passed Nisha still has lived, and his vengeance is not yet complete. The wayfarers who cross these plains at night have indeed had reason to lament the terrible crime of the son of On and the exaction of its requitement. Upon them suddenly steals a band of horsemen who snatch up the incautious wanderers and bear them away shrieking at their doom, for they are rarely again seen alive by mortal men. The people of Khorassan declare that they are gathered round the dead body of On in an enchanted crowd, and hold up their living yet lifeless hands in vain supplication to Nisha, who stalks among them a strange semblance of humanity. Distorted with age, his long, shrivelled arms reach to his feet as he holds the captives motionless with the glare of his red, bird-like eyes."
"With a wild cry of anguish he covered his face with his hands."
"A most interesting story, Hassan," said Denviers, when the Arab had finished; "and you really believe that Nisha has lived since the time when the Chaldeans studied the stars from the top of Babel's uncompleted tower?" and he whistled irreverently.
"The mind of man is a well unfathomed, none know its depths," responded Hassan. "If Allah and the Prophet will it so, why should not Nisha become immortal?"
"Well, Hassan," I interposed, "I must confess that I should like to see both the horsemen and the tomb before accepting your story as true." The Arab looked gravely at us as we reclined upon the cushions of our tents.
"Rest now," he answered, "and your guide will watch at the door of the tent. If the band of riders should chance to-night to cross the path yonder, I will surely awake you that your eyes may rest upon them."
II.
Worn out with the days of long, dreary riding which we had endured in our journey from Demavend to Khorassan, we had sunk into a profound sleep, when Hassan entered the tent and hastily aroused us.
"See for yourselves, sahibs!" he exclaimed, "the band is returning to Nisha, and bearing away some shrieking captive!" We sprang to the door of the tent and looked out. The sky was growing overcast with clouds, through which at fitful intervals the light of the moon struggled and lit up the scene around. A breeze sprang up for a few minutes, and as the clouds scudded before it, there was revealed to us a strange spectacle.
