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 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN
 
 "HE QUICKLY TOOK THE GOLDEN BOTTLE FROM HIS NECK."
 
 THE 
 
 GOLDEN TALISMAN 
 
 BY 
 
 H. PHELPS WHITMARSH 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE WORLD'S ROUGH HAND," ETC. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY 
 
 H. BURGESS 
 
 BOSTON AND CHICAGO 
 W. A. WILDE COMPANY
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1899, 
 BY W. A. WILDE & COMPANY, 
 
 All rights reserved. 
 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 PROLOGUE 9 
 
 I. THE EXPEDITION 14 
 
 II. THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM .... 28 
 
 III. THE ROSE GARDENS 50 
 
 IV. A DANGEROUS JOURNEY .... 95 
 V. THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE .... 120 
 
 VI. THE FESMVAL OF MI-CAREME . . .140 
 
 VII. NEW FRIENDS 168 
 
 VIII. FORTUNE FROWNS ...... 195 
 
 IX. FORTUNE SMILES 215 
 
 X. THE GARDEN OF THE EAST .... 223 
 
 XI. THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN Fou . . .239 
 
 XII. INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY . . . 250 
 
 XIII. THE GRAND LAMA 268 
 
 XIV. WINNING THE PRINCESS . . . .294 
 
 6 
 
 2047046
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " He quickly took the golden bottle from his 
 
 neck " Frontispiece 42 
 
 " Strange and weird it seemed, lighted by the 
 
 flickering torch " . . . . . .63 
 
 " ' See the beds of roses, and there are the 
 
 violets'" . . . . . . . 164 
 
 " Steady, now, Johnny, boy '" .. . .218 
 7
 
 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 IN the wild, mountainous district of Cen- 
 tral Asia, where the great chains of the 
 Himalaya and Kuen-lem mountains join, 
 stretches a broad plateau. It is walled in 
 by nature, and guarded by giant peaks 
 lifting their white heads toward heaven like 
 eternal sentinels. Though beset on all sides 
 by savage and rapacious tribes of hill-men, 
 this beautiful expanse of almost level coun- 
 try, known as Kaffiristan, has no need of 
 force of arms to protect its independence; 
 for by one pass only can entrance and exit 
 be made, and this is guarded by the most 
 powerful fighting men of the realm.
 
 10 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Lying north of Thibet and west of the 
 Chinese Empire, attempts have been made 
 by both of these countries, in the centuries 
 past, to conquer this wealthy little nation. 
 These have been chronicled by old writers in 
 both Sanskrit and Hindoostanee, all of whom 
 agree that the treasure-stores of Kaffiristan 
 are so great as to be almost beyond belief. 
 Legends, in all dialects of Northern India, 
 come down to us of brave men who, at the 
 heads of armies, have attacked the pass, 
 and given their lives in the pursuit of con- 
 quest. We learn, too, of many youths, bent 
 upon adventures of the most hazardous kind, 
 and lured on by the promise of fame, trav- 
 ersing the unknown paths of the mountains 
 in the hope of discovering some new way 
 into the enchanted plateau. Whether any 
 of these youths succeeded in their ambition 
 we have no means of telling, but certain 
 it is that neither they nor the warriors ever 
 returned to tell of it. Moreover, of all the 
 prisoners captured by the people of Kaffiris-
 
 PROLOGUE. 11 
 
 tan, no one, until recently, lias been known 
 to escape. 
 
 Among the old records the only authentic 
 bit of information regarding this strange 
 country is written upon a standard, which 
 was found after a great battle just without 
 the pass. *It reads thus : " Never relinquish 
 conquest. This nation is the richest of all 
 the earth. Huge buildings of gold stand 
 everywhere about. Jewels and precious 
 stones form the pavements of the streets. 
 The beauty of the scene and fertility of the 
 soil were never equalled. And as for the 
 maidens, man's eye never gazed upon per- 
 fection before. One's senses are lost in gaz- 
 ing, and one is enraptured to such a point 
 that death is a small penalty to pay for 
 having for one moment looked upon such 
 superhuman beauty in life." 
 
 Is it to be wondered at that, after this, 
 great armies were fitted out to conquer and 
 despoil this fabulously rich kingdom ? Yet 
 one and all met with disastrous failure ; the
 
 12 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 narrowness of the pass, together with the 
 superb courage and skill of the men who 
 guarded it, ever held Kaffiristan secure from 
 invasion. 
 
 Within the last few years an English ex- 
 plorer, at the head of a company of Northern 
 Hindoos and Arabs, made a desperate at- 
 tempt to enter Kaffiristan by way of the 
 hitherto impassable mountains on the Af- 
 ghanistan side. Though deserted by his 
 followers, without food, and obliged to en- 
 dure innumerable hardships, he succeeded 
 in reaching the plateau. Needless to say, 
 he was immediately taken prisoner, and in- 
 carcerated in a dungeon, the horrors of 
 which are not to be described. Two years 
 later, after having been tortured and maimed 
 for life by his captors, he was allowed to 
 pass out into the world again. Thus was 
 he made an example to all the civilized na- 
 tions of the inhuman methods by which the 
 inhabitants of Kaffiristan protect the isola- 
 tion which they consider sacred.
 
 PROLOGUE. 13 
 
 To this brave explorer we owe the follow- 
 ing story of Hakkouki, the only foreigner 
 who has been allowed to enter this remark- 
 able and, to their minds, holy sect. 
 
 Hakkouki, to-day, is a man of great power 
 in the mountain kingdom of Kaffiristan, and, 
 when the present monarch dies it is very 
 probable that he will be made king. In 
 such an event Kaffiristan will doubtless open 
 its long-closed doors to civilization, but until 
 then, there is little hope of adding much to 
 our meagre knowledge of this strange coun- 
 try and its people.
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 
 
 TTAKKOUKI was a Persian; a cousin 
 twice removed from the royal house. 
 During his boyhood, and indeed up to the 
 time when circumstances led him to renounce 
 his native land, he was the chosen compan- 
 ion of the Shah, himself a lad his elder by 
 two years. Although a favorite at times, 
 he was ever the young Shah's plaything; 
 often knocked about, ill-treated, and insulted. 
 And as time went on, Hakkouki was treated 
 worse and worse; for while he sped on in his 
 development like a young lion, the youthful 
 ruler ceased to grow, and became jealous of 
 his handsome companion. Yet so strong 
 and lithe, dexterous and agile, was Hakkouki, 
 that he could easily ward off or slip aside 
 
 14
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 15 
 
 from the blows constantly aimed at him, or, 
 what was often more necessary, avoid being 
 spat upon by the royal boy. 
 
 The time which the Shah gave to develop- 
 ing his sharp tongue, Hakkouki spent in culti- 
 vating his character. His self-control became 
 perfect; his tact, his ingenuity, his amiability, 
 grew with every year, as did his kindness of 
 heart and Christian forbearance. Notwith- 
 standing his cousin's ill-usage and bad temper, 
 Hakkouki always made excuses for him, and, 
 in spite of all, loved him as a brother. 
 
 The noble nature of Hakkouki was not to 
 be withstood. By degrees, the childish hatred 
 of the royal youth diminished, and he began 
 to admire and look up to his masterful com- 
 panion. Even at the time of his most intense 
 irritation, he would not be separated from 
 him. When he had kicked and abused Hak- 
 kouki until the attendants induced him to try 
 some other sport, he still insisted upon Hak- 
 kouki accompanying him. 
 
 Now Hakkouki was as handsome a boy as
 
 16 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the Persian sun ever shone upon. And as he 
 grew, his beauty, tact, and influence increased 
 to such an extent that at eighteen the throne 
 was no longer safe for the Shah. He had 
 become such a universal favorite, that there 
 was actual danger that his followers would 
 take him bodily and make him their ruler. 
 At this point the Shah's councillors said, 
 " Banish him " ; but such was the Shah's 
 love for Hakkouki by this time that he could 
 not bear the thought of losing him. 
 
 Just at the time when an insurrection 
 seemed imminent, something happened which 
 decided everything quickly and definitely. 
 Hakkouki was sent to the neighboring king- 
 dom of* Abdamousa for a beautiful princess 
 whom the Shah desired to marry. When he 
 was about to start upon the journey, the 
 Shah, in final farewell, ordered brought forth 
 a precious liquid with which he filled the 
 small golden bottle which hung by a, chain 
 from Hakkouki's neck. 
 
 This bottle was an ornament, worn by
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 17 
 
 many of the nobles, for the purpose of carry- 
 ing the sweet perfumes so .much desired in 
 Oriental life. Upon its surface was inscribed 
 the words : " Death comes not to him who 
 wears this talisman." The liquid with 
 which the Shah filled it was said to possess, 
 in its fragrance, a life-giving charm. Hak- 
 kouki bowed his head in tender gratitude 
 for his cousin's solicitude, and rode away. 
 
 After nine days' journey he arrived at 
 the palace of Abdamousa at sunrise. As he 
 rode up to the entrance archway at the head 
 of the escorting troops, he made a truly 
 magnificent appearance. Mounted upon a 
 massive Arabian stallion, with the rays of 
 the sun glinting his armor, his weapons and 
 trappings, and his young, handsome face 
 aglow with youth and pleasure, he looked 
 like a young god. 
 
 It happened that the Princess, looking 
 down upon the scene from an upper win- 
 dow, saw this ideal lord ; and, thinking that 
 such a being could be no other than the
 
 18 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Shah himself, she ran swiftly down to greet 
 him. 
 
 At the palace door, just as Hakkouki had 
 reached it, the impetuous maiden threw her- 
 self into his arms, murmuring : " My lord ! 
 I am thine ! To thee only will I be true ; 
 for in one moment I do love thee with all 
 my nature." 
 
 Immediately terrible consternation pre- 
 vailed. For these words were heard by 
 the officers who had come as an escort. 
 What was to be done? This story taken 
 back to the court would so incense the Shah 
 that the lives of Hakkouki and all the 
 officers would be in danger. 
 
 Not for a moment did Hakkouki forget 
 his mission, but the scene that followed was 
 one calculated to test his firmness and loyalty. 
 
 The Princess was young and fair. She 
 had been reared in an atmosphere of love 
 and indulgence. Indeed, it was one of ab- 
 solute devotion, wherein to wish was to 
 have. Having signified her approval in this
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 19 
 
 spontaneous manner, with all the innocence 
 and sweetness of a child, she expected and 
 awaited a reciprocal response. 
 
 Surprised that none came, she withdrew 
 from his arms, but took his hand within 
 her own and looked with wonder and in- 
 quiry into his face, and then at the cour- 
 tiers. What she saw puzzled and distressed 
 her. 
 
 Upon all was an expression of dissent and 
 protest, softened in Hakkouki's face by kind- 
 ness and admiration. 
 
 As though in answer to their mute protest, 
 clasping his hand to her bosom, she called 
 out : " Nay, nay, tell me not 'tis not my 
 lord. I'll be the bride of none but he." 
 
 In truth, the Princess could not compre- 
 hend the situation. Small wonder ! Never 
 in her bright life had she experienced denial 
 or disapproval, and she was at a loss to 
 know why any one should be perplexed or 
 annoyed at her wish to espouse this fair 
 young lord.
 
 20 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 In vain her father endeavored to withdraw 
 her into the palace that he might reason 
 and explain. 
 
 At last they were forced to call the 
 women, who, by persuasion and strategy, 
 and at last the promise that she should be 
 allowed to see him again within an hour, 
 led her away. 
 
 The King of Abdamousa was much dis- 
 tressed. He ordered breakfast to be served, 
 and took his guests to the banquet room to 
 refresh themselves. There they discussed 
 the best means of getting over the diffi- 
 culty. 
 
 Of course, there was but one way out of 
 it all. Silence under penalty of death for 
 the soldiers, and force with the Princess. 
 The tears streamed down the bronzed face 
 of the old warrior King. As well use force 
 with the rose which turns its beautiful, deli- 
 cate face toward the sun. It could be done. 
 The rose could be bent and tied down; it 
 could be placed where there was no sun,
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 21 
 
 and then in a short time, there would be 
 no rose either. This was his thought, and 
 so the tears flowed freely. He glanced up 
 at the saddened, but enchanting, counte- 
 nance of the youth who sat opposite him. 
 
 " No wonder," he said to himself ; " his 
 beauty is irresistible." 
 
 In spite of all, the cruel decision was 
 made ; force must be used, and persuasion. 
 To the women was this last duty allotted. 
 They must tell her that Hakkouki was a 
 bad, hardened courtier, who had merely 
 been sent to filch her ; a pauper, moreover, 
 whose death would be ordered, if she per- 
 sisted in her bewailing. 
 
 Alas ! that such inventions should have 
 been told the poor Princess. When she 
 heard these things, her disappointment and 
 humiliation were so great that she retired 
 to her own chamber, took poison, and died. 
 
 To Hakkouki and his companions re- 
 mained nothing but death, for to return 
 without the bride, and with such an ex-
 
 22 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 planation, would be unpardonable. The 
 very thought of the Shah's anger filled 
 them with terror. Never could they re- 
 turn. Of what avail, only to die. 
 
 "We can go out into the world and con- 
 quer lands," said one of the young officers. 
 
 " Then we will return and lay them at 
 the feet of our master, and he will forgive 
 us," said another. 
 
 "We have soldiers, but little gold," said 
 Hakkouki. 
 
 "Take my gold, take my treasure, take 
 my army," said the wretched King of Ab- 
 damousa. " I have no need of any now. 
 I go soon to join my dear one in the celes- 
 tial paradise of eternity." 
 
 And thus it came about that Hakkouki, 
 at the head of an army composed of the 
 best fighters known about those parts, and 
 possessed of the wealth of the realm, set 
 out to conquer unknown lands. 
 
 Wandering through Persia toward the 
 northeast, he, in time, reached the vicinity
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 23 
 
 of the Elburz Mountains, which separated 
 him from Afghanistan. He found the pass 
 near Penjdeh, by which a few days' journey 
 would take him across the border. Until 
 this moment, the unhappy boy had scarcely 
 breathed freely, for the sight of a horseman 
 in the distance instantly brought fears of 
 pursuit. The rage of the Shah upon hear- 
 ing of the tragedy at Abdamousa's court 
 Hakkouki could well imagine. For weeks 
 it would be safe for none who entered his 
 presence. At the same time, Hakkouki, in 
 the kindness of his heart and love for his 
 cousin, felt only the greatest sympathy for 
 him in his terrible loss. 
 
 To lose such a sweet creature as the 
 Princess, who clung to his neck for those 
 few short moments, seemed to Hakkouki 
 a fate so hard that he hung his head in 
 sadness and woe. 
 
 Once over the border, he felt free from 
 pursuit, having gained much time in start- 
 ing so soon. He had sent three of his
 
 24 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 swiftest horsemen in . advance to his friend 
 Bokhatan, whose palace and lands were on 
 the outskirts of Koodooz. Ever after, hav- 
 ing left Penjdeh, he was daily expecting 
 their return. The road to Koodooz was 
 good and well travelled. Moreover, he had 
 already passed signals placed by his horse- 
 men, telling him that he was moving in 
 the right direction. Bokhatan was well 
 known to Hakkouki, having lived at the 
 palace during his childhood. His wish for 
 fame and adventure was such that Hak- 
 kouki felt he had only to tell him his deter- 
 mination for conquest to gain his aid and 
 companionship. 
 
 It was necessary that Bokhatan should 
 meet him soon after arriving in Afghanistan ; 
 for although the road upon which he trav- 
 elled passed through a country which was 
 not thickly settled, he nevertheless needed a 
 friend, a native, to ease the fears of any one, 
 who might see such a large army coming into 
 their land. Wandering tribes, as they were
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 25 
 
 generally in the outlying districts, paid little 
 attention to him ; but should the news reach 
 Koodooz before Bokhatan was prepared to 
 receive and assist him, trouble might accrue. 
 All, however, went well. Bokhatan, over- 
 whelmed with delight at the prospect, went 
 in great haste to the King. He took with 
 him the three swift horsemen, and in a few 
 hours' audience gained the consent of the 
 King to the use of the army. His plan was 
 that Hakkouki and himself should combine 
 to conquer the inhabitants of the moun- 
 tainous fortress of Kaffiristan. 
 
 Wild enthusiasm possessed the city when 
 the two armies under the leadership of Hak- 
 kouki, with Bokhatan as his chief general, 
 sallied forth toward the east. Never in all 
 the legends had such an army as this under- 
 taken the expedition, and with two such men 
 as Hakkouki and Bokhatan, such a thing as 
 failure seemed impossible. But for all the 
 bitter sadness that so many thousands of 
 young and brave and handsome men should
 
 26 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 not have been victorious, to have opened up 
 this longed-for country to civilization (as they 
 called the life they led), to have possessed 
 themselves of its treasure and enriched their 
 courts at home, for all the bitter sadness of 
 it the hard fact remains, that they went only 
 to meet death. 
 
 With the exception of Hakkouki, not one 
 of this gay and spirited throng ever returned 
 to tell his tale. Hundreds upon hundreds 
 attacked the pass only to be thrown back to 
 die with their horses, while this remarkable 
 and overpowering guard still held the pass. 
 Never was one man of them seen to fall. 
 Death seemed impossible to them. While 
 from Hakkouki's army new men constantly 
 rode up to take the places of those who had 
 fallen, the same ones stood on the opposing 
 side to receive them. It was impossible to 
 tell by how many they were reenforced from 
 the rear, for the reason that the narrowness 
 of the pass prevented. 
 
 Although Hakkouki had fought at the head
 
 THE EXPEDITION. 27 
 
 of his men during the whole encounter, and 
 Bokhatan had fallen in the early part of the 
 attack, Hakkouki still fought on. He found 
 himself at last apparently deserted, his horse 
 killed under him, and the ground strewn with 
 the bodies of his comrades heaped so com- 
 pactly as to make an elevation on which he 
 stood. 
 
 A dozen men swooped dow T n upon him ; 
 he struggled for a moment, when stout bands 
 of iron were thrown about his body, and in 
 his one last moment of consciousness he felt 
 himself dragged from his eminence on the 
 bodies of his faithful men.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 
 
 TTOW long he remained unconscious, Hak- 
 kouki never knew. Whether he was 
 already dead, was, for a long time, something 
 of which he did not feel sure. But certainly, 
 when next he breathed a breath of conscious- 
 ness, it was as if he had been born again. 
 One thought only possessed him : " How 
 sweet is life ! " For he was well convinced 
 that this was life which he felt coursing 
 through his system. This wonderful beauty 
 which he saw before him was life. The sweet 
 sounds which he heard all about him were 
 life. He had no need to give thanks to his 
 Maker in words for the precious gift which 
 he had bestowed upon him, for his innermost 
 feeling and thought, his mere breathing, were 
 thanks in consciousness.
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 29 
 
 And such it is to live, for a baby who 
 breathes its first breath, or for a youth from 
 whom life seems to have been taken, and 
 who comes back to its sweet seductions. But 
 Hakkouki did not ask, " Where am I ? " He 
 did not care. He was surrounded by many 
 people. He heard voices speaking in a lan- 
 guage foreign to him, and he knew not 
 whereof they spoke. He was lying upon a 
 luxurious couch in a grand apartment, the 
 ceiling of which, the draperies, and all that 
 came to his view, were most magnificent. 
 
 He tried to rise, for he was curious to know 
 who all these people were. He found it easy 
 enough, easier than he had thought it would 
 be. A scene of beauty and grandeur met his 
 eyes, such as even he had never known. 
 Many people talked together, and moved 
 about, but took no notice of him. He looked 
 down at himself, at his clothing, and he was 
 amazed to find that he was clad in robes 
 entirely different from any he had ever seen 
 before. Moreover, his hands, which were
 
 30 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 usually bedecked with many jewels, were 
 quite bare. 
 
 As he lay there, lost in wonderment, a sud- 
 den hush fell upon the people. They moved 
 quickly to one side, and made an opening for 
 some one to enter. Suddenly there appeared 
 before Hakkouki's bewildered eyes a most 
 beautiful girl, so much more beautiful than 
 his imagination had ever pictured a girl could 
 be, that he fell upon his knees before her in 
 the most abject adoration. She put forth her 
 hand, and uttering some word which he felt 
 to mean " rise," he did so. She motioned 
 him to sit upon the couch beside her. She 
 made sounds with her beautiful lips, and he 
 answered " Hakkouki." He repeated the 
 sounds, and she said " Drusa." Then she 
 leaned forward and kissed him. 
 
 There was no need to speak each other's 
 language ; the language of affection is one 
 common to all. It does not go far, but it 
 means a good deal as far as it goes. 
 
 And so it came to pass that, as Hakkouki
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 31 
 
 was allowed perfect freedom of the palace, 
 as he was never alone, even in his sleep- 
 ing room having always an attendant, he 
 soon learned sufficient of the language which 
 they spoke to make himself understood. 
 Once during each day, he was ordered to 
 the great room where he had first seen the 
 beautiful vision of Drusa. There each day, 
 more words were spoken, and more thoughts 
 exchanged. Never was any reference made 
 to a life which he thought he had lived 
 previous to this. Indeed, he was fast for- 
 getting that any such time had ever ex- 
 isted. 
 
 Happiness complete reigned in Hakkouki's 
 heart. Surrounded by all that was beautiful 
 and luxurious, treated by all with the most 
 extreme courtesy and respect, learning rapidly 
 to speak in this musical and sweet-sound- 
 ing language, and beloved by the most 
 beautiful woman ever created, what more 
 could he ask ? Certainly no spirit of ad- 
 venture dominated him now. Not for all
 
 32 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the worlds to conquer would he leave even 
 the palace, for fear that by some accident 
 he should not find the way back. 
 
 At last, when he was well able to express 
 himself, and could hold conversation very 
 comfortably with all, he was summoned 
 for the first time to dine in the banquet 
 hall. 
 
 The King, whom he had never before 
 seen, presided. As it was the custom at 
 the court never to speak the name of a per- 
 son unless he were present, Hakkouki had 
 never even heard of him. The King, a man 
 of noble bearing and kindly face, arose. 
 
 "Most honored enemy," said he, "during 
 my illness, and while my daughter reigned, 
 you have desired to visit my court. To 
 you now, upon my return to my friends, 
 I extend greeting, and on behalf of my 
 daughter, the Princess, hospitality. Be 
 seated." 
 
 The feast was one attended only by men. 
 After the first remarks addressed to Hak-
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 33 
 
 kouki by the King, he turned his attention 
 to others and left his guest to be enter- 
 tained by those sitting near. He was con- 
 stantly addressed by his name and initiated 
 with the greatest consideration into the 
 customs of this nation, a world by itself. 
 He was told that it contained many cities, 
 and much beautiful country, and also was 
 he informed of the opportunity which would 
 soon be presented to him to travel about on 
 horseback and become acquainted with it. 
 
 All this was very interesting, and Hak- 
 kouki asked : 
 
 " Have you lakes and winding rivers ? " 
 
 " Yes, indeed, and, moreover, there is 
 Lake Tinkash, a deposit of salt making the 
 water buoyant, in which we bathe." 
 
 "How delightful!" said Hakkouki. "I 
 have bathed in such water on the shores 
 of the Caspian." 
 
 A sudden hush fell upon his neighbors. 
 
 " We know no such place," said his friend, 
 quietly.
 
 34 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Whereupon Hakkouki opened his mouth 
 to explain and describe, but in an instant 
 six armed men stood behind his chair. His 
 friend motioned them to go, saying to Hak- 
 kouki in a whisper, " We do not speak of 
 Hades while Heaven lies within our grasp." 
 
 Hakkouki comprehended, and the soldiers 
 dispersed. But he had learned his lesson, and 
 from then on, no word escaped his lips, nor 
 scarcely did a thought outside his delightful 
 surroundings come to his mind. Much had 
 he to take up his time. The young men 
 with whom he was thrown, although luxuri- 
 ously inclined, and fastidious in dress and 
 personal care, at the same time gave much 
 time and practice to games, and athletic 
 cultivation. 
 
 Hakkouki soon learned that the weak and 
 sick were beheaded at short notice, all males 
 being examined at stated intervals, and those 
 below the standard were dropped from the 
 ranks. Women and children of the same 
 physical order were allowed to live in homes
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 35 
 
 erected for them, but marriage was forbidden 
 them. Their lives were happy, much credit 
 and fame often coming to them from the 
 beautiful work created by them with the 
 needle and the brush. 
 
 Hakkouki had often admired the wonderful 
 physical development of the young men, but 
 even then he had little knowledge how he 
 outshone them all in strength and beauty. 
 He never dared ask how he came to be alive ; 
 generally it was pleasant enough for him to 
 know he was alive. 
 
 One day, his attendant, Domli, repeated 
 the summons which daily gladdened his 
 heart, that his presence was desired below. 
 While making his toilet preparations, Domli 
 suddenly whispered : 
 
 " You're a happy man, sire." 
 
 " Oh, most certainly I am," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " You are beloved." 
 
 " Yes ? " breathed Hakkouki. 
 
 Although he was told this each day in one 
 way or another, still Hakkouki scarcely dared
 
 36 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 believe it. The joy seemed too great. Then 
 Domli bent low over him, and said : 
 
 " You will be wed." 
 
 He did not answer. Suddenly, the servant 
 tottered, and almost falling into his arms, 
 whispered with gasping breath : 
 
 " She saved your life, she looked upon your 
 face and saved you. Look upon mine and 
 save me. I am not well ; they will take my 
 life to-morrow, and I love life just as you do. 
 Save me ! " 
 
 Hakkouki looked upon his face and saw 
 the pallor. For the first time he realized 
 how different Domli looked from any other 
 man he had seen there, and raising him up, 
 he said : 
 
 " To-morrow, you say so soon ? I will 
 try." 
 
 Now Domli looked indeed a most peculiar 
 person. Strange, narrow black eyes had he. 
 His hair was closely chopped, and perched 
 upon his head was a tall red turban. This 
 gave him a strange appearance, especially as
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 37 
 
 his face was narrow and he had no ears. It 
 was the custom to remove the ears from all 
 prisoners taken from the besieging army. 
 Few were ever allowed to live, but when one 
 had performed some great act of heroism, life 
 was allowed him. But that he might be 
 always known as of a foreign race, this mark 
 distinguished him. Domli wore long and 
 trailing garments, which were highly and 
 variously colored. 
 
 Although he had seemed at all times 
 happy, previous to his illness, showing his 
 fine large white teeth when smiling, he at 
 the same time had a strange mysterious man- 
 ner and always whispered. The language 
 being without the sound of s gave a peculiar 
 tone in whispers. 
 
 Sadly Hakkouki went to meet his beloved 
 Drusa. To-morrow would soon be here, and 
 he might never see Domli again. Hakkouki, 
 possessed as he was of a tender and suscepti- 
 ble heart, found it difficult to accustom him- 
 self to the thought that this system was right
 
 38 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 or lawful. Then Domli was so faithful, and 
 Hakkouki found he had a strong affection for 
 him. Moreover, the Princess had not yet 
 wed him, nor would she by to-morrow. 
 
 Now Domli had committed a sin in speak- 
 ing of it to him, and he should commit a sin 
 against hospitality in helping him. 
 
 However, he could not tell the Princess, 
 as many people were present, and it cer- 
 tainly was not etiquette to do so. The con- 
 versation was limited to personal subjects and 
 abstract thoughts, occupations, and story-tell- 
 ing. After the greeting of the Princess, Hak- 
 kouki suddenly could find no word to say. 
 All allowable subjects flashed through his 
 mind, and none but Domli came to his lips. 
 
 "You are not well, my love," spoke Drusa. 
 
 "Heavens! They would behead him," 
 thought Hakkouki, turning pale. 
 
 "Ah, yes," said he, quickly. "I am well, 
 quite well. I have been thinking of Lake 
 Tinkash. I should much like to go for a few 
 days to try the water."
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 39 
 
 "Most certainly; I will order an expedi- 
 tion," said the Princess. 
 
 " Ah, most gracious Princess, how can I 
 thank you? I can go to-day, if it would 
 please your highness." 
 
 "As you wish," said the Princess. 
 
 " But how can I leave you ? " gasped 
 Hakkouki. 
 
 Suddenly it seemed to him madness to 
 think of going. Three days how could he 
 live to do it? Those few precious moments 
 which w r ere more than gold to him, no, not 
 to save his own life would he give them up ; 
 but poor Domli ! He remembered his dis- 
 tressed face with its heartbreaking fear. To 
 be sure he was not to be examined until 
 to-morrow, and he might not be as ill as he 
 thought, or might be better by to-morrow. But 
 no, it would not be safe to wait. He must go, 
 and go he did. Thereby he made a friend 
 who years later and always would be to him 
 more than can be easily procured in this world. 
 A friend for life is no small thing to gain.
 
 40 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 The salt bathing had a wonderfully invig- 
 orating effect on Domli's health. Three days 
 later, he went quickly to be examined, and 
 procured another lease of life. 
 
 A short time after this episode, while 
 assisting at his toilet, Domli presented Hak- 
 kouki with a small golden talisman attached 
 to a chain. Hakkouki knew it well. He had 
 worn it in his previous life. Much pleased, 
 he slipped the chain about his neck, and pro- 
 ceeded to the throne room, where he had been 
 summoned. Here he found a great assem- 
 blage gathered. Many guests from all parts 
 of the nation had arrived in honor of the 
 birthday of the Princess. The great room 
 was resplendent with jewels and fine garments. 
 A magnificent dais was raised at the end of 
 the room, upon which sat the King receiving 
 his distinguished guests, and beside him the 
 Princess, radiant in her youthful beauty. 
 
 Suddenly, in the midst of the reception, a 
 swift change overspread the Princess's coun- 
 tenance, the soft delicate features hardened
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 41 
 
 into unnatural lines, the rose-coloring faded 
 to a ghastly pallor, and she fell back into the 
 attendant's arms. Terror held the spectators 
 spellbound. 
 
 Was the Princess dying? 
 
 A strange death-like silence reigned. Peo- 
 ple stood about in groups, whispering with 
 trembling lips. Awe-struck faces were to be 
 seen on all sides, and everywhere were ser- 
 vants hurrying with noiseless feet to and fro, 
 answering the calls for assistance. Certainly 
 a terrible calamity had befallen this house ; 
 for all who lived at the palace loved the 
 Princess devotedly, and to all present was 
 she endeared by her beautiful nature. Was 
 it death, come so soon to snatch this fair- 
 est bud of all their race ? No kingdom has 
 the power to vanquish this most aggressive 
 enemy. A wily fellow, whom giant moun- 
 tains and unconquerable guards cannot forbid 
 an entrance, who walks into the midst of the 
 strongest, and with a light hand seizes upon 
 their best beloved.
 
 42 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Hakkouki saw the consternation and ter- 
 ror of the people. In a moment he had 
 dashed across to the group crowding about 
 the Princess, as she was being lifted from 
 the throne. Though fear was upon his 
 classic features, he quickly took the golden 
 bottle from his neck, and, opening it, dashed 
 the contents over the fair face of the ex- 
 piring Princess. All gazed in silence at this 
 bold act. The next moment, however, they 
 cried, " She lives ! " The death-like pallor 
 gave way to a movement of color beneath 
 the waxen skin, the features relaxed, and 
 the eyes slowly widened and fixed them- 
 selves upon the man who had grasped her 
 from the hand of death. Then the beau- 
 tiful lips parted and murmured, "Hak- 
 kouki!" 
 
 If Hakkouki was adored at the court be- 
 fore this event occurred, what was the feel- 
 ing which these loving people had for him 
 afterward? They bowed down in unspeak- 
 able worship when he passed. In a few
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 43 
 
 days' time the Princess recovered her usual 
 health and spirits. 
 
 One morning, soon after this event, Hak- 
 kouki received a summons to appear before 
 the King in his council chamber. Seated 
 before the august person of the King, were 
 the judges and learned men of the realm. 
 At first sight Hakkouki's heart quaked 
 within him; for his guilty conscience im- 
 mediately conjured up his connection with 
 Domli's escape from death. But when the 
 King spoke, all his fears were dispelled. 
 
 "Most honored Hakkouki! Thee do I 
 greet, thee do I command to be honored in 
 my kingdom." 
 
 Whereupon the learned men fell upon 
 their knees about him, kissing the hem of 
 his silken robe. A long, strange murmur 
 proceeded from their lips, which Hakkouki 
 had heard in the places of worship to their 
 Deity, the ancestor in flesh and blood of 
 the long line of kings who had reigned 
 over their nation. From this Deity was the
 
 44 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Princess descended. In her veins flowed the 
 blood of the Most High, and over this blood 
 had Hakkouki the power to command its 
 return to life when death was near death, 
 which in their religion was the enemy, the 
 opposing force of their Deity. For by death 
 only were their gods overpowered. Hak- 
 kouki had stayed the hand of death. 
 
 "Hakkouki," continued the King, "thy 
 power is omnipotent. To thee do we bow, 
 and thee do we request to make known to 
 us the contents of the phial, with which 
 thou hast overspread the fair face of my 
 daughter. A most strange and fascinating 
 odor, such as no man in Kaffiristan hath 
 smelled, is said to have ensued from the 
 liquid, filling the room with a rich, life- 
 giving fragrance. Where hast thou this 
 procured? Whence came this?" 
 
