THE RED SLIPPER

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 154, 29 June 1907, Page 15

THE RED SLIPPER

fi A Stirriflg Story of H Adyentore in the ." tband of the Moors I CHAPTER VX : s_aE SERAGLIO OF THE SHEREEF. jly sleep was not very sound, owing to the-multitudinous thoughts and fanthat kept crowding into my brain. | On the whole I was glad when mornjxig icame. m i t le2=t this gave mc a chance to do goiaethingThe game had by this time gone so far vftlaTK* that action was needed to bring about results.

If T had not realised before what mag- ■ 'stude my undertaking promised, the fact was now being hourly impressed upon my mind. : ?Jnst to think of bucking up against tiis hybrid population of El Moro was priougli to arouse apprehension and ■besides there was the shereef's regular junv, composed of as fine an assortment'of desert warriors as I had ever ' laid my eyes on, every one of whom irould esteem it an inestimable privi- ; j egfl to be allowed an opportunity to h iat'a Christian dog to pieces. I : The <»reat mogul of course interested "7»e above all else. • J studied him well. He was head and. shoulders above s_,y Moorish chieftain of my acquaintance," capable of great tilings in so far as lis fig flt "^entI _aw that when I exposed my hand tolim I would arouse a slumbering lion indeed, and the prospect was not calcu]_ied to induce a degree of hilarity, though I would not let it dismay mc in . -.tie least. " X'had met with other men of" his cah- ' ~Sre7and~ as a usual thing managed to mill ont in good bhape. -Then the presence of Harding buoyed sift TipHe *was capable of such astonishing possibilities that a fellow who worked hind in glove with him need never fear for. meagre results. I proceeded to deliver a portion of the presents during the morning, reserving some of the best under the plea that it-was" the sultan's wish they should be I handed over on the second day after my anival;;which was a feast day of some iort-in-connection with a saint. Jhete was a bit of my policy for keeping fc shereefs curiosity piqued, and Bamtaimng- his good will. Batfeare won through such strata- . -,- gems.' "" I stranded him cautiously, and the retptt fid not add to my peace of mind, for by patching things together I learned thai he was contemplating adding a new ' member presently to his harem and that his heart was quite set upon the pleasing Caty.. _ ■' "The old "villain, I am sure, had a score . or more of beauties in his seraglio,* and ; "yet" had I hinted about purchasing the release of the poor. white girl, I imagine he would have teen furious, so that despite the sultan's protecting favour, I must have felt his anger at once. { I knew enough about the general run of Moorish prisons to feel like keeping ;^CT T £d3M&at-'-> : --''-"i 5"-' - : r. ".- --*■",:■, ', i'And my knowledge of Moorish charac- , Kr allowed mc to make a pretty shrewd gaess as to how the land lay,-and that the shereef jnnst be enamoured with this nnfortunate white maiden who had fallen into his hands. .Now, my nest proposition was to gain. .- «n interview with the object of my solids' fade.' T .had already learned how Capt. Duntan had died some weeks before. Mary, was established in . apartments connected with the big scragI' &,' where her every wish was gratified aye. the yearning for liberty and a return . to her father's people. ' Perhaps, had she been left alone, she 'Bright-in time have grown accustomed to her surroundings and reconciled to the ••■ 'jdresry existence; but it seemed otrtrageons to mc that one whom I had known and played with when she""was a pretty, prattling child, should be condemned to .-■ paste her life thus. I was determined to see her without farther delay; that very night, in fact. And Harding should help mc. •" .It was with pleasure, then, that I saw fiie hot star sink beyond the domes and ... .innarete that marked the western border pf the walled city. '- a quiet way I had picked trp con-.-fiderahle information thnt. promised to beof value to mc. .■'•--. Sokey Mulei was worth his weight in gold as an emergency hitter, and I could not ten yon how many tames I found lessen to Mess the chance that had en- - afcied mc to place him under obligations. I knew some of the shereefs spies were faejnijgine under more or less strict 3urM&Bce. Ifiis "tos (jpug ostensibly for the pnr--f*tf'of = protection, for there were nnteaed spirits constantly coming into El . Morp from .the Atlas Mountain region, *•?* "of -whom might feel a desire to. •Bfie'-way with the bold unbeliever, not mderstaading that he was a guest of tne niter. _£__•*** a pretty good idea that, besides, ™c*» fellows were committed to the task j X "watching my actions. ■--•' iv*''' 5 the iori realm suspected motives hi coming to Wazzan , ..Bright not he wholly confined to this de- **»* U> serve as, the saltan's messe_>»-er. Tt was a part of his religion to look *rpon all dogs of heretics with contempt «d suspicion. -4*k__ snpper I sat ammd for a while *at<4ing the chess players, observing the •KaaJ .-wrangles among the camel men ?™ the donkey boys, and apparently just AlTthe same I saw my faithful Sukev ™OEh down a dark side street with a Mffiole njtfgj. arm . a tim _ • top, was missing. 7.7f c , iras .' al - the rendezvous. *nd-the garments which he carried M? ns}ed mc into as villainous a othen ° ever da r«l-t° be when owing iip ac adventures he delighted £*« on in relating to the fair DesdeVinat^ 1 ?- £nn re *? alia ' and read y the score of who •?*? uijse the premium when it came I ? SUtm of to ugh appearance. . *>mehow my new disguise seemed to "on «? my just as the actor stage takes refuge behind his awaited us. Wnffi™L 1 °? Ber 6 * **gg*«* -might pass for an ordinary Moorish ' **■ such a ff Bis e did not SL m ° re than casual attention: --ffe^ 1 - Saw him * felt sorry, because 7 J"f .wsnmed-fhe attributes of aswagthis had nothing to do *»v tl ■ tiat we were now OD the ■aaifl^ meefc a y OBD g woman whom I !had ■i. _ "=* °S nj knee as a p__i*d. MSMc. 7.'

