University of Virginia Library

12. CHAPTER XII.
THE KING OF XANDA.

It may be fancied that the prince of Guzan
did not pass a very quiet night, after the incidents
which had occurred—the recognition of
his brother Nadab, the death of his old friend
the dervish, and the discovery of his brother
Osmyn's body, were events well calculated to
banish repose from his mind. A thousand disordered
thoughts oppressed him; the strangeness
of the two princes being present like himself in
Vashnor, when he had left them only a few
months since apparently in full possession of the
conquered island of Guzan; the fearful knowledge
he had obtained that one brother had fallen
by the other's hand; and lastly, the uncertainty
which seemed to surround himself, bringing
misfortunes continually upon his path—all these
reflections effectually prevented sleep from visiting
his wearied senses; and at the earliest dawn
he started from his pallet, and sought the open
air, with the intention of offering his morning
prayers in presence of the dead who lay before
the cave.

His devotions concluded, Selim contemplated
the silent forms of those who the day previous
had been active with life.

“O, Allah!” he cried, “how inscrutable are
all thy ways! My brother Osmyn triumphed in
my defeat, and here he lies slain by him with
whom he conspired my overthrow, whilst I have
been preserved from every form of death.”

Then, as he turned toward the dervish, with
the tears rushing to his eyes, the young prince
exclaimed:

“And you, kind preserver of my life—alas!
how gladly would I have given it back that you
might be preserved to usefulness! But it was
not thus to be; and now nought is left me but to
perform the last offices for the dervish who loved
—the brother who hated me.”

Saying this, Selim brought from the care a
mattock, which the poor hermit had often used
in the simple husbandry which had helped to
supply his few material wants, and prepared to
hollow out a grave not far from the little streamlet,
which glided still as clear and silently as if
no deed of violence had disturbed the quiet of
the scene around. But the prince had scarcely
struck the rude implement into the soil, when
he heard a sudden noise behind him, and the
next instant found himself in the grasp of a
dozen soldiers, headed by an officer with a drawn
sword.

“Bind him, and bring him quietly away, if he
attempts not to resist.”

“Who does this outrage? What ruffians are
ye?” demanded the prince of Guzan, struggling
to free himself.

“We are no ruffians, but officers of the law,”
answered the man with the sword.

“Of what do you accuse me?” cried Selim.

“Let your victims answer, wretched man,”
replied the officer, pointing with his weapon at
the bodies upon the ground. Then, motioning
to his followers, he directed them to secure the
prince safely, and in a few moments the latter
found himself pinioned and gagged, and carried
a prisoner from the quiet valley.

And while he is borne to the city of Vashnor,
there to be judged by the inflexible governor, we
will ask the reader's company back to the island
of Guzan, in order to learn the cause of Osmyn
and Nadab having reached the island on which
Selim had been shipwrecked.

The daring escape of the prince of Guzan in
his enemy's ship, though it filled the king of
Xanda with intense rage, did not prevent him,
of course, from pursuing his advantage over the
islanders. In fact, after the flight of Selim, the
invaders found little to oppose their progress,
and that very night the victorious monarch reposed
in the royal palace of the capital.

Osmyn and Nadab, whose treachery had been
the means of changing the fortunes of the day,
set no limits to their arrogance when they found
the island securely, as they deemed, in their
possession. Organizing a sort of council, ministry
and body guard, out of the traitors with
whom they had tampered for the overthrow of
their country, the two princes gave full rein to
all the promptings of revenge or hatred. Singling
out, in the first place, every citizen who had
distinguished himself in the defence of the island,
and likewise those who, on the occasion of
the trial at archery, had appeared to favor their
younger brother, these wicked men began to
perpetrate outrages upon all classes of the people.
Venerable councillors, nobles of the former
court, and grave citizens were dragged from
the bosoms of their families, and after being
condemned by corrupt judges, creatures of the
two princes, were hurried away to instant execution.
Property was confiscated, families outlawed
and exiled, and a reign of terror commenced,
which threatened to plunge Guzan into
greater trouble than ever.

The king of Xanda, intent only on plundering
the coffers of the conquered kingdom, did not at
first give much heed to the course of the two
princes; but so soon as he perceived that their
enormities were so flagrant that the people were
nearly excited to rebellion, he interposed his
power at once, and ordered Osmyn and Nadab
to discontinue their excesses.

“And why shall we do so?” demanded Osmyn,
insolently. “Guzan is our sovereignty, and we
are but punishing the rebels who disputed our
rights.”

“Whether Guzan be your sovereignty or not,”
answered the king of Xanda, “it is very evident
that I conquered it, and that it is now under my
authority.”

