Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

36 Pictures end Pichurepver DECEMBER 1924 He escaped, but not before he had been seen by the Mongol Slave, who was the first slave in the Palace. display of the Thief's talents and slunk away to his refuge in the well, but the Thief himself, having satisfied himself with the broth, dared to remain on the balcony and watch the tricks of the magic man below. Soon the great Rope Trick itself was produced. In careful coils the rope was laid upon the carpet and at a sign from the magician it uncoiled itself into the air to within a yard of the balcony, to the Thief's great surprise. A black child appeared upon it from nowhere and slid down to the carpet; at which there was great applause. A U was going weH> an(l a^ would have ^* continued to go well, had not the ringing cheers brought the wife from her room to see what was about. And when she saw the Thief sitting there upon the edge of her balcony and that her bowl of broth was emptied nothing would satisfy her but that she fall upon him and try to tear him limb from limb. Lucky it was — for a-great woman was she — that he saw the coming danger. He sprang to his feet and looked around for a way of escape. Seemingly there was none, for to jump to the street would have meant instant death. And then, as her hands were almost upon him, he sprang out across the crowds clutched at the magic rope and slid down it to safety. A few minutes later, in high joy, he was down the well and executing a dance before his astonished colleague. " To-night," he said, " I make my way into the Palace and ransack its wonders." " I suppose you intend to get over the great wall?" asked the old man, with heavy sarcasm. "And indeed I do," laughed the Thief. " For, you see," he added. " I have stolen the magic rope!" And as he had said he would do, so he did. The rise of the moon found him outside the Palace walls at the quietest part and with the magic rope in his possession no obstacle was there that could not be surmounted. Within very few minutes he was in the very chamber of the Princess herself, for here, if rumour told the truth, the rarest treasures reposed. ' I 'he Princess slept, and her slaves were in an ante-room. But the Princess, sleeping, dreamed, and in her dream cried aloud. The slaves returned and the Thief was discovered. He escaped by taking the most daring risks, but not before he had been seen by the Mongol Slave who was the first slave in the palace. Only for a moment did their eyes meet, but she thought that if they met again she would know him. " And so has your enterprise ended in disaster," moaned the old man in the well when the Thief returned. "Not so," said the Thief. "For I have gazed on the face of the sleeping Princess and seen my greatest treasure. Never again can the world be the same for me. Ingloriously I had to come from the palace to-night, but I shall return, and when I return it shall not be as — a thief." " Bless my bones." cried the old man, " the fellow has fallen in love." " Thou has spoken trulv," returned the Thief. Toon the morrow great crowds assembled early in the square to witness the arrival at the palace of the three suitors for the hand of the Princess. So dazzling a procession had never heen seen before, even in this always dazzling city of Bagdad. First came the Prince of Mongolia, escorted by one hundred men on foot, each tearing a mammoth peacock's feather on high, the Prince of Mongolia himself being borne on a mighty litter that was like nothing so much as a floating palace. A score of slaves carried the litter with difficulty. Next came the Prince of Persia, a small and fat and jolly man, with a mule train of such glory that well might it have come straight out of a legend or a fairy tale.