ST.GEORGE RATHBOKNE AXTTBOB. OF "»r. Jack," "Little Miss Mfllioms," "Baren Sam," etc.

I think I am above those foolish > vanities. , The harem seraglio of the shereef consisted of several large buildings set in the midst of a park. The whole was surrounded by a high 'wall.

t Such was the respect, and even abject , fear, in which this mogul of Wazzan was ' universally held by his loyal subjects, ; that in all the years of the past doubt- ' less never once had any imprudent fellow ever ventured to scale that formidable wall. t We were indifferent about that.

j In fact, we had set out to break records, and cared mighty little how soon we began. I Sukey Mulei produced the rope which was to be our "open' sesame" in passing that grim barrier, the wall.

"Hajre a care. my. master: some say poisoned glass lies fastened upon the top," said our guide, in warning, when Harding had selected the spot wherewith to begin operations. This, sounded rather discouraging, but then it might be the old cry of "wolf" when there was none: at any rate, why should we shrink until injured.

Harding heaved the rope over, having at the end some contrivance of his own invention which was calculated to catch under the coping of the fall on the other side and hold fast.

j He was full of these ingenious ideas, 'and could turn them to account on the slightest provocation. Then a?ain he insisted upon being the first to climb upward. . I only feebly remonstrated, for I knew Harding of old, and how he must be humoured in such things. He wriggled along, drawing himself up foot after foot sailor fashion. Presently I saw him lying on top, and his sibilant whisper came floating down to vs — "No glass^—no poison—bully!" I waited to hear no more, but took hold. It was a dead-away strain, and I doubt if I could have managed it decently only for the arm that shot down to seize mc by the collar and fairly lift mc aloft. We had given Sukey Mulei the privilege of remaining outside the walls, but the plucky fellow refused to take advantage of the favour, and presently we had the satisfaction of lending him a helping hand. Thus the trio of us lay flattened out upon the coping of that wall, made of mud and lime, sun-baked, and known under the name of tapia. To get down were an easy task. Harding, though, wanted to look around a bit, and yet the lay of the land' established in his mind, for perhaps we might want to depart hence in a hurry, when a little knowledge would prove a good thing. All seemed serene. ' There were lights in the buildings, but the grounds were wrapped in darkness and solitude. Since the story of the broken and poisoned glass supposed to be cemented along the top of the wall had. turned out- to be a-myfch,--we_found. abgndatit reasons for expecting all other yarns in connection with pitfalls and traps and fierce wolfhounds quartered in the seraglio grounds would prove equally fallacious. Now Harding was securing the rope again, this time in a fashion about which there could be no doubt. It would be folly in mc to avow that the prospect did not "cause my pulse to beat with more than its ordinary rapidity. I have nevex reached the stage, nor do I expect .to, when I can view such possible scenes of turmoil and strife with utter indifference. Just the recollection of numerous escapades in the past can send a thrill through my system to this day. Harding insisted on leading the way down the rope even as he had served as advance courier in mounting. I had been in Moorish gardens before, but never in the capacity of an unbidden trespasser, and this makes a vast difference in one's feelings. The dogs were thus far only conspicuous by their absence, and I hoped they might remain so. We could manage to get on very well without them. It was nice and quiet in the garden, since the noises of the city seemed shut out for the