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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4795-h.zip b/4795-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdd13f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/4795-h.zip diff --git a/4795-h/4795-h.htm b/4795-h/4795-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f16a6c --- /dev/null +++ b/4795-h/4795-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6726 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Circassian Slave, by Lieutenant Maturin Murray +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's +Favorite, by Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's Favorite + A Story of Constantinople and the Caucasus + +Author: Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +Posting Date: September 4, 2009 [EBook #4795] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 22, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE: +</H1> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +OR, THE SULTAN'S FAVORITE. +</H2> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Story of Constantinople and the Caucasus. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY. +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BOSTON: +<BR> +1851. +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +PUBLISHER's NOTE.—The following Novelette was originally published +in THE PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION, and is but a specimen of +the many deeply entertaining Tales, and the gems of literary merit, +which grace the columns of that elegant and highly popular journal. +THE COMPANION embodies a corps of contributors of rare literary +excellence, and is regarded as the ne plus ultra, by its scores of +thousands of readers. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">THE SLAVE MARKET.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">THE SULTAN'S HAREM.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE BEDOUIN ARABS.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">VALES OF CIRCASSIA.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">THE SLAVE SHIP.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">A SINGULAR MEETING.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">THE SULTAN'S PRISONER.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">PUNISHMENT OF THE SACK.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">THE LOVER'S STRATAGEM.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">THE SERENADE.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">THE ELOPEMENT.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE ESCAPE FROM THE HAREM.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THE CHASE.</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">HAPPY CONCLUSION.</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE. +</H3> + +<P> +The following story relates to that exceedingly interesting and +romantic portion of the world bordering on the Black Sea, the Sea of +Marmora, and the Bosphorus. The period of the story being quite +modern, its scenes are a transcript of the present time in the city +of the Sultan. The peculiarities of Turkish character are of the +follower of Mahomet, as they appear to-day; and the incidents +depicted are such as have precedents daily in the oriental capital. +Leaving the tale to the kind consideration of the reader, the author +would not fail to express his thanks for former indulgence and +favor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SLAVE MARKET. +</H3> + +<P> +Upon one of those hot, sultry summer afternoons that so often +prevail about the banks of the Bosphorus, the sun was fast sinking +towards its western course, and gilding as it went, the golden +crescents of a thousand minarets, now dancing with fairy feet over +the rippling waters of Marmora, now dallying with the spray of the +oarsmen's blades, as they pulled the gilded caique of some rich old +Mussulman up the tide of the Golden Horn. The soft and dainty +scented air came in light zephyrs off the shore of Asia to play upon +the European coast, and altogether it was a dreamy, siesta-like hour +hat reigned in the Turkish capital. +</P> + +<P> +Let the reader come with us at this time into the circular area that +forms the slave market of Constantinople. The bazaar is well filled; +here are Egyptians, Bulgarians, Persians, and even Africans; but we +will pass them by and cross to the main stand, where are exposed for +sale some score of Georgians and Circassians. They are all chosen +for their beauty of person, and present a scene of more than usual +interest, awaiting the fate that the future may send them in a kind +or heartless master; and knowing how much of their future peace +depends upon this chance, they watch each new comer with almost +painful interest as he moves about the area. +</P> + +<P> +A careless crowd thronged the place, lounging about in little knots +here and there, while one lot of slave merchants, with their broad +but graceful turbans, were sitting round a brass vessel of coals, +smoking or making their coffee, and discussing the matters +pertaining to their trade. Some came there solely to smoke their +opium-drugged pipes, and some to purchase, if a good bargain should +offer and a beauty be sold cheap. Here were sprightly Greeks, sage +Jews, and moody Armenians, but all outnumbered by the sedate old +Turks, with beards sweeping their very breasts. It was a motley +crowd that thronged the slave market. +</P> + +<P> +Now and then there burst forth the ringing sound of laughter front +an enclosed division of the place where were confined a whole bevy +of Nubian damsels, flat-nostriled and curly-headed, but as slight +and fine-limbed as blocks of polished ebony. They were lying +negligently about, in postures that would have taken a painter's +eye, but we have naught to do with then at this time. +</P> + +<P> +The females that were now offered for sale were principally of the +fair and rosy-cheeked Circassian race, exposed to the curious eve of +the throng only so far as delicacy would sanction, yet leaving +enough visible to develope charms that fired the spirits of the +Turkish crowd; and the bids ran high on this sale of humanity, until +at last a beautiful creature, with a form of ravishing loveliness, +large and lustrous eyes, and every belonging that might go to make +up a Venus, was led forth to the auctioneer's stand. She was young +and surpassingly handsome, while her hearing evinced a degree of +modesty that challenged their highest admiration. +</P> + +<P> +Of course the bidding was spirited and liberal for such a specimen +of her race; but suddenly the auctioneer paused, and declared that +he had forgotten to mention one matter which might, perhaps, be to +some purchasers even a favorable consideration, which was, that the +slave was deaf and dumb! The effects of this announcement were of +course various; on some it did have a favorable effect, inasmuch as +it seemed to add fresh interest to the undoubted charms she evinced, +but other shrank back disappointed that a creature of so much +loveliness should be even partially bereft of her faculties. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you deaf and dumb?" asked an old Turk, approaching the +Circassian where she stood, as though he wished to satisfy himself +as to the truth of what the salesman had announced. +</P> + +<P> +The slave lifted her eyes at his approach, and only shook her head +in signification that she could not speak, as she saw his lips move +in the utterance of some words, which she supposed addressed to her. +The splendid beauty of her eyes, and the general expression of her +countenance, seemed to act like magic on the Musselman, who, turning +to the auctioneer, bid five hundred piasters, a hundred advance on +the first offer. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment a person wearing the uniform of the Turkish navy, +made his way towards the stand from the centre of the bazaar, where +he had for some minutes been intently regarding the scene, and bid +</P> + +<P> +"Six hundred piasters." +</P> + +<P> +"Seven," said the previous bidder. +</P> + +<P> +"Eight," continued the naval officer. +</P> + +<P> +"Eight fifty," responded the old Turk. +</P> + +<P> +"Nine hundred," said the officer, with a promptness that attracted +the attention of the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +"One thousand piasters," said his competitor, as he continued to +regard her exquisite and beautiful mould, and her features, so like +a picture, in their regular and artistic lines of beauty. It was +very plain that the old Turk felt, as he gazed upon her, so silent +yet so beautiful, that she was richly worth her weight in pearls. +</P> + +<P> +"A thousand piasters," repeated the vender of the slave market, +turning once more to the officer, then added, as he received no +encouraging sign from him, "a thousands piasters, and sold!" +</P> + +<P> +The officer regarded her with much interest, and turned away in +evident disappointment, for the old Turk who had outbid him, had +gone beyond any means that he possessed. The purchaser handed forth +the money in a couple of small bags, and throwing a close veil over +the head of the slave, led her away through the narrow and winding +streets of old Stamboul to the water's side, where they entered a +caique that awaited them, and pulled up the harbor. +</P> + +<P> +Its shooting caiques, its forest of merchantmen, and its hoard of +Turkish war ships; were changed, in a few moments of swift pulling, +for the breathless solitude of the Valley of Sweet Waters, which +opens with a gentle curve from the Golden Horn, and winds away into +the hills towards Belgrade, where the river assumes the character of +a silvery stream, threading its way through a soft and verdant +meadow on either hand, as beautiful in aspect as the Prophet's +Paradise. The spot where the Sultan sends his swift-footed Arabians +to graze on the earliest verdure that decks the face of spring. +</P> + +<P> +It was up this fairy-like passage that the dumb slave was swept in +her master's caique, and by scenes so beautiful as even to enchant +her sad and silent bosom. The Turk marked well the influence of the +scenery upon the Circassian, and slowly stroked his beard with +silent satisfaction at the sight. +</P> + +<P> +The caique soon stopped before a gorgeous palace, in the midst of +this fine plain, and the Turk, by a signal, summoned the guard of +eunuchs from a tent of the Prophet's green, that was pitched near +the banks of the Barbyses, that ran its meandering course through +this verdant scene. It was a princely home, the proudest harem in +all this gem of the Orient, for the old Turk had acted not for +himself in the purchase he had made, but as the agent of a higher +will than his own, and the dumb slave was led to the seraglio of the +Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +The old Turk was evidently a privileged body, and following close +upon the heels of the eunuchs, he divested himself of his slippers +at the entrance of the palace, and led the slave before the "Brother +of the Sun." +</P> + +<P> +The monarch was a noble specimen of his race, tall, commanding, and +with a spirit of firmness breathing from his expressive face. His +beard was jetty black, and gave a much older appearance to his +features than belonged to them. He was the child of a seraglio, +whose mothers were chosen for beauty alone, and how could he escape +being handsome? The blood of Circassian upon Circassian was in his +veins, and the trace of their nationality was upon his brow, but +there was in the eye a doomed darkness of expression that caused the +beautiful creature before him to almost tremble with fear. +</P> + +<P> +"Beautiful, indeed," mused the Sultan, as he gazed upon the slave +with undisguised interest; "and how much did she cost us, good +Mustapha?" +</P> + +<P> +"One thousand piasters, excellency," answered the agent, with +profound respect. +</P> + +<P> +"A thousand piasters," repeated the monarch, again gazing at the +slave. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, excellency, the bids ran high." +</P> + +<P> +"A goodly sum, truly, Mustapha, but a goodly return," continued the +Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"There was one fault, excellency," continued the agent, "that I +feared might disappoint you." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is that, good Mustapha?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is both deaf and dumb, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +"A mute?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +"Both deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan, rising from his divan and +approaching the lovely Circassian, actuated by the interest that he +felt at so singular an announcement. +</P> + +<P> +While the old Turk stroked his beard with an air of satisfaction at +the result of his purchase as it regarded the approval of his +master, the slave bent humbly before the monarch, for though she +knew not by any word or sign addressed to her who her master was, +yet she felt that no one could assume that air of dignity and +command but the Sultan. A blush stole over the pale face of the +Circassian as the monarch laid his hand on her arm and gazed +intently upon her face, and whatever his inward thoughts were, his +handsome countenance expressed a spirit of tenderness and gentle +concern for her situation that became him well, for clemency is the +brightest jewel in a crown. +</P> + +<P> +"Deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan against to himself, "and yet so +very beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +"She is beautiful, indeed, excellency," said the old Turk, echoing +his master's thoughts. +</P> + +<P> +"So they sought her eagerly at the market, good Mustapha, did they +not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency, yes. One of your own officers bid against me heavily; +he wore the marine uniform." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! did the fellow know you?" asked the Sultan, quickly, with a +flashing eye that showed how capable that face was of a far +different expression from that which the dumb slave had given rise +to. +</P> + +<P> +"I think he did not know me, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +After a moment's pause the Sultan turned again to the gentle girl +that stood before him, and taking her hand, endeavored by his looks +of kind assurance to express to her that he should strive to make +her happy; and as he smoothed her dark, glossy hair tenderly, the +slave bent her forehead to the hand that held her own, in token of +gratitude for the kindness with which she was received, and when she +raised her face again. Both the Sultan and Mustapha saw that tears +had wet her cheeks, and her bosom heaved quickly with the emotion +that actuated her. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment the Circassian felt her dress slightly drawn from +behind, and turning, confronted the person of a lad who might, +judging from his size, be some seventeen years of age. His form was +beautiful in its outline, and his step light and graceful; but the +face, alas! that throne of the intellect was a barren waste, and his +vacant eye and lolling lip showed at once that the poor boy was +little less than an idiot. And yet, as he looked upon the slave, and +saw the tear glistening in her eye, there seemed to be a flash of +intelligence cross his features, as though there was still a spark +of heaven in the boy. But 'twas gone again, and seeming to forget +the object that had led him to her side, he sank down upon the +cushioned floor, and played with a golden tassel as an infant would +char have done. +</P> + +<P> +The idiot was an exemplification of a strange but universal +superstition among the Turks. With these eastern people there is a +traditionary belief in what is called the evil eye, answering to the +evil spirit that is accredited to exist by more civilized nations. +Any human being bereft of reason, or seriously deformed in any way, +is held by them to be a protection against the blight of the evil +eye, which, being once cast upon a person, renders him doomed +forever. Holding, therefore, that dwarfs, idiots or mad-men are +partially inspired, every considerable such establishment supports +one or more, whose privilege it is to follow, untrammeled, their own +pleasure. The idiot boy, in the Sultan's palace, was one of this +class, whom no one thwarted, and who was regarded with a half +superstitious reverence by all. +</P> + +<P> +While this scene had been transpiring between the idiot boy and the +slave, the Sultan had been talking with Mustapha concerning the +latter. It seemed by his story that she had been very ill since she +was brought from her native valley, and that she was hardly yet +recovered from the debility that had followed her sickness. She +would not write nor read one word of either the Turkish or +Circassian tongue, and therefore could only express herself by signs; +for which reason, neither those who sold her nor the purchaser +knew aught of her history beyond the fact that she was a Circassian, +and also that she seemed to be less happy than those of her +countrywomen generally who come to Constantinople. This might be +owing to the affliction under which she labored as to being dumb, +but it was evident that Sultan Mahomet thought otherwise as he gazed +silently at her. +</P> + +<P> +"She came not of her own free will from her native vales, Mustapha," +said his master. +</P> + +<P> +"No one knows, excellency, though her people generally come most +cheerfully to our harems." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no means of understanding her save by signs?" asked the +Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"None, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +"Take her to the harem, Mustapha," said his master, after a few +moments of thoughtful silence, "take her to the harem, and give +strict charge that she be well cared for." +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency, yes," said the old Turk, with a profound reverence +after the manner of the East, "your wish is your slave's law," he +continued, as he turned away. +</P> + +<P> +"And look you, good Mustapha," said the Sultan, recalling him once +more, "say it is our will that she be made as happy as may be." +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency, yes," again repeated the old man with a salaam, and +then turning to the Circassian, he signed to her to follow him. +</P> + +<P> +As the slave retired she could not but look back at the Sultan, who +had greeted her with such kind consideration, and as she did so she +met his dark, piercing eye bent upon her in gentle pity. She almost +sighed to leave the presence of one who had showed her the first +kindness, the first token of thoughtful consideration for her +situation since she left her own home, far away beyond the sea. But +Mustapha beckoned her forward, and she hastened to obey his summons, +wondering as she went what was to be her fate; whether that was to +be her future home, and what position she was to hold there. Musing +thus, she followed the Turk towards the sacred precincts of the +harem. +</P> + +<P> +The monarch left alone, save the thoughtless boy, who lay upon the +rich divan, coiled up like an animal gone to sleep, seemed to be +troubled in his mind. Stern and imperious by nature, it was not +usual for him to evince such feeling as had exercised him towards +the dumb slave, and it was plain that his heart was moved by +feelings that were novel there. Touching a silver gong that hung +pendent from the wall, just within reach of his arm, a Nubian slave +opened the hangings of the apartment, and appeared as though he had +come out of the wall. +</P> + +<P> +The slave knew well his master's summons, and preparing for him the +bowl of his pipe, and lighting it, coiled the silken tube to his +hand, and on his knee presented the amber mouthpiece. +</P> + +<P> +Thus occupied, the Sultan was soon lost in the dreamy narcotic of +the tobacco. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SULTAN'S HAREM. +</H3> + +<P> +The harem into which the dumb Circassian girl was conducted by the +woman to whom the old Turk delivered his message, was a place of +such luxuriant splendor as to puzzle her, and she stood like one +amazed for some moments.