Part 2 (1/2)

”I was present when thou wert forced to bite the dust,” she explained.

”I had journeyed unto Katsena, where I had lingered one moon, and was returning hither to Kano when my Tuareg guards, warned of thine approach, watched thee by stealth, and in the darkness fell upon thee at a moment when thou wert unprepared. On the rising of the sun I searched the spot, and found that thou alone still lived. Secretly thou wert attired in the haick belonging to one of my handmaidens, and by my orders conveyed hither in a _jakfi_ on one of mine own camels. Still dressed as a female slave thou wert able to pa.s.s the guards of the outer courts and of the harem, to rest and recover on mine own divan.”

”Then to thee, O Azala, Princess of Sokoto, whose beauty is peerless, I owe my life,” I answered, fervently. ”Truly hast thou s.n.a.t.c.hed me back from the grave, even though I sought to a.s.sist in the sacking of this, the palace of thy father, and in the holding of thy people in bondage.

Tell me, why shouldst thou interest thyself in my well-being?”

Hesitating, apparently confused at my question, Azala moved uneasily, toying with the silken fringe of her broad girdle.

”Is it not written that we should bear no malice?” she answered, after a pause. ”Al-Sijil registereth our deeds.”

”Wisdom falleth from thy lips,” I said, smiling. ”But hadst thou no motive in bringing me into this thine apartment, even at the imminent risk of detection and disgrace?”

”I am not compelled to answer thy question,” she replied, with a forced laugh. ”Reason underlyeth most of our actions.”

”And wilt thou not explain thy reason?”

”No. At present my lips must remain sealed,” she answered calmly, her bejewelled breast heaving and falling in a long-drawn sigh.

”Peradventure thou mayest learn my motive some day; then will thine eyes open in astonishment, for thou wilt gain knowledge of things undreamed of and behold marvels amazing.”

”Thou speakest in enigmas. When may these secrets be revealed unto me?

Of what character are they?”

”Seek not to unloosen my tongue's strings, O mine enemy--”

”Nay, not enemy, friend, grateful and ever devoted,” I interrupted.

”Then, if thou art my friend seek not to discover mine innermost thoughts,” she said, earnestly. ”As the wicked are in Sajin, beneath the seventh heaven, where dwelleth Eblis and his host, so a.s.suredly will those who seek to discover the hidden marvels without mine aid or sanction taste of the bitter fruit of Al-Zakk.u.m.”

”But if thou givest unto me a pledge that thou wilt render explanation, I will be content,” I said.

”Not only will I, when the time is ripe, explain the strange secret unto thee, but, likewise, shall I seek thine a.s.sistance in elucidating a strange and incomprehensible mystery.”

”I am thine to command,” I answered gallantly, taking her slim, white hand in mine. ”When thou desireth me to serve thee, O Azala, thou wilt find me ever ready, for to thee I owe my life; my future is in thine hands.”

”To seek the key of the hidden mystery, to vanquish the angel Malec who hath charge of the gates of h.e.l.l, will require a stout heart and lion's courage,” she said slowly, fixing her clear, wonderful eyes upon mine, and allowing her soft bejewelled hand to linger for a second within my grasp.

”When the day dawneth thou wilt not find me wanting in defiance of danger, for, of a verity, I fear nothing with the beauteous daughter of the Sultan 'Othman as my pole-star.”

For a second a blush suffused her pale cheeks.

”As thou trusteth me, so also will I trust thee,” she said, in deep earnestness. ”Even though my position is exalted as Princess of Sokoto; even though I am surrounded by all that is beautiful, with many slaves to do my bidding, yet unhappiness eateth like a canker-worm into my heart.”

”Wherefore art thou unhappy?” I asked, sympathetically.

”Ah! the reason none may know,” she sighed. ”Until I call upon thee to render thine aid in seeking to discover things that are forbidden, thou must necessarily remain in the outer darkness of ignorance. Here, in the palace of my father, thou must remain in hiding until the time for action cometh. Then will I show thee that which will fascinate and astound thee.”

”Thy words of mystery arouse curiosity within me,” I said. ”Canst thou not reveal to me anything now?”

”Nothing. Save to tell thee that thou canst, if thou wilt, s.h.i.+eld me from a fate worse than death. A disaster, horrible and complete, threateneth to overwhelm me, and thou alone canst prevent it.”