The King's Talisman — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

46 THE KING'S TALISMAN. the powerful blacks sat upon their horses, and hastily ex- claimed: ‘‘Set forward, dastards, to the rescue!” ‘‘We protect the king’s maiden,” coolly replied the Nubian leader, seeming not at all inclined to notice the young man’s order. “I will answer with my life for the maiden,” replied Noureddin, while his eyes flashed fire. ‘‘ Now, on to the charge, and our enemies will be overcome ere you strike a dozen strokes.” | «‘We are at our post, sir,” calmly and half insultingly answered the black. ‘Will you charge the Bedouins?” cried the youth, rein- ing his steed closer up to his hand, while his cheek paled with the indignation that raged within him. ‘“No. We are under the king's orders.” “Once more I say, charge! or, by the holy powers of heaven, I will cleave you to the earth!” The Nubian leader moved not, save that he inclined his horse a step back; but a look of impudent defiance rested upon his features as he said: ‘<< You dare not.” The Young Lion of Mount Hor cast one flashing glance around upon the blacks, and then raising himself in his stirrups he swung his sword high in the air. Its bright blade gleamed an instant in the sunlight, and as it de- scended the Nubian’s head fell in halves upon either shoul- der—the heavy carcass swayed to and fro for an instant in the saddle, and then rolled off upon the sand. ‘*Qn!—on!” shouted the aroused lion, as he dashed his steed forward, and again raised his sword. ‘On, or you shall fall here!” Had Noureddin quailed, or even hesitated, it might have proved fatal to him; but there was something in his deter- mined manner—a sort of power in his flashing eye, that the b GComichoo <S (Efo)