—The costly and grateful lounges, the heavy +and downy carpets, the rich velvet and silken hangings about the +walls, the picturesque and lovely groups of female slaves that +laughed and toyed with each other, mingling in pleasant games, the +rich though scanty dress of these favorites of the Sultan, all were +confusing and dazzling to her untutored eye, and when, after a few +moments' minutes, a dozen of these lovely girls crowded about her +with curious eyes to know who was the new comer that was to be their +companion, the poor girl shrunk back half abashed, for she could not +speak to them. +</P> + +<P> +They too were puzzled that she made no reply to them, and stood +there in wonder. +</P> + +<P> +It was only for a moment, however, when the beautiful stranger +pointed to her mouth and ears significantly, and gently shook her +head with a sadness of expression that was electrical, for each one +instantly understood her meaning, and pitied her. Some little +feeling of envy might have been ready to burst forth in the breasts +of those about her, but gentle pity loves to linger by beauty's +side, and so they all loved and condoled with the fair stranger. One +took her hand and led her to a cushion in the centre of the little +circle that had just been formed, another unloosed the wealth of +beautiful hair that astonished them by its dark richness and +profusion as it fell about her fair neck. She who had unloosed the +new comer's hair, now fell to braiding it in solid masses and +plaiting it about her head. +</P> + +<P> +A second one taking a rare bracelet of pearls off her own fair arms, +placed it upon the Circassian's, and sealed it there with a +kiss!—Another removed the leather shoes she wore, and replaced them +with satin ones of curious workmanship and richly wrought with +thread of gold, and still another loosened the coarse mantle that +enshrouded her shoulders, and covered her with a shawl that had come +across the desert from the far east, rich in texture and beautiful +as costly. And as another tossed a handful of fresh flowers into her +lap, the poor girl's cheeks became wet with tears, for their +unselfish kindness and generous tenderness had touched heart. +</P> + +<P> +But these tokens were quickly brushed away and kisses took their +place, while fair and delicate hands were busy upon her, until the +poor slave who had so lately stood exposed in the open bazaar of the +capital, now saw among this family of the Turkish monarch, literally +as a star of the harem. In beauty, she did indeed outshine them all, +but they forgot this in the memory of her misfortune, and envied not +the dumb slave. They touched her fingers with henna dye, and +anointed her with rare and costly perfumes, seeming to vie with each +other in their interesting efforts to deck and beautify one who had +only the voluptuous softness of her dark eyes to thank them with, +for those lovely lips, of such tempting freshness in their coral +hue, could utter no sound. +</P> + +<P> +They brought to her all their jewels and rich ornaments to amuse +her, and each one contributed to give her from out their store some +becoming ornament, now a diamond broach, and now a ruby ring, next a +necklace of emeralds, interspersed with glowing opals, a fourth +added a girdle of golden chain braced at every link by close and +richly cut garnets, and other rings of sapphire and amethysts, until +the lovely stranger was dazzling with the combined brilliancy and +reflection of so many rare and beautiful jewels about her person. +</P> + +<P> +It was not the jewels that so gratified the young Circassian, but +the good will they represented. She cared little for them +intrinsically, beautiful and rich as they were, but she grew very +fast to love the donors. +</P> + +<P> +Days passed on in this manner, and the Sultan was no less surprised +than delighted to witness this voluntary kindness and affection that +was so freely rendered to the lovely girl. Her affliction seemed to +render her sacred in his eyes, and there was no kindness on his part +that was forgotten. Her manners and intelligent bearing showed her +to belong to the better class of her own nation, and her gentle +dignity commanded respect as well as love. She had already come to a +degree of understanding with those about her that was sufficient as +it regarded her ordinary wishes and wants, but of the past or future +she had not means to communicate, her tongue was sealed, and for +this reason her history must remain a hidden mystery to those about +her whom she loved, and would gladly have confided in. +</P> + +<P> +One occupation seemed to delight her above all else, it was so +simple and beautiful, besides which it enabled her to convey her +feelings by means of an agency that, as far as it went, supplied to +her the loss of her speech. It was the arranging of flowers so as to +make them speak the language of her heart to another, a means of +communication in which the women of the East excel. Indeed it is the +only mode in which they can hold silent converse, since they know +not the cunning of the pen. Engaged in this gentle and pleasing +occupation, the Circassian passed hours and days in the study and +practice of the sweet language of flowers. +</P> + +<P> +For hours together, while she was thus occupied, the idiot boy would +sit and watch her movements, and now and then receive some kindly +token of consideration from her hand that seemed to delight him +beyond measure. He followed her every movement with his eye, and +seemed only content when close by her side, sitting near her, +patient and silent; in fact he could utter but few audible sounds, +and no one had ever taught the poor idiot how to talk. +</P> + +<P> +One afternoon, in the gardens that opened from the harem, the +Circassian had been engaged thus, sitting beneath the projecting +roof of a lattice-work summer house. The sun as it crept down +towards the western horizon threw lengthened shadows across the soft +green sward where minaret, cypress, or projecting angle of the +palace intervened. The boy would pick out one of those dark shadows, +and sitting down where it terminated, seem to think that he could +keep it there, but when the shadow lengthened every moment more and +more, and seemed to his untutored and simple comprehension to creep +out from under him, he would look amazed to see how it was done +while he sat upon it. +</P> + +<P> +In following up a projecting shadow thus, he had come at last almost +to the very side of the dumb slave just as a gaudy winged parrot lit +upon the eve of the summer house on a large piece of the picket work +that had been used as an ornament for its top, but which having been +broken from its position, had slid down to the very eaves and now +hung but half suspended upon the roof. Even the lighting of the +parrot upon its edge was sufficient to balance it from the fragile +support that retained it on the roof, and then it slid off +immediately above the head of the Circassian girl. +</P> + +<P> +The boy was on his feet as quick as thought itself, and springing to +the spot, with both hands outspread above her head, he canted the +heavy frame work away from her so that it came upon the ground, +sinking deep into the earth from its sharp points and considerable +weight. Had the falling mass come upon her head, as it would most +inevitably have done but for the boy, its effect must have been +instantly fatal. The Circassian saw the imminent service the boy had +rendered her, but he was sitting on the end of another shadow in a +moment after! +</P> + +<P> +Was it reason or instinct that had caused him to make that +successful effort with such wonderful speed and accuracy? The slave +looked at him in wonder. It was very evident that he had already +forgotten the service which he had rendered, and the same listless, +childlike, and almost idiotic expression was in his face. This event +endeared the boy very much to the Circassian, and she never failed +to show him every kindness in her power. She would arrange his +straggling dress, and part his hair, smoothly away from his handsome +forehead, and give him always of each delicacy provided for herself, +until the boy seemed to feel himself almost solely dependent upon +her, and to seek her side as a faithful hound might have done. +</P> + +<P> +Thus had time passed with the dumb slave in the Sultan's palace on +the Barbyses. +</P> + +<P> +At times she would stroll among the rare beds of plants, and culling +fresh chaplets for her head, wreathe herself a fragrant garland, +ever finding some familiar scent that recalled her far off home in +all its freshness. Wearied of this she wandered among the jasper +fountains, and watched the play of those waters, the soft and +rippling music of which she might not hear, or still further on in +the many labyrinths of the garden and harem walks, would throw +herself upon some rich cushions beside a silver urn, where burnt +sweet aloes and sandal wood and rods of spice to perfume the air. At +early morn she loved to pet the blue pigeons that had been brought +from far off Mecca, held so sacred by the faithful, to feed them +from her own hands, and to toy with the golden thrushes from +Hindostan, and the gaudy birds of Paradise that flew about with +other rare and beautiful songsters in this fairy palace of the +Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +Her companions watching her with loving eyes, never faltered in +their kindness and love for her. Indeed it seemed as though they +could not avoid tendering her this affection, she was so very +beautiful and gentle in all things. They had named her Lalla, or the +tulip, because of her love for that beautiful and delicate flower. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan looked upon the young Circassian—she had numbered hardly +seventeen summers—more in the light of a daughter than a slave, and +she who could have feared him else, even looked with pleasure for +his coming, and sought in a thousand earnest but silent ways to +please him. There was no spirit of sycophancy in this, no coquetry, +or false pretense; she was all simpleness and truth, and her conduct +towards her master sprang alone from a sense of gratitude. Thus too +did the monarch translate her behaviour to him, for he was well +versed in human nature, young as he was, and could appreciate the +promptings of a young and trusting spirit, such as she exhibited in +all her intercourse with him. +</P> + +<P> +As exhibited in our illustration, the Sultan would often seek her +side in the harem, his tall, manly form contrasting strongly with +her gentle and delicate proportions, and he would regard her thus +with tender solicitude, too fully realizing her misfortune not to +pity and respect her, and he felt too that these frequent meetings +were binding his heart in a tender bondage to her. Sultan Mahomet +was a fine specimen of a Turk; in features he was markedly handsome, +and his long, flowing beard gave to him the appearance of more age +than was rightfully his. His physical developments were manly, and +to look upon he was "every inch a king." Lalla was no less beautiful +as a female; indeed she was far handsomer as it related to such a +comparison, and those who saw them so often together in the harem +could not but think what a noble pair they were, and seemingly +worthy of each other. +</P> + +<P> +She possessed all that soft delicacy of appearance that reminds the +sterner sex how frail and dependent is woman, while she bore in her +face that sweet and winning expression of intellect, that, in other +climes more favored by civilization, and where cultivation adds so +much to the charms of her sex, would alone have marked her as +beautiful. Her eyes, which were surpassing in their dreamy +loveliness, were enhanced in beauty by a languid plaintiveness that +a realizing sense of her misfortunes had imparted to the expression +of her face, while her whole manner bore that subdued and quiet air +that sorrow ever imparts. Those of her companions who knew her best, +could easily understand that her heart was far away from her present +home; for her actions spoke this as plainly as might have ever been +done by words, and poor Lalla, wherever she had come from, and under +whatever circumstances, had evidently left her heart behind her +among her childhood's scenes. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan was earnestly interested in his dumb but beautiful slave, +and instituted a series of inquiries as to her history. His agents +were instructed to find out, if possible, the mode in which she had +been brought hither, and also to learn, if possible, the manner and +cause of her leaving her native hills in the Caucasus; for of these +things the fair girl had no means of communicating. The monarch and +all Constantinople knew that her people generally looked forward +with joy to the time when they should be old enough to be taken to +the Turkish capital, and seek their fortunes there, and the fact of +this being so different apparently with Lalla, created the more +curiosity to ferret out her story. +</P> + +<P> +But all their efforts were useless in the pursuit of this purpose. +Since the Sultan's object in the inquiry was announced, much time +had transpired; but had his proclamation met the eye or ear of those +who transported the fair Circassian hither, they would hardly have +responded to it, as it might, for aught they knew, cost them their +heads. And thus the gentle slave lived on, a mystery to those about +her which even she was unable to solve. +</P> + +<P> +"You made all inquiries at the bazaar, good Mustapha?" asked the +Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"Most rigid inquiries, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +"And could learn nothing of the history of this beautiful slave?" +continued the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing, excellency." +</P> + +<P> +"It is very strange that no one can be found who knows aught about +her. Did you trace her back to those who sold her to the salesman of +the bazaar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, excellency, and two sales beyond that; but it seemed that +although so beautiful, the fact of her being dumb had caused her to +be very much undervalued, and she had passed through the hands of a +number of irresponsible slave merchants, who took but little heed of +her before she came to the bazaar." +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless, then, we may hardly expect to hear more concerning her." +</P> + +<P> +"The reward you offered was munificent, excellency, but has brought +no response." +</P> + +<P> +"You have not yet purchased for me those Georgians, good Mustapha," +continued the monarch, after a few moments' pause, and probably +desiring to change a subject in which he felt that he was only too +much interested. +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency, they are held at so high a price that I have refused to +pay it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, well, be discreet, and purchase shrewdly," said the Sultan, +resuming his pipe. +</P> + +<P> +And in this manner the Sultan forgot his lovely slave, and removing +the mouth-piece of his pipe now and then, continued to question his +slave touching the matters that seemed to pertain to his department +of the household. +</P> + +<P> +Poor Lalla! she had only her own unhappiness to brood upon as she +sat by some rippling fountain and watched its silvery jets and +sparkling drops, at times forgetting for a moment her sadness of +heart in the beauty that completely surrounded her; and then again, +perhaps mingling her tears with the fragrant blossoms that strewed +her lap and filled her hands. Alas! poor child! how it would have +eased the quick beating of thy heart if thou couldst have told the +story of thy unhappiness to some other confiding spirit. +</P> + +<P> +The idiot boy would watch these tears, and at times he would wear a +fixed, vacant stare, as though he took no note of their meaning; and +at others, he would seem to comprehend their sorrowful import. When +this was the case, he would creep close to her side and lay his head +by her feet, and closing his eyes, remain as motionless as death. +This would at length arouse her from her unhappy mood, and she would +turn and gently caress the poor boy. Once when she had done this, +she saw a large tear drop steal out from beneath his closed eyelids, +and fall across his check. She rejoiced at this, for, while all +others set him down as without feeling, she saw that kindness at +least would awaken his heart. +</P> + +<P> +Lalla had been weeping, and now sat alone by a bed of fragrant +flowers, when one of those fairy-like children of the harem, +scarcely older than herself, came tripping with light and +thoughtless steps towards her, and detecting her saddened mood, +kissed way the tears that still lingered upon her cheeks, and +binding a wreath of fresh and beautiful flowers about her head, lay +down in Lalla's lap and toyed with the stray buds, looking up into +her eyes with gentle love and tenderness. +</P> + +<P> +How grateful were these delicate and beautiful manifestations of +feeling to the lonely-hearted slave. