Part 8 (1/2)
CHAPTER IX
A CLOSE SHAVE
A brief pause, then the gates swung on creaking hinges, and the caravan filed in between the dingy walls that had reared themselves for centuries from the summit of that hill
For an instant a hush of curiosity fell on the multitude within, as the caravan appeared; but as the Arab leader suddenly trailed in the dust the English flag that had once floated froreat shout arose, so that the very air seemed to tremble, and the people pressed tumultuously on the caravan from all sides
”Zaila has fallen! Zaila has fallen!” they cried, and ild joy they beat their arht the house-tops, so as better to see the new arrivals
In the first excitement Guy and Melton had escaped notice, but now they were suddenly espied, and the sight of the two hated Englishhest pitch of ferocity The foreigners' presence in the toas a sacrilege, an insult, and with threats and angry cries the reat was the crush, the camels were forced to halt
”Kill the infidels! Kill the dogs of unbelievers!” howled theers and knives and raised their spears
The Arabs had quietly closed round Guy and Melton, for with their calish rew bolder, and even tried to force the group apart in spite of the protestations of the Arabs, who had begun to point their rifles threateningly Hundreds of savage faces glared unutterable hatred at the two strangers, hundreds of wretches were thirsting for their blood, and, finally roused to uncontrollable fury, the croept ihtened camels pranced and reared, and the cordon of defense suddenly broken, a dozen savages rushed on Guy and Melton A long spear pierced Forbes under the arm and down he went beneath the caer, but the Arab brought down the butt of his rifle on the fellow's head just in ti
A man behind hurled his spear, but his ai Guy, it entered the poor ca round
This alone saved their lives As Guy staggered to his feet, cries of quite a different nature burst froan to scatter in all directions The rattle ofin eagerly, began to elishmen were saved A compact body offorward They were ar into the struggling crohich was shrieking and groaning with agony
In five round was literally covered with bodies It was a terrible example of Rao Khan's despotic rule
Melton was lifted up, and to Guy's deep sorroas seen that he had received an ugly thrust along the side, not of a serious nature, but ragged and painful
Two of the Emir's troopers, for such they proved to be, carried him, for he was unable to walk or ride
Guy and the Arabthe wounded aniuard, the caravan resuht of Harar was novel and interesting Before theth, at the extreme end of which could be dimly seen the northern wall of the town This avenue was like a barren mountain road, streith rubbish and heaps of rocks, and the dwellings, which rose on all sides to the height of two stories, were, ranite, celooy
The terrible scene just enacted had terrorized the people Many Arabs cas with the newcoht of the Euard seemed to have stricken the town like a palsy The shops and booths were closed and deserted The curtains of the houses were closely drawn; here and there at the doors lay goods that had been dropped in the sudden panic, and at one place ain his stiffened fingers a bunch of brightly colored rugs
But now the scene became ani thearded curiously, for they seemed to be of quite a different type fro They made no demonstration, however, but very quietly followed the caravan
The center of the toas now close at hand, and a short distance ahead, on the left-hand side, rose a ranite, and above the flat roof rose a square toith circular s It boasted a spacious courtyard, inclosed by a low stone parapet, and within this space were a dozen arhtly polished rifles
It was the palace of the Eates the escort sounded a blast of trurave and dignified Arab came slowly out
He spoke a feords to the leader of the caravan, who dis Guy follow him, entered the courtyard Close behind hi between the guard, they entered a narrow vestibule hung with rich curtains, and in a moment more were ushered into the dreaded presence of Rao Kahn
The Emir was seated on a low dais at the further side of a spacious apartlance struck terror to Guy's heart Rao Khan was a short, thickset man, with a round, smooth face His eyes were sunken deeply under the forehead, and the expression of his face was a strange blending of brutality, avarice, and treachery He was sireat sword at his side, and on his head was a leopard skin cap, so constructed that the tail of the leopard hung down his back
Before him squatted four soles and the skins of various ani array of every description, bronze and copper shi+elds, and strips of oddly-woven tapestry At sight of the English flag which the Arab now produced, the Emir's eyes sparkled, his face lit up with fiendish joy, and he began to talk wildly in a strange tongue