The Son Of Monte Cristo Part 3 (1/2)

The noise of the conflict awoke the Khouans, who sprang up and rushed to their chief

One of the-bladed knife and was about to stab the prostrate and unconscious boy, but the Sultan restrained hiesture

”Not here,” said he ”The sacrifice can only be made in the mosque of the Khouans, thrice dedicated to Mohammed and reserved for the holiest rite of Isla to the Khouan to take the insensible boy froround, he added ”Now to horse and for the mosque Bear our captive in your ar across the desert, headed by the Sultan, who had hastily stanched the blood flowing from his arm and bound up the wound

Half an hour later, Monte-Cristo and his men reached the oasis The Count and Captain Joliette rode to the wells and at once sahere the grass had been beaten down by the Khouans and their horses

”They have been here and recently, too,” said Captain Joliette

”Thank God!” said Monte-Cristo, fervently ”We are on their track! But what is that?” he added ”Is it blood?”

Coucon and Fanfar, who had been attentively exa the stain, simultaneously answered:

”It is blood”

”My God!” cried Monte-Cristo, with a convulsive start, ”then they have slain my son!”

”Not so, Count,” said Captain Joliette ”Had they slain Esperance they would have left his body here But see,” resu to the spot where Esperance had le; they have fought a therant it ain, following the track of the Arabs' horses, and after an hour's ride caalone in the midst of the desert

”The mosque of the Khouans!” cried Captain Joliette, triumphantly

”Maldar and his ruffians are there! Look! Yonder are their horses!”

Monte-Cristo and his round; they left their panting ani their revolvers, ht met their eyes that almost froze the blood in their veins

Esperance, with his hands tied behind hie, flat stone in the centre of the han uplifted to strike The four Khouans stood at a short distance, chanting as evidently a death-hymn

Instantly Monte-Cristo aimed his weapon at the Sultan and fired Maldar fell dead beside his intended victih the open s and,their horses, fled across the desert

Monte-Cristo caught his son in his arms

”Esperance, my beloved!” he cried

”Father!” exclai his ararments were quickly restored to hiain mounted and started on their return to the colonist's farm

There is no need to describe the toilsome journey, it was accomplished in due time, and once more Esperance was safe in his father's care