Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: August 4, 2024
"I shall place you under arrest, if you interfere again," the Master retorted, without turning round. "What saith the White Sheik?" asked Bara Miyan, hearing the strange words of a language his ears never before had listened to. "Only prayer in my own tongue, Bara Miyan. A prayer that thine and mine may become akhawat"
"May the peace be upon thee," all at once exclaimed Bara Miyan, gesturing for the Master to enter the vast hall. "Peace, until the rising of the day!" "And upon thee, the peace!" the Master answered, with the correct Arabic formula. They entered, and after them the other Legionaries and the sub-chiefs of Jannati Shahr. The banquet-hall was enormous.
From his paralyzed hand the simitar fell to the grass. Brodeur threw off the ray; and the Master, unsmiling, stooped, picked up the blade and with a salaam handed it back, hilt-first, to the old man. Only with his left hand could Bara Miyan accept it. He spoke no word, neither did any murmur run through the massed horsemen.
"Thou hast used a heavy hand on the Apostate, O Sheik." "We of Jannati Shahr do not anoint rats' heads with jasmine oil. Tell me, Frank, how many men hast thou?" "Three-and-twenty, is it not so?" "Yea, it is so. Tell me, Bara Miyan, this whole pyramid " "Skulls, yea." "This is the Pyramid of Ayeshah that I have heard strange tales of?" the Master demanded, feeling even his hard nerves quiver.
These gigantic mudirs, or Keepers of the Treasure, had expected the opening of the door to show them the Feringi, indeed, but preceded by Bara Miyan and surrounded by men of Jannati Shahr. Now they beheld the dogs of unbelievers all alone, there, with guns in hands, with every sign of battle. They had heard sounds of war, from without.
And from the men of the 'Navel of the World' Mecca we exacted greater tribute than even death!" The Master's voice held a quiet menace that by no means escaped Bara Miyan. Level-eyed, he gazed at the white man. Then he advanced two paces, and in a low voice demanded: "Abd el Rahman still lives?" "He lives, Bara Miyan." "Where is the Great Apostate?" "In our flying house, a prisoner." "Bismillah!
Bara Miyan beckoned, and with a command brought six riflemen from their horses. "Load well, and shoot me this Frank!" exclaimed the Olema. A fire was burning in his eyes. "Aywa!" "Allah will make it easy for us!" "Have no fear, Bara Miyan," another said. Tension held Arabs and Legionaries, alike.
This band of hardy adventurers, stout-hearted and armed with service-revolvers, remained rather closely grouped, with the Arabs flanking and following them. At their head rode old Bara Miyan with the Master, who well bestrode his saddle with burnished metal peaks and stitching of silver thread. After them came the three imams, Major Bohannan, Leclair, and "Captain Alden."
Remember, though, that the salt is now in the stomachs of all thy people, both here and in the city, as it is in the stomachs of all my men!" "I will remember." "And now, O Bara Miyan, I will show thee the very great gifts that I have brought thee!" The Olema nodded, in silence. A great dejection held him and his men.
Only two factors: first, the potential destruction of the Myzab and the Black Stone in case of treachery; and second, two tiny pinches of salt exchanged between the Master and old Bara Miyan! The situation, calmly reviewed, was one probably never paralleled in the history of adventure more like the dream of a hashish-smoking addict than cold reality.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking