The King's Talisman — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE KINGS TALISMAN. 43 comfort, and was, in fact, a gaudy affair. The Nubians were powerful fellows, mounted on coal black steeds, and five of them rode on each side of the maiden’s conveyance. As Noureddin saw these ten slaves, and marked their coun- tenances, he could not help feeling a sort of instinctive dread creeping over him. It was not fear, for he felt as- sured of his own superiority, but it was the same feeling as that experienced by the brave man in beholding the slimy form of the subtle asp. Openly he spurns it, but he can- not repress a shudder when he thinks of the deadly poison it may impart unawares. Upon the countenances of the Nubians, Noureddin could easily read the instinctive ferocity of their natures, and in their moody, sullen manner, he could easily recognize the ready tools of a pampering master. When, at length, the cortege started on its way, the youth knew that if the danger which the Egyptian had predicted was to be apprehended, he might look for it from the Nubians, for in the very side- long glances which they furtively cast upon him, and inthe mysterious signsand tokens which passed between them, he could read their covert designs. Noureddin rode in front of the train, and at a moderate trot he wound along through the mountain passes. The sun gradually increased its rays, and as the rocks began to reflect the burning rays, the miniature caravan moved farther out from the mountains into a wild track in which the low shrubbery had not for a long time been disturbed. Along toward noon the young leader turned back in his saddle, and observing that the Egyptian rode near him, he beckoned him forward. ‘¢ Be careful, sir,” said Molech, in a low tone, as he came up. ‘The Nubians are watching every motion of the train.” ‘“Never fear for them,” replied Noureddin. ‘‘ If they dare to interfere, they may find themselves mistaken 1n the comicbooks: co