Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
‘my adherents are as guarded of my safety as thou art.”
‘which he handed to Dr. Moses.
BORN TO BE
A MIDDY.
\
‘IT know thou hast my happiness at heart, doctor, and it
shall be as thon desirest.” :
“Then, sire, you will grant mea written authority to make
arrests.” *
‘By Allah! thou shalt have it. Mohammed grant that all
The Bey went to his desk and wrote the necessary order,
The physician placed it care-
fully in bis pocket, and, after giving advice to the Bey as to
the necessity of entire abstinence from all excitement for a
few days at least, he quit the palace.
" Although Osman -had: been foiled in his first attempt to
possess himself of Esther Isaacs, he had not abandoned his
purpose. Onthe contrary, he had busied himself in the inter-
val to perfect his plans, so that his next attempt would be
crowned with success.
‘The burning of the ‘ Philadelphia ” had aroused the savage
ire of the Arabs, and they were clamoring for revenge. Os-
man, with the cunning of his race, was not slow to avail him-
self of this feeling, and with little effort he had assembled
together a fierce multitude, at the heard of which he marched
to the house of Isaacs.
“His daughter is my slave, but ye shall have » his gold!”
sried Osman, haranguing the yelling mob as they pressed on-
ward. ©
: Variously armed with cimeters, clubs, staves, and stones,
‘the Arabs filled the air with execrations that boded evil to
the old money-lender and his daughter. ,
They reached the house of old Isaacs. With demoniac yells
they hurled themselves against the‘frail structure.
With drawn swords they literally hacked the door to pieces,
and rushed into the house. :
’ Old Isaacs was there, standing in the center of the room,
his face whiter than his beard, aud his aged limbs trembling
like a leaf that is shaken by the wind. He uttered nota
word, for fear had made him dumb. /
‘‘Down with him! Death to the Jew! Death to the dog
of an unbeliever!” cried the infuriated crowd, as they rushed :
with drawn cimeters upon the unresisting man.
They halted as a petite form appeared and stood erect be-
tween Isaacs and his blood-thirsty assailants.
It was Esther Isaacs. Hearing the nofse of the mob, she
had hastened from her boudoir in time to throw herself in
front of her aged father. .
ue Back, every one of you!” cried Osman, as he feasted his
eyes on the flushed face of the brave girl. ‘By Allah! he
who harms a hair of her head shall fall by my hand! Back,
T say!”
The Arabs fell back before the fiery words of Osman, who
feared that.even Esther might be sacrificed to glut their
vengeance.
“This, then, is thy work, Osman?” exclaimed Esther, as her
eyes sparkled with anger. ‘‘Shame upon thee for a coward,
as thou art! What craven spirit loiters in thy heart that
thou dared not come into: the house of Isaacs without these
blood-hounds at thy heels?”
“Husb, daughter,” exclaimed Isaacs, in supplicating tones;
“they will kill us if thou talkest, 80."
us!’
“Killus? Father Abraham grant that they shall. Cowards
that you are, why do you shrink before the angry glance ofa
woman’s eye? Have you not courage enough to attack us?
Father Jacob protect
| We are but two—a feeble old man and a defenseless girl. Why
do you hesitate? Here is my neck bared for your cimeters.
Strike!”
Esther Isaacs tore the jewels from her neck and bowed her
head for the blow. A hundred cimeters gleamed in the light
of the room. /
**Back with your cimeters to your scabbards,” cried Os-
man, as he jumped forward and seized Esther. ‘The daugh-
ter of the Jew ismy slave. She seeks death at your hands to
avoid captivity, but she shall not be gratified. She is mine,
and‘I will remove her hence at once.”
“The Jew—the Jew! Down with old Isaacs!” cried the
Arabs, :
**] leave him with you,” replied Osman.
his gold is yours, Do with them as ye will.”
A wild yell went up from the throats of the Arabs, and
Isaacs’ heart throbbed violently when he read in it his doom:
** Bear Esther Isaacs forth,” cried Osman, as several of his
attendants seized the struggling girl, ‘‘and let ‘no > drop of
blood be shed until she is removed hence.”
The brave girl heard the cruel words and knew their im-
port. She endeavored to free herself that she might ‘once
again press her father to her heart, but her efforts were un-
availing, and she was hurried onward to the door which led
into the street without.
The Arabs, who had crowded around the door, separated,
so as to permit her to pass. As they did so there was a
shout, and a file of Tripolitan soldiers entered, at the head of
whom appeared the well-known form of Dr. Moses.
‘¢Clear the room at once,” exclaimed Dr. Moses, to the of-
ticer in command.
His order was obeyed, the Arabs muttering threats as they
sullenly departed.
‘Osman, what means this commotion?” demanded Dr.
Moses.
‘By Allah, Moses! I should like toknow by what authority
you ask me that question? Know you not that I am a gen-
eral of the army of Tripoli?”
‘‘IT know well, Osman. And I am physician to the Bey.”
Osman winced under the last remark. He knew, by experi-
ence, how unbounded was the influence of the physician with
the Bey of Tripoli.
‘Esther Isaacs is my slave, Moses, ‘and Iam going to bear
her hence.”
“Iam going to bear her hence, Osman, as well as Isaacs
himself, and therefore she cannot accompany you. "
‘By Allah, Moses! I will not; be thwarted,” exclaimed Os-
man, as he drew his cimeter,
“By Allah, Osman! the Bey of Tripoli ‘shall not be
thwarted. Soldiers, arrest Isaacs and his daughter!”
‘The Bey of Tripoli? Arrest?” exclaimed Osman, ‘startled
“Hei yours;
‘| at the last words of the speaker.
_ “Tam acting under the orders of the Bey of Tripoli, and
’
19