'
A trumpet sounded.
'Who keeps the gate?' called out the warrior.
'I am the captain of the gate,' answered our friend.
'Open it, then, to the King of Israel.'
'To whom?' enquired the astonished captain.
'To King David. The Lord hath delivered Hassan Subah and his host into
our hands, and of all the proud Seljuks none remaineth. Open thy gates,
I say, and lose no time. I am Jabaster, a lieutenant of the Lord; this
scimitar is my commission. Open thy gates, and thou and thy people shall
have that mercy which they have never shown; but if thou delayest one
instant, thus saith the King our master, "I will burst open your portal,
and smite, and utterly destroy all that you have, and spare them not;
but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel
and ass."'
'Call forth the venerable Lord Bostenay,' said the captain of the gate,
with chattering teeth. 'He will intercede for us.'
'And the gentle Lady Miriam,' said the sentinel. 'She is ever
charitable.'
'I will head the procession,' said the black eunuch; 'I am accustomed to
women.'
The procession of Mollahs shuffled back to their college with profane
precipitation; the sun set, and the astounded Muezzin stood with their
mouths open, and quite forgot to announce the power of their Deity,
and the validity of their Prophet.
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