“These are evil days, my father!”
But the priest’s face shone calm and bright.
“No man knows content,” he answered, “who has never faced despair. The blessed Allah gives us night that we may welcome the dawn.”
CHAPTER XVI
THE ABDUCTION
Janet and Bessie had continued their morning rides with Dirrag, notwithstanding the unpleasant meeting with Prince Kasam, which, although duly reported by the warrior to the Khan, had not been deemed of sufficient importance to interrupt their pleasure.
But since then Dirrag had led them through the valley to the south and east, where the country was more thickly settled, and avoided riding very far from the walls.
However, on the morning following the arrival of the Grand Mufti Salaman at Mekran, Bessie pleaded with Dirrag to again take them up the westward slope, that they might once more look upon the camp of the Prince. Dirrag hesitated at first, but finally consented and turned the horses’ heads in that direction. The steeds of Mehmet, he reflected, were the fleetest in the khan’s dominions, and his own trusted cimeter would be equal to any emergency. Moreover, when a woman pleaded Dirrag’s heart was water, and Bessie was his favorite.
It was a beautiful morning, and the sun had just risen to cast a golden glow over the distant plain, where the white dots appeared to their eyes in increased numbers.
“Kasam’s army is growing,” said Bessie. “Surely there are many more tents than there were before.”
“The air may be filled with vultures, yet they dare not attack a living lion,” remarked Dirrag, quietly.