 " Most noble sire, that I know not. But 
 were I permitted to speak of a time before I 
 knew your enchanted kingdom, I could say 
 where I had possessed it."
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 45 
 
 "To my ear alone is that possible to be 
 spoken," said the King. Turning to his Coun- 
 cil, " Leave us, my friends," said he ; " hither 
 will I call thee when all is known." 
 
 Left alone, Hakkouki narrated to the King 
 his custom of wearing always upon his neck 
 the golden bottle during his life in Persia. It 
 had been given him by his mother when a 
 babe, and was filled each day by the steward 
 of the palace from the perfumes of his rela- 
 tive, the Shah. 
 
 " Whence come they, I know not, but, 
 most honored sire, I love your daughter; I 
 would wed her, and to make myself noble, to 
 be worthy of her precious love, I would ac- 
 complish this small service. I would go forth 
 beyond your kingdom, to the ends of the 
 uncivilized world would I go, to probe the 
 mountains, to devastate the fields, to fathom 
 the depths of the bottomless seas, and of all 
 that lies beyond would I make myself in- 
 formed, in order that I might add to your fair 
 country a new delight in the knowledge of
 
 46 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 perfumes ; and give pleasure and satisfaction 
 to you and your fair daughter. Being success- 
 ful, for in such a quest could no man fail, 
 I ask your word that she shall be my wife." 
 " It is to my kingdom's honor, most noble 
 Hakkouki, that we have inspired the love 
 and homage of such a man as thou art. 
 Thou shalt go upon thy travels, and thou 
 shalt learn of all the strange liquids used 
 with such remarkable power. Of these 
 things have we never known. And thou shalt 
 bring to this nation the wealth of this won- 
 derful science. We, who have been exalted 
 above all living things, may come to find that 
 we may learn from these poor wretches of 
 barbarity, as we before have learned the sci- 
 ence of life from poor, creeping, crawling, and 
 degraded things. In the hands of a noble 
 being as thou art, ignoble things become 
 noble. Thou shalt have all aid in thy under- 
 taking that treasure can give, but thou must 
 go alone. I call the judges back to hear the 
 decision we have made."
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 47 
 
 It being settled, therefore, that Hakkouki 
 should go out into the world in search of 
 the one only charm this remarkable country 
 lacked, he made preparations at once, and 
 in something less than a month made his 
 departure. As he rode out by the moun- 
 tain pass where he had so valiantly fought 
 for entrance, he was escorted by the whole 
 populace. No conquering hero ever rode in 
 greater state. He was mounted upon a snow- 
 white charger, the most beautiful to be pro- 
 cured in the kingdom. This animal alone 
 was to be his companion beyond the moun- 
 tain walls. He was dressed in the garments 
 which he wore when captured, for Domli had 
 unearthed them, having buried them long ago 
 in a sealed urn in the wild solitudes of the 
 mountains. His love for his master had 
 made it impossible for him to destroy by fire, 
 as he had been ordered, these garments, hal- 
 lowed by contact with his beloved person. 
 
 This offence of Domli's was forgiven, as 
 these garments were much desired by the
 
 48 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 King's Council, they having decided it far 
 wiser to send Hakkouki forth clad as a 
 being of the outer world. Much time and 
 consideration had been spent in striving to 
 construct a set of garments in imitation of 
 such as they had never seen. Their satis- 
 faction was complete when Domli produced 
 these much-coveted clothes. To them was 
 added a lining of fine and strong kid, em- 
 broidered in quiltings by the marvellous 
 handiwork of the women. In these quilt- 
 ings were encased diamonds and other 
 jewels of inestimable value, that Hakkouki 
 might lack for nothing which treasure 
 could procure while wandering among bar- 
 barians. This wealth increased the weight 
 of his clothing to a considerable degree, 
 but Hakkouki was a strong and powerful 
 man, and his heart was light. 
 
 When Hakkouki went forth, no weight 
 felt he, for hope bounded exultantly within 
 him. He went to win honor for her, his 
 fair princess, and his heart beat with wild
 
 THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM. 49 
 
 throbs as he pictured to himself his delight 
 upon returning to his bride. Of the perils 
 of his quest no thought had he, only of the 
 glory of his return, a man honored to 
 equal her position, who had shown his 
 valor in pursuit of her wish, and able to 
 feel himself worthy of her.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 
 
 OTANDING in the elevated and narrow 
 ^ pass, Hakkouki turned and faced the 
 people of Kaffiristan, his friends and wor- 
 shippers, once his most bitter enemies. 
 Pulling his horse up for a moment, he sat 
 silently waving his plumed helmet, and 
 listened to the wild cheers and cries of 
 farewell. The vision the last to meet his 
 gaze, was the lovely person of his Drusa, 
 seated in her litter in all her glorious 
 beauty, waving him a blessing with her 
 dainty hand. 
 
 He turned quickly and rode on over the 
 grass-grown mounds, where his comrades of 
 two years ago had fallen. 
 
 Two years had he loved and been loved, 
 
 60
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 51 
 
 never venturing to ask her hand in 
 marriage, until such time as he felt himself 
 her equal by having won honor for her. 
 Two years had sufficed to remove all mem- 
 ory of events which had occurred before 
 his entrance into this fairyland. Happi- 
 ness had filled his heart, and life had been 
 to him full of all which makes what we 
 call time. Moreover, as time in Kaffiristan 
 was counted by another schedule than any 
 he had ever been accustomed to, it was 
 not until after he had returned to Persia 
 that he was able to judge how long a time 
 had elapsed since his departure. 
 
 Throughout the day he rode on toward 
 the west, feeling neither hunger nor 
 fatigue. In the panniers of his saddle he 
 found food which had been placed there to 
 provide for his needs until he should arrive 
 where he might buy more. This would 
 probably be but a short time, for he knew 
 well that he should come upon the tempo- 
 rary settlement of some wandering tribe
 
 52 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 as soon as he had travelled over the moun- 
 tains. That night he camped in the forest. 
 He slept heavily and long and when he 
 awoke it was with the feeling that some 
 one was near him. Soon brought to his 
 senses by the thought of the valuable cargo 
 upon his person, and knowing full well 
 the thieving instincts of these wandering 
 tribes, he quickly grasped his knife to pro- 
 tect himself. Standing, he looked about 
 him, but could see nothing, although he 
 plainly heard the crunching of dry sticks 
 in the timber behind. 
 
 He decided, as it was dawn, and the air 
 cool and bracing, that he would breakfast 
 and move on. Rapidly he rode along, 
 stopping during the hottest part of the 
 day, and sleeping wherever he found him- 
 self when night fell, until he reached a 
 small town on the outskirts of Koodooz. 
 He could not bear the thought of entering 
 the town; for in these last days of travel, 
 he had thought much of his old friend
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 53 
 
 Bokhatan, now no more. And what 
 seemed to his tender, loving heart more 
 tragic yet, was that he previously was bent 
 upon the conquest of that nation, now to 
 him most dear, where lived his sweet 
 Drusa and her noble father. 
 
 This was the country which was now the 
 only goal for him to strive for. He made 
 stops in Afghanistan only where the need of 
 food required it, for he was anxious to press 
 on into Persia. Having crossed the frontier, 
 he was still more anxious to arrive in the 
 vicinity of the court where his boyhood had 
 been passed. Remembering clearly the sad 
 tragedy which had forced him to leave this 
 country, he naturally had no thought of going 
 to the palace. 
 
 As all of his companions on his journey to 
 Abdamousa's court had been slain in battle, 
 there were few who could know him, and few 
 of his friends remained. While riding along 
 alone he had thought much ; and things long 
 since forgotten returned to his mind. In
 
 54 THE GOLDEN TALJSMAN. 
 
 recalling the friends whom he had known, 
 and who might still remain true to him, his 
 old master in books came nearest to his heart. 
 He it was who had helped him to decipher 
 the manuscripts which were considered neces- 
 sary to be read by a youth, and which con- 
 stituted his education. 
 
 Camduatim lived in what might be called a 
 chalet on the hillside overlooking the town. 
 With him Hakkouki determined to make his 
 residence, during which time he should be 
 able to procure whatever knowledge was 
 necessary toward fulfilling the mission upon 
 which he had been sent. Hakkouki arrived 
 at the chalet of Camduatim late at night. 
 The house 'was situated on the side of a hill 
 not far from the palace, and overlooking it. 
 Hakkouki had especially timed his arrival in 
 the city that he might pass through it after 
 dark, as he did not wish to be recognized by 
 any of his former acquaintances. 
 
 Up the dark and straggling path Hakkouki 
 clambered, having been obliged to dismount,
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 55 
 
 as the night was too dark to see where the 
 road made its sharp turns. Much of the day 
 he had walked beside his horse, talking 
 quietly to this one companion of his journey, 
 who was more than dear to him from his as- 
 sociation with the Princess, who had selected 
 him herself. 
 
 Hakkouki with difficulty found the low 
 entrance to the house of Camduatim. The 
 two doors joined in the middle from top to 
 bottom, and opened from the outside. But 
 when Hakkouki pressed upon them, some 
 obstacle within prevented them opening. The 
 obstacle was in the form of a very heavy and 
 sleepy man, who lay stretched across what 
 would have been the threshold, had there 
 been one. In reality there was only the 
 paved courtyard within, the same as outside, 
 ancient and irregular, hard and cold, but 
 apparently luxurious to the sleeper. 
 
 "Camduatim! Camduatim!" called Hak- 
 kouki. 
 
 In time much noise and confusion, com-
 
 56 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 mands and cries, were heard in language 
 which Hakkouki had not spoken for so long ; 
 and which to his unaccustomed ear seemed 
 strange and harsh. Ah! How different from 
 the soft tones in the household of his sweet 
 Drusa ! 
 
 A small gleam of light appeared in the 
 opening, and a crowd of people filled the 
 inner court. They were servants who slept 
 in their daily clothing, ready at all mo- 
 ments to protect their master's house against 
 intruders. 
 
 "Who art thou?" called a voice from 
 within. But this question Hakkouki would 
 not answer, for his person was not safe in 
 Persia. 
 
 Since he would not give his name, Cam- 
 duatim was not aroused, nor would he be 
 for an unknown wanderer. Whereupon 
 Hakkouki began, in his strong, deep-toned 
 voice, to sing the sweet ballads of his youth, 
 which Camduatim had himself taught him. 
 The din in the courtyard ceased while Hak-
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 57 
 
 kouki sang, but at the end of the song the 
 noise began again, and Hakkouki could hear 
 the sound of weapons clanking on the stones, 
 when suddenly the doors were opened, and 
 his errand asked of him. For answer he 
 took up his refrain again, and suddenly his 
 heart was gladdened by the voice of Cam- 
 duatim, speaking in French, the language 
 used much at the court, and not known to 
 servants. 
 
 " Ah, fair youth, where art thou ? My 
 beloved son, for whom I have longed this 
 many a day. Quickly will I come to give 
 thee entrance ! " 
 
 Soon he appeared in the doorway, and 
 Hakkouki felt himself held in the welcom- 
 ing embrace of the old man. All night the 
 two friends sat in converse. Hakkouki told 
 Camduatim of his experience after having 
 left the court, of the tragedy at Abdamousa's 
 palace, of his friend Bokbatan, and tbeir 
 battle for conquest, of the wonderful king- 
 dom he had visited, and his hope to win
 
 58 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 his bride by fulfilling the mission upon 
 which he had been sent. 
 
 Camduatim was a man well versed in the 
 old-time lore. He was, moreover, a friend 
 of the man who procured for the court all 
 sweet scents and perfumes, from whom he 
 was sure Hakkouki could learn all which 
 was known to the world. 
 
 This man was old Ulema, a native of the 
 Ural district, who for many years had sup- 
 plied the Persian court with perfumes from 
 foreign lands. He lived in an old deserted 
 palace in the mountains above Tokat, in Tur- 
 key, and the final more delicate processes in 
 the preparation of these luxuries were thought, 
 by Camduatim, to take place in the old palace. 
 
 It was a long and wearisome journey 
 through the mountainous district to Tokat, 
 and Camduatim would not allow Hakkouki 
 to think of setting out alone. Though Hak- 
 kouki was impatient to be off, he was much 
 delighted by the prospect of Camduatim's 
 companionship.
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 59 
 
 Accordingly, servants were sent ahead with 
 provisions, to wait for them in the lonely 
 stretches where villages were far apart, and 
 they took the road together. 
 
 " My son," said Camduatim, when they 
 were nearing the end of their journey, " I 
 have not thought it best to make known to 
 thee previously the danger of meeting with 
 robber tribes. But we are nearing Tokat, 
 and about this region the lawless men of the 
 border are prone to plunder at will. Much 
 discretion must we now use, travelling at 
 night and in silence." 
 
 They passed places which had recently 
 been used as camps by large numbers of 
 men, and upon entering Tokat, found the 
 town in an uproar. The robbers, composed 
 of many tribes, had made a combined effort 
 to plunder the city. The panic-stricken in- 
 habitants were driven from their houses, and 
 the property of the rich stolen. These peo- 
 ple robbed were principally Armenians, a 
 race foreign to the Mohammedans in their
 
 60 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 religion, who are hated by them, and their 
 riches coveted. The- disturbance of the town 
 allowed Camduatim and Hakkouki to pass 
 through it unknown and unquestioned. They 
 made their way quickly to the outskirts, 
 where, by the mountain path, they might 
 proceed to Ulema's castle. 
 
 At last, in a sheltered spot, they rested to 
 recover from the awful sights of pillage and 
 bloodshed which they had lately witnessed. 
 The horrors recalled to Hakkouki the mem- 
 ory of his battle at the entrance to Drusa's 
 kingdom. The life among these peace-loving 
 people had banished from his mind all 
 thoughts of conquest of other's rights, or 
 even of dissension with his fellow-beings. 
 
 " And this," said Hakkouki, " was what I 
 called civilization when I went forth to con- 
 quer barbarians in the region of the Kaffiris." 
 
 " Civilization is Heaven," said Camduatim. 
 
 "And I have found it in my enchanted 
 kingdom," answered Hakkouki. 
 
 But old Camduatim shook his head sadly,
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 61 
 
 for Hakkouki's wild enthusiasm for his 
 adopted country seemed to Camduatim bor- 
 dering on madness. 
 
 Just as the sun was fading behind the dis- 
 tant hills, leaving its brilliant afterglow in 
 the sky above, Hakkouki and Camduatim 
 came suddenly upon the palatial ruin where 
 lived Ulema. Crowning the summit of the 
 hill, in magnificent isolation stood the ivy- 
 grown structure. Before the great entrance, 
 on the courtyard overgrown with weeds, 
 Ulema walked, deep in thought, alone. 
 
 " Nola ! Ulema ! " called Camduatim. 
 
 Extending both arms in welcome, with a 
 brilliant smile lighting his old and withered 
 visage, Ulema hurried toward them. 
 
 " Most beloved friend, welcome ! " said he, 
 " and thou, fair youth, art thou from Heaven 
 direct?" 
 
 " Indeed, I am that," said Hakkouki, 
 laughing, for throughout his whole being he 
 felt he lived only in the memory of his be- 
 loved country and the hope of his return to
 
 62- THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 it. But Camduatim dispelled the old man's 
 wonder. 
 
 " 'Tis my pupil, Hakkouki, Ulema, come 
 with me to learn of thee more than I can 
 teach. Thy knowledge of sweet scents and 
 thy craft in such." 
 
 Passing through a long-deserted banquet 
 hall, where stood the huge black table about 
 which boisterous men had gathered in far-dis- 
 tant times, they were ushered into the great 
 entrance room. Opening from one side a 
 small door led into the apartments of Ulema, 
 which looked quite cosey after the dreary 
 appearance of the great hall. There were 
 couches upon which several might sleep, and 
 low tables from which many might be fed ; 
 for hospitality reigned in Ulema' s mansion. 
 
 " A welcome to thee, my friends," said 
 Ulema. 
 
 He knelt and bathed their feet himself, 
 and then cooked a meal in their presence. 
 His delight at seeing his old friend again was 
 almost childish.
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 63 
 
 When supper was over, Hakkouki was 
 anxious to know what Ulema advised, and 
 he listened with impatience to the reminis- 
 cences of the two older men. Camduatim, 
 ever ready to understand the wishes of those 
 about him, soon suggested the object of their 
 visit, whereupon Ulema, carrying a torch, led 
 them through the banquet hall to the other 
 side. Here they passed into his laboratory. 
 Strange and weird it seemed, lighted by the 
 nickering torch held high in Ulema's right 
 hand. Hakkouki soon became interested in 
 all which Ulema told him of the materials 
 with which he worked. Everything seemed 
 ancient, dating back to a time long since 
 passed ; for the same laboratory had been 
 in use in the days when the old palace was 
 full of life and youth and gayety. 
 
 This science is one long known, and which 
 has changed little in all the ages. Perfumes 
 are to-day made just as they were three thou- 
 sand years ago. New ones have been added, 
 and new combinations of the old, but the
 
 64 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 essence of the rose, the violet, the lily in 
 its purity, have no need of change. Great 
 quantities of the material prepared for trans- 
 portation in its crude form were packed at 
 one end of the room, in the respective casks, 
 bottles, or horns, whatever is best adapted for 
 shipment. A great caldron stood near by, 
 into which the bags of rose petals were emp- 
 tied to be pickled in brine. This crystallizes 
 on the surface of the petal, and preserves it 
 for an indefinite time. Here were casks of 
 alcohol to mix with the otto, or, as it is 
 sometimes called, " attar " ; here also were 
 horns of civet, used with other scents to 
 give them strength. These horns were cov- 
 ered at the wide end with leather, sewn 
 with rawhide, and stopped at the small end 
 with wooden plugs. Here were ambergris 
 packed in jars, small Chinese caddies of 
 musk, bottles of ylang-ylang, tins of va- 
 nilla, and bottles of patchouli, violet, and 
 jasmine, all of which were sought after by 
 the luxurious people of the Persian court,
 
 STRANGE AND WEIRD IT SEEMED, LIGHTED BY THE FLICKERING 
 TORCH."
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 65 
 
 for whom only Ulema blended his enchant- 
 ing perfumes. 
 
 In one small flask, to be sent to the court, 
 was a perfume of greater value than ten times 
 its weight in gold. Ulema showed Hakkouki 
 all which could be seen by the light of the 
 dim torch, and early next morning he re- 
 sumed his teaching. 
 
 At the end of a week, when Ulema had 
 explained the processes and taught Hakkouki 
 all that he could learn without practical expe- 
 rience, Hakkouki said to the old man : 
 
 " Father, what must I do to be a master 
 in this art?" 
 
 "My son," returned Ulema, "if thou wouldst 
 know this art as no other man hath ever 
 known it, thou must go out into the world 
 and study each perfume from its beginning. 
 Thou must visit every land which produces 
 a perfume, trace that perfume to its source, 
 and learn by experience its true value and 
 uses. I am now an old man, and such an 
 undertaking as this is beyond me, but for
 
 66 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 you, who are young and ambitious, the task 
 should not be impossible." 
 
 "That, then, shall be my mission," said 
 Hakkouki. 
 
 Delighted that Hakkouki was so much in 
 earnest, Ulema proceeded to tell him what 
 he knew of the localities and productions. 
 
 " But whither first ?" asked Hakkouki. 
 
 Camduatim suggested China for musk, or 
 the Indian Ocean for the lily of the Philip- 
 pines. 
 
 " The violet is most beautiful," said Hak- 
 kouki. " Why not France ? " 
 
 Ulema remained silent. 
 
 "Which shall it be, Ulema?" asked Hak- 
 kouki. 
 
 With the light of youth in his old eyes, 
 Ulema bent toward them, and speaking in his 
 low, musical voice he said : 
 
 " The rose, the rose it must be first. I am 
 old; I know not how long thou wouldst tarry, 
 and I would know of the rose first." Much 
 interested in his subject, he continued : " The
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 67 
 
 rose grows everywhere, and is cultivated for 
 its perfume in many places, but nowhere in 
 such profusion as in Bulgaria. The mother of 
 my beloved wife was a Turkish woman from 
 across the sea [meaning European Turkey in 
 distinction from Asiatic], and she dressed her 
 little one in the native costume of Bulgaria. 
 Roses, always roses, were the little one's 
 delight. A rosebud she was herself, but 
 never a rose, for she was taken from me in 
 our early life. Yet I am not alone, for her 
 rose-like presence lives within my heart." 
 
 Silence ensued, broken only by the old 
 man's sandals. For he had risen in his gentle 
 emotion and paced the room slowly. 
 
 " Then," said Hakkouki, rising to his feet, 
 " the rose it shall be. I will go first to Bul- 
 garia." 
 
 The old man, without words in answer, 
 went to his cupboard and brought therefrom 
 an earthen jug bearing a peculiar label. 
 Placing it upon the table, he went again and 
 brought strange earthen mugs. He filled
 
 68 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 them with a white liquor from the jug, and 
 handed one each to Hakkouki and Camdua- 
 tira. Then lifting his own mug, he said : 
 
 " Let us drink to the success of the trip in 
 old Bulgarian raki." 
 
 It was a solemn occasion to old Ulema, and 
 his heart was stirred deeply. 
 
 Early the next morning they set forth. 
 Camduatim and his suite were to travel with 
 Hakkouki to Sentari, whence he should cross 
 the Bosphorus to Constantinople. Ulema 
 went with them to the pass, to bid them 
 good-by. 
 
 " Good luck, and a speedy return ! " called 
 he, his face aglow with kindness. 
 
 The journey to Sentari was long and te- 
 dious, and during the first part so perilous 
 that they travelled chiefly at night. Arriv- 
 ing in Sentari, Camduatim looked about to 
 find a residence for himself, for he had de- 
 termined to await Hakkouki's return in 
 that city. 
 
 " My son, thou must change thy dress,"
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 69 
 
 said he. " For travellers in Europe had best 
 not be too Oriental in their clothing." 
 
 A change, indeed, it was when Hakkouki 
 appeared with his hair and beard shorn, and 
 a foreign dress in ill accord with his pictu- 
 resque style. These things, however, troubled 
 him little, for he was without vanity. His 
 valuable clothing he left in Camduatim's care, 
 and was thereby relieved of its weight. Even 
 the shoes, of American make, which he had 
 bought, did not disturb him, so enthusiastic 
 was he in his undertaking. 
 
 After an affectionate farewell to Camdua- 
 tim, Hakkouki took train through Con- 
 stantinople to Philippopolis. Throughout 
 this section were rose gardens in great 
 abundance, but Hakkouki wished to visit 
 those of Kasanlik, where the rose is pre- 
 eminent for its beauty, and where the whole 
 country is one great garden. The best mode 
 of conveyance was a carriage drawn by four 
 horses, which by stopping one night at 
 Kalofer (fifty miles north of Philippopolis)
 
 70 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 gave him a whole day's driving amidst the 
 most beautiful scenery. The gardens, being 
 protected by the Balkan Mountains from the 
 cold north winds, produce a most luxuriant 
 growth. 
 
 He arrived in Kasanlik at night, and went 
 directly to the house of M. Tsmahan, a Bulga- 
 rian who spoke French and owned one of the 
 largest gardens. Although the family had re- 
 tired, he was expected and greeted by the ser- 
 vant in waiting, who gave him refreshments 
 and showed him his sleeping apartment. 
 
 The next morning a light tap on the 
 door awakened him. He dressed as quickly 
 as his unaccustomed garments would allow, 
 and stepped immediately into the great 
 plank-lined living room. The room was 
 lighted from the roof above, and had doors 
 leading to all other parts of the house, and 
 benches covered with cushions along the 
 walls. There were no chairs, decorations, nor 
 pictures, but merely cupboards in the walls 
 filled with curios and works of art.
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 71 
 
 Mme. Ismahan, seated upon the bench, 
 bowed and smiled in a friendly manner, but 
 spoke no French. The raki was offered 
 first of all. 
 
 " I have already tried your famous raki," 
 said Hakkouki to his host. "We drank 
 the success of my journey in it before I 
 left Turkey." 
 
 M. Ismahan was much interested ; but 
 when Hakkouki told him that old Ulema 
 had married the daughter of a Bulgarian 
 woman, he was not surprised, for no Bul- 
 garian marriage could be celebrated without 
 raki. The table was decorated with roses, 
 and even the small maid who served them 
 had roses in her veil, which all the women 
 wear for a headdress. 
 
 After breakfast M. Ismahan conducted 
 Hakkouki to the gardens. Roses, roses, 
 everywhere, hanging from above, and car- 
 peting the ground upon which they trod ; 
 baskets heaped with them, and carts drawn 
 by small buffalo laden with them, wreaths
 
 72 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 of roses upon the women's heads, and 
 bunches thrust within the bows of their 
 apron strings ; all save one girl wore roses. 
 
 " Anita, conie," called M. Ismahan. 
 
 The girl whom Hakkouki noticed had no 
 decorations came in answer. 
 
 " Show M. Hakkouki about, and tell Hon- 
 dago to make preparations to receive him 
 at the distillery." 
 
 This plan had been agreed upon at break- 
 fast, as Hakkouki wished to spend all his 
 time among the roses, that no part of the 
 process of converting their fragrance into 
 a form which could bear transportation 
 should be lost to him. The " fair Anita," 
 as she was called in the village, looked 
 shyly up at him, and said in her dialect : 
 
 "Good morning." 
 
 Hakkouki made answer " Bon jour," and 
 thereafter Anita always said "Bon jour." 
 Then she beckoned him to follow and led the 
 way. 
 
 She was a pale, delicate girl, particularly
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 73 
 
 so beside her ruddy-faced comrades, dressed 
 in the highly colored and picturesque costume 
 of the peasants. They greeted Hakkouki 
 with smiling faces as he passed, and sang 
 merrily at their work. 
 
 When Anita found Hondago in charge of 
 a large number of gatherers, she made known 
 to him M. Ismahan's orders, and they all 
 walked together through the fields of roses to 
 the distillery. 
 
 Distillation formerly was performed in the 
 open air; but as at present the business is 
 carried on so extensively, and the localities 
 are subject to severe thunder-storms, the 
 caldrons are under the cover of rude sheds, 
 open in front. These buildings are called 
 " hapus." Here Hakkouki found to his great 
 comfort a Frenchman in charge. 
 
 " It gives me much pleasure," said he, bow- 
 ing low, " to explain to you the process, M. 
 Hakkouki. Pray be seated and partake of 
 some coffee." 
 
 Just behind the great caldrons, six in num-
 
 74 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 her, stood a small table where coffee was 
 ready to be served. The Frenchman talked 
 constantly while Hakkouki drank his coffee. 
 
 Hondago and Anita cast sly glances at each 
 other, and seemed well content to be left to 
 their own society. The heat of the braziers 
 under the caldrons was intense, and Hak- 
 kouki also found that the customary coffee at 
 ten o'clock on a hot morning was not particu- 
 larly agreeable. 
 
 Hakkouki rose and stood without the shed 
 beside the Frenchman, who talked incessantly. 
 
 " Yes, we put many bushels of roses to the 
 value of one hundred pounds in English 
 money into the caldrons at once. These are 
 previously half filled with warm water, which 
 is kept at an even temperature, and regulated 
 by a thermometer. They must be tightly 
 covered." 
 
 "What passes through these tubes?" 
 asked Hakkouki. For from the cover of 
 each caldron were iron tubes running to an 
 open trough of tin filled with cold water.
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 75 
 
 " That is the vapor from the roses," said 
 the Frenchman. " It passes into the water 
 and drops from the troughs into the large 
 glass bottles which you see placed to receive 
 it." The man seemed much delighted that' 
 he had so attentive a listener. " It requires 
 three distillations before the oil from the rose 
 vapor rises to the top of the water in the 
 troughs. This is run into leaden bottles, 
 hermetically sealed, and it is ready for 
 shipment." 
 
 " And that," said Hakkouki, " is the pure 
 perfume of the roses in the form of oil." 
 
 He bade the Frenchman good day, and to 
 tell the truth, was as much pleased to return 
 to his untalkative companions Anita and 
 Hondago, as he had been a short time before 
 to meet the garrulous Frenchman. There 
 was something particularly enjoyable to Hak- 
 kouki in the silent companionship of these 
 two, who spoke no word while he was near. 
 He understood them well, without the use of 
 words. How much their faces and gestures
 
 76 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 meant ! How easy for him to make known 
 his wishes to them, and in the meantime 
 the restful peace of the gardens spoke vol- 
 umes to him. Hakkouki wished to know all 
 which concerned the cultivation of the rose, 
 its best soil and all the climatic and agricul- 
 tural conditions and necessities. Much of this 
 Hondago knew and could show him. 
 
 Hakkouki liked to lie upon a heap of roses, 
 and watch these light-hearted and sunny-faced 
 workers, as they packed the roses in great 
 bags to be sent away for distillation else- 
 where. Day after day he stayed on, and the 
 "fair Anita," who lived at M. Ismahan's 
 house, and often served at table, went each 
 day back and forth with him to the rose 
 gardens. Here he would often lie upon his 
 fragrant bed and dream. It was all so beau- 
 tiful, this fairyland of roses. He listened to 
 the merry songs of the gatherers, and read 
 from their faces their lives. Here was a 
 woman bending down, clipping the roses 
 quickly from the stems, while a small child
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 77 
 
 seated beside her twisted the roses in and out 
 the coarse home-made lace of her chemisette. 
 
 "Ah ! how happy I am," said the woman's 
 face. "Here is my baby, whom I love, and 
 there, in the field, just within my sight, is 
 her father. Ah! how happy we are!" 
 And the merry voice carolled its joy, just 
 as a bird carols its song of life and love 
 and happiness. 
 
 Hakkouki loved to watch their glances, 
 and find who were united in families, who 
 by marriage, and who soon would be by 
 marriage. In the last category he placed 
 Hondago and the fair Anita. 
 
 One day, lying there watching her, he 
 said to himself, "And why does she not 
 wear a wreath of roses as the other women 
 do? She would look so pretty in it. The 
 bright color would light up her fair face." 
 And so he plucked some of the smallest, 
 pinkest buds, and twined their stems to- 
 gether. It was a pleasant task, and when 
 Anita came to him, telling him it was time
 
 78 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 to go, he rose, and placed the wreath upon 
 her head. Then he stood back to admire, 
 but , the fair Anita had grown suddenly 
 fairer. In an instant she had turned as 
 pale as death. As she looked him fairly 
 in the eyes, however, the bright red color 
 leaped into her face, and her eyes darted a 
 strange shy glance at him. Though she 
 let the wreath remain on the homeward 
 walk, the telltale color overspread her 
 countenance as she passed her comrades, 
 and instead of singing in her usual merry 
 way, she grew silent. Hakkouki, interested 
 as he was in acquiring information, going 
 about among the farmers of the surround- 
 ing country, and studying the growth of 
 the rose, thought no more about the episode 
 of the wreath. 
 
 He was therefore much amazed one even- 
 ing, when, passing Cloister Trojan, he was 
 suddenly seized from behind, and in an in- 
 stant thrust through a small door into the 
 monastery. Here he was thrown to one
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 79 
 
 side into a dark cell, and the doors shut 
 upon him. He felt he was alone, but as 
 his eyes became accustomed to the dark- 
 ness, he saw a skull, beside it another, and 
 yet another, and then he saw that the end 
 of the cell was heaped with skulls, from 
 floor to ceiling. It was a grewsome picture, 
 and to Hakkouki a particularly painful one. 
 So full of life and youth was he, that death 
 seemed an unreal and far-away thing. He 
 listened, and heard in the distance the peal 
 of an organ, and many male voices chant- 
 ing " Gospodin pomilui " (God help us). 
 
 Hakkouki moved in the direction of the 
 sounds, and finding the door, he threw him- 
 self fiercely against it. It gave way easily 
 before his vigorous strength. Still guided 
 by the music, he felt his way along a dark 
 corridor, until he found another door. This 
 opened into a dimly lighted chapel, where, 
 upon their knees, the forty-five monks of 
 the Brotherhood knelt, repeating " Gospodin 
 pomilui."
 
 80 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "Trapped," said Hakkouki to himself. 
 There seemed to him no possible chance of 
 escape from the place. Though M. Ismahan 
 would doubtless undertake his release when 
 he heard of his plight, delay was certain, 
 and in the meantime he knew not what to 
 expect. 
 
 When the brothers rose from their devo- 
 tions, one of them, Brother Partenije by 
 name, walked in a leisurely and dignified 
 manner toward Hakkouki. 
 
 " Thou art Hakkouki," said he in French, 
 without showing any surprise. " Thou hast 
 been sent here to expiate thy crime." 
 
 "Pray what is my crime?" asked Hak- 
 kouki, much astonished. 
 
 "Ah! dost thou not know?" In a kind- 
 lier tone he continued, " With us, when a 
 girl's hand is being sought in marriage, she 
 wears no wreath; but when she has given 
 her answer, the chosen man has the right 
 to place one upon her head. Any man who 
 infringes on the courtesy due his brother,
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 81 
 
 while he is waiting for his answer, is a 
 coward. You have won the bride, and 
 the notice of your betrothal is placed upon 
 the parish church ; but Hondago is not a 
 man to be so vilely used. So good and 
 true and devout is he in his adherence to 
 the forms of the church, that we have 
 taken charge of you to protect him." 
 
