant requested the +Consul-General to give him a letter practically amounting to a receipt +for us. + +What the Consul-General said to us, and what we said to him, are things +best left untold. Suffice it to say, therefore, that at the conclusion +of the interview, we still found ourselves alive. Moreover, on that +night, and on many subsequent nights, we were the great man's guests at +dinner. + +After the life I had been leading, the humdrum existence in the city +soon began to pall on me. I had, within a few days, seen everything that +there was to be seen, and I grew tired of morning and evening canters +outside the walls, and of trying to make the round wicker-work _kufas_ +go straight up and down the river. I longed to be back in the free +desert, and one day, more out of fun than anything else, I suggested to +Edwards that we should pay our promised visit to Adiba. He looked at me +for a minute, as if he doubted my sanity. + +"What you want," said he, "is sea air. You will never be quite right +until you have taken a voyage." + +"That does not sound very hospitable," said I, "considering that only +yesterday you begged me to stay with you as long as I could." + +"Yesterday," said Edwards, "I did not know that you were so unwell." + +"To tell you the honest truth," said I, "I am sick to death of this +life, and if Faris does not let me have some news of the Golden Girdle +soon, I shall chuck the whole thing and go home." + +"You do not mean to say," said Edwards, "that you are still building +castles in the air." + +"No," said I, "not in the air, I hope. But if you mean that you want to +know whether I am still thinking of Queen Sophana's belt, I will break +it to you gently that, much as I love you, George, nothing earthly would +have induced me to hang about here for the last six weeks, unless I had +been in daily expectation of getting news either from Faris or from +Kellner." + +"Then take my advice," said my friend, "and give it up. Kellner, from +what the Turkish doctor wrote to me the other day, is too ill to trouble +about anything. Faris, I expect, has got other fish to fry. Besides, I +believe he is in mortal terror of that Girdle. In any case, even if you +did receive news from the desert, you could not go romping about there +again." + +"Oh, great wet blanket!" I answered, "have you no soul? Wait till I lay +out before you, on that very table, the string of twisty-twirly golden +serpents!" + +"I cannot wait so long, old man," said Edwards irritatingly. +"Unfortunately, I shall have to die, like other people." + +"Then I suppose," I said, putting out a feeler, "when I go off on my +next hunt, you will let me go alone." + +"On that point," he replied, "you can be absolutely certain. Nothing +that you or anyone else could say would ever persuade me to go on +another wild-goose chase with you. Why, the Turks are still saying nasty +things about us, and worrying my chief to death." + +"That," said I, "is all bluster. Hillah's Governor tried it on when he +talked so grandly about compensation. I happen to have discovered from +Dimitri that there never was, at any time, any idea of compensation. The +mistake I made was getting a _firman_. I shall make my next trip without +one." + +"By the way," said Edwards, changing the subject, "did I ever tell you +the result of the inquiry after Kellner's Baghdad merchant--I mean the +man who, Daud or somebody told us, was going to pay the Shammar for the +Girdle?" + +"No," said I, "the last news I heard was that he had cleared out of this +place, bag and baggage, and no one knew what had become of him." + +"Well," said Edwards, "he has been seen in the bazaar at Kerbela." + +"Then I suppose that he and Kellner have got some deep scheme in hand +again," I said; "but, for the life of me, I cannot fathom it." + +"Do not bother about it," said Edwards. "Believe me, Kellner has not got +a scheme in him at present." + + * * * * * + +About a week after this conversation had taken place, though many +similar ones had intervened, there fell in the midst of my dull +existence a very bomb of excitement, whose sudden explosion well-nigh +rent me in twain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A DESPERATE PLUNGE. + + +Whilst I was living in Baghdad, I used to amuse myself by a daily visit +to the bazaar, overhauling the _antikas_ and other wares of the Jew +dealers, and to save myself the unpleasantness of being mobbed by a +crowd of Arab boys, on these occasions I dressed in simple Persian +garments. The shop people, of course, knew who I was, but I mingled with +the crowd without attracting attention. On the particular day of which I +am writing, I noticed, as I walked about the bazaar, that I was being +followed from place to place by a ruffianly-looking Arab, who, whenever +I stopped to look at a stall, always seemed to be at my elbow. I began +to be a little nervous about him, thinking that possibly he might be a +fanatic, who, having returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines, and +having discovered that I was an unbeliever, thought to ensure his entry +into Paradise by putting a knife into me. At last I stopped, turned on +him suddenly, and asked him what he wanted. He was so taken aback, that +without offering a reply, he bolted into the crowd, and disappeared. + +A little later I left the bazaar, and strolled along the narrow lanes +towards Edwards's house. As I was nearing home, I heard footsteps +behind, and glancing over my shoulder, saw that my supposed Arab fanatic +was running after me. Thinking that I should have to fight, and seeing +nobody else about, I stepped back against the wall, and prepared to +make the best use of my heavy stick. + +"Master," said the man, as he drew near, "it is you who were with Sheik +Faris in the desert; is it not so?" + +"Yes," I replied, "I am that man. Why do you follow me about?" + +"I was told," said he, "that you would be in the bazaar, but I could not +be certain that I had found you. I did not recognise you with the hair +absent from your face, and in those clothes." + +"But why are you so anxious to find me?" I asked. + +"I have come," said the Arab, "from Sheik Faris, who bade me seek you +out with all haste, and tell you, in secret, certain words." + +"What were they?" I inquired, excitedly. + +"I know not their meaning," he replied, "but the words Sheik Faris spoke +to me were these: 'Go tell the Hakim's friend that _snakes which do +poison mankind cower before the eye of the magician; that winged snakes +drop their wings at the sound of his coming; and that the shoe of a +desert-born mare must needs have a desert home_.' Thus spoke Sheik +Faris-ibn-Feyzul; I have said it." + +I knew what it all meant. This was the message which I had eagerly +awaited for many weeks. Faris, brave Faris, had secured the Golden +Girdle for me, but he evidently intended that I should go and get it. I +wondered why he had not sent it. It would, I thought, have simplified +matters considerably. + +"Sheik Faris," I asked, "sent, by you, nothing for me?" + +"No," answered the man. + +"Did he not give you any other message?" I inquired. + +"I was to tell the Beg," said he, "that when the moon rises to-night, +three Aeniza, with a spare horse, will be on the western bank of the +river, opposite the great ruins of Ctesiphon, and will there await you +until daybreak to-morrow. The howl of the hyaena repeated three times +will cause them to make known their presence." + +"It is well," said I, and giving the Arab a keran to spend in the +bazaar, I dismissed him. + +Hurrying home as fast as I was able, with steps as light as air, I +bounded up the stairs to break the news to Edwards. He was out, and on +the table I found a note addressed to me. I tore it open, and read the +hasty pencil scrawl, which ran as follows:-- + + DEAR WALTER,-- + + Just had a message from the C.-G., saying he is very ill at Mosul. + Has sent the launch down for me. Do not expect me back for at least + a week. If I am detained longer, I will drop you a line. Mind you + do not start for home before I come back. So long, + + Yours + + G. E. + + * * * * * + +Calling a servant, I asked when his master had left, and was told that +the launch had gone up the river about an hour before. Utterly knocked +out of time by this unexpected turn of events, I sank into a chair, and +endeavoured to think out the situation. Something had to be done, and +done quickly. Nothing should prevent my reaching the rendezvous opposite +Ctesiphon that night. On that point I was determined. I would get the +Golden Girdle without saying anything to anyone, and with luck I might +be able to lay it in front of Edwards on his return from up-river. What +a grand surprise it would be for him, and how I should crow over him! +After all, it was rather a good thing, I thought, that both Edwards and +the Consul-General were away from Baghdad; otherwise they might have +interfered with my movements. I was, at anyrate, free to do as I +pleased. But how I was to cover the fifty miles to the spot where I was +to meet the Aeniza I could not decide. It was already two o'clock; I had +about four hours of daylight I could order my horse and say I was going +for an afternoon ride, then make straight for Ctesiphon. It was a long +journey to accomplish on one horse in four hours, and I had never +followed the road before. If I did not succeed in reaching the ruins +before dark, I doubted if I should ever reach them, and even if I +succeeded, I still had to cross to the opposite bank of the river. I +should have to swim it--there was no other means of crossing. I did not +like the idea. Then I thought I would cross the river by the Baghdad +bridge, and try to find my way to the appointed place by following the +right bank of the river. That, however, I abandoned as hopeless, for I +was acquainted with no road on that side of the river. My next idea was +to hire a _kufa_, and paddle away down stream. It would not be a very +great undertaking, as I could certainly cover six or eight miles an hour +by simply drifting, which would bring me to my destination well before +break of day. There was only one thing against this plan: I was not at +all sure that, being at such a little height above the water-level, I +should be able to identify landmarks. There would be a good moon, I +knew, and I had been to Ctesiphon by water once or twice from Baghdad. +It was a risky undertaking, but I did not see what else I could do. All +at once a sudden inspiration came to me. I leapt from my chair, rushed +across the room, and hunted among my papers for the river steamer +time-table. At last I found it, and, as I had hoped, discovered that +this was the day that one of the steamers left Baghdad for Bussorah. +Nervously I ran my finger along the line to learn the hour of departure, +and when my eyes fell on the announcement "4 P.M.," I could have shouted +for joy. + +I had a couple of hours to make arrangements, though there were few to +make. Still, certain matters had to be worked out. In the first place, I +had qualms of conscience about going off without telling anyone, and I +began to think that I had better take Dimitri, the dragoman, into my +confidence. But I was afraid to trust him, as I thought that perhaps he +would consider it his duty to frustrate my plan. Then I could not make +up my mind whether to disguise myself as a native, and take a deck +passage; or whether to go on board with a bag, and book first-class to +Bussorah. My difficulty was that the captain of the steamer was a +well-known member of the small English community in Baghdad, and a +personal friend of mine. In either case, whether I shipped as a native +or as myself, I should have to slip overboard when approaching +Ctesiphon, and swim ashore, and in either case I should have to deceive +my friend the captain. I hated the idea; but I came to the conclusion +that, as a desperate man, I must bury my conscience for the time being. +To fail now would probably be to throw away the opportunity of a +lifetime. I would tell as few lies as possible, and trust that some day +I might be able to make reparation for my evil doings. + +My plan matured, I immediately set to work to collect a few odds and +ends to fill my bag, fastened it up, called my boy, and sent him down to +the steamer with it, at the same time giving him a note for the purser, +in which I asked for a cabin to Bussorah. Having taken the first step, I +felt easier in my mind, and telling Edwards's servants that I was going +for a trip down the river, and should be away for a few days, I strolled +leisurely down to the wharf, and went on board the steamer. From that +moment I forgot my conscience altogether. I told the captain that, as +Edwards had been called away to Mosul, and as I did not care about my +own society, I had decided to spend the time in running down to +Bussorah. He expressed himself as delighted to have my company, and I +settled myself in my cabin, as if I really intended to remain on board +for three or four days. We were a little late in getting off, but I knew +that an hour or two would not affect my plans, as, even steaming in the +dark, we ought to be off Ctesiphon within six hours or so of our +departure from the city. + +There being no other first-class passengers, I dined alone with the +captain, and, aware that it might be my last respectable meal for some +days, I made the most of it, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Afterwards, +we sat long on the upper deck, outside the captain's cabin, discussing +many things, and watching the reflections of the bright moon in the +river. I began to grow anxious about the time, and a little nervous +about the part I was shortly to play. I was a strong swimmer, but even +with that knowledge I did not relish the prospect of plunging overboard +and making for the shore. I confess that it required every scrap of +courage that I possessed, and for a moment my courage almost failed me. + +"You are very silent," said the captain, after a long pause in the +conversation, "are you getting sleepy?" + +"I suppose I must be," I replied. "I expect it is about time to turn in. +Whereabouts are we?" + +"Getting near Ctesiphon," he answered. "We ought to pass it in about +half an hour. I must get on to the bridge, as we are coming to rather a +tricky bit of channel." + +"Then I shall retire to my cabin," said I. We wished each other +"Good-night," and I went down the companion to the lower deck. I had +previously inspected the situation of everything most carefully. The +first-class accommodation was in the stern of the steamer; the saloon in +the centre, cabins on either side of the saloon, with a narrow gangway +between the cabin doors and the taffrail. My cabin was on the starboard +side, and I had only to walk out of the door, take one step, vault the +taffrail, and so into the river. In the daylight it seemed quite simple, +but now, as the time for action was at hand, I had many misgivings. The +steamer had twin screws, and I was afraid that, if I dropped over the +side, I should be caught by the screw before I managed to get clear +away. I hastened to the stern of the vessel, and examined the water +carefully. The screws churned it horribly. Still, I thought that my +best chance would be here, as by stepping out on to the anchor, which +lay on the extremity of deck, and then diving well away, I might succeed +in finding my way into slack water. There was no one about; the captain +and the steersman were both on the bridge, and would, of course, be +intent on looking ahead. The time was slipping by, and I ran up the +companion to get a better view of the country from the upper deck. I +thought I recognised the beginning of the bend in the river close to +Ctesiphon. I had forgotten about this bend, but now I knew that it would +be all in my favour. Certain now of our whereabouts, I dropped down to +the lower deck, and made for the anchor. We were well in the bend and +only a few yards from the right bank of the river; moreover, the +starboard screw was barely revolving. Now or never, I thought, and +clenching my teeth, I stretched out my hands, and made a frantic dive in +the direction of the land. So close was the steamer to the bank at the +moment I left it, that in half a dozen strokes I found my feet touching +bottom, and I was soon lying among the bushes, and watching the steamer +continuing its way round the bend. + +I took some minutes to pull myself together; in fact, I sat there +looking after the disappearing vessel, until I could see nothing but the +smoke rising up from the funnel. Then my nerves began to trouble me. My +teeth chattered, and I shivered and shook as if I had a violent attack +of ague. I could not make up my mind to move, and I wondered whether I +had not made an arrant fool of myself. I had met a perfect stranger in +the bazaar, and had come here by his instructions. It was true, that if +the man were an impostor, desiring to lure me to this spot with the +object of robbing and possibly murdering me, he had worked up his plan +with great skill; and I did not think that anyone could have invented +the message from Faris. Yet, I did not feel altogether happy about it. +Then I thought of what an amount of bother I should give to the captain +of the steamer. My absence probably would not be discovered until +breakfast time next morning, when, of course, it would be thought that I +had fallen overboard accidentally, or had committed suicide. However, I +argued with myself that, having taken the fatal plunge, it was useless +sitting shivering by the side of the river in a state of inaction; so I +got up and struggled through the scrub towards higher ground, eventually +reaching a low mound. Here I crouched down, and putting both hands to my +mouth, as I had once seen Sheik Faris do, I gave forth a long piercing +hyaena call. The whole thing seemed so uncanny, that I shuddered at my +own voice. I repeated the howl again, and after a slight interval yet +again. + +I listened intently, and thought that I heard an answering call in the +far distance. Presently there came the unmistakable cry a little nearer, +and, before many seconds had passed, dismal howls appeared to echo all +around me. In my excitement I stood up and shouted, and almost at the +same time I noticed that there were men and horses quite close to me. + +"Where are you?" called out one of the men in Arabic. + +"Here, on the hillock in front of you," I replied. + +I waited a little, while one of the men picked his way towards me; and, +as he drew near, I called to him, asking if he had come from Sheik +Faris. The only reply that I received was a joyous laugh, and the next +moment Sedjur stood by my side. That meeting, so unexpected, was well +worth all the trouble that it had cost. Life was full of roses once +again, and we stood there talking for, I should think, a good half hour. +He could not understand how I had come, as he had expected that I would +have ridden from Baghdad, and when I told him what I had done, his +admiration knew no bounds. + +"It is good that you arrived so early," said he, at last, "for we can +now get well on our journey before daylight comes. I have brought some +of our desert clothes for you to wear, as you have done before; and my +father has sent you one of Kushki's own sons for you to ride." + +I thanked him for forgetting nothing; flung my bundle of saturated +clothes across my saddle, mounted my horse, and, a true Bedouin in +appearance, followed close behind the three long, waving spears. The +smell of the desert, after my sojourn in the town, was good indeed; and, +though I had had no sleep, and ought to have been dead tired, I felt +fresh, and fit for any exertion. I had, of course, asked Sedjur for news +of the Golden Girdle, but all that he would say was that his father did +not wish the matter discussed until he had seen me; and Sedjur begged +that I would not speak about it until we reached the camp. Thus, to my +disappointment, I was left, throughout our long ride, in ignorance of +the state of affairs. + +As far as I could judge by the stars, from our starting-point we rode +north-west, scarcely ever deviating from our course during that night; +and, crossing the pilgrim route from Baghdad to Kerbela some time before +there was any sign of dawn, struck the Euphrates, as Sedjur told me, +thirty miles or more above the latter town. After fording the river, we +kept along the right bank for the remainder of the day, at nightfall +halting at a small village, whose inhabitants were old friends of our +party, and who did their best to make us comfortable. My prompt answer +to his father's summons had evidently made a great impression on Sedjur, +who confessed to me, when we talked that night, that he never expected +me to come; that, in fact, he had tried to dissuade Faris from sending +him on what he considered would be a fruitless mission. + +"How much farther have we to go?" I asked. + +"When two more suns have set," said Sedjur, "we should be near the +encampment. We shall get on to the Damascus road early to-morrow, and +then there will be little difficulty." + +"That is good news," said I, "for, as you are aware, I cannot ride long +distances for many days together." + +"If I were to tell you," laughed Sedjur, "that we were to ride day and +night all the way to Damascus, you would not complain. You forget that +you have lived in our tents, and that my father and I know you perhaps +better than you know yourself." + +It was pleasant to think that my friends had such a high opinion of me, +though I hoped that they would not try me too severely. I did not mind a +long day in the saddle, if it were all straightforward going, but our +ride of this day and of the two following days was a perpetual anxiety. +There were only four of us, and we had to be continuously on the +look-out for prowling bands of hostile tribes. Fighting was out of the +question; all that we could do was to avoid everyone whom we saw, and to +trust to the speed of our horses, if pursued. But we were particularly +fortunate, for only once were we really troubled, and then, though +followed for some distance, we showed our pursuers that their horses +were no match for ours. Still, always having to be on the _qui vive_, +like driving a shying horse, is most tiring work; and I was glad enough +when, soon after daylight on the fourth day, Sedjur suddenly shouted to +me, "Behold our tents!