“We are willing to allow you a share in the
government,” said Osmyn, “or to pay all the
expenses of the war, and account to you liberally
for your assistance.”

“As for the expenses,” answered the old king,
“I shall take care that the country pays that,
and for a share in the government, I need not
stipulate, since I intend to govern alone!”

“Alone!” echoed both the princes.

“Will your majesty explain your meaning?”
asked Nadab.

“I do not understand such language,” cried
Osmyn.

“I shall make myself well understood shortly,”
said the king of Xanda. “The plain truth of
the matter is, that I have conquered this island,
and intend to keep it. It has long been an eye-sore
to me, and occasioned me much trouble.
Now that I am in possession, I do not mean to
give up my rights to any nonsensical claims
which may be urged on your part, my dear
princes.”

“But this is unjust—you do not keep faith
with us!”

“I keep quite as good faith as my neighbors,”
replied the monarch; “and if your consciences,
my good princes, do not trouble you, be so kind
as to let mine alone. Treachery admitted me to
Guzan, and one traitor is more than equal to
two, in this case.”

The baffled princes looked at one another in
dismay, while the king of Xanda turned leisurely
away, saying:

“Anything I can do to advance your fortunes,
my young friends, will be cheerfully performed.
There are posts in the army—or navy.”

Saying this, the monarch left them to their
reflections.

Osmyn and Nadab stormed and swore, but to
no purpose. The king of Xanda had them
completely in his power, for Xandian officers
commanded all the posts, and Xandian soldiers
garrisened the city. Besides, the treachery and
subsequent cruelties of the two princes had embittered
most of the native population against
them, and, in truth, they possessed no friends in
their own land, save the wretches who had been

their instruments or dupes. In this state of affairs,
they could only quarrel with one another
in regard to the past.

“Had it not been for you, Osmyn, we need
not have broken with Selim,” said Nadab.
“Your violence ruined all my plans.”

“And what is your cunning worth against the
power of this Xandian?” cried Osmyn, angrily.
“Had I been left to myself, I would have made
him give me the command of the army. I could
then have defied him.”

“He would never have trusted it to you,” retorted
Nadab. “No! The course I first advised
was the true one. Had we temporized
with Selim, his good nature would have very
soon put him in our power. You might have
had command of the port of Guzan, while I
could have managed the council, till an opportunity
offered to rid ourselves of the boy. But
you—you spoiled all with your hot-headedness,”
he added, in anger.

“Have a care, Nadab, or my hot head may
burn your cool one!” cried Osmyn, in a threatening
tone.

“I doubt not you would be rid of me,” muttered
Nadab; “but we shall see!”

Thus these wretched brothers continued to
quarrel with one another, losing day by day
their ground, both with the king of Xanda and
the few of their countrymen who continued to
follow them. But they abated neither their pretensions
nor their insolence, and to such an extent
did they carry the latter, that the despotic
monarch of Xanda resolved at length to bear
with them no longer. Without any preliminaries
they were one morning summoned to the
royal presence.

“Princes, I am tired of you both!” said the
old king. “I therefore give you the choice—to
leave the island of Guzan at once, or to be imprisoned
forthwith. If you go, you shall have a
ship fitted out, and all attendance and means
suited to your condition. If you stay, you will
need neither ship nor attendants. Choose!”

Osmyn and Nadab were quite taken aback,
but they dared not murmur, and could not resist.
Consequently, in less than three months
from the capture of Guzan by the Xandians, the
two princes, who had brought the invasion upon
their country, were exiled from it forever, and
condemned to wander in foreign climes.

However, as they were furnished with a stout
ship, and permitted to take all their personal
treasures, and as many reckless spirits were
found who were quite willing to follow them in
any adventure, the desperate princes consoled
themselves with the hope of being able to pursue
some scheme of plunder which would enable
them to acquire wealth and strength in the future.
The life of a pirate was just suited to
Osmyn's temperament, and Nadab was full as
unscrupulous as his brother regarding what
might be their career, so long as it might lead to
power. In this view of the case, the princes
pretended to be very grateful to the old king of
Xanda, and accepting his offer, they gathered
together a band of reckless followers, collected
their treasures, and bade adieu to their native
land, without any one regretting their sudden
departure.

Having thus related the events which led to
the appearance of Osmyn and Nadab at the
island of Vashnor, which was one of the first
places at which their ship touched, after leaving
Guzan, we will now, gentle reader, return to our
unfortunate Prince Selim, whom we left in the
hands of strange officers, and, though totally
innocent, accused of a terrible crime.