Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 22

Young Merriwell realized the seriousness of his position. He was pale, but his nerves remained steady and unshaken.

"Come on!" he cried clearly. "I'll fill some of you with lead!"

Suddenly the crowd parted. A man forced his way through, pushing other men to the right and left. As he advanced he drew a gleaming sword, the hilt of which was set with jewels.

The crowd seemed to think this man, who was an Arab of rank and distinction, judging by his dress, meant to attack the boy, and they uttered shouts of approval, urging him to run the "infidel dog" through.

d.i.c.k had turned his pistol on the man with the sword, but he hesitated.

"It is Ras al Had!" he exclaimed, in surprise.

CHAPTER XI-A MAN OF COMMAND

It was in truth the sheik who had been struck by the train the previous day.

The Arab turned and faced the howling mob, flourishing his shining sword.

"Destroy the infidel who has defiled the holy temple of the Prophet!"

snarled one of the infuriated Mohammedans.

"By the grave of my father," cried the sheik, "I swear to slay the first who tries to touch her!"

They were astounded, and as he swept his sword with a hissing sound beneath their noses they involuntarily fell back.

One of the priests called to the sheik, demanding to know why he defended the infidels.

The aged Arab retorted that he had a most excellent reason, and that he would lay down his life rather than see either the girl or boy harmed.

He did more than that, for he called several of the mob by name, commanding them to move on and give the strangers permission to depart in peace.

One of the priests attempted to expostulate, explaining that the girl had entered the temple, thus committing an offense that could be atoned for by blood alone.

Then Ras al Had retorted that the girl had been alarmed by the camels of his train and had fled into the temple to escape from them. He further added that infidels were sometimes permitted to visit the temple, escorted by a military guard. In conclusion he stated that he was indebted for his very life to the boy who stood ready to defend the maiden, and, therefore, he was willing to surrender his life in behalf of the lad.

They realized that he was in earnest, and those whom he had called by name and ordered to depart began to slip away.

He then singled out three or four of his own camel drivers, who had dropped back to see what all the uproar was about, and called them to his side.

"Boy," he said, addressing d.i.c.k, "I will see that no harm comes to you or to the girl. Trust me."

"Thank you," said d.i.c.k gratefully. "I think you took a hand just in time to prevent those wolves from tearing us to pieces."

"Without doubt you would have met serious injury at their hands. These men are my paid servants. We will escort you and protect you. Fear not."

The camel drivers gathered about d.i.c.k and Nadia. Ras al Had placed himself at their head and ordered them to march.

Flinging his hands in the air, one of the priests stood firmly in the path, refusing to move.

The eyes of Ras al Had shone strangely. He stepped close to the priest, called him by name, and spoke in a low tone.

"It was thy brother whom I delivered from slavery in Nubia," he said.

"Then thou didst fall on my neck and weep and swear by the Prophet that whatever I should ask of thee at any time thou wouldst grant. Hast forgotten?"

"It is true, n.o.ble sheik," confessed the priest; "but tell me hast thou forgotten thy religion that thou canst defend an infidel who has defiled the temple of Mohammed?"

"Ras al Had never forgets. These infidels are mighty and powerful, and should harm come to them through thee, then thou wilt be forced to make reparation in the dust. For thy own good, stand aside and let them pa.s.s."

There seemed to be great command in the dark eyes of the swarthy man, and those eyes were fixed on the priest with burning insistence.

The priest hesitated a moment longer, and then, bowing low with dismay and regret he could not utter, he stood aside.

Ras al Had marched on, his servants following, still with d.i.c.k and Nadia in their midst.

They reached the camel train. Behind them the mob had melted away. The danger was past.

"d.i.c.k," said Nadia, pressing Merriwell's arm, "I think that old man is just splendid! I never dreamed a black man could be so fine!"

Ras al Had turned to them.

"Boy," he spoke, "it has been truly said that Ras al Had is one who never forgets a debt. Yet when I gave you my word to defend you with my sword and life should the time ever come that I found you in peril, I little thought to what it would bring me. Still I have canceled the debt, and I feel that I owe you nothing."

"You're all right, sheik!" exclaimed the boy enthusiastically. "I don't know how we are going to thank you for--"

Ras al Had checked him with a gesture.

"I want no thanks. Let me caution you against wandering about Damascus without escort or protection. It is a great folly. Where are your friends?"

d.i.c.k explained how it happened that he and Nadia had been caught in such a predicament.

The sheik gazed attentively at the girl and then shook his head soberly.

"A maid so beautiful is in great danger here, unless she be well protected. She might disappear suddenly, and years of searching might not disclose her fate. There are men in Damascus who could not look on her without coveting possession of her. How simple it would be for one of these buildings to swallow you both! You, boy, would meet a swift death, and your body would be so completely destroyed that no trace of it could ever be found. There are prisons in the city where dwell beautiful maidens like her, given every luxury save liberty. Once they have pa.s.sed within the prison doors they may never again come forth."

Nadia shuddered and clung to d.i.c.k's arm.

"I have heard of such things," she said; "but I supposed the custom had been abolished."

"This day," said Ras al Had, "a friend of mine from the interior has arrived with many beautiful girls, the most of them Circa.s.sians. I spoke with him as I was entering the city. He will take them to a certain house, the location of which I know, and there they will be attended by hairdressers and dressmakers, who will do everything possible to add to their attractiveness. When they are prepared for inspection, certain rich men will visit them and choose from among them, paying the price demanded, after which no other man save their masters will ever look on their faces."

"Perfectly dreadful!" gasped Nadia. "It makes me shiver to think what would have happened had Hafsa Pasha been able to hoodwink me and my brother."

The sheik gave her a swift, keen look.

"Hafsa Pasha?" he said, a strange intonation in his voice. "How know you that man?"