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BROTHERS AND CONSPIRATORS. + + +Great was the excitement in the encampment when we were seen to be +approaching; some sixty or seventy horsemen, headed by Faris, galloped +out to meet us, and wheeling round in front of us, performed a +_fantasia_ for my benefit all the way into camp. Then everyone turned +out to greet me, and my reception was royal, Faris leading me by the +hand to his tent, and paying me the greatest honour. I could see at once +that his pleasure at my arrival was genuine; for, as he said, he and I +had been in peril together, and had seen stranger things than had any +two men of his acquaintance, and though we had met for a few hours +outside Hillah, he never had had the opportunity of welcoming me to his +tents, since the time of our adventures at the ruins of Katib. He would +have it that I had saved his life and that of Sedjur on two occasions, +first when I and Edwards gave ourselves up to the Governor of Adiba, and +allowed him and his son to escape; and secondly, when at the Birs +Nimroud, I had warned him of the Shammar lying in ambush. In vain I +tried to persuade him that I had done nothing out of the common; in his +eyes I was a hero; and, I think, still a little bit of a magician, +though he did not rally me on this point. + +"Well, now, Sheik of Sheiks," I said, after we had settled down to our +pipes in private, "what news of the serpent belt?" + +"Much," he answered, "and strange." + +"Have you, then, secured it?" I asked. + +"Nay!" he replied, "not yet. But it is yours to take when you will." + +"How so?" said I. + +"It is a long story," said the sheik, "but I will make it as short as +possible. After leaving you that night at Hillah, we returned to our +men, and immediately we scoured the whole country, in order to find +those two Jews who had carried away the belt, as the sick Ingleezee at +the Birs Nimroud had told us. We tracked them to Kerbela, and I sent a +message to them with a request that they would meet me at a certain time +outside the town, near the bridge, promising them gold for their +trouble, well knowing that without some reward they would never come. +They kept their appointment--the two of them--thinking that I had +intended to compensate them for having destroyed their dwelling at the +Birs Nimroud, of which event they had somehow heard. I paid them a +little money, and promised them more if they would permit me to see the +golden belt which the sick Ingleezee had bidden them carry away. They +vouchsafed that they knew nothing of such a thing; but, unwittingly, one +of them inquired how much I would give. I replied that if they would +sell me the belt I would pay them 2000 kerans. Then the two men +incontinently wept and tore their beards, saying that they would +willingly have accepted the price I offered, had it not been that they +had been robbed of it by a party of Shammar soon after they had left the +Birs Nimroud. They told me, when I had paid them a few more kerans, who +the Shammar were. It was the same band whose members had stolen the belt +from Raspul on that memorable night, and with whom you are well +acquainted. So those men are in possession of the twice-stolen treasure, +and we know where they have their tents, not five days' journey from +this." + +"Then," said I, overjoyed at the news, "the Golden Girdle is indeed +mine. If you will show me the way to the Shammar camp, I shall purchase +the belt from them for the value which I know they attach to it. They +themselves told me that their reward was to be 5000 kerans." + +"Why waste this money," said Faris, "when the golden serpents can be had +for nothing. Sedjur and I have laid our plans, and, ere half a moon, we +shall hand you that which you desire. Then shall the name of +Faris-ibn-Feyzul be made known to those who keep the big house wherein +lies Shahzadi's shoe. It is a small undertaking to surround and surprise +these few Shammar, and, _inshallah_--if God wills, it shall be +accomplished." + +"To obtain it thus, by stratagem and bloodshed," I replied, "would be +for me to invoke the curses of all the evil spirits which haunt the +world. Know you not, sheik, that these very Shammar extended to me full +hospitality? How, then, is it possible for me to agree to your +proposals?" + +"I had forgotten," said the sheik. "Those are difficulties. Can you +yourself think of any plan by which they may be removed?" + +"I shall require time to consider," I replied. "Allow me until +to-night." + +"So be it," said Faris, "and to-night I shall entertain you at a feast. +It is a great occasion." + +Glad of quiet and repose, I lay on the rugs in my tent all the +afternoon, and gave myself up to deep thought. That I was bitterly +disappointed I need not say. I had fully made up my mind that Faris +actually had the Girdle ready to hand over to me. I now learned that it +was some two hundred miles away. Truly had Edwards described it as a +will-o'-the-wisp. Was I to start again on another interminable ride? It +seemed to be my only chance; and yet, when I reached the Shammar tents, +I might find that my Golden Girdle had again taken wings. I began to +hate the thing; but I had gone through so much in my attempts to obtain +it, that I was more than ever determined that it should be mine. So I +thought on, and frequently wished that Edwards had been with me, so that +I might have had the value of his advice, although I felt that he would +have counselled a masterly inactivity, in other words, a retreat to +Baghdad. At any rate, I should now have the satisfaction of playing the +game off my own bat. + +At sundown came the supper party, and it certainly was a great affair, +all the principal men of the tribe being invited, and the dishes being +of the best. But I was quite unprepared for the honour that awaited me +at the conclusion of the feast. Faris rose and made a speech, in which +he told his guests that the time had come for him to prove to me, his +principal guest, in how high esteem he held me. He then spoke at some +length of the courage displayed by me on several occasions when in his +company, though I noticed that he was careful not to go into details +concerning our doings at Katib. He regretted that his friend the Hakim, +an equally brave man, was not also present; but he hoped some day to +welcome him to the desert. It was now, he went on, his earnest desire +that I, the bravest of the brave, should hold out to him, +Faris-ibn-Feyzul, a Sheik of the Jelas Aeniza, the hand of eternal +friendship. Throughout his long speech I had been hot and uncomfortable; +all eyes were riveted on me, and I felt that each pair of eyes could +read, in my crimson face, that I was a rank impostor. Yet they greeted +their chiefs appeal for eternal friendship with shouts of acclamation, +and not knowing exactly what was required of me, I stood up and spoke. +Thanking the sheik for the kind words which he had used regarding me, +but at the same time proclaiming that he had greatly exaggerated my +courage, I declared my willingness, and indeed my desire, that we should +ever be friends. + +"Brothers!" exclaimed Faris. + +"Brothers!" shouted everyone in chorus. + +Then I knew what was intended. I and Faris were to swear +blood-brotherhood, the highest honour that one man can show to another, +and by which we should bind ourselves, so long as we lived, to remain +true to each other, to fight for each other if necessary, and never to +quarrel. There and then, on the spur of the moment, the ceremony was +performed, Sedjur, on my other side, prompting me how to act. All stood +up in silence, and to the onlookers the scene must have appeared a +solemn and impressive one; for my part, I was so nervous that I scarcely +knew what I was doing, though Sedjur instructed me that whatever his +father did or said, I was to repeat. Facing one another, the sheik +grasped my girdle with his left hand, and I grasped his with mine. Then, +with our right hands raised to heaven, we pledged ourselves, I repeating +the words which Faris spoke, one by one, and each one many times. We +called on God to bear witness; we swore by God, and through God, and we +declared ourselves to be brothers to-day, to-morrow, and hereafter. It +was no light undertaking, and those present regarded the ceremony with +much seriousness, remaining silent for some time after it had been +concluded. + +"Now," said Faris, later on, when the guests had departed, and he, I, +and Sedjur were alone, "now, we are true brothers. Praise be to Allah! +From this time we have all things in common; should you desire camels, +horses, or sheep, take any that I have. Whatsoever is mine is yours, and +anything that you ask of me shall be granted." + +"Great Sheik and Brother," I said, "I know not how to thank you for all +the kindness and generosity which you have shown to me. Would that I +could repay you but one half. I desire nothing but the one thing of +which you know, and with it to return to my own country. This afternoon +I spent in devising a plan for becoming possessed of that Golden Girdle, +which we two once saw lying before the altar of Sophana, whom Raspul +called Goddess Queen. To unfold my plan and ask you to agree to it will +be to put your oath of brotherhood to a severe test." + +"Have I not sworn by Allah?" said the sheik. "Speak on, brother." + +I then expounded my plan, which was that, in place of my going on what +might prove a long and useless journey, we should send to the party of +Shammar now in possession of the Girdle, and invite them, as guests, to +pay us a visit. As I explained, they were my friends, and they were, +therefore, now the friends of Sheik Faris. He saw the argument, and +though I am confident that my suggestion was most distasteful to him, he +acquiesced without so much as a question. I explained to him my reason +for wishing that the Shammar should come to me, rather than that I +should go to them: I did not altogether believe in the veracity of the +two Jews, who had said that they had been robbed, knowing, as I did, +that the Jews of Arabia have reduced lying to a fine art. By persuading +the Shammar to come to us, if we should find that the Jews had lied, we +should be able to get in touch at once with the latter; whereas if I +were to ride away a couple of hundred miles, I should have to come back +again before being able to do anything. I was quite certain that if the +Shammar had the Girdle, they would sell it to me; for I had been with +them long enough to know that they were poor men, and that their sole +desire was to obtain Kellner's 5000 kerans. Therefore I proposed that +the message which I should send to them should be to the effect that I +was anxious once again to see my old friends, and that I would purchase +from them the Golden Girdle at the price which Kellner had agreed to +give. + +As Faris said, the negotiations would require fine handling, but Sedjur +stepped into the breach, and immediately suggested that he himself +should carry the message. He would go with one other, and he was quite +convinced that he would succeed in inducing the Shammar to come and see +me. The sheik consented, and, moreover, offered to lead the tribe +southwards in the direction of the winter pastures, by which Sedjur's +return journey would be considerably shortened, and we should be at no +greater distance from Kerbela and the two Jews than we now were. I went +to bed that night more contented in mind; I still had every chance of +obtaining my prize; I should have to pay for it, of course; but that I +had long decided would be necessary. If the Shammar had the Girdle, they +should have 5000 kerans for it; if the Jews still possessed it, they +would doubtless sell it for that sum, and be glad to get the money. The +only question that troubled me at all was the position of Kellner. I did +not wish to do anything mean or underhand, for he had fought valiantly +for the thing, and that he had failed to keep it was only due to his +loss of health at the last. So I made a vow that, when I had secured the +Girdle and had it safe in Baghdad, I would display the utmost generosity +to Kellner, and recompense him handsomely. I felt that then I should be +able to afford to be generous. + +Next morning, Sedjur and his companion set out on their mission, and +after they had left, I almost regretted not having accompanied them. The +sheik, however, laid himself out to entertain me, and on the following +day, the whole tribe commenced its annual migration towards the south. +It was an interesting sight, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I was glad +to find that the pace was slow and the day's march consequently short. +Thousands of camels and horses moved abreast across the plain, a few +horsemen scouting ahead, as an advanced guard, while Faris and I, with a +small escort, rode a little in front of the centre of the long line, +which extended across country for several miles. There was sport to be +had, also; for the sheik did not make these slow marches without his +hawks and greyhounds, and many a fast gallop they gave us. The camels +and horses were as good as a line of beaters; wolves, foxes, jackals, +gazelles, and bustards were frequently turned out of the scrub, and +pursued by hound or hawk. For a week or more we travelled in this easy +and delightful manner, pitching camp early each evening, and starting +again none too early in the morning. + +At length we reached the spot at which Faris had agreed to wait for +Sedjur, and so satisfactorily did the arrangement work, that we had to +wait barely twenty-four hours before we had the joy of seeing four +horsemen coming into camp. Sedjur's mission had been successful, and +with him rode Daud and another of the Shammar. I was not a little +astonished at the politeness with which Faris received his old enemies, +and welcomed them as the guests of the tribe. They might have been his +dearest friends; and the Shammar themselves were evidently well-pleased +at their reception. + +It had been my hope all along that Daud would be one of the guests, as I +knew him better than his chief, and I was aware that he was much +attached to me; but it grieved me to hear that, some weeks before, the +sheik had lost his life in a foray, and that three others had also +perished. Daud was now the head of this small family of the Shammar, and +he and the man accompanying him were the only survivors of the original +party who had been responsible for the death of the seer at Katib. I +mentioned this to Faris in private. His reply was typical of the man. + +"The curse has indeed followed them," said he, softly, "as I was sure +that it would. For the murder of Raspul nine lives have been given. His +death has been avenged, and the crime expiated. I am sorry for them, for +they were daring and brave men." + +"I have not told you, sheik," I said, "that this Daud and the other man +were both at Katib on that night, and were parties to the death of +Raspul the seer." + +"That cannot be helped now," said Faris. "I cursed them, and swore, by +Allah, that I would not rest until I had slain them. Yet the laws of +hospitality are in the eyes of Allah inviolable, and of greater +importance than an oath of vengeance taken in hot blood. I wish my +guests no ill, and I trust that the curse of Sophana may not fall upon +these two men." + +It was not long before I approached Daud in the matter of the Golden +Girdle, fully expecting that he would show it to me hanging from his +waist. But no sooner did I mention it than I realised that my hopes were +destined to be dashed to the ground once again. What the two Jews had +said was absolutely false. Never had Daud or any of his men set eyes on +them since the day that he rode with Edwards and myself to the Birs +Nimroud, and had then been forced to retire because of the sudden +arrival of Faris and his superior numbers. Certainly, as I had thought +probable, the Jews had lied, and undoubtedly with a purpose. I did not +altogether blame them, since if they were acting faithfully in Kellner's +interests, they were justified in throwing Faris and everyone else off +the scent. Faris, however, when I told him all, did not see things in +the same light, and declared that he would be even with the Jews who had +lied to him. + +I was beginning to lose heart. I felt that I was no match for Kellner; +and when I remembered that the Baghdad merchant, Mersina, who was +evidently Kellner's trusty agent, had been tracked to Kerbela, whither +also the two Jews had fled with the Girdle, I saw clearly what had +happened. Mersina had received it on behalf of Kellner, and had conveyed +it to a place of safety, where it would remain until the German was +released from hospital, and able to take it away. My sole hope now lay +in the possibility of purchasing the Girdle from Kellner--a poor hope, +at the best; and I settled that my wisest course would be to return to +Baghdad as soon as possible, and endeavour to discuss matters with him. +He might still be in hospital at Hillah; if so, I would persuade Edwards +that it would be friendly to visit him there. But, a few hours later, my +new plan was wrecked. + +We had assembled--we three, Faris, Daud, and I--for the purpose of +deciding if by any means we could discover reliable news of the Golden +Girdle. Each of us, though for a different reason, was anxious that it +should come into my possession. Faris, who had wealth enough and to +spare, had but one desire in the world--to become the owner of the shoe +of Shahzadi. Daud had dreams of placing himself on an equal footing with +the other sheiks of his tribe, as I had promised him that whenever the +Girdle should become mine, I would bestow on him the sum agreed upon by +Kellner. As to myself, fame spurred me on to exertion; but I argued with +myself that it was not a mere craving for notoriety, so much as an +ambition to accomplish that which I had undertaken, with perhaps a wish +to be able to prove to Edwards, the sceptic, that there was method in my +madness. I opened the debate, telling my friends what I had heard of the +merchant, Mersina; how I imagined that he was holding the Girdle until +Kellner should claim it, and that, if this were the case, there was +nothing to be done, since to dispossess the rightful owner was out of +the question. + +"The words that you have spoken," said Daud, quickly, "are wise and +just. Yet no man can assert that the dead have a claim on the goods of +this world." + +"I do not understand you," said I, "I was speaking of the living." + +"Then," said Daud, "you know not that that Ingleezee is dead?" + +"Dead!" I replied in astonishment, "why should you think that he has +died?" + +"Because," answered the Bedouin, "I myself saw him lying dead in the +hospital at Hillah. I happened to have been in the town in disguise, +when my nephew, who sweeps out the hospital for the base-born Turks, +informed me of the death of a strange Ingleezee who had come from the +desert. He