most part. Of the three-buildings, we had to decide which we considered it most likely we would find the object of our solicitude in. A mistake might cost us dear. Through open but barred windows we caught the sound of chattering female voices, accompanied by occasional shrieks of laughter. "We shun that coop," whispered Harding, and I was only too willing to acquiesce in his .decision, since I knew full well what would happen if that bevy of bright eyes discovered strange men inside this sacred enclosure. Eight here the sagacity of Sukey Mulei came into play. He chanced to know where the new song bird was apt to be kept, while in the grounds. , So it came about that presently we found a chance to slip in through a door neglected by the eunuch whose charge it should have been, passed through several apartments hung with tapestry, Harding had only obtained a mere fleeting glimpse of her as she was walking and finally discovered the object of our search, poor Mary Duncan. CHAPTER "VTL SWEET MART DUNCAN. The girl's attitude was one of dejection. Surrounded as she seemed to be by everything in the way of luxury calculated to please the heart of a native maiden, yet poor Mary Duncan saw naught of pleasure in the future that faced her. Somehow I experienced a strong sense of gratification on account of having so readily taken the prayer of her father to heart. The difficulties and perils which had already been encountered during my desert journey into utter insignificance. * Her life was worth ten, yes, one hundred times such endeavour. Even the tremendous possibilities that opened before mc had not the power to daunt. With my heart thus *deeply touched by the picture of that poor girl's misery I advanced. Her head was bent low, and she saw mc not. So I eon_*fc«i- gently.

Immediately she - sprang to her feet from the aivan. I was reminded of the start taken by the timid deer -when suddenly convinced that danger was nigh. .-_ She fastened her eyes upon mc. They were a pair of large, lustrous gray orbs; in which the soul of fright and grief shone. . . 1 do not remember ever -having looked into such a wonderful pellucid well as those eyes seemed, unless it was years agone, when I had a dear, prattling little child, this same Mary Duncan, perched on my boyish knee. Still, she, of course, considered mc a Moor, since I had dressed to constitute myself a representative of Othello's tribe. And a pretty villainous specimen in the bargain I was fain to aumit. This accounted for the fear in her expression. I was not; in the habit of seeing my presence inspire such a feeling in a gentle breast. It pained mc. No doubt she imagined some crisis had arrived in her affairs —so it had, iut not the kind she anticipated—fait *** c put her hand upon her heart, and breathed quickly, like a poor hunted doe. "Maxy, fear nothing from mc. I have come in answer- to your father's letter —come to save you if I can,"' I said, quickly, but cautiously. Well, sirs, it were worth all that I had risked to see the glad light of hope supersede that hunted look upon her sweet countenance. *Her eyes fastened, .oh, so eagerly, on my stained face, and the hands, no longer indicative of despair, were clasped and held out toward mc. Such miraculous changes may the sound of one's mother tongue, spoken in the midst of adverse surroundings, produce. "Oh, sir, who are you?" trembled from her lips. I advanced closer, certain now that she would sooner die than give the alarm. "T am, or "was, the American consul at Fez, to whom your father sent his smuggled letter, begging mc to use every, effort to save his daughter. More than that, my dear girl. I am the Alexander Thompson who knew you as a child. • Be sure I have undertaken this mission with gladness, and that you shall be plucked out of this miserable net if it lies in human possibility."

