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Article HASSAN AND ZOOLMA; ← Page 12 of 18 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
the spot where Hassan lay . Tie paused and gazed at Hassan , who for a few seconds lay as still as death , feigning sleep . The idea of unknown danger came across his breast ; he suddenl y started up and darted on the unknown who stood before him . " Silence , and fear not , " said the well known voice of Zoolma , " all is now right . I had feared that you had disobeyed my injunctions , and that you had partaken of that which had caused to sleep the sleep of death—and then I but
you let that pass ; all is well as yet , arise and follow me . Much must yet be undergone , and one false step may cause our capture and certain death . Follow me ! Once beyond these walls , we are free . And take this dagger , " said she , placing in his hand a long and sharp knife , at the same time exhibiting another of the same kind in her girdle , " it may so be that we shall have occasion to use them . " So saying , Zoolma who had put on the dress of a soldier , which well became her martial fi
gure , beckoned him onward . She led him to a small door in the side of the wall which Hassan had not before perceived . The door yielded to a pressure in a particular part , and Hassan following his companion entered , not without some feeling of horror , into a small grave-yard , replete with mounds of earth many of which appeared only recently raised . The space which it occupied was scarcely ten feet square , and some overhanging ruins covered with brambles concealed it from the
view of observers ; yet Hassan marked its contents . On the opposite side of this horrid inclosure was another door , but fastened with a lock ; of this Zoolma produced the key . The door vielded after some efforts , but not without difficulty . It was again closed , though not locked , for the fastening was on the inside . They next pursued their wav bv a
devious path through broken buildings and mouldering ruins , until at last they emerged upon an open path , from which the musjid appeared in bold relief upon the now moonless though starry sky . " Once there , " said Zoolma in a low voice to her companion , " and we bid defiance to pursuit . " At this moment an indistinct hum of voices came across the ear , and Zoolma shuddered . There must be some cause for such an unusual disturbance at that time of night . Was their fliht discovered thus earl
g y ? Both instinctivel y hastened their footsteps across the road , when on a sudden , a chokedar or watchman , who was seated on the brink , of a low well hailed them . " For the love of the blessed Hossain and the twelve Imans , " whispered Zoolma in an agitated voice , which scarcely permitted her to give utterance , "say that we came to seek for water , or we are lost ; I cannot speak , my woman ' s voice would betray me . " Hassan did as he was bidand
, approached near the well , for their course was by its brink . As they came close to the well , the chokedar made some further enquiry in a dialect which Hassan did not comprehend . The reply was a ' s incomprehensible to him in manner as the speech of the interrogator had been . Zoolma made a fierce and sudden rush on the watchman , pushed his legs from under him , and precipitated him into the well . The dying wretch in falling laid hold of some lanks on the side ofthe
p - well , but Zoolma speedily drew her dasger and smiting him fiercely with the sharp edge , he gave way , and " down he fell with a dull heavy sound into the water beneath . A gurgling noise followed , but they stayed to hear no more . " Poor wretch ! " said Zoolma , " I know well enough that he richly deserved his fate . God is great . It was , however , our only chance of safety . I hear the noise plainly , we are followed ; with all speed let us to the musjid . " So saying , they hurried
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
the spot where Hassan lay . Tie paused and gazed at Hassan , who for a few seconds lay as still as death , feigning sleep . The idea of unknown danger came across his breast ; he suddenl y started up and darted on the unknown who stood before him . " Silence , and fear not , " said the well known voice of Zoolma , " all is now right . I had feared that you had disobeyed my injunctions , and that you had partaken of that which had caused to sleep the sleep of death—and then I but
you let that pass ; all is well as yet , arise and follow me . Much must yet be undergone , and one false step may cause our capture and certain death . Follow me ! Once beyond these walls , we are free . And take this dagger , " said she , placing in his hand a long and sharp knife , at the same time exhibiting another of the same kind in her girdle , " it may so be that we shall have occasion to use them . " So saying , Zoolma who had put on the dress of a soldier , which well became her martial fi
gure , beckoned him onward . She led him to a small door in the side of the wall which Hassan had not before perceived . The door yielded to a pressure in a particular part , and Hassan following his companion entered , not without some feeling of horror , into a small grave-yard , replete with mounds of earth many of which appeared only recently raised . The space which it occupied was scarcely ten feet square , and some overhanging ruins covered with brambles concealed it from the
view of observers ; yet Hassan marked its contents . On the opposite side of this horrid inclosure was another door , but fastened with a lock ; of this Zoolma produced the key . The door vielded after some efforts , but not without difficulty . It was again closed , though not locked , for the fastening was on the inside . They next pursued their wav bv a
devious path through broken buildings and mouldering ruins , until at last they emerged upon an open path , from which the musjid appeared in bold relief upon the now moonless though starry sky . " Once there , " said Zoolma in a low voice to her companion , " and we bid defiance to pursuit . " At this moment an indistinct hum of voices came across the ear , and Zoolma shuddered . There must be some cause for such an unusual disturbance at that time of night . Was their fliht discovered thus earl
g y ? Both instinctivel y hastened their footsteps across the road , when on a sudden , a chokedar or watchman , who was seated on the brink , of a low well hailed them . " For the love of the blessed Hossain and the twelve Imans , " whispered Zoolma in an agitated voice , which scarcely permitted her to give utterance , "say that we came to seek for water , or we are lost ; I cannot speak , my woman ' s voice would betray me . " Hassan did as he was bidand
, approached near the well , for their course was by its brink . As they came close to the well , the chokedar made some further enquiry in a dialect which Hassan did not comprehend . The reply was a ' s incomprehensible to him in manner as the speech of the interrogator had been . Zoolma made a fierce and sudden rush on the watchman , pushed his legs from under him , and precipitated him into the well . The dying wretch in falling laid hold of some lanks on the side ofthe
p - well , but Zoolma speedily drew her dasger and smiting him fiercely with the sharp edge , he gave way , and " down he fell with a dull heavy sound into the water beneath . A gurgling noise followed , but they stayed to hear no more . " Poor wretch ! " said Zoolma , " I know well enough that he richly deserved his fate . God is great . It was , however , our only chance of safety . I hear the noise plainly , we are followed ; with all speed let us to the musjid . " So saying , they hurried