took me to see the dead man, and I saw that it was none other +than that same man who had brought ruin to my people. I had sworn to +kill him, but of that I have told you. No knife of mine was needed to +avenge the death of my many relations. It had pleased Allah to strike +him." + +It seemed to me a dreadful thing that Kellner, of whom, as my +cabin-companion, I had the most pleasant recollections, should have thus +come to an untimely end, regarded probably by those about him in his +last moments as an outcast, if not also as a felon. But his death had +changed the whole situation; and though I did not immediately take it +all in, my more astute friends saw at once how matters lay. + +"There is only one thing to be done," said Faris, breaking the silence, +"and I am sure that my guest here will agree with me. Come, Daud, do you +understand my meaning?" + +"That, sheik, I cannot say," replied Daud, "but I have my own idea of +the only plan by which we can succeed. It is that we immediately seek +the Jews, and discover from them truly what they have done with the +Girdle." + +"And after that?" said Faris. + +"With spear and sword and with horse," answered Daud, his eyes flashing +fiercely, "pursuing to the limits of the earth, and sparing no one, +until we have accomplished our end." + +"In this matter," said Faris, "we are one. If you agree, let us swear to +be loyal to one another so long as we are fighting for the serpent belt, +and until our friend the Beg proclaims that he has no further need of +our services." + +"I agree," said Daud rising, and holding his right hand aloft "By Allah, +I swear it!" + +"By Allah, I swear it!" repeated Faris. + +Great plans were discussed by the two warriors, who apparently intended +to be stopped by nothing; and though I counselled moderation and as +little bloodshed as possible, I knew that it would be useless to argue +with two men of this description when their blood was up. I therefore +contented myself with listening to their projects, hoping that before +anything desperate occurred I should have an opportunity of interfering +and of preventing unnecessary slaughter. + +The plan finally decided on, and forthwith set on foot, was, in its +initial stage, simple enough. Daud went alone to Kerbela, where, as a +mendicant pilgrim from the far interior, he was to display much +religious zeal, discover all he could about Mersina and the two other +Jews, and remain in the place until he had found out what had become of +the precious Girdle. + +A week passed without any news, and my patience began to be sorely +tried. My hosts did all in their power to make the time pass pleasantly. +Among other things, Faris told me the story of Shahzadi's shoe, and how +Raspul the seer had prophesied: "_War and constant fighting there will +be, until the coming of the eight-nailed shoe. Wealth untold cometh to +the man whose mare shall carry the iron with which Shahzadi was shod._" + +At length Daud returned from his reconnaissance. I saw at once that he +was a changed man, haggard, and his eyes as if on the look-out for +danger. He told us how he had heard of the Girdle from Shustri, a Hindu +astrologer of Kerbela. Shustri related that the Baghdad Jew, Mersina, +had stolen the Girdle from Kellner and sold it for a large sum to an +important sheik bound for Deyr, a long distance up the Euphrates. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +DAUD'S ADVENTURES. + + +Daud confessed to us that he had no very high opinion of the Hindu +astrologer. He thought that he was quite capable of lying, if it suited +his purpose; and that it was by no means impossible that he was mixed up +in the theft of the Golden Girdle. If the latter were the case, the tale +of Mersina's flight and subsequent disposal of the stolen property was, +of course, an invention, to get Daud well out of the way; and it might +be that the astrologer knew that the Girdle was safely deposited +somewhere in Kerbela. The Shammar, however, came to the conclusion that, +whatever was going on, his line of action was quite clear. He would ride +after the sheik who was said to have bought the Girdle, and find out +what truth there was in the story. If it proved to be a lie, he would +return and tax the astrologer with the telling of it. So, getting his +horse at the village, and taking one of the Aeniza with him, he went off +in the direction which the sheik's kafila had taken. From information +picked up at the khans and villages on his route, he found that it was +quite true that the caravan had passed that way a few days previously, +but he failed to ascertain anything reliable about Mersina's presence +with it. + +Each day, trying his horse's powers of endurance to the utmost, he rode +immense distances, and after a while heard that he was rapidly gaining +on the sheik's party. Another long day's ride, and he probably would +attain the object of his journey. Starting early to make his final +effort, at mid-day he reached a small village, where, he was told, the +great caravan had halted three nights before. The Arab with whom he +conversed had a strange tale to tell him, and one which, if Daud had not +known the reputation possessed by the Golden Girdle, would have seemed +incredible. In the middle of the night, said the villager, the whole +camp and the village close by were aroused by piercing shrieks from the +women's tents, and soon it became known that the sheik's favourite wife +had suddenly started up in her sleep, had rushed in a state of frenzy +from the tent, and was flying screaming into the desert. The sheik +himself and several horsemen immediately went in pursuit and in the +course of the night brought back the unfortunate lady, who had +apparently lost her reason. More than that the Arab did not know, for +the kafila continued its journey in the morning, and the sheik, at its +head, rode by the side of the camel which carried the _haudaj_, or sedan +saddle, bearing his wife. + +Later in the evening Daud passed another village, and heard further +strange stories of the sheik and his wife; how the latter was raving +mad, and was under the impression that snakes were devouring her body; +how the sheik had attempted in vain to appease her, and how the mulla +had declared her to be possessed of a devil. These tales set Daud +thinking, and calling to mind the madness that had seized Kellner when +he rode away with the Golden Girdle, and the other curious things which +he had heard about its mysterious powers, he felt certain that the sheik +had given his wife the precious girdle purchased from Mersina. Rapidly +forming his plan, he pressed forward, and before nightfall he found +himself approaching the encampment of the sheik. He rode straight up to +the sheik's tent, and demanded an immediate interview. This was granted; +and Daud, assuming an air of importance, proclaimed that he had been +despatched by Shustri, the astrologer of Kerbela, to overtake the +sheik, and warn him of the evil that the Golden Girdle was capable of +producing. He told him what misfortunes had befallen people who had worn +the belt, on which there was undoubtedly a curse, and he pointed out +that it was Shustri's opinion that Mersina had committed murder and had +stolen the Girdle--acts which in all probability would intensify the +curse, causing greater misfortunes than ever to fall on its wearer. + +The sheik, on hearing this, became as one demented, and acknowledged +that he had paid a large sum to Mersina for the Girdle, because his wife +had desired to possess it; and that no sooner had she unwrapped it and +fastened it round her waist, than she was suddenly taken ill. No one +could say what was the cause of her illness, but now it seemed evident, +from what Daud had related, that it must have been brought about by the +ill-fated Girdle. The sheik, excusing himself, hurried off to his wife's +tent, and presently returned with the Golden Girdle itself, which he +cast on the floor at Daud's feet. For a moment Daud imagined that the +belt lying before him was his to take away, if he had a mind to do so. +He stretched out his hand towards it; but the sheik motioned to him to +stop, saying that he had conferred with his mulla, with the result that +they had determined that this thing of evil should no longer be +permitted to harry the inhabitants of the world. The mulla was now +consulting the Koran, and would in due course come and make known in +what way it would be possible to drive out the evil spirit. + +For some time Daud sat watching the entwined mass of serpents in front +of him, longing to snatch up the coveted belt and fly with it. Yet, +brave man as he was, he dared not to make the attempt, and shortly +before midnight the mulla came in, to declare what the Koran decreed. +Carried on the point of a spear, the evil-working Girdle was to be borne +with due ceremony to the Euphrates; plunged three times in its waters; +then carried, still aloft on the spear, across the river for a day's +ride to the east. Here would be found the dreaded Devil's Well, known to +all to be haunted by afreets and evil spirits, and the dwelling-place of +countless snakes. Down into the depths of this dry well the accursed +Girdle should be cast from the spear-point, and there it would find a +resting-place in fitting company, the snakes crawling over their golden +brethren, and the afreets and jins playing with them for all time. No +man would be found courageous enough to descend into the pit and battle +with its inmates. Thus would the world be freed from this great curse. + +The sheik agreed that the fate which the mulla had interpreted from the +Koran for the Girdle was well devised, and regretting that the Jew from +whom he had purchased it had left the kafila and had thus escaped being +consigned to the well with his stolen wares, he ordered a three days' +halt to be proclaimed, while he and a party of chosen men proceeded to +convey the Girdle to the Devil's Well. At break of day the party left +the encampment, one man riding ahead with the gold belt transfixed to +his spear. The sheik and his mulla followed, and behind rode an escort +of some twenty horsemen. Daud volunteered to accompany the sheik, +explaining that doing so would only entail a slight delay in his return +to Kerbela, but the sheik requested that he would go straight back to +the town and thank the astrologer Shustri for having sent him with such +valuable information. Moreover, he presented Daud with a handsome inlaid +knife, as a reward for his services. So the Shammar and his Aeniza +companion took leave of the sheik, and rode away to the south, at the +same time as the others moved eastwards towards the Euphrates. + +Daud, crestfallen at what he considered to be his failure, travelled +slowly, and, before noon, had covered little ground. He was disgusted +with himself at having let slip the opportunity of carrying off the +Golden Girdle when it lay at his feet. He argued with himself that it +would have been quite feasible to have snatched it up, and, while +everyone was in a state of bewilderment, made good his escape into the +desert. Now, although he had actually seen it, and had had ample leisure +to study the form of each serpent composing it, he had lost it for ever. +He doubted not that what the sheik and his mulla had said was true; that +the last resting-place of the golden snakes would be impenetrable to +man, and that, therefore, there was no chance now that it would ever +come into my possession. He had never seen the place, neither had his +Aeniza companion, and it was at the latter's suggestion that he decided, +a few hours later, that he would endeavour to find it, and satisfy +himself, before returning to Faris, that all hope had gone. + +Towards dusk the two travellers reached a small village, close to the +Euphrates, where they intended to spend the night, and try to discover +something about the haunted well. Their host knew of it by repute, but +said that no one would willingly pass within half a day's journey of it, +so evil was the locality supposed to be. From the village it was distant +rather more than a long day's ride, and when Daud expressed a desire to +see for himself what manner of place it was, the Arab reluctantly agreed +that, for a certain sum, he would, on the morrow, show his guests the +way thither, but would not journey with them beyond mid-day. Early next +morning they set out, crossing the Euphrates on inflated skins, with +their horses swimming behind them, and then, striking north-east across +the plain, rode rapidly for several hours. At noon their guide said that +he must return, but explained to them the direction in which they should +proceed, mentioning certain distant landmarks which would assist them to +find the way, and warning them that no man had ever been known to spend +the night near the well and return alive. + +Hour after hour the two determined men rode on, picking up the +landmarks one by one, and feeling certain of their direction. But the +sun was fast sinking, and there were still several landmarks unpassed. +Then darkness coming on, they were forced to abandon further progress +until daylight should again open up the country to them. Accustomed to +sleep anywhere, a night in the desert was no hardship to them, and, much +refreshed, they eagerly pushed on at daybreak. The last part of their +ride, they were told, would be in the bed of a wadi; then over a ridge; +and then the Devil's Well. + +In an hour or so they reached the wadi, and knew that they were nearing +their destination. It was now necessary to make certain that the sheik's +party had cleared off; so, casting widely round to the westward, they +searched for the marks of the horses, and soon found what they sought. +These footprints, they presumed, marked the route taken by the party on +going to and returning from the well, so they followed what had become a +beaten track, to find themselves, almost at once, on the brink of the +dreaded well. It was apparent that the place must at one time have been +close to a caravan route, though many years must have elapsed since it +contained water. In structure not altogether unlike the wells of the +Lady Zobeide which Daud had often visited when roaming to the south of +Meshed Ali, it was deeply excavated, and on three sides lined with +massive blocks of stone. The fourth side was more open, and seemed to +have had a succession of steps leading gently down to the water's edge. +Now, however, the greater part of the masonry had crumbled away; and the +steps no longer existed, except that here and there their remains could +be occasionally seen. Bushes grew densely in every cleft and on each +ledge; so that the precipitous sides of the chasm appeared to be clothed +with stunted shrubs. + +Daud waxed warm as he described the place, and said that from one point +it was possible to look sheer down to the bottom, perhaps a hundred +feet; and from that spot, he and his friend, lying at full length, had +peered into the depths. There they saw a space of some extent, the +centre of which was bare and smooth, as if water at times lay there; +while all around were strewn heaps of stones, which had rolled down from +the walls, with bushes growing between them. The morning sun, shining +through the open end, lighted up the whole well, and as Daud gazed down, +he could see clearly all that he desired to see. On the bare ground at +the bottom was the Golden Girdle, lying unclasped, in a heap, as it had +evidently fallen from the spear on which it had been carried; and the +mulla's prophecy was even already being fulfilled, for several great +snakes were seen coiling and uncoiling themselves close by. For a long +while the two men, fascinated by the weird scene below them, continued +to look down; then they arose and walked round the edge of the well, +surveying it from every point. That no man would ever recover the Girdle +they felt satisfied, and cursing the spot and everything connected with +it, they decided to leave it as quickly as possible, and return to bring +the news to Faris and myself. + +Riding throughout the remainder of that day and the night that followed, +next morning they reached the Euphrates, some miles below the village +whence they had started for the well. The river was in flood, and with +difficulty they swam their horses across; but at length, only the open +desert separated them from our encampment. Forgetting the distance that +still remained to be traversed, they had neglected to carry sufficient +food and water for the journey, and on the third day they found that +they had little of either left. They were now aware that, unless they +rode unceasingly and swiftly, they must perish of hunger and thirst, but +fortunately they were well mounted, and thus escaped the death that had +threatened them. + +With what excitement we listened to Daud's account of his wanderings +can be imagined. We praised him for his pluck, and thanked him for all +that he had gone through; but that all our hopes should be thus blighted +depressed us deeply. Faris and I talked the matter over for hours in +private, and we agreed that until we ourselves had looked into the +depths of the well of ill-repute, and had seen that it was impossible to +recover the Girdle, we would not rest content. One thing was certain; +Daud must guide us to the spot. But he could not undertake such a ride +for some days, although, when we spoke to him about it, he was eager to +set out at once. Yet we knew that if he broke down, our attempt would +prove a failure, and we decided that he should have a week's rest before +we put our plans into execution. + +As Daud's strength returned his enthusiasm increased. He suggested that +we should lower a man into the well at the end of a strong rope, and +with a spear-point bent in the form of a hook it would be easy to secure +the Girdle without actually touching the bottom and risking the peril of +snakes. + +In making our preparations the week passed quickly enough, and the world +seemed brighter again. We even went so far as to arrange about the +future. As soon as the Girdle was ours, we would ride straight to +Baghdad, my friends remaining in hiding near Akarkouf, while I rode on +in triumph to the city, and afterwards returned with the reward which I +had promised to Daud. As to Shahzadi's shoe, I swore to Faris, as his +blood-brother, that he should have it as soon as I could obtain it from +England. + +"Then," said the sheik, smiling, "will all the Aeniza remember the words +of Raspul, '_Wealth untold cometh to the man whose mare shall carry the +iron with which Shahzadi was shod._'" + +"And, brother," said I, "if it please Allah, that man shall be none +other than Faris-ibn-Feyzul." