The King's Talisman — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

THE KING’S TALISMAN. 53 The Nubians were powerful men, and they were by nature brave; but they were slaves! For years they had moved at the will of an imperative master, and they had learned to bow instinctively before superior authority. Their govern- ing motive was fear; they met danger in a thousand shapes through fear of greater danger from the wrath of a master, and he who could gain the control of the slavish fears might conquer them. ‘Thus it was with Noureddin. His bold usurpation of authority, and his open avowal of a power greater than the king’s, and above all, the determined, dreadful punishment he had already dealt out to one of their number, touched the chord that reached their govern- ing principles, and as he once more turned his flashing eyes upon them they cowed beneath the look, and backed their horses from the pavilion. Noureddin drew aside the heavy faery and gazing in. upon the inmates, he said: . “Fair ladies, the night is cool and pleasant; the stars light our path, and the gentle zephyr plays around our way. We have horses to spare, and if a short ride would please you, the privilege is yours.” Selina and her attendant had been listening to the conver- sation without, and they had heard the bold language of their youthful conductor. <A grateful, hopeful emotion had sprung up in the bosom of the fair girl, and when Noured- din addressed her, and his mild, kind tone went thrilling through her nerves, she could not suppress the cry of de- lightful relief that arose to her lips. In an instant the say- ing of Miriam came back to her mind, and she felt that her conductor had not only a heart, but that he also had a power even the Nubians dared not gainsay. ‘¢Oh, kind sir!” she uttered, as soon as she could com- mand her speech, ‘‘if I could but rezeive one short re- _ spite from this narrow confinement, I should be very grate- ful, 3) Eomichbooks (Efe)