Swords From the Desert by Harold Lamb

canal.
    I rose and ran to the narrow bridge, and turned upon it, scimitar in hand, as five figures burst from the path and ran toward me. The leader wore a Greek helmet, and held an officer's short sword. The others carried spears-I could see no bows.
    "Ha, Khalil!" cried the swordsman. "Whither went the maid?"
    Now, I had turned upon them because it is better to stand than to flee. I knew the speaker for a captain of my lord Menas, and whether he came for me or for the barbarian girl there was no knowing. Perhaps they had come in this fashion, like panthers, to escape the eyes of the patriarch's folk in the church.
    So I thought twice, and thrice. The girl Irene was not of my seeking, and yet-she was brave, and alone. Her fate was ordained-it were folly to take her part, and yet in standing by there was shame.
    Then the captain spoke.
    "No harm will befall thee, 0 Khalil!"
    He spoke too readily. Why should he have pledged this thing unasked?
    "What do ye here?" I asked in his speech.
    "We have come for the barbarian."
    Again, he was too eager. What reward had my lord Menas placed upon my life?
    "The maid is in my keeping," I answered, thinking of many things.
    Upon these words a spear flashed from the hand of a Greek, and gleamed before my eyes. I leaped back, falling heavily, and the weapon struck into earth behind me. To the eyes and ears of the Greeks it seemed that I had been pierced, and they came forward with the low shout of men who have made their kill.
    Eh, it is well said among my people, "When ye set fire to the thicket, be wise and watch out for the tiger." The Greek captain had swung up his short sword when I rose to one knee. My scimitar was in hand and I slashed him deep over the thighs.
    It was a good blow, touching no bones, and his sword fell upon my shoulder, his helmet to one side of the bridge, his body to the other. His men cried out in rage and astonishment. From the shadows of the house wall I spoke to them sternly:
    "Pick up thy leader and bear him hence! Would thy lord Menas wish to leave his officer in the garden of the patriarch-thus?"
    It was as a bone cast to dogs, and they snarled and muttered, half fearing. Through the open gate in the wall I ran, and into the stone house, where no light shone.
    And the girl Irene cried out my name-"Khalil!" Something, no doubt, she had seen upon the bridge. "Whose followers be these?"
    "Death's servants. Aye, bringing slavery for thee, and for me the shroud that is never to be cast off."
    Swiftly I told her of the desire of my lord Menas and the watch that had been kept upon her.
    "I know!" she cried impatiently. "There were spies-a Persian who watched. Yet the Domastikos would never dare carry a maid from the patriarch's garden-"
    "Ha-these Greeks dare not go back to their lord without thee."
    For this must have been the party sent to bear her to Menas. They had looked for Arbogastes and, finding him not, had ventured within the gar den. Then, hearing my voice and knowing me, they had sought to slay me first.
    Only one path was open to us. The house was in a corner of the high wall. To climb such a wall with armed men baying at heel were folly-if there were not others without. To abide in the house were witless. Plainly it was written that I should be as a shield to this maid. Had she not been thrust into my keeping? Surely we had shared the salt, though she thought little of that.
    My safety lay in mounting at once the gray horse Khutb and springing out upon them. And if I did this, leaving the maid to the mercies of the angered Greeks, I must taste everlasting shame.
    I closed the house door and barred it. Taking the girl's hand in mine, I ran into the rear enclosure where Khutb was stabled. At once the slender courser trotted toward us, snuffling and making great play of biting and springing away.
    "Taghun-taghun!" I cried at him. "Be at peace; there will be work enough for thee!"
    Bridling him, I forced the ring-bit between his teeth, listening the while