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE DEVIL'S WELL. + + +Never did fishing party go a-fishing for stranger fish or with stranger +gear, than did we five men, who rode forth, in the chill of the desert +winter's morning, on the first stage of the journey to the Devil's Well. +At first, it had been proposed that we should go in foray strength, +accompanied by some fifty horsemen; but, later, it was thought best to +avoid the display which might arouse suspicion, if we should chance to +encounter anyone on the way; and, eventually, the party was restricted +to Faris, Sedjur, and myself, with Daud and the Aeniza who had +previously been his companion. + +For three days we followed the route by which Daud had returned from the +well; then, turning east, we reached the Euphrates a few miles above +Ana. Crossing the river by swimming, we moved north again, and soon hit +off Daud's old track, after which all was plain sailing. We had reached +the Devil's Well--and no better name could have been bestowed on the +awesome spot. Even Faris acknowledged that the sight of the place froze +the very marrow in his bones. + +We wasted no time, however, in discussing our feelings, but set to work +at once to discover a means of reaching the bottom. Daud had not +exaggerated matters; to clamber down the scarped sides was beyond the +powers of man. There was nothing for it but the rope; so we followed our +guide to the point of land from which, as he had told us, the Girdle +could be seen. Only one man at a time could lie down and look over into +the abyss, and we took it in turn to view our quarry. Faris gazed on it; +then Sedjur; and lastly I myself. Sedjur demanded to be lowered +forthwith by the rope, but each of us had his own views of the +situation, and each hoped to be the one to draw forth the prize. + +It was almost noon before we had formed any definite plan of operations, +and the sun no longer lighted up the hollow--in fact, it was not easy to +see the Girdle lying below, until one's eyes became accustomed to the +gloom. Yet we decided, chiefly by my entreaty, to try the grappling +iron, and it was ultimately arranged that each man should be allowed +three attempts, after the hooks had been lowered down. Faris was to try +his luck first; Daud was to follow; then Sedjur, myself, and the Aeniza +in succession. When the others had failed, and my turn arrived, I took +my place at the rope end, feeling quite confident of success. With two +men sitting on my legs, I hung over the edge, and with both hands +grasped the rope. Barely a hundred feet separated me from the Girdle. I +could see its outline distinctly, and the grappling hooks within a foot +of it. Other snakes, besides the golden ones, I could see also--great, +grey, loathsome-looking beasts, and one of them, at the moment, was +actually crawling over the hooks and the Girdle. Little had I imagined +how difficult it would be to move the grappling iron, so heavy was the +great length of rope. My first attempt did no more than just turn the +iron, and I saw that all my strength would be needed to jerk the hooks +towards the Girdle. I drew in my breath, gave a frantic tug at the rope, +and succeeded in making the grapple turn bodily over. But it was farther +than ever from the desired object; and my third attempt had no better +result. I realised that it was hopeless, and, a sadder but a wiser man, +I rose from the ground. Neither did the Aeniza, who last of all +manipulated the rope, prove himself a more expert fisherman than the +rest of us. + +"It is useless," said Faris, "to continue thus to play with the matter. +Let us get to business, so that we may have done with this place before +nightfall. Come, the sun is fast sinking; bring the rope." + +Now arose a difficulty: each of us was eager to be the one to descend, +but Faris began to fasten the rope end to his own body. I remonstrated +with him, and maintained that the lightest man of the party should be +the one to be lowered down. This was, perhaps, selfishness on my part, +as I had every reason to believe that I myself weighed less than anyone +else. Sedjur willingly agreed to this, and, as the lightest, claimed the +right to the rope end, at which I became indignant, and demanded that +Faris should decide between us. Under other circumstances the friendly +contest between Sedjur and myself would have been intensely amusing. +Neither of us would yield; and at length Faris made us strip and stand +before him side by side, so that he might compare the size of our limbs +and the amount of flesh on them. Daud also was called in to give an +opinion, and in the end the matter was decided in my favour. My heart +gave a great bound when I knew that I, with my own hands, was to recover +the Golden Girdle, which had given me such an amount of trouble; and, +seizing the rope, I soon had it looped and knotted to my liking. I +considered myself more or less of an expert at cliff work, since I had +spent two nesting seasons with the fowlers at Flamborough Head, and I +knew that I had nothing to fear from dizziness. + +I determined that, so far as I was concerned, there should be no chance +of failure. Securing the rope round my waist with a knot which I was +certain could not slip, I took the fathom or so that remained, and, +passing it down through my legs, knotted it into the waist rope in the +middle of my back. The end I then brought up over my shoulder, and +fastened off in the front of the waist rope. Thus, when suspended, my +arms and legs would be free, and the rope would not cut me unduly +anywhere. My friends, seeing that I was no novice with a rope, willingly +listened to the instructions that I proceeded to give them about +lowering me down and hauling me up again. Faris was to lie flat on the +projecting rock, watching me descend, and directing operations. Near the +edge of the point, I drove in a spear as firmly as the rocky ground +would permit, and, some little distance behind it, I planted another +spear. Passing the rope twice round each upright spear, I directed Daud, +Sedjur, and the other man to hold the standing part of the rope in both +hands, and pay it out gradually, as Faris should instruct them. Then, +when all was ready, I took the spear with the boat-hook head in both +hands, and was soon hanging in space. + +Down, down, slowly but surely, I commenced to drop. As I descended, the +air grew cold and dank; pigeons, startled by my presence, flew out of +the fissures in the rocks, and occasionally a great bat made as if to +attack me. Owls, also, I could see blinking on the gnarled bushes, and +below, whenever I looked down, there were the snakes. It was not a +pleasant experience, and for a moment I almost wished that I had been a +heavier man than Sedjur. Faris's head was just visible over the edge of +the point, and I could see his hands guiding the rope, which passed over +a smooth rock close by the side of his head. As far as possible, I kept +my eyes fixed on Faris, signing to him at intervals to lower away, and +shouting to him cheerily, from time to time, to assure him that all was +going satisfactorily. I began to congratulate myself on the success of +my undertaking; I looked down to see how much farther I had to go; +another twenty feet, and the Girdle would be within reach of my hook. At +that moment, the rope suddenly ran out a yard or more with a rush, and +then stopped as suddenly with a jerk, causing me to swing backwards and +forwards in a most horrible manner. Instinctively I threw out my +boat-hook to the cliff-side nearest to me in order to steady myself, +and, to my dismay, I found that it had become fixed in a thick bush. I +shouted to Faris to hold fast to the rope, but getting no response, +glanced upwards. He had disappeared from his look-out post; and a +feeling of utter helplessness took possession of me. + +I dared not let go my hold on the boat-hook spear, as without it I +should be able to do nothing. I was hanging from the rope in mid-air, +clasping the centre of the spear-shaft with both hands. Thus I remained +for, it may have been, two seconds--not longer, when I gave a sharp pull +at the rope to attract the attention of those above. What followed I +hardly know. I have a dim recollection of seeing a man come plunging +over the edge, mixed up with spears and ropes. I was loose. I clutched +the boat-hook in desperation, and felt myself suddenly swing towards the +side of the cliff. Then the shaft of the boat-hook dragged through my +hands, my body crashed down, and everything became black. + +Of what happened after that I know nothing. Neither can I say for +certain, even now, whether I lay there unconscious for only a few hours, +or for more than twenty-four. On opening my eyes at last, I found that +it was night, and for some time I could not understand where I was. Then +the whole hideous truth dawned on me, and I recalled what I had last +seen--the loose rope, the spears, and the falling man. I was, then, down +in the well; and I shuddered as I remembered the snakes that I had seen +at the bottom. I was afraid to move, but feeling carefully with my +hands, I came to the conclusion that I was lying on a ledge, and had not +fallen the whole distance to the bottom. Still, the situation was +appalling, for unless my friends found some means to rescue me, I saw no +possibility of escape. Exhausted, yet fearing to fall asleep, I lay, and +prayed for daylight, not knowing whether the night had just begun, or +whether it was drawing to a close. I called loudly to Faris, to Sedjur, +and to Daud; but each time there came back only the echo of my own +voice, mingled with the shrill screams of countless owls. That the place +was haunted did not greatly trouble me, for I argued with myself that +all the afreets and jins in spirit-land could do no more than kill me, +which, perhaps, would be the best thing that could happen. + +Thus I remained motionless, hoping for dawn, and thinking regretfully +over the events of my short life. It seemed pitiful to think that I +should have been so near the attainment of all my hopes, and should +suddenly have lost everything. Then I tried to find a reason for what +had occurred, and I became convinced that it was the result of my own +folly, that the rope had kinked up, that Faris had left his spot in +order to free it, and that my foolish jerk had pulled him off his feet +and hurled him into the depths of the well. His dead body, I thought, +must be lying somewhere near me; and I shuddered at the knowledge that I +had caused the death of the brave sheik, simply and solely because I had +been so obstinately determined to obtain the Golden Girdle. As many +another man had done before me, I cursed the thing, and remembered, with +bitterness, how Faris had warned me from the first that no good would +ever come from it. + +In the course of time the sky began to show a faint glimmer of light, +and I knew that day was breaking. I could make out the shapes of the +rocks and the bushes, and I soon saw how everything lay. As I had +imagined, I was lying on a narrow ledge, on to which I must have been +cast, by the swing of the spear-shaft, as the rope gave way. I looked +above me, and there I saw the spear itself, with its boat-hook head +fixed in a dense bush, and the end of the shaft not two feet above my +face. When I sat up, I could almost reach it with my hands. I raised +myself carefully, grasped the spear, and endeavoured to disentangle its +hooked head. It resisted all my efforts for some time, but eventually a +small branch broke off, and the boat-hook was loose. + +My next thought was to look for the sheik's body, and, craning over the +side of the ledge, I glanced down at the bottom of the well. The sun had +now risen, and was shining brightly on the wild scene. Not fifteen feet +beneath me glittered the Golden Girdle, and the sight of it caused me to +tremble violently. Close by it were one or two snakes, basking in the +morning sun. I hastily scanned the ledge whereon I was kneeling, to make +certain that other snakes were not there also. I could see none, and I +gave a sigh of relief. Again I sought the body of Faris, and presently +my eyes fell on a shapeless mass of clothing, lying among the debris of +rocks on the opposite side of the well. In my agony, my first impulse +was to fling myself on to the rocks below, and so end my miserable +existence. But I restrained myself, and involuntarily turned my eyes in +the direction of the gruesome corpse. A ray of hope suddenly burst in +upon me. The clothes were not those worn by Faris, nor by Sedjur, nor by +either of my other friends; they were not the clothes of a Bedouin, but +of an Arab townsman. Who or what he was I could not imagine. + +Half dazed, I sat down and wondered what it all meant. Faris and the +others were alive after all; they would shortly come to my rescue; they +had probably gone off to obtain another rope. I felt happier. I still +lived, and I was certain that Faris, my blood-brother, was not the man +to leave me to die. Then a horrible fear came over me as I thought that, +perhaps, the sheik had imagined that I had been killed by the fall. +Possibly, while I was unconscious, he had called to me, and, receiving +no reply, had given me up as dead. If he thought me to be dead, then he +would certainly leave the Girdle at rest. These thoughts sent a thrill +of horror through me, but at the same time they impelled me to cast +about for a means of escape. I roused myself. I would not sit where I +was and await death. I would make a fight for life. + +The resolution made, I became calm and collected--much to my own +astonishment. I looked around me. The rope was still secured to my +waist, the bulk of it lying at the bottom of the well. I hauled it up +and coiled it by my side on the ledge. With the rope and my long +boat-hook, I should be able to manage something--at least I hoped so. +With the aid of these two things, I could surely work my way upwards +from rock to rock, and from bush to bush. I could not endure another +night in this Inferno, and I formed my plans rapidly. I raised the +boat-hook, and with it grappled the bush above me. I could see that +there was another ledge there, and to reach it meant ten feet nearer +freedom; but I found that swarming up a smooth bamboo was more than I +could manage; so, drawing down the boat-hook, and poising the loose end +of the rope on its top, I raised it again, and, after several vain +attempts, succeeded in passing the rope round the stem of the bush. +Then, inch by inch, I jerked the rope forward until the end returned to +my hand, when, knotting it securely, and fixing the head of the +boat-hook in the bush, I clambered up the double rope, to reach the +narrow ledge in safety. I drew up the boat-hook and the rope, and now +that I had accomplished the first step, I no longer despaired. + +Looking down, while resting after my exertion, I caught sight of the +fateful Girdle. It had a dreadful fascination for me. Should I leave it +there? Could I possibly obtain it? I shook with excitement at the very +idea; and I decided that I would drop down again to my former position +on the lower ledge, and see if I could in any way get nearer to the +bottom of the well. I hung the boat-hook in the bush, tied the rope to +the thickest bough, and slipped down. The situation I found was not by +any means hopeless; in fact, to reach a spot overhanging the Girdle, and +within spear's length of it, seemed to be perfectly simple. About eight +feet below me was a projecting rock, quite large enough to stand on, and +from it, I estimated, I could easily touch the golden serpents with my +hook. + +I determined now to run no risk of losing either of the two things on +which my life depended. The rope, still looped round the bush above me, +I slackened out sufficiently to enable me to reach the rock below, and +drawing the long end through the loop that encircled my waist, I made it +fast, coiling the remainder round my body, and securing the end to the +shaft of the boat-hook. Thus equipped, I descended cautiously, and, in +less than a minute, was standing on the rock. Pulling at the portion of +the rope to which the boat-hook was fastened, I dragged the latter off +the ledge, and soon had it in my hands. My estimate proved correct; the +head of the boat-hook could touch the ground a foot or two over and +beyond the Golden Girdle. + +As the iron hooks scraped on the ground, the live snakes hissed and +wriggled away among the fallen stones. Skilfully, I gauged the centre of +the belt, and passing the boat-hook beneath it, gently raised my hands. +But the belt slipped off, and I had to start afresh. The same thing +occurred time after time, until at length I balanced it exactly, and +slowly and steadily drew it up. As it came nearer and nearer, my knees +shook beneath me, and every moment I expected to see it slither to the +ground. Another foot and it would be safe. I thrust out one hand and +grasped it. In my frantic joy I shouted again and again. I defied the +whole host of jins and afreets; I cared not for Shaitan himself. I had +won the day. The Golden Girdle was mine! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +FOR DEAR LIFE. + + +I drew out my knife, cut off several feet from the rope end, and +twisting it round and round the Girdle, tied it with strong knots +beneath my garments. Joyously, I climbed to the ledge above me, and then +again to the second ledge. There I rested, and studied the cliff above +me. It was disappointing; for it rose up sheer for almost twenty feet, +and no foothold could I see anywhere. I crept carefully round a slightly +projecting rock, and found that a narrow cleft, with perpendicular +sides, opened back into the cliff. It seemed as if an earthquake or some +subsidence had rent the rocks asunder from the top of the well to the +bottom. Down below me, the fissure descended full thirty feet; upwards, +perhaps for twice that height, the walls towered to what I imagined was +the edge of the well. + +This was my only chance. I could discover no other possible way of +escape from the shelf on which I stood. I wondered if there could be +snakes in such a place, but so far I had seen none except at the very +bottom. So I dismissed the thought, and began my preparations. + +I knew that chimney climbing was a special branch of mountaineering. I +had seen it done, but I myself had never attempted anything of the kind. +Yet, it was no time for hesitating, and now that I had the Girdle round +my waist, I felt nervously anxious to get away. Taking off my sandals +and tying them round my neck I unwound the loose coils of rope from my +body, tied the end to the boat-hook head, and placed the latter, +together with the coiled rope, on the rock at the mouth of the fissure. +I might want my trusty boat-hook again, so I decided to keep it secured +to one end of the rope, the other end of which was attached to my body. +It was a simple matter to get athwart the chimney walls, which were here +no more than two feet apart, with rough portions of rock projecting a +few inches. My back was flat against one wall, my feet against the +other, and once I found myself in that position, I did not stop to +think. Raising my feet a few inches, and pressing hard with my back and +hands, I found my body gradually ascending, with far less difficulty +than I had expected. It was, however, laborious work, and at times I +despaired of being able to reach the top. The long rope, also, hanging +loosely between my legs caused me a good deal of annoyance, as I was +ever in doubt as to whether it would run out freely; though I consoled +myself with the thought that, if the worst came to the worst, I could +cast it off from my body. + +Hour after hour I continued to work my way upwards. My feet, hands, and +back were stiff and sore with the constant strain and rubbing; but as I +looked down, I realised how magnificently I had done. I felt that I had +become a mere machine--up with the feet, up with the back, and another +six inches nearer the world. I forgot hunger and thirst, and I thought +only of the streak of blue sky that I could see through the top of my +prison chamber. I was desperate, I own, but my heart never failed me; +and, as I gained confidence in the security of my wedged-in position, I +was able, when I became exhausted, to rest occasionally. + +At last, I looked up and found that I was nearing the top. Another +twelve or fifteen feet, and I should be free. But, alas, I saw that the +cleft was widening, and at the top was two or three yards across. Even +now, it had become more than three feet wide, and every inch would +increase my difficulties. I struggled on a little higher. With the whole +of my back flat against one wall and the soles of my feet against the +other, my knees were no higher than my waist. I could go on slowly as +long as my knees had any bend in them; after that I should be powerless. + +I stopped, and gazed up again. How near I was to the edge! Six +feet--perhaps not as much. Yet, a step higher, and the chimney would be +too wide for my legs to span. An old and straggling bush grew on the +edge, with branches extended mockingly above me. Could I but reach that +bush, I should be safe. But it was well-nigh impossible. I looked down +into the depths of the fissure, and I thought of what was before me; how +my legs would soon give way, and how my body would bound from side to +side, until the final crash finished everything. Then my eyes followed +the long, trailing rope, and rested on the tiny boat-hook, far below. I +had forgotten its very existence, but the sight of it gave me fresh +hope. + +Pressing with all my strength with feet and back, I began to haul away +at the rope. Yard after yard came up, and then I felt a check. I knew +that I had taken in all the slack, and had come to the boat-hook. I +wondered whether its weight would be too much for me. Gradually and +carefully I pulled at it; I could hear it grating over the rock; one +pull more and it was free, and swinging against the sides of the +chimney. Its weight was little, and hand over hand I gathered in the +rope, allowing it to fall down again to one side, until, before very +long, the head of the boat-hook struck my knuckles. I passed the shaft +upwards between my legs; in trepidation I watched the hook approach the +bush, and when I saw that the bamboo was more than long enough, I +breathed more freely. I was getting horribly nervous and excited, and I +nearly lost my footing in my eagerness to grasp the bush with the hook. +I took a pull at myself, and the next moment the boat-hook, with the +rope attached to it, was round the solid stem of the bush. + +But