s Emir, in the face
of the sons of Musa, and of all the servants who came crowding to the
sight.

Elias fell down flat before the great one and embraced his feet. He
seemed unconscious when the Frank addressed him. It was by the
exertions of the sons of Musa and the group of servants that the
despairing wretch at length received assurance of forgiveness. With
tears of joy he kissed the hand of his preserver; then, suddenly
flinging open the vast cloak, which he had till now kept close around
him, he revealed a splendid whip of rhinoceros-hide, mounted and ringed
with silver. Iskender felt cruelly defrauded; it was with difficulty
that he suppressed a cry of rage; for had he so much as guessed that
such a thing was hid beneath the cloak of the blubberer, he would long
ago have had it for his own. Elias thrust that whip upon the Frank,
who would fain have refused it; but, the sons of Musa and the servants
joining the donor in entreaties, he at last gave way.

When his patron went to breakfast, Iskender received many compliments.
His manifest ascendency over the mind of the Englishman had made a
favourable impression even on the sons of Musa. This was as it should
be. But it did not please him, as the day wore on, to find that Elias,
out of gratitude for his forgiveness, intended to remain in close
attendance on the Emir.

Divested of his cloak, his slim but manly figure cased in showy
garments, his moustache curled ferociously up to the eyes, his fez
tilted jauntily to one side, Elias appeared to Iskender's jealousy the
most attractive of men. And as he recovered spirits, his talk showed
the lively sparkle which enchanted travellers.

It being impossible to get out, the Emir brought down a book, and read
to them in the entrance-hall. The tale was one of wild adventures in
the search for treasure. It fascinated Iskender. But Elias was
reminded by one of the incidents of a lion he had slain upon Mount
Sinai; and the Frank shut up the book to hear his story. Elias
described all the fortunes of the fight with singular realism, opening
his mouth very wide and roaring when momentarily impersonating the
lion. The Frank showed great amusement; Iskender was vexed with him
for encouraging the silly liar. He gave praise to Allah when Elias
departed for the night.

But his bugbear returned next morning, as the Frank emerged from
breakfast, claiming praise for his devotion in coming through such
weather. The wady