The King's Talisman — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

ene ' THE KINGS TALISMAN. _ §*Not much,” replied Abdah Nazor, and in as few words as possible he went on and related all that had occurred. ‘¢ Be sure and watch well the youth,” said Ossifrage, as - the old man concluded; ‘‘ for I would rather die than that harm should come to him. Were he of my own blood, I could love him no better than I do now.” | ‘“FRear not for him,” returned Abdah Nazor, ‘‘for you may rest assured that he is safe from all harm, save such as God may choose to mete out to him for good. But I will © give thee money, and on the morrow you must go to the market-place and procure food.” ‘Tt shall be done,” answered the old woman. ‘‘ My humble cell shall ever be open to such as flee from the wick- edness of Modad; and humble though it be, “tis strong against oppression.” ‘“So should ever be the dwelling of him who lives in the love and fear of God,” pronounced Abdah Nazor, as he moved toward the entrance of the cave. ‘‘It may be sev- eral days ere our hospitality will be needed, but when the time comes [ would have all in readiness.” ‘< You may depend upon it.” ‘Then fare thee well, under God’s care till we meet again,” said the old dervise, and as he spoke he took hold of the chain and pulled back the swinging rock that gave him egress. As Abdah Nazor stepped forth into the narrow cave, he went not back the way he had come, but continued on far- ther still from the city. Sometimes he would crawl upon his hands and knees, sometimes a mere stoop would give him passage, at others he could walk upright. At length, at the end of about fifteen minutes, the way took a sudden turn to the left, by several abrupt projections, each one of which seemed to utterly bar the way; but these being passed, the old man was obliged to let himself down a con- siderable distance, from point to point of the jagged rocks, GEomicboo SS (Eo)