Poor girl, the reaction set her to trembling violently. -Oh! God is good, and has -heard my prayer. I -would sooner die than remain here to face such a life. Take mc away with you, !Mr. Thompson—l am -willing to trust you -with my life, because you were his friend, and mine. See, I am ready to go now." She was enthusiastic. I felt grieved to be compelled to disappoint her, but, really, the time had not come for action. All this was merely preliminary, of course. So I had to explain; softening matters as best I could, and giving hearty assurance to back my assertion that all would be well. Perhaps I did not feel quite as confident as I made out. but, then, my intentions were of the best. Mary took it more philosophically than I had expected. She was a remarkably sensible girl. Time was of considerable value to us, for at any moment the door eunech might return to his post and give us trouble.

I did not wish the job of making; way with sucll a_ -fellow: .thus.early,in the; game." Time enough for that when affairs had been brought up to a crisis. Accordingly I gave further words of hope and encouragement to the fair prisoner, and then withdrew from the apartment. Mary eagerly gave mc her Uttle hand in parting, and somehow, when I felt it nestle in my own so confidingly, I seemed to be more inspired than ever with a valiant resolution to take her to safety. And the eloquent look of entreaty in those clear grey eyes were enough to make a fellow imperil his immortal soul in response, not to mention his poor mortal body.

My hasty move proved very wise. I "had just rejoined my comrades, and the three of us found shelter among the shrubbery, when, 10, the missing eunech showed up at the door. Truly, I hoped he had seen nothing to arouse suspicion. We found little difficulty in leaving the garden, since our preparations had been so thorough. And when I finally arrived at the fondak where I was to put up for at least another night, I found reason to congratulate myself that thus far matters had worked so well. Of course, we had a big job before us. It would require considerable manipulation and an abundance of hard thinking before we could hope to attain end. So much the more glory if success finally rewarded us. That is the true spirit in which all Argonauts sail forth in search of the modern golden Fleece. Unless one aims high it is useless to expect much in the way of attainment. Sukey Mulei hovered around. I rather suspected my henchman had something weighing heavily on his mind, for I knew of old his unwillingness to open a conversation without being invited. So I managed to get him on one side., The same old bustle was going on in front of the tavern, with camel men squabbling, donkey boys dodging hither and yon, fakirs crying their wares in the ■ hopes of inducing the assembled merchants to loosen the strings of their j purses. How infinitely small it all seemed to mc now, since I had learned what a j magnificent project had drawn my friend Harding to this Moorish walled capital. Sukey Mulei smiled mysteriously when j I took him thus aside. "You would tell mc something, my friend. Already am I deeply indebted to your watchful care. What new discovery have you made that concerns my interests?" That was tbe way in which T usually accomplished my object. ,Sukej r Mulei,< use all his tribe, was prone to invite flattery—he liked to be complimented— honeyed words were both meat and drink to him. And so easy to bestow. "Illustrious one, the shereef sleeps not," he said. I rather suspected the trouble would spring from that quarter, and betrayed no excitement. 'There are others, oh, Sukey Mulei."' Thus I spoke with the intention of giving him to understand that when it came to watchfulness the mogul of Wazzan was not, as Harding would have aptly put it, "the only pebble on the beach." My loyal retainer understood, even if he failed to indicate as much by the faintest smile. ."Ee wonders much why-the MagnifiI cent* One at Fez should choose a foreigner as his messenger. This you already know. Also the fact that spies have been set upon gar track to learn