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BEDOUIN ARABS. +</H3> + +<P> +It was one of those soft days, made up of nature's sweetest smiles, +of sunshine and gentle zephyrs, when sky, and sea, and shore were +radiant, and all the earth seemed glad, that a lone horseman sat +with the reins cast loosely upon the arching neck of his proud +Arabian, on the plain beyond the Armenian cemetery, in the suburbs +of Constantinople. The rider was dressed in the plainest attire of a +quiet citizen, though the material of his clothes and the few +ornaments that were visible about his person indicated their owner +to be one who was no meagre possessor of the riches of this world. +Both rider and horse were as still as though they had been carved in +marble instead of being living objects, save the quick, nervous +motion, now and then, of the full-blooded animal's ears, as some +distant sound rose over the Turkish city. +</P> + +<P> +The Mussulman, as he sat there in a thoughtful and silent mood, +stroked slowly the jetty black beard that swept his breast, while he +seemed completely absorbed in contemplating the scene before him. He +had galloped at once from paved streets to the unfenced and +uncultivated desert that stretches away from the seven hills of +Stamboul to the very horizon. No wonder he paused there to gaze upon +the beauties that the eye might take in at a single glance. +</P> + +<P> +Before him lay the city in all its oriental beauty, while, on every +sloping hillside about it, in every rural nook stood a dark +nekropolis, or city of the dead, shadowed by the close growing +cypresses, beneath whose shadows turbaned heads alone are permitted +to rest. From out of these, stretching its slender point away +towards the blue heavens, rose the fairy-like minaret, as if +pointing whither had gone the spirits of the faithful. +</P> + +<P> +There, too, lay the incomparable Bosphorus, stretching away towards +the sea, and the beautiful isles in the sweet waters of Marmora, +with countless boats swarming in the Golden Horn, and then the eye +would turn back again to the city with its thousand minarets. There +lay, too, the velvet-carpeted Valley of Sweet Waters, where was the +Sultan's serai, looking like some fair scene described in the Koran, +so soft, fairy-like, and enticing. +</P> + +<P> +The rider now slowly gathered up the reins from his horse's neck, +and, slightly restraining the spirited animal by a pressure of the +curb, permitted him slowly to walk on while his master appeared +still to be lost in thought. Once or twice he cast his eyes again +towards the city, and then again mused to himself, as though his +cares and thoughts lay there. So much was the rider absorbed within +himself that he did not observe two power Bedouin Arabs of the +desert, who had wandered to the outskirts of the city, and whose +longing eyes were bent, not on him, but upon the horse which he +rode. To the skillful eyes of these children of the desert he was +almost invaluable; every step betrayed his metal, while the clean +limb, nervous action, and distended nostrils told of the fleetness +that was in him! +</P> + +<P> +You may trust an Arab often with gold or precious goods; the very +fact of the confidence, you accord to him makes him faithful. You +may trust your life in his hands, and the laws of hospitality shall +protect you; but trust him not with a fine horse—that will betray +him, though nothing else might do so. Born in the desert where they +are reared and loved so well, he imbibes from childhood a regard for +the full blooded barb, that falls little short of reverence; and +being once possessed of one, no money can part them. The two +Bedouins stealthily watched the Turk as he rode slowly along, and +were evidently only awaiting a favorable moment to attack and +overcome him. +</P> + +<P> +By an ingenious movement they doubled a slight hillock that lay +between them and the woods of Belgrade, and as they came up on the +other side, placed themselves directly in the path of the horseman. +Still they were unobserved by him, and not until one had laid his +hand upon the bridle, and the other violent hands upon his garments, +did he arouse from the dreamy thoughts which had so completely +absorbed him. Thus taken at disadvantage, the horseman was forced +from the saddle before he could offer any resistance, but having +once reached the ground, and being fairly on his feet, his bright +blade glistened in the sun and flashed before the eyes of the Arab +robbers. +</P> + +<P> +"Yield us the horse and go thy way!" said one of the assailants, +soothingly. +</P> + +<P> +"By the Prophet, never!" shouted the Turk, setting upon them +fiercely as he spoke and wounding one severely at the very outset, +while he held the bridle of the horse. +</P> + +<P> +The horseman was one used to the weapon he wielded, and the Arabs +saw that they had no easy enemy to conquer. He who held the horse +was forced to unloose the bridle to defend himself, while the other +was now striving to use the gun that was strapped to his back; but +they were at too close quarters for the employing of such a weapon, +and the stout, iron-like frames of the Arabs were fast conquering +the skill and endurance of the Turk. But that bright sword was not +wielded so skillfully for naught, and one of the robbers was already +glad to creep from without its reach, just as his companion +succeeded in breaking the finely-tempered blade with his gun barrel, +leaving the Turk comparatively at his mercy; and again he bade him +surrender the horse, the animal trained to the nicest point of +perfection, still remaining quiet close to the spot where the +encounter had taken place. The clashing of the weapons had startled +him, and he breathed quick, and his ears showed that the nervous +energy of his frame was aroused, but a spear point thrust into his +very flanks would not have started him away until his master bade +him to go. +</P> + +<P> +"Yield thou now, or die!" shouted the excited Bedouin, drawing his +long dagger. +</P> + +<P> +"By the Prophet, never!" again exclaimed the Turk, with vehemence, +though he panted sorely from the extraordinary exertion he had made +to defend himself from the attack of his two assailants. +</P> + +<P> +All this had transpired in far less time than we have occupied in +the relation, and once more now having him greatly at disadvantage, +the Bedouins rushed upon him. +</P> + +<P> +But there came now upon the scene a third party, at this excited +moment, from out the forest of Belgrade. He seemed but a weary +traveller, though when his eyes rested upon the scene we have +described, an instantaneous change came over him, and he appeared at +once to comprehend the meaning of the whole affair. Just at the very +moment when the Arab, who had been partially vanquished and somewhat +severely wounded, regained his feet, and was coming once more to the +contest, the traveller, espousing the side of the weaker party, who +was now indeed unarmed, fiercely attacked the robbers with a heavy +staff that he carried, and in a moment, being comparatively fresh, +and aided by the surprise as well as the lusty blows that he dealt +about him, he caused the two Bedouins to retreat precipitately, +though they made a last and nearly successful effort to carry off +the horse, but this the ready arm of the traveller prevented. +</P> + +<P> +A moment sufficed to put both the Turk and his deliverer in breath +once more. +</P> + +<P> +"Who art thou that hast been so opportunely sent to rescue me?" +asked the Turk, at he called his horse by his name, and the +beautiful animal came quietly to his side. +</P> + +<P> +"A poor traveller, well nigh wearied by the long way," answered the +other. +</P> + +<P> +"Thy habiliments bespeak thee as coming from the North, and they +look as though want had been thy companion on the way," continued he +whom the traveller had rescued. +</P> + +<P> +"It has, indeed," said the other; "fatigue and want have kept me +company these many long days." As he answered thus, he wiped the +perspiration that his late exertion had caused, from his brow. +</P> + +<P> +"I owe you my hearty thanks for this timely service," said the Turk. +</P> + +<P> +"A trifling deed that any man in my place would have performed." +</P> + +<P> +"Take this," replied the Turk, depositing a purse, heavy with gold, +in the stranger's hands. "Use the contents as you will, and when you +have need of further assistance, if there be aught that one +possessing some influence can serve thee in, present that purse at +the gates of the seraglio gardens, and you will find me." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks! a thousand thanks!" said the stranger, "though I must look +upon this as a gift, a charity, not in the light of a payment. The +service I have rendered might have been afforded by the meanest +slave." +</P> + +<P> +"I know well how to esteem a favor, and how to pay it," answered the +Turk, as he mounted his spirited horse and turned his head towards +the entrance of the city of Constantine. He rode with a free rein +now, and the horse dashed over the level plain like an antelope, +while his rider sat in the saddle like a Marmaluke. +</P> + +<P> +The traveller poured out a quantity of the gold from the purse to +assure himself of its value, and weighing the whole together, said +to himself, "A few moments since and I was a beggar, now I am rich; +after starving for many long weeks, fortune fills my hand with gold, +as if to show me the contrast. It was a piece of singular good luck +for me to meet with that rich old Turk; those fellows from the +desert were giving him sharp practice; it was only the barb that +they wanted. What a cunning eye those rascals have for horseflesh!" +Talking thus to himself, he placed the gold in a secure part of his +dress, though he need hardly have feared that any one would suspect +him of possessing so much of value. +</P> + +<P> +The traveller turned once more to look after the Turk, but he was +already far away, though he could still make out his bearing and +stately carriage as he disappeared. Picking up the staff that had +just served him to such good purpose, he followed in the same path, +which would lead him to Constantinople, ere the sun should set in +the west. +</P> + +<P> +As he drew nearer to the city he too paused to drink in of the +beauties of that twilight hour. The scene was new to him, and his +eye was filled with delight and surprise as it roamed over that +oriental sunset view. As he came down the side of the gently sloping +hill beyond Pera, he paused for a moment in the cemetery there, and +among the deep shadows of the heavy funereal cypresses and the tall, +white gravestones that thickly overspread the ground, he felt a +chill of loneliness that made him to hasten on to a spot where he +could catch the last lingering rays of the setting sun kissing the +waves of the Bosphorus. +</P> + +<P> +He hurried on now into the city proper, though seemingly without any +fixed purpose, and strolled carelessly along, gazing with interest +upon all that met his curious eye; now pausing before some rich +Persian fountain half as large as a church, covered with curious +inscriptions and ornaments of gold; now regarding some sequestered +mosque almost hidden in cypresses; and now watching a cluster of +indolent-looking, large-trowsered, and moustached, but often +handsome men. +</P> + +<P> +Here he was jostled by a bevy of females, shuffling along in their +yellow slippers, their faces shrouded to the eyes in that +never-forgotten covering with the Turkish wives, the yashmach; now +crowded one side by an armed kervos who is clearing the way for some +dignitary to follow; and now forced here and there by, Jew, Turk or +Armenian. But still, while he regarded intently this busy scene, he +yielded the way to all, for he was wearied and his spirits were +evidently depressed both by physical and mental suffering. +</P> + +<P> +The traveller was started from his reverie by the attack upon him of +some hundred dogs, who saluted his ears with such a volley of howls +as nearly to stun him. These natural scavengers are protected by the +laws here, and whenever a stranger is seen, one whose dress or +manner betrays him as such, they set upon him like mad, but the +staff that had stood him in such good service not long before, soon +dispersed his canine tormentors, though he showed that even this +little circumstance annoyed him seriously; it was a sad welcome to a +stranger. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps there is no feeling more desolate and forsaken in its +promptings than that realized by one who finds himself alone in a +crowd. His inward solitude is more acutely realized by the contrast +he sees about him, and he feels how much he is alone. Thus it was +with the young traveller who had made his way into the city as we +have described; he was indeed solitary though surrounded by hosts, +for he was a stranger and knew no one in the Sultan's beautiful +capital. +</P> + +<P> +Still he wandered on amid the crowd until at last he found himself +in the drug bazaar, where a scene so peculiarly oriental and rich +met his observation as to make him forget for a while his own sad +and weary mood. Strange and antique jars of every shape crowded the +shelves of the various stalls, their edges turned over with +brilliant colored paper, each drug bearing its own appropriate one. +The shelves were bending under the weight of rich gums, spices, +incense-wood, medicinal roots, and cunning dyes. The sedate Turk +who presides over each stall at this hour, sits with his legs +crossed and his eyes rolling in a sort of dreamy languor from the +powerful narcotic of his opium-drugged pipe. He is happy and +thoughtless in the dissipation that sooner or later hurries him to +the grave. +</P> + +<P> +It was the corflew hour, and from out the lofty spires of the +neighboring mosques there came a voice that called to prayer. Each +Mussulman prostrated himself, no matter in what occupation he was +engaged, and bowing his head towards Mecca, the tomb of the Prophet, +performing his silent devotion. In famine, in pestilence, or in +plenty, five times a day the Turk finds time for this solemn +religious duty; whether right or wrong in creed, what a lesson it is +to the Christian. And so thought the lonely traveller, for he bent +his own head upon his breast in respectful awe at the exhibition he +beheld. +</P> + +<P> +Pausing in silence until the scene had changed from the solemn act +of prayer to that of busy life, he passed out of the dim-lighted +bazaar once more into the open street. Night was fast creeping over +the city, and he remembered how much he required rest and +refreshment, and availing himself of the proffered services of a +Jewish interpreter, he told his wants, and not long after found +himself seated in one of the little Armenian houses of resort in the +outskirts of Stamboul. +</P> + +<P> +Here again he found enough of character to study in the singular and +medley company that resorted thither, but wayworn and weary, after +partaking of some refreshment, he soon lost himself in sleep. +</P> + +<P> +It was late on the subsequent morning when the traveller awoke, +greatly refreshed by his night's rest, and once more refreshing the +inner man with meats and such coffee as one gets only in Turkey, he +roamed again into the streets, where we must leave him to pursue his +purpose, be it what it might, while we turn to other scenes in our +story, taking the reader across the sea, to another, but no less +interesting land. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VALES OF CIRCASSIA. +</H3> + +<P> +Circassia, the land of beauty and oppression, whose noble valleys +produce such miracles of female loveliness, and whose level plains +are the vivid scenes of such terrible struggles; where a brave, +unconquerable peasantry have, for a very long period, defied the +combined powers of the whole of Russia, and whose daughters, though +the children of such brave sires, are yet taught and reared from +childhood to look forward to a life of slavery in a Turkish harem as +the height of their ambition—Circassia, the land of bravery, beauty +and romance, is one of the least known, but most interesting spots +in all Europe. +</P> + +<P> +Whether it be that the genial air of its hills and vales possesses +power to beautify the forms and faces of its daughters, or that they +inherit those charms from their ancestors by right of blood, we may +not say; but from the farthest dates, it has ever supplied the +Sultan and his people with the lovely beings who have rendered of +the harems of the Mussulmen so celebrated for the charms they +enshrine. Its daughters have been the mothers of the highest +dignitaries of the courts, and Sultan Mahomet himself was born of a +Circassian mother. +</P> + +<P> +Unendowed with mental culture, Providence has seemed, in a degree, +to compensate to the girls of Circassia for want of intellectual +brilliancy, by rendering them physically beautiful almost beyond +description. No wonder, then, educated, or rather uneducated as they +are, that the visions of their childhood, the dreams of their +girlish days, and even the aspirations of their riper years, should +be in the anticipation of a life of independence, luxury and love, +in those fairy-like homes that skirt the Bosphorus at Constantinople. +</P> + +<P> +Being from their earliest childhood taught by their parents to look +upon this destiny as an enviable one, these fair girls do not fail +to appreciate and fully realize the captivating charms that Heaven +has so liberally endowed them with, and wait with trembling breasts +and hopeful hearts for the period when they shall change the humble +scenes of their existence, from the long and rugged ravines of the +Caucasus, for the glittering and gaudy palaces of the Mussulmen, in +the Valley of Sweet Waters, or on the banks of the Golden Horn. +</P> + +<P> +In former years, the Trebizond merchantman took on board his cargo +of young and lovely Circassians, and navigated the Black Sea with a +flowing sheet and a flag flying at his peak, which told his business +and the commerce that he was engaged in; now the trade is +contraband, and the slave ship has to pick its way cautiously about +the island of Crimea, and keep a sharp lookout to avoid the Russian +war steamers that skirt the entire coast, and keep up a +never-ceasing blockade from the Georgian shore to the ancient port +of Anapa. +</P> + +<P> +This latter place was, for centuries, one of vital importance to the +Circassians, being their general depot or rendezvous for the trade +between themselves and the ports that lay at the other extreme of +the Black Sea. It was the point where they were always sure to find +a ready market for their females, receiving as payment in exchange +from the Turks, fire-arms, ammunition and gold. But at last the +Russians, assuming a virtue that did not actuate them, stormed and +took the fort, ostensibly to put a stop to this trade, as opposed to +the principles it involved, but in reality to stop the supplies that +enabled the brave mountaineers to oppose them so successfully. +</P> + +<P> +In the country lying immediately back of Anapa, there is a +succession of hills and vales of surpassing loveliness, presenting +the extremes of wild and rugged mountain scenery, joining fertile +plains and beautiful valleys, where, among fragrant and luxuriant +groves, many a fair creature has grown up to be brought to the slave +market and sold for a price. Vales where brave and stalwart youths +have been nurtured and taught the dexterous use of arms, being ever +educated to look upon the Russians as their natural enemies, and +also to believe that any revenge exercised upon their Moscovite +neighbors was not only commendable, but holy and just. +</P> + +<P> +In a valley opening towards the north, a short league above the port +of Anapa, at the time of our story there dwelt two families, named +Gymroc and Adegah. Both these families traced their ancestry back to +noble chiefs, who, in the days of Circassian glory and independence, +were at the head of large and powerful tribes of their countrymen. +These families, from the fact that they were thus descended, were +still held by the mountaineers who lived about them in reverence, +and their words had double weight in council when important subjects +were discussed; and indeed the present head of each was often chosen +to lead them on to the almost constantly recurring battles and +bloody guerilla contests that transpired between the mountaineers +and their enemies, the Russian Cossacks. +</P> + +<P> +The family of Gymroc was blessed with a fair daughter, an only +child, who, though living among a people who were so universally +endowed with loveliness in their gentler sex, was famed for her +transcendent loveliness far and near, and the youths of the +neighboring valleys and plains sighed in their hearts to think that +the fairest flower in all Circassia was but blooming to shed its +ripened fragrance and loveliness in the harem of some dark and +bearded Mahometan, to be the toy of some rich and heartless Turk. +</P> + +<P> +One there was among the young mountaineers, Aphiz Adegah, whose +whole life and soul seemed bound up in the lovely Komel, as she was +called. Neither was more than eighteen; indeed Komel was not so old, +for but sixteen full summers had passed over her head. They had +grown up together from very childhood, played together, worked +together, sharing each other's burthens, and mutually aiding each +other; now quietly watching the sheep and goats upon the hillsides, +and now working side by side in the fields, content and happy, so +they were always together. +</P> + +<P> +Komel was almost too beautiful. With every grace and delicacy of +outline that has, for centuries, rendered her sex so famed in her +native land, she added also a sweet, natural intelligence, which, +though all uncultivated, was yet ever beaming from her eyes, and +speaking forth from her face. Her form possessed a most captivating +voluptuous fullness, without once trespassing upon the true lines of +female delicacy. Her large and lustrous eyes were brilliant yet +plaintive, her lips red and full, and the features generally of a +delicate Grecian cast. Her hair was of that dark, glossy hue, that +defies comparison, and was heavy and luxuriant in its fullness. +</P> + +<P> +Some one has said that no one can write real poetry until he has +known the sting of unhappiness; and sure it is that beauty ever +lacks that moss-rose finish that tender melancholy throws about it, +until it has known what sorrow is. Komel had been called to mourn, +and melancholy had thrown about her a gentle glow of plaintiveness, +as a grateful angel added another grace to the rose that had +sheltered its slumber, by a shroud of moss. +</P> + +<P> +While she was yet but a little child, her only brother, but little +older than herself, and whom she loved with all the sisterly +tenderness of her young heart, had strayed away from home to the +seaside, and been drowned. From that day she had sorrowed for his +loss, and even now as memory recalled her early playmate, the tears +would dim her eyes, nor did her spirits seem ever entirely free from +the grief that had imbued them at her brother's loss. This hue of +tender melancholy was in Komel only an additional beauty, as we have +said, and lent its witchery to her other charms. +</P> + +<P> +To say that Komel was insensible to all her personal advantages +would be unreasonable, and supposing her not possessed of an +ordinary degree of perception. She knew that she was fair, nay, that +she was more beautiful than any of the youthful companions of her +native valley; but whatever others might have anticipated for her, +she had never looked forward, as nearly all of her sex do, in +Circassia, to a splendid foreign home across the Black Sea. No, no; +her young and loving heart had already made its choice of him she +had so long and tenderly loved,—him who had stepped in when there +was that vacant spot in her heart that her brother's loss had left, +and filled it; for he had been both brother and lover to her from +the tenderest years of childhood. They had probably thought little +upon the subject of their relation to each other, and had said less, +until Komel was nearly sixteen, and then it was only in that tender +and hopeful strain of a happy future, and that future to be shared +by each other. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz was as noble and generous in spirit as he was handsome in +person. Nature had cast him in a sinewy, yet graceful form; his +native mountain air and vigorous habits had ripened his physical +developments to an early manliness and already had he more than once +charged the enemy upon the open plains of his native land. His +falchion had glanced in the tide of battle, and his stout arm had +dealt many a fatal blow to the Cossack forces, that sought to +conquer and possess themselves of all Circassia. It was a stern +school for the young mountaineer, and it was well, as he grew up in +this manner, that there was always the tender and chastening +association before his mind, of his love for the gentle and +beautiful girl who had given her young heart into his keeping. He +needed such promptings to enable him to combat the rough +associations of the camp, and the hardening duty of a soldier in +time of war. +</P> + +<P> +It was, therefore, to her side that he came for that true happiness +that emanates from the better feelings of the heart; by her side +that he enjoyed the quiet but grand scenery of their native hills +and valleys, looking, as it were, through each other's eyes at every +beauty, either of thought or that lay tangible before them. +</P> + +<P> +Though both Komel and Aphiz had been thrice happy in their constant +intercourse in the days of childhood, though those days, so well +remembered, had been to them like a pleasant morning filled with +song, or the gliding on of a summer stream, and were marked only by +truthfulness and peaceful content, still both realized as they now +entered upon a riper age of youth, that they were far happier than +ever before, that they loved each other better, and all things about +them. It is an error to suppose that childhood is the happiest +period of life, though philosophers tell us so, for a child's +pleasures are like early spring flowers—pretty, but pale, and +fleeting, and scentless. The rich and fragrant treasures of the +heart are not developed so early; they come with life's summer, and +thus it was with these Circassian youths. +</P> + +<P> +Growing up daily and hourly together to that period when love holds +strongest sway over the heart, both felt how happily they could +kneel before Heaven and be pronounced one and inseparable; but Aphiz +was poor and had no home to offer a bride, besides which, the +character of the times was sufficient to prevent their more prudent +parents from yielding their consent to such an arrangement as their +immediate union, though they offered no opposition to their +intimacy. +</P> + +<P> +Komel was of such a happy and cheerful disposition at heart that she +scattered pleasure always about her, but Aphiz's very love rendered +him thoughtful and perhaps at times a little melancholy; for he +feared that some future chance might in an unforeseen, way rob him +of her who was so ineffably dear to him. He did not exactly fear +that Komel's parents would sell her to go to Constantinople, though +they were now, since war and pestilence had swept away lands, home +and title, poor enough; and yet there was an undefined fear ever +acting in his heart as to her he loved. Sometimes when he realized +this most keenly, he could not help whispering his forebodings to +Komel herself. +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, dear Aphiz," she would say to him, with a gentle smile upon +her countenance, "let not that shadow rest upon thy brow, but rather +look with the sun on the bright side of everything. Am I not a +simple and weak girl, and yet I am cheerful and happy, while thou, +so strong, so brave and manly, art ever fearing some unknown ill." +</P> + +<P> +"Only as it regards thee, Komel, do I fear anything." +</P> + +<P> +"That's true, but I should inspire thee with joy, not fear and +uneasiness." +</P> + +<P> +"It is only the love I bear thee, dearest, that makes me so jealous, +so anxious, so fearful lest some chance should rob me of thee +forever," he would reply tenderly. +</P> + +<P> +"It is ever thus; what is there to fear, Aphiz?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know not, dearest. No one feared your gentle brother's loss years +ago, and yet one day he woke happy and cheerful, and went forth to +play, but never came back again." +</P> + +<P> +"You speak too truly," answered the beautiful girl with a sigh, "and +yet because harm came to him, it is no reason that it should come to +me, dear Aphiz." +</P> + +<P> +"Still the fear that aught may happen to separate us is enough to +make me sad, Komel." +</P> + +<P> +"Father says, that it is troubles which never happen that chiefly +make men miserable," answered the happy-spirited girl, as she laid +her head pleasantly upon Aphiz's arm. +</P> + +<P> +They stood at her father's door in the closing hour of the day when +they spoke thus, and hardly had Aphiz's words died upon his lips +when the attention of both was directed towards the heavy, dark form +of a mountain-hawk, as it swept swiftly through the air, and poising +itself for an instant, marked where a gentle wood dove was perched +upon a projecting bough in the valley. Komel laid her hand with +nervous energy upon Aphiz's arm. The hawk was beyond the reach of +his rifle, and realizing this he dropped its breach once more to his +side. A moment more and the bolder bird was bearing its prey to its +mountain nest, there to feed upon it innocent body. Neither Komel +nor Aphiz uttered one word, but turned sadly away from the scene +that had seemed so applicable to the subject of their conversation. +He bade her a tender good night, but as the young mountaineer wended +his way down the valley he was sad at heart, and asked himself if +Komel might not be that dove. +</P> + +<P> +So earnestly was he impressed with this idea, after the conversation +which had just occurred, that twice he turned his steps and resolved +to seek the lofty cliff where the hawk had flown, as though he could +yet release the poor dove; then remembering himself, he would once +more press the downward path to the valley. +</P> + +<P> +It was not to be presumed that Komel should not have found other +admirers among the youths of her native valley. She had touched the +hearts of many, though being no coquette, they soon learned to +forget her, seeing how much her heart was already another's. This, +we say, was generally the case, but there was one exception, in the +person of a young man but little older than Aphiz, whose name was +Krometz. He had loved Komel truly, had told her so, and had been +gently refused her own affection by her; but still he persevered, +until the love he had borne her had turned to something very unlike +love, and he resolved in his heart that if she loved not him, +neither should she marry Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +At one time when Aphiz was in the heat of battle, charging upon the +Russian infantry, suddenly he staggered, reeled and fell, a bullet +had passed into his chest near the heart. His comrades raised him up +and brought him off the battle-field, and after days of painful +suffering he recovered, and was once more as well as ever, little +dreaming that the bullet which had so nearly cost him his life came +from one of his own countrymen. Could the ball have been examined, +it would have fitted exactly Krometz's rifle! +</P> + +<P> +Though the rifle shot had failed, Krometz's enmity had in no way +abated; he only watched for an opportunity more successfully to +effect the object that now seemed to be the motive of his life. +Before Komel he was all gentleness, and affected the highest sense +of honor, but at heart he was all bitterness and revenge. +</P> + +<P> +Another chapter will show the treacherous and deep game that the +rejected lover played. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SLAVE SHIP. +</H3> + +<P> +It was on a fair summer's evening that a beautiful English built +craft, after having beat up the Black Sea all day against the ever +prevailing a north-cast wind, now gathered in her light sails and +barely kept steerageway by still spreading her jib and mainsail. +With the setting sun the breeze had lulled also to rest, and there +was but a cap full now coming from off the mountains of the +Caucasus, just enough to keep the little clipper steady in hand. +</P> + +<P> +It would be difficult to define the exact class to which the rig of +this craft would make her belong, there was so much that was English +in the hull and raking step of her masts, while the rigging, and the +way in which she was managed, smacked so strongly of the +Mediterranean that her nation also might have puzzled one familiar +with such a subject. The lofty spread of canvas, the jib, flying-jib +and fore-staysail, that are rarely worn save by the larger class of +merchantmen, gave rather an odd appearance to a craft that could +count hardly more than an hundred tons measurement. +</P> + +<P> +Besides her fore and mainsail, and those already named, the +schooner, for so we must call her, carried two heavy, but graceful +topsails upon her fore and mainmasts, and even a jigger sail or +spanker and gaff above it, on a slender spur rigged from the quarter +deck. Altogether the schooner with her various appurtenances, +resembled such a yacht as some of the English noblemen sail in the +channel and about the Isle of Man in the sporting season. +</P> + +<P> +The schooner was not unobserved from the shore, and a careful +observer could have noticed a group of persons that were evidently +regarding her with no common interest from the landing just above +the harbor of Anapa. +</P> + +<P> +"That must be the craft that has been so long expected," said one of +the group, "and we had best get our girls ready at once to put on +board before the morning." +</P> + +<P> +"This comes in a bad time, for the steamer should be here before +nightfall." +</P> + +<P> +"That's true; as she doesn't seem inclined to run in too close, +perhaps she knows it." +</P> + +<P> +"What was the signal agreed upon?" asked the first speaker of his +companion, who was silently regarding the schooner. +</P> + +<P> +"A red flag at the foretopmast head, and there it goes. Yes, it is +here sure enough." +</P> + +<P> +"How like a witch she looks." +</P> + +<P> +"They say she will outsail anything between here and Gibraltar, in +any wind." +</P> + +<P> +"What does that mean? she's going about." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure enough, and up goes her foresail, they work with a will and +are in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"She don't like the looks of something on the coast," said the +other. +</P> + +<P> +The fact was, while the schooner lay under the easy sail we have +described, just off the port of Anapa, the little Russian government +steamer that plies between Odessa and the ports along the Circassian +coast held by the emperor's troops, hove in sight, having just come +down the Sea of Azoff through the Straits of Yorkcale. Her dark line +of smoke was discovered by those on board the schooner, before she +had doubled the headland of Tatman, and it was very plain, that, let +the schooner's purpose be what it might, she desired to avoid all +unnecessary observation, and especially that of the steamer. +</P> + +<P> +A single movement of the helm while the mainsail sheet was eased +away, and the schooner brought the gentle night breeze that was +still setting from the north and east off the Georgian shore, right +aft, and quietly hoisting her foresail, the two were set wing and +wing, and a sea bird could not have skimmed with a more easy and +graceful motion over the deep waters that glanced beneath her hull, +than she did now. If the steamer had desired she might have +overhauled the schooner, but it would have taken all night to do it +with that leading wind in her favor; and so, after looking towards +the clipper craft with her bows for a moment, the steamer again held +on her course. +</P> + +<P> +"Too swift of wing for that smoke pipe of yours," said one of the +Circassians who had been watching the evolutions of the two crafts +from the shore. +</P> + +<P> +"The steamer has put her helm down and gives it up for it bad job," +said another, as her black bow came once more to look towards the +port of Anapa. +</P> + +<P> +"She will be off before night sets in, and we shall have the +schooner back again." +</P> + +<P> +This was in fact the policy of those on board the schooner; for no +sooner did she find herself unpursued than she hauled her wind, +jibed her foresail to starboard and looked down, towards the coast +of Asia Minor, until the moon crept up from behind the mountains of +the Caucasus as though it had come from a bath in the Caspian Sea +beyond, when the schooner was closer hauled on the other trick, and +bore up again for the harbor of Anapa. +</P> + +<P> +We have said that the little clipper numbered some hundred tons, but +though her appearance would indicate this to be the case, yet your +thorough-bred sailor would have marked how stiffly she bore so much +top hamper, and would have judged more correctly by the depth of +water that the schooner evidently drew. It was plain that she was +deep and much heavier than she looked. A few sprightly Greek youths, +in their picturesque costume were dispersed here and there in the +waist and on the forecastle, while two or three persons wearing the +same dress and evidently of that nation, were talking together in a +group upon the weather-side of the quarter-deck. +</P> + +<P> +As the hours drew towards midnight, the schooner at length opened +communication with the land by means of signal lanterns, and +immediately after boats commenced to ply between the clipper and the +shore, and continued to do so for several hours. It was plain enough +to any one who knew the usages and trade of these waters, that the +schooner was preparing to run a cargo of Circassian girls, the trade +having been, as we have already shown, made contraband by the +Russians. +</P> + +<P> +At last the clipper seemed to have received all on board that she +expected in the shape of passengers, but still stood off and on for +some reason until the breaking day began to tinge the mountain tops +beyond Anapa; when a last boat with five persons, one of whom was a +female, came down to the clipper which was thrown in the wind's eye +long enough for those to get on board, or rather for three of them +to do so; and then, as the other two pulled back to the shore, the +schooner gradually came round under the force of her topsail, and +one sail after another was distended and sheeted home until she +looked to those on shore as though enveloped in canvas, and drove +over the waters like a flying cloud. +</P> + +<P> +One of those who pulled away from the schooner as she lay her +course, would have been recognized by the reader as Krometz; and now +half way to the landing he motioned his companion to cease rowing, +while he paused himself and looked after the receding clipper with a +strange medley of expression pictured in his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Give way, give way," said his companion at last, somewhat +impatiently; "one would think, by the way you look seaward, that you +would like to head in that direction instead of pulling into the +harbor." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right, comrade. I do wish that yonder clipper was carrying +me away from here." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a queer fellow, Krometz, to let that girl make you so +unhappy, but she's off now, and will probably bring up in some +Turkish harem, where she will end her days. Not so bad a fate +either," continued the oarsman. "Surrounded by every luxury the +heart could wish or the imagination conceive, it's a better lot than +either yours or mine." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, say no more of this, and remember the utmost secrecy is to be +observed, for that tiger of an Aphiz will hunt us to death if he +does but suspect that we had a hand in the business." +</P> + +<P> +"Our disguise was sufficient," said the other, "and by-the-way, we +may as well get rid of this black stuff now;" and as he spoke he +dashed the water from alongside upon his face and hands, and removed +a coat of black from them. +</P> + +<P> +"Now give way again; let us get in, and separate before any one is +stirring abroad." +</P> + +<P> +Leaving Krometz and his companion to pursue their own business, and +the clipper craft with her course laid for the Sea of Marmora, we +will, with the reader, return once more to the mountain side where +we met Komel and Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +In time of peace, or rather when there was no open outbreak between +the Circassians and the Russian forces, Aphiz Adegah passed his time +in hunting among the rugged hills and cliffs, and with the early +morn was abroad with his gun strapped to his back, and in his hand +the long iron-pointed staff that helped him to climb the otherwise +inaccessible rocks of the mountain's sides. Thus equipped, he came, +in the morning referred to above, to the cottage of Komel's parents, +but, instead of the cheerful, happy welcome that usually greeted him +on such occasions, he beheld consternation and misery written in the +father's face, while the mother wept as though her heart would +break. +</P> + +<P> +"What means this strange scene?" asked the young hunter, hastily. +"Where is Komel?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! gone, gone," sighed both. +</P> + +<P> +"Gone!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, gone forever." +</P> + +<P> +"What mean you? whither has she gone? what has happened to render +you so miserable?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas, Aphiz; Komel has gone to be the star of some proud Turkish +harem," said the father. +</P> + +<P> +"And with your consent?" +</P> + +<P> +"No! O, no!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nor by her own free will, that I know," he continued, quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! no; this night she was stolen from us, and we saw her borne +away before our very eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"Was there no one by to strike a blow for her, no one to render you +aid?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, one there was, an honest friend who lives in the next cottage. +He was aroused by the noise, and outraged by the violence he beheld, +he rushed upon the thieves, but they struck him bleeding and dead to +the earth. It was a terrible sight and poor Komel saw it as they +carried her away, and uttered such a fearful, piercing scream that +it seems to ring in our cars even now. She fainted then in their +arms, and we saw her no more." +</P> + +<P> +"Heaven guard her!" said Aphiz, with inward anguish expressed in his +face. +</P> + +<P> +"Amen!" said the aged father, with a deep, heartfelt sigh, full of +sorrow. +</P> + +<P> +This told the whole story of the previous night, and the last boat +that put off from, the shore for the clipper schooner contained +Komel as a prisoner, insensible to all about, abducted by her own +countrymen, incited by the revengeful spirit of Krometz. Actuated by +the vilest motives himself, he had persuaded a companion, as we have +seen, by a small bribe and the representation that Komel would in +reality be better off than with her parents, to aid him in his +object. Krometz had not hesitated to receive the handsome sum that +one so beautiful as Komel could not fail to command. