e bibber of wine shall never rule over my
people and destroy their happiness, for now that he has fulfilled his
destiny Allah will assuredly deliver him into my hands.'

"I was perplexed. So far from Prince Hasan's destiny having been
fulfilled, it appeared to me that the dread tragedy foretold by the
stars was inexorably drawing nearer and nearer--the death of Mirza Shah
at the hands of his unworthy son, a bibber of wine, as he had
contemptuously called him.

"While this thought was passing through my mind, all of a sudden there
arose another mighty tumult, this time from our side--a shout of
astonishment, followed by cries of delight. But the roar of voices was
quickly drowned by the thunder of mighty hoofs and the excited
trumpeting of elephants. Turning round, I saw at a glance what had
happened. The elephants, frightened by the first wild huzzas of victory,
had stampeded, and were madly careering in a solid body across the
plain.

"Prince Hasan, as he held aloft the severed head of his adversary, saw
the oncoming danger. He made a dart for his horse, but the animal,
terrified by the noise and confusion, leaped forward, and was gone up
the valley like the wind.

"The youth made no attempt to run. It would have been useless. Yes, be
it admitted, he died like a man. Ere the elephants were upon him, he had
folded his arms across his breast, calmly prepared to meet his doom. In
another instant he was whirled through the air, like a straw caught up
by a tornado; then the living, irresistible billow swept over him.

"My eyes were still glued in frozen horror to the scene. The screaming
of the frightened troop of elephants had receded into the distance. Out
on the open, through a haze of dust, I saw the blot of coloured raiment
that showed where the body of Prince Hasan lay. And for the moment there
was naught but pity in my heart for the youth who had played by my side,
and gathered knowledge, if not wisdom, from my lips.

"But a hand was laid on my shoulder, and, turning round, I looked into
the face of Mirza Shah. It was lighted by a smile of stern satisfaction.

"'Syed Ali, as you have ever declared, even though I have detected that
your faith at times has wavered, the stars cannot speak falsely. He
died, that dog out there, but not until he had slain his own father.'

"'His own father!' I stammered. The truth began to break in upon my
dazed brain.

"'Yes. It is right that you at least should have the explana