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Article HASSAN AND ZOOLMA; ← Page 13 of 18 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
to the south side of the Jumma musjid , where they perceived one of the broken arches , at the entrance of which a rude sort of doorway was erected with earth and some planks . Through these a lamp glimmered faintly , and from within was heard the sound of muttered prayers . Zoolma knocked at the door in a peculiar manner . A low and solemn voice asked "Is the time come ? " Zoolma replied , "The time is come . " The door was then cautiously opened and they were admitted . It was well it was so , for the noise of the pursuers was now very plain , but they evidently never thought of going near the musjid ; they took another direction .
Zoolma then in a few words related to the fakeer who lived m this singular abode , what had occurred in the dwelling which she and Hassan had just left . The fakeer seemed to be well aware of much which was there going on , and did not require much explanation . He seemed , indeed , as if prepared for the task he was about to perforin , and set about it with coolness . He first knelt down and performed his devotions , and they by his directions followed his example . He then lihted a small portable lampextinguished that which burned in his
g , own cell , and placed across his fragile doorway , in holes pierced in the pillars , and which easily escaped ordinary observation , some stout wooden bars , which defied ordinary intrusion , should any be attempted ; an accident , from which his reputed sauctity almost surely protected him . He next proceeded to remove from its position a stone in the wall , which apparently belonged to part of a tomb , in the niche of which-the lamplately extingushedhad been burning ; behind this
, , stone appeared a flight of steps . Down these all three proceeded . Their road was difficult ; in some parts it had been hewn through solid rock , and in others it had been built up with masonry , and part of this had given way through time . At length they made their way to the end of the passage , at the mouth of which were two stones . These were carefully displaced , and exhibited an aperture but just large enough to admit the body of a man of moderate size . A coil of rope
was ready there for use . The fakeer then very affectionately , and a little to the discomfort of Hassan , embraced Zoolma very tenderly , gave her a small purse of money , and bid her farewell . The rope was first tied round the body of iJassan , who descended a distance of not more than twenty feet , when he found himself on the ground . Zoolma after receiving a few more words of advice from the fakeer , descended by the same means , where she was received by Hassan , who had by this time began seriously to consider whether she were a blessed angel
from Paradise to have thus brought her ends to pass , or whether she were an enchantress who used unlawful incantations , and called on fiends and spirits to execute her behests . The former idea , however , was more prevalent ; for though he had had several opportunities of seeing that she still was an enchantress in another sense of the word , she had saved his life , and could he think ill of one who had done that ? Their perils were not yet altogether overfor they had to effect their
, escape from a vicinity fraught with danger ; and where , if discovered , they would most assuredly have perished . This , however , by the means furnished by the benevolent fakeer , they were enabled to do . They were nearly half a mile from the bank of the river Jumma , and if they could but once embark on that , its swift current would soon take them beyond reach of pursuit . The active and intelligent Zoolma , guided by the directions which had been given to her by the fakeer ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
to the south side of the Jumma musjid , where they perceived one of the broken arches , at the entrance of which a rude sort of doorway was erected with earth and some planks . Through these a lamp glimmered faintly , and from within was heard the sound of muttered prayers . Zoolma knocked at the door in a peculiar manner . A low and solemn voice asked "Is the time come ? " Zoolma replied , "The time is come . " The door was then cautiously opened and they were admitted . It was well it was so , for the noise of the pursuers was now very plain , but they evidently never thought of going near the musjid ; they took another direction .
Zoolma then in a few words related to the fakeer who lived m this singular abode , what had occurred in the dwelling which she and Hassan had just left . The fakeer seemed to be well aware of much which was there going on , and did not require much explanation . He seemed , indeed , as if prepared for the task he was about to perforin , and set about it with coolness . He first knelt down and performed his devotions , and they by his directions followed his example . He then lihted a small portable lampextinguished that which burned in his
g , own cell , and placed across his fragile doorway , in holes pierced in the pillars , and which easily escaped ordinary observation , some stout wooden bars , which defied ordinary intrusion , should any be attempted ; an accident , from which his reputed sauctity almost surely protected him . He next proceeded to remove from its position a stone in the wall , which apparently belonged to part of a tomb , in the niche of which-the lamplately extingushedhad been burning ; behind this
, , stone appeared a flight of steps . Down these all three proceeded . Their road was difficult ; in some parts it had been hewn through solid rock , and in others it had been built up with masonry , and part of this had given way through time . At length they made their way to the end of the passage , at the mouth of which were two stones . These were carefully displaced , and exhibited an aperture but just large enough to admit the body of a man of moderate size . A coil of rope
was ready there for use . The fakeer then very affectionately , and a little to the discomfort of Hassan , embraced Zoolma very tenderly , gave her a small purse of money , and bid her farewell . The rope was first tied round the body of iJassan , who descended a distance of not more than twenty feet , when he found himself on the ground . Zoolma after receiving a few more words of advice from the fakeer , descended by the same means , where she was received by Hassan , who had by this time began seriously to consider whether she were a blessed angel
from Paradise to have thus brought her ends to pass , or whether she were an enchantress who used unlawful incantations , and called on fiends and spirits to execute her behests . The former idea , however , was more prevalent ; for though he had had several opportunities of seeing that she still was an enchantress in another sense of the word , she had saved his life , and could he think ill of one who had done that ? Their perils were not yet altogether overfor they had to effect their
, escape from a vicinity fraught with danger ; and where , if discovered , they would most assuredly have perished . This , however , by the means furnished by the benevolent fakeer , they were enabled to do . They were nearly half a mile from the bank of the river Jumma , and if they could but once embark on that , its swift current would soon take them beyond reach of pursuit . The active and intelligent Zoolma , guided by the directions which had been given to her by the fakeer ,