I was not yet free. I knew that I could not climb up the bamboo, and +I did not feel equal to climbing up the rope. Before attempting +anything, however, I determined to make myself as safe as possible, so, +taking up a portion of the rope, I knotted it firmly into the loop round +my waist, and encircled the spear-shaft with my arm. I now considered +that I was quite secure; a taut rope stretched from my waist to the hook +fastened in the bush, and as long as I held the shaft, so as to prevent +the chance of its flying upwards when my weight came on the rope, I felt +that I could not come to much harm. Even if my exhausted legs gave way, +I should still hang from the bush, but I had no intention of relying on +this, unless forced to do so. I sat there and rested, easing first one +leg and then the other; I wondered whether the bush would be strong +enough to bear the strain that I should presently put on it; and I +nerved myself for my final effort. + +Raising my hands as high as possible above my head, I grasped the rope, +and, still keeping the long bamboo close to my right hip and between it +and my right armpit, I hauled myself upwards. Had the cleft remained the +same width all the way to the top, my ascent would have been easy; but +when I was within a yard of the bush, it widened suddenly, and before I +knew what had happened, my feet had lost their hold, and I was hanging +by my hands to the rope. Desperation seized me, and I fancy that the +roughness of the rocks helped me; for, with a frantic effort, I pulled +myself up the rope, assisted by my toes, which seemed to obtain a +cat-like hold on the steep cleft-side. I put out one hand and grasped +the thick roots of the bush; I let go the rope, and with the other hand +snatched at the nearest branch. A second later, I was lying flat on my +back in the open desert, a yard or more from the edge of the well. + +There I lay, worn out and utterly exhausted, but so fearful was I of +falling over the side, that before I collapsed, I had sufficient +strength left to cast off the rope from my body, and roll myself away to +some distance. Then, I suppose, I must have fainted. + +The sun was still well up in the heavens when I again opened my eyes. +Instinctively, I felt my waist for the Golden Girdle. It was there. I +sat up, and looked around; but I could see nothing except desert, and +the few bushes near the well mouth. I crawled towards the spot where I +had last seen my friends, and there I was astonished to find all our +saddle-bags, as we had thrown them from our horses. But the horses had +gone. + +I soon had my mouth to a water-skin, drinking as I had never drunk +before; and when I had satisfied my thirst, I turned to the saddle-bags +for food. There was plenty and to spare, and I ate heartily. Moreover, I +found a pipe and tobacco, and I could have hugged myself with delight. +This was indeed a stroke of luck, and I sat and smoked, and thought of +all that had occurred. I was blissfully happy, and now, for the first +time, I raised my cloak to look at the prize which I had secured for +myself. I untied and untwisted the rope, and took the Golden Girdle in +my hands. It was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen; but, as +I gazed on it in rapture, I remembered its evil reputation. A sickly +fear came over me. Should I also go mad from having worn it? Perhaps I +was already mad. Perhaps, in my madness, I had leaped into the well, and +my companions had fled, in terror, from the spot. Perhaps this was no +Golden Girdle after all, but merely a piece of rope. People who are mad, +I said to myself, have strange hallucinations. I feared to look long at +my treasure; so I rolled the rope about it, and again fastened it round +my waist. + +I had not yet got as far as thinking of the future. I had gained +possession of Queen Sophana's Girdle, and that was my sole thought. +Still, I knew that sooner or later I should have to decide what I should +do next, for, whether I were mad or sane, I had no intention of spending +another night in the neighbourhood of the Devil's Well. I could not +understand what had happened to Faris and the others, and I could not +account for the presence of the stranger's corpse, which I had seen in +the well. But, when I stood up and looked about me, I became aware of +the fact that, since I had last been there, the ground was much trodden +by horses' hoofs. There were the marks of many more horses than our +five, and it suddenly flashed across me that my friends had been +attacked by a strong party of horsemen, while I was descending into the +well, and that they had been forced to take to their horses and get +away. It must have been a sudden affair, otherwise Faris would not have +left his saddle-bags behind; and the pursuit must have been a swift and +long one, since the victors had not returned to loot the saddle-bags. I +failed to understand it, and I gave up thinking about it. I had enough +to do to arrange for my own salvation. + +I might have to walk for many days before reaching the Euphrates and +without coming across a habitation. I therefore made up my mind to go +well provided with food. I would carry a saddle-bag, with food, tobacco +and pipe in one end, and, as a balance, I would carry a partly-filled +water-skin in the other end. With such a supply I could travel, for a +week or more, through the most parched country. I knew approximately +whereabouts I was, as Faris had told me, as we rode to the well, that we +had reached a point which must be about midway between the two great +rivers. So, whether I walked due south, or south-east, I was bound to +strike eventually either the Euphrates or the Tigris; and, provided that +I did not meet with any roaming Bedouins on the way, I should find +villages near whichever river I came to, when, I did not doubt, the Arab +peasants would befriend me. In cold blood, such a journey as I proposed +to take on foot would have been simple madness; but, as I was situated, +there was nothing else to be done. I had to go somewhere, and I +naturally decided to return by the way that I had come. + +I shouldered my saddle-bag and set out on my tramp, without so much as a +regret at leaving the spot. As I followed the track of the horses, it +occurred to me that I was making a mistake; for, judging by the +hoof-prints, my friends had fled in this direction, and had been pursued +by the host of horsemen, who in all probability would, some time or +another, retrace their steps to the well, in order to look for booty. +Thus they might run into me at any moment, when, of course, I should +lose everything that I possessed, if not also my life. So afraid was I +of such a disaster, now that I had my precious Girdle on my person, that +I struck away from the track at once, and even ran, in order to try and +get out of sight I now took a south-easterly course, and succeeded in +covering a good many miles before sundown. I laughed at the idea of +sleep; and knowing how to keep my direction by the stars, I rejoiced in +the safety of the darkness, and in the cold night air. Now and again I +was obliged to stop and rest, as my legs refused to carry me, and on +these occasions I fell asleep as soon as I touched the ground, but +usually to wake with a start and push on again. + +On the following day I walked almost continuously, keeping my eyes on +the look-out in all directions, and dreading the appearance of Bedouin +horsemen. Twice I saw small parties on the horizon, when I lay as flat +as possible on the ground for more than an hour each time, and thus +avoided being seen. I was more than pleased with my day's work, and when +night came on, I ate, drank, and smoked. I cannot say that I was happy, +but I was as happy as, under the circumstances, it was possible to be. +That night, in spite of the cold, I slept long and soundly, and when I +arose some time before daybreak, though terribly stiff, I felt much +refreshed, and ready for another long march. In this manner, always +marvelling at my powers of endurance, I walked for four nights and three +whole days, with seldom a long rest. Then recurred the old thought that +I was mad. Madmen, I said to myself, can perform feats impossible to +sane people. No sane man could have lived through all this. Yet, I was +still alive. I lighted my pipe, and blessed it as a comforter. I began +to think that I was all right after all; and when I had finished +smoking, I got up and strode ahead. + +I had kept a careful mental note of the number of hours (as far as I was +able to reckon them) that I walked, and I estimated that I averaged +about two miles an hour. When I stopped for a sleep at the end of the +fourth night, I totalled up my distance, and calculated that I had +covered just over a hundred and thirty miles, which I considered by no +means a bad performance. I thought that it might be even a record. + +Early on the morning of the fourth day, I saw a long line of trees in +the distance, and I felt certain that it marked the course of the +Tigris. I was right; and within a few hours I was rapidly approaching +the great rolling river, with its waters sparkling in the sun. For days +I had lived for this moment, and feeling that I was almost done, I +staggered along, until I reached the water's edge, when, without +troubling to remove my clothes, I walked in up to my chest, and revelled +in my bath. After a while I returned to the bank, and, thoroughly +refreshed, sat down to gaze on the glorious scene. I could see no +village anywhere; but I lay back, contented and happy, and watched the +flocks of sand-grouse flying in from the desert for their morning drink. +They came in myriads, each taking its mouthful of water, and without +resting, returning at once, miles away, to the burning sands. I +shuddered when I thought of the pitiless wastes where they had their +homes. Never again would I voluntarily go back to the desert. + +The river to me was life. Why I could not say, unless it was because I +knew that somewhere downstream lay Baghdad, where was peace, quiet, and +rest. But how was I to reach my goal? I certainly could not walk much +farther, and it would be no easy matter to walk along the overgrown +banks of the winding river. A boat, or a raft, was what I wanted, but I +did not see the prospect of obtaining either. In a book, I argued with +myself, when the hero had arrived at the stage at which I had now +arrived, he would find logs and ropes and such-like things to his hand, +and would construct a raft in no time. Unfortunately, I was not the hero +of a book, but a stern reality, and consequently there were no rafting +materials anywhere about. My clothes were heavy with water, and I was +footsore and weary, but I struggled slowly along the river-side, and +prayed for the sight of a village. + +Presently, on coming round a bend of the river, I saw a solitary +fisherman paddling his kufa close inshore. I ran forward and hailed him, +but at the sound of my voice he was seized with terror, and, dipping in +his paddle, made off as fast as possible. I shouted after him that I was +his friend, and that I would pay him handsomely if he would take me in +his boat, so after a little he came cautiously back. I could see that he +was half afraid and half curious, but my mention of money had impelled +him to return and inspect me. + +"How far is it to the city?" I shouted. + +"A long way," he replied. + +"How many days in your boat?" I asked. + +"A full day and part of a night, without a rest," said he. + +"Will you take me there?" I inquired, as he drew near. + +"Impossible," he replied, "I have my fishing to attend to." + +"But," I said, "I will pay you more money than you can earn by your +fishing in a whole year." + +The boat was now close to me, and without more ado I jumped straight +into it. I was determined not to lose this chance, even if I had to +throw the fisherman overboard. I knew that my strength was fast going. I +might last as far as Baghdad, if I could sit quietly in the boat, but I +could walk not another mile. My friend, who, I found, was an old man, +was somewhat surprised at my action; but when I explained to him that I +was an Ingleezee who had lost his way in the desert, he scented money, +and told me that he was willing to do whatever I should wish. + +"Where is your village?" I asked. + +"About two hours up stream," he replied. + +"Well," said I, "you cannot return there now. You must take me to the +city first, and when you return with a bag full of kerans, all your +friends will be pleased with you." + +"How many kerans did you say, Beg?" asked the old man. + +"How many do you want?" I asked. + +"Twenty," said he, evidently asking twice as much as he expected to get. + +"Then," said I, "you shall have twenty when we reach the city, and if we +pass under the bridge ere the sun has risen to-morrow morning, you shall +have thirty." + +The fisherman's face was radiant with joy at the prospect of such a +haul. + +"When will you start?" he asked. + +"Now, at once, as quickly as possible," I replied. + +"It is good," said he, plunging in his paddle with a will, and making +the circular tub swing from side to side. + +We were soon out in the current, and travelling at a fair speed. Never +had I been in such a blissful state of contentment and ease, as I lay +curled round at the bottom of the boat, with my eyes just looking over +the edge. We passed other fishermen, and here and there a village; but +the paddler kept to his course, and paid no attention to anything except +the business in hand. I was too excited to sleep; moreover, I thoroughly +enjoyed the river scene, and delighted in the verdure of the banks, +which I found a pleasant relief to my eyes, nearly burnt out of my head +by the perpetual glare of the desert. By sunset we had accomplished +much; and soon after dusk the old man made known to me that the thirty +kerans were as good as his; we should certainly reach the bridge before +daylight. + +Hour after hour of the dark night we continued our voyage; and it was +still dark when the Arab ceased paddling, and, turning half round, +whispered, "See, the city is at hand." + +I strained my eyes, and peered into the darkness; before long, I could +see the tops of the buildings outlined against the sky; and my heart +almost stopped beating. It all seemed too good to be true. Yet, there +they were. There could be no mistake. Then I distinctly heard the swish +of the water at the bridge, and day was just breaking as we swept under +it. All was silent; Baghdad was still sleeping. I knew a landing-place, +a little below the Residency, and thither I directed the paddler to take +his kufa. A moment later he jumped ashore, and hauled up the boat. + +It was but a step to Edwards's house, and bidding my friend follow me, I +dragged my stiff limbs up the steep pathway. I reached the gateway and +hammered on the barred door; but, before it was opened, I dropped +senseless to the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A HAVEN OF REST. + + +Of what happened after this I have no recollection whatever, and it was +not until many days later that I was in a fit state to be told anything. +Then my good friend George Edwards doled out scraps of news in a +niggardly manner, and refused to allow me to do much talking. He, +however, set my mind at rest on one point. He himself had removed the +Golden Girdle from my body, and it had been locked up in the Residency +safe. + +In the course of time I learned everything, and I had much to hear, +though not more than I had to tell the Consul-General and Edwards, who, +as I became convalescent, spent many hours of each day sitting with me. +I had not yet been allowed to see the Girdle, I supposed because my +doctor thought that the sight of it might upset me; and he confessed to +me afterwards that, for a long time, he had doubted whether the shock +that I had evidently received would not permanently affect my reason. +Strange as it may seem, I had no immediate wish to see the thing. I felt +that I was afraid to look at it. It might not really be what I +imagined--the true Golden Girdle of the Great Queen. I asked Edwards to +describe it, but he told me that he had hardly examined it, as the +Consul-General had locked it up at once, and would not allow it to be +taken out of the safe until I should be well enough to inspect it with +him. That it was the Golden Girdle, Edwards affirmed, there could be no +doubt whatever. He had seen enough to be certain on that point. + +"What became of the boatman who brought me down here, and saved my +life?" I asked. "You have never mentioned him." + +"Well," said Edwards, "I will tell you all about it. I was sleeping +peacefully, when my boy rushed up on to the roof, and nearly upset my +bed in his eagerness to wake me. He told me a garbled tale, about two +men having come to the door; that one of the men was dead, and that the +other man said that the dead man was an Ingleezee whom he had found in +the river. So I bolted down, and heard what the old Arab had to say, and +then I overhauled you, and you can imagine my astonishment when I +eventually discovered who you were. You had been reported as drowned +weeks before, we had had courts of inquiry about it all; and had wired +and written home to your people. The whole thing was a mystery, +especially when I learned that the boatman had found you miles above +Baghdad, and you were supposed to have been drowned on the way down to +Bussorah. However, as I found that you were not actually dead, I had you +carried indoors, and we soon took your clothes off. Then I came across +the gold belt, and I knew that you had been at that desperate game +again; so I sent off to the Consul-General, asking him to come round as +quickly as possible. He nearly had a fit, and it was a long time before +he could believe his eyes. After a bit, he went off with the belt and +your boatman, and having investigated the matter thoroughly, paid the +old man the thirty kerans which he said you had promised him, and gave +him another five as bakhshish." + +"He deserved every penny of it," said I; "for, if it had not been for +him, I should never have seen Baghdad again." + +"There you are right," said Edwards. "You ran things about as close as +possible, and you may thank your stars that you tumbled across the +fisherman when you did." + +The next matter of interest which Edwards related to me was the fate of +the unfortunate Kellner. I had told him what I had heard from Daud about +his death, but I was surprised to hear that Edwards himself had been +with Kellner when he died. Just after I was supposed to have been +drowned, the Turkish Governor at Hillah had sent word to say that the +German in his hospital was thought to be dying, and that he had +expressed a wish to see me or Edwards, or both of us if possible. The +Consul-General sent Edwards off to Hillah at once, with a small escort, +and when he reached the place, he found Kellner still alive, though in a +state of collapse. He lived, however, for another three days, during +which time Edwards remained with him continuously, and received from his +lips his dying confession--for by no other name can it be called. It was +a wretched story, and I was really sorry for the poor fellow. As far as +daring and pluck went, if anyone deserved to succeed, he certainly did; +but, of course, he had been ill-advised. + +From what he told Edwards--and he was most anxious to tell him all--it +seems that he was in the employ of a South African millionaire, who was +a great collector, and who, in some way, had got possession of my +uncle's secret. Kellner, much to his credit, refused to tell the name of +his employer, but he made a clean breast of everything else. As I had +imagined when I came across him at the Birs Nimroud, he had been put on +to my track from the very beginning, and, when I thought of it all, I +was astounded at the cunning of the man. In one way and another he had +got an immense amount of information out of me during the voyage, and +before we reached Baghdad he had made himself acquainted with the +contents of all my papers. In one matter I was greatly interested: +Kellner and I had jumped together at the document relating to Shahzadi's +shoe; but he had an advantage over me, in that his employer had given +him instructions to seek out the Jew Mersina, take him into his +confidence, make him his agent, and promise him a large reward. Money +was to be no object; the Girdle was to be obtained at any cost. + +Kellner found Yusuf Mersina the very man for his purpose, a man with a +rapid brain, who weighed the pros and cons of everything carefully, and +who, having once formed his plans, never hesitated. Now, the Jew had +spies and friends