ve me, you infernal fool," he cried. "Clear out, I say! Let me
never see your cursed face again! . . . Don't grin, you ape! Get out
of my sight, or I shall murder you."

Iskender turned his horse and rode off slowly with many a backward
glance of pure dismay. Who would have dreamt that his Emir, the
easiest of men, could ever be transformed into this raging tyrant? The
tragedy of his own disgrace seemed insignificant beside the wreck of
his dear lord's intelligence. For the Emir was mad, not a doubt of it;
Iskender had not lied in his report to the Arab sheykh. He went back
till he met the baggage animals, then turned his horse and rode beside
Mahmud. The latter paused in his journey-chant to ask:

"What news, O my dear?"

"The Emir has driven me away," Iskender blubbered. "He wishes never to
see my face again."

"May Allah cure him of his illness! It is sure he is possessed with
devils more than one! Be not so mournful, O my soul! After an hour,
in sh' Allah, he will have forgotten anger."

"In sh' Allah!" Iskender echoed, weeping bitterly.

The muleteer resumed his road-song, and they fared along through a land
of sunbaked rocks, where spots of shade were welcome to the eye as
springs of water, the mule-bells clanging ceaselessly, until they
scaled a ridge whence the whole rough sea of uplands could be surveyed.
Their Arab guides had stopped here, clearly wishing to return, and were
trying to make the Emir understand their purpose by shouting in his
ears.

"Go thou, Mahmud, and hear what they have to say. Inquire the road of
them and point it out to the Emir," Iskender murmured.

He himself stopped short, fearing his lord's fresh anger. The Emir had
descried him, however, and came riding towards him.

"What are you following for? Didn't I say that I had done with you?"

"Oh, sir!" Iskender burst into a flood of tears. "Haf mercy! Drife
me not away! I luf you so! and how can I leaf you in this wilderness.
You loose your way, and I--I die of fear!"

His tears and piteous words only displeased his lord the more. But it
seemed to be the livid weal upon his face that quite incensed the
Frank. The moment his eyes fell on that, his wrath leapt past all
bounds.

"You lying, cringing cur!" he yelled. "Get out, I tell you! The sight
of you's enough to drive one mad. If I catch you following again, I'll
give you such a thrashing as you never had in all your life."

With that he gnashed hi