the truth.- These we have langhed at, because they were blind. But there is one whom we have reason to fear. He is a snake in the grass. Long has he served Ms master the shereef, for..whom its "would even-bring to death our sultan." ?■ jd - . - '", • "Ah! you mean the one-eyed grand vizier, he whom we call go on," I said, feeling again that coldness such as follows contact with ice. That delectable schemer always gave ; mc" a bad fit "when I ran up against him —it seemed as though all the base attributes of Satan and his legion of devils must be concentrated in his person. "He saw us" return, my master." "And, you think, recognised mc through my disguise?" Yet, after all, I was not so surprised as I might appear, for verily I believed that land shark was able to accomplish anything that might turn up, such was the penetrating power of his vision. "Alas! he knows mc only too well," replied Sukey Mulei. I saw where we had been remiss. It was hot enough that I should hide my identity while going about upon these nocturnal excursions. "Tell mc the worsts—you do not believe he followed us to the waD —that he knows how*Hve went in?*' "I think not that; but he must understand that the Illustrious One comes not to El Moro just to bring presents. This son of Satan thinks hard —he will surely guess the truth, or that we seek to start a war upon the shereef. It is very bad. Sukey did not have my optimism, you see, and shadows frightened him. Besides, from long habit, he was apt to invest both the ruler of Wazzan and his right-hand man with certain quali-. ties which, on my part, I did not believe they possessed. It was bred in the bone. Sukey was willing to believe mc something in the line of a wonder, but as for these others, he had heard the most amazing stories of their abilities to work, miracles. To tell the truth, I was disgusted with Sinbad myself, and heartily wished him leagues away, leaving the game between his master and my modest equipment. Wishes, however, count for naught I set to work bolstering up my re-' tamer's courage, and with such success that he was presently ready to ayow that we had nothing to fear. • That is the result of understanding a man, and being able to work upon; his nature. Let the grand vizier continue to plot, let him marshal his- spies around the fondak, and dog my steps whenever I went abroad, I would find the means to give- him the laugh when it came to a test. - For the present, I threw care to the winds. | Sukey Mulei, now transformed into a hopeful mood, left mc. * I was very tired. The conglomeration of sounds would - not be apt to keep mc awake on this night. Something else, however, began to have an influence that caused mc a little annoyance at first, and then positive alarm. I kept seeing sparkling grey eyes before my mental vision as soon as I settled down upon the divan and sought to woo the coy goddess of slumber; Sometimes they were filled with fear, anon glowing with a great and sudden joy, and then perhaps betokening deep anxiety—but the same beautiful grey eyes through it all. I did not know what te make oi it at first, for, you see, my life had been so filled with strenuous "doings that "1 had up to now given little thought to such a thing as love. Could it be possible —I scorned the insinuation, and yet, just as often as I threw it aside, back it came again with even more violence than before. Some things thrive on rebuffs. And I guess love is one of them. I minutely recalled every word she had spoken, every expression that had flashed across her sweet face, and gloried in the thought that this new faith and. hope which radiated from her countenance was born in the steadfast belief Hiatal could carry her away from this nest of vipers to freedom. Why, I would not lor worlds ihave done aught to forfeit that blessed confidence. It made mc feel of some consequence in the world. This maiden, whom a cruel fortune had buffeted so. long, now had no other hope in life save through mc, anil by everything that I held holy I would not fail her. } The sweet memories I had long Cherished of her as a child seemed to have suddenly sprung up from a seed into a full-grown tree, and blossomed im my heart.

And -while I- slept I saw Mary Duican oft in my dreams. ',

(To be continued next Wednesday.)