all over the country, and as soon as he heard of the +paper about Shahzadi's shoe, and the defunct Munshi of Kerbela, he +decided to take Kellner to that town, and see what could be discovered +there. They were in Kerbela some days before Edwards and I had started +from Baghdad; and Mersina went straight to the Hindu astrologer, whom +Daud subsequently consulted. Mersina was an old client, and always paid +well for information and advice, so the astrologer received him with +open arms. He did not, however, altogether like having anything to do +with the Golden Girdle, the history of which was well known to him; but, +after a time, he confessed that he knew where it was, though, as the +secret was his own and his alone, it would require much money to +purchase it. In the end, terms were agreed upon: a goodly sum down, and +a still larger sum if the Girdle were secured. Kellner was astonished to +hear that it was no longer buried, but, as Mersina told him that the +astrologer never lied, he was forced to believe what he said. + +The next step was to open up communications with the Seer of Katib, who, +according to the astrologer, possessed the Girdle. He himself had had a +quarrel with the seer, and could not, therefore, communicate with him; +but there happened to be in Kerbela at that time a Bedouin sheik, who, +if paid adequately, would doubtless be able to obtain the Girdle. This +sheik was the Shammar Abbas-ibn-Mirshid, and Kellner and Mersina were +soon introduced to him. After matters had been satisfactorily arranged, +Mersina returned to Baghdad, and Kellner became the guest of Abbas, +accompanying him to his temporary camp near Babil. Kellner now confided +in Abbas, and told him about me, and how important it was that I should +be balked in my attempt to obtain the Girdle, explaining that he thought +it quite possible that I might know that Raspul had it. Abbas decided to +watch the Baghdad road and to check my progress, but as Kellner refused +to allow him to do me any bodily harm, he contented himself with the +theft of my money, under the impression that that would be sufficient to +delay me. Why he did not wait to see the result Kellner did not say, +but, apparently, they thought it best to get away in the direction of +the ruins of Katib as quickly as possible. + +What happened after this I knew, or had guessed correctly. Raspul had +agreed to sell the Girdle to Abbas for two thousand kerans, and to bring +it to a certain place at a certain time. But Faris upset all their plans +by overwhelming the Shammar and killing Abbas. All this Edwards and I +had heard from Daud, and Kellner threw very little fresh light on the +events that followed. He maintained, however, that when he rode away +with the Girdle, he was unaccountable for his actions. He was under the +delusion that the Shammar intended to murder him, and when he found +himself pursued, he felt bound to defend himself with his revolver. The +terrible privations that he underwent from that time until he found +himself at the Birs Nimroud put all my own experiences in the shade, +and, as I listened to Edwards, I could not help wondering why my luck +should have been so good and Kellner's so bad. It would appear that he +never heard that Mersina had played him false, and he fully imagined +that the Birs Nimroud Jews had taken the Girdle to Mersina, who was to +retain it until he arrived to claim it. In proof of this he gave +Edwards a note to convey to Mersina, whom he instructed to hand over the +Girdle, on payment of a certain sum, for conveyance to the British +Museum. He expressed many regrets that I had been drowned, and it pained +him to think that I had not lived to receive his apologies for the way +in which he had treated me. + +The pathos of the story made a great impression on me, and I grieved at +the thought that Kellner's end had been such a sad one. But Edwards +quite restored my spirits by describing how, for a time, armed with +Kellner's note, he had sought Mersina, in the full expectation of +acquiring the Girdle, and of taking it home to my uncle. + +"You see," said he, laughing, "I could have made a very good story out +of all our adventures in pursuit of it, and everyone would have thought +that I was no end of a hero." + +"Not you, George," said I, "I know you well enough." + +"I wonder what became of Mersina," said Edwards. + +"As I told you," said I, "Daud fancied that he had cleared off with his +ill-gotten gains, to start afresh in Syria or Egypt. I am rather glad, +though, that he let in that scoundrel of an astrologer. He is a bad lot, +I am sure. He gave away poor old Raspul, and he tried to give away +Mersina to the Turks. But it was a case of the biter bitten that time." + +"That is all fair enough in this part of the world," said Edwards. "The +Turks themselves would give away the astrologer, or anyone else, without +a blush, if they thought it to their own advantage to do so. But, as a +rule, they find it more profitable to let the various badmashes cut each +others' throats." + +It was a great disappointment to me to find, when I was well enough to +think of such things, that all my letters from home, of which I was told +there had been a number, had been packed up, with my other belongings, +and sent home to my people, directly after I had disappeared from the +steamer. I had written very fully to my uncle as soon as Edwards and I +had returned from our wanderings, and I had hoped that I should now find +answers to my letters; but the only home news that I received was in a +note which my mother had written to Edwards. There was nothing much in +it, except thanks for the care which he had bestowed on me when we were +together in the desert, and a request that he would take the greatest +care of my health, and not allow me to run any further risks. Still, +even that short letter was something; it was in my mother's handwriting, +and it brought me nearer home. Since she had written it, however, she +had heard of my death, and all my papers and clothes had probably +reached her. But there was just a chance that the telegram announcing my +safety might have arrived before my boxes, and I hoped that it had been +so. My one thought now was to get home as quickly as possible, but my +gaoler damped all my ardour by telling me that he certainly would not +let me think of the journey for another month or six weeks. + +Among my earliest visitors was the captain of the river steamer, who had +quite forgiven me for all the trouble that I had been to him, though he +warned me that if I ever took passage with him again, he would have me +chained to my berth. As I had surmised, my absence from the steamer was +not discovered until some hours after I had gone. The steward had +brought a cup of tea to my cabin, and finding it empty, and that the bed +had not been slept in, went and reported matters to the captain. Then +the steamer was searched from stem to stern, and a whole day wasted in +sending boats up the river to look for me. At last the search was +abandoned, the captain coming to the conclusion that I must have walked +overboard in my sleep. He laughed heartily over his story, and though, +of course, I apologised most humbly for having deceived him, I inwardly +enjoyed the description of his discomfiture. + +I promised him that I would never willingly jump overboard again, and we +remained the best of friends. + +So the time dragged on, and I began to have a craving to see the Golden +Girdle which the Consul-General guarded so jealously. I noticed that +none of my visitors ever referred to it, and if I happened to mention +it, they promptly changed the subject. I grew suspicious, and one day I +suddenly tackled Edwards. + +"Why is it," I asked, "that you will never speak about my Girdle?" + +"I am always talking about it," said he. + +"Not to me," said I. "Is it still safe and sound?" + +"Perfectly," he replied. + +"Then I propose," said I, "that we shall have a grand inspection of it." + +"Not just at present," said Edwards, "I do not think that you are strong +enough." + +"Look here, George," I said, "I believe that you are keeping something +from me." + +"I swear I am not," said he. + +"Then," said I, "you are under the impression that, if I gaze on the +Golden Girdle, something will go wrong with my brain." + +I saw Edwards colour, and I was convinced that I had hit the nail on the +head. But our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a telegram +for me. My people had already spent a mint of money in telegraphing +congratulations, and in asking almost daily after my health; but the +telegram which I now received contained a huge surprise. It was from my +uncle, who said that he and my father had decided to come out to Baghdad +and bring me home, and that I was to remain until their arrival. They +were starting at once, and it was a great joy to me to think that, +within five or six weeks, I should be free, and moreover, have no +further responsibility for the Girdle, of which my uncle would himself +be able to take charge. I now found, after a lengthy talk with my +doctor, that he was painfully superstitious about the Girdle; he was +evidently afraid that when it was let loose from the safe, something +dreadful would happen, and I laughed at his fears. He was greatly +relieved at the news that my uncle was coming out, as he did not like +the idea of my going off alone with the dreadful serpent belt. + +"Of course," he said, "you will not think of examining your treasure +now, until your uncle arrives." + +"To tell you the truth," I replied, "I intend to ask the Consul-General +this afternoon if it will be convenient to him to hold the inquest on it +to-morrow." + +"Well," said Edwards, "I suppose you will get your own way, as you +usually do. Shall I be expected to be present?" + +"Naturally," said I, "who else will make the post mortem?" + +That evening I strolled down to the Residency, as I was now allowed to +do, and sat among the orange trees talking to the Consul-General who, I +discovered, shared my eagerness to inspect the Girdle. He confessed to +me that on more than one occasion he had surreptitiously peeped into the +safe, but as the belt still had my rope wound round it, he could not +satisfy his curiosity to any extent, and he did not like to take off the +rope until he had my permission to do so. + +"Has it ever struck you, sir," I said, "that our friend Edwards is a +little bit afraid of it?" + +"Well, do you know," he replied, "now that you mention it, I believe +that he is. I have suggested once or twice that we should ask you to +show us your prize, and he has always put me off by saying that he did +not think that your nerves were strong enough to stand the strain, as +the sight of the Girdle would bring back so many memories." + +I laughed outright, and vouchsafed that, in my opinion, the person with +the shaky nerves was Edwards himself. + +The words were hardly out of my mouth than I saw the subject of our +conversation striding across the courtyard towards us. + +"You look as if you had something very important to tell us, George," +said I. + +"So I have," he replied. "News that will set you thinking." + +"I know what it is," I said. "The Golden Girdle has escaped, and you +have seen it flying back towards the desert." + +"I almost wish that I had," said Edwards. + +"If you talk like that," said the Consul-General, sharply, "I shall have +to ship you off on six months sick leave. Your nerves are giving way." + +When I looked at Edwards's face, I was of the same opinion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +VISITORS. + + +"I am all right," said Edwards, "but I have just seen someone, and heard +something which has upset me a little. Whom do you think I have been +talking to, Walter?" he asked, turning to me. + +"I give it up," said I. "Who was it?" + +"Well, I will tell you," said Edwards. "I was walking my horse over the +bridge, when I met a very smart-looking Persian gentleman on foot, and +as I came up to him, to my astonishment he salaamed to me, and addressed +me as 'Hakim.' I knew his face, but I could not put a name to it. So I +stopped and began to talk to him. He hastily told me to go on across the +bridge, and wait for him a little way out in the country, as he did not +wish to be seen by the Baghdadis in my company. I now recognised his +voice, and glancing round, I made certain that I was right. It was our +old friend Sedjur--beautifully disguised. Getting well away from the +town, I waited for him, and when he came up, gave him a warm welcome. +Then, in reply to my inquiries, he told me what he was doing in Baghdad. +He was tracking Yusuf Mersina, who, he said, was supposed to be in +Baghdad, with the Golden Girdle in his possession. So far, he had not +been able to hear anything of him. I was afraid to tell him a word about +your exploits, or that he might ease his mind about the Girdle, because, +honest though I believe Sedjur to be, one can never be quite certain +what these people are up to. I was going to ask him if he knew that you +were alive, when we saw people coming along in the distance, and he +begged me to leave him. I did not do so, however, until I had learned +from him that his father is also here." + +"What, my brother Faris?" I exclaimed. "How extraordinary." + +"Yes," continued Edwards, "and, what is more, they are both coming down +to see me to-night. Sedjur said that he knew the Residency, and would +drop down in a kufa, so as to be under the wall here as the moon rose. I +promised to meet him, and give him protection as long as he was within +the precincts of the Residency." + +"You were making somewhat free of His Majesty's property," laughed the +Consul-General. + +"I am sorry, sir," said Edwards, "but I thought that you would be +interested to see these two friends of ours, about whom you have heard +so much." + +"I was only joking," said the Consul-General. "I shall be delighted to +welcome them. The moon rises at about eleven o'clock, if I am not +mistaken. Do you think that Henderson ought to sit up so late?" + +"I shall be here, sir," said I, looking defiantly at my medical adviser, +"even if I have to go back to bed for another month. I cannot miss +seeing Faris and Sedjur." + +It was therefore arranged that we should dine at 8.30 at the Residency, +and afterwards make a night of it. But, in the meanwhile, Edwards +marched me back to his house for two or three hours' rest, though, as a +matter of fact, he kept me busy talking for most of the time. + +"What do you imagine that Faris and Sedjur are doing here?" he asked me. + +"Looking for Mersina, I suppose," I answered. "But I think that they +must be on the wrong scent." + +"I must say," said Edwards, "that I do not like the look of things. If +Mersina has come back to Baghdad, you may be certain that he knows that +you got the Girdle; and, as likely as not, he is planning a burglary or +something of the kind. I do not suppose that Faris and Sedjur are in +with him." + +"In any case," said I, "I do not see that it matters. Mersina cannot +burgle the safe." + +"Perhaps not," said Edwards, "but he might murder or gag the +Consul-General in his sleep, and take the key." + +"You are a fearful alarmist, George," said I. "Do not worry about the +matter, until you hear what the Sheik and Sedjur have to tell us. I am +quite excited at the prospect of seeing them again, and hearing what +happened to them at the Devil's Well, when they let me go." + +Dinner that night was a dull affair. Edwards was morbidly gloomy; I, if +not actually depressed, was thoughtful; and our host altogether failed +to enliven us. Afterwards, we sat and smoked in the Consul-General's +sanctum, overhanging the river, until the hour for which we waited +approached. Then Edwards, looking at his watch, rose, and walked out to +the low parapet which bordered the river, to meet the expected Bedouins. +A few minutes later the door opened, and Edwards ushered in Faris and +Sedjur. My heart gave a leap when I saw them again, but instinctively I +stooped over the table with my back towards the door, so that I should +not be recognised. As soon as the Consul-General's greeting was over I +turned suddenly, and, facing Faris, held out my hand. + +"Brother," I said, "have you so soon forgotten me?" + +The look of amazement and joy that came over the faces of father and son +I shall never forget, and throughout the long discussion that followed, +I constantly observed each of them glancing furtively at me, as if still +doubtful whether I were flesh and blood. + +How we talked! First, I had to give my version of my escape from the +well, and so often did they interrupt me with questions, that I was a +long time relating all that had happened to me. + +"And where now is this accursed serpent belt?" asked Faris, when I had +concluded. + +"Locked up securely," answered the Consul-General "and where it now is +there will it remain, until I myself take it out." + +"Marvellous!" said Faris, addressing me. "On more than one occasion, +brother, you forbade me to call you 'magician,' yet henceforward shall I +call you by no other name. For, of a truth, to have raised yourself from +the dead entitles you to that name." + +"I care little," said I, with a laugh, "how I am called, now that I have +accomplished my task. But, tell us of your own adventures. How was it +that you let go the rope? And who was the man whom I saw lying dead +among the rocks?" + +"That," said the sheik, "must have been the Jew Jusuf Mersina, and I +hurled him there with my own arms." + +"Then why," I asked, "have you now come to Baghdad to seek him? I do not +understand." + +"Because," said Faris, "we believed that he had not been killed by the +fall, but had escaped with the serpent belt, which the astrologer of +Kerbela afterwards told us was here in Baghdad. But I will tell you +everything, and then you will understand, for you must have thought that +I was guilty of the crime of abandoning my brother, whom I had sworn to +defend and succour for all time." + +The sheik, assisted by Sedjur, then related fully all that occurred at +the fatal moment when the rope by which I was suspended suddenly gave +way. My conjectures were fairly correct. Faris lay watching me slowly +descending towards the Girdle, when, without any warning, a wild shout +was raised close behind him, and looking back he saw a party of horsemen +galloping down on him. The Aeniza who was at the tail of the rope, +quickly took a hitch round the rearmost spear, and each man ran to his +horse. Faris immediately recognised the leader of his assailants as +Mersina, and, throwing his horse's bridle to Sedjur, rushed at him and +unhorsed him. The Jew fought tooth and nail, but Faris was too strong +for him, and managed to drag him towards the edge of the well. Then it +was that the Jew, in desperation, clutched at the spear which held my +rope. To Faris's consternation, it flew out of the ground, and my weight +immediately carried away the remaining spear and the rope. In his rage +at my fate, he lifted Mersina bodily from the ground, and hurled him +into the depths below. Turning round, he saw that the others of his +party were hotly engaged with their enemies, and keeping them at bay +until the sheik should mount his horse. The spears of both Faris and +Sedjur had disappeared into the well, so the former, deeming it hopeless +to stand and fight, gave the signal to his party to disengage and break +away, trusting to the speed of his horses to get clear. This was +successfully accomplished, for though the pursuit continued for several +hours, Faris and his three followers rapidly out-distanced their +pursuers, and during the night made good their escape. + +Daud, unfortunately, had sustained, during the fight, an ugly spear +wound in the thigh, and the severe ride that followed had not improved +its condition; consequently, Faris decided to take him to the nearest +village by the Euphrates, and leave him there with his old companion, +the Aeniza, while the sheik and his son returned to reconnoitre towards +the well. Having seen Daud safely deposited in the village, my two +friends retraced their steps, and soon discovered that the hostile +horsemen had not gone back to the well, but had struck away to the +north-west, which seemed to confirm the opinion that Daud had expressed +that Mersina's adherents belonged to the kafila of the great sheik who +had purchased the Golden Girdle, and had afterwards thrown it into the +Devil's Well. + +When the well was reached, they shouted down into it, and continuously +called to me by name, but getting no reply, they concluded that I had +been killed by my fall. So they gave me up as lost, and proceeded to +gather up