THE LANCE OF KANANA

CONTENTS.


CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE COWARD OF THE BENI SADS 11

II. THE OLD SHEIK'S PROMISE 20

III. AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT HOR 27

IV. THE PROMISE 38

V. LED BY A WHITE CAMEL 52

VI. KANANA AND THE CALIPH 61

VII. A PRIZE WORTH WINNING 74

VIII. TO SEEK THE BENI SADS 86

IX. FOR ALLAH AND ARABIA 100

X. KANANA'S THIRD MISSION 115

XI. THE SACRED GIRDLE 125

XII. KANANA'S MESSENGERS 135

XIII. THE LANCE OF KANANA 147




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


"Oh, Kanana! Oh, Kanana!" cried the old man, angrily (Page 21)
_Frontispiece_

Kanana stood upon the very edge of the white porch 42

"Dost thou believe Kanana spoke in fear?" 68

The silent figure demanded and received respect 94

Kneeling, he received the blessing 134

"I gave it to him," said Kahled, solemnly 164




THE LANCE OF KANANA




I

THE COWARD OF THE BENI SADS


Kanana was an Arab--a Bedouin boy of many years ago, born upon the
desert, of the seed of Ishmael, of the tribe of Beni Sad.

It seems well-nigh impossible that the Bedouin boy could have lived who
was not accustomed to the use of the sword and lance, long before he
reached the dignity of manhood.

The peculiar thing about Kanana was that he never held a lance in his
hand but once; yet many a celebrated sheik and powerful chieftain of his
day lies dead, buried, and forgotten long ago, while the name of Kanana
is still a magic battle-cry among the sons of Ishmael, and his lance is
one of the most precious relics of Arabia.

The old mothers and the white-haired veterans love to tell the story of
the lance of Kanana; their black eyes flash like coals of fire when they
say of it that it rescued Arabia.

The Beni Sads were a powerful tribe of roving Bedouins. Kanana was the
youngest son of the venerable chief; the sheik who in the days of his
strength was known from the Euphrates to the sea as the "Terror of the
Desert."