 "I did not know the custom," said Hak- 
 kouki. " I had no thought of tempting 
 Anita. I placed the wreath upon her head 
 for beauty's sake alone." 
 
 And Brother Partenije believed him. 
 
 " Show me the notice of my betrothal, and 
 I will make it right," said Hakkouki. 
 
 The monk hesitated for a moment, and 
 then he led Hakkouki out into the night. 
 After a long walk they reached the small 
 chapel of the parish. There hung the no- 
 tice surely, placed there by the parish Father: 
 "Hakkouki weds Anita at close of mass on 
 Monday." 
 
 For in Bulgaria the maiden sets the day.
 
 82 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Hakkouki got out of his scrape by inducing 
 the monk to make a change in the placard. 
 The following morning this notice met the 
 astonished gaze of the passers-by : " Hondago 
 weds Anita at close of mass on Monday." 
 
 " For," reasoned the practical Brother Par- 
 tenije, " since she has given her answer by 
 allowing Hakkouki's wreath to remain upon 
 her head, she is ready for marriage." 
 
 Hakkouki wended his way homeward, 
 reaching there just before daybreak, but for 
 a long time he was unable to free himself 
 from the grim impression which the cloister 
 had produced upon him. 
 
 " Thou art late," said M. Ismahan, when 
 Hakkouki entered the living room. These 
 friendly people constantly made use of the 
 familiar " thou " in addressing Hakkouki. 
 u I had thought of showing thee my store- 
 room." 
 
 So, leading the way after breakfast through 
 one of the many doors, they entered the 
 room where the value of many thousands of
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 83 
 
 dollars was kept. This was in the form of 
 "otto." The liquid was generally sealed 
 in leaden bottles, but there were some small 
 glass ones which showed the deep gold color 
 of the oil. The glass bottles were reserved 
 for Eastern use, the contents of which will 
 keep for eighty years in good condition. 
 The leaden ones were for shipment to Lon- 
 don, Paris, and all the great centres of per- 
 fume manufacturing. The strong subtle 
 odor, although pleasant at first, soon became 
 oppressive, and produced giddiness in the 
 head. 
 
 Strange to say, the peasants dislike the 
 perfume which they themselves manufacture. 
 It clings tenaciously even in the open air. 
 A thousand different scents a few drops of 
 this thick rich oil have in them. 
 
 Hakkouki was very grateful to M. Isma- 
 han for all the attention he had shown him, 
 and the opportunities he had given him to 
 obtain the information he desired, though 
 he was much distressed by the incident of
 
 84 THE G 'OLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the wreath. He was anxious to find an 
 opportunity for explaining his ignorance 
 of their customs, and regret for what had 
 happened through it, when upon entering 
 the living room Anita walked toward them. 
 There was no appearance of embarrassment 
 about her, as upon former occasions. She 
 spoke to M. Ismahan, who in turn said to 
 Hakkouki : 
 
 . " Anita tells me she is to marry Hondago 
 on Monday, and wishes you to dance at her 
 wedding." 
 
 This delighted Hakkouki, as he had 
 already heard of the " Horadantz," as they 
 called it. Moreover, he was overjoyed that 
 Anita was so " reasonable." 
 
 His experience with the daughter of the 
 King of Abdamousa had led him to fear a 
 similar possible upheaval among these quiet 
 people in Bulgaria. " They are certainly 
 more civilized," said Hakkouki to himself. 
 And then he wondered if it were better 
 so. He was fast becoming educated by
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 85 
 
 his travels, and was already beginning to 
 moralize. 
 
 Anita's wedding was delightful. The girls 
 in their white veils and chemisettes, heavily 
 embroidered, short skirts and brilliantly col- 
 ored aprons, with their massive ornaments 
 on neck and belt, fairly radiated joy from 
 their merry faces. After the ceremony, the 
 procession, passing untler the extended arms 
 of Brother Partenije, who blessed the mar- 
 riage, broke into groups before the church. 
 
 Then the young people formed circles, 
 and danced on the green to the music of 
 the shrieking flutes and bagpipes. The gay 
 spirits of the company knew no bounds. 
 The young men in short jackets and full 
 breeches to the knee, red sashes bound 
 tightly about their white shirts, stood each 
 between two girls. They joined in line, not 
 by hands, but by catching the fingers under 
 the sashes of their next neighbors. The lit- 
 tle children danced behind them in a circle, 
 throwing long ropes of roses about the heads
 
 86 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 and shoulders of those in front. Never was 
 a girl happier than the fair Anita upon her 
 wedding day. 
 
 The following day Hakkouki was to leave, 
 but the sky shed tears of woe that he was to 
 be known in this friendly village no more. 
 So M. Ismahan induced him to stay another 
 day, saying: 
 
 " The heavens weep indeed, and our hos- 
 pitality will not permit us to allow you to 
 depart in discomfort." 
 
 To compensate for the gloomy and wet 
 day, all nature's influences combined to make 
 Hakkouki's regrets more poignant by bath- 
 ing this beautiful valley the next day in the 
 peculiarly glorious sunshine which follows a 
 storm in that region. There was exhilara- 
 tion in the light, crisp air.- Hakkouki, with 
 half the village to bid him " Godspeed," took 
 his seat in the same heavy vehicle, drawn by 
 four horses, in which he had entered the 
 town. The same policemen rode one on each 
 side of him, and his picturesque driver, in his
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 87 
 
 short fur jacket, which is worn at all seasons, 
 climbed to his seat. He cracked his whip, 
 and Hakkouki turned his head to hide the 
 tears which sprang to his eyes in leaving his 
 dear friends. Down the highroad, over the 
 rough pavements they rattled. Waving caps 
 and friendly farewells greeted his eyes and 
 ears on all sides, and his last view was one of 
 beauty and good-fellowship. 
 
 A golden haze hung over the rain-bedewed 
 valley, and the wet rosebuds, opening their 
 hearts to the sun, perfumed the air with 
 their heavy sweetness. The buffaloes slowly 
 trundled the creaking carts over the damp 
 grass, but the horses which drew Hakkouki 
 flew on at a breakneck speed, never holding 
 up even when crossing the numerous bridges. 
 More powerful and enduring are these bridges 
 than those of many other parts of the world. 
 The unenclosed rose fields stretched for miles 
 on either ; side. Hakkouki enjoyed every mo- 
 ment of the delightful journey. As he lay 
 back in the carriage, he dreamed of his future
 
 88 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 and Drusa, and was happy in the thought 
 that every hour, every mile, brought him 
 nearer to her. 
 
 Suddenly he heard the driver's " Brrr, brrr," 
 and the carriage came to a full stop. Quick, 
 anxious words, though meaningless to Hak- 
 kouki, were exchanged. He thrust his head 
 out of the window, and saw a boy, evidently 
 a beggar, pale with fright, wildly beseeching 
 help and pointing to the side of the road. 
 Hakkouki stepped out of the carriage, and 
 going in the direction which the boy pointed, 
 found a woman lying there apparently in 
 great distress. 
 
 " Ah ! Monsieur," said the boy, " the driver 
 says you speak only French, and I speak so 
 little. My mother is French, and she suffers 
 so. She is dying, I think." 
 
 Near them was a pile of poor and much-used 
 furniture, together with the scanty pots and 
 pans of housekeeping. Hakkouki knew the 
 situation. A family turned out of house and 
 home for non-payment of the church tax;
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 89 
 
 for still the Greek church requires the tax law 
 to be enforced, especially on the many Catho- 
 lics who have come into the province. Fail- 
 ing to pay it, they are quickly turned out, 
 and the house occupied by a family of the 
 Greek church. 
 
 "Yes," said the unfortunate woman, "I 
 am dying. God help my boy." And she 
 clasped her hands in agony. 
 
 " Lift her into the carriage," said Hak- 
 kouki to the driver. 
 
 They made her as comfortable as possible, 
 and Hakkouki and the boy sprang quickly in. 
 
 " Drive on ! " called Hakkouki. 
 
 They stopped at the "hahu" of Mehala 
 for food and rest, but were unable to pro- 
 cure more than temporary accommodation 
 for the poor woman. Here Hakkouki had 
 hoped to leave her to die in peace, but the 
 family were afraid of ill-luck coming to 
 them, should a Catholic die in their house. 
 The good food and rest, however, had a bene- 
 ficial effect upon both the woman and Fran-
 
 90 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 qois, as she called him, and enabled her to 
 bear the journey to Kalofer, where Hakkouki 
 knew he could procure a permanent resting- 
 place for her at the convent. The driver, 
 with his cap on one side, and cigarette in 
 his mouth, looked askance at this " taking 
 up of beggars to ride like princes," but Hak- 
 kouki was not a man to be questioned as to 
 his acts. 
 
 They drove direct to the convent and were 
 received in the courtyard by the mayor of 
 the town, whom M. Ismahan had notified 
 of Hakkouki's passage through the town. 
 Great was his astonishment to behold the 
 beggar woman so carefully assisted and placed 
 in the care of the good nuns. 
 
 " She is dying," said Hakkouki, simply. 
 
 " Gospodin pomilui," said the mayor. 
 
 These words brought very forcibly to Hak- 
 kouki the memory of his experience in the 
 cell of skulls. He shuddered as he thought 
 of it. They entered the receiving room of 
 the convent, with its chill and uninviting
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 91 
 
 appearance. Here they waited until they 
 should hear that the woman had been made 
 comfortable, and then with FranQois crossed 
 to the hotel leading from the same courtyard. 
 Francois was a handsome boy of fifteen. 
 His father had been a Bulgarian. With his 
 great eyes upon Hakkouki, he had sat in 
 silence during the day's ride. Now, as he 
 was given a place at the table with these 
 two, and knew that his mother was among 
 friends, his heart overflowed with love and 
 gratitude toward this handsome stranger with 
 humanity in his soul. Never had FranQois 
 known such kindness. He was to sleep in 
 the room next to Hakkouki. In the night, 
 unable to close his eyes, he rose quietly and 
 went over to the window to watch the light 
 in the room where they had placed his be- 
 loved mother. Toward midnight he saw 
 one of the nuns come to the window and 
 open it, and then the light went out. And 
 then he knew that the light had also gone 
 out of his mother's world-beaten soul.
 
 92 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " She is happy now," said Francois, softly, 
 to himself, and with no thought for his 
 own grief, he went back to his bed and fell 
 asleep. 
 
 When the mayor called to see Hakkouki 
 in the morning, the boy was still sleeping. 
 Hakkouki, on hearing of the woman's death, 
 impulsively decided to take the boy along 
 with him. 
 
 "But," said the mayor, "why not leave 
 him here ? I will be a friend to him, and 
 as he is a Bulgarian, he would be more a 
 stranger in a foreign land." And so it was 
 decided. 
 
 But when Francois awoke, he was incon- 
 solable. It was a terrible blow to him that 
 his friend had gone without his seeing him. 
 
 " Oh, why did he go ? " he cried to the 
 mayor. 
 
 " But he has left with me a sum sufficient 
 to care for you and have you learn of books, 
 if you will," said the mayor. 
 
 " But I could have gone with him as his
 
 THE ROSE GARDENS. 93 
 
 servant, and seen him always," sobbed 
 
 In the meantime, the train was carrying 
 Hakkouki to Constantinople. " Fast it ought 
 to be, and fast it must be that I am travel- 
 ling, but oh, how long it takes ! " said Hak- 
 kouki to himself. Crossing the Bosphorus 
 again, he hurried impatiently toward Cam- 
 duatim's house, where he was received with 
 the greatest surprise. 
 
 " What," said Camduatim, " hast thou 
 failed ? How happens it that thou dost 
 return ? " 
 
 With his notions of time and travel, it 
 seemed incredible that Hakkouki had been 
 and seen all that he wished in so short a 
 time. Camduatim had settled into his home 
 to study and read of all that Hakkouki was 
 to see and do. A life's work almost it 
 seemed to Camduatim. Many days Hak- 
 kouki passed in converse with Camduatim, 
 telling of all he saw in Bulgaria, of the 
 roses and lands, of M. Ismahan* Anita, and
 
 94 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Francois. But not a word did he say of 
 the cell in the cloister. He could almost 
 hear in his imagination Camduatim say, 
 " Ah ! the fiends ! the wretches ! the dogs ! " 
 " Who ? " Hakkouki would ask. " The 
 Christians!" Camduatim would answer; and 
 Hakkouki did not wish to hear him say it, 
 for the loving Catholic people of Bulgaria, 
 with their kindly ways and happy family 
 life, were dear to him.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 
 
 son," said Camduatim, "it is hard 
 to part with thee again so soon, 
 when I have so lately found thee." 
 
 "Ah, indeed, I find it hard to part with 
 thee," replied Hakkouki, " but I must go, 
 for the sooner I leave, the sooner I shall 
 return." 
 
 Camduatim shook his head in silence, for 
 that return meant not to him, but to that 
 country of the mountains which seemed to 
 him so mythical. Then would Hakkouki 
 be known to him no more. However, in 
 his unselfish love for Hakkouki, he quickly 
 threw off his personal sorrow, and entered 
 with enthusiasm into the plans for his 
 journey to Africa to learn of civet. 
 
 95
 
 9G THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " I can be of great help to thee," said he 
 at last. " Thou wilt need presentation to 
 those in power, and having influence in 
 this country, I can get permission for thee 
 to travel as becomes thee in a foreign 
 land." 
 
 "But," said Hakkouki, "I do not need 
 it. I want to go among the people, and 
 learn from them and be one of them. I 
 do not want to travel as a person of distinc- 
 tion, in state. The people will then draw 
 away from me, and I shall know nothing 
 of their life." 
 
 Camduatim, however, cautiously kept his 
 own counsel. He went forth early the next 
 morning to procure what he thought neces- 
 sary for Hakkouki's comfort, and what was 
 still more important to Camduatim 's peace 
 of mind, Hakkouki's safety in travelling in 
 this unknown country. Information was 
 sent to Massowah, the town on the coast 
 of Abyssinia where Hakkouki was to land. 
 This was the principal port of the Italian
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 97 
 
 colony which was then powerful in Africa. 
 The colony was called by the picturesque 
 name of " Colonia Eritrea," and was pre- 
 sided over by an Italian governor. To 
 him by letter Camduatim appealed that, 
 upon Hakkouki's arrival, he should be pro- 
 vided with a sufficient escort to insure his 
 safety. 
 
 Camduatim's previous knowledge of Af- 
 rica had been meagre, and all day he passed 
 going from one person to another in Sen- 
 tari, constantly more and more amazed as 
 he learned of the conditions of life which 
 existed in that savage country. 
 
 At night, as he sat with Hakkouki at 
 their repast, he was surprised at what 
 seemed taciturnity on the part of Hak- 
 kouki. His usual cheerful disposition was 
 entirely changed. The explanation came 
 in Hakkouki's remark: 
 
 " I must start early to-morrow morning, 
 and I wished much to be with thee to-day. 
 Thou hast been away the entire day."
 
 98 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "But," said Camduatim, " thou couldst 
 not go without thy papers. Thou couldst 
 not leave the port. I have done much 
 which will help thee." 
 
 In the enthusiasm of youth, his impa- 
 tience to combat with the world, and that 
 confidence in his power to combat victori- 
 ously which is so mighty before the great 
 teacher, experience, visits a man, Hakkouki 
 had little gratitude for the old man's care 
 and caution. Later he carne to appreciate 
 it. 
 
 Arriving in Massowah, the Governor of 
 the colony boarded the steamer to meet 
 him, taking him to his own house. The 
 town is located upon three coral islands, 
 and is often compared to Venice, although 
 more picturesque in its surroundings. The 
 sea to the east, and the beautiful Abyssinian 
 Mountains to the west, present an impos- 
 ing view. The old Egyptian architecture 
 here and there interspersed by recently 
 built Italian edifices lends a peculiarly
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 99 
 
 characteristic touch, while the various styles 
 of dress of these people of all nations give 
 color and charm to the scene. 
 
 Hakkouki found the climate delightful, 
 warm, and healthful, and the town free 
 from the terrible pests of insects and vermin 
 which are so prevalent in hot countries. The 
 Governor had provided an interpreter, one 
 Ahmed by name. He was an Arab who had 
 lived much in Persia, but, having had a na- 
 tive Abyssinian for a mother, he had passed 
 a part of his youth inland, and spoke the 
 dialects of the mountainous districts. Hak- 
 kouki looked with much interest upon this 
 man, who was to be his constant companion. 
 
 " Is he to be also a friend ? " Hakkouki 
 asked himself. Ahmed presented an unre- 
 sponsive appearance, and Hakkouki's ques- 
 tion remained for many a day unanswered. 
 
 " I have made arrangements for your 
 journey," said the Governor, as they sat 
 about his hospitable board. " The men, 
 mules, and camels are camped just without
 
 100 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the town, from where we are to despatch 
 them early to-morrow morning. They must 
 start in advance of you." 
 
 " How is that ? " asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " Why, you are to go by train," and the 
 Governor laughed. " Ah ! you thought we 
 did not have trains in Africa? Well, you 
 shall see." 
 
 The Governor was proud of the progress 
 made by the Italians. They had built a road 
 of twenty-seven kilometres, crossing that 
 strip of country known as the Samhar, the 
 horrors of which have been told by all trav- 
 ellers in these parts. 
 
 " You will have much to see," said Ahmed, 
 who was in the gayest of spirits in antici- 
 pation of his journey " homeward," as he 
 called it. 
 
 He flung back his new " shamma," expos- 
 ing his sinewy brown arm. He had arrayed 
 himself in this native garment, which is 
 similar to the Roman toga, because it was 
 the dress of his own people. Ahmed's
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 101 
 
 shamma was made of pure white cotton, 
 and had a strip of turkey red down the 
 front. This is an emblem of Christianity 
 among the Abyssinians, representing the 
 blood of Christ. A pair of short white cot- 
 ton drawers completed his costume. 
 
 " Why, what is that, Ahmed ? " asked the 
 Governor, pointing to a short leather jacket, 
 tossed over the divan upon which Ahmed 
 sat. 
 
 There was a look of hesitation upon his 
 handsome face. 
 
 " It is my coat," said he. " It is so long 
 since I have worn the shamma, I thought 
 best to provide another garment, as it is 
 always colder in the mountains." 
 
 He turned and repeated this answer to 
 Hakkouki in Persian, and added, " You will 
 wear the native dress also, Fitaurari?" 
 
 This title means " General " in Abyssinia, 
 and Ahmed used it constantly in addressing 
 Hakkouki. But it was some time before 
 Hakkouki learned that Ahmed himself had
 
 102 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the coat of a general. It was very hand- 
 some. Curious figures cut from green and 
 yellow leather were sewed upon a red leather 
 foundation. All about the edge was a fringe 
 of tiny tongueless silver bells, and it had a 
 silver filigree clasp. 
 
 " Perhaps it is just as well for you to wear 
 the coat," said the Governor, slowly. Ahmed 
 was well known to him, and he saw no 
 reason to doubt his good intentions. 
 
 "I think, on the whole, Hakkouki, it 
 might be well for you to wear the native 
 dress also," said the Governor. 
 
 Hakkouki decided at once to leave behind 
 his valuable and heavy suit, which he had 
 worn away from Kaffiristan, and had again 
 donned at Sentari. This would be safely 
 cared for by the Governor, and, by exchang- 
 ing a valuable diamond into the money of 
 the country, he would have all that would 
 be necessary or safe to carry. Presents for 
 priests or persons of rank with whom he 
 might meet, the Governor offered kindly to
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 103 
 
 send him when he should desire. There was 
 telegraphic communication to Asmara and 
 other places. 
 
 The dinner completed, these three men, 
 of such varying origin, seated themselves 
 cross-legged upon the veranda overlooking 
 the brilliantly illumined garden and fountain 
 of the inner court. The hookah was pro- 
 duced, as all were smokers ; and with this 
 and tedge (a drink of the natives served in 
 large horns) they whiled away the evening. 
 Ahmed translated from one to the other in 
 a brilliant, entertaining fashion. He also 
 sang some of his native songs in a wild, 
 musical voice. What with his wit and ac- 
 complishments, he was certainly a gay com- 
 panion. 
 
 Early next morning the mules which 
 Hakkouki and Ahmed were to ride were 
 brought into the courtyard. They were to go 
 first to the camp, there to start off the escort, 
 and then, returning to the city, go to the 
 shops, and purchase clothing for Hakkouki.
 
 104 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Before mounting, Hakkouki stopped to 
 admire the trimmings of his white mule. 
 The blanket was similar to Ahmed's coat ; 
 the collar of silver, to which many jingling 
 ornaments were attached. Ahmed rode in 
 true native fashion, one toe in the small 
 stirrup. 
 
 " I have fitted you out as I thought neces- 
 sary," said the Governor, " and I have asked 
 Ahmed's counsel as to what is required in 
 parts of the country I have never visited." 
 
 With fourteen camels to carry provisions, 
 and six mules for the camping outfits, twenty 
 men in charge of the animals and eight men 
 with mules making up the military escort, 
 it seemed to Hakkouki that he was well 
 provided. 
 
 " I am travelling like a foreign monarch," 
 said he. 
 
 " I believed an armed native escort neces- 
 sary," said the Governor ; " for not only may 
 you meet with brigands, but there is internal 
 strife going on between Ras Alula and Ras
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 105 
 
 Mangashah which we have not yet been 
 able to quell. The troops of Ras Man- 
 gashah are our friends. From them you 
 may ask protection, but those of Alula 
 must be avoided." 
 
 The camp was hastily breaking up and 
 getting ready for departure, the last of the 
 straggling muleteers having arrived from 
 town. Hakkouki and Ahmed having sent 
 their mules with the escort, mounted new 
 and very wild ones, and rode back to town. 
 Then to the bazaar they went to purchase 
 Hakkouki's costume. It was quick work to 
 buy the trousers and shamma, but the coat 
 was no ordinary effort, for the Governor was 
 determined to have a certain one only. 
 
 " This will do just as well," said Hakkouki, 
 pointing to one similar to Ahmed's. 
 
 The remark was repeated by Ahmed, but 
 the Governor paid no heed. He continued 
 to bargain and haggle and " waste time," as 
 Hakkouki thought, and at last paid fourteen 
 Maria Theresa dollars more for the one which
 
 106 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 he was determined to have. These dollars 
 are worth about seven to the sovereign. 
 
 Ahmed explained that the coats represented 
 rank, and that Hakkouki's must be superior 
 to his. 
 
 Hakkouki donned his new clothes the 
 next morning. Over the shamma he 
 strapped on a cartridge belt, from which 
 was hung also a short curving sword in a 
 leather case. The Governor escorted them 
 to the railway, and bade them good-by as 
 they seated themselves in the small carriage. 
 
 The train was made up of a diminutive 
 engine and two carriages of Italian make, 
 also an open box-car which carried freight. 
 There was no station, as during the time 
 of year when the train runs to Sahati there 
 is no need of cover, for it is then the dry 
 season. They took their seats in the car- 
 riage in the early morning. About midday 
 the train started. Over the Samhar they 
 slowly wended their way, past Otumlo, a 
 village in a sea of sand. This is a collection
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 107 
 
 of round huts made of every imaginable scrap 
 of rubbish, old oil tins, mats, and rags; past 
 Moncullo, with its Swedish mission house 
 standing out conspicuously amongst a similar 
 collection of huts; past Dogali, celebrated in 
 Italian annals for the victory over Ras Alula, 
 when he came down from his mountain fast- 
 nesses to drive them into the sea; until 
 toward night the train reached Sahati, at 
 the foot of the Abyssinian Mountains. 
 
 From Sahati, as soon as the escort had 
 caught up to them, they moved onward 
 toward Asmara. They found here a good 
 road, which had been much improved by 
 the Italians, and which had an ascent of 
 two thousand or three thousand feet through 
 a country of wild vegetation. Beneath the 
 trees the rich-colored gladioli and long hang- 
 ing orchids gave beauty and color to the 
 scene. At Ghinda they found a perfect 
 paradise of luxuriant fertility. 
 
 "See," said Ahmed, looking upward, 
 "there is Asmara."
 
 108 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Through the thick forest of quolquol 
 trees, like seven-branched candlesticks, and 
 seemingly almost over their heads, they 
 could see the roof of the ancient church 
 of Asmara. Seven thousand feet had they 
 travelled upward from Massowah. From 
 the heavy, misty air of the valley they 
 suddenly emerged as if by magic into a sea 
 of brilliant sunshine high above the clouds. 
 They camped that night by one of the 
 many springs which are in all the high- 
 lands of Abyssinia. 
 
 As soon as the camp was settled and the 
 animals were unloaded, Ahmed departed on a 
 tour of investigation. He returned shortly, 
 showing great excitement. 
 
 "We cannot go on from here, Fitaurari, 
 unless we join the rebels. They are fight- 
 ing on all sides. Ras Mangashah's men 
 are but a few miles to the north." 
 
 Now, Hakkouki had no idea of joining 
 rebels or fighting. He came on a peaceful 
 mission. He had planned to go north as far
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 109 
 
 as Keren, where much civet was prepared 
 for market, and where in the dense forests 
 thereabouts is found the animal from which 
 it is taken in its wild state. Ahmed's ex- 
 citement gave him much uneasiness. 
 
 " Join the rebels ! " said he. " Which 
 side, then ? Are not both sides rebels ? " 
 
 Ahmed turned quickly with a flushed 
 face. 
 
 " The southern Menelek has wrongly 
 given Ras Mangashah the lordship of Tigre, 
 and the friends of Ras Alula, who is an 
 old man, will not have his kingdom taken 
 from him." 
 
 "Would you fight against Alula then, 
 by joining the rebels?" asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " By joining them," said Ahmed, cun- 
 ningly, "we could learn of Mangashah's 
 plans, and make them known to Ras 
 Alula." 
 
 Then Hakkouki realized his danger. 
 Ras (meaning prince) Mangashah and his 
 men were friends of the Italians. He was
 
 110 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 ruler by order of King Menelek, with whom 
 it was important that the Italians should 
 be at peace. Hakkouki was travelling on 
 the courtesy of the Italians, and here was 
 Ahmed, a serpent among them, in sympa- 
 thy with Ras Alula, the enemy. Hakkouki 
 felt himself handicapped by only being 
 able to obtain information through the 
 interpreter. There was one thing, however, 
 upon which he quickly determined. On 
 no account must he allow his opposition to 
 Ahmed's sympathies to escape him, for 
 then Ahmed would not be frank with him. 
 At the same time, while he was accepting 
 the courtesy of the Italians, he felt that he 
 ought not to allow spies among his escort. 
 Hakkouki, however, was fast becoming 
 much attached to Ahmed. His gay spirits, 
 his wild, yet loving nature, his amiability, 
 wonderful physical endurance and beauty, 
 were all attractions. But there was evi- 
 dently that in his nature which it is hard 
 to accustom one's self to in a friend an
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. HI 
 
 entire lack of honor. Hakkouki asked him- 
 self " Can he ever be a friend to me ? " 
 
 They were obliged to remain a short 
 time in Asmara to find out more definitely 
 the condition of the road to Keren. Dur- 
 ing this time, and afterward, Hakkouki 
 accompanied Ahmed on all his tours, as he 
 could not trust him. 
 
 On the road to town one morning for 
 they were camped two miles out the}' 
 passed some natives winnowing grain, called 
 teff, from which they make their bread. 
 They held baskets of the grain high above 
 their heads, and as the peas fell to the 
 earth, the wind blew away the chaff. 
 Though they were in haste to reach town 
 before the sun got high, Ahmed found time 
 to jump down from his mule and kiss the 
 prettiest girl. This was a habit of Ahmed's 
 to which Hakkouki had already become 
 accustomed, supposing it to be one of the 
 customs of the country. Later, he found 
 it was one of Ahmed's foreign introductions
 
 112 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 nevertheless, it seemed to please the 
 natives. 
 
 As soon as they learned that Ras Man- 
 gashah had moved on, Hakkouki deter- 
 mined to push northward as fast as possible 
 to Keren. They passed Azteclesan at the 
 foot of the mountains, and cautiously 
 entered the country of the powerful chief 
 Hadghambassah. The latter was an ally 
 of Ras Alula, noted for his cruelties and 
 opposition to the Italian government. Hak- 
 kouki wished heartily to avoid Hadgham- 
 bassah, indeed, he hoped to keep free 
 from any connection with the political con- 
 dition of the country. Ahmed, on the 
 contrary, was most anxious to see Had- 
 ghambassah. This much-feared man had 
 built for himself a hut (known as a castle) 
 on the highest point of the village, and forti- 
 fied it with a wall of stones. He never left 
 this stronghold except to go on marauding 
 expeditions, for he had many enemies, and 
 was in perpetual fear of assassination.
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 113 
 
 After travelling through a rough country 
 they camped upon the bank of a beautiful 
 stream in a narrow valley, with steep cliffs 
 on either side, and a great variety of tropical 
 vegetation. Here they were able to bathe in 
 the stream, while the native troops lit roar- 
 ing fires to frighten away the leopards and 
 hyenas which swarm in these valleys. 
 
 After supper, as they smoked the hookah, 
 and Ahmed drank his beloved tedge, they 
 planned for the future. 
 
 " Fitaurari," said Ahmed, " if to learn of 
 civet is your only mission, we may remain in 
 this valley. The animal is common in this 
 locality, and the natives of a village close by, 
 called Amba Derho, live by hunting it and 
 selling its perfume. They pack the sub- 
 stance in horn, like this." And Ahmed held 
 up his drinking horn. 
 
 " In that case," said Hakkouki, " we will 
 hunt the animals ourselves, and make this 
 spot our headquarters." 
 
 Early next morning they rode to Amba
 
 114 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Derho. Although they passed several girls 
 (probably pretty from Ahmed's point of 
 view), he never once dismounted. Hak- 
 kouki smiled, for he knew Ahmed's whole 
 heart must be in this enterprise to make him 
 so neglectful of his duties. 
 
 " Ride slowly, Fitaurari," said Ahmed, as 
 they came to a collection of huts, "and we 
 will discover where they use the greatest 
 quantity." 
 
 By their noses they were guided, for the 
 natives use the scent so freely that the inte- 
 rior of the hut is saturated with it. It is 
 used both as a medicine and a perfume. At 
 last they halted. A man's head appeared in 
 the aperture ; then he crawled out and sat 
 cross-legged by the side of the house, with 
 a sulky look upon his face. Ahmed held 
 out an amote. This is a bar of crystallized 
 salt, used as money, five equalling an Abys- 
 sinian dollar. 
 
 It varies in value and size, and it is a token 
 of affection when friends meet to give each
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 115 
 
 other a lick of their respective amotes, which 
 thereby diminishes the value. The man 
 sprang eagerly forward to lick it, when 
 Ahmed pressed him to take it. He bowed 
 low, and then turning to Hakkouki he bowed 
 lower, and called out " Dejitchmatch," which 
 means "big man," for he was overwhelmed 
 by the grandeur of Hakkouki's equipment. 
 
 " To-morrow we must go to hunt the 
 civet," said Ahmed. The man shook his 
 head. 
 
 " For two amotes I'll show you the animals 
 now," he said. 
 
 " One," said Ahmed. 
 
 "Two," said the man. 
 
 " One," said Ahmed, and then the real 
 bargain began. 
 
 To Hakkouki's amusement, Ahmed won. 
 He usually did, for he laughed and was so 
 good-natured about it that there seemed to be 
 no way but to yield to him. 
 
 " This way," said the man. 
 
 They dismounted, and with a dozen or
 
 116 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 more children they started through the vil- 
 lage, each hut supplying another half dozen 
 children. Hakkouki and Ahmed led their 
 mules, for had they left them, they would 
 quickly have been hidden underground or 
 elsewhere. No one would ever have known 
 where. 
 
 At last, in a great hole in the ground, 
 with its top barred by long, pliable branches, 
 they found the imprisoned animals. The 
 native then held a small strong cage over an 
 opening which he uncovered in the roof. One 
 of the animals, in the hope of escape, sprang 
 into it, and was immediately secured. As the 
 civet secretes its perfume in larger quantities 
 when irritated, the man poked him with a 
 stick, and succeeded in obtaining a small 
 quantity of this most powerful scent. This 
 is usually accomplished by means of a thin 
 wooden spoon which scrapes it out of the 
 glands in which it is produced. 
 
 As they walked back toward the hut, 
 Ahmed bargained for a hunt on the next
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. 117 
 
 night, and succeeded in getting the required 
 number of men and traps. 
 
 " If we are to remain here for some time, 
 Fitaurari," said Ahmed, " it would be a good 
 thing for us to buy a cow. Our people love 
 milk better than tedge, and it will keep our 
 men in good humor if we add a cow to the 
 party." 
 
 Hakkouki having agreed to the purchase, 
 Ahmed at once began to bargain for one 
 of the humpbacked animals of that country. 
 It did not occur to either of them that they 
 might experience some difficulty in getting 
 the cow to camp. 
 