their saddle-bags. One, they found, had disappeared, but they +thought that it might have been on the back of my horse, which the enemy +had captured and carried off. Before leaving, however, curiosity +impelled them to look once more at the Golden Girdle, but though they +were certain of the exact spot where it had lain, they were unable to +see it. Of this, at the time, they thought little, because dusk was +already coming on, and they rode all night towards the Euphrates, which +they reached next day. + +At the village they had to wait for some little time, until Daud had +recovered sufficiently to travel, when he went to Kerbela, to endeavour +to find out from his friend the astrologer if he had heard of the fate +of Mersina and the Girdle. The Hindu appeared to know some of the events +that had taken place. He knew that the Girdle had been thrown into the +well, and he knew that Mersina had taken a party there to try and +recover it. Furthermore, he stated that he had discovered, by +divination, that the belt of gold had been taken from the well, and was +in Baghdad, hinting at the same time that it was with the Jew Mersina. +This information Daud had obtained only quite recently, and as soon as +Faris and Sedjur heard it, they set out for Baghdad, in search of +Mersina and the Girdle, while Daud remained in Kerbela, with the hope of +picking up fresh news. + +"Then you thought," said I, "that I was dead." + +"We felt certain of it," said Faris, "otherwise I should have remained +at the well until I had rescued you." + +"Why, then," I asked, "since you believed me to be dead, should you have +taken any further trouble about Mersina and the Girdle?" + +"Because," replied the sheik, "I considered that I was responsible for +your death, and I intended to come and confess all to the good Hakim. +But I was unwilling to do so unless I could bring to him, for +presentation to your family, the Great Queen's belt, which had cost you +your life. Now that I know that you are alive, and have reaped your +reward, I can return to the desert in happiness." + +"There to await," said I, "the coming of Shahzadi's shoe." + +"Nay," said the sheik, with a surprised look, "that can never be now; +for I failed to carry out my part of the bargain." + +"Who was it, then," I asked, "who lowered me into the well, from which I +recovered the Girdle? Except through you, my brother, I should never +have obtained it; and, as Daud will be rewarded by the sum which was +promised to him, so also shall Shahzadi's shoe be bestowed on +Faris-ibn-Feyzul. Even this day," I continued, "have I sent a message to +my friends, who are coming from the big house across the seas to take +back Sophana's belt, that they should bring with them the shoe which you +desire to possess." + +The two Bedouins were delighted, and for some minutes continued to pour +out volumes of thanks. Then the Consul-General suggested that the hours +had slipped by and that soon day would break. Without wishing to hurry +the departure of his guests, he thought that they would desire to leave +while it was still dark. + +"When, sheik," he asked, addressing Faris, "do you propose to quit +Baghdad?" + +"We shall leave," replied Faris, "within a few hours. So soon, that is, +as we can get our horses and ride away." + +"But before you go," said the Consul-General, "you would doubtless like +to see with your own eyes, and perhaps touch, this great treasure in +which you have been so deeply interested. What says our hero? Eh, +Henderson?" + +Observing the eagerness depicted on the sheik's countenance, I readily +acquiesced, and the Consul-General took out his keys and walked to the +safe in the corner of the room. As he did so, my eyes happened to turn +towards Edwards. He was clutching convulsively at his chair, and his +face had lost all colour. The key turned in the lock with a sharp click; +at the same moment Edwards rose from his chair, and, saying that he did +not feel well, walked out of the room into the open air. I was so +engrossed with the opening of the safe, that I paid little attention to +Edwards's action; and, almost trembling with excitement, I watched the +Consul-General lift up the mass of intertwined rope and gold. It was +just as I had last seen it, and when it had been placed on the table in +front of Faris, I explained that it was thus that I had bound it to my +body when first I recovered it from the bottom of the Devil's Well. + +The Girdle was partly concealed by the rope, and in order that it might +be seen the better, I commenced to disentangle it; but I had hardly +unwound one turn of the rope than a wild cry from outside electrified +us. Dropping the rope and Girdle, I rushed to the door, followed by +Faris and Sedjur; for the cry was an unmistakable call for help, and the +voice I knew to be that of Edwards. As I crossed the room, I had time to +notice that the Consul-General snatched up the Girdle from the table, +and, instantly locking it up in the safe, ran after us, to reach the +courtyard simultaneously with Sedjur. By the side of the wall above the +river, I saw Edwards standing in the moonlight, and looking down into +the water. + +"What is the matter, old chap," I asked, as I ran up to him. + +"I am afraid it is a bad business," said Edwards, "but it served him +right, whoever he is. There he is, down in that kufa." + +We all looked over the edge of the embankment, and we could see below +us, in the dim light, a kufa, with the figure of a man lying across the +gunwale, the head and shoulders at the bottom of the boat, and the legs +trailing in the water over the side. + +[Illustration: "WE COULD SEE BELOW US ... THE FIGURE OF A MAN LYING +ACROSS THE GUNWALE"] + +"See that he does not escape," shouted Edwards. "He may not be dead." + +Quick as thought, Sedjur ran to where his own kufa was fastened, jumped +down into it, and soon brought it alongside the other one. Faris and I +then assisted to drag the man up and lay him on the ground, while +Edwards obtained a lamp from indoors, and made an examination. The man +was dead, his skull having been crushed and his neck broken. Death, +Edwards declared, must have been instantaneous; and, with some +excitement, he told us what had taken place. Feeling faint, he had +walked out into the courtyard, and was sitting on one of the seats in +the fresh air, when he suddenly saw a figure climb stealthily over the +wall from the direction of the river, and creep towards the room where +we were seated. Thinking that something was wrong, Edwards rushed across +to the intruder, but the man was too quick for him, and fled back to the +river-side. Edwards, however, shouting for help, succeeded in cutting +him off, and was able to seize, for a second, the end of his cloak as +the man leapt over the wall into the river. Whether the fugitive knew +that his kufa was immediately below him, and had intended to jump into +it, no one can say; but it was evident that the effect of Edwards's +temporary hold on his cloak was to throw him off his balance, so that he +pitched headlong into the bottom of the boat from a height of some +fifteen feet or more. + +Holding the lamp to the dead man's face, we sought to identify him, and +Faris instantly uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Wallah!" said he, "it is Shustri, the astrologer." + +"Wallah!" exclaimed Sedjur, "and he told Daud that he was going to +Damascus." + +"Without a doubt," said Faris, "he had come here to steal the Serpent +Belt; but death overtakes even a man who knows all things, and who can +converse with the dead." + +There were already signs of day, and Faris was anxious to depart. + +"Twere better," said he "that this man's body should not remain here; +for if it became known that such an one had perished in this place, then +would it have an evil reputation for all time. We will therefore take +the body and the kufa a little way with us, and let them float away in +mid-stream, until, if Allah wills, they reach the great Shattu'l Arab." + +None of us dissented, and within a few minutes we had grasped the hands +of our Bedouin friends, and had seen them drop down into their kufa. +Then we lowered the body of the Hindu into the other boat, and Sedjur, +casting loose its rope, towed it astern, while Faris paddled away from +land. We stood watching the two black specks moving across the water, +until, in the growing daylight, we saw them part, the one slowly +ascending the river, and the other, caught by the current, sweeping down +stream, out of sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +MYSTERIES, SOLVED AND UNSOLVED. + + +The adventures of that memorable night laid me low for many a day to +come, and Edwards himself suffered a good deal from the shock of having +been, as he supposed, the cause of Shustri's death. I argued with him +that no blame whatever could possibly attach to him, since the ruffian +was evidently up to no good. + +"There I am convinced that you are right," said Edwards; "for the +Consul-General picked up, just outside his study door, the most +diabolical looking knife you ever saw." + +"Did he?" said I. "Then I expect he meant business." + +"I suppose," said Edwards, after a long silence, "that you are too +matter of fact to believe in presentiments." + +"I do not know," I replied. "They have never bothered me much. But why +do you ask?" + +"Well," said my friend, "I will confess to you, in strict confidence, +that when you were brought in here that day, by your weird old Sinbad, +and I took the Golden Girdle from your waist, I felt a most +extraordinary sensation all over me. I cannot explain what it was like, +except that it was very similar to the feeling that I have when a cat is +anywhere near, about which you always laugh at me." + +"My dear George," said I, "I would not dream of laughing at you. But go +on." + +"The curious thing about it," said he, "was that I felt all right +directly the Consul-General locked up the Girdle. But I positively +dreaded seeing the thing again. It haunted me day and night, but I did +not like to mention my fears to anyone." + +"At any rate," said I, "you did not conceal them very well. I noticed +that you looked blue whenever I suggested having a peep at my Girdle. +Poor chap, I wish I had known that you had got it so badly. How do you +feel now?" + +"Since last night," said he, "I have become a different being, but I +felt pretty ill when the Consul-General unlocked the safe." + +"I saw you," said I; "and I thought you were going to faint. What was +the matter?" + +"I cannot describe it," said Edwards. "Something seemed to drag me out +of my chair, haul me out of the room, and plump me on a bench in the +courtyard. My whole body felt as if it were full of pins and needles, +darting about in all directions; and this sort of thing continued until +the man fell over the wall, when suddenly a delightful feeling of calm +spread over me. Now I fear nothing from your Golden Girdle; you might +take it out of the safe, and flourish it in front of my face, and I +would not move a muscle." + +I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, thinking that his mind was +unhinged, but he appeared to be quite rational, so I concluded that he +had suffered from some temporary delusion, and that he had recovered +from it. It struck me, however, as certainly most extraordinary that he +should have fought shy of the Girdle, and gone outside just in time to +frustrate the astrologer's evil designs. Afterwards, we discussed the +matter often, but the enigma remained unsolved; for it was difficult for +a plain, untutored brain like mine to follow my friend into the +intricate regions of telepathy, second sight, and psychology in general, +in which things he professed to be a believer. In the end, I formed my +own opinion, which I kept to myself: Edwards's fear of the Girdle was +superstitious dread, produced by the various stories which he had heard +of it; his experiences on the night of Shustri's death amounted to +nothing more than that, suffering from the same superstitious dread, he +had left the room at a certain moment, which moment happened to have +been selected by Shustri for his appearance on the scene. This I put +down as a mere coincidence, and whether my opinion was right or wrong, +no man will ever be able to decide. That there was reason enough for +superstitious dread I freely admit, and surely no one had more cause to +dread the sight of the Girdle than had I. As far as I was aware, death +had always followed swiftly after its appearance. Raspul the seer, Yusuf +Mersina, and Shustri the astrologer, had each and all been killed before +my very eyes, and when I reckoned up the deaths that had occurred within +my certain knowledge, they appeared to be legion. At times I found +myself speculating as to who would be the victim when next the safe was +unlocked; but each time such thoughts rose up I banished them from my +mind, as unworthy of a man of intelligence. + +On such matters as these I had plenty of leisure to reflect, as I was on +my back for several weeks, and unable to do much more than think and +sometimes talk. During this time, however, I succeeded in getting into +communication with Sheik Daud; and, through the Indian pilgrim agent at +Kerbela, paid him his 5000 kerans. He sent a grateful message of thanks +to me, and expressed a hope that some day I would honour him by a visit +to his tents. But the most pleasant part of his message was the news +that he had sworn a perpetual truce with Faris and Sedjur. The two +latter, I learned, had gone away to join their people in the Hamad, +where they would remain until the coming of spring, or at any rate until +I should let them know that Shahzadi's shoe was waiting for them. + +Slowly but surely the days and weeks passed. I had received a telegram +from Karachi, from my father, who told me that he and my uncle Ambrose +had got so far on their journey, and were just leaving for the Persian +Gulf. Ten days later, the river steamer panted past the Residency, and +Edwards and I were down at the wharf to greet the newcomers. It was a +great and glorious occasion, and I was astonished at the change that +seemed to have come over my uncle, with his tanned face and his +travelling suit taking the place of the colourless cheeks and dingy old +black coat to which I was accustomed. In my father I saw little +alteration. He was still the smart, soldierly-looking man that he had +always been; and looked no older than he did on the day when I had met +him at Southampton, on his return from South Africa. + +"Well, Walter," said my uncle, after we had recovered from the +excitement of our first meeting, "is your golden treasure still safe and +sound?" + +"Under lock and key at the Residency," I replied, "and only waiting for +your arrival to be properly inspected. The Consul-General will be away +until this evening, but he sent all sorts of messages to you, and that +there are rooms ready for you in the Residency. Have you brought +Shahzadi's shoe?" + +"Yes," replied my uncle, "but I only got your wire in the nick of time." + +Later in the day I told the tale of my second and successful hunt; for +my people had received no details, but merely the bald telegram that I +was alive and had secured the Girdle. That they were astonished at what +I had to tell them, I need not say, and the fuss they made over me was +quite embarrassing. My uncle, I thought, was somewhat upset by my +descriptions of the evil doings of the Girdle, and I could not refrain +from amusing myself by watching his face, whilst I enlarged on them. + +"So," said my father, when I had concluded, "you have not let the terror +out of the safe since that night." + +"No," said I, "we decided that we would restrain our impatience, in +order to give you a chance of taking part in the next seance. We thought +it would add to your interest in the Girdle, if you could witness a real +tragedy." + +"What a bloodthirsty young villain you are," said my father, with a +laugh. + +"Personally," said I, thinking it time to reassure my uncle, "I am quite +certain that nothing dreadful will happen again, and Edwards is of the +same opinion. He says that he no longer has the tingly feeling and he +has no presentiment of evil, both of which I consider good signs. +Moreover, he has elaborated a marvellous theory, though I myself cannot +follow it. He has worked it out by what he calls the "Law of the Three +_plus_ Five, equals Eight," and he argues something like this:--Raspul +was killed with the Golden Girdle in his hand, after having blown up +Three Shammar. Remember the number 3. Then when Kellner fled with the +Girdle and was pursued, he shot Five Shammar. Remember the number 5, and +the total 8. Now we begin with 3 again, the two Birs Nimroud Jews and +Yusuf Mersina; then four Shammar of the original party which stole the +Girdle, _plus_ Kellner, equals 5. Hence, we have two groups of 3 _plus_ +5 equals 8----" + +"Heavens alive!" interrupted my father, "are you going on with this much +longer?" + +"Only a little more," said I, laughing, "but it is really interesting. +Edwards has spent a deal of time over it. Listen to his deductions. He +places the dead Raspul at one end of the Golden Girdle, and the dead +Shustri at the other end; and he maintains that as Raspul had directly +and indirectly caused the deaths of 8 men; so when Shustri had directly +or indirectly caused the deaths of a similar number, then the chain had +to be completed by his own death." + +"With all due deference to the brain power of your worthy friend," said +my father, "I have never heard such a lot of rubbish in my life. I +should say that he required looking after. Is he all right otherwise?" + +"Perfectly," said I. "But you have not heard quite all. We now go back +to the famous mare Shahzadi--the heroine of the shoe. You remember the +eight nail-holes. Well, because Shahzadi cast that eight-nailed shoe, +the Golden Girdle came into Raspul's possession, and gave him the mystic +number 8." + +"And what about the numbers 3 and 5?" asked my uncle, who was listening +with all seriousness. "The doctor seems to have forgotten his 3 _plus_ +5." + +"I know," said I. "I attacked him about that, but was told politely that +I was dull of comprehension. Edwards explained it away by saying that +originally Shahzadi's shoe, of course, had 3 nail-holes on either side, +and if they had drilled the two new holes on the same side, then his +theory would have been proved undeniably. We should have had the 3 +_plus_ 5 equals 8. As things are, he considers that the mare's hoof +probably would not stand having 5 nails on one side, and so they had to +equalise the number." + +"Most ingenious!" said my father, "though a trifle weak. But your friend +thinks that the evil spirit which was in the Girdle has now flown, does +he not?" + +"Yes," said I, "he is almost certain on that point, but he suggests +that, as there may possibly be what he terms 'a metallic sympathy' +between the Golden Girdle and the iron horse-shoe, it would be advisable +to lay up the shoe in the safe with the Girdle." + +"Pooh!" said my father. "Is not the safe itself made of iron? That +should have settled the Girdle long ago, but apparently it did not." + +"Not at all," said my uncle, to my astonishment, "it is not the same +thing. In my opinion, the doctor has reason on his side. We all know +that the ancients had a firm belief in the magical powers of iron, and +we all know something of the luck of a horse-shoe. At any rate, whether +there is anything in it or not, I shall uphold the doctor in his +opinions, and shall ask the Consul-General to place the shoe in the +safe, as soon as I meet him." + +Thus it came about that, within a couple of hours, Shahzadi's shoe +joined the Golden Girdle in its iron prison. Possibly they had never +been so close before; yet it was but sixty years since only the height +of Shahzadi's withers separated them. Could the one have related to the +other its experiences during those six decades, the story would have +been well worth writing down, and much more interesting than my own +insignificant adventures. + +Edwards was overjoyed when I told him what my uncle had done, and at +dinner that night he was quite light-hearted and gay. After dinner came +the great seance, whereat the death-dealing belt of serpents was to be +let loose among us. It was held in the Consul-General's study, in the +middle of which had been placed, for the occasion, a bare table--the +dissecting table, as Edwards jocosely termed it; and when the +Consul-General unlocked the safe, I think that more than one of us +expected something desperate to happen. But nothing extraordinary +occurred, and everyone craned forward, as