TWILIGHT LAND

south of the city, my Lord Abdallah will meet you there
with his army.” Then, once more bowing, hé withdrew
from the council-chamber, leaving all them that were there
amazed at what had passed.

So the next day the king and all his court rode out to
the place appointed. As they drew near they saw that
the whole face of the plain was covered with a mighty
host, drawn up in troops and squadrons. As the king
rode towards this vast army, Abdallah met him, sur-
rounded by his generals. He dismounted and would
have kneeled, but the king would not permit him, but,
raising him, kissed him upon the cheek, calling him son.
Then the king and Abdallah rode down before the ranks,
and the whole army waved their swords, and the flashing
of the sunlight on the blades was like lightning ; and
they shouted, and the noise was like the pealing of
thunder.

Before Abdallah marched off to the wars he and the
princess were married, and for a whole fortnight nothing
was heard but the sound of rejoicing. The city was
illuminated from end to end, and all of the fountains ran
with wine instead of water. And of all those who re-
joiced, none was so happy as the princess, for never had
she seen one whom she thought so grand and noble and_
handsome as her husband. After the fortnight had passed
and gone, the army marched away to the wars, with
Abdallah at its head.

Victory after victory followed, for in every engagement
the Emperor of India’s troops were driven from the field.
In two months’ time the war was over, and Abdallah
marched back again—the greatest general in the world.

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