 " We must drive her ahead of us," pro- 
 posed Hakkouki. 
 
 As long as they were accompanied by the 
 whole village, they had no trouble, but when 
 bereft of their escort, the cow objected to 
 being driven. All efforts to force her to do 
 other than she wished Avere of no avail. 
 
 " The obstinate brute ! " said Ahmed. " I 
 see nothing to do but ride her to camp."
 
 118 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 And giving the rein of his mule to Hak- 
 kouki, he sprang nimbly upon the back of 
 the cow. Hakkouki had implicit confidence 
 in Ahmed's powers to accomplish whatever 
 he might undertake. But when Ahmed had 
 once mounted the cow, with the exception 
 of an instantaneous view of a pair of cloven 
 hoofs and an immense cloud of dust, he was 
 lost to Hakkouki's vision for many a day to 
 come. Straight ahead they seemed to go ; 
 but though Hakkouki anxiously hurried in 
 pursuit, dragging Ahmed's unwilling mule, 
 no trace whatever of the fugitives was dis- 
 cernible. Into the clouds they might have 
 flown as far as any earthly sign was left of 
 them. 
 
 "There is but one thing to do," thought 
 Hakkouki ; " go to the camp. He will proba- 
 bly reach there sooner than I." 
 
 At the camp, by motions, and what words 
 he had learned, he communicated to the men 
 the situation. After waiting a few hours, he 
 sent out a searching party. When, on the
 
 A DANGEROUS JOURNEY. H9 
 
 next day, these men had not returned, Hak- 
 kouki decided to send the rest of the mule- 
 teers and camel-drivers in pursuit, thus leaving 
 in camp only the eight natives who consti- 
 tuted the armed escort. 
 
 Again the same thing happened. The situa- 
 tion then seemed plain to them all. "Brig- 
 ands," was the conclusion. " But what could 
 brigands want with Ahmed and his cow?" 
 This puzzled Hakkouki.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 
 
 OEING well armed, he determined to take 
 ^ his eight soldiers and find Ahmed him- 
 self. He took the road back to the village. 
 Not far from the scene of Ahmed's agility he 
 stopped suddenly. Sounds of laughter could 
 be distinctly heard back from the road. 
 Breaking through the tangled brush, he and 
 his followers rode toward the sounds. Soon, 
 through an opening in the rocks, a remarka- 
 ble scene met their eyes. A wide expanse 
 of level country, through which flowed a nar- 
 row and winding river, stretched before them. 
 With the exception of a few large syca- 
 mores, this land was treeless. Mules, num- 
 bers of them, were tethered under the trees ; 
 and it was plain that a feast of some kind 
 
 120
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 121 
 
 was going on. Men were dancing in the 
 wildest manner, and among these men, no 
 less wild than they, Hakkouki recognized his 
 own muleteers. Tedge (the common drink 
 of the people) in great horns was circulated 
 freely. 
 
 " But where is Ahmed ? " asked Hakkouki. 
 He realized that the men who had been sent 
 in search of him had succumbed to the attrac- 
 tions of the feast. It appeared to Hakkouki 
 to be a religious feast. He saw what seemed 
 to be a priest, who, with a mitre on his head 
 and a purple umbrella above it, danced with 
 the others. At certain intervals in the music 
 he bathed a cross which he held in his hand 
 in the stream. 
 
 Christianity was carried into Abyssinia 
 about 600 A.D., and at the present day the 
 forms are carried on in the same manner 
 as at that time. The Abyssinian is not 
 progressive, and scorns change. They take 
 their religious zeal in dancing from the fact 
 that David danced before the ark. Persist-
 
 122 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 ent attempts have been made to convert 
 them to the Catholic form by the brave 
 Jesuits who have suffered martyrdom at 
 their hands, but have always failed. Gen- 
 erally, upon such occasions, many priests 
 danced ; in fact, they outnumbered the other 
 people as dancers, but here there was but 
 one. 
 
 As Hakkouki and his soldiers went forward, 
 the natives surrounded them with open- 
 mouthed wonder. Hakkouki looked into the 
 faces about him, hoping to find Ahmed, but 
 he was disappointed. Seeing that the feast 
 was over, he ordered his men to return to 
 their camp. Downright refusal, however, met 
 his demand. The soldiers even refused him 
 protection from his gaping captors, as they 
 turned out to be. Under the circumstances 
 there was nothing for Hakkouki to do but go 
 where he was asked. He therefore mounted 
 his mule, and rode along with them. In 
 spite of his position, he could not help laugh- 
 ing a little at the ridiculous " armed escort."
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 123 
 
 Hakkouki's captors evidently considered 
 him a person of distinction ; for they rode 
 beside -and behind him, though never immedi- 
 ately in front of him. Moreover, they treated 
 him with great courtesy, which was at least 
 some compensation. 
 
 After a time he saw to his right the priest 
 coming toward him. He was gorgeously 
 attired, and carried the silver cross. Beside 
 his mule walked two men, one holding the 
 umbrella, the other a silver crutch. The face 
 of the priest was covered by the white robe 
 which he wore drawn up to his eyes ; and the 
 turkey red which was bound about his head 
 to make the mitre fit, hid all above. He rode 
 in silence beside Hakkouki, while the others 
 fell back. A captive was safe in the hands 
 of a priest ; for such is the force of their re- 
 ligion, that the reverence for the priest gov- 
 erns more than arms. For some time they 
 rode on in this way. Hakkouki began to feel 
 anxious ; certainly things had a dubious look. 
 
 When it became dark, however, a merry
 
 124 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 voice beside Hakkouki whispered, " We are 
 bound for Azteclesan to visit Hadghambassah." 
 Joy leaped into Hakkouki's heart as he recog- 
 nized Ahmed's voice. Before he had time to 
 realize the horror of "visiting" Hadgham- 
 bassah, taken prisoner as he was by his 
 followers, Ahmed spoke again. 
 
 " I am his priest," laughed he. <f The cow 
 took me there. She never stopped until we 
 reached Azteclesan. I hid myself within the 
 church where no good priest will step, and 
 there I thought to make myself a priest, and 
 go to Hadghambassah and help him save his 
 soul, for none but a priest would ever dare 
 enter his presence unarmed. The day of 
 Epiphany being near, he bade me hasten to 
 the sacred stream to bathe the cross and purify 
 him of his sins." 
 
 Hakkouki was full of admiration for 
 Ahmed's cleverness. 
 
 " As I could not go to you, I held the men, 
 knowing that you would follow," Ahmed 
 continued.
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 125 
 
 Hakkouki was overjoyed. So happy a 
 prisoner never walked into Hadghambassah's 
 clutch. For with Ahmed found all things 
 seemed possible. Nevertheless, he could not 
 help feeling somewhat suspicious of Ahmed. 
 
 " Did you not guide that cow toward 
 Azteclesan ? " he asked of Ahmed. 
 
 "Oh, Fitaurari, how could you think so?" 
 
 But still Hakkouki had his doubts as to 
 the cow taking a direct course to the man 
 whom Ahmed wished so much to see. 
 
 "Why has he done this thing?" Hak- 
 kouki asked himself. " Hadghambassah is 
 an ally of Ras Alula, and Ahmed is in 
 sympathy with him. Why has he chosen 
 to come here?" 
 
 He considered it wiser, however, not to 
 ask more questions, so they continued the 
 journey in silence. Arriving in the village, 
 they went directly to the fortified hut on 
 the highest eminence, where Hadghambassah 
 lived. They were treated with great civility. 
 The room into which they were ushered had
 
 126 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 ox horns let into the wall, upon which 
 Hakkouki hung his gun and heavy cartridge 
 belt, and Ahmed, his cross and heavy mitre. 
 
 The house was the finest Hakkouki had 
 seen since leaving Massowah. Hadghambas- 
 sah entered from a sleeping closet adjoining, 
 although it was long past midnight. Hak- 
 kouki did not anticipate very polite treat- 
 ment, as this was the man who had slapped 
 Captain Bettini in the face when he had 
 visited him the year before. Thus he had 
 openly insulted and rebelled against the 
 Italians. Thanks to the charming inven- 
 tions of Ahmed, however, he was treated as 
 if he were Ras Alula himself. 
 
 " Did you tell him I was Ras Alula ? " 
 he asked Ahmed. 
 
 " I told him you were sent by Ras Alula 
 to tell him of his whereabouts, and that 
 you would send him back presents on your 
 return to the south country." 
 
 The repast was ordered, and the tedge- 
 horn sent around the table. Notwithstand-
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 127 
 
 ing the fact that this drink was nauseating 
 to Hakkouki, courtesy forbade him to re- 
 fuse it. Food was then set before them, 
 and they fell to. So hungry was Hak- 
 kouki, that even the sour, strangely flavored 
 bread tasted delicious. Gayety followed; 
 for laughter and fun, stories and songs, went 
 hand in hand with Ahmed. None could 
 resist him. At length Ahmed said to 
 Hadghambassah : 
 
 " Hakkouki is camped below at Amba 
 Derho. He has left his camels there, and 
 brought his men with him." 
 
 " To-rnorrow they can return and fetch 
 the camels here," was the reply. 
 
 But Ahmed, knowing the trickery of his 
 own kind, answered : 
 
 " To-morrow we must hunt." 
 
 "I fear it is not safe," said Hadghambas- 
 sah. " The country is overrun with friends 
 of Ras Mangashah. We should encounter 
 them in battle." 
 
 "Hakkouki has armed men," replied
 
 128 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Ahmed. " Moreover, he has letters to Ras 
 Mangashah, and even to the Italians to 
 make friends of them." 
 
 Hadghambassah frowned. A veritable 
 thunder-cloud overspread his dark face, for 
 he immediately suspected trickery himself. 
 
 "How comes it so?" asked he. 
 
 " We stole them," answered Ahmed, 
 simply. "We came upon a stranger travel- 
 ling, and relieved him of what we thought 
 might be of use to us." 
 
 Thus Ahmed smoothed all troubles away 
 with his easy tongue. 
 
 The next day they hunted. 
 
 Azteclesan was situated on the highest 
 point in that part of Abyssinia, overlooking 
 the country for miles in all directions. The 
 thick forests of the surrounding hillside 
 gave fine opportunities for game, and as the 
 town was large, they had plenty of com- 
 pany on their hunt. Hakkouki was anxious 
 to get a civet. Having sent the men back 
 to the camp to care for the animals, Hak-
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 129 
 
 kouki felt in no hurry to depart; more- 
 over, he began to feel that Hadghambassah 
 might not let him go so easily. 
 
 The chief, however, soon tired of such 
 continuous hunting, and remained behind. 
 Priests, although they are allowed all liberty, 
 do not generally hunt. Their lives, with 
 the exception of dancing, which they carry 
 to the extreme, are generally inactive. But 
 Ahmed, being interpreter as well as priest, 
 was obliged to hunt if Hakkouki required 
 it. As Hakkouki was especially anxious to 
 secure a civet, and as this animal goes 
 about only at night, the hunters remained 
 out until midnight. There were with them 
 men from the village, who were accustomed 
 to catching the animal ; and as one live 
 civet is worth forty dead ones, they carried 
 traps made of quolquol branches. 
 
 The civet is such a timid, stealthy animal 
 that hours of quiet watching are often re- 
 quired before a capture is made. The traps 
 are worked by a native in ambush. These
 
 130 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 cat-like creatures are from two to three 
 feet in length. They are sharp-nosed, 
 have a striped skin, and long tails marked 
 with dark rings. Their eyes are like a 
 cat's, closing to a mere line to shut out 
 the light. 
 
 After a long, silent wait, Hakkouki was 
 delighted to hear the cover of a trap fall. 
 The natives hurried toward it, and secured 
 the affrighted animal by straps of rawhide. 
 Ahmed then and there bargained for him. It 
 seemed strange to Hakkouki that in these 
 woods at midnight, when all were ready for 
 food and sleep, that Ahmed should undertake 
 the purchase. Indeed, in his anxiety to pro- 
 cure the animal, Ahmed took from his belt 
 the money which had been left after the pur- 
 chase of the cow, and offered it to the men 
 to be allowed to carry the animal on his own 
 saddle. This was a sum double the supposed 
 value of the civet. They mounted their 
 mules, which had been tethered on the edge 
 of the wood, Ahmed calling Hakkouki's men
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 131 
 
 to help him bind the animal on his saddle. 
 Me an while, their friends, satisfied with the 
 money they had received, rode rapidly on. 
 Then in single file, they started on their 
 wearisome journey to the top of the moun- 
 tain. 
 
 " Fitaurari ! " whispered Ahmed, suddenly. 
 
 Hakkouki, turning his head, heard Ahmed 
 say, " Soon we strike the main road. In a 
 few hours we can be at the camp. Let us 
 run for our lives." 
 
 And run they did, as fast as their mules 
 could carry them. 
 
 Since it was daylight when they reached 
 the camp, they found the men enjoying their 
 freedom by playing the exciting national 
 game of gambolta, where tiny balls are 
 moved about on a wooden board. It was no 
 easy matter to hurry the men to break camp 
 and pack up. Ahmed's indefatigable persist- 
 ence accomplished it at last, and they took 
 the road. 
 
 " Once past the hill-road, and we shall be
 
 132 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 free," said Ahmed. " But should Hadgham- 
 bassah discover our escape before the men 
 sleep, our chance will be small." 
 
 Ahmed reckoned that the men of Aztecle- 
 san, being content with their money, would 
 sleep first. 
 
 " Being in advance of us, they may not 
 have noticed our escape," said he. 
 
 As rapidly as possible they continued on 
 their way. Although near midday, they 
 travelled on, watching from side to side, to 
 detect their hidden foe. In that region the 
 jungle is so wild, that the narrow pathway 
 called a road allows only a single file to pass. 
 Their men were frightened to the point of 
 weakness. Not only were stories rife among 
 them of the horrible assaults and cruelties 
 perpetrated by Hadghambassah and his fol- 
 lowers upon inoffensive people, but they knew 
 well that the chief had already begun to 
 suspect his " visitors." The native soldiers, 
 having been companions of the people during 
 the stay at Azteclesan, had brought back
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 133 
 
 tales which made their teeth chatter and 
 their hair stand on end. 
 
 Previously it had been difficult to drive 
 the men on, but now they themselves drove 
 the poor animals without mercy. For once 
 neither rest nor food was needed by these 
 frightened men. 
 
 "To Asmara, as fast as the camels can 
 travel," was the one thought of all. 
 
 "We must move by day to accomplish 
 greater distance, although it is more danger- 
 ous," said Ahmed. 
 
 The night before reaching Asmara, Hak- 
 kouki lay in peaceful sleep in his tent. Dan- 
 ger, he felt, was passed, his mission thus far 
 accomplished, and in his dreams he lived 
 again in Drusa's court. Sweet visions 
 greeted his eyes, sweet sounds his ears, and 
 sweet scents had he brought back to that 
 beloved room where stood the Princess 
 thanking him when, suddenly, he felt 
 himself rudely shaken, and heard Ahmed's 
 voice in his ear.
 
 134 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "Fitaurari, quick ! " said the interpreter. 
 
 Pulling him along, Ahmed hurried Hak- 
 kouki to the rear of the tent, and thence 
 quickly down a pathway in the brush. 
 
 ' Hakkouki, now thoroughly awake, saw his 
 mule hidden behind a tree. 
 
 " Mount ! " said Ahmed, breathlessly, " and 
 wait here for me. Should I not come by day- 
 light ride on to Asmara. I shall have gone 
 before." Then Ahmed disappeared. 
 
 Not knowing why, fearing to disturb 
 Ahmed's plans, and impatient at being inac- 
 tive, Hakkouki silently waited. He could 
 hear the sound of clashing spears, but as he 
 heard no rifle shots, he felt his own men 
 could not be engaged. 
 
 " This is terrible," said he to himself. " If 
 I could but help, but I must be ready to start 
 at the instant, should Ahmed appear. Why 
 could he not have told me?" 
 
 Day was breaking. At that moment he 
 heard a sound in the bush near him, and 
 immediately afterward saw Ahmed's mule,
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 135 
 
 seemingly alone. Then he saw that Ahmed 
 was bound flat upon the mule's back. 
 
 " Dead ! " said Hakkouki, with a gasp. 
 But no ! He could see that Ahmed had his 
 foot caught in the rein and was guiding the 
 mule toward him. He was wounded and 
 appeared to be dying. There he lay, with his 
 feet extending forward, and his body bent 
 backward, and bound down tightly by a strip 
 of rawhide about the neck. With his hand 
 he pointed to Asmara. Hakkouki quickly 
 cut the straps which bound him. 
 
 " Quick ! " gasped Ahmed. u There is no 
 time to lose." 
 
 And wounded though he was, he hurried 
 his mule along. Though faint from loss of 
 blood, his wonderful will sustained him. 
 
 " No, I must not die until we reach 
 Asmara; not until you're safe, Fitaurari," 
 he whispered hoarsely. And a faint sem- 
 blance of his merry smile appeared on his 
 face. 
 
 " Asmara at last ! " cried Ahmed, when
 
 136 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 they came in sight of the huts. Then, just 
 as they reached the Italian quarters, where 
 Hakkouki would be protected, the brave 
 fellow fell forward upon his mule's neck 
 unconscious. 
 
 But Ahmed was strong, and his wonder- 
 ful vitality asserted itself. After the sur- 
 geon's care, and a night's rest, he looked 
 almost himself again. 
 
 " It was this way," he told Hakkouki. 
 "They came upon us like thieves in the 
 night, and took away our camels. Our 
 men were sleeping, for they thought we 
 were out of danger." 
 
 "Was it Hadghambassah ? " asked Hak- 
 kouki, feeling ashamed that he, the chief, 
 had been in hiding behind a tree. 
 
 " No, no," replied Ahmed j " we thought 
 it was at first, but it turned out to be Ras 
 Mangashah's men." With a srnile he added, 
 "Our soldiers did not wait to see. They 
 ran and hid." 
 
 "Like me," said Hakkouki, sadly.
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 137 
 
 "The muleteers and camel-drivers fought 
 for a time with what they had to fight with, 
 but the soldiers had carried their guns away 
 with them." 
 
 "But Ras Mangashah's men were to be 
 our friends. Why did you not tell them 
 the Italians had promised us their protec- 
 tion?" said Hakkouki. 
 
 "Ah! but they had heard we were at 
 Azteclesan as friends of Ras Alula," replied 
 Ahmed, "and they wanted to kill you. 
 The}^ fired the camp just as I caught my 
 mule and jumped upon her back, and then 
 the brutes bound me down. They wanted 
 fun, they said." 
 
 "He is indeed my friend," said Hakkouki, 
 as he looked at the interpreter. In a few 
 days Ahmed recovered sufficiently to be car- 
 ried upon a litter to Sahati, and thence by 
 train to Massowah. 
 
 To Hakkouki's surprise, they were met 
 upon arrival by the Italian Governor. Hak- 
 kouki had especially requested his friends
 
 138 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 in Asmara not to notify the Governor, as 
 he was in doubt as to the day upon which 
 it would be safe to move Ahmed; and he 
 did not wish to give the Governor any un- 
 necessary trouble. Still more surprised was 
 he when the Governor said : 
 
 " I came to the train both yesterday and 
 day before. The soldiers said you might be 
 here any day. What caused your delay ? " 
 
 Then Hakkouki realized that the soldiers 
 had arrived ahead of them. 
 
 " It was Ahmed's wound," answered Hak- 
 kouki. 
 
 " They told me nothing of it," said the 
 Governor. 
 
 "They did not know," laughed Ahmed. 
 "They could not see with their backs." 
 
 A week or so later Hakkouki left Mas- 
 sowah for the south of France to study the 
 methods of obtaining perfumes from the 
 many varieties of flowers growing there. 
 
 While walking in the streets of Genoa, 
 where the steamer from Massowah landed,
 
 THE ATTACK AND ESCAPE. 139 
 
 his attention was called to a notice posted 
 upon a wall. 
 
 "Remarkable capture by the Italians in 
 Abyssinia of the bold chief Hadghambassah, 
 who has been the fear of the tribes in the 
 vicinity of Azteclesan for years. He was 
 taken by force from his fortress on the top 
 of the mountain. This is considered a great 
 conquest over Ras Alula. Hadghambassah 
 is now imprisoned in the Italian coast sta- 
 tion of Assab." 
 
 Then Hakkouki read in the list of men 
 whom the Italian government had recently 
 honored for bravery that of an Arab, one 
 Ahmed Jemadar Mahmoud Khan, by name. 
 "And this is the way Ahmed has returned 
 the courtesy showed us on our hunting trip, 
 for all he was such a good friend of Ras 
 Alula/' laughed Hakkouki.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 
 
 E same evening that Hakkouki read 
 the notice he took train for Cannes. 
 On one thing he had determined, that in 
 France he should not travel as a person of 
 distinction. Upon his arrival in Cannes, 
 therefore, he purchased a blue cotton blouse 
 and trousers, and a small rough cap, such 
 as those who work in the gardens wear. 
 
 Leaving his valuables in charge of his 
 banker, he stepped jauntily into the railway 
 carriage which was to carry him over the 
 short branch road of eighteen kilometres to 
 Grasse. For the first time in his life Hak- 
 kouki felt himself one of the people. It 
 was wonderful what effect his change of cos- 
 tume made in his feelings ; also wonderful 
 
 140
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 141 
 
 were the changed manners of others toward 
 him, particularly as he had thoughtlessly 
 taken a first-class carriage. 
 
 There were few passengers for this early 
 train, made up of only four carriages. Pres- 
 ently, however, the pretty face of a little 
 lady appeared at the door of the carriage, 
 and Hakkouki, with natural gallantry, rose 
 to make room for her, struggling to remove 
 his close-fitting cap. A disdainful expression 
 obliterated the smile upon the pretty face, 
 and lispingly the owner asked of the guard, 
 " Is there not a third-class carriage on the 
 train?" 
 
 " Show me your ticket, man," growled the 
 guard. 
 
 The ticket entitled Hakkouki to a first- 
 class passage, which the pretty one noticed, 
 and saying, " I will ride in a third-class car- 
 riage," she disappeared, leaving the sweet 
 odor of violets to remind Hakkouki of her 
 presence. 
 
 The suddenness of the attack, for a mo-
 
 142 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 ment, disconcerted Hakkouki. The blood 
 flew to his face, and anger rose within him. 
 But in a moment a smile overspread his 
 handsome face. 
 
 " What if Drusa could have seen that ? " he 
 thought. Then, as the train pulled out of 
 the station, he said aloud, " Of course the 
 dear little woman wouldn't want to sit in 
 the carriage with these clothes. I could 
 have assured her they were quite clean, 
 though." 
 
 Soon he was in sight of the town of 
 Grasse. Upon the sidehill he could see 
 the white walls and buildings among the 
 olive trees. Higher up was the tall white 
 tower of the Cathedral rising above the red- 
 tiled roofs, and higher still, the smoke of 
 numerous factories curling up to the clouds. 
 
 In this district of Provence are more than 
 ninety distilleries of perfumes, fifty of which 
 are located in the town of Grasse itself. 
 These vary in size from the great buildings 
 where the work is done by steam, to the
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 143 
 
 small ones in the homes of the owners. The 
 surrounding country is overspread with gar- 
 dens and high walls ; each strip of ground 
 being planted with vines, orange trees, and 
 flower buds. 
 
 " If the soil of Provence were to be val- 
 ued at the price of the best land in France," 
 wrote Mirabeau, " its entire rental would not 
 defray the cost of the walls that are used 
 for holding it up." 
 
 No fruit tree which will grow, nor sweet- 
 scented flower which can be made to yield 
 its essence, is neglected here. 
 
 Hakkouki, from the car window, could see 
 fields of flowers ablaze with color. Roses, 
 violets, jonquils, jasmine, and tuberoses, in 
 vivid masses, were everywhere. 
 
 When he reached the station in Grasse, 
 Hakkouki found that he had by no means 
 got to the town, which, with its irregular 
 roofs heaped at random, tier above tier, 
 seems to be trying to climb the mountain. 
 As he stepped out upon the platform, he saw
 
 144 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 his dainty little fellow-traveller step from 
 her third-class carriage at the same moment. 
 By this . time she had acquired a genuine 
 dislike for Hakkouki; for the hard board 
 seats of a third-class carriage had not im- 
 proved her temper. 
 
 Hakkouki smiled sweetly as he passed 
 her, whereupon her face took on a some- 
 what amazed expression. As there were two 
 omnibuses, he saw no reason why he should 
 enter the same one she did. She lifted her 
 silken and much-ruffled petticoats, thereby 
 displaying a very dainty little foot, and with 
 a light and somewhat spiteful spring, she 
 settled herself into the corner of the other 
 omnibus facing Hakkouki, through the open 
 window. 
 
 Hakkouki stared straight at her ; certainly 
 a workman could not give offence to such a 
 fine lady. " I have never seen any one like 
 her," said he to himself. 
 
 The two omnibuses were rivals. They 
 started off at a furious gallop up the hill, and
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 145 
 
 raced each other through the narrow streets 
 and zigzag turns, with imminent risk of a 
 collision or an upset. The little lady in the 
 other omnibus, which passed Hakkouki's just 
 before reaching the hotel, was much dis- 
 turbed. Anger and fright were depicted 
 upon her fair countenance. Hakkouki 
 thought it would have been easier if he had 
 taken "la voitre de St. FranQois" (as they 
 called the use of the legs in that country) 
 and carried that spiteful little bunch of ruffles 
 and lace and feathers upon his shoulder. 
 
 Hakkouki had inquired of Pierre, the 
 coachman who drove him to the station in 
 Cannes, for a residence in Grasse, and Pierre 
 had sent him to his own mother. Alighting 
 from the omnibus, Hakkouki was directed up 
 a flight of steps, where he found the old 
 woman on the pavement roasting coffee. 
 Most of the housework in this town is done 
 on the sidewalks. 
 
 "Bon jour, Madame, la mere de Pierre," 
 called Hakkouki, merrily, for he knew her at
 
 146 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 once. Pierre had said, " She will be sitting 
 there at her work," and a homesick tear had 
 trickled down his rough face. 
 
 With a bright smile of welcome Hakkouki 
 was received by "old Madame" and "young 
 Madame " and all six of " young Madame's " 
 children. Then they placed a table before 
 him on the pavement, and brought bread, red 
 wine, and cigarettes. Hakkouki looked away 
 and away over the undulating country in an 
 ever-widening circle, on hill upon hill of soft 
 gray olives and softer green pines, in the dis- 
 tance. The sunlight touching here and there 
 the brilliant green of the terraced cornfields, 
 the pink and white and blue and yellow 
 of the flower-gardens below ; and like enclos- 
 ing arms in the far distance, lay the shadowy 
 Esterels to the west, the glittering snow- 
 capped Alps to the east, and between them a 
 long straight strip of exquisite blue the sea. 
 
 Hakkouki was up betimes the next morn- 
 ing, for all the flowers must be gathered 
 while the dew is on them.
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 147 
 
 " Monsieur," called old Madame after him, 
 "take Pierre's hat." And she held out a 
 huge straw disc, as large as an umbrella. 
 " Go straight to M. Girot," advised Madame. 
 " I used to work for him myself. He will 
 give you work, and is an easy master. The 
 young masters are greedy, and want to make 
 more money than they have a right to. But 
 M. Girot has made enough and lets his people 
 make some too." 
 
 Old Madame had already told Hakkouki of 
 her own patch of land out of the town, where 
 she cultivated the sweet yellow jasmine. 
 While a girl she had saved her money until 
 she had enough to buy a small piece of land. 
 Here she built a tiny hut just large enough 
 to sleep in, and in her spare time she had 
 worked upon the jasmine lot, until she was 
 able to buy a small patch adjoining it. By 
 working longer hours and saving every sou, 
 she had become the proprietor of a house and 
 large garden. Being thus possessed of a good 
 dowry, she had married the keeper of the
 
 148 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 hotel, who, at his death, left her a rich 
 woman. 
 
 " Pierre could come and fill his father's 
 place, but he wants life, and Grasse is too 
 slow for him. So he must live in Cannes," 
 said old Madame. 
 
 It was a long walk to the old Franciscan 
 Convent, where M. Girot had his distillery 
 and office. Hakkouki was, therefore, too late 
 to go to the fields and see the flowers gath- 
 ered that morning. As he arrived the people 
 with cart-loads of flowers were just coming 
 from the fields to the church, where the 
 "Triage" takes place. There are three 
 processes, known as " Cucillage," the gather- 
 ing ; " Triage," the stripping of the petals 
 from the calyx and stem ; and " Enfleurage," 
 the distilling of the petals to procure the 
 essential oil. 
 
 M. Girot received Hakkouki kindly, but 
 indifferently. Without turning his head 
 from his writing, he said, 
 
 " Bon jour ; what can I do for you ? "
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 149 
 
 " I would like work," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " Where have you been at work ? whose 
 gardens have you been in, or did you work in 
 the factory ? " 
 
 " I have not worked here," stammered 
 Hakkouki. " I am a stranger." 
 
 "Ah!" said M. Girot; "I have all the 
 hands I need." 
 
 " I come from Madame of the ' Fort Lion,' " 
 said Hakkouki, not willing to take his dis- 
 missal so quickly. 
 
 At this M. Girot turned and looked at 
 him. 
 
 " She sent you, did she ? You are a stran- 
 ger, you say? Are you a friend of that 
 scapegrace son of hers ? " 
 
 Now Hakkouki didn't feel sure whether he 
 was a friend of Pierre or not. At the same 
 time Pierre's recommendation was the only one 
 he had. 
 
 " I am from Persia," he made answer, simply. 
 
 This interested M. Girot. " Ah ! " said he. 
 " You know of the industry there ? "
 
 150 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " Yes," answered Hakkouki, " and I have 
 lately been in Bulgaria." 
 
 M. Girot was all attention. " That's good," 
 he said. " The Bulgarian rose is the only 
 rose I cultivate. There is double the amount 
 of oil in it. I'll have nothing to do with any 
 other. Some say the yellow rose grows more 
 luxuriantly, and that it has a sweeter fra- 
 grance, but the Bulgarian rose is the rose for 
 me. I have good crops and I make money." 
 The employer folded his hands complacently 
 and smiled. 
 
 " Bien ! " he said suddenly, " I'll give you 
 work," as if he were doing Hakkouki a great 
 favor. " Step through that door into the 
 church, and go to work," he said bluntly. 
 " I'll call you when I want to hear about 
 Bulgaria. I haven't time now. I'll take you 
 through my distillery later, and you can tell 
 me all you know. Now to work ! " And the 
 great man swung around quickly in his seat, 
 and continued his writing. 
 
 Hakkouki, as he stepped through the door
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 151 
 
 into the church, felt puzzled. What troubled 
 him, he could scarcely say. But he knew he 
 was angry. Why ? M. Girot had been kind ; 
 he had even given him work. In the condi- 
 tion in which he had placed himself, he ought 
 to have felt grateful, and yet what was that 
 tone of superiority in M. Girot's manner? 
 Was he superior to all the people whom Hak- 
 kouki saw toiling at the tables before him ? 
 Because he paid them what they earned ? 
 Was he wiser, better, more clever, more capa- 
 ble, or whatever superiority consists in, than 
 they were ? He wondered if others in the 
 great crowd had felt as he now felt when they 
 were engaged to work for M. Girot. 
 
 He solved it all at last. The anger and the 
 indignation which had risen when M. Girot 
 implied his ownership not only of his hands 
 to work, but of his mind to tell " all that he 
 knew," gradually quieted down at last. u It 
 is because I am not used to it," he thought. 
 " All have spoken respectfully and with cour- 
 tesy to me before." And then he asked him-
 
 152 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 self, " Why am I different now ? Because I 
 put on another suit of clothes and ask to be 
 paid for my work ? " 
 
 But Hakkouki did not answer this question. 
 He took off his ungainly hat and looked about 
 him with interest. He saw the long tables 
 filling the great body of the church, which 
 was open from the flower-strewn floor to the 
 raftered roof. Some of the long tables were 
 heaped two or three feet high with violet 
 petals drying for distillation. At other tables 
 men and women were separating the blue 
 petals from the calyx and stalk, much care 
 being used to free them from the green. 
 There were more women than men, and all 
 were talking and laughing, their bright, sunny 
 faces showing neither sorrow nor care. 
 
 Hakkouki took his seat between a girl and 
 a boy on the only bench where there seemed 
 to be a place to sit. The girl kindly moved 
 up to give him more room, but the boy made 
 no effort to accommodate him. 
 
 "Will you have this basket?" asked the
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 153 
 
 girl, pleasantly. She worked so rapidly that 
 Hakkouki felt ashamed of his own slow- 
 ness. 
 
 When her basket was full, the girl, whom 
 they called Marie, took it to the counter, 
 where her petals were weighed, and she re- 
 ceived her pay at once. She returned jin- 
 gling her sous in her pocket. As she passed 
 behind the boy, she pushed his head forward 
 into his basket, and called him " Paresseux," 
 which means " lazybones." She did the 
 same to Hakkouki. Laughingly, she again 
 took her seat beside him. Hakkouki felt 
 grateful for what he supposed to be her cour- 
 tesy, for he was feeling rather lonely. 
 
