CHAPTER XV. 'Tis morn—and o'er his altered features play Corsair. UPON his arrival at the holy city, the Commander of the Faithful, having fulfilled the customary duties of a pilgrim, proceeded forthwith to the performance of that ceremony, which was the principal object of his visit to Mecca. Great pomp and splendour were displayed in the celebration of this rite, but the description thereof, though it figures largely in the annals of oriental magnificence, is in nowise necessary to our narration. We will omit it, therefore, and be content with noticing the following incident, which bears somewhat upon our story. "When the officer who was appointed for this purpose," says the historian, "was about to affix the testament of the calif to the wall of the sacred building, a gust of wind snatched it from his hand, and wafted it across the temple." This was considered a bad omen for the tranquillity of the young princes' reign, and was indeed fulfilled by the dissension which raged between the royal brothers after the death of their father. This accident affected the mind of the superstitious calif in no ordinary degree. After the completion of the ceremony, he retired from the assembly, and having commanded that no one should intrude upon his solitude, shut himself up within his tent. The hour for the prayer of sunset passed, yet unmindful of the call of the muezzinn, the Commander of the Faithful came not forth to join, as was his custom, the public devotions in the mosque. The evening was well advanced, and his attendants were wondering at this unusual seclusion of their monarch, when a man presented himself before the royal tent, and demanded admission into the calif's presence. His name was Jasser, and he bore the rank of an offi cer of the calif's guard. Mesrour, the chief of the black eunuchs, who was there stationed, refused his request with but little ceremony; and to the plea that his business was pressing, replied, "The old tale, Jasser, and one too common to pass with me-it must wait, man-it must wait." "I tell thee, Mesrour, my business will not wait, without, it may be, sad detriment, such as thou wouldst ill like to answer for." "Were it the life of thy father, Jasser, I care not. I would trouble the calif for no such matter. He is gloomy and sad-disturbed, as I think, by yonder pageant. Away, till morning-not for thee, nor thy whole tribe, would I enter his presence till I am bidden." "Far be it from a worm like me to think of life or length of days, when the peace and honour of my lord the calif are threatened; and no less a matter is this. The danger be on my head if thou admittest me-if not, be it transferred to thine." "If thou art jesting, Jasser, thou hast chosen an ill place and time. But if thy words are in serious truth, I must perforce admit thee. But be advised; wait until the calif shall come forth. He will then listen to thee with patience." "On my head be it, Mesrour," exclaimed the officer, pressing forward to obtain entrance. "I tell thee, admit me quickly. I have that for the calif's ear to which he would hearken were he kneeling at the shrine of the Kaaba-though not with patience, in truth." "Enter then, since thou wilt not hear counsel," was Mesrour's reply; and stepping aside, he permitted Jasser to pass into the calif's presence. Long was the interview between the Commander of the Faithful and the officer; and when Haroun came forth, it was in furious mood. The lamps which shone in front of the royal tent shed but an imperfect light upon his countenance, but when he spoke, his voice was tremulous with anger. "See that the slave be imprisoned !" he exclaimed. "And the child, my lord?" said the officer, laying his hand involuntarily upon his poniard. "No, no, not as yet," was the answer of the monarch; "let it be kept under strict guard, but see that it is well cared for." Jasser turned to depart, but the voice of Haroun staid him. "Hear thee, Jasser, I have again bethought me. Thou mayst deal with it as I at first told thee, but not with steel-thou mayst spill no such blood. The cord-and let it pass quickly." "Ay, my lord," was the reply, and the soldier hastily withdrew. Haroun then approached the eunuch, and said, Mesrour, wake me at the earliest dawn, and choose six well-appointed horsemen to attend me. I take the road towards Bagdad." To hear, my lord, is to obey," replied the wondering Mesrour, and he turned to depart. "Stay, Mesrour-hie thee after that man, and tell him I revoke the order which I gave him. Thou knowest not-bid him imprison and not slay. Take my signet with thee." Early on the following morning the calif, having left the greater part of his train at Mecca, entered upon the desert, followed only by Mesrour, Jasser, and six chosen horsemen. In such haste did he take his departure, that many things necessary for their comfort and convenience upon the road were forgotten. Their store of water and provisions was inadequate to their wants; and although they travelled with speed almost incredible, yet they endured many hardships ere they emerged from the sandy wastes of Arabia. For many days the rare stream and scanty fruits were their only sus tenance. Even these at last failed them, and the hardiest of the calif's train with difficulty could support themselves under their privations. Such, however, was the tumult in the monarch's soul, that he seemed insensible to corporeal sufferings. At last they pressed too hard upon him. When he contrasted his present condition with the pomp and pleasure with which he had so lately crossed the same road, he was overheard by Mesrour to exclaim against the fickleness of fortune, and confess the weakness of his power, when in the hands of the Most High. When he had arrived at Anbar, a small town, distant not many leagues from Bagdad, he halted; and having informed himself of the state of his capital, sent an officer to arrest the Barmecides in secret. On the following morning he despatched a message to Prince Giafar, requiring his presence at Anbar; then gave an order for his execution into the hands of Jasser, upon whose cruel and ferocious temper he could depend; and having di rected him to set forward upon the road to meet the prince, after the return of his messenger, he crossed the river, and proceeded to Bagdad. The pitch of excitement to which the calif had been wrought by the discovery which had been made of the existence of the infant son of the Prince Giafar and his daughter, at Mecca, had supported him under the many privations which he had |