Tales of Destiny | Page 9

so
before, bringing several beautiful Arab horses for sale. These the
zemindar had purchased, and had retained Abdul in his service, for the
youth was skilled in the management of horses, and in the rearing of
young stock.
"Abdul and myself were much of an age, and my regulation of

expenditures in the stables had brought us constantly together. So a
close friendship had resulted, valued greatly on my side, for I had soon
come to know that Abdul was a man of refinement and learning such as
I had never before encountered in any man of so humble a calling. And
despite the fact that he was a Moslem and I a Hindu, he had chosen me
as his intimate friend, his only confidant. Thus had it come about that at
times he had read to me of an evening songs of his own composing,
and even on occasion had sung them to the accompaniment of a small
harp, the strings of which he touched with wondrous skill and
sensibility.
"Now did I know that this dear friend of mine had endangered not only
his well-being but his life, by sending into the zenana of our master, the
zemindar, a love token and a love message for one of the women
dwelling there.
"Thus ran the fateful lines, written after the style of the famous Persian
poet, Omar the Tent-Maker, which I now read again on the paper
withdrawn from my girdle:
This ring, O idol mine, tells one is here To bring thee joy, to kiss away
the tear. Keep in thy heart the ruby fire of love; The hour of thy
deliverance is near.
"And, after reading, I felt thankful that the message had not fallen into
the hands of the zemindar, else had the intriguer's identity been quickly
determined and his fate as quickly sealed.
"Yet the lines breathed the spirit of honourable love, and my heart was
stirred to aid my friend in his daring enterprise.
"Patiently during the afternoon I waited, cogitating the while, and
counting the chances. At last about an hour before sunset Abdul came
to me with his usual gay smile and happy greeting.
"He read trouble in my look, for straightway he asked of me:
"'What is wrong? What matters have gone amiss?'

"I motioned him to sit by my side, and then without more ado told him
of the evil turn that had befallen the dhobi, and showed him the
quatrain of verses.
"'These you wrote?' I questioned.
"'With my own hand,' he answered, gravely, but without excess of fear.
"'And the ring with the flaming red gems?'
"'Was her mother's own ring. Zuleika would know it in an instant.'
"'Zuleika--who is she?'
"'Listen, my brother, for fate points that to thee should I give my fullest
confidence. Zuleika is a maid of the Turkmans, betrothed to me. But a
year ago, when gathering flowers in our valley, she was stolen by
roving freebooters. And, true to my love, I have followed her here, to
the home of the zemindar, your master, who purchased her from the
marauders.'
"'How came you to know that she was here?'
"'Never mind. I am a man of resource and observation, and I tracked
the maid. Moreover, gold opens the gates of confidence, and of this I
have goodly store.' As he spoke, he touched a pouch that hung from his
girdle, 'For I am not, as I may have seemed to you, a mere dealer in
horses, but the son of a great chief in my own land.'
"He had drawn himself up proudly, and I bowed my head, in homage as
well as in acquiescence. For the news did not surprise me, and in a
friend of such noble bearing and high attainments I was well content to
recognize an overlord.
"More did he tell me--about a grass-cutter in the stables who had ridden
with the robbers, and knew where the captive had been disposed; and
about a dancing girl who had carried the ring into the zenana, and
brought forth Zuleika's answer in return, telling that she was well, that

she was destined as the bride of the zemindar's eldest son, but that she
would resist all advances until rescued by her lover, the pearl of her
heart, now thrice dear because he had followed her so faithfully and so
far.
"Abdul, fearful of danger to Zuleika because of the discovery of the
ring, was for instant action--the hiring of bravoes, and a bold attack on
the zemindar's person, taking him unawares, carrying him off and
holding him to ransom, deliverance of the captive maid of the
Turkmans being the price of his freedom.
"But I had more subtle counsel to offer. For by foreordaining of
Providence there rested in my breast certain