 "You work very fast," he said. 
 
 Marie laughed. 
 
 " You make much money." 
 
 She laughed again. 
 
 "I cannot work fast, and cannot make 
 much money. Am I not unfortunate?" 
 Hakkouki looked at her with such a sad 
 expression that Marie laughed immoderately.
 
 154 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Then Hakkouki laughed too, and they be- 
 came friends. 
 
 Marie went often to empty her basket and 
 get her money. The wages were four sous a 
 kilo, or four cents for two pounds. By din- 
 ner time she had earned fifty sous, while 
 Hakkouki had earned only six. As he had 
 brought nothing to eat with him, Marie took 
 her bread and cheese from her pocket and 
 promptly offered him half. 
 
 " How much shall I pay you ? " asked 
 Hakkouki. 
 
 " Four sous," answered she, quite as if she 
 were accustomed to sell half her lunch every 
 day. 
 
 " Would you like some wine ? " she asked. 
 " You can buy two sous' worth just outside 
 the door." And as Hakkouki had no tin 
 cup, Marie offered to run and get it for 
 him. 
 
 Hakkouki's labor that morning had pur- 
 chased his luncheon. 
 
 " It's something to be able to earn one's
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 155 
 
 bread," thought he, and he determined to 
 work faster during the afternoon. 
 
 The effect of M. Girot's words, however, 
 did not pass away from Hakkouki's mind. 
 He began to be curious as to the feelings of 
 his colaborers. 
 
 " How long have you been here ? " he 
 asked one day of Marie, as they worked to- 
 gether upon acacia blossoms. 
 
 " Five years," answered Marie. 
 
 " What a long time," said Hakkouki. 
 " And you're very happy here ? You like 
 M. Girot?" 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Marie. " He is very good, 
 and Mine. Girot is so kind and sweet. 
 She is an American, you know, and comes 
 from the country where everybody is rich 
 and yet everybody works, and so the work- 
 ing people are as good as anybody. We all 
 go to their beautiful home at mi-careme [the 
 lenten festival] and they make us very 
 happy." 
 
 " And Jean here, your brother," said Hak-
 
 156 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 kouki, motioning toward the boy on his other 
 side, " does he go ? He does not seem as 
 happy as you." 
 
 " Jean, oh, no," said she, laughing. " Jean 
 will not go. He says he has no house to ask 
 M. and Mme. Girot to come to, and he will 
 not take charity. But Jean is just ill- 
 natured. We can't all have fine houses and 
 be rich and beautiful like Mme. Girot." And 
 Marie smiled contentedly. 
 
 Hakkouki felt that he had solved another 
 problem. " It was just because I was ill- 
 natured that I was offended when M. Girot 
 said to me, ' You can come with the others to 
 my house at mi-careme,' " he said to himself. 
 If he were happy and good like Marie, he 
 would be delighted to go. As for Marie, she 
 talked of nothing but the beautiful house and 
 gardens, the flowers to be strewn on the floor 
 for Mme. Girot to walk upon, the beautiful 
 new clothes the girls would wear, the illumi- 
 nation at night, and last but not least, " the 
 lovely things which they would have to eat."
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 157 
 
 So Hakkouki decided to go. Who could 
 resist after hearing Marie talk of it ? 
 
 " Where do you come from ? " asked Marie, 
 one day. 
 
 ' ; From Persia," answered Hakkouki. 
 
 " And where is that ? In Africa ? " asked 
 Marie, simply. 
 
 " It's farther than Africa," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " And how did you know of M. Girot so 
 far away ? " she asked. 
 
 " I didn't know of him until I came here," 
 said Hakkouki. 
 
 Marie turned her great eyes in surprise 
 upon him. 
 
 " And did you come so far without know- 
 ing where you could get work?" 
 
 " Yes," laughed Hakkouki. 
 
 " Who told you to come to him ? " 
 
 " Madame of the ' Fort Lion.' " 
 
 " Ah, you know Madame ? " said Marie, 
 looking pleased. 
 
 " I am living with her," replied Hakkouki. 
 " Her son Pierre sent me to stay with her."
 
 158 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Then Marie bent her head forward blush- 
 ingly, and asked softly, " Do you know 
 Pierre ? " 
 
 "Yes," said Hakkouki. "Why does he 
 not live here ? " 
 
 "Ah," said Marie, sadly, "it is not his 
 fault. It is old Madarne's. She is so stingy. 
 She says he must work just as she did, and 
 yet she is rich. Pierre has no need to work. 
 He should live in a fine house and drive fine 
 horses. Ah ! Pierre can drive so beautifully." 
 Then the girl became quiet, and worked very 
 hard. 
 
 A few days later, Hakkouki was ordered 
 to work in the distillery. Here the flower 
 petals were placed upon a glass slab coated 
 with prepared fat. After the petals were 
 laid on half an inch deep, a glass lid prepared 
 in the same manner was closed over the 
 flowers. The fat absorbs the perfume in 
 from twelve to twenty-four hours. When 
 it is saturated, it is packed in tins for ship- 
 ment. In this way the fleeting odors of the
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 159 
 
 flowers are caught and held until washed out 
 with alcohol. 
 
 Hakkouki was set to work spreading the 
 flo \vers upon the glass slabs, for they must 
 be often replenished. Some delicate per- 
 fumes require fifty to eighty new layers of 
 petals upon the same fat. Those flowers 
 which are very strong in perfume do not 
 need to be replenished as many times. It 
 takes sixteen thousand kilos of rose petals 
 to make one kilo of French otto of rose. 
 
 In some factories all flowers but the violet 
 after " triage " are simply shot down through 
 a trap-door at the end of the building, and 
 here thrust into caldrons of boiling-hot fat. 
 This process extracts the perfume more 
 quickly, but is more wasteful, as much fra- 
 grance passes off into the air. It seemed 
 almost sacrilege to Hakkouki that these 
 beautiful flowers should be so barbarously 
 treated, but he was answered, " Roses are 
 said to be born to live but a morning, and 
 here we immortalize them."
 
 160 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 While at this work, Hakkouki was still 
 able to take his luncheon with Marie and 
 her sulky brother Jean ; but when the orange 
 blossom season began, and he went among 
 the trees to gather the blossoms, he lost 
 sight of his friends for a time. 
 
 Among the close-growing, round-topped 
 trees he worked, from early morning until 
 late at night. The scent was so overpow- 
 ering that occasionally one of his fellow- 
 workers would drop silently to the ground 
 in a faint. But Hakkouki found himself 
 able to work with the best of them. After 
 a time he began to understand why the 
 festival of mi-careme was so joyously an- 
 ticipated by the flower workers. He actu- 
 ally found himself counting the time which 
 must elapse before that day of rest and 
 enjoyment. 
 
 "Work surely brings pleasure, after all," 
 said Hakkouki. " How else could I ever 
 have longed so earnestly for this one gala- 
 day ? "
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAR EME. 161 
 
 " Provence is the garden of France, and 
 Grasse the garden of Provence." 
 
 All its ways seem to presuppose pleasant- 
 ness and its paths peace, yet from the ear- 
 liest times until the last century there has 
 been fighting and much cruel suffering here. 
 Beginning with the time of the invasions of 
 remote and barbarous tribes of Moors, who 
 made their way here and carried the inhabi- 
 tants off as slaves, it has been sacked by the 
 Spaniards, involved in disputes with rival 
 popes, destroyed by Francis I. on the ap- 
 proach of Charles V., and plundered by 
 Charles V. when he did reach it ; it suffered 
 in the war of succession in Poland, and even 
 worse for Maria Theresa's war with Fred- 
 erick the Great. Almost every European 
 war has made itself felt in Provence. It 
 was either occupied by the enemy, or its 
 fortifications destroyed lest it should be oc- 
 cupied. Sometimes the enemy demanded 
 ten thousand bottles of scent hi ransom, 
 but this was only in addition to as much
 
 162 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 money as would have been demanded with- 
 out the scent. 
 
 On this industry has Grasse lived and 
 thriven, and its inhabitants become enriched. 
 Mme. de Pompadour is said to have spent 
 five million francs in one year on perfumes, 
 mostly produced in this little town by its 
 hard-working people. 
 
 On the day of mi-careme, however, nobody 
 worked. Even Pierre came from Cannes; 
 for who else could drive the prize-car in the 
 procession of the " boeuf-gras " so well as 
 he? said old Madame. If Pierre were not 
 admired as a worker, he certainly was as a 
 fancy driver. And a wild day it was, to 
 be sure. 
 
 Hakkouki, in his small room on the bal- 
 cony just over the pavement was awakened 
 at an early hour by the stir. The furniture 
 and mattresses must be dusted and beaten 
 in the street, and " young Madame' s " chil- 
 dren must be dressed, scolded, and punished, 
 all before breakfast in the open air.
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 163 
 
 He dressed himself in holiday attire, and 
 after the noisy breakfast, joined the proces- 
 sion on Pierre's coach. 
 
 Through the narrow, winding alleys, under 
 the arched buttresses thrown from house to 
 house, Pierre drove, to the admiration of all. 
 
 The streets were gay with flags and fes- 
 toons, and bright with the high-colored 
 shoulder-scarfs and skirts of the women. 
 The smiling faces, white teeth, and brilliant 
 eyes of the people were good to look upon, 
 and would long be remembered by Hakkouki. 
 
 In the crowd Hakkouki recognized Marie 
 and her brother. Even Jean could not re- 
 tain his sulky expression that day. Con- 
 fetti was flying in showers, and peals of 
 merry laughter made sweeter music than the 
 flutes and other instruments. Then there 
 was the carnival, and the masqued figures 
 in costume forcing their way through the 
 crowd, the fakirs, the fair, and all the wild 
 tumult. But always there was courtesy 
 and merriment among these fun-loving peo-
 
 164 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN, 
 
 pie, who neither drink to excess nor fight. 
 In the evening came the fete at M. Girot's 
 house, for all his employees. 
 
 " Come with us," said Marie to Hakkouki, 
 but her glance toward Pierre was far more 
 inviting. 
 
 " It will all be just as I have told you," 
 said Marie, hastening along in the direction 
 of M. Girot's house. " See the beautiful 
 gateway, and oh ! the heavenly gardens. 
 Did I not tell you?" asked she. "But then 
 you could not know how, beautiful it was 
 until you saw it. See the beds of roses, and 
 there are the violets. Madame loves violets 
 best of all. And those little white flowers 
 are the anemones." 
 
 It seemed strange that this girl who lived 
 her life among the flowers should love them 
 so ardently. 
 
 " And there ! " called she, excitedly, drag- 
 ging Hakkouki along by the hand, " there's 
 the house. Did you ever see so beautiful a 
 house ? It is of stone ; and see the vines and
 
 SEE THE BEDS OF ROSES, AND THERE ARE THE VIOLETS.'"
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CARE ME. 165 
 
 the ivy growing over it. Monsieur built it 
 when he married Madame," she whispered in 
 Hakkouki's ear. " But come, we must go 
 to the other side where Madame stands on 
 the balcony, and you will see how beautiful 
 she is." 
 
 Breathlessly this enthusiastic girl pulled 
 Hakkouki along through the garden. Every- 
 where in the paths and under the trees tables 
 were spread, and great crowds of gayly 
 dressed people in the highest spirits walked 
 about. 
 
 " There she is," whispered Marie, " and 
 there is M. Girot beside her, and Francois, 
 the new foreman. Oh, isn't she beautiful ? 
 Did you ever see such a beautiful lady ? " 
 
 They were immediately in front of the low 
 balcony, where stood Mme. Girot in all her 
 sweet infantile beauty. To Hakkouki's as- 
 tonishment, he found that she was no other 
 than his little fellow-traveller from Cannes 
 to Grasse. Lifting his hat, he looked at 
 her, and smiled in answer to her greeting.
 
 166 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 She recognized him at once, and her face 
 flushed. 
 
 At that moment the young foreman, who 
 stood near her, gave a cry of astonishment. 
 
 " It is he ! It is surely he ! " he said, 
 loudly. 
 
 "Who?" asked Mme. Girot, turning 
 toward the excited boy. 
 
 " Hakkouki ! My Hakkouki from Bul- 
 garia ! And before that from Persia, where 
 he is a great lord! " And Francois for so 
 he proved to be sprang from the balcony 
 toward the man he looked upon as little less 
 than a god. 
 
 " For the land's sake ! " ejaculated Ma- 
 dame in good Yankee English. 
 
 Her interest and curiosity were roused im- 
 mediately, and she smiled again upon him. 
 Hakkouki, however, did not see it, for he was 
 led off by FranQois, Pierre, Marie, and his 
 other new-found friends. 
 
 Afterward, Hakkouki remembered that 
 although Mme. Girot received the people at
 
 THE FESTIVAL OF MI-CAREME. 167 
 
 her home, she did it, not as one of them, but 
 with an air of condescension and patronage, 
 as if, indeed, she were a being far superior. 
 Yet, to Hakkouki, that day of pure, simple 
 enjoyment was a very happy one ; and he 
 told his friends so. 
 
 As they seated themselves about one of the 
 tables, and Hakkouki noted the joy of these 
 simple peasant folk, he was glad that he had 
 entered Grasse as a workman. Not only did 
 he feel that their friendship was truer than 
 that of the higher classes, but he had proved 
 to his satisfaction that money was not a 
 necessity in the pursuit of happiness. Then, 
 from the brilliantly lighted garden, with its 
 flowers and merry laughter, his mind flew 
 back to his adopted land and Drusa.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 
 
 T^HE festival of the mi-careme being over, 
 and Hakkouki having by that time 
 gained a fairly good general knowledge of the 
 perfume-giving flowers of Southern France, 
 he made plans to leave Grasse and continue 
 his search for information in the New World. 
 Mexico and the vanilla bean were to be his 
 next study. As Fran 90 is pleaded hard to 
 accompany his idol on this journey, Hak- 
 kouki consented to take him. 
 
 When Hakkouki made his determination 
 known to Marie, she asked, " And have you 
 nothing more to learn in France?" 
 
 " Indeed, yes," answered Hakkouki. 
 " There is doubtless more to learn in France 
 than any short lifetime could accomplish, 
 
 168
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 169 
 
 but as it is only flowers that I am studying, I 
 must push on." 
 
 " And are there no more flowers to study?" 
 persisted Marie, for she was loath to have her 
 new friend go. 
 
 " Here in this garden," said Hakkouki, " I 
 have watched the orange blossom, the rose, 
 the violet, the jasmine, the heliotrope, the 
 wallflower " 
 
 " Ah ! " said Marie, " but there is one that 
 you have not seen, the lavender." 
 
 "I am told that lavender grows in Eng- 
 land," said Hakkouki. 
 
 "Does it?" asked Marie. "I know there 
 are many cultivators of it near the mountain 
 of Ventoux in Vaucluse." 
 
 " Then to Vaucluse I shall go," said Hak- 
 kouki. 
 
 Hakkouki found Fra^ois an interesting 
 companion as well as a faithful friend. The 
 boy had profited much by his schooling. 
 
 "Ah, Monsieur," said he, " I always meant 
 to find you. I studied that I might learn
 
 170 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 how, and when the mayor of Kalofer died, 
 and they told me I must work, I went to 
 work that I might find you." 
 
 u Did they tell you that the money I left 
 for you was gone in such a short time ? " 
 asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " Yes ; they said I had been a burden to the 
 mayor for a long time." 
 
 " Truly," said Hakkouki, " honest men are 
 hard to find." 
 
 " I was only a beggar boy, you know," 
 said Francois, " and as my mother was 
 French, they said it was right that I should 
 go to her country to earn my living. So 
 they sent me to Grasse. M. Girot is a rela- 
 tive of my mother, and he took me as his 
 foreman ; but he never could have done so if 
 I had not studied books, and that I have to 
 thank you for, Monsieur." 
 
 In the Department of Vaucluse the lavender 
 is cultivated in the greatest abundance. It 
 flourishes best in a dry, sandy soil. 
 
 " We will stay in the village of Vaucluse,"
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 171 
 
 said Hakkouki. Here, in this tiny village of 
 five hundred and ninety souls, was not only 
 the factory for distilling lavender, which con- 
 stitutes a very important branch of commerce, 
 but also a silk factory, and one for the prepa- 
 ration of madder and of paper. Its industri- 
 ous population worked early and late. 
 
 Hakkouki and Fra^ois visited the enclo- 
 sures of dry land where the lavender was 
 cultivated, and found a low shrub from one 
 to three feet high, with irregular dull green 
 leaves and spikes of small, bluish gray flowers 
 growing on long stalks. In this locality they 
 cut the stalks with sickles, and distilled the 
 stalk with the blossoms. 
 
 " But," said the foreman of the works, 
 " in England, where they distil only the 
 blossoms, they produce an oil of much finer 
 quality. We manufacture three thousand to 
 four thousand kilogrammes a year, worth 
 twenty thousand to thirty thousand francs, 
 but the English lavender, being more delicate 
 in perfume, is worth four times as much."
 
 172 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 As soon as they had gathered what infor- 
 mation they could get about French oil of 
 lavender, Hakkouki took Francois to visit the 
 wonderful " Fontaine de Vaucluse," which 
 is a natural cascade in the mountains. 
 
 "This is a place," said Frangois, "where 
 one might come and live forever." 
 
 " So said the poet Petrarch," answered 
 Hakkouki. " There," he continued, pointing 
 beyond the magnificent chateau which bears 
 his name, "is the spot where he was born." 
 
 The grandeur of the scene, the powerful 
 voice of nature in the rushing waters, im- 
 pressed Hakkouki in a way not soon to be 
 forgotten ; and, like Frangois, he too might 
 have wished never to leave the place, but 
 for his ambition. There, in close touch and 
 sympathy with nature, at which time a man 
 comes nearest to all that is divine within 
 him, he thought continually of Drusa. 
 
 On the way down the mountain side to 
 the quiet, sunlit valley below, he said to 
 Frangois, " We will go to England, and at
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 173 
 
 a place called Liverpool we will step aboard 
 a steamer and sail across the seas to Mexico." 
 
 Francois was all delight, for he had heard 
 of England. " It is an island, is it not ? " he 
 asked. 
 
 Mexico, however, seemed very far away. 
 Yet with Hakkouki, he thought, one surely 
 might go anywhere. 
 
 They journeyed first to London, where, 
 within a radius of thirty miles, the lavender 
 is grown largely. In Surrey alone there are 
 three hundred and fifty acres devoted to it. 
 
 It is only within recent years that it has 
 been cultivated in England for the purpose 
 of producing essential oil, although dried 
 lavender flowers have been used from time 
 immemorial. Even the Komans made use 
 of them in scenting their baths. 
 
 From London our travellers took train to 
 Hertfordshire, and alighted at a station called 
 Hitchin. In this place two thousand gallons 
 of oil are produced each year. As the gath- 
 ering of flowers and distillation takes place
 
 174 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 in July, they were just in time to watch the 
 most interesting part of the process. The 
 plants are set out in early spring in rows a 
 yard apart. When three years old they are 
 at their best, and at seven years, having 
 made much wood, they are uprooted and 
 new plants set out. 
 
 As they entered the distillery, the strong 
 aromatic odor of lavender was almost over- 
 powering. 
 
 " Look out for the bees," said the man 
 who was conducting them about. 
 
 Thousands of the insects were clinging 
 tenaciously to the tiny flowers; many of 
 them even preferring death in the huge 
 boiling caldrons to separation. 
 
 " How much better things are arranged 
 here than in Bulgaria," said Francois. 
 
 Everything was done to guard against 
 waste. The covers of the copper pots were 
 closed down tightly, and luted with clay or 
 linseed meal to prevent the fumes from es- 
 caping. The copper stills hold two hundred
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 175 
 
 gallons, and each batch produces about a 
 pint of oil. After the still is filled with 
 flowers pressed tightly down, boiling water 
 is poured over them, and fires lighted be- 
 neath the kettles to keep them boiling. 
 The cover is shaped like a huge tobacco 
 pipe, with the bowl turned downward over 
 the still. The process of distillation is the 
 same as that used in Bulgaria and France. 
 Lavender is used largely in combination with 
 other perfumes for making eau-de-cologne 
 and for scenting soaps. When first distilled, 
 it has an unpleasant odor, but in a twelve- 
 month it mellows down and is fit for use. 
 
 England alone produces thirty thousand 
 gallons of oil a year. It is also used in 
 medicine as a tonic for asthma and hysteria, 
 and many forms of nervous diseases. Sixty 
 pounds of good flowers yield about sixteen 
 fluid ounces of oil. 
 
 From Liverpool Hakkouki found he could 
 take a steamship for Vera Cruz on the 
 eastern coast of Mexico, stopping only at
 
 176 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 New Orleans. Before leaving, he purchased 
 not only sea-clothing, but books. 
 
 " We are now, in truth, going among for- 
 eigners and must learn their language," he 
 said to Frangois. 
 
 He half planned to leave his valuables in 
 charge of a banker in Liverpool, but he had 
 not yet learned the confidence of business, 
 and felt really safer to carry his posses- 
 sions with him. 
 
 Fran9ois and he devoted their entire 
 attention aboard ship to the study of the 
 Spanish language, and were pleased to find, 
 upon their arrival in Vera Cruz, that they 
 could at least ask for what they wanted. 
 
 At New Orleans, the only stopping-place 
 on the voyage, their attention was called to 
 a noisy dispute just as they were leaving 
 the wharf. Leaning over the rail, they 
 found two rnen defying the porters and 
 quartermasters, and hurriedly throwing their 
 trunks, hand-bags, and engineering instru- 
 ments aboard.
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 177 
 
 While one, a tall man with blond hair 
 and mustache, stood midway up the gang- 
 plank and carried on a vociferous conversa- 
 tion with his opponents, the other, who was 
 small and dark, did the work. 
 
 " I tell you," said the tall one, " there's 
 plenty of time if you fellows would only get 
 to work. Hand along that trunk there." 
 
 " Get off the gang-plank ! " called a voice 
 from the bridge. 
 
 The tall man, however, would not hear. 
 Quite at his ease, he held his ground. 
 
 " Give me the valise, Vaughn," called he 
 to his companion, who was at this moment on 
 the pier, breathless from running back and 
 forth over the gang-plank. 
 
 "I'll pitch you into the water if you don't 
 get off! We're ten minutes late already." 
 
 " Oh, you're off. Your ticker is wrong. 
 Here's the correct time," drawled the tall 
 fellow, taking out his watch. " Plenty of 
 time," he continued ; te only one more valise. 
 There you are, Vaughn ! "
 
 178 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 And after his companion had passed him, 
 he slowly walked inboard amid execrations 
 from the men and laughter from the pas- 
 sengers. Bracing back, with his idle hands 
 in his pockets, and a broad smile on his 
 face, he addressed the crowd : 
 
 " Begad ! Any one would think this was an 
 express train," he said. 
 
 No one could resist the contagion of his 
 merriment. A few minutes later, the second 
 officer, with a memorandum book and pencil, 
 stepped up to him, and in a severe voice 
 demanded his name. 
 
 " Why, Mulligan, of course," he replied. 
 
 The crowd laughed. 
 
 " No fault of mine either. 'Twas the old 
 man gave me the name," he explained with a 
 smile. 
 
 "Where do you come from?" asked the 
 officer. 
 
 " New Orleans," answered Mulligan. 
 
 " I know that," said the officer, impatiently. 
 
 " If ye know it then, why are ye asking me ? "
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 179 
 
 " I mean, where is your home, you scoun- 
 drel," said the angry officer. 
 
 "My home?" ejaculated Mulligan. "Tell 
 me, if a man has had a thing and lost it, can 
 he tell where it is ? " 
 
 " Sometimes," answered the officer, fretfully. 
 
 "Well, where's your temper?" said Mulli- 
 gan. Then he threw back his head with a 
 peal of laughter, which was caught up and 
 ran round the whole deck. 
 
 It sobered and quieted the officer, who, 
 seeing that he was in danger of losing his 
 dignity as well, said quietly : 
 
 " I want your name and address. I want to 
 know where to find you on account of this 
 disturbance at the wharf." 
 
 Mulligan took the book, wrote something 
 in it, and handed it back to the officer. After 
 reading it, the latter asked, " Are you an 
 American ? " 
 
 " Why, yes, I was brought up in Boston." 
 
 " Were you born there ? " 
 
 " No, I was born in Ireland."
 
 180 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " Then aren't you an Irishman ? " 
 
 " An Irishman ! If a man is born in a 
 stable, is he a horse ? " 
 
 Amid the roars of laughter which followed 
 this, the officer saw fit to withdraw. 
 
 Later, when Vaughn had finished gather- 
 ing his belongings together, Francois, who 
 was much interested in these impertinent 
 fellows, and had followed them about, was 
 delighted to hear them speaking in French. 
 As they were speaking confidentially, Fran- 
 gois thought it proper to let them know 
 that he understood them. 
 
 "Excuse me, Monsieur," he said to Mulli- 
 gan, " I overheard you speaking in French." 
 
 " Certainly," said Mulligan. u A French- 
 man are you, or from New Orleans?" 
 
 "No, I'm from France," replied Frangois. 
 "Do Frenchmen come from New Orleans?" 
 
 " Vaughn's from New Orleans. He's 
 French. I've lived there five years, and 
 I'm almost French myself. I suppose you 
 know that many Americans use your polite
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 181 
 
 language. Vaughn and I are going to 
 work on the railroad near Tampico. Lots 
 of engineers have been sent out. Won't 
 you sit down and talk awhile ? What 
 are you going to Mexico for?" 
 
 " I'm going out with M. Hakkouki to 
 find out all about vanilla." 
 
 " Hakkouki," said Mulligan, smiling ; 
 "that's a strange name." 
 
 " Yes," said Francois ; " he is a Persian." 
 
 "Is that his last name?" 
 
 " No, it is his Christian name." 
 
 Mulligan then threw back his head and 
 laughed loudly. 
 
 " How can a Mohammedan have a Chris- 
 tian name ? " 
 
 Frangois thought best not to discuss Hak- 
 kouki's affairs. 
 
 "Do you expect to have trouble from 
 the man who questioned you?" he asked. 
 "I saw him taking your name." 
 
 "Trouble? Well, I'll let you know 
 later," laughed Mulligan. "He wanted to
 
 182 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 know where my home was, where I lived. 
 How can I tell ? Here I am, an orphan, 
 without a cent in the world nor a friend, 
 except Vaughn." He nudged Vaughn affec- 
 tionately. "How's a fellow going to know 
 where he lives until he gets where he 
 lives?" 
 
 Frangois looked with great, wondering 
 eyes upon this big, jolly man, who looked 
 so rich and well dressed ; and who was 
 describing himself just such a beggar as he 
 had been. 
 
 " Why," continued Mulligan, " it reminded 
 me of a servant girl who once lived with 
 my mother. Some time after she had left 
 our employ, my mother met her on the 
 street and said, e Well, Mary, where are you 
 living now?' ' Please, mum,' said Mary, 
 1 1 ain't living nowhere now. I'm married.' 
 You see," he went on, " we sent the bag- 
 gage down last night so there would be 
 nothing to do but take ourselves down this 
 morning, but even then we ran all the way."
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 183 
 
 " You didn't run fast enough," suggested 
 Fra^ois. 
 
 " Oh, yes, we did, but we didn't start 
 soon enough ; nest ce pas, Vaughn ? " said 
 the big man, giving his friend another dig 
 in the ribs, at which Vaughn moved some- 
 what farther away. 
 
 During the voyage the two Americans 
 possessed the greatest attraction for Fran- 
 9ois. He watched with curious interest the 
 extravagance of these men without a cent 
 in the world. He thought it strange that 
 two persons of one race should be so ut- 
 terly unlike. In spite of their professed 
 poverty, they dressed well, were shaved 
 daily by the barber, had their boots black- 
 ened by the boot-black aboard, and spent 
 money to an extent that made Francois 
 wonder. 
 
 There were a number of engineers aboard; 
 for the building of the railroad and the 
 improvement of the harbor at Tampico were 
 great undertakings. Until this time Vera
 
 184 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Cruz had been the only good harbor on the 
 east coast of Mexico. Tampico is to-day 
 considered the only good harbor on the east 
 coast. 
 
 Francois saw much of the engineers up 
 to the time of arrival in Vera Cruz. He also 
 took a great liking to one of the passengers 
 named Shaw, who spent his time laughing at 
 everything which fell from Mulligan's lips. 
 
 Under the very walls of the castle fortress 
 San Juan de Ulua, the steamer dropped 
 anchor. Even then they were almost a mile 
 from the " mole," where seems concentrated 
 the life of the city. In clear weather the 
 volcano of Orijaba can be seen sixty miles 
 inland, its profile sharply cut against the blue 
 sky. 
 
 Vera Cruz is the spot where Cortez landed 
 in 1519, and raised the cross in the name of 
 Spain. He called the volcano the star of the 
 sea, and it well deserves its name, for its 
 crystal peak, borne on high 17,500 feet, can 
 be seen one hundred miles away.
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 185 
 
 "This fortress," said Vaughn, who had 
 been in Mexico before, " is said to be impreg- 
 nable, although it has been captured every 
 time it has been besieged. The dungeon, 
 which is below the water level, is still made 
 use of for political prisoners." 
 
 They were so near the fortress that a can- 
 non, which boomed in salute, fairly jarred 
 the deck of the steamship. 
 
 " Sure, we're all deaf from the noise of it," 
 said Mulligan. " I knew a man once who was 
 made completely deaf by the explosion from a 
 cannon near him, and for two weeks after he 
 couldn't hear a thing unless it was written." 
 
 They boarded the small boats shaded by 
 awnings and propelled by boatmen clad in 
 immaculate garments of white, and were soon 
 at the quay. Vera Cruz is one of the hottest 
 as well as the most unhealthy of any of the 
 cities of Mexico, and yet, by strange anomaly, 
 it is likewise the cleanest. The architecture 
 is a mixture of Moorish and Spanish. Since 
 many of the inhabitants are German and
 
 186 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 French merchants, this foreign influence is 
 also noticeable. The prevalence of yellow 
 fever makes it necessary for all the wealthy 
 residents to have homes in a higher altitude, 
 and Jalapa (pronounced Halapa), four thou- 
 sand feet above the sea-level, is chosen for 
 this purpose. Though Vera Cruz has suf- 
 fered more than any other city in Mexico 
 from plagues, pirates, and hurricanes, to-day 
 it exists as a prosperous and well-conditioned 
 city. 
 
 It was sacked by the pirates Agramont and 
 Lorencillo in 1568 ; a terrible fire swept over 
 it in 1618 ; destroyed again by pirates and 
 three hundred and sixty of its inhabitants 
 killed in 1683 ; bombarded by the Spaniards 
 in 1822 ; attacked by the French in 1838 ; 
 suffered from cannonade by the Ameri- 
 can fleet in 1847; and nearly destroyed by 
 a hurricane in 1856. In 1861 the "inter- 
 vention " fleet made its appearance in the 
 harbor, and destroyed all its shipping, and 
 was held in possession of the French until
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 187 
 
 1867. Since that time the cause of freedom 
 has been triumphant, and nothing has oc- 
 curred to interrupt its career of commercial 
 prosperity. Vera Cruz bears the distinguished 
 title of "heroic," granted by Congress in honor 
 of the many sieges it has gallantly sustained. 
 
 Hakkouki was joined by Mulligan, Vaughn, 
 and Shaw, when he left the boat at the 
 wharf, to the great delight of FranQois. 
 Having ordered their baggage sent to a 
 hotel, which they found ranked with the 
 best, they walked on toward the Plaza, an 
 attractive open space with marble walks and 
 wind-blown trees. Mulligan was searching 
 for an opportunity to get his boots blacked, 
 for they had become wet in the small boat. 
 The Mexicans have little use for such a con- 
 venience, as they generally go barefoot, both 
 men and women. 
 
 The wealthy classes are seldom seen on 
 the street, particularly the women. 
 
 Soon they were greeted by the sign, 
 "Boots blacked within."
 
 188 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "As one might expect in this place," said 
 Mulligan. "Why should they black the 
 inside of your boot instead of the outside ? " 
 
 The place was evidently meant to accom- 
 modate Americans, for the sign was in 
 English. 
 
 After a " shine " they walked on together. 
 Their progress was impeded by a funeral 
 procession, and they were ordered to stand 
 with uncovered heads by the gentlemanly 
 policeman. It was a procession of great 
 pomp and ostentation, gorgeous uniforms, 
 and flowers. 
 
 " It must be the king's funeral," whispered 
 Francois. 
 
 " There is no king ; he is a president," 
 said Mulligan. 
 
 " Whose do you suppose it is ? " said Fran- 
 Qois, burning with curiosity. 
 
 "Well, I can't be sure, but I'm after 
 thinking it's the man's in the coffin," whis- 
 pered Mulligan, in awestruck tones. " And a 
 fragile-looking coffin it is, too," he added, for
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 189 
 
 through the glass hearse it could be plainly 
 seen. 
 
 " I heard of a man once who had a stone 
 coffin made for him," whispered FranQois. 
 
