out knowing what it
says."

"What were you saying, old man?" asked the young men in surprise. "Did
you mean us? How does it concern you, if we find fault with the sheik's
mode of life?"

"If one is better informed than another, he should correct the other's
errors; so says the Prophet," rejoined the old man. "The sheik, it is
true, is blessed with plenty, and has every thing that the heart could
desire; yet he has reason to be sad and melancholy. Did you suppose he
was always thus? No; fifteen years ago he was cheerful and active as
the gazelle, lived merrily, and enjoyed life. At that time he had a
son, the joy of his life, handsome and talented, and those who saw and
heard him talk envied the sheik his idol, for he was not more than ten
years old, and yet there were few youths of eighteen as well educated."

"And he died? The poor sheik!" cried the young writer.

"It would be a consolation to the sheik to know that he had gone to the
mansions of the Prophet, where he would be better off than here in
Alessandria; but that which the sheik had to suffer is far worse. It
was at the time when the Franks, like hungry wolves, invaded our land,
and waged war against us. They took Alessandria, and from here they
went on further and attacked the Mamelukes. The sheik was a wise man,
and understood how to get along with the enemy. But whether it was
because they had designs on his treasure, or because he had taken the
Faithful into his house, I do not know for a certainty; but they came
one day to him and accused him of having secretly supplied the
Mamelukes with provisions, horses and weapons. It was of no use that he
proved his innocence, for the Franks are a rough, hardhearted people,
when it is a question of extorting money. They took his young son,
Kairam, as a hostage to their camp. The sheik offered a large sum of
money for his return, but they held on to the boy for a still higher
bid. In the meantime they received an order from their pasha, or
whatever his title might be, to embark on their vessels. Not a soul in
Alessandria knew a thing about it, and all at once they were seen
standing out to sea, having, it is believed, taken little Kairam with
them, as nothing has ever been heard of him since."

"Oh, the poor man! how terribly Allah has chastened him!" the young men
exclaimed in concert, looking with pity at the sheik, who, with such
magnificent surroundings, sat sad and lonely under the palms.

"His wife, whom