ers,' said Alroy to the astonished chieftains, 'in this
noble stranger, you see one like yourselves entrusted with my unbounded
confidence. Jabaster, behold thy brother!'

'Honain! art _thou_ Honain?' exclaimed the pontiff starting from his
seat. 'I have a thousand messengers after thee.' With a countenance
alternately pallid with surprise and burning with affection, Jabaster
embraced his brother, and, overpowered with emotion, hid his face on his
shoulder.

'Sire,' at length exclaimed the high priest, in a low and tremulous
voice, 'I must pray your pardon that for an instant in this character
I have indulged in any other thoughts than those that may concern your
welfare. Tis past: and you, who know all, will forgive me.'

'All that respects Jabaster must concern my welfare. He is the pillar of
my empire;' and holding forth his hand, Alroy placed the high priest on
his right. 'Scherirah, you depart this eve.'

The rough captain bowed in silence.

'What is this?' continued Alroy, as Jabaster offered him a scroll. 'Ah!
your report. "Order of the Tribes," "Service of the Levites," "Princes
of the People," "Elders of Israel!" The day may come when this may
be effected. At present, Jabaster, we must be moderate, and content
ourselves with arrangements which may ensure that order shall be
maintained, property respected, and justice administered. Is it true
that a gang has rifled a mosque?'

'Sire! of that I would speak. They are no plunderers, but men, perhaps
too zealous, who have read and who have remembered that "Ye shall
utterly destroy all the places wherein the nations which ye shall
possess, served their gods upon the high mountains, and upon the
hill, and under every green tree. And ye shall overthrow their altars,
and----"'

'Jabaster, is this a synagogue? Come I to a council of valiant statesmen
or dreaming Rabbis? For a thousand years we have been quoting the laws
we dared not practise. Is it with such aid that we captured Nishapur and
crossed the Tigris? Valiant, wise Jabaster, thou art worthy of better
things, and capable of all. I entreat thee, urge such matters for the
last time. Are these fellows in custody?'

'They were in custody. I have freed them.'

'Freed them! Hang them! Hang them in the most public grove. Is this the
way to make the Moslem a duteous subject? Jabaster! Israel honours
thee; and I, its chief, know that one more true, more valiant, or more
learned, crowds not around our standard;