 " That was good," answered Mulligan, 
 under his breath. "A stone coffin would last 
 a lifetime, anyway." 
 
 They stopped next at a bank; for the 
 engineers were going into the " wilds," as 
 they called it, and could take nothing of 
 value with them. Hakkouki was much in- 
 terested in the institution. 
 
 "Why don't you put your money in this 
 savings bank?" asked Mulligan of him. 
 
 " How can I draw it out again when I 
 want it ? " asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " It's easy enough," said Mulligan. " If 
 you put it in to-day, you can get it out to- 
 morrow by giving a fortnight's notice." 
 
 FranQois laughed heartily. To him the 
 big Irish-American was the funniest man in 
 the world. He saw, too, that Mulligan en- 
 joyed being laughed at.
 
 190 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " Did you take after your father ? " asked 
 Franqois, thinking of Mulligan's Irish birth. 
 
 "No," was the answer. " I didn't take after 
 my father, for he left me nothing to take." 
 
 Most of that day they spent in going about 
 to equip themselves for their respective jour- 
 neys. Mulligan had brought with him what 
 he thought he should require. But Hakkouki 
 and Francois had nothing suitable for the 
 climate, nor had Vaughn. The day was so 
 warm that Vaughn insisted on purchasing 
 some true Mexican clothing. 
 
 " No one knows," said he, " how to dress in 
 any country so well as the people who live 
 in it." 
 
 " What, you ! " exclaimed Mulligan, with 
 astonishment, '''you complaining of the heat? 
 Why, friends, he is so cold-blooded that a dog, 
 who bit him in the leg last winter, froze to 
 death." 
 
 "Do you think Mulligan always tells the 
 truth?" asked Francois, in a whisper of 
 Hakkouki.
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 191 
 
 They were waiting in the front part of the 
 clothing shop, while Vaughn, who, as he said, 
 " was already overcome with the heat of the 
 tropics," was decking himself out in Mexican 
 clothes. At last he appeared. Being small 
 and dark-hued, he looked the part well, but 
 managed his serape rather awkwardly. 
 
 This garment is the long, narrow shawl no 
 Mexican ever goes without. As the air grows 
 cold at night, he draws his serape close up 
 round his neck, and even covers the lower 
 part of his face. The great sombrero set jaun- 
 tily upon Vaughn's curling hair, but he was, 
 nevertheless, greeted with a roar of laughter. 
 
 " Where did you get those trousers ? " asked 
 Mulligan, his face red from laughing, and the 
 tears glistening on his cheeks. 
 
 "I got them where they grew," answered 
 Vaughn, indignantly. 
 
 "Then, by my conscience," sid Mulligan, 
 "you pulled them a year too soon." 
 
 " I wouldn't wear such trousers as those," 
 said
 
 192 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " Well, now," said Vaughn, " if it is as hot 
 as this to-morrow, I'll bet you a dollar every 
 one of you will be wearing them." 
 
 "I neither bet nor gamble," answered 
 Francois. 
 
 " Well," whispered Mulligan to Shaw, " if 
 he is no gambler, he's no better." 
 
 And sure enough, they all purchased just 
 such clothes as Vaughn had bought, the next 
 day. 
 
 " This would be a fine place to live," said 
 Vaughn, later, as they sat reclining at their 
 ease in the comfortable chairs and hammocks 
 of the patio. 
 
 " It would, indeed, be a good place to live, 
 if it weren't for the heat and yellow fever," 
 said Hakkouki. 
 
 "And bugs and spiders," added Shaw. 
 
 "And this system of caste," added Mulli- 
 gan, " whichfrkeeps all the pretty girls tied up 
 in the back yards for fear they'll marry an 
 Indian or something worse." 
 
 "Yes," assented Francois, "it must be
 
 NEW FRIENDS. 193 
 
 especially hard for you Americans, who have 
 your liberty and no aristocracy ; you have no 
 aristocracy in America, have you ? " he asked 
 Mulligan. 
 
 " What do you mean by aristocracy ? " 
 said Mulligan, who was a little touchy on 
 the subject. 
 
 "I mean people who do no work, and 
 whose fathers never did," answered Fran- 
 Qois, innocently. 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Mulligan, " we have 
 plenty of them, but we call them tramps." 
 
 The little party was such a congenial one 
 that Franqois felt sad at the thought of 
 parting next day, and with his tendency 
 toward sentiment, he told his companions 
 so. 
 
 "On my word, it is too bad," said 
 Vaughn. " I shall feel the parting myself." 
 
 " And Mulligan also ? " asked FranQois, 
 timidly, for he wanted the affection of this 
 big, merry fellow. 
 
 "Mulligan!" laughed Vaughn. "The
 
 194 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 only parting that ever troubled him was the 
 parting of his back hair." 
 
 "Very good," said Mulligan, "but rather 
 too pointed, as the codfish said when he 
 swallowed the bait."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 
 
 A T three the next morning the porter of 
 ** the hotel drew Hakkouki and FranQois 
 forth from the cell which the proprietor 
 had assigned to them as a bedroom, and 
 led the way to the station through dark 
 and cool streets. They went by steam six- 
 teen miles, and then changed to a tram- 
 way for Jalapa; for in the vicinity of this 
 town the vanilla is produced in its greatest 
 luxuriance. 
 
 Three cars comprised the train, divided 
 into first, second, and third class, and each 
 drawn by four mules. Along the route 
 numerous black crosses marked the graves 
 where murdered men were buried. The 
 road rose four thousand feet within the 
 
 195
 
 196 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 seventy miles' distance ; and as they were 
 pulled up by mules, they felt satisfied to 
 reach Jalapa in twelve hours. The scenery 
 was magnificent, as it had been all the 
 way after reaching the uplands, and Hak- 
 kouki was gratified to find good accommo- 
 dations in the Hotel Vera Aruzana. It 
 was a low building, running completely 
 round an open court called the patio, where 
 fountains played and flowers and birds 
 abounded. 
 
 Jalapa signifies the place of water and 
 land. Certainly the water is in evidence; 
 for here, like Bergen in Norway, it may 
 be said to rain eight days in the week. 
 The rain-filled clouds from the Gulf strike 
 the cool hills only to pour their contents 
 upon them. The town is famous for the 
 loveliest flowers and most beautiful women 
 in all Mexico. From its gardens may be 
 gathered the fruits and flowers of every 
 zone. Although the women of Mexico 
 have almost invariably dark skins and
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 197 
 
 black eyes, those of Jalapa are decided 
 blondes. Their complexions are said to 
 rival the delicacy of the petals of the 
 orchids which grow in such abundance 
 there. Among the special products of the 
 vicinity is the aromatic vanilla plant, which 
 is indigenous. It grows wild in the forests 
 and proves a great source of income to 
 the industrious native gatherers. The 
 Indians, who still reside in their primitive 
 villages, are restricted in the harvest sea- 
 son by the Alcade, who apportions to each 
 his share in the labor. 
 
 The morning following Hakkouki's arrival 
 he set forth with an Alcade for the woods 
 to see the vanilla growing. 
 
 " The vanilla has been known here since 
 the first Spaniard stepped upon the soil," said 
 the Alcade. " Chocolate flavored with vanilla 
 was placed before Cortez by Montezuma. 
 Long before that, however, it was highly 
 appreciated by the Aztec nobles and com- 
 manded, even in those days, a liberal price."
 
 198 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "I have read that it was first brought to 
 Europe as a perfume in 1510, ten years 
 before tobacco was known," said Hakkouki. 
 
 "Here is the plant," called Frangois, who 
 had run on ahead. " I know it by your 
 description." 
 
 " Yes, that is vanilla," said the Alcade. 
 
 It was a tall climber, with long, succulent 
 green stems, white aerial roots, and bright 
 green leaves. 
 
 " The native mode of culture," said the 
 Alcade, " is to plant the cuttings of the vine 
 beneath large trees, for all it needs is shade 
 and moisture. They are left then to grow 
 and twine around supports as best they can. 
 Occasionally, for the sake of convenience, 
 vines are trained around trees to prevent their 
 attaining a greater height than nine feet." 
 
 As it was late in the season, there were 
 few pods left on the vines; but Hakkouki 
 obtained one of a light yellow color, which 
 was about eight inches long and one-half an 
 inch broad.
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 199 
 
 "This is not the season in which we 
 gather, but I will take you where you can 
 see the bean cured," said the Alcade. " I 
 suppose you know that the vanilla of Mexico 
 is superior to that of other countries like 
 Tahiti and Reunion Island." 
 
 " Why is that ? " asked Hakkouki. 
 
 "It is our peculiar soil and climate, and 
 also the help which the insects give us," an- 
 swered the Alcade. " Here they carry the 
 pollen from one flower to the pistil of 
 another; whereas in other places this must 
 be done by artificial inoculation." 
 
 "Oh, yes," said Hakkouki; "I have read 
 that women and children work with a small 
 stick like a pencil to carry the pollen." 
 
 " Oh, what difficult work it must be ! " said 
 
 The flowers in blossom on the vines were a 
 greenish yellow, here and there touched with 
 white. 
 
 "The pods of these flowers will be ready 
 for gathering next March or April," said the
 
 200 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Alcade. "The longer the pods grow, the 
 greater is considered their value." 
 
 During their stay in Jalapa, they visited 
 the homes of the people who cured and dried 
 the beans on mats before their mud houses, 
 great care being required to prevent their 
 being wet by the constant showers. The 
 pods are left on the vine until they show a 
 light yellow tinge, then the}'- are plunged 
 half a minute in very hot, if not actually 
 boiling, water. When soft and brown and 
 ready to dry, they are carefully and regularly 
 pressed between the fingers and slightly 
 anointed with oil. 
 
 Some of the proprietors had boxes with 
 glass covers for their pods to dry in. After 
 fifteen days' exposure to the sun, they are 
 taken to the building for drying, which is 
 made throughout of corrugated iron, and con- 
 tains tiers of wire shelves. The beans are 
 laid on the top one at first, and removed to 
 a lower level later. When properly cured, 
 they are of a rich dark chocolate color, and
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 201 
 
 perfectly free from moisture. The pods are 
 selected according to their size, the longest 
 ones being considered the most valuable, and 
 tied up in packets of fifty. These packets, 
 after being tied in the middle, and again near 
 each end, are carefully put up in closely fit- 
 ting tin boxes. When vanilla pods are in 
 good condition, they become covered with an 
 efflorescence of needles, called vanillin. The 
 interior of the bean is then soft, unctuous, and 
 balsamic. In order to obtain the essence or 
 perfume, one-half pound of such pods are cut 
 up small and put into one gallon of pure 
 alcohol. The ingredients must remain to- 
 gether four weeks, then all the strength of 
 the vanilla will be found in the spirit, which 
 may be strained off clear and bright. Ex- 
 tract of clematis, heliotrope, wallflower, etc., 
 contain about half vanilla essence. The 
 United States is the principal market for 
 these beans. 
 
 During their two weeks' stay, Hakkouki 
 and Fra^ois had become Mexicanized to
 
 202 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 the point of enjoying the tortilla, which 
 takes the place of bread, and pulque, which 
 takes the place of wine. The latter is said 
 to be nourishing and quite uninjurious. It 
 is made from the maguey plant, which may 
 be called the " general utility store " of the 
 Mexicans. From it they obtain not only 
 pulque, but paper, twine, and thread. Poor 
 people thatch their houses with the leaves, 
 placing one over the other like shingles. 
 Ropes are also made from the fibre. 
 
 The country about Jalapa is particularly 
 interesting on account of its luxuriant vege- 
 tation. Wild fruits are so plenty that they 
 ripen and decay undisturbed by the hands 
 of the natives. There are fifty or sixty 
 species of singing birds, and seventy kinds 
 suitable for food. 
 
 Toward the latter part of their stay, 
 Hakkouki and Fra^ois, while walking in 
 the woods, suddenly came upon a figure 
 apparently holding up a tree. Beneath a 
 great sombrero, with brim little less than
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 203 
 
 a yard wide, stood a woollen shirt and 
 leather breeches girt about with a pistol- 
 belt full of cartridges and revolvers. A 
 rifle hand against the left arm, while the 
 right hand of all this furniture was strok- 
 ing a beard belonging to a countenance 
 not altogether unfamiliar. It was Mulli- 
 gan. But how changed! His hair, which 
 he had been wont to anoint with oil and 
 part in the middle, was awry, and had 
 reminiscences of the blanket he last slept 
 in. His face was a flaring red, his hands 
 blistered, and his once bulky form had 
 shrunk almost to a shadow. 
 
 "Mulligan!" cried Francois, excitedly rush- 
 ing forward to grasp his hand. " Oh ! How 
 thin you are ! " 
 
 "Just look at Vaughn," said Mulligan, 
 pointing down the hill to his companion, 
 who was almost hidden behind the theod- 
 olite. "But you ought to see Shaw," he 
 continued. "He is thinner than Vaughn 
 and I put together."
 
 204 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "Have you been ill?" queried Frangois, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " Indeed, I came near dying last night. I 
 lay speechless all the night, crying, ' Water ! 
 water ! ' and my head ached that bad I 
 couldn't lift it from the pillow until I got 
 up and walked about a bit." 
 
 " And where do you live now ? " asked 
 Frangois. 
 
 " There," answered Mulligan, pointing to 
 a very small hut. " We built it, and I think 
 it will stand as long as the world does, and 
 longer." Not a smile had yet crossed his 
 countenance. " I'd ask you to come in and 
 sit awhile, but the place isn't large enough 
 for Mr. Hakkouki and me to get into." 
 
 " No," acquiesced Frangois, measuring the 
 two with his eye. "Yet you and Vaughn 
 and Shaw all sleep there." 
 
 " Not a bit of it. None of us sleep. We 
 stay there nights, and eat outdoors." 
 
 "Why do you go so heavily armed?" in- 
 quired Hakkouki.
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 205 
 
 " On account of these thundering thieves 
 of Mexicans. They'd steal the very hands 
 off your body, if you should lay them down 
 by mistake." 
 
 " What kind of a pistol is that ? " asked 
 Hakkouki, pointing to the huge weapon in 
 Mulligan's belt. 
 
 "It's what they call a horse-pistol," he 
 answered. 
 
 "Why do they call it that?" asked 
 Francois. 
 
 " For the reason that it kicks, I suppose," 
 replied Mulligan. " In this country 'twould 
 better be a mule-pistol. Shaw ! " he yelled 
 suddenly, "will you come here and hold the 
 guns and ammunition?" Then turning to 
 Hakkouki and FranQois, he said, "And I'll 
 sit down and talk with you awhile." 
 
 Shaw left his work some distance away, 
 and came toward them. As Mulligan spread 
 his tired limbs upon the ground, he groaned, 
 " What's the use of a man's working himself 
 to death to get a living? It's a hard time
 
 206 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 we've had, to say nothing of the valuable 
 goods we've lost. The thieves have followed 
 us, constantly. Up to this Vaughn has held 
 on to the theodolite, but now he's so weak 
 it's holding on to him. Oh, it's an awful 
 country ! " 
 
 Then, as Vaughn trudged up the hill with 
 his precious theodolite, to join them, Mulli- 
 gan began to sing, " Green grow the rushes, 
 oh ! " the song from which the word " Gringo " 
 was taken when the American troops went 
 into Mexico. 
 
 Vaughn was certainly "blue." He imme- 
 diately began to growl about the country and 
 the rain and the food. 
 
 " Oh, the rain ! Did you ever see anything 
 like it?" asked Mulligan. 
 
 They were all comfortably seated on the 
 ground but Shaw, who kept guard. 
 
 " The rain certainly falls here constantly," 
 said Hakkouki, " and yet the country is dry." 
 
 " Right you are," said Mulligan. " I crossed 
 the bed of a stream the other day without a
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 207 
 
 drop of water in it. 'Twas all sand ; and I 
 put up a sign : ' Take notice ! ' says I ; ' when 
 this board is under water, this stream is 
 impassable.' " 
 
 At which they all laughed for the first 
 time since their reunion. 
 
 "And I've heard," continued Mulligan, 
 encouraged, "that the streams are so dry 
 that the fish have to wear dusters to keep 
 their clothing from being spoiled." 
 
 " Now you're yourself again," said Hak- 
 kouki. 
 
 "It's only a little decent food I'm need- 
 ing to be myself," said he. " If the other 
 fellows would come up to relieve us in time, 
 we'd go down to Vera Cruz with you and 
 get a bite. Have you met any of the others 
 in your wanderings around these woods ?" 
 
 " No," said Hakkouki ; " nothing but 
 Mexicans and Indians." 
 
 "Say," continued Mulligan. "There was 
 a funny thing happened yesterday. I went 
 out with my shot-gun to get a change of
 
 208 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 food in the way of a bird or something, 
 and I came upon Jacobs on the bridge. 
 ' Jacobs,' says I, i how are you ? ' ' Pretty 
 well, thank you, Dorherty,' says he. ' Dor- 
 herty?' says I; 'that's not my name.' So 
 with that, we looked at each other again, 
 and sure enough ! It was neither of us ! " 
 
 "We are going back to Vera Cruz day 
 after to-morrow," said Hakkouki. " Can't 
 you go with us ? " 
 
 " Indeed, I think the other fellows will be 
 along by that time, and then we'll go, sure ; 
 for it's starving we are. But we must go 
 to another hotel. You see, I had a letter 
 from the proprietor of that last." 
 
 "Did you?" asked Hakkouki, interested; 
 while Vaughn laughed immoderately. 
 
 " Ay, he asked me to send him the amount 
 of his bill," said Mulligan, seriously. 
 
 "And," said Vaughn, choking with laugh- 
 ter, " Mulligan wrote back, ' The amount is 
 $25.93. Yours respectfully, J. W. Mulli- 
 gan.' "
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 209 
 
 With the laughter that followed, Hak- 
 kouki and Francois rose to go, for night 
 was closing in, and the air getting chilly. 
 
 " Ah ! " sighed Mulligan. " What a bless- 
 ing it is that night never comes till late 
 in the day, when a man's tired, and can't 
 work any more ! But we'll go to Vera 
 Cruz with you. What time does the train 
 start ? " 
 
 "We are going down by the tramway. 
 They leave at twelve o'clock." 
 
 When the mule train left Jalapa, two 
 days later, there were Hakkouki, Mulligan, 
 Vaughn, FranQois, and one very elegant 
 Mexican gentleman, crowded into the one 
 small first-class carriage. The route lay 
 over the old national road, by way of Cerro 
 Gordo. This hamlet, the place where Gen- 
 eral Scott outflanked and defeated Santa 
 Anna April 18, 1847, now consists of a few 
 mud cabins in a tumble-down condition. 
 The Mexican gentleman seated beside Mulli- 
 gan also pointed out the birthplace of Gen-
 
 210 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 eral Santa Anna, the most notorious of 
 Mexico's soldiers of fortune. 
 
 "We used to be overrun with brigands 
 here," said the Mexican gentleman, " and 
 travelling over this road was accompanied 
 by fear as well as danger. General Bazaine, 
 however, put a stop to that. Hearing of 
 the dangers, he took ten of his most expert 
 sharpshooters, and, dressing some of them 
 as women, they boarded the coach. The 
 driver was sworn to secrecy, under threat 
 of being shot if he disobeyed orders. On 
 the route the brigands stopped them, or- 
 dered them to throw up their hands, and 
 assisted the first passenger, who was a lady, 
 to alight. In an instant, however, the lady's 
 cape was thrown up, and, shooting with a 
 revolver in each hand, she finished two of 
 the brigands at once. The next morning 
 fourteen gentlemen of the road were found 
 killed. Only one of the band escaped." 
 
 Having finished his exciting tale, he felt 
 for his handkerchief to mop his fevered
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 211 
 
 brow. Failing to find it, he turned suddenly 
 to Mulligan. 
 
 "I'll thank you to return my handker- 
 chief," said he. 
 
 Mulligan turned purple. He was about 
 to speak, when the Mexican discovered his 
 property on the floor. He excused himself 
 profusely, saying it was a mistake. 
 
 " Sure, Senor, it is a mutual mistake," 
 said Mulligan. " You took me for a thief, 
 and I took you for a gentleman." 
 
 After that the Mexican was left out of 
 the conversation. 
 
 " It would be a great convenience," said 
 Mulligan, who could not live without talking, 
 "if the mile-stones were placed just a little 
 nearer each other." 
 
 They were soon in sight of the great con- 
 vent of San Francisco, supposed to have been 
 built by Cortez, and a most picturesque 
 ruin. 
 
 " The Spaniards were certainly artistic," 
 said Hakkouki.
 
 212 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Arriving in Vera Cruz, they went to a new 
 hotel, hoping that the proprietor was not first 
 cousin of the last one. There they did their 
 best to make up for the food which they had 
 not eaten during the previous two weeks. 
 
 Hakkouki, who had determined to proceed 
 to the Philippines next, in order to study the 
 floral growth of those islands, went out alone 
 to investigate the best method for getting 
 there. 
 
 Among the ships in the harbor, he found 
 one upon which he could get passage around 
 the Horn. Though this would doubtless take 
 longer than crossing Mexico, and shipping 
 from the port of San Bias, it seemed to Hak- 
 kouki more desirable, as he wished to see 
 something of sea life. 
 
 On his way back to the hotel he called at 
 the bank for his valuable suit. As many of 
 the sights of the town interested him, he 
 walked along leisurely, and took little notice 
 of the direction in which he was going. Pres- 
 ently, he found himself in a narrow alley,
 
 FORTUNE FROWNS. 213 
 
 quite strange to him, and lie realized that he 
 had lost his way. He was about to retrace 
 his steps when the precious bundle he carried 
 was suddenly snatched from him, and he him- 
 self thrown violently to the ground. Before 
 he could recover, a terrific blow upon the 
 head left him senseless. 
 
 When Hakkouki came to, he was lying in 
 a white cot in the hospital, with his head 
 bandaged. 
 
 " How long have I been here ? " he inquired 
 of the nurse. 
 
 " This is the tenth day," she replied. " You 
 have been delirious ever since you came in, 
 and we almost despaired of your life." 
 
 " Has any one been to see me ? " he asked. 
 
 " No one," answered the nurse. 
 
 Hakkouki groaned. He wondered what 
 had become of Francois and his other friends. 
 That afternoon he sent a message to the hotel, 
 asking Francois to come and see him, but the 
 messenger returned alone. The French boy, 
 he said, had searched the city for a week for
 
 214 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 his companion, and then, supposing he had 
 been deserted, shipped as a steward upon a 
 vessel bound for the United States. 
 
 Thus Hakkouki found himself friendless 
 and penniless in a strange country.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 FORTUNE SMILES. 
 
 TJAKKOUKI emerged from the hospital 
 thin, but hopeful. In spite of his condi- 
 tion and his loss of money, he never once 
 thought of giving up his search for knowledge, 
 but determined to follow his ambitious under- 
 taking to the end, and to win. 
 
 Through the influence of an American 
 merchant, whose acquaintance Hakkouki had 
 chanced to make, he obtained a position as 
 ordinary seaman aboard a New Bedford 
 whaler named the Florence, and bound for 
 the Pacific. Notwithstanding the hardships 
 which he knew he should be obliged to un- 
 dergo in such a capacity, he felt very happy 
 at the prospect. Not only was he moving 
 in the right direction, but he hoped that 
 upon such a voyage he might learn some- 
 
 215
 
 216 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 thing about that most precious of all per- 
 fume bases, ambergris. 
 
 The new sailor was very seasick and mis- 
 erable for the first ten days out. After that, 
 however, he began to enjoy the healthy, 
 invigorating life. As he was a willing and 
 a powerful man on a rope, quick to learn, 
 and good-natured, he soon became a favorite 
 with both officers and crew. By the time 
 the ship had " rounded the Horn," he was 
 looked upon as one of the most valuable 
 men aboard. 
 
 The Florence cruised about the South Pa- 
 cific for some time without much success, 
 when one morning, in the vicinity of the 
 Galapagos Islands, there came from aloft the 
 welcome cry : 
 
 " There she blo-o-o-ows ! " 
 
 Instantly all hands turned out, and the 
 officers gave orders in quick succession. The 
 boats were provisioned, and swung out in 
 the davits, and everything put in order for 
 the next command.
 
 FORTUNE SMILES. 217 
 
 The second mate, who, in the meantime, 
 had gone aloft with his glass, now hailed 
 the excited captain on deck. 
 
 " They are sperm whales, sir ! Four of 
 them ! Heading to the north'ard ! " 
 
 " Back the main yard ! " immediately cried 
 the skipper. 
 
 As soon as the vessel was hove to, the 
 two boats were lowered ; the captain taking 
 charge of one, and the mate steering the 
 other. In the latter Hakkouki found him- 
 self. 
 
 Both boats pulled rapidly toward the 
 whales, and the hearts of all beat high at 
 the thought of making a haul at last. The 
 captain, being in advance, got fast first. 
 
 " It's only a small cow," said the mate, 
 contemptuously. " He's welcome to her. 
 I'm going for the big bull to wind'ard." 
 
 So to the windward they pulled, and it 
 was not long before Hakkouki, looking over 
 the gunwale of the boat, saw that they were 
 passing the whale's immense flukes.
 
 218 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 The next moment the mate cried to 
 the harpooner, " Now, Johnny ! Send it 
 home ! " 
 
 Just as the Portuguese was about to strike, 
 however, he lost his balance and fell over- 
 board. Instantly the whale elevated his tail 
 and " sounded," while the mate gave vent to 
 a volley of abuse, such as Hakkouki had 
 never heard before. The unfortunate Por- 
 tuguese was hauled aboard, however, and the 
 chase of the big bull continued. 
 
 "Easy all," whispered the mate, as they 
 came near the leviathan again. 
 
 Johnny, the Portuguese, stood in the bow 
 this time with a look of revenge upon his 
 dark face. As he braced himself against 
 the " cleat," it was apparent that he intended 
 to get even with that whale. 
 
 "Steady, now, Johnny, boy," again whis- 
 pered the mate. 
 
 Suddenly, when the boat was within ten 
 feet of the whale, Johnny drew back his arm 
 and darted. As the keen harpoon buried
 
 STEADY, HOW, JOHNNY, BOY!
 
 FORTUNE SMILES. 219 
 
 itself in the blubber, the flukes of the monster 
 went up, and with a mighty splash he dived 
 below. 
 
 " Stern all ! " yelled the mate, and the men 
 obeyed just in time to prevent the boat being 
 swamped. 
 
 The line at once began to run out so fast 
 that the wood fairly smoked with the friction, 
 and they were obliged to wet it. 
 
 "My land!" said the mate, as he looked 
 anxiously at the tubs. " How far down is he 
 going?" 
 
 A moment later, however, the line slack- 
 ened, and the men were ordered to face for- 
 ward and " haul line." As this meant that 
 the whale was coming up, the mate then took 
 the place of the harpooner, and stood ready 
 to use the lance. After a long, hard pull, the 
 boat was brought cautiously up to the fleeing 
 whale. 
 
 " Pull, boys ! " cried the officer, as soon as 
 the flukes were passed in safely. " Wood and 
 black skin ! "
 
 220 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 The next moment he plunged the sharp 
 lance deep into the monster's vitals, and 
 churned it up and down until blood was 
 spouted. 
 
 Now that the whale had hoisted what is 
 known as the "red flag," the boat retreated; 
 for in his death "flurry" the whale is most 
 dangerous of all. For a quarter of an hour 
 he thrashed helplessly about; then, with a 
 sound almost like a human groan, he turned 
 on his side, dead. 
 
 This was the beginning of the Florence's 
 luck. From that time whales were captured 
 with a regularity that became almost monoto- 
 nous. As the crew were "on shares," how- 
 ever, they worked willingly enough. 
 
 Two months later the ship's hold was full 
 of oil, and as all hands were " spoiling " for 
 some of their pay-day and a run ashore, the 
 captain headed for Batavia, where he knew 
 he could tranship his valuable cargo. 
 
 But the luck of the Florence was not over 
 yet. Before reaching Java she picked up a
 
 FORTUNE SMILES. 221 
 
 huge lump of ambergris floating on the 
 sea, which, together with her load of oil, 
 gave every man aboard of her a small for- 
 tune. 
 
 Hakkouki examined the valuable mass with 
 much curiosity. When first brought aboard, 
 it was black and almost as soft as putty, but 
 after it had dried, it became a light gray 
 color and fairly hard. Intermixed with the 
 mass were many small cuttlefish beaks, which 
 scientists consider proves that ambergris is a 
 morbid secretion of the sperm whale. As it 
 dried it gave out a sweet earthy odor. The 
 value of ambergris, however, does not lie in 
 its perfume, but in its power to fix or hold 
 other odors in combination. 
 
 The weight of the piece of ambergris found 
 by the Lucky Florence, as she was afterward 
 called, was one hundred and eighty pounds. 
 When sold in Batavia, it fetched the sum of 
 fifty-seven thousand six hundred dollars, 
 which was divided pro rata among the ship's 
 company.
 
 222 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 As soon as the vessel arrived at Batavia, 
 Hakkouki asked to be paid off ; and with the 
 goodly sum he received in his pocket, he once 
 more continued his search for the knowledge 
 of perfumes.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 
 
 TXT" HEN Hakkouki, liberated from his 
 * * long voyage at sea, found himself fly- 
 ing up the Molenvliet (the chief thorough- 
 fare in Batavia) in a comfortable, even 
 luxurious, carriage, he experienced most 
 lively emotions of surprise and pleasure. 
 The swift ponies, driven by a brown coach- 
 man in a long red calico jacket, seemed to 
 Hakkouki possessed of wings. 
 
 It was a long drive to the hotel, which 
 was a most imposing building. He was 
 allotted a fair-sized room, opening on to a 
 court, with other rooms opening to the 
 right, left, and in fact all around him. 
 
 In front of the doors of these rooms sat 
 people in every stage of dishabille. There
 
 224 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 seemed to be no privacy, and fortunately, 
 the situation being as it was, no shyness. 
 
 As Hakkouki's clothes were by this time 
 very much worn and out of place, his first 
 care was to purchase a native suit. This 
 consists of a sarong, which is a short, close- 
 fitting petticoat, and a white linen jacket, 
 called a kabaya. The Dutch colonists have 
 adopted this native costume, as being most 
 suitable to the climate, and seldom wear 
 any other, except on important occasions. 
 
 By the time Hakkouki had rigged him- 
 self in his new clothes, the midday meal 
 was ready, and he had an opportunity to sit 
 at the much-talked-of rice table. Spread- 
 ing a foundation of rice on the plate, one 
 choses from the numerous viands presented 
 by the servant, and places this, whether 
 meat, fish, eggs, or delicacy, upon the rice, 
 partaking of both together. Bread was not 
 offered. 
 
 While at table Hakkouki made the 
 acquaintance of a French gentleman, M.
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 225 
 
 Belivier, who volunteered much information 
 about the country, and later gave Hakkouki 
 a letter introducing him to the manager of 
 his estate at Sinagar. He told Hakkouki 
 that it was necessary for him first to get 
 a government permit to remain upon the 
 island ; and advised him to hire a native 
 servant. Through the kind offices of his 
 new friend, Hakkouki secured an intelli- 
 gent Javanese "boy" by the name of 
 Ah-Gap, who, having previously been the 
 servant of a French geologist, could speak 
 French. 
 
 A few days later Hakkouki and Ah-Gap 
 set out for Sinagar, which is some distance 
 inland. It is impossible to describe the 
 beautiful scenery of Java in any way to do 
 it justice. The climate is so mild and 
 moist that the foliage and vegetation is 
 luxuriant beyond compare. The variety of 
 trees which are indigenous and not to be 
 found elsewhere is greater than in any other 
 part of the world.
 
 226 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Hakkouki was going to Sinagar chiefly 
 to see the trees from which the perfumes 
 ylang-ylang and frangipanni are produced. 
 In this locality both trees flourish in great 
 abundance ; although they grow in many 
 other parts of the island, as well as the 
 Philippines, and are cultivated in India and 
 the tropics generally. 
 
 The trees grow wild, and the blossoms are 
 gathered as they fall from the tree; but upon 
 the large coffee and sugar estates the trees 
 are under the control of the wodena, a native 
 who is the local head of the estate. 
 
 Hakkouki stayed at the house of the 
 woflena and was taken out by him and a 
 good half-dozen followers in uniform, to view 
 the estate. The natives on the place bowed 
 low before him, and if they did not promptly 
 go to earth, were reminded by occasional shouts 
 from the followers, or their movements were 
 hurried by prods from the poles of office. 
 Ah-Gap, having once been told by his master 
 to stand up, stretched himself to his full
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 227 
 
 height, and followed with a dignity almost 
 worthy of Hakkouki himself. The wodena 
 did not like this manner; nor did he enjoy 
 the childish glee with which Ah-Gap ran 
 beneath the first cananga tree he saw, hold- 
 ing his great bamboo hat, and filling it with 
 the huge brilliant yellow flowers from which 
 oil of ylang-ylang is obtained. 
 
 The oil of ylang-ylang and frangipanni 
 is prepared in much the same way as that of 
 the rose, but the flowers of both these trees 
 are sold in the markets all over Java, for per- 
 fume. 
 
