SIALTS ROV AN EASTERN QUTTTER, 23

and, while I'rank and T hsteneld t his nar- mti\ , to detect 1f possible any discrepan- cies, the Arab half spoke, halt chanted to us the legend of *The Shomar's Quecn,” as he had heard it from the inhabitants of the district around Metra.

IT.

“IN Arabia the Happy,” began IMassan, “there ruled, more than two thousand years ago, a famous king named Shomar—"

“ A legend of the good old times, cvi- dently,” interrupted IFrank, as he looked at the Arab with an incredulous air,

‘' Shomar,” continued the narrator, “was powerful but he was not happy, for among the princes of his court was once who had great wealth and influence. He did not address the king in the humble tones which the rest of the courtiers adopted, and soon

grew into disfavour. ‘The ambassadors,

who came al this time from the court of

Persia, paid such marked deference o the prince that Shomar's jealousy was aroused, and he sought for some opportunity frec

himself flom this subject, whom he feared might one day scize upon his throne, Then

arose a rumour that, in a distant part of

Arabia, a revolt had arisen, and Shomar accused the plmu of having instigated it. The Iatter hotly denied the ch 1arge, and, as

= TPHSRE WAS A CRY ol f

Digmonds of

FEEASON. ragvine

the king persicted in ity drew his sword as

1l about to attack the monarch ashe sat on

his throne. There was a ery of treason !

which rang through the palace, and in an-

other minute the prince was vainly strug- gling with his monarch's bodvguard.

“Shomar looked Lllumphantl ‘at hissub- ject as the latter stood bound before him, a few days afterwards, to listen to the sentence which his offence was to receive. The king would gladly have ordered the exceutioner to bowstring the hateful subject, but he feared the effect of this upon the people. So the prince was sentenced to perpetual extle 1 a remote district, and threatened with death if he returned. Sctting out with hix wife and young daughter, tmmthu with a few faithful seryvants, tlm prince reached the place of lils banishment, and for several vears nothing more was heard of him.

“One day a band of pilgrims passed through the king's territory, and one of them uavcd an audience of the monarch. He conveved strange tidings to the king, for the exiled prince had founded a - ful city, Mectra, to which we are bound :° and the Arab P for a moment.

" Grooon,” sand Frank ; we are waiting to hear al) ut thc\c diamonds which vou mentioned before!

• Patience ! re-

pited Hassan, ** vou shall hear. T'he prince, after wan- dering about for a year or so, deter- mined to build a

city, but feared lest his monarch, hear- ing ot it, =hould

senid a body of sol- diers afterwards to demolish the edi- hces. During his journcys he had passed more than once through o mighty ravine in the rocks, and a strange Umuuht ocC- umul to ]]11]1 He communicated his views to his com- panions in exile, and thev agreed to his propos=al. Therocks on cach side of the were com-