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz was almost too miserable to be able to find words to express +his feelings. A bitter tear stole down his sunburnt check as he saw +the mother's grief, but a stern flash of the eye was also visible in +the expression of his face. He sought at once the highest cliff +beyond the cottage, and in the distant, far-off horizon, could dimly +make out the white canvas of the slave cutter, no bigger than a +sea-bird, on the skirts of the horizon. He sat down in the +bitterness of his anguish, alone and heart-broken, and then he +remembered the scene of the previous evening, how they both together +had seen the hawk pounce down and carry off in its talons the poor +wood dove. +</P> + +<P> +That scene, so suggestive to his mind, was not without its meaning. +It was the forerunner of the calamity under which his heart now +grieved so bitterly. Aphiz Adegah's life had been a bold one, he +knew no fear. The air of his native hills was not freer than his own +spirit and as he looked off once more at the tiny white speck in the +distance that marked the spot where Komel was, his resolution was +instantly made, and he swore to follow and rescue her. +</P> + +<P> +It was but natural that the young mountaineer should desire to find +out the agency by which that evil business had been consummated. He +knew very well that such a plan as Komel's abduction could not have +been perpetrated without the aid of parties that knew her and her +home, but never for one moment did he suspect Krometz. He had ever +professed the warmest friendship for both him and Komel, and he was +deemed honest. But during the melee, when the honest mountaineer had +rushed to Komel's rescue, and had received the fatal blow, her +parents heard a voice that they recognized, and both exclaimed, "Can +that voice be Krometz's!" +</P> + +<P> +This was afterwards made known to Aphiz, and with this clue, though +he could scarcely believe that there was the possibility of fact or +correctness in the surmise, he sought his pretended friend. He +charged him with the evidence and its inference, and bade him speak +and say if this was true. +</P> + +<P> +"It matters not, friend Aphiz, since she is gone, how she came to +go." +</P> + +<P> +"This answer," said the young mountaineer, "is but another evidence +against thee." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you pretend to call me to an account, Aphiz? You are but a boy, +while I have already reached the full age of manhood. Think not, +because you were more successful with that girl, than I, that you +can lord it over me. I shall answer no further charges from you." +</P> + +<P> +"Krometz, your guilt speaks out in every line of your face," said +the excited Aphiz. "Meet me at sunset behind the signal rock on the +cliff, and we will settle this affair together." +</P> + +<P> +"I will neither meet thee, nor account to thee for aught I may have +done." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, as true as to-morrow's sun shall rise, with this good rifle I +will shoot you to the heart. I shall be there at the sunset hour; +fail me, and to-morrow you shall die." +</P> + +<P> +Krometz knew well with whom he had to deal; he knew if he met Aphiz, +as he proposed, there would be a chance for his life, but if he +failed him, he feared the unerring aim of his rifle. He was no +coward—both of them had faced the enemy together, but he lacked the +moral courage that is far more sustaining than mere dogged bravery, +or contempt for immediate danger. Thus influence, at sunset he kept +the appointment. +</P> + +<P> +The young mountaineer had been taught this mode of resort to arms by +the Russian and Polish officers who had been thrown much among them. +They had no seconds, but fought alone, starting back to back, +walking forward five paces, wheeling and firing together. The +position was on the brink of a precipice, and he who fell would be +hurled at once down an immense depth. Aphiz was desperate, Krometz +reckless; they fired and the body of the latter fell over the cliff. +Aphiz was unharmed. +</P> + +<P> +In a moment after he realized his situation, has act, however just, +had made him a fugitive, and he must fly at once from those scenes +of his boyish love and happiness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SINGULAR MEETING. +</H3> + +<P> +Turning from the mountain scenes we have described, let us back once +more to Constantinople, and direct our footsteps up the fragrant +valley where the Barbyses threads its meandering course. Here let us +look once more into the gilded cage that holds the Sultan's +favorites, where art had exhausted itself to form a fairy-like spot, +as beautiful as the imagination could conceive. We find here, once +more, amid the fragrant atmosphere and the playing fountains, the +form of Lalla, and by her side again that form, before which all the +tribes of the faithful kneel in humble submission. It was strange +what a potent charm the dumb but beautiful Circassian had thrown +about herself. It seemed as though some fairy circle enshrined her, +within which no harm might possibly reach the gentle slave. +</P> + +<P> +An observant person could have noticed also a third party in that +presence, though he was some distance from Lalla's side, lying upon +the ground, so near the jet of a fountain, that the spray dampened +his face. It was the idiot. To the monarch, or his slave, he +appeared unconscious of aught save the play of water; but one nearer +to him would have seen that no movement of either escaped the now +watchful eye of the boy. Was it possible that he possessed a degree +of reason, after all, and more than half assumed the strange guise +that seemed to enshroud his wits. +</P> + +<P> +Now he tossed the pure white pebble stones into the playing waters, +and saw them carried up by the force of the jets, and now half +rising to his elbow, startled the gold and silver fish in the basin +by a tiny shower of gravel, but still with a strange tenacity, ever +watching both the Sultan and his slave, though not appearing to do +so. +</P> + +<P> +A change had come over that proud, eastern prince. He had been +awakened to fresh impulses, and a new and joyful sense of +realization; the sentiments that actuated him were novel, indeed, to +his breast. From childhood he had been taught by every association +to look upon the gentler sex as toys, merely, of his own; but here +was one, yes, and the first one, too, who had caused him to realize +that she had a soul, a heart, a brilliant, natural intelligence of +mind, that surprised and delighted him. Besides this, the fact of +her sad physical misfortune had, no doubt, increased his tender and +respectful solicitude, and thus altogether he was most peculiarly +situated, as it regarded his dumb slave. +</P> + +<P> +The stern warrior, the relentless foe, the severe judge, and the +pampered monarch, all were merged in the man, when by her side—and +Sultan Mahomet, for the first time in his life, felt that he loved! +</P> + +<P> +As we have shown, it was not the headstrong promptings of passion +that actuated him—far from it; for had the monarch been heedless of +her love and respect in return, how easily might he have commanded +any submission, on her part, that he could wish. The truth was, he +feared to risk the love he now felt that he coveted so strongly, by +any overt act, and thus day by day her life stole quietly on, and +lie was still ever tender and respectful, ever thoughtful for her +comfort or pleasure, and ever assiduous to make her feel contented +and happy with her lot. +</P> + +<P> +It would have been most unnatural had not Lalla experienced, in +return for all this kindness, the warmest sentiments of gratitude, +and this she showed in the expression of her dark, dreamy eyes, at +all times; and to speak truly, the Sultan felt himself amply repaid +by her gentle gratitude and tender smiles. +</P> + +<P> +In the mean time, as days and weeks passed on, silently registering +the course of life, the chill of homesickness, which had been so +keen and saddening at first, wore gradually away from the radiant +face of the slave, though she thought no less earnestly and dearly +of her friends and her home, far away in the Circassian hills; yet +absence and time had robbed her grief of its keenness, while the +easy and luxuriant mode of living that she enjoyed had again +restored the roundness of her beautiful form, had once more imparted +the rose to her check, and the elasticity of her childhood's day to +her movements. In short, she who was so lovely when she entered the +harem, had now grown so much more so, that the companions who +surrounded her, with sentiments almost akin to awe, declared her too +beautiful to live, and sagely hinting that ere long she would hear +the songs of those spirits who chant around Allah's throne. +</P> + +<P> +All this had wrought a corresponding change in the heart of the +Sultan; indeed his affection and, interest for Lalla had even more +than kept pace with this improvement in her appearance; and now it +was for the first time since she came there, that those scarcely +less beautiful Georgians, the petted favorites, heretofore, of the +monarch, now evinced feelings of envy that it was impossible to +disguise. They saw but too plainly that the Sultan cared only for +the dumb slave, had smiles for no one else, and that he was ever by +her side when within the precincts of the harem. +</P> + +<P> +Nor is it to be wondered at that they should feel thus. In a country +where personal beauty constitutes the marketable value of a woman, +it was but natural, that they should be led to prize this endowment, +and perhaps also in the end to dislike all who should successfully +contest the palm with them in this respect. Still, so sweet was +Lalla's disposition, so yielding and considerate, that they could +not openly express the feelings that brooded in their breasts; nor +had one unkind word yet been expressed towards her, since the first +hour that she had entered the Sultan's household. +</P> + +<P> +Leaving the dumb slave thus bound by silken cords, thus chained in a +gilded cage, we will once more turn to the fortunes of the lone and +weary traveller, whom we left in the Armenian quarter of the +capital. +</P> + +<P> +He was evidently a wanderer, and, save the liberal means he had +received from the hands of the grateful Turk whom he had so +providentially rescued near the forest borders of Belgrade, he was +poor indeed. Yet with strict economy this purse had served him well, +and for a long while; whatever his errand in this capital might be, +he seemed to keep it sacredly to himself, and to wander day after +day, front morning until night, here, there, and everywhere, now in +the slave market, now in the opium bazaar, now among the silk +merchants, now among the splendid and picturesque dwellings along +the banks of the Bosphorus, and now in this quarter, now in that, +seemingly in search of some one he hoped to find; but as night +returned, he, too, came to his temporary home, tired, dejected and +unhappy. +</P> + +<P> +But day after day and week after week had at last entirely emptied +his purse of its golden contents, and he stood now very near the +spot where we first introduced him to the reader. The purse was in +his hand, and he was consulting with himself now as to what course +he should pursue for the future, when his eyes rested once more upon +the jewelled receptacle he held in his hand. He had often marked its +richness, and the thought came across him that he might realize a +small sum by selling it at some of the fancy bazaars, and he had +even made up his mind to adopt this plan, when he suddenly +remembered, for the first time, that the Turk had told him to +present it at the gates of the seraglio gardens when he needed +further aid. +</P> + +<P> +"Fool that I have been!" ejaculated the wanderer, vehemently, +"perhaps I might not only obtain the necessary pecuniary aid from +him, but also that information which I so sadly but earnestly seek. +Why should I, until this late hour, have forgotten his proffered +aid? I will away to him at once, tell him my sad history, and +beseech him to lend me the assistance I require." Thus saying, he +turned his eyes towards the little point of land that jets out +towards Asia from the Turkish city, known as Seraglio Point, a +fairy-like cluster of gardens and palaces marking the spot. +</P> + +<P> +His quick, nervous step soon brought him to the gilded portal that +formed the entrance to the splendid gardens beyond, and through the +sentinel who guarded the spot he summoned an officer of the +household, to whom he showed the purse, telling him that he had +received it from the owner as a token of friendship, and that he had +bidden him, when necessity should dictate, to show it at the +seraglio gates, and he would be admitted to his presence. +</P> + +<P> +"God is great!" said the officer, as he looked upon the purse with a +profound reverence, astonishing the humble wanderer by the respect +he showed to the jewelled bag. +</P> + +<P> +"And what place is this?" he asked of the officer, as hie looked +curiously about him. +</P> + +<P> +"By the beard of the Prophet, young man, do you not know?" asked the +official. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not." +</P> + +<P> +"Not know whose purse you hold, and in whose grounds you stand!" +reiterated the soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"Not I." +</P> + +<P> +"Allah akbar! it is the palace of the defender of the faith, Sultan +Mahomet!" +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan!" exclaimed the lone wanderer, struck dumb with +amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"The Brother of the Sun," repeated the official, with a profound +salaam as he repeated the name, while at the same time he noted the +astonishment of the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan," repeated the new comer, musing to himself, "rides he +forth alone?" +</P> + +<P> +"At times, yes, when it suits him. No harm can come to him—he is +sacred, and need not fear." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps not," answered the other, as he recalled the scene on the +borders of the forest. +</P> + +<P> +At the singular piece of intelligence which he had received, the +stranger seemed to hesitate. He surely would not have come hither +had he known to whom he was about to apply for assistance. Could it +be the Sultan that he so opportunely aided? If so, he surely need +not fear to meet him again; perhaps he might even venture still to +tell him honestly his story, and ask at least for advice in the +pursuit of the object which had brought him to Constantinople. In +this half undecided mood he stood musing for some minutes, and then +with a struggle for resolution, bade the officer lead him to his +master. +</P> + +<P> +Let us look in upon the royal presence for a moment. It is a +gorgeous saloon, where the monarch lounges upon satin cushions, with +the rich amber mouthpiece of his pipe between his lips, and the +perfumed tobacco gently wreathing in blue smoke above his head. +Mahomet was at this moment seated on a pedestal of cushions, so rich +and soft that he seemed almost, lost in their luxuriance. Reclining +by his side was a creature so lovely in her maidenly beauty, that +pencil, not pen, should describe her. Ever and anon the monarch cast +glances of such tenderness towards her that an unprejudiced observer +would have noticed at once the warmth of his feelings towards her, +while the gentle slave, for it was Lalla, turned over a pile of rich +English engravings, pausing now and then to hold one of more than +usual interest before his eyes. +</P> + +<P> +It was an interesting scene. The pictures had deeply interested the +slave, and with graceful abandon she had forgotten everything but +them; now smiling over some curious representation, or sighing over +another no less truthful, and her fair, young face expressing the +feelings that actuated her bosom with telltale accuracy all the +while. Her dark hair was interwoven with pearls by the running hands +of the Nubian slaves, and its long plaits reached nearly to her +feet, while across her fair brow there hung a cluster of diamonds +which might have ransomed an emperor—a gift from the Sultan himself. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan seemed, of late, scarcely contented to have her from his +side for a single hour, and even received his officials and gave +audience, with her in the presence oftentimes, first motioning her, +on such occasions, to cover her face, after the style of the Turkish +women; but even this precaution was rarely taken, for Lalla was not +used to it, and the Sultan pressed nothing upon her that he found to +be in any way disagreeable to her feelings. So when the officer +announced a stranger who had shown a purse which bore the Sultan's +arms as his talisman, he was bidden to admit him at once. +</P> + +<P> +The slave turned her back by chance as the stranger entered, and +hearing not his steps she still bent absorbedly over the roll of +engravings while the new comer with profound respect told the Sultan +that until a moment since he had not known that it was his good +fortune to have served his highness, and that perhaps had he +realized this he would not then be before him.—But the monarch +generously re-assured him by his kindness, and repeated his offer of +any service in his power. +</P> + +<P> +"I feel that I am already a heavy pensioner on your bounty, +excellency," he replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Not so; your bravery and prompt assistance stood us in aid at an +important moment.—Speak then, and if there be aught in which we can +further your wishes or good, it will afford us pleasure." +</P> + +<P> +"It is of a matter, which would hardly interest your excellency that +I would speak." +</P> + +<P> +"We are the best judge of that matter." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I tell my story then, excellency?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, speak on," said the monarch, resuming his pipe, and pouring +forth a lazy cloud of smoke from his mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency," he commenced, "I am it very humble mountaineer of the +Caucasus, but until these few months past have been as happy as +heart could wish. True, we have often been called upon to confront +the Cossack, but that is a duty and a pleasure, and the tide of +battle once over, we have returned with renewed joy to our cottage +homes. Our hearths are rude and homely, but our wants are few, and +our hearts are warm among our native hills. +</P> + +<P> +"Suddenly, a hawk swooped down upon our mountain side, and bore away +the sweetest and most innocent dove that nestled there, making +desolate many hearts, and causing an aged mother and father to weep +tears of bitter anguish. I loved that being, excellency, so well +that my whole soul was hers, and she too in turn loved me. Broken +hearted and most miserable I have wandered hither to seek her, for +hither I found that she had been brought, and perhaps even now is +the unhappy slave of some heartless one, and is pining for the home +she has been torn from. If you would bless me, excellency, ay, bless +yourself by a noble deed, then aid me to find her in this great +capital." +</P> + +<P> +The monarch listened with unfeigned interest, he, had a strong dash +of romance in his disposition, besides which he could feel for the +disconsolate lover now, since his own heart bad been so awakened to +itself. +</P> + +<P> +"Your story interests me," said the Sultan, still regarding him +intently. +</P> + +<P> +"It is very simple, excellency, but alas! it is also very true," was +the reply. +</P> + +<P> +"What name do you bear?" +</P> + +<P> +"Aphiz Adegah, excellency!" +</P> + +<P> +"And what was her name of whom you have spoken?" +</P> + +<P> +"Her name was Komel." +</P> + +<P> +At the same moment that he answered thus, Lalla turned by chance +from her engravings, towards them, when her eyes resting upon those +of Aphiz, she rose, staggered a few steps towards him, and uttered a +scream so shrill and piercing that even the imperturbable Turk +sprang to his feet in amazement, while Aphiz cried: +</P> + +<P> +"It is she, it is my lost Komel!