 The petals of the cananga dry easily, even 
 in the moist climate of Java, and when sewed 
 up into small bags, they retain their spicy 
 fragrance for years. The frangipanni flowers 
 are very different from the great yellow 
 flowers of the cananga. They remind one in 
 shape and cluster of the mayflower (trailing 
 arbutus) of New England. In color they are 
 an exquisite white and gold, and are some- 
 times called "bo-flowers."
 
 228 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " Why do not the people wear these lovely 
 blossoms in their hair as they do the large 
 cananga?" asked Hakkouki of the wodena. 
 
 "Frangipanni is the flower of the dead," 
 answered he, solemnly. 
 
 And not only is this sweet flower associated 
 with funeral rites and graves, but it is the 
 religious flower, and is a symbol of faith. It 
 is sticky and unpleasant to the touch when 
 pulled from the tree, and the stem exudes a 
 thick milk ; but after the flowers have fallen 
 to the ground, they may be handled more 
 easily, and the small flowers retain their spot- 
 less waxen perfection and thick, fleshy petals 
 even for two days. We call them frangipanni ; 
 but although this name is known to the 
 natives, they will not use it. They consider 
 that an Italian marquis had no right to give it 
 his name in preference to their beautiful name, 
 which signifies " flowers of the golden heart." 
 
 Hakkouki gathered some of these flowers 
 to dry, as he had the others, and put them 
 into small bags. As they returned, the
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 229 
 
 wodena explained to Hakkouki the system 
 of forced labor which the Dutch exercise 
 over the natives, and later on gave him a 
 very delightful surprise. 
 
 After supper he was led forth to a has- 
 tily improvised apartment to witness the 
 " Bedaya," or dancing girls. This, Ah-Gap 
 said, was a mark of great respect, as these 
 girls are summoned to dance only in the 
 presence of royalty or persons of high rank. 
 They were dressed in the brightest of col- 
 ors, adorned with many jewels, and had 
 their arms and legs dusted with brilliant 
 yellow powder. They were fourteen or fif- 
 teen years of age, and danced with the ut- 
 most grace and decorum of behavior to slow 
 and solemn music. 
 
 The following day, as Hakkouki was leav- 
 ing, he presented the wodena with a purse 
 in recognition of his courtesy. To his sur- 
 prise, the wodena deliberately opened it 
 and counted the coins. 
 
 "It is not enough," said he, coolly.
 
 230 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " I am sorry," said Hakkouki. " If it 
 is not sufficient, you may return it to me, 
 and I will send you a larger amount when 
 I get back to Batavia." 
 
 But the wily native, fearing he might 
 receive nothing, suddenly changed his mind. 
 
 " It is quite enough," he said ; " it is more 
 than I thought. I did not count it rightly." 
 Whereupon he bowed with profound respect. 
 His last look at Ah-Gap, however, whose 
 expansive stories of Hakkouki's wealth had 
 led him to expect more, was one of hatred. 
 
 Hakkouki, who had intended to visit the 
 Malay Peninsula to study the growth of 
 patchouli, learned from the wodena that it 
 was to be found growing under cultivation 
 not far from Sinagar, and that Java, in fact, 
 was the principal land of its production. 
 The wodena had also offered his services 
 as guide, but this attention Hakkouki po- 
 litely declined. Hearing that he could go 
 from Sinagar down one of the small rivers 
 in a canoe to a patchouli plantation, he
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 231 
 
 was delighted at the opportunity for so 
 agreeable a mode of travel. The canoe 
 was of the peculiar model of the natives, 
 rising high at each end, and settling deep 
 into the water in the centre. If the sun 
 be powerful, the passenger may lie in com- 
 fort, unable to see anything but the awning 
 of light bamboo above ; but as Hakkouki 
 chose to travel after sundown, he had the 
 awning removed and lay in blissful serenity, 
 gazing into the starry heavens and think- 
 ing of his beloved Princess. When they 
 arrived at the small landing which was to 
 be their destination, Hakkouki preferred to 
 finish the night in his pleasant quarters, 
 while Ah-Gap and the two native canoe- 
 men stretched themselves upon the ground 
 near by. 
 
 The next morning they visited the Dutch 
 wodena of the estate, and were shown a 
 small bed of patchouli growing. Only 
 about one-twentieth part of an acre was 
 under cultivation, the plants being placed
 
 232 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 about three feet apart. They must be re- 
 produced by cutting entirely, as plants from 
 seeds are said to have no odor. Mr. Cantly, 
 an Englishman, familiar with the growth of 
 patchouli, said : 
 
 " I have never been able to verify this 
 statement, but it is well known that plants 
 do sometimes play tricks of this kind." 
 
 As the natives claim that it never blos- 
 soms and one man who had grown and 
 bought it for thirty years had never seen a 
 flower or fruit, it would seem that Nature 
 herself reproduced the plant from stems of 
 fallen leaves or from the roots. It is not in- 
 digenous in either Java or India, but seems 
 to have been a native of China. No skill 
 is required in cultivation, nor machinery in 
 preparation. 
 
 " The crop from this piece of land is 
 about one ton a year," said the wodena. 
 " We mow it, stalk and all, and get about 
 twice as much good leaf as refuse." 
 
 "The odor of patchouli first became
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 233 
 
 known in the West," said Hakkouki, "as a 
 characteristic scent of Indian shawls, while 
 here it has been used for ages in the pow- 
 dered form for perfuming clothing." 
 
 " Look ! " said Ah-Gap, u how the women 
 decorate themselves." 
 
 Those working in the fields had garlands 
 about their waists and bunches of the leaf 
 stuck in their bamboo ear-rings. 
 
 The wodena explained that though they 
 cultivated such a small piece of land, the 
 profit realized was greater in proportion 
 than that of any other product of the 
 estate. 
 
 " The scent," he said, " is more powerful 
 than that from any other flower, and we 
 not only sell it as dried leaf to advantage, 
 but also distil it." 
 
 The oil was of a dark brown color, ex- 
 tremely persistent in odor, and of great 
 strength. 
 
 " In Holland," he continued, " they some- 
 times ascribe loss of appetite and nervous
 
 234 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 attacks to the excessive use of patchouli, 
 but as one of its greatest uses here and in 
 India is to mix it with the stuffing of beds 
 and pillows to keep out vermin, this can 
 scarcely be the case." 
 
 " It was probably this quality," said Hak- 
 kouki, " which caused it to be used to pack 
 Indian shawls, and so led to its introduction 
 to the West." 
 
 The wodena was profusive in his invita- 
 tions for entertainment and desire to show 
 Hakkouki over the coffee plantation; but 
 Hakkouki, knowing that the passage back 
 to Sinagar was up-stream, and that it would 
 therefore take longer to paddle, decided to 
 start immediately after tiffin. 
 
 As they paddled up-stream to Sinagar 
 again, Hakkouki, lulled by the swish of the 
 paddles, and the even, peculiar chant of the 
 boatmen, felt his soul rise in joy and 
 thanksgiving that his journeys were so 
 nearly at an end. 
 
 " There is yet the sandalwood and kuskus
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 235 
 
 grass, which I shall see in the Mysore country," 
 he said to himself. "From Batavia I must 
 go directly to Madras. Then there will be 
 but one important scent remaining; that is, 
 musk." 
 
 Hakkouki had for a long time planned to 
 take musk, which was the most dangerous, as 
 his last journey; for should he survive this 
 adventure, he should be within what seemed 
 to him now a short distance of Kaffiristan. 
 
 Upon returning to Batavia, Hakkouki vis- 
 ited the courteous M. Belivier to thank him 
 for his kindly entertainment upon his estate, 
 and also to say good-by ; for it was his inten- 
 tion to cross to Madras on his way to the 
 Mysore country. 
 
 "Well," said M. Belivier, "then I shall 
 have the pleasure of presenting you to my old 
 friend, General Magadari, who can give you 
 all the help you will need in your travels 
 through India." 
 
 This was indeed a great kindness to Hak- 
 kouki, for time was precious to him, and he
 
 236 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 realized how valuable a friend who is a resi- 
 dent of a place can be, in preventing delays. 
 
 With much gratitude he bade his friend 
 " Slamat Jalan " and took his leave. 
 
 " Ah, Tuan ! Thou wilt not leave me be- 
 hind," begged Ah-Gap ; and Hakkouki, ever 
 ready to grant the wishes of those about him, 
 answered, " No, my boy ; you shall go." 
 
 They boarded the steamer Godavery for 
 Madras, and turned their backs on the beau- 
 tiful days and brilliant skies of Java. 
 
 After a voyage of three days, Hakkouki 
 reached Madras. As soon as he got ashore, 
 he seated himself in a gharry, a close carriage 
 on four wheels, while Ah-Gap packed himself 
 and their small amount of luggage beside the 
 dirty-looking driver. He seated himself on 
 the very edge of the seat, for fear his clean 
 sarong should come in contact with the driver's 
 ill-smelling clothing. The tiny pony conveyed, 
 or rather set forth to convey, Hakkouki to the 
 house of General Magadari, whom M. Belevier 
 had wished him to visit. It is not difficult to
 
 THE GARDEN OF THE EAST. 237 
 
 find one's way about in Madras, as the roads 
 are excellent and the people obliging. In 
 spite of this, however, they could not find 
 General Magadari. No one had ever heard 
 of him. Hakkouki continued to inquire, how- 
 ever, and at last met a gentleman in a car- 
 riage, who said : 
 
 " General Magadari ? Isn't he the com- 
 mander of the forces?" 
 
 " He is," answered the driver. 
 
 " Then it is the second house on the right." 
 
 Delighted to have succeeded at last, Hak- 
 kouki descended from his carriage and entered 
 the house. Passing the sentry and a throng 
 of salaaming menials, he found himself in the 
 spacious hall, and upon presenting his letter 
 of introduction, received a kindly welcome 
 from his host. Followed by Ah-Gap, he was 
 shown an apartment, where he was able to 
 remove the traces of his journey. He was 
 entertained most cordially, and the next day, 
 equipped with a letter to the military com- 
 mander of Mysore, where the sandal is largely
 
 238 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 grown and exported, Hakkouki left Madras, 
 much impressed by the gayety of the place 
 and the affability of its citizens. 
 
 Upon arriving at Mysore, he went immedi- 
 ately to the house of the commander, but 
 upon looking for the letter which had been 
 given him, he was unable to find it. 
 
 " I had a letter of introduction to you," 
 said Hakkouki. " It was from General 
 Magadari." 
 
 " Never heard of such a person," answered 
 the commander. 
 
 "He is the commander of the forces at 
 Madras," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " Magadari ! " said the commander; " that's 
 not his name. You are an impostor, sir ! " 
 
 Thus Hakkouki was not entertained in 
 Mysore, nor did he find the missing letter, 
 nor did he ever know the name of his amia- 
 ble host in Madras. Of one thing only was 
 he certain, that the gentleman who had 
 entertained him so kindly was not General 
 Magadari.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 
 
 LJAKKOUKI found a place of residence 
 
 r 
 just outside the town of Mysore in a 
 
 bamboo hut, raised on poles five or six feet 
 from the ground. The floor was of rattan 
 woven strongly in and out across the sticks 
 of bamboo. Certainly peace and contentment 
 went hand and hand with Mysorean life. As 
 Hakkouki sat at the top of the ladder at the 
 entrance of his temporary home, and watched 
 the red light of the sun fade away over the 
 jungle, here and there flecking the leaves 
 upon the ground with a spot of fire, and 
 heard the soft rippling sound of the stream 
 at the foot of the ladder, he felt himself 
 cradled in the lap of Mother Nature. 
 
 Ah-Gap had gone to the village for food ;
 
 240 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 and Hakkouki sat waiting with the same 
 quiet patience with which the natives of this 
 country have waited for generations and cen- 
 turies. 
 
 " Here I come, Tuan ! " cried the voice of 
 his servant, up the ladder. 
 
 Though Hakkouki had been listening for 
 him, no sound of the native's footsteps could 
 be heard in the soft jungle grass. 
 
 " I have brought all the food in Mysore," 
 continued Ah-Gap, "and now you will see, 
 my master, how good a cook I am." 
 
 And Hakkouki admitted later that he had 
 never eaten more delicious dishes than those 
 which his Java " boy " cooked for him. 
 
 In this delightful land Hakkouki was able 
 to make his journeys by the streams which 
 intersect the whole country. Shortly after 
 his arrival, he hired two natives with their 
 boat, to punt him to the nearest sandalwood 
 plantation. These are all in the control of 
 the government. No one is allowed to fell a 
 tree but a government official. One planter,
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 241 
 
 who found two trees in the way of his build- 
 ing a road on his estate, was obliged to write 
 to the government to have the proper officials 
 take possession of them. 
 
 Sandal is no doubt the most important of 
 all odorous woods. The best wood is ob- 
 tained from trees twenty to thirty feet high, 
 which Hakkouki found growing in Mysore 
 within a few miles of his bamboo home. 
 
 Could Hakkouki have found his letter from 
 his amiable French friend in Madras, or have 
 found any clew regarding General Magadari 
 (for he felt sure this unknown person existed, 
 else why had he been offered a letter to him ?) 
 his stay in Mysore might have been shorter ; 
 but British officials were loath to give much 
 help to this unassuming gentleman of a 
 southern clime, who dressed simply in a sa- 
 rong, and was accompanied by a " thieving " 
 Malayan servant. These English gentlemen 
 considered a suit of pyjamas ample clothing. 
 
 Nevertheless, Hakkouki learned more of the 
 sandal tree by being dependent upon himself
 
 242 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 than if he had been attentively shown about. 
 He lived in the woods and found the tree 
 growing wild. He was somewhat surprised 
 to find it an evergreen, which flowered and 
 fruited all the year round. 
 
 Ah-Gap, with his friendly nature, soon 
 made native acquaintances. Among them 
 was a girl named Selema, who lived in a hut 
 near, and whose parents had selected as a 
 husband for her a Chinaman who had a high 
 position on the nearest plantation. Selema, 
 having thus permission to roam at will over 
 the plantation, often became the guide of 
 Hakkouki and his follower. 
 
 " This is the best tree," said she, pointing 
 to a graceful sandal. " Chan Fou said they 
 would cut it soon. It is thirty years old." 
 The trunk was about a foot in diameter. 
 
 To make the best wood, the trees are 
 pulled up by the roots and left upon the 
 ground for several months, so that the sap- 
 wood may be destroyed by the white ants. 
 When this is accomplished they are cut into
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 243 
 
 sticks three feet long and three to eight 
 inches in diameter. Seleraa told them that 
 the natives used the powdered wood for fevers 
 and other sicknesses ; and that they made a 
 paste of it to mark the line of caste upon 
 their foreheads. The seeds of the tree are 
 planted together with a capsicum seed; for 
 the latter, producing a quick-growing seed- 
 ling, shades the tender, young sandal. The 
 capsicum plant also affords sustenance for it. 
 It has lately been found that sandal has 
 parasitic roots which attach themselves by 
 tuber-like processes to those of many other 
 plants, and it thrives best when grass is 
 allowed to grow in the seed-beds, and where 
 the seeds are planted only an inch below the 
 surface. 
 
 As Selema was to be married in about a 
 month, she was left at home all day to make 
 her preparations, while the rest of her family 
 went to the plantation to work. She was 
 but fourteen, and seemed to Hakkouki still a 
 child. He often sat and watched herAmaking
 
 244 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 pretty baskets and other small articles for 
 her new home, out of the fragrant kuskus 
 grass, which grew so plentifully all about. 
 She made screens to be placed in the windows 
 and doors ; for Chan Fou was building a very 
 beautiful nest for her. The screens would be 
 wetted, and as the breeze drew through them, 
 would diffuse an agreeable odor and cool- 
 ness. Hakkouki went with her to gather the 
 kuskus grass (sometimes called vertiver) and 
 to draw out of the ground the long, fibrous 
 roots. 
 
 One day as Hakkouki, with Ah-Gap in at- 
 tendance, walked with Selema in the jungle, 
 he saw almost upon her shoulder, as she 
 stood beneath a sandal tree, the great hand 
 and arm of an orang-outang. With a quick 
 movement Hakkouki drew the girl away, and 
 the next moment sent a rifle bullet through 
 the ferocious animal's brain. So quickly did 
 it all happen, that Selema stood looking on, 
 not even frightened. 
 
 The next morning as Chan Fou in his
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 245 
 
 boat passed near the hut on his way to the 
 plantation, he stopped to speak with Hak- 
 kouki. Now Chan Fou was no ordinary man. 
 He had come from his home in Shanghai in 
 the interest of the sandalwood industry. 
 He was an owner in the steamship line 
 which plied between Shanghai and Madras, 
 and had been a commissioner sent from 
 Shanghai to the exposition at Paris to dis- 
 play the perfumes of the East, particularly 
 the sandalwood. He greeted Hakkouki in 
 fairly good French, for he had heard him 
 speaking with his servant in that language, 
 and supposed him to be a Frenchman. Chan 
 Fou's gratitude was unbounded. When he 
 learned that Hakkouki was in Mysore to 
 study the growth of the sandalwood, he was 
 delighted to be able to assist him. 
 
 " It gives me pleasure to know you, and 
 regret that I have not known you before," 
 he said politely. 
 
 Chan Fou was a learned man, although he 
 was not more than twenty-five.
 
 246 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "You know," he said, " sandal is probably 
 the oldest perfume known. It is spoken of 
 in the writings of Yaska, a Hindoo who 
 wrote in the fifth century before Christ, and 
 it is also referred to in epic poems of the 
 ancient Sanskrit of about the same date. 
 In Ceylon the essential oil was used as early 
 as the ninth century in embalming the 
 corpses of princes. At the present time the 
 greatest quantity is shipped to Shanghai, for 
 it is used in our temples as incense. We 
 distil the oil here from the wood and export 
 it in that form. But much wood goes to 
 China to be used in carving, for we have 
 small pagodas built entirely of it." 
 
 During this conversation, Chan Fou and 
 his guest were moving slowly down-stream ; 
 the two native paddlers singing a monoto- 
 nous chant, by which means they keep 
 stroke. 
 
 "We used to raise more of it ourselves, 
 but since the privilege has been conferred 
 upon the East India Company by a treaty
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 247 
 
 with Hyder All, the Hindoo prince, in 1770, 
 they have been able, by cultivation, to raise 
 it and ship it to us at a lower price than 
 we can get it in China." 
 
 Arriving at the plantation, Chan Fou, 
 learning from Hakkouki his desire to fully 
 understand the growth of the wood with 
 the intention of reproducing it in his " own 
 country," was most interested, and showed 
 him and explained to him all which could 
 be of importance. 
 
 He then led Hakkouki to a summer-house 
 which was built like something between a 
 pagoda and a mosque. Here they partook 
 of a drink called sandal sherbet, which is 
 made from powdered wood, and is very cool- 
 ing and sedative. Hakkouki felt much re- 
 freshed, for the heat of the day was intense. 
 Later, Chan Fou offered Hakkouki a long 
 tobacco pipe with a tiny bowl, and thus they 
 whiled away the time of day when the heat 
 is greatest. 
 
 " Yes, sandal is produced hi India in enor-
 
 248 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 mous quantities since the control of the Brit- 
 ish here," continued the Chinaman. "At 
 least thirteen thousand tons are cut every 
 year, and still it retains its value. Here, 
 in Mysore, it sells for a quarter its weight 
 in silver." 
 
 Hakkouki enjoyed every moment spent 
 with this interesting, intelligent, and cour- 
 teous man. He told him that he was 
 going to China to journey up the Yang-tse- 
 Kiang River for musk. At this news Chan 
 Fou's joy was great. 
 
 " Ah ! Now I can assist you indeed," he 
 said. " You must go to Shanghai, to my 
 home. I have friends who deal in musk in 
 Shanghai, and to them I will send you." 
 
 And so it was decided. Chan Fou wrote 
 letters for Hakkouki to take, and sent a 
 native to Madras to make all necessary ar- 
 rangements for Hakkouki's earliest depar- 
 ture. 
 
 As soon as his preparations were com- 
 plete, Hakkouki was taken to Madras by
 
 THE FRIENDSHIP OF CHAN FOU. 249 
 
 Chan Fou himself, where, following his 
 friend's advice, he dressed himself in Chi- 
 nese costume. 
 
 Just before touching at Singapore, Ah-Gap 
 expressed a desire to leave Hakkouki's ser- 
 vice, and return to Java. 
 
 " I wish not to go into a country which 
 is peopled by heathens and savages," said 
 he. 
 
 Hakkouki therefore paid Ah-Gap what 
 was due him, and regretfully bade him 
 good-by, for the Javanese had been a faith- 
 ful and willing servant.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 
 
 the voyage to Shanghai, Hakkouki 
 felt very lonely and found it hard ' to 
 pass the time. He looked over his letters and 
 papers which Chan Fou had so kindly given 
 him, but found every word unintelligible. 
 He then counted his money to see how 
 much he had left from his life in Mysore. 
 He was surprised to find two bags which 
 he had filled with silver, now contained 
 only copper coins. 
 
 "Ah-Gap," he said sadly to himself. 
 "Well, I suppose a Malay is a born thief, 
 so I must forgive him. But I would rather 
 not have known." 
 
 Hakkouki sat for a long time brooding 
 over this, and feeling very lonely. A 
 
 250
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 251 
 
 gentleman paced the deck near him, evi- 
 dently intent on his own thoughts. After 
 a time he appeared to take notice of Hak- 
 kouki, and approaching, he spoke a few 
 words in Chinese. Hakkouki was not able 
 to answer, and felt somewhat chagrined 
 that he should be wearing the clothing of 
 a nation whose language he was unable to 
 understand. The gentleman than tried Hin- 
 doostanee, and at last Spanish. The last 
 Hakkouki was able to speak. 
 
 "Yes," he replied, "I am going to Shang- 
 hai, and I was advised by a Chinese friend 
 to wear the dress, as I am to go imme- 
 diately to his home." 
 
 The conversation once started proved a 
 cure for Hakkouki' s loneliness, and when he 
 went on deck next morning, he again ad- 
 dressed his new-found friend. 
 
 During the day the stranger informed 
 Hakkouki that his home was in Calcutta, 
 but that he was going to Shanghai, and 
 from there proceed up the river to a place
 
 252 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 called Sui Fu, where he had business. This 
 acquaintance proved of the utmost value to 
 Hakkouki. The gentleman proved to be 
 none other than Kishen Singh, a native of 
 Krishna in British Thibet, and a man well 
 and favorably known by reason of his 
 wonderful survey of Eastern Thibet. 
 
 Chan Fou's family rendered Hakkouki 
 every assistance, but as he had the oppor- 
 tunity to ascend the river in company with 
 Kishen Singh, he was unable to make an 
 extended visit and receive all the attentions 
 which these hospitable people wished to 
 show him. They supplied him with a faith- 
 ful escort of six Mongols, who were ac- 
 quainted with the country, and of sworn 
 allegiance to the family. 
 
 At Ichang they left the steamer, as from 
 this point the ascent of the river is diffi- 
 cult. The Wu-Shan Rapids are said to be 
 as formidable as the Lachine Rapids of the 
 St. Lawrence, and no steamboat is capable 
 of stemming the force of the current. At
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 253 
 
 this place Hakkouki and Kishen Singh 
 were able to continue their journey on a 
 junk, this being the conveyance by which 
 the products of Thibet, tea and musk being 
 among the principal ones, are conveyed 
 over this difficult part of the river to 
 China. Amidst the noise of firecrackers 
 and the burning of joss-paper, they started, 
 two or three lifeboats with crews, ready for 
 an emergency, accompanying them. 
 
 This journey up the river, still the only 
 mode of travelling in that part of the 
 country, was a remarkable trip, and took 
 them thirty-three days to accomplish. The 
 junk was heavily laden with Chinese goods 
 for the interior, and worked its way up- 
 stream amidst apparently insurmountable 
 difficulties. The "trackers," who towed 
 the junk from a tow-path at the side of the 
 river, were directed by the beating of a 
 drum upon the junk's bow. Every little 
 while a man especially appointed for the 
 work would calmly leap into the river and
 
 254 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 clamber on to some rock and clear the 
 tow-line, which had got foul. In this way 
 they at last reached Sui Fu. 
 
 Hakkouki had described his intended 
 journey into Thibet most graphically and 
 temptingly to Kishen Singh, and begged 
 his company; but on each occasion he had 
 received the answer, " It would give me 
 the greatest pleasure, but I did not come 
 to China for pleasure." 
 
 They had been in Sui Fu a week, during 
 which time Hakkouki had been busy mak- 
 ing his preparations and had seen little of 
 Kishen Singh. As he sat drinking his tea 
 one morning, planning for his trip, and 
 thinking of the coolies whom he would 
 engage, and how they should be packed, 
 the entrance to his room was darkened by 
 the now familiar figure of his friend. He 
 sprang forward at once to meet him, but 
 drew back when he noticed the dark, 
 threatening expression on the face of his 
 guest.
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 255 
 
 " What has gone wrong ? " he asked. 
 
 " Oh, everything," was the answer. 
 " Oh, these barbarous Chinese ! What can 
 one do with them? My patience is at an 
 end. ' Come again in three years,' they 
 say to me. ' We will then have a new 
 Amban in Ta Chien-lu, and you may then 
 be successful.' " 
 
 Kishen Singh threw himself upon a roll 
 of blankets, utterly discouraged. It had 
 been the one desire- of his life to make a 
 complete survey of Thibet. He had ac- 
 complished much already, but was continu- 
 ally balked by the objection which the 
 Chinese had to opening up their interior 
 to foreigners. He never lost hope, how- 
 ever. In three years' time, or six years, 
 or whatever they required, he should come 
 again. But oh ! the time was so precious, 
 for one cannot live always. 
 
 Kishen Singh was a man of small stature, 
 but of great dignity, erect and strong, with 
 a remarkably deep and powerful voice,
 
 256 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 although accustomed to speak in a soft and 
 subdued tone. He wore his hair short, was 
 beardless, seemingly by nature, and therefore 
 had no need to shave. His features were 
 regular, his face rather broad. His black 
 eyes were very intelligent, his mouth deli- 
 cate, and eyebrows clearly defined. Having 
 thrown himself upon the roll of blankets, 
 he instantly assumed a position of perfect 
 comfort, and though irritated and annoyed, 
 showed no suggestion of it in his manner. 
 
 "Perhaps you will be able to obtain per- 
 mission from the mandarin to enter, which 
 will give you power over the head of the 
 Amban," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " Yes, I am trying ; but even that means 
 delay. Ah ! it is always delay here in China," 
 he answered. 
 
 " But during that time can you not go with 
 me and enjoy the pleasure which you did 
 not come to China for?" said Hakkouki, 
 seductively. 
 
 Kishen Singh's expression changed, and a
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 257 
 
 ray of joy lighted up his countenance. But 
 for several moments he did not speak. 
 
 " When do you go ? " he asked, at last. 
 
 " Whenever it is your royal wish," said 
 Hakkouki, overjoyed. 
 
 Kishen Singh smiled, and realizing how 
 ardently Hakkouki wished his company, he 
 then and there agreed. This was of the 
 greatest advantage to Hakkouki, on account 
 of Kishen Singh's knowledge of the country,* 
 and experience as an explorer; but more 
 than that he had conceived for this remark- 
 able person a great liking. Hakkouki being 
 himself of a noble type, distinguished and 
 superior to his fellows, was also possessed of 
 a heart so warm and sympathetic that it 
 responded quickly to the call for affection 
 which exists in all human beings, and he had 
 been attracted by this man when first he 
 spoke to him. 
 
 As the days of their acquaintance length- 
 ened into weeks, the affection between them 
 had deepened. Though Hakkouki was accus-
 
 258 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 tomed to find the best in every human being, 
 and to be satisfied with that, he was con- 
 tinually surprised as the greatness of this 
 man's soul was further comprehended by him. 
 To have the companionship of a man like 
 this, seemed to Hakkouki a stroke of good 
 fortune, such as he could never have antici- 
 pated. Little of this thought was he able 
 to put into words as he sat drinking his tea 
 that morning in Sui Fu. A smile told it all 
 to Kishen Singh. There is a comprehension 
 between those who live for high purposes 
 in life, who study and love their fellows, 
 which has no need of words. 
 
 But there was work to be done, for the 
 life in the mountains must be provided for. 
 The musk-deer is found only in the high 
 altitudes, never less than eight thousand feet 
 above sea-level. As its domicile borders on 
 the region of eternal snow, clothing and pro- 
 visions for a cold climate must be procured. 
 
 " Our first care must be for our passports," 
 said Kishen Singh. " In this respect the
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 259 
 
 Thibetans are more particular than any other 
 race." 
 
 Chan Fou's friendship had provided Hak- 
 kouki with this necessity, and Kishen Singh, 
 being himself a native of British Thibet, was 
 able to travel with British papers. This is 
 not so agreeable to the Thibetans, but Kishen 
 Singh, knowing their prejudices, had also 
 appealed to his Chinese friends of influence 
 in Shanghai. 
 
 " Then comes the matter of religion," said 
 he. 
 
 " I am a Mohammedan," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " That is good," said Kishen Singh. " I 
 am a Buddhist. The Christians are often ex- 
 posed to trouble in travelling, but a Buddhist, 
 even a British subject, is considered almost 
 one of them ; and as we shall have Moham- 
 medans among our coolies, your religion will 
 be a comfort to them. They are very de- 
 pendent upon their masters." 
 
 Since all the journey beyond the first hun- 
 dred miles was to be made on foot, and all the
 
 260 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 baggage and provisions were to be carried by 
 men, it was necessary to have twenty-four 
 coolies, twelve for each hunter. Occasionally 
 the yak is made use of by the musk hunter 
 for transportation purposes, but no time is 
 gained by using it, for the speed of the cara- 
 van must be that of the men who walk. 
 Hakkouki, therefore, thought best to take 
 only men as porters. Moreover, when ani- 
 mals are made use of, whether ponies, camels, 
 or yaks, not only are they often led off in the 
 night by brigands, but they have a most ex- 
 asperating habit of disappearing on their own 
 account. 
 
 "I remember," said Kishen Singh, "when 
 I camped once on the hills only a few hun- 
 dred miles from Lassa, awaking one morn- 
 ing to the knowledge that twenty-four of our 
 animals, ponies and camels, had disappeared 
 in the night. As the country was full of 
 brigands, we thought we knew the cause, 
 but at the end of four days' delay the men 
 came in with the last of the strayed ponies.
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 261 
 
 They will get off when hobbled in a way 
 that doesn't seem possible for them to go 
 ten feet." 
 
 " That isn't to be one of our troubles," 
 said Hakkouki. " Coolies w r on't stray far 
 from the provision boxes." 
 
 Kishen Singh smiled. His face was now 
 as bright as a summer's morning. Once hav- 
 ing thrown off care, he was determined to 
 make the most of his pleasure. 
 
 They travelled south in single file, the 
 native guide taking the lead ; then Hak- 
 kouki and Kishen Singh ; behind them came 
 the water-carriers, the tent porters, the bed- 
 ding-carriers ; two men with fur clothing 
 for the cold weather in the high altitudes; 
 two with cooking pots, plates, canteens, and 
 so forth; two with tea, sugar, and other 
 stores ; two with ammunition ; the same num- 
 ber with guns and rifles ; and two men with 
 sundries. 
 
 All were dressed at the start in the ordi- 
 nary Chinese costume of the lowlands, very
 
 262 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 light and cool ; but as the cold of the moun- 
 tain of Thibet is extreme, they were also pro- 
 vided with warm woollen suits, and fur 
 garments, to the ankles. These were to be 
 strapped in by a belt during the day, and 
 drawn to the height of the knees. At night 
 they would be dropped to their full length 
 and serve as bed clothing. 
 
 Kishen Singh was in the best of humor; 
 nothing could disturb his serenity. However, 
 all did not go smoothly, even while travelling 
 in true Chinese territory. The tramp of each 
 day was hard and long, and consequently 
 fatiguing to a man somewhat out of practice. 
 Then, one of the coolies died, and it was 
 insisted by the others that the death was 
 caused by a snake. As the man was a Mus- 
 sulman, Hakkouki was obliged to perform 
 the rites of burial, while all the other coolies, 
 in open-mouthed awe, stood by. 
 
 That night Akoun, the guide, came to Hak- 
 kouki, and said, " It is best to give up the 
 expedition."
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY, 263 
 
 "Indeed; why?" asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " Ah, no good fortune can coine now after 
 this ill omen." 
 
 " It is sad that Dazi is dead, but I see no 
 ill omen in his death," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " It is not his death," was the reply, " but 
 because it was caused by a snake." 
 
 " How can that be ? There are no snakes 
 about," said Hakkouki. 
 
 " Agreed," said Akoun ; " we have not seen 
 them, but that is no proof. Nothing else 
 could have caused his death, for he was 
 blessed against death from every other 
 cause, but being a poor man he had not 
 the money required to be blessed against 
 snakes. So it is by a snake that he has 
 died, and nothing but ill luck can come to 
 us." 
 
 The men wept and groaned, and refused to 
 go on. 
 