I unrolled the rope, and left +the Girdle lying at full length on the table. + +My uncle, as he took it in his hands and examined it, could not restrain +his delight, and, trembling visibly, he pronounced it to be the most +glorious and beautiful treasure that it had ever been his good fortune +to handle; even my father, who cared little for such things, was deeply +impressed; while I myself regretted none of the troubles that it had +cost me. I felt that I had not lived in vain. We were each allowed to +take it up and gaze on it for a while, and then it was handed back to my +uncle, for his more careful scrutiny. + +"Egyptian," he said, "without a doubt, and of great age. Possibly a +present from an Egyptian king to Queen Sophana, or to one of her +ancestors. It is impossible, of course, to decide these matters until we +have it at the Museum, with other things to refer to. But, Walter, I +promise you that it will be found to be the most priceless work of art +that has ever been brought to light. I know of nothing that can approach +it in workmanship." + +He then went on to discuss each detail of the Girdle, and as, on this +occasion and on several subsequent ones when he examined it again, I +acted in my old capacity of secretary and took shorthand notes of all +that he said, I am able to give a faithful description of the far-famed +belt of the Great Queen. + +In length it was a trifle more than thirty inches; in depth it averaged +five inches, widening in the centre to almost seven inches. The twelve +snakes which composed it were twisted around one another in various +contortions; the heads of four of them formed the clasp, their bodies +intertwined with those of the snakes behind them; while the heads of the +eight other snakes projected, at regular intervals, a little distance +beyond either edge of the Girdle. In the centre, the bodies of two +snakes were coiled, so as to resemble a circular brooch, some seven +inches in diameter. + +The delicacy of the workmanship can be understood when I say that the +body of each reptile was fashioned out of hundreds of tiny scales, +invisibly connected; and when one lifted the belt up at any point, the +remainder of it hung limp and quivering. So, also, when placed on the +table, the whole thing appeared to be alive, until each restless scale +had settled down. But this was not all; for the scales were so arranged +that when the Girdle lay flat and open, they closed tightly on each +other; yet, as soon as the Girdle was formed into a circle and clasped, +the scales on the inner side opened slightly. This peculiarity, we soon +discovered, was not unintentional. At my uncle's request, I, one day, +fastened the Girdle round my waist, and found that in removing it, it +caught in my clothes; then I fastened it next to my skin, when I +immediately felt an extraordinary sensation of pricking. We examined the +belt again most carefully, and at once became convinced that we had +fathomed the mystery of the evil results which we had heard followed the +wearing of the Girdle. It was quite evident to me that people, and +especially superstitious people, on clasping on the belt and feeling the +sharp prickles, would be capable of doing almost anything. This was a +most interesting discovery, and, at one fell swoop, it abolished half +the magic supposed to be contained in Sophana's Girdle. + +To my uncle, however, perhaps the greatest interest was the head of each +snake. The eyes were precious stones, and the crown of the head was set +with a large stone, in all cases beautifully engraved. The four heads +which constituted the clasp were all similar, having small ruby eyes, +and on the crown a square of jade upon which was engraved the magic +figures, 1, 8, 1, 1 in hieroglyphics. + +"Ah!" exclaimed my uncle, "the demon number. Our friend the doctor knows +something of it." + +"It is as I thought," said Edwards excitedly. "So, Walter, you can no +longer scoff. I was right. The 3 and the 8 entered into all my +calculations, as you will remember, and there are the mystic numbers at +the beginning and at the end of the Golden Girdle. And was it a mere +coincidence that Shahzadi's shoe had at first 3 nail-holes on either +side, and then 8 nail-holes altogether?" + +The heads of the two snakes coiled in the centre had amethysts for eyes, +and each was crowned with a square of lapis-lazuli, engraved with the +figure of Isis. The six other heads were set with different stones, the +eyes being of sapphire, topaz, emerald, garnet, crystal, and cornelian; +while the crown stones consisted of circular, oval, or heart-shaped +bloodstone, chalcedony, haematite, jasper, onyx, and agate. On each of +these large stones were engraved magical formulae, and a figure; the +figures representing Osiris, Serapis, Horus, a human-headed lion, a +human-headed hawk, and a lion-headed serpent. + +Considering the age of the Girdle, and the vicissitudes through which it +had passed, it was in a marvellous state of preservation. One or two of +the stones had gone from the snakes' eyes, two of the larger stones were +cracked, and here and there the bodies of the snakes were a trifle +dented. With these exceptions there was little amiss with it; and when +my uncle and I had cleaned it, it looked really beautiful. + +For days we could talk of little else, and each day we had it brought +out from the safe, to examine some particular part. It was photographed +from every point of view; careful drawings were made of it; and +impressions of each of the stones were taken; but all such things were +returned to the safe, each time, to remain with the original, until we +should remove the Girdle and everything connected with it, on leaving +for England. My uncle refused to allow any description of it to be sent +home, as it was his desire that the Girdle itself, in all its glory, +should be allowed to burst on the astonished gaze of his _confreres_, +without any previous warning. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A PROPHECY FULFILLED. + + +It was not long before my uncle made known to me the real reason for his +journey to the East. The description that I had sent home of the Temple +of Sophana had, as he told me, caused the smouldering fire within him to +break into flame, and he decided that he was not too old to do something +in the world of discovery. The report of my death, however, was a great +shock to him, and extinguished the flame of his ambitions. Then, when he +heard of my success, he no longer hesitated, but persuaded my father to +accompany him, and set out at once. It was therefore, I found, not so +much the Golden Girdle that had impelled him to come to Baghdad, as his +craving to visit the ruins of Katib, and see with his own eyes what no +other European, except myself, had seen. That I should wish to go with +him was only natural; but it was not to be, as Edwards declared that I +was wholly unfit for such an undertaking. + +In due course all arrangements were made; and, at my suggestion, Faris +was communicated with, and asked to conduct my father and uncle to the +ruins. But it was nearly a month before everything was settled. In the +end, Faris agreed to meet the party at the Birs Nimroud on a certain +day, and to bring with him a sufficient escort of Aeniza. There he was +to receive from my uncle the much coveted shoe of Shahzadi, and he +promised to be responsible for the safety of the relatives of his +"brother the magician" until he brought them back again to the Birs +Nimroud. In my opinion, no expedition ever started under more favourable +circumstances, and it was with many heart-burnings that, after seeing +the two adventurers and their zaptiehs a few miles on the road, I turned +back, and returned with Edwards to Baghdad. + +"It is rather sickening," said I, "to be out of this. I must say I +should have liked to have had a look at the temple in cold blood." + +"Be content," said Edwards, "with what you have already seen and done. +Your constitution has been pretty well undermined as it is, and if you +are not ever so careful, you will shatter it altogether." + +"It will be a trifle dull," said I, "idling about this place until they +come back." + +"They will not be very long, I fancy," said Edwards. "The professor +promised to waste no time, as he is most anxious to get home with the +Girdle. I am to go on six months' leave by the same boat, so we will +have merry times. In the meanwhile, I have got a job for you, and if you +undertake it, you will not be bored by idleness." + +"What is it?" I asked. "Nothing very exciting, I expect." + +"Perhaps not quite up to your standard of excitement," said my friend, +"but I told your father that I would do my level best to persuade you to +carry out his wishes. All you have to do is to take pen, ink, and paper, +and put together the story of your wanderings in search of the Golden +Girdle." + +"How deadly uninteresting," said I, with a groan. + +Yet, as the time went on, and I found myself unable to do much riding or +take other hard exercise, I began to jot down notes and headings on the +paper which Edwards, each day, thrust obtrusively before me; and, at +length, I came to the conclusion that such a treasure as the Golden +Girdle was indeed worthy of having its history put on record. So I set +to work with a will, full of misgivings of my ability to describe the +queer things that I had seen and heard in the desert; and, each morning, +sitting at my window, overlooking the mighty waters of the Tigris, I +added a few sheets to the fast-growing pile. + +While thus engaged, I received the first news of the wanderers, +contained in a long letter from my father. It was written at Hillah, and +finished as the camp was being struck at the Birs Nimroud. Edwards and I +read it with intense interest, and both of us blushed when we came to +passages dealing with the good names which we had left behind us; for +many were the nice things that my father told me he had heard, not only +from the Aeniza, but also from the Turkish officials at Hillah. There he +had met the cheery old Commandant, who had recently returned from +reinstating Ali Khan at Adiba. In the eyes of Ali Khan and his people, +we were, the Commandant affirmed, the greatest heroes that Arabia had +yet known, and if ever we revisited Adiba, our welcome would be +magnificent. At the Birs Nimroud, Faris, Sedjur, two hundred horsemen, +and many camels were found waiting, and immediately on his arrival, my +uncle presented the sheik, in the presence of his men, with the shoe of +Shahzadi, the Aeniza displaying extraordinary enthusiasm on the +occasion. "We are just off," concluded my father, "and Sheik Faris is +capering around on little Kushki, with the prized shoe dangling from her +neck--the two of them as proud as peacocks." + +[Illustration: "THE TWO OF THEM AS PROUD AS PEACOCKS"] + +After this, we received no further news for some time. Then came the +first letter from the ruins, my uncle having arranged that his zaptiehs, +whom he had left at Hillah, should act as despatch riders, the Aeniza +carrying his letters from Katib to a small village on the Sea of Njef, +whence the zaptiehs rode on with them to Hillah and Baghdad. When this +first letter was written, the party had been only three days in camp +near the ruins, and the temple itself had not then been explored, +although my uncle had looked down into it from the gap in the roof. The +whole time had been occupied in a thorough examination of the outer +chamber, with its ramification of passages, of which my father had made +several elaborate plan-drawings. Faris and I had been right in thinking +that there was only the one chamber, and that the various passages +always led back to it, except, of course, the one by which we had +originally entered, by way of the steps. Apparently, this form of +building was not unknown to my uncle, who, however, had never actually +seen anything of the kind, and was delighted with what he had now +observed. With the drawings were numerous rubbings from glazed bricks, +paper mouldings from carvings, copies of inscriptions, and a few +photographic films, which I was to develop. All such things I had been +instructed to place in the great safe with the treasured Girdle, and +before long the collection began to swell to vast proportions. + +Soon, the desert despatches came in regularly once a week, and each one +was more bulky than the last, until the safe would hold no more, and +cupboards had to be set apart to receive the accumulating mass of +papers. Knowing what I did of my uncle's life at the British Museum, I +trembled to think of what he was laying up for his old age. Neither did +I relish the idea that he would probably persuade me to assist him in +unravelling the threads of all his discoveries. + +With considerable impatience I awaited the letter which should tell me +that the explorers had reached the temple of the queen-goddess, and, +when it came, I was relieved to learn that my uncle was in no way +disappointed. In fact, it was evident that he was in the seventh heaven +of joy, and had no intention of leaving the place until he had +overhauled every nook and corner. They had entered the temple, as Faris +and I had done, by the tunnelled way, and had found everything just as +we had left it. Our tower of escape still stood against the side wall; +Raspul's corpse, shrivelled and dried up, lay on the bench on which we +had placed it, and the image, or statue, of Sophana looked down serenely +on the debris scattered around her feet. No man had been near the place +since that awful night, for Faris said that the tribes had become aware +of the murder of the seer in his temple, and knowing that his corpse +still remained unburied, feared to visit the spot. Even his own Aeniza +refused to pitch their camp nearer than a mile from the ruins. The +rosary of the seer had been found, but beyond saying that the beads +composing it were highly interesting, my uncle did not enter into +details. + +In thus describing the events of my last days in the City of the +Caliphs, I have found it impossible to refrain from mentioning the great +things that my father and uncle were doing, whilst I remained, an +unwilling prisoner, at the base of operations. These matters, however, +are so intimately connected with my quest of the Golden Girdle, that I +do not think that any apology for their introduction into my story is +needed. Still, I hesitate to forestall my uncle's own account of his +wonderful discoveries, which, I have little doubt, when made known to +the world, will be found to rival those of the early Babylonian +explorers; and with the exception of quoting from one more of his +letters, I shall throw no further light on his doings. + +The letter in question arrived after I had been without news for a +fortnight, and just as I had made up my mind that something was amiss. I +had, indeed, gone so far as to suggest to Edwards that he and I should +start off for Hillah, and thence try to reach Katib. Many were the +papers which accompanied my uncle's letter, which, though written in +great haste, was of considerable length. It opened with instructions +about the new bundle of papers, and more particularly about the +negatives sent for development; then it disclosed information which +made my heart thump and my fingers twitch with nervous excitement. The +contents of his letter, said my uncle, were on no account whatever to be +revealed to anyone, except to Edwards, and to him only on the condition +that he swore to keep the secret. This is what he wrote:-- + + "I could not send in news last week, as we were much too busy + to think of anything beyond the work in hand. How sorry we are + that you were not with us to share our triumph; for triumph it + assuredly is! We have had, Walter, the most astounding stroke + of luck. The temple itself and its extraordinary surroundings + have given me the greatest joy, and had the beautiful statue of + the goddess been the only thing that I could remove, I should + have been more than satisfied. Yet we have found other things, + and your father, whose greed is terrible, is in ecstasies over + our undreamt-of success. + + "You will remember the small chamber, into which, as Sheik + Faris tells me, the Seer retired to change his clothes. That + was his private dwelling-room, and we found little of interest + in it until, about ten days ago, on sounding the walls, I + thought that one of them rang hollow. I examined it more + carefully, and after a while I discovered a tiny metal knob, + similar to the one on the wall door by which we had gained + access to the temple. I held my finger on it, and the wall + began to move. Then in my eagerness I pushed it with my + shoulder, to find myself at the entrance to a large and dark + dungeon. I have no time now to describe fully what that dungeon + contained, and I cannot say whether it was the store-house of + Raspul, or of many generations of priests. But whoever amassed + the wealth that lay therein cannot have acquired it honestly in + one lifetime, nor yet in twenty, and for what purpose it should + have been kept there is incomprehensible. There were wooden + boxes filled with gold mohurs, Turkish gold coins, English + sovereigns, and even 'spade' guineas; the wood of the boxes in + many instances crumbled away with age, and the coins trickling + through. Of silver coins there were pagodas, kerans, rupees, + and money from almost every country, piled in great heaps in + the corners of the chamber. Not a little rare and antique + jewellery also, and gems cut, uncut, and engraved; besides + pearls representing the produce of Bahrein for a decade or + more. I do not attempt to estimate the value of our find, + though your father talks of six figures. The intrinsic value is + to me nothing. I have as much of this world's goods as I wish + for. Your father will, of course, take his share; my share will + be divided equally between yourself and your friend the doctor; + while the share which belongs by right to Sheik Faris, he + refuses to take, and he desires me to say that he gives it all + to his 'brother the magician,' to whom it will be of greater + use than to himself. + + "Ever since we made this wondrous discovery, we have been + engaged day and night in packing the treasure, only our three + selves and Sedjur being in the secret. The Aeniza, who refused + to enter the ruins, are aware that we intend to remove portions + of the temple and other parts of the ruins, and so that they + shall not suspect the nature of the loads which the camels will + take away, we have sewn up the gold and other valuables in + small pieces of camel cloth, binding fragments of stones around + each package. The statue of the goddess we hope to bring away + also; but it is doubtful if there are sufficient camels to + carry all the silver. However, we can well spare some of it. + + "Sheik Faris has arranged that, in order to avoid all + difficulties with the Turkish authorities, he will convey + everything across the desert, to a certain small bay in the + Gulf, not far from Kuwait, where, he tells me, we shall be able + to hire large boats used for shipping smuggled horses, and so + get the goods on board our steamer, without any trouble. He and + a hundred and fifty horsemen start with the camels to-morrow + night; and we, accompanied by Sedjur and fifty men, return at + the same time towards Hillah, where we shall pick up the + zaptiehs, and ere many days we shall be with you again in + Baghdad. + + "We must leave Bussorah in the steamer which departs next + Monday three weeks, so that we may be off the appointed place + at the time at which Faris calculates to arrive there. He + assures me that there can be no possibility of failure on his + part; for he says that the man who carries Shahzadi's shoe can + never fail! + + "I can write no more now, as there are still many things to be + seen to. It would be well if you were to prepare to leave + Baghdad shortly after our arrival. I have every confidence in + the noble and generous Faris, whom I hold in the highest + esteem. He is now seated in my tent, and bids me remind you of + the prophecy of Raspul: _Wealth untold cometh to the man whose + mare shall carry the iron with which Shahzadi was shod!_" + +"And also," said Edwards, "to the man who recovered the Golden Girdle of +the Great Queen." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Treasure of the Tigris, by +A. F. Mockler Ferryman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TREASURE OF THE TIGRIS *** + +***** This file should be named 35615.txt or 35615.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/6/1/35615/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |