ting
every variety which the garden produced; and between them reposed a
tray on which were seen the remains of a choice repast. A creeper with
a wealth of crimson flowers, wreathing a rough arbour built to shade
the sakieh, contrasted the dark foliage of the fruit-trees. The sky
was pure blue and cloudless. There was a hum of insects in the air.
The man Muhammad, keeper of the garden, sat on his heels at a
respectful distance from the feasters, watching for a signal to remove
the tray. All at once this man sprang up, his mouth fell open. With a
great oath he fled among the trees. Whereupon the brother of Aziz and
his company threw off concealment, and came forward boldly with loud
talk and laughter. Elias gazed upon them, stupefied. Before he could
get on his feet, they closed around him. Iskender heard the priest cry:

"Woe to him who withholds from the Church her dues!"

Mitri, with the brother of Aziz, then paid respect to the Emir,
engaging his attention while Elias was being led away. Guided by the
outcry of the prisoner, Iskender followed his captors on a parallel
line among the orange-trees. He heard the howls of derision with which
the women hailed the appearance of the boaster, and their demand that
he should be well beaten to reward his impudence. Iskender drew close
to them and peeped out through the leaves.

"Beat me? Nay, that you dare not!" cried Elias. "The lives of all of
you would not suffice my vengeance. Wait, wait till I get hold of my
good sword!"

"Thy sword, if thou hast one, is of wood, O braggart!" laughed one of
his captors, at the same time giving him a shove which sent him reeling
up against another of the band, who straight returned him.

"Nay, nay," he protested, in his passage through the air. "By Allah, I
possess one, of the finest steel. Ask Mitri, ask Iskender; they have
seen it!"

Then, as they continued their rough game with him, he screamed out:

"Are you Christian men or devils thus to maltreat me on account of a
few oranges for which I paid the guardian?"

"Nay, O beloved! Allah witness, it is not the oranges we begrudge
thee, but the honour thou didst take unto thyself feloniously."

"Aha, thou art the owner of this place, and we thy servants!"

"Oranges! Let him have his fill of them!"

A woman snatched an orange from the nearest tree, and flung it full in
his face. He opened his mouth to remonstrate, but another orange
stopped it on the instant.