 " They must be beaten," said the guide, 
 simply, who claimed to be a man of great 
 intelligence. Although he was sure that the
 
 264 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 death had been caused by a snake, he was 
 willing, nevertheless, to proceed even in the 
 face of bad luck, and was ready to beat the 
 coolies into submission, provided his pay was 
 doubled. 
 
 Hakkouki was in despair, but Kishen Singh 
 went out where the men lay flat upon their 
 faces, grovelling upon the earth, in their 
 wretchedness, and praying for forgiveness. 
 They believed that this horror had been 
 brought upon them because of some past sin. 
 All night they had lain in abject misery. 
 The day was dawning ; a rosy hue pervaded 
 the sky, and reflected a soft pink coloring 
 upon the misty gray of the surrounding 
 country. 
 
 Kishen Singh raised his arms, and in his 
 deep voice said, " Rise, and look upon me ! " 
 The men obeyed. Silence for several mo- 
 ments reigned, while Kishen Singh looked 
 steadily at them. Then he continued sol- 
 emnly, " He who holds us in the palm of his 
 hand has forgiven you. See," he said, point-
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 265 
 
 ing to the sun just showing above the far- 
 distant hills ; " He sends his messenger of 
 light to tell you." 
 
 The effect of this speech upon the coolies 
 was electrical. The men, children as they 
 truly are, needed but the assurance of their 
 master that all was well. They set to work 
 at once to rectify the condition of the camp, 
 to pack on their burdens, and when the 
 march was resumed, they travelled at a speed 
 much greater than any they had previously 
 accomplished. 
 
 The coolies of this region, who act as hill 
 porters, are people of a wandering nature 
 and unknown origin. They are a mixture 
 of Chinese, Thibetans, East Indians, and 
 various races, speak dialects of several lan- 
 guages, and have at the same time a remark- 
 able resemblance to each other in personal 
 appearance as well as character, all of which 
 shows that climatic and educational influ- 
 ences are more powerful with them than 
 inheritance.
 
 266 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 The caravan soon reached a higher alti- 
 tude, and they felt the cold winds blowing 
 over the snow-capped mountains. One night, 
 having pitched their tents upon an eminence, 
 sheltered on the side from which the wind 
 came by the mountain rising still higher 
 above them, they looked off over the sur- 
 rounding country. In the distance, as the 
 night grew darker, they could distinctly see 
 the fires of another camp across the ravine 
 where the river flowed. 
 
 "They are hunters," said Kishen Singh, 
 after watching for some time. " And they 
 have had good luck." 
 
 " How do you know? " asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " They cook their meat," answered Kishen 
 Singh, simply. 
 
 " Then they are not musk hunters ? " 
 
 "Well, they might be. The flesh of the 
 musk-deer is remarkably good, and has no 
 flavor of musk; but I think they are hunting 
 larger game." 
 
 Again Hakkouki inquired how he knew.
 
 INTO THE FORBIDDEN COUNTRY. 267 
 
 " Because they are English," answered 
 Kishen Singh. 
 
 " Tell me how you know that," persisted 
 Hakkouki. 
 
 " Because they have more than one fire."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 
 
 T^HE next day, after crossing the river, 
 
 they passed the Englishmen, and were 
 
 warned by them of the dangers in advance. 
 
 a We have suffered extortion in every 
 form," said the hunters. "These people 
 are most cruel and barbarous. They even 
 imprisoned our Indian servants, and caused 
 us much anxiety and delay. We advise you 
 to turn back before it is too late." 
 
 But Hakkouki, having undertaken a thing, 
 was hardly the man to turn back. Later 
 he said to Kishen Singh : 
 
 " Have you any desire to profit by the 
 warning of the Englishmen ? " 
 
 A pleasant smile from Kishen Singh was 
 his only answer.
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 269 
 
 As they kept to the regular trail, they met 
 other caravans going in the opposite direc- 
 tion. They noticed even in so short a time 
 a change in the people, especially in those 
 who were packing tea, from place to place. 
 One man carries his bricks of tea a certain 
 distance, where they are taken up by an- 
 other, while he returns for more, thereby 
 going over the same road each day. By 
 packing the bricks one above another high 
 over their heads, and in parallel lines the 
 width of their shoulders, they were able to 
 carry enormous quantities. 
 
 The average load is nine packages about 
 two hundred pounds ; but some men carry 
 as many as seventeen over three hundred 
 pounds. Women frequently carry seven or 
 eight, and even children were seen trudging 
 along behind their parents with a package 
 or two. 
 
 At the beginning of then* journey these 
 tea porters were Chinese, with the custo- 
 mary clothing and queue, but as Hakkouki's
 
 270 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 caravan went onward into the mountains of 
 the Yunnan country in Eastern Thibet, the 
 passers-by presented a marked change, both of 
 feature and raiment. Although the govern- 
 ment is in the hands of the Chinese, who keep 
 in every village a representative known as 
 the Amban, the Thibetans are still very 
 independent, and often the Amban stands 
 more in fear of them than they of him, as 
 Hakkouki and Kishen Singh soon had reason 
 to learn. 
 
 As a spur to their enthusiasm they met 
 musk hunters returning, and although to 
 their inquiry, "Have you had good fortune?" 
 they invariably received the same answer, 
 " There are no longer any musk-deer in the 
 mountains," they continued to push on. " For," 
 they reasoned, " had they not obtained their 
 usual load they would not return." But 
 musk, even in the hills, is so valuable, sell- 
 ing at the rate of five dollars for a good 
 pod weighing about an ounce, that competi- 
 tion cannot be encouraged.
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 271 
 
 One night they camped in close proximity 
 to a company of hunters, and here it was 
 decided to remain for a few days, at least, 
 and make a trial. The altitude was about 
 twelve thousand feet. During the day the 
 cold, dry wind had cut their skins into deep 
 fissures, which were so painful as to prevent 
 their sleeping. For protection they manu- 
 factured helmets of thick cloth, with a mask 
 to cover the face, in which were cut two 
 holes for the eyes. Both Hakkouki and 
 Kishen Singh were meat-hungry; for the 
 weather was cold, and they had depended 
 upon their skill in hunting to supply this 
 article. 
 
 "If we get no musk-deer, we may get a 
 stag or a goat, or at least something edible," 
 said Hakkouki. 
 
 They were surprised, soon after supper, 
 by a visit from one of their neighbors. 
 He was a Chinaman, and a more uncanny 
 and unreliable-looking being Hakkouki, in 
 all his wanderings, had not come upon. He
 
 272 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 was evidently clever, of an intriguing order, 
 with a suspicious gleam in his narrow, rest- 
 less eyes, and a coarse, cruel mouth, con- 
 stantly in motion, even when not speaking. 
 His queue was twisted about his head under 
 his headdress, and therefore made no show- 
 ing. Having been in the mountains a long 
 time, he had allowed his hair to grow over 
 his forehead to his eyebrows. 
 
 "Are you Chinamen?" he asked, bending 
 forward and spreading his arms in greeting, 
 at the same time letting his tongue drop 
 from his mouth to the end of his chin. This 
 is the greef ag of the Thibetans, and might 
 have been misleading had not Kishen Singh 
 been familiar with both races. 
 
 " No ; I am a Thibetan," answered Kishen 
 Singh, in good Chinese. 
 
 This, their visitor evidently did not be- 
 lieve, as, after a momentary look of surprise, 
 he said, " I thought so ; otherwise you 
 would not have dared enter the country at 
 such a time as this." Then, looking curi-
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 273 
 
 ously about, he added, " Perhaps you are 
 pilgrims who travel to the sacred city of 
 Lassa?" 
 
 " No," answered Kishen Singh. " We are 
 here to hunt the musk-deer." 
 
 " Then I must disappoint you," said the 
 Chinaman. " The Chinese government has 
 passed a law prohibiting the killing of the 
 deer. They are becoming almost unknown 
 in these parts, and time must be given for 
 their protection and increase." 
 
 " But," answered Kishen Singh, " as the 
 control by the government over these out- 
 lying districts is somewhat shadowy, the 
 value of musk, and the ease with which it 
 can be surreptitiously sent away, would cer- 
 tainly place a premium on poaching." 
 
 The Chinaman rose to his feet, and his 
 eyes became narrower as he spoke. 
 
 " I am here to prevent poaching, should 
 you attempt it." 
 
 " How ? " asked Kishen Singh, quietly. 
 
 " I have a guard. I can arrest you."
 
 274 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 "What would that profit you?" asked 
 Kishen Singh. 
 
 Instantly this word quieted the Celestial, 
 and he seated himself on the left side of 
 the opening to the tent again, as is the 
 custom in Thibet. 
 
 " Perhaps you can make it more profit- 
 able to me not to arrest you," said he, 
 suavely. 
 
 "Perhaps," was the smiling rejoinder of 
 Kishen Singh. 
 
 " Now, what would you offer ? " 
 
 " Well, we can talk of that later, when 
 we have decided to poach." 
 
 At last, the Chinaman, unable to get a 
 settled statement of price, was forced to de- 
 part. But every evening during their stay 
 he paid them a visit and discussed the 
 matter of payment. By these visits Hak- 
 kouki and Kishen Singh obtained more in- 
 formation than they could have done in 
 any other way. The Chinaman told them 
 of the habits of the animal, and even the
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 275 
 
 most probable locations of its lair. But his 
 amazement would have been great had he 
 known that every evening after he took 
 his departure, they started out upon their 
 hunt. This they very cautiously kept to 
 themselves, while the Chinaman went home 
 chuckling. 
 
 " They hunt the deer in the daytime. A 
 precious pair of fools ! When the animal 
 never leaves its lair while the sun shines!" 
 
 Hakkouki and Kishen Singh, however, 
 knew this before they came to the hills. 
 
 Hakkouki had once before hunted at 
 night, and he was very forcibly reminded 
 of his experience with the civet in Abys- 
 sinia, which now seemed to him so long ago. 
 
 "They sleep, they sleep," laughed the 
 Chinaman. " They thank me for all that 
 I tell them, and go out in the daytime to 
 hunt the deer which sleeps, which sleeps." 
 
 And he stood off in the darkness of the 
 woods and watched the camp close up and 
 settle down to slumber. Then, shaking
 
 276 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 with cold and laughter, he hurried on to 
 sleep himself. 
 
 He would not have slept so happily had he 
 dreamt of what really took place. With 
 their guns upon their shoulders, and four of 
 the coolies carrying ammunition and food, 
 they started off in the opposite direction from 
 their neighbor's camp. Rounding the hill, 
 they came up on the other side near a clump 
 of birch and juniper trees, thickly inter- 
 spersed by the low bushy rhododendrons, and 
 there quietly lay in waiting. 
 
 The animals are not gregarious, but go 
 about in couples. As the male only is pos- 
 sessed of the gland in which the musk is 
 secreted, Hakkouki was anxious to shoot only 
 the male. He had purposely separated him 
 self from the others, who were to stalk the 
 animal from a different direction. He had 
 already been told how the deer, upon observ- 
 ing any one, will generally stand perfectly 
 motionless for a long time, gazing at the in- 
 truder. As he lay upon the ground, he found
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 277 
 
 his long fur garment very comfortable. It 
 seemed hours that he lay thus. As his eyes 
 became accustomed to the darkness, he could 
 make out objects in the distance, which he 
 had not at first been able to see. Trees and 
 branches, hills and leaves, outlined themselves 
 gradually as he lay there ; but the clump of 
 thick shrubbery was the one thing upon 
 which his attention was riveted. Still noth- 
 ing moved within or without it. Hours 
 passed, and in time Hakkouki felt no comfort 
 in his fine fur garment, for certainly he could 
 not be colder had he been without it. His 
 teeth chattered, and he feared, should the 
 animal really show itself, his fingers would 
 be too numb to pull the trigger. A terrible 
 feeling of loneliness, moreover, came over 
 him. The complete isolation was terrible. 
 No sound or sight had he been able to catch 
 of Kishen Singh and the men since he had 
 left them. He had planned to lie there until 
 dawn, but it was so long in coming that Hak- 
 kouki felt that something must be wrong
 
 278 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 with it, for certainly it was long past time 
 for daylight to appear. He had about given 
 up all hope, when suddenly a sound fell upon 
 his ear. It was the cracking of a twig. 
 Could it be a deer ? Later, he heard another 
 sound still farther off,, and was able to dis- 
 cern moving figures. They were men. His 
 impatience knew no bounds. It must be 
 Kishen Singh and the men returning to the 
 camp, he thought. But no ! they were 
 strange men. He could see plainly. They 
 were some of the Chinaman's coolies. 
 
 At that moment, within a few feet of his 
 left arm, another sound caught his ear and he 
 heard a soft breathing. He glanced in the 
 direction and there could see the head of a 
 deer thrust out among the leaves. The slen- 
 der tusks, two or three inches long, protruding 
 over the lower lip, pronounced it to be a 
 male. With his great, gentle eyes, the deer 
 watched the moving figures, who were now 
 too far away to see him. It stood perfectly 
 motionless, occasionally uttering a loud hiss.
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 279 
 
 Knowing the folly of haste, Hakkouki slowly 
 raised the rifle in position, pointed it just 
 below the shoulder, and drew the trigger. 
 
 The animal fell immediately, and Hakkouki 
 lay as still as before and patiently watched 
 his unknown stalkers going in the opposite 
 direction. When they had disappeared, he 
 rose and went to secure the game. The 
 animal was much smaller than he had sup- 
 posed it would be, standing not more than 
 twenty inches at the shoulder, and of a gen- 
 eral dark gray color, with almost black spots. 
 The hair was of a peculiar kind, long, rough, 
 and very brittle, though undoubtedly a good 
 protection against the cold. As he stood gaz- 
 ing, a noise behind attracted his attention, 
 and the mate appeared. Seeing Hakkouki, 
 with one long heartrending shriek, she took 
 to flight. Her immensely elongated heels 
 gave her a wonderfully firm hold as she sped 
 over the uneven rocky country, and, with the 
 swiftness of a chamois, she was soon out of 
 sight.
 
 280 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 Hakkouki was anxious to find his party 
 as soon as possible, and he also wished to 
 wait long enough to give the strangers 
 time to get completely out of hearing. He 
 wondered they hadn't come to him upon 
 hearing the report of the rifle; but if Hak- 
 kouki had been able to see round the cliff, 
 he would have seen his stalkers taking to 
 their heels. 
 
 Kishen Singh happened to witness the 
 whole proceeding, and therefore lay quietly 
 until Hakkouki threw the animal over his 
 shoulder and turned toward the camp. 
 Then Kishen Singh joined him. 
 
 " Our neighbors," he said, " were examin- 
 ing their snares ; they do not shoot the ani- 
 mal, but set traps and go to them toward 
 morning." 
 
 "Did they know we "were here, do you 
 think?" asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " No ; they had not a suspicion of it. I 
 could hear them talk." 
 
 " But the report of the rifle," said Hakkouki.
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 281 
 
 "Ah, you should have seen them run," 
 laughed Kishen Singh. " But we must 
 get back; it will soon be light." 
 
 The Chinaman changed the hour of his 
 call, and when he arrived next day at noon 
 he found his neighbors gone to hunt. 
 
 "That's good," he chuckled. "They 
 must work hard so they will sleep to-night." 
 His ugly face screwed itself into a most 
 painful expression, as he continued, "I'd 
 like to know who fired that shot. Can we 
 have other visitors in these parts?" 
 
 Next day the two hunters decided to pack 
 up and leave. There was, no doubt, plenty 
 of game in the locality, but they had rather 
 more of the Chinaman's company than they 
 desired ; moreover, their hunger having been 
 satisfied, they preferred to go farther on into 
 wilder country. 
 
 Akoun, the guide, obliged the men to 
 pack in the greatest haste, and during the 
 process he exhibited much pleasure. For, 
 to tell the truth, Akoun was very much
 
 282 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 afraid of their neighbor. Although a man 
 of remarkable physical strength, he was 
 almost entirely devoid of moral courage, 
 and the expression of this Chinaman's face 
 took the "backbone" out of him terribly. 
 
 His haste, however, profited him nothing ; 
 for Hakkouki ordered the caravan to pass 
 the camp of their neighbor, who, having 
 been informed by his servants, stood wait- 
 ing to receive them. His face assumed a 
 pleasant expression, but he was neverthe- 
 less troubled. When Kishen Singh called 
 good-by without stopping, the Chinaman ran 
 along beside him. " The money, the money," 
 he demanded. 
 
 " What money ? " asked Kishen Singh. 
 
 " That which should profit me more if I 
 did not arrest you." 
 
 " Oh, that wasn't money. See," and 
 Kishen Singh showed him Hakkouki's pass- 
 port. 
 
 It was merely a small paper with a few 
 characters in Chinese, unintelligible to Hak-
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 283 
 
 kouki. But it was effective. The man 
 prostrated himself at once, and the caravan 
 passed on unmolested. 
 
 "Do you think the government has put 
 restrictions upon the hunting of the deer?" 
 asked Hakkouki later, as they tramped 
 along. 
 
 "That I do not know," answered Kishen 
 Singh. " But certainly this man was not 
 here for that purpose ; moreover, his men 
 hunted the deer. So long as musk remains 
 one of the most prized perfumes, and com- 
 mands an almost fabulous price in the Eu- 
 ropean markets, the animal will be hunted 
 in spite of all restrictions, though probably, 
 like the beaver and the bird of paradise, 
 its entire extermination is only a question 
 of years." 
 
 " The pods are so small that they can be 
 easily shipped in great numbers," said Hak- 
 kouki, for he carried the one which had been 
 cut from the deer he had shot in his pocket. 
 
 "Yes," said Kishen Singh. "More than
 
 284 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN, 
 
 fifty-three thousand deer are sacrificed to sup- 
 ply the Shanghai export trade alone, in one 
 year." 
 
 " It is said that several attempts have been 
 made to rear the musk-deer in captivity, as 
 was tried with the civet in Holland," said 
 Hakkouki, " but in no instance has the at- 
 tempt been successful." 
 
 " Its habits are altogether opposed to do- 
 mestication," said Kishen Singh. "This cli- 
 mate, wild life, and opportunity for long runs 
 and climbing cannot be reproduced in captive 
 life. The animal soon goes blind and dies. 
 I once saw one which had been caught young, 
 and brought home by a hunter. It was so 
 tame that it would play with the children and 
 their dog. The dog was equally fond of the 
 deer, and it was amusing to see him attack 
 any stranger who presumed to touch his timid 
 playmate. The usual food appears to be 
 leaves and flowers, although the natives say 
 that they eat snakes. These children fed it 
 on bread and milk and leaves, but it soon
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 285 
 
 went blind and died, and apparently suffered 
 much pain." 
 
 " How old do you think the deer was which 
 I shot?" asked Hakkouki. 
 
 " About five or six years. It was in the 
 very best condition. After three years the 
 pod is well filled with musk, but it increases 
 later." 
 
 At the end of a week they reached the part 
 of the country for which they had set out, but 
 at the base of the mountain which it was 
 their intention to climb, they came upon a 
 small village. The people of the village were 
 exceedingly troublesome, mobbing them in 
 regular Chinese fashion, and displaying a stub- 
 born sort of insolence. One who was asked 
 to step back drew a sword and threatened 
 to use it, when Akoun, who was unarmed, 
 promptly struck him with his fist. For a few 
 moments it looked as if there were going to 
 be a free fight ; stones and clods of earth were 
 thrown at the coolies. There was a pause, 
 however, when Kishen Singh and Hakkouki
 
 286 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 unslung their rifles, and after a little hesita- 
 tion the caravan was allowed to move on in 
 peace. 
 
 Though the headman of the village was 
 present all the time, he appeared to have no 
 influence whatever, notwithstanding the fact 
 that his intentions were of the best. The 
 headman of the district was also in the vil- 
 lage, and sent a scarf of welcome and an 
 iron vessel full of chang (a sort of beer), with 
 an apology for not coming. It was rather 
 amusing a week later, when the caravan came 
 down the mountain, in passing through the 
 village, to find this same headman soliciting 
 a signed certificate, stating that Hakkouki 
 had been well treated in the district. 
 
 During the week upon the mountain, they 
 killed a stag and some smaller game, while 
 Hakkouki added eleven musk pods to his 
 store. 
 
 Having heard that a Grand Lama of Thibet 
 lived within four days' journey, Hakkouki 
 determined to visit him. By this time
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 287 
 
 Akoun was behaving in a strange manner, 
 and causing much annoyance by one peculiar 
 habit which he had of hiding things, and 
 some time after producing them and demand- 
 ing a reward. 
 
 "It seems probable that we shall have 
 more serious trouble with him on the return 
 journey to Sui Fu," said Hakkouki one 
 morning to Kishen Singh. 
 
 " I have thought of that," answered 
 Kishen Singh. " I think the visit to the 
 Grand Lama, which you suggested yesterday, 
 may do him good. He is a Buddhist." 
 
 So Hakkouki's answer to the headman's re- 
 quest for a certificate was that he had yet four 
 days longer to be in his district, and upon 
 reaching the boundary he should give him a 
 certificate according to the way he was treated. 
 
 When entering the village where the 
 Grand Lama lived they could see the mon- 
 astery, consisting of several tents, high up 
 on the hillside. Many Lamas who lived 
 there came out to meet them, and politely
 
 288 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 asked to see their papers. Being satisfied 
 with the ones Kishen Singh showed them, 
 they led them with great courtesy toward 
 the large tent where sat the Grand Lama, 
 a man of intelligent appearance, and quiet 
 dignity. Without rising he offered his 
 hand and hoped they had had a pleasant 
 journey, and with the same smiling face seen 
 alike on Buddhas of statue and Buddhas of 
 flesh and blood, he bade them be seated. 
 They placed themselves, Eastern fashion, to 
 the left of the aperture in the tent and 
 partook of tea with butter in it. There 
 was nothing in the abode to indicate any 
 attempt at luxury or cleanliness. All the 
 furniture seemed to be equally neglected; 
 but an altar had been raised and there were 
 some sacred images enclosed in a sort of 
 tabernacle or movable chapel. 
 
 After a short time a great noise of drums 
 and cymbals was heard ; and this being a call 
 to prayer, Hakkouki and Kishen Singh took 
 their leave.
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 289 
 
 They had pitched their tents, on entering 
 the village, about ha ] f a mile below the 
 monastery. Imagine their surprise, then, 
 when they returned to find the tents gone. 
 
 " We must have come the wrong way," 
 said Hakkouki. 
 
 " Why, surely this is the spot," answered 
 Kishen Singh. 
 
 " It must be," said Hakkouki ; " for you 
 can see where the stakes have been driven, 
 and also how the ground has been torn up 
 in the haste of packing." 
 
 The two friends looked at each other and 
 actually laughed. What could be said ? 
 
 "What can have prompted Akoun to do 
 it?" said Hakkouki. 
 
 "Fear," answered Kishen Singh. "Cer- 
 tainly he has lost much by it, for the goods 
 he has taken are not worth the w r ages he 
 was to receive when we returned to Sui Fu, 
 but he has our fur coats." 
 
 "But he'll have no need of them in Sui 
 Fu," answered Hakkouki.
 
 290 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 " He can sell them," suggested Kishen 
 Singh. " Was there any money, anything 
 of value, in your pockets ? I changed my 
 papers, letter of credit, and passport, into 
 this pocket," he continued. 
 
 Hakkouki searched his own pockets, and 
 his face fell. " My passport ! " he gasped. 
 " It's gone ! " 
 
 "Ah, so Akoun will pass himself through 
 the country like a grandee," laughed Kishen 
 Singh. " So it was pride as well as fear." 
 
 Hakkouki seated himself on the ground. 
 u Not one thing do I possess but the clothes 
 I wear, and my eleven musk pods," he said. 
 " I must apply "to the Grand Lama for help 
 in overtaking this rascal." 
 
 And, indeed, this kindly man did prove a 
 friend. After a long discussion, wherein 
 Hakkouki and Kishen Singh told him of 
 their plans and wishes, he said : " Leave it all 
 to me. I will see that the fellow is quickly 
 stopped upon the road and justly punished. 
 But as you are both anxious to get to Cal-
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 291 
 
 cutta in the shortest possible time, why re- 
 turn to Sui Fu? We are not far from the 
 boundary line of British India. Once there, 
 I hear they have ways of travel much more 
 rapid than we have. You have only to 
 travel directly west." 
 
 " You are both wise and right," answered 
 Kislien Singh. " The country of Assam in 
 India lies directly west of this. We shall 
 be safe there." 
 
 " I will send an escort with you to the 
 boundary," said the Lama. 
 
 A few hours later Hakkouki and Kislien 
 Singh, with much gratitude, bade him fare- 
 well. Kishen Singh promised prompt ac- 
 knowledgment as soon as they should arrive 
 in a city where his letter of credit would 
 be of use, for these Lamas are very poor. 
 
 Mounted upon mules, to facilitate their 
 speed, they set forth; the smiling wooden 
 face of the Grand Lama haunting them for 
 many a day. 
 
 They had anticipated little trouble when
 
 292 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 once in India; but it was a rough country, 
 very little opened up, and they rode on for 
 many miles before meeting any but natives. 
 The escort left them at the boundary, but 
 it had been agreed that they should take 
 two mules with them when leaving the men. 
 Having no maps and a very indefinite idea 
 of the country, they soon realized that the 
 provisions which they carried on their sad- 
 dles must be used very sparingly. 
 
 For two hundred miles they did not en- 
 counter a Avhite man. At last they unex- 
 pectedly came upon a tea plantation, and 
 were able to exchange two of the musk 
 pods for small money. This was very use- 
 ful in dealing with the natives. They were 
 also guided to the next tea plantation, and 
 there were entertained by a very agreeable 
 Englishman, who was as pleased to see them 
 as they were to see him, for he had been 
 months away from intelligent human be- 
 ings. After a few days' rest he journeyed 
 with them to the railroad, and there bought
 
 THE GRAND LAMA. 293 
 
 their mules to enable them to purchase 
 tickets to Calcutta. They were also able 
 to learn the day of the week, and by the 
 calendar found they had been seven months 
 in China. Although they had found a much 
 shorter road from the musk country to a 
 seaport, it is still sent by the arduous over- 
 land route from Yunnan to Shanghai, a dis- 
 tance of fourteen hundred miles. And no 
 doubt many years will elapse before China 
 will be brought to see the advantage to be 
 gained by shipping her products from for- 
 eign ports.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WINNING THE PRINCESS. 
 
 A A7HEN Hakkouki arrived at Calcutta, 
 * he realized that his travels were 
 practically at an end. He had visited the 
 lands wherein the most important and 
 delightful scents were produced, he had 
 learned how to care for the plants in their 
 growth, and knew how to prepare per- 
 fumes from them. With him he carried 
 patchouli cuttings, sandal and kuskus seeds, 
 also those of the lily from which ylang- 
 ylang is obtained. 
 
 While in Batavia he had written to Cam- 
 duatim at Scutari asking him to send him 
 cuttings or seeds of the Bulgarian rose, the 
 jasmine, heliotrope, violet, mignonette, lav- 
 ender, and other flowers of Southern France. 
 
 294
 
 WINNING THE PRINCESS. 295 
 
 He was much gratified to find the package 
 awaiting him, together with a long letter 
 from his old friend, telling of his intended 
 return to Persia, and begging him to join 
 him there. But Hakkouki scarcely realized 
 the ardor of the old man's request in his 
 impatience to reach the one spot on earth 
 where, to him, the sun ever shone and 
 life was constant happiness. 
 
 Hakkouki had also in his possession a 
 few vanilla beans, which he had every 
 reason to believe would grow successfully 
 in Kamristan. As for the baser, animal 
 substances, such as musk, civet, and amber- 
 gris, Hakkouki decided that he would not 
 introduce them into his beloved country. 
 To that land without perfumes, he would 
 take only the scents of herbs, woods, and 
 flowers ; those which to his mind were 
 wholesome, natural, and alone intended to 
 gratify the sense of smell. 
 
 In Calcutta Hakkouki ordered clothing 
 of the most beautiful and regal style. He
 
 296 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 had the garments cut after the manner of 
 those which he had worn while in Kaffir- 
 istan ; for he wished to appear before 
 Drusa looking as he did when she had first 
 bestowed her maiden love upon him. 
 
 During his long separation from the 
 Princess, Hakkouki had changed in some 
 ways. His travels and adventures had 
 brought him a great knowledge of men 
 and things ; his mind had become broad- 
 ened by contact with them. By being 
 thrown upon his own resources he had 
 learned self-reliance, patience, and the power 
 to do ; and because of a high ambition and 
 a pure mind he had grown much in manli- 
 ness and goodness. 
 
 In other ways, however, he had not 
 changed. Through all his wanderings he 
 had carried the image of his Princess in his 
 heart, and her spirit had been his life. 
 Night and day he had lived as completely 
 in her spiritual presence as he had lived in 
 her actual presence while at her court.
 
 WINNING THE PRINCESS. 297 
 
 From Calcutta he went by train to Cabul 
 in Afghanistan, whence, after a few days' 
 ride, he was able to strike the trail with 
 which he was already familiar, the trail 
 which led to the mountain and pass into 
 Kaffir is tan. 
 
 Oh ! the joy which thrilled him as he 
 travelled that road. He remembered his 
 enthusiasm when, with his dear friend 
 Bokhatan, he first saw it ; then, later, his 
 wild exultation when he passed out into 
 the world to win honor, fame, and the 
 right to claim the fairest maiden of all the 
 earth. And now, success having crowned 
 his efforts, he rode back to make her his 
 bride, with triumph shining in his counte- 
 nance and love reigning in his heart. 
 
 At the entrance to the pass, a sentinel 
 perched upon a rocky spur recognized the 
 traveller and at once gave the welcome cry : 
 
 "Hakkouki!" 
 
 Lifting his trumpet, he blew one long blast, 
 which was taken up in the gorge below, and
 
 298 THE GOLDEN TALISMAN. 
 
 passed from one guard to another, until it 
 reached the city, and the ears of Drusa. 
 
 ' Hakkouki has returned ! " was the cry 
 that went throughout the kingdom. Even 
 the everlasting hills took up the joyful note, 
 and echoed it the length and breadth of the 
 plateau. Men, women, and children ran that 
 they might welcome this man who, though 
 of the outer world, had become their bene- 
 factor and idol. 
 
 With the guard following him, Hakkouki 
 rode on between the towering walls of the 
 pass. He went slowly in order that the 
 hurrying people might keep pace with him. 
 All along the route, crowds saluted him with 
 cries of "Peace be with thee, Hakkouki! 
 Joy to thee and thy beautiful Drusa ! " 
 
 But although the sounds of the greetings 
 fell upon Hakkouki's ears pleasantly, and 
 filled him with exultation, he hardly knew 
 it, for his heart was beating wildly at the 
 thought of meeting his beloved. 
 
 At last he reached the steps of the palace
 
 WINNING THE PRINCESS. 299 
 
 and saw her. Beside her father, in a robe of 
 golden colored silk, she stood, like a radiant 
 angel, holding out her arms and smiling upon 
 him. Springing from the saddle, he bounded 
 up the steps, and, falling upon one knee, 
 kissed his adored one's hand. 
 
 "Nay; rise, most noble Hakkouki ! " said 
 the King. " We are happy that thou hast 
 returned to us in safety. We know that thou 
 hast not come back without having fulfilled 
 thy mission wisely and well. All honor to 
 thee, and all praise." 
 
 Hakkouki, rising to his full height, turned 
 toward the cheering populace. As he 
 stretched out his arms and raised them over 
 his head, a hush fell upon the multitude. 
 Then, in tones deep and sincere, he spoke : 
 
 " My people ! Oh, my people ! My heart 
 has yearned for you during these years of 
 absence, and now that I am with you again, 
 it is full of joy. I have brought back knowl- 
 edge and a new delight for this, my country. 
 Be Allah's all the praise!"
 
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 Kit Silburn is a real " Brain and Brawn " boy, full of sense and grit and sound 
 good qualities. Determined to make his way in life, and with no influential friends to 
 give him a start, he does a deal of hard work between the evening when he first meets 
 the stanch Captain Griffith, and the proud day when he becomes purser of a great 
 ocean steamship. His sea adventures are mostly on shore; but whether he is cleaning 
 the cabin of the North Cape, or landing cargo in Yucatan, or hurrying the spongers 
 and fruitmen of Nassau, or exploring London, or sight seeing with a disguised prince 
 in Marseilles, he is always the same busy, thoroughgoing, manly Kit. Whether or nol 
 he has a father alive is a question of deep interest throughout the story ; but that he 
 has a loving and loyal sister is plain from the start. 
 
 The set of four volumes in a box, $6.00. 
 
 &ERAPH, THE LITTLE VIOLINISTE. BY MRS. 
 O C. V. JAMIESON. 300 pp. Cloth, fi. 50. 
 
 The scene of the story is the French quarter of New Orleans, and charming bits of 
 local color add to its attractiveness. The Bostonjmtrnal. 
 
 Perhaps the most charming story she has ever written is that which describes Seraph, 
 the little violiniste. Transcript, Boston. 
 
 W. A. Wilde Company, Boston and Chicago. 
 It
 
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