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SULTAN'S PRISONER. +</H3> + +<P> +The Sultan was as capable of revenge as he was of love or gratitude, +and this, Aphiz was destined to learn to his sorrow; for no sooner +did the monarch comprehend the scene we have just described, after +having heard the story of Aphiz related, than he immediately +summoned the guard, and the young Circassian found himself borne +away to a place of confinement within the seraglio gardens, where he +was left alone to ponder upon his singular situation. It was not an +easy task for him to divest his mind of the thought that all was a +dream, so singular were the threads of the past woven together since +the happy hours when Komel and himself bade good night at her +father's cottage door. +</P> + +<P> +As to the fair and beautiful slave herself, she was conducted back +to the harem, at the same time that Aphiz was borne away to prison, +but a new world had opened to her. Her voice and hearing, lost by +the fearful shock she had realized by that sight of bloodshed on the +night when they stole her away from her parents, had, strangely +enough, been again restored by a shock scarcely less potent in its +effect upon her. That startling scream which she uttered on +beholding Aphiz had loosened the portals of her ears, and the +violent effort made in order to utter that exclamation had again +loosened the power of utterance. In spite of the attending +circumstances, she could not but rejoice at the return of those +faculties that she had now been taught the value of. +</P> + +<P> +The delight of the Sultan at Komel's recovery of her speech and +hearing, was only equalled by his uneasiness at the extraordinary +position of affairs between himself and the man who had so gallantly +saved his life on the Belgrade plains. Loving his slave so tenderly, +what could he do under the circumstances? He now found the music of +her voice as delicious as the almost angelic beauty of her form and +features, and so charmed was he with the improvement that Komel +evinced, and so did he love to listen to her voice, that he could +even bear to hear her plead for Aphiz, and beseech that he might be +brought to her. Much as this would have been against his own +feelings and wishes, still to have her talk to him he listened +patiently, or seemed to do so, even while she besought him thus. +</P> + +<P> +There was another being whose joy at Komel's recovery of her speech +seemed, if possible, more extravagant even than the Sultan's, and +far more remarkable in manifestation. When the idiot boy first heard +her voice, he started, and crouching like an animal, crept away to a +spot whence he could observe her without himself being seen. By +degrees he drew nearer, and finally received her kind tokens without +any evidences of fear. And by degrees, as she spoke to him and +tutored her words to his simple capacity, he seemed to be filled +with the very ecstasy of joy, and ran and leaped like a hound newly +loosed from confinement. Then he would return, and taking her hand, +place it upon his forehead and temples, and then curling his body +into a ball, lie motionless by her side. +</P> + +<P> +"You love this young Circassian, and would leave me and your present +home for him?" asked the Sultan, as Komel entered the reception +saloon in answer to a summons he had sent to her. +</P> + +<P> +"I do love him, excellency," replied the slave, honestly; "we were +children together, and I cannot remember the time when I loved him +not, for we were always as brother and sister." +</P> + +<P> +"There are not many of thy nation, Komel, who would choose an humble +mountaineer to a Sultan," said the monarch, with a bitter intonation +of voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! excellency," she replied, "too many of my untutored +countrywomen, being brought up from their infancy to consider it as +their infallible lot, make a barter of their hearts for gold. Such +know no true promptings of love." +</P> + +<P> +"You are happy and contented here, you want for nothing, you are the +mistress of this broad palace. Bid me send thy countryman away +loaded with gold, and we will live always together." +</P> + +<P> +"Excellency, I am not happy here, and though I participate in all +the splendor you so liberally furnish for me, my heart, alas! is +ever straying back to my humble home." +</P> + +<P> +"This feeling of discontent will soon die away, Komel, and you will +be happy again," said the Sultan, toying with her delicate hands +which had been tipped at the finger ends by the Nubian slaves with +the henna dye. +</P> + +<P> +"Never, excellency, my early home and my heart will always be +together," she replied, with a sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless, Komel," continued the Sultan in a decided tone of +voice, "you are my slave, and I love you. This being the case, think +you I shall be very ready to part with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! excellency, you are too generous, too kind-hearted, to detain +me here against my wishes. I know this by the gentle and considerate +care I have already received at your hands." +</P> + +<P> +"You mistake, you mistake," repeated the Sultan, earnestly; "that +was because I loved you so well, Komel. I saw in you, not only the +transparent beauty with which Heaven has endowed your race, but a +soul and intelligence that won my heart. Your infirmity, now so +suddenly removed, demanded for you every consideration, but now +aroused by the opposition that circumstances seem to have woven +around me, other feelings are fast becoming rooted in my breast. +Shall such as I am be thwarted in my wish by an humble mountaineer +of the Caucasus?" +</P> + +<P> +As the monarch spoke thus he laid aside the mouth-piece of his pipe, +and leaning upon his elbow amid the yielding cushions, covered his +face with his hand and seemed lost in silent meditation. +</P> + +<P> +The beautiful slave regarded him intently while he remained in this +position. His uniform kindness to her for so long a period had led +her to regard him with no slight attachment, but she knew that Aphiz +was at that very moment under close confinement within the palace +walls for his faithfulness in following and seeking her, and as she +was wholly his before, this but endeared him more earnestly to her. +All the splendor that Sultan Mahomet could offer her, the rank and +wealth, were all counted as naught in comparison with the tender +affection which had grown up with her from childhood. +</P> + +<P> +She awaited in silence the monarch's mood, but resolved to appeal to +his mercy, and beg him to release both Aphiz and herself, that they +might return together once more to their distant home. +</P> + +<P> +But alas! how utterly useless were all her efforts to this end. They +were received by the Sultan in that cold, irrascible spirit that +seems to form so large a share of the Turkish character. Her words +seemed only to arouse and fret him now, and she could see in his +looks of fixed determination and resolve that in the end he would +stop at no means to gratify his own wishes, and that perhaps, +Aphiz's life alone would satisfy his bitter spirit. It was a fearful +thought that he should be sacrificed for her sake, and she trembled +as she looked into the dark depths of his stern, cold eye, which had +never beamed on her thus before. +</P> + +<P> +She crept nearer to his side, and raising his hand within her own, +besought him to look kindly upon her again, to smile on her as he +used to do. It was a gentle, confiding and entreating appeal, and +for a moment the stern features of the monarch did relent, but it +was for an instant only his thoughts troubled him, and he was ill at +ease. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Aphiz Adegah found himself confined in a close +prison; the entire current of his feelings were changed by the +discovery he had made. Not having been able to exchange one word +with Komel, of course he could not possibly know aught of her real +situation further than appearances indicated by her presence there, +and he could not but tremble at the fear that naturally suggested +itself to his mind as to the relationship which she bore to the +Sultan—In this painful state of doubt, he counted the weary hours in +his lonely cell, and calmly awaited his impending fate, let it be +what it might. +</P> + +<P> +He knew the summary mode in which Turkish justice was administered; +he was not unfamiliar with the dark stories that were told of sunken +bodies about the outer bastion of the palace where its walls were +laved by the Bosphorus. He knew very well that an unfaithful wife or +rival lover was often sacrificed to the pride or revenge of any +titled or rich Turk who happened to possess the power to enable him +to carry out his purpose. Knowing all this he prepared his mind for +whatever might come, and had he been summoned to follow a guard +detailed to sink him in the sea, he would not have been surprised. +The idiot boy, half-witted as he was, seemed at once by some natural +instinct to divine the relationship that existed between Komel and +the prisoner, and suggested to her a plan of communication with him +by means of flowers. She saw the boy gather up a handful of loose +buds and blossoms from her lap several times, and observed him carry +them away. Curiosity led her to see what he did with then, and she +followed him as far as she might do consistently with the rules of +the harem, and from thence observed him scale a tree that overhung a +dark sombre-looking building, and toss the flowers through a small +window, into what she knew at once must be Aphiz's cell. +</P> + +<P> +In childhood, Aphiz and herself had often interpreted to each other +the language of flowers, and now hastening back to the luxuriant +conservatory of plants, she culled such as she desired, and +arranging them with nervous fingers, told in their fragrant folds +how tenderly she still loved him, and that she was still true to +their plighted faith. +</P> + +<P> +Entrusting this to the boy she indicated what he was to do with it, +while the poor half-witted being seemed in an ecstacy of delight at +his commission, and soon deposited the precious token inside the +window of Aphiz's prison. +</P> + +<P> +It needed no conjuror to tell Aphiz whom that floral letter came +from. The shower of buds and blossoms that had been thrown to him by +the boy had puzzled him, coming without any apparent design, +regularity, or purpose; but this, as he read its hidden mystery, was +all clear enough to him, he knew the hand that had to gathered and +bound them together. She was true and loved him still. +</P> + +<P> +Komel, in her earnest love, despite the rebuff she had already +received, determined once more to appeal to the Sultan for the +release of his prisoner. But the monarch had grown moody and +thoughtful, as we have seen, when he realized that his slave loved +another; and every word she now uttered in his behalf was bitterness +to his very soul. She only found that he was the more firmly set in +his design as to retraining her in the harem, if not to take the +life of the young mountaineer. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan brooded over this state of affairs with a settled frown +upon his brow. Had it not been that Aphiz had saved his life by his +brave assistance at a critical moment, he would not have hesitated +one instant as to what he should do, for had it been otherwise he +would have ordered him to be destroyed as quickly as he would have +ordered the execution of any criminal.—But hardened and calloused as +he was by power, and self-willed as he was from never being thwarted +in his wishes, yet he found it difficult to give the order that +should sacrifice the life of one who had so gallantly saved him from +peril. +</P> + +<P> +At last the monarch seemed to have resolved upon some plan, whereby +he hoped to relieve himself from the dilemma that so seriously +annoyed him. He was most expert at disguises; indeed, it was often +his custom to walk the streets of his capital incog, or to ride out +unattended, in a plain citizen's dress, as we have seen, that he +might the better observe for himself those things concerning which +he required accurate information. It was then nothing new for him to +don the dress of an officer of the household guard; and in this +costume he visited Aphiz in his cell, representing himself to be the +agent of the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"I come as an agent of the Sultan," he said, as the turnkey +introduced him to the cell. +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan is very gracious to remember' me; what is his will?" +asked the prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +"He has a proposition to offer you, to which, if you accede, you are +at once free to go from here." +</P> + +<P> +"And what are these terms?" asked Aphiz, with perfect coolness. +</P> + +<P> +"That you instantly leave Constantinople, never again to return to +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Alone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Except that he will fill a purse with gold for thee to help thee on +thy homeward way." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall never leave the city alone," replied the prisoner, with +firmness. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that your answer?" +</P> + +<P> +"As well thus perhaps as any way. I shall never leave this city +without Komel." +</P> + +<P> +"But if you remain it may cost you your life," continued the +stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not fear death," replied the Circassian, with the utmost +coolness. +</P> + +<P> +"A painful and degrading death," suggested the agent, earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"I care not. I have faced death in too many forms to fear him in +any." +</P> + +<P> +"Stubborn man!" continued the visiter, irritated in the extreme at +the cool decision and dauntless bravery of the prisoner, adding, +"you tempt your own fate by refusing this generous offer." +</P> + +<P> +"No fate can be worse than to be separated from her I love. If that +is to be done, then welcome death; for life without her would cease +to be desirable." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not be hasty in your decision." +</P> + +<P> +"I am all calmness," was the reply. +</P> + +<P> +"And shall I bear your refusal to leave the city, to the Sultan? +Weigh the matter well; you can return to your native land with a +purse heavy with gold, but if you remain you die." +</P> + +<P> +"You have then my plain refusal of the terms. Tell the Sultan for +me,"—Aphiz in his acuteness easily penetrated the monarch's +disguise,—"tell him I thank him heartily for the generous means that +he afforded me when I was poor and needy, and whereby I have been +supported in his capital so long. Tell him too that I forgive him +for this causeless imprisonment, and that if it be his will that I +should die, because I love one who has loved me from childhood, I +forgive him that also." +</P> + +<P> +"You will not reconsider this answer." +</P> + +<P> +"I am firm, and no casualty can alter my feelings, no threats can +alarm me." +</P> + +<P> +The visiter could not suppress his impatience at these remarks, but +telling Aphiz that if he repeated his answer to the Sultan he feared +that it would seal his fate forever, he left him once more alone. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz, as we have said, knew very well who had visited him in his +cell, and now that he was gone he composed himself as best he could, +placing Komel's bouquet in his bosom and trying to sleep, for it was +now night. But he felt satisfied in his own mind that his worst +expectations would be realized ere long, for he had marked well the +expression of the Sultan's face, and he fell asleep to dream that he +had bidden Komel and life itself adieu. +</P> + +<P> +And while he, whom she loved so well, lay upon the damp floor of the +cell to sleep, Komel lounged on a couch of downy softness, and was +lulled to sleep by the playing of sweet fountains, and the gentle +notes of the lute played by a slave, close by her couch, that her +dreams might be sweet and her senses beguiled to rest by sweet +harmony. But the lovely girl forgot him not, and her dreams were of +him as her waking thoughts were ever full of him. +</P> + +<P> +What is there, this side of heaven, brighter than the enduring +constancy of woman? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PUNISHMENT OF THE SACK. +</H3> + +<P> +The sun was almost set, and the soft twilight was creeping over the +incomparable scenery that renders the coast of Marmora so beautiful; +the gilded spires of the oriental capital were not more brilliant +than the dimpled surface of the sea where it opened and spread away +from the mouth of the Bosphorus. The blue waters had robbed the +evening sky of its blushing tints, and seemed to revel in the +richness of its coloring.—It was at this calm and quiet hour that a +caique, propelled by a dozen oarsmen, shot out from the shore of the +Seraglio Point, and swept round at once with its prow turned towards +the open sea. In the stern at two dark, uncouth looking Turks, +between whom was a young man who seemed to be under restraint, and +in whom the reader would have recognized Aphiz, the Sultan's +prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +It was plain that the caique was bound on some errand of more than +ordinary interest, and many eyes from the shore were regarding it +curiously, as did also the various boat crews that met it on the +water. +</P> + +<P> +Still it held on its way steadily, propelled by the long, regular +stroke of the oarsmen over the half mile of blue water that +separates Europe and Asia at this point, sweeping as it went by, +lovely villages, mosques, minarets, and the dark cemeteries that +line the shores, until, a certain point having been gained, the +oarsmen at a signal from those in the stern, rested from their +labors, while the boat still glided on from the impetus it had +received. In a moment more, Aphiz was completely covered with a +large, stout canvas bag or sack, which was secured about him and +tied up. At one extremity was attached a heavy shot, and when these +preparations were completed, he was cast into the sea, sinking as +quickly from sight as a stone might have done. A few bubbles rose to +the surface where the sack had gone down, and all was over. The bows +of the caique were instantly turned towards the city, and the men +gave way as carelessly as though nothing uncommon had transpired. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz had thus been made to suffer the penalty usually inflicted +upon certain crimes, and especially to the wives of such of the +Turks as suspected them of inconstancy, a punishment that is even to +this day common in Constantinople. The Sultan had reasoned that if +Komel knew Aphiz Adegah to be dead, she would after awhile recover +from the shock, and gradually forgetting him, receive his own regard +instead of that of the young mountaineer, as he would have her do +voluntarily; for he felt, as much as he coveted her favor, that he +could never claim her for a wife unless it was with her own consent +and free will. If he had not love her, he would have felt +differently, and would have commanded that favor which now would +lose its charms unless 'twas wooed and won. +</P> + +<P> +But we shall see how mistaken the monarch was in his selfish +calculations. +</P> + +<P> +Reasoning upon the grounds that we have named, the Sultan had +ordered Aphiz to be drowned in the Bosphorus, as we have seen, and +the deed was performed by the regular executioners of government. +The Sultan was supreme, and his orders were obeyed without question; +this being the case, Aphiz's fate caused no remark even among the +gossips. +</P> + +<P> +The few days that had transpired since Komel had regained her speech +and hearing, had of course taught her more in relation to her actual +situation and the character of those about her than she had been +able to gather by silent observation during her entire previous +confinement in the harem of the palace. +</P> + +<P> +She was aware that the Sultan was impetuous and self-willed, but she +could hardly bring her mind to believe that he would actually put in +practice such a piece of villany as should cost Aphiz his life. +Knowing as much as she did of his imperious and stern habits, she +did not believe him capable of such cold-blooded baseness. But no +sooner had the officers, sent to execute his sentence against the +innocent mountaineer, returned and announced the task as performed, +than Komel was summoned to the presence of the the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"I have sent for you, Komel," said the monarch, while he regarded +her intently as he spoke, "to tell you that Aphiz is dead." +</P> + +<P> +"Dead, excellency; do you say dead?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"You do but jest with me, excellency," she said, trying in her +tremor to smile. +</P> + +<P> +"I rarely jest with any one and surely should not have sent for you +were I in that mood. He has gone to make food for the fishes at the +bottom of the Bosphorus." +</P> + +<P> +"Has his life been taken by your orders, excellency?" she asked, +with a pallid cheek and blanched lips. +</P> + +<P> +"You have said," answered the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! excellency, I am but a weak girl and can ill abide a jest. +Aphiz can have done nothing to receive your displeasure, and surely +you would not take his life without reason." +</P> + +<P> +"I had reason sufficient for me." +</P> + +<P> +"What was it, excellency?" +</P> + +<P> +"The fellow loved you, Komel." +</P> + +<P> +"O, sorrow me, sorrow me, that his love for should have been his +ending." +</P> + +<P> +The struggle in the beautiful girl's bosom for a moment was fearful. +It was like the rough and sudden blast that sweeps tempest—like over +a glassy lake and turns its calm waters into trembling waves and +dark shadows. She did not give way under the fearful news that she +hear; a counter current of feeling seemed to save her, and to bring +back the color once more to her lips, and cheeks, and to add +brilliancy to the large, lustrous eyes so peculiar to her race. All +this the Sultan marked well, and indeed was at a loss rightly to +understand these demonstrations. +</P> + +<P> +So quick and marked was the change that it puzzled the monarch, +though he read something still of its rightful character, for he had +known before the bitterness of a revengeful spirit, and bore upon +his breast, at that hour, the deep impression of a dagger's point, +where a Circassian slave, whom he had deprived of her child, had +attempted to stab him to the heart. And now as he looked upon Komel, +he thought he could read some such spirit in the expression of the +beautiful slave before him, and he was right! Dark thoughts seemed +to be struggling even in her gentle breast, when she realized that +Aphiz was no more, and that his murderer was before her. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing in reality could be more gentle than the loving disposition +of the slave. Her natural character was all tenderness and modest +diffidence, but she had now been touched at a point where she was +most sensitive. Aphiz, without the shadow of guilt, save that he was +true in his love to her, had been murdered in cold blood, and the +announcement of the fact by the Sultan had chilled every fountain of +tenderness in her bosom. She looked wistfully at the jewelled dagger +that hung in the monarch's girdle, and fearful thoughts were +thronging her brain. The Sultan little knew on how slender thread +his life hung at that moment, for a very slight blow from his +dagger, swiftly and truly given, would have revenged Aphiz in a +moment. +</P> + +<P> +"And what end do you propose to yourself that this deed has been +done?" she asked, after a few moments' pause, during which the +Sultan had regarded her most intently, and, if possible, with +increased interest, at the picture she now presented of startled and +spirited energy. +</P> + +<P> +"You told me, Komel, that you loved him, did you not?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I did." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you see no reason now why he should not live, at least, in +Constantinople?" +</P> + +<P> +"None." +</P> + +<P> +"He had his choice, and was told that he might leave here in peace; +but he chose to stay and die." +</P> + +<P> +"And for his devotion to me you have killed him?" continued Komel, +bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"Not for his devotion, but his stubbornness," said the Sultan. +"Come, Komel, smile once more. He is dead-time flies quickly on, and +he will soon be forgotten." +</P> + +<P> +"Never!" replied the slave, with startling energy. "You will find +that a Circassian's heart is not so easily moulded in a Turkish +shape!" +</P> + +<P> +The monarch bit his lip at the sarcasm of the remark, and as it, was +expressed with no lack of bitterness, it could not but cut him +keenly. Still preserving that calm self-possession which a full +consciousness of his power imparted, he smiled instead of frowning +upon her, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"You are heated now; to-morrow, or perhaps the next day, you may +come to me, and I trust that you will then be in a better humor than +at present." +</P> + +<P> +Komel bowed coldly at the intimation, while her expression told how +bitterly she felt towards him. +</P> + +<P> +A dark frown came over the Sultan's face at the same moment, and an +accurate reader of physiognomy would have detected the fear +expressed there that his violent purpose, as executed upon Aphiz, +had failed totally of success. +</P> + +<P> +Turning coldly away from him, the slave sought her own apartment in +the gorgeous palace, to mourn in silence and alone over the fearful +and bitter news she had just heard concerning one who was to her all +in all, and who had taken with him her heart to the spirit land. The +world, and all future time, looked to her like a blank, as though +overspread by one heavy cloud, that obliterated entirely and forever +the sight of that sun which had so long warmed her heart with its +genial rays. As we have already said, Komel lacked not for +tenderness of feeling. Her heart was gentle and susceptible; but +dashing now the tears from her eyes, she assumed a forced calmness, +and strove to reason with herself as she said, quietly, "We shall +meet again in heaven!" Humming some wild air of her native land, the +slave then tried to lose herself in some trifling occupation, that +she might partially forget her sorrows. +</P> + +<P> +Her flowers were not forgotten, nor her pet pigeons unattended. She +wandered amid the fragrant divisions of the harem, and threw herself +down by its bubbling jets and fountains as she had done before, but +not thoughtlessly. The spirit of Aphiz seemed to her to be ever by +her side, and she would talk to him as though he was actually +present, in soft and tender whispers, and sing the songs of their +native valley with low and witching cadence; and thus she was +partially happy, for the soul is where it loves, rather than where +it lives. From childhood she had been taught to believe the +Swedenborgian doctrine, of the presence of the spirits of those who +have gone before us to the better land; and she deemed, as we have +said, that Aphiz Adegah was ever by her side, listening to her, and +sympathizing with all she did and said. +</P> + +<P> +It is a happy faith, that the disembodied spirits of those whom we +have loved and respected here are still, though invisible, watching +over us with tender solicitude. Such a realization must be +chastening in its influence, for who would do an unworthy deed, +believing his every act visible to those eyes that he had delighted +to please on earth? And yet, could we but realize it, there is +always one eye, the Infinite and Supreme One, ever upon us, and +should we not be equally sensitive in our doings beneath his ever +present being? +</P> + +<P> +It was the character of Komel's belief as to the spirits of the +departed, that rendered her so calm and resigned, though the Sultan, +in his blindness, attributed it to the forgetfulness engendered by +time, and smiled to himself to think how quickly the fickle girl had +forgotten one whose ardent devotion to her cost him his life. "She +scarcely deserved this fidelity on his part," said the monarch, with +a dark frown, as the memory of the gallant service the young +Circassian had done him when he was beset by the Bedouins, flashed +across his mind, rendering even his hardened spirit, for a moment, +uneasy. "The difficulty, after all," he said to him himself, "is not +so much to die for one we love, as to find one worthy of dying for." +Shaking an extra dose of the powdered drug into the bowl of his +pipe, the blue smoke curled away in tiny clouds above his head, +while its narcotic effect soon lulled both mental and physical +faculties into a state of dreamy insensibility. +</P> + +<P> +What ardent spirits are to our countrymen, opium is in the East, +except, perhaps that the powerful drug is more exalting in its +stimulating influences, and less vile in its immediate effects; but +no less severe is it to hurry those who indulge in such dissipation, +with a broken constitution and ruined mental faculties to the grave. +</P> + +<P> +Komel seemed gradually to settle down to a quiet and even half +satisfied consciousness of her situation. True, she could not but +often sigh for her home and parents, but with her more settled +condition fresh spirits had come to her features, and renewed +energies were depicted in every movement of her graceful and lovely +form. Though constantly surrounded by a troop of slaves, chosen +solely for their personal beauty and the charms that made them excel +their sex generally, still she outshone them all, and that, too, +without the simplest effort to do so; and yet for all this, so sweet +was her native disposition, and so winning and gentle her spirit at +all times, that they loved her still as at first, without one +thought of envy or jealousy. +</P> + +<P> +So far as her companions were concerned, therefore, she could hardly +have been more happily situated than she was, and for their kindness +she strove to manifest the kind, affectionate promptings that +actuated her heart. She even joined them in many of their games and +sports, though most of her time was passed alone, save that the +idiot boy almost ever sought her out, and came and slept at her +side, or seemed to do so, only too much delighted when she showed +him any little, careful attention, and watching her when she did not +observe him, with an intensity that seemed strange in one who was +not supposed to be possessed of any actual reasoning powers, or +indeed of much brains at all. +</P> + +<P> +Having no mental occupation, the poor boy, who was, as far as his +physical developments went, a specimen of rare youthful beauty and +grace of form, employed a large portion of his time in such +exercises and feats of agility as a sort of animal instinct might +lead him to attempt, and thus Komel was often startled by suddenly +beholding him dangling by his feet from some lofty cypress, swinging +to and fro like a monkey; or to observe him turning a series of +summersets, in a broad circle, with such incredible swiftness as to +cause all distinctness of his form to be lost, producing a most +singular and magical appearance. Then, perhaps, after forming a +circle thus on the green sod he would suddenly plunge into its +midst, coil himself up like a snail, or put his head between his +feet, and thus go to sleep, or lie there as still as though he had +been a stone, for hours at a time. +</P> + +<P> +Thus, days and weeks passed on in the same routine of fairy-like +scenes, and the Sultan's slaves counted not the time that brought to +them but a never varying dull monotony of indolent luxuriance. They +had no intellectual pursuits or tastes, and therefore were but sorry +companions for one whose native intelligence was so prominent a +trait in her character. Thus it was, therefore, having no one with +whom she could truly and honestly sympathize, that Komel preferred +to whisper her thoughts to the birds and flowers, and to fancy that +Aphiz's spirit was near by, smiling upon her the while. What a +strange and dreamy life the Circassian was passing in the Sultan's +harem! +</P> + +<P> +Komel, it is true, mourned for her liberty, and what caged bird is +there that does not! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LOVER'S STRATAGEM. +</H3> + +<P> +It was morning in the East, and all things partook of the dewy +freshness of early days.—The busy din of the city was momentarily +increasing, and as the hours advanced, the broad sunlight gilded all +things far and near. It was at this bright and exhilarating hour +that two persons sat together on the silky grass that caps the +summit of Bulgarlu. They had wandered hither, seemingly, to view the +splendid scenery together, and were regarding it with earnest eyes. +</P> + +<P> +How beautiful looked the Turkish capital below them! From Seraglio +Point, seven miles down the coast of Roumelia, the eye followed a +continued wall, and from the same point twenty miles up the +Bosphorus on either shore, stretched one crowded and unbroken city, +with its star-shaped bay in the midst, floating a thousand maritime +crafts, prominent among which were the Turkish men-of-war flaunting +their blood-red flags in the breeze. Far away over the Sea of +Mannora their eyes rested on a snow-white cloud at the edge of the +horizon. It was Mount Olympus, the fabulous residence of the gods. +In this far-off scene, too, lay Bithynia, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, +and the entire scene of the apostle Paul's travels in Asia Minor. +Then their eyes wandered back once more and rested now on the old +Fortress of the Seven Towers, where fell the emperor Constantine, +and where Othman the second was strangled. +</P> + +<P> +Between the Seven Towers and the Golden Horn, were the seven hills +of ancient Stamboul, the towering arches of the aqueduct of Valens +crossing from one to another, and the swelling domes and gold-tipped +minarets of a hundred imperial mosques crowning their summits. And +there too was Seraglio Point, a spot of enchanting loveliness, +forming a tiny cape as it projects towards the opposite continent +and separates the bay from the Sea of Marmora; its palaces buried in +soft foliage, out of which gleam gilded cupolas and gay balconies +and a myriad of brilliant and glittering domes. And then their eyes +ran down the silvery link between the two seas, where lay fifty +valleys and thirty rivers, while an imperial palace rests on each of +the loveliest spots, the entire length, from the Black Sea to +Marmora. +</P> + +<P> +Such was the beautiful and classic scenery that lay outspread before +the two young persons who had seated themselves on the summit of +Bulgarlu, and if its charms had power over the casual observer, how +much more beautiful did it appear to these two who saw it through +each other's eyes. A closer observation would have shown that one of +the couple was a female, for some purpose seeking to disguise her +sex; he by her side was evidently her lover, to meet whom, she had +hazarded this exposure beyond the city walls at so early an hour. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, dearest Zillah'," said he who sat by the maiden's side, "I +would that we lived beyond the sea from whence, come those ships +that bear the stars and stripes, for I am told that in America, +religious belief is no bar to the union of heart, as it is in the +Sultan's domains." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor should it be so here, Capt. Selim," she answered, "did our +noble Sultan understand the best good of his people. May the Prophet +open his eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"Though I love thee far better than all else on the earth, Zillah, +still I cannot abjure my Christian faith, and, like a hypocrite, +pretend to be a true follower of Mahomet. At best, we can be but a +short time here on earth, and if I was unfaithful in my holy creed, +how could I hope at last to meet thee, dearest, in paradise?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do love thee but the more dearly," she replied, "for thy +constancy to the Christian faith, and though my father has reared me +in the Mussulman belief, still I am no bigot, as thou knowest." +</P> + +<P> +Zillah was a child in years—scarcely sixteen summers had developed +their power in her slight but beautiful form, and yet it was rounded +so nearly to perfection, so slightly and gracefully full, as to +captivate the most fastidious eye. Like every child of these Turkish +harems, she was beautiful, with feature of faultless regularity, and +eyes that were almost too large and brilliant. +</P> + +<P> +He who was her companion, and whom she had called Capt. Selim, was +the same young officer whom the reader met in an early chapter at +the slave bazaar, and who bid to the extent of his means for Komel, +who was at last borne away by the Sultan's agent. He was well formed +and handsome, his undress uniform showing him to be attached to the +naval service of the Sultan. He might be four or five years her +senior, but though he appeared thus young, he seemed to have many +years of experience, with an unflinching steadiness of purpose +denoted in his countenance, showing him fitted for stern emergencies +calling for promptness and daring in the hour of danger. The story +of their love was easily told. While young Selim was yet a +lieutenant in the Sultan's navy, a caique containing Zillah and the +rich of Bey, her father, had met with an accident in the Bosphorus +while close by a boat which he commanded, and by which accident +Zillah was thrown into the water, and but for the officer's prompt +delivery would doubtless have been drowned. But with a stout +purpose, and being a daring swimmer, he bore her safely to the +shore. +</P> + +<P> +With the suddenness of oriental passion they loved at once, but +their after intercourse was necessarily kept a secret, since they +knew full well that the Bey would at once punish them both if he +should discover them, for how could a Musselman tolerate a +Christian, and to this sect the young officer was known to belong. +They had met often thus, and by the ingenious device adopted in +Zillah's dress had avoided detection. But these stolen meetings, so +sweet, were fearfully dangerous to the young officer, the punishment +of his offence, if discovered, being death. +</P> + +<P> +Finally, on one of these stolen excursions, Zillah was detained so +long as to cause notice and surprise in the harem, and when she +returned she was reprimanded by the Bey, who gave orders, that for +the future she should not be permitted to leave the garden walks of +the palace, and the poor girl pined like a caged wild bird. The +latticed balcony of Zillah's apartment, like many of the Turkish +houses, overhung the Bosphorus, so that a boat might lie beneath it +within a distance to afford easy means of communication, and thus +Selim still was able at times, though with the utmost caution, to +hold converse with her he loved so well. +</P> + +<P> +But Zillah's susceptible and gentle disposition could not sustain +her present treatment. She loved the young officer so earnestly and +truly that it was misery to be deprived of his society as was now +the case, for even their partial intercourse had been suspended +since the Bey had discovered his daughter talking to some one, and +he had forbidden her to ever enter the apartment again that overhung +the water. +</P> + +<P> +Thus confined and crossed in her feelings, Zillah grew sick, and +paler and paler each day, until the old Bey, now thoroughly aroused, +was extremely anxious lest she should be taken to the Prophet's +house. The best sages and doctors to be found were summoned, and +constantly attended the drooping flower, but alas! to no effect. +Their art was not cunning enough to discover the true cause of her +malady, and they could only shake their heads, and strike their +beards ominously to the inquiries of the anxious old Bey, her +father. +</P> + +<P> +The cold-hearted Bey never dreamed of the real cause of her illness. +True, he had suspected her of being too unguarded in her habits, +and had laid restrictions upon her liberty, but as to disappointment +in love being the cause of her malady, indeed it did not seem to his +heartless disposition that love could produce such a result. She was +perhaps the only being in the world who had ever caused him to +realize that he had a heart. After thinking long and much upon the +illness of his child, he resolved to seek her confidence, and +turning his steps toward the harem, he found his drooping and fading +flower reclining upon a velvet couch. Seating himself by her side, +he parted the hair from her fair, young brow, and told his child how +dearly he loved her, and if aught weighed upon her mind he besought +her to open her lips and speak to him. Zillah loved her father, +though she was not blind to his many faults. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear father, what shall I say to thee?" +</P> + +<P> +"Speak thy whole heart, my child." +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, but it would only displease thee, my father, for me to do so." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, Zillah, if thou knowest what it is that sickens thee, and +robs thy cheek of its bloom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Father," she answered, with a sigh, "my heart is breaking with +unhappy love." +</P> + +<P> +"Love!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, I love Selim, he who saved me from drowning in the Bosphorus." +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan's officer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, father, Capt. Selim." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, child, that young rascal is a notorious dog of a Christian. Do +you know it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know he believes not in the faith of our fathers," she answered, +modestly. +</P> + +<P> +The old Turk bit his lips with vexation, but dared not vent the +passion he felt in the delicate ear of his sick child. Indeed he had +only to look into her pale face to turn the whole current of his +anger into pity at the danger he read there. +</P> + +<P> +The old Bey knew the spirit that Zillah had inherited both from +himself and from her mother, and that she was fixed in her purpose. +She frankly told him that she could never be happy unless Selim was +her husband. The father was most sadly annoyed. He referred to the +best physicians in the city to know if a malady such as his daughter +suffered under, could prove fatal, and they assured him that this +had frequently been the case. One, however, to whom he applied, +informed the Bey that he knew of a Jewish leech who was famed for +curing all maladies arising from depression, physical or mental, and +if he desired it, he would send the Jew to his house on the +subsequent day, when he would say if he could do her any good as it +regarded her illness. +</P> + +<P> +Much as the Mussulman despised the race, still, in the hope of +benefiting his child by the man's medical skill, he desired the +Armenian physician to send the Jew, as he proposed, on the following +day, and paying the heavy fee that these leeches know so well how to +charge the rich old Turks, the Bey departed once more to his palace. +</P> + +<P> +At the hour appointed, the Armenian physician despatched the Jewish +doctor to the Bey's gates, where he was admitted, and received with +as much respect as the Turk could bring his mind to show towards +unbelievers, and the business being properly premised, the father +told the Jew how his daughter was affected, and asked if he might +hope for her recovery. +</P> + +<P> +"With great care and cunning skill, perhaps so," said the Jew, from +out his overgrown beard. +</P> + +<P> +"If this can be accomplished through thy means, I make thee rich for +life," said the Bey. +</P> + +<P> +"We can but try," said the Jew, "and hope for the best. Lead me to +thy daughter." +</P> + +<P> +The Bey conducted the leech to his daughter's apartment, and bidding +her tell freely all her pains and ills, left the Jew to study her +case, while he retired once more to silent converse with himself. +</P> + +<P> +"You are ill," said the Jew, addressing Zillah, while he seated +himself and rested his head upon his staff. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet methinks no physical harm is visible in thy person. The +pain is in the heart?" +</P> + +<P> +"You speak truly," said Zillah, with a sigh—"I am very unhappy." +</P> + +<P> +"You love?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do." +</P> + +<P> +"And art loved again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Truly, I believe so." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, whencefore art thou unhappy; reciprocal love begets not +unhappiness?" +</P> + +<P> +"True, good leech; but he whom I love so well is a Christian, and I +can hold no communication with him, much less even hope to be his +wife." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you love him so well that you would leave home, father, +everything, for him?" asked the Jew. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! it would be hard to leave my father but still am I so wholly +his, I would do even so." +</P> + +<P> +"Then may you be happy yet," said he, who spoke to her, as he tossed +back the hood of his gaberdine, and removed the false hair that he +wore, presenting the features of young Selim, whom she loved! +</P> + +<P> +"How is this possible?" she said, between her sobs and smiles of +joy; "my father told me that the Armenian recommended you for your +skill in the healing art." +</P> + +<P> +"He is my friend, the man who taught me my religion, my everything, +and the only confidant I have in all Constantinople. To him I told +the grief of my heart at our separation; by chance your father +called on him for counsel; he knew the Bey, and his mind suggested +that I was the true physician whom you needed, and fabricating the +story of my profession, he sent me hither." +</P> + +<P> +The fair young girl gazed at him she loved, and wept with joy, and +with her hands held tremblingly in his own, Selim told her of a plan +he had formed for their escape from the city to some distant land +where they might live together unmolested and happy in each other's +society. He explained to her that he should tell her father that it +was necessary for him to administer certain medicines to her beneath +the rays of the moon, and that while she was strolling with him thus +the water's edge, he would have a boat ready and at a favorable +moment jumping into this, they would speed away. +</P> + +<P> +The moments flew with fearful speed, and pressing her tenderly to +his heart, the pretended Jew had only time to resume his disguise +when the Bey entered. He saw in the face of his child a color and +spirit that had not been there for months before, and delighted, he +turned to the Jew to know if he had administered any of his cunning +medicines, and being told that a small portion of the necessary +article had been given, was overjoyed at the effect. +</P> + +<P> +Being of a naturally superstitious race, the Turk heard the Jew's +proposition as it regarded the administering of his next dose of +medicine beneath the calm rays of the moon in the open air, with +satisfaction; for had he not already worked a miracle upon his +child? He was told that by administering the medicine once or twice +at the proper moment beneath the midnight rays of the moon, he +should doubtless be able to effect a perfect cure. +</P> + +<P> +Satisfied fully of what he had seen and heard, he dismissed the +pretended Jew with a heavy purse of gold, and bade him choose his +own time, telling him also that his palace gates should ever be open +to him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SERENADE. +</H3> + +<P> +Beautiful as a poet's fancy can picture, is the seraglio, a fitting +home for the proud Turkish monarch, gemmed with gardens, fantastic +palaces, and every variety of building and tree on its gentle slope, +descending so gracefully towards the sea, spreading before the eye +its towers, domes, and dark spots of cypresses like a sacred +division of the city of Constantinople, as indeed it is to the eye +of the true believer. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan's household were removed at his will from the Valley of +Sweet Waters hither and back again, as fancy might dictate. Thus +Komel had met her lover Aphiz Adegah here before his sentence; and +here she was now, still queen of its royal master's heart, still the +fairest creature that shone in the Sultan's harem. Every luxury and +beauty that ingenuity could devise or wealthy purchase, surrounded +her with oriental profusion. Still left entirely to herself, the +same occupation employed her time, of tending flowers and toying +with beautiful birds. Sometimes the Sultan would come and sit by her +side, but he found that the wound he had given was not one to heal +so quickly as he had supposed, and that the Circassian cherished the +memory of Aphiz as tenderly as ever. +</P> + +<P> +The idiot boy, almost the only person in whom she seemed to take any +real interest, still followed her footsteps hither and thither, now +toying with some pet of the gardens, a parrot or a dog, now +performing most incredible feats of legerdemain, running off upon +his hands, with his feet in a perpendicular position, to a distance, +and coming back again by a series of summersets, until suddenly +gathering his limbs and body together like a ball, he went off +rolling like a helpless mass down some gentle slope, and having +reached the bottom, would lie there as if all life were gone, for +the hour together, yet always so managing as to keep one eye upon +Komel nearly all the while. +</P> + +<P> +The Circassian loved the poor half-witted boy, for love begets love, +and the lad had seemed to love her from the first moment they had +met in the Sultan's halls, since when they had been almost +inseparable. +</P> + +<P> +It was on a fair summer's afternoon, that the Sultan, strolling in +the flower gardens of the palace, either by design or accident, came +upon a spot where Komel was half reclining upon one of the soft +lounges that were strewn here and there under tiny latticed pagodas, +to shelter the occupant from the sun. While yet a considerable way +off, the Turk paused to admire his slave as she reclined there in +easy and unaffected gracefulness, apparently lost in a day dream. +She was very beautiful there all by herself, save the half-witted +boy, who seemed to be asleep now, away out on the projecting limb of +a cypress tree that nearly overhung the spot, and where he had +coiled himself up, and managed to sustain his position upon the limb +by some unaccountable means of his own. +</P> + +<P> +The Sultan drew quietly nearer until he was close by her side before +she discovered him, when starting from the reverie that had bound +her so long, she half rose out of respect for the monarch's +presence, but no smile clothed her features; she welcomed him not by +greeting of any kind. +</P> + +<P> +"What dreams my pretty favorite about, with her eyes open all the +while?" asked the Sultan. +</P> + +<P> +"How knew you that I dreamed?" +</P> + +<P> +"I read it in your face. It needs no conjuror to define that, +Komel." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you know of what I was thinking?" +</P> + +<P> +"It was my question, pretty one." +</P> + +<P> +"Of home—of my poor parents, and of my lost Aphiz," she answered, +bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"I have told thee to forget those matters, and content thyself here +as mistress of my harem." +</P> + +<P> +"That can never be; my heart to-day is as much as ever among my +native hills." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Komel, time must and will change you, at last. We are not +impatient." +</P> + +<P> +Had the monarch rightly interpreted the expression of her face at +this moment, he would have understood how deeply rooted was her +resolve, at least, so far as he was concerned, and that she bitterly +despised the murderer of Aphiz, and in this spirit only could she +look upon the proud master of the Turkish nation. He mistook Komel's +disposition and nature, in supposing that she would ever forgive or +tolerate him. He did not remember how unlike her people she had +already proved herself. He did not realize that his high station, +his wealth, the pomp and elegance that surrounded his slave, were +looked upon by her only as the flowers that adorn the victim of a +sacrifice. Having never been thwarted in his will and purpose, he +had yet to learn that such a thing could be accomplished by a simple +girl. +</P> + +<P> +As the Sultan turned an angle in the path that led towards the +palace, he was met by one of the eunuch guards, who saluted him +after the military style with his carbine, and marched steadily on +in pursuance of his duty. The monarch did not even lift his eyes at +the guard's salute—his thoughts were uneasy, and his brow dark with +disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +It was but a few hours subsequent to the scene which we have just +described, that Komel was again seated in the seraglio gardens on +the gentle slope where it curves towards the sea. She had wandered +beneath the bright stars and silvery moon as far as it was prudent +for her to do, and cleft only the narrow path trod by the silent +guard between her and the wall of the seraglio. The hour was so late +that stillness reigned over the moon-lit capital, and the place was +as silent as the deep shadows of night. The half-witted boy had +followed her steps by swinging himself from tree to tree, until now +he was close by the spot where she sat, though lost to sight among +the thick foliage of the funereal cypress. +</P> + +<P> +Komel was thinking of the strange vicissitudes of her life, of her +lost lover, of the dear cottage where she was born, and the happy +home from which she had been so ruthlessly torn by violent hands. It +was an hour for quiet thoughtfulness, and her innocent bosom heaved +with almost audible motion as it realized the scene and her own +memories. She sat and looked up at those bright lamps hung in the +blue vault above her, until her eyes ached with the effort, and now +the train of thoughts in which she had indulged, at last started the +pearly drops upon her check, and dimmed her eyes. It was not often +that she gave way to tears, but her thoughts, the scene about her, +and everything, seemed to have combined to touch her tenderest +sensibilities. +</P> + +<P> +In this mood, breathing the soft and gentle night breeze, she +gradually lost her consciousness, and fell asleep as quietly as a +babe might have done in its cradle, and presented a picture as pure +and innocent. +</P> + +<P> +She dreamed, too, of home and all its happy associations. Once more, +in fancy, she was by her own cottage door; once more she breathed +her native mountain air, once more sat by the side of Aphiz, her +loved, dearly loved companion. Ah! how her dimpled cheeks were +wreathed in smiles while she slept; how happy and unconscious was +the beautiful slave. And now she seems to hear the song of her +native valley falling upon her ear as Aphiz used to sing it. Hark! +is that delusion, or do those sounds actually fall upon her waking +ear? Now she rouses, and like a startled fawn listens to hear from +whence come those magic notes, and by whom could they be uttered. +She stood electrified with amazement. +</P> + +<P> +And still there fell upon her ear the song of her native hills, +breathed in a soft, low chant, to the accompaniment of a guitar, and +in notes that seemed to thrill her very soul while she listened. +</P> + +<P> +They came evidently from beyond the seraglio wall, and from some +boatman on the river. Then a sort of superstitious awe crept over +the slave as she remembered that it was in these very waters that +Aphiz had been drowned. Had his spirit come back to sing to her the +song they had so often sung together? Thus she thought while she +listened, and still the same sweet familiar notes came daintily over +the night air to her ears. The only spot that commanded a view +beyond the wall was occupied by the sentinel, and Komel could not +gratify the almost irresistible desire to satisfy herself with her +own eyes from whence these well remembered notes came. It was either +Aphiz's spirit, or the voice of one born and bred among her native +hills—of this she felt assured. +</P> + +<P> +So marked was her excitement, and so peculiar her behaviour, that +the guard seemed at last aroused to take notice of the affair, and +in his ignorance of the circumstances, presumed that the serenader, +who could be seen in a small boat on the river from the spot where +he stood, was attempting some intrigue with the Sultan's people, and +knowing well the object of his being placed there was to prevent +such things, he took particular note of both the slave and the +serenader for many minutes, until at last, satisfied of the +correctness of his surmise, he resolved to gain for himself some +credit with his officer, by making an example of the venturesome +boatman, whoever he might be. +</P> + +<P> +Where the sentinel stood, as we have said, he could command a +perfect view of the spot from whence the song came, and also discern +the serenader himself. He saw him, too, pull the little egg-shell +caique in which he sat still nearer the wall of the seraglio. Komel, +too, had observed the guard, and now perceived that it was evident +by his actions that he saw some tangible form from whence came that +dear song; and as she saw him deliberately raise and aim his carbine +towards that direction, she could not suppress an involuntary scream +as she beheld the Turkish guard preparing to shoot probably some +native of her own dear valley. +</P> + +<P> +There had been another though silent observer of this scene, and as +he heard the cry from Komel's lips, he dropped himself from the tree +under which the sentry stood, right upon his shoulders, bearing him +to the ground, while the contents of the carbine were cast into the +air harmlessly. The half-witted boy had destroyed the aim, and the +alarm given by the report of his carbine enabled the boatman, +whoever he was, to make good his escape at once. The enraged guard +turned to vent his anger upon the cause of his failure to kill the +boatman, but when he beheld the half-witted being gazing up at the +stars as unconcernedly as though nothing had happened, he remembered +that the person of the boy was sacred. +</P> + +<P> +With a suppressed oath the guard resumed his weapon, and paced along +the path that formed his post. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the excitement attendant upon the scene we have related +had subsided, Komel once more turned in wonder to recall those sweet +notes, so endeared to her by a thousand associations, and to wonder +from whom and whence they came. Was it possible that some dear +friend from home had discovered her prison, her gilded cage, and +that those notes were intended for her ear, or had the singer, by +some miraculous chance, come hither and uttered those notes +thoughtlessly? Thus conjecturing and surmising, Komel scarcely +closed her eyes all night, and when she did so, it was to live over +in her dreams the scenes we have referred to, and to seem to hear +once more those thrilling and tender notes of her far off home. Then +she seemed once more to behold the Turk taking his deadly aim, and +the idiot boy dropping from the tree to frustrate his murderous +intention, and throwing the guard by his weight to the ground; and +then the imaginary report of the carbine would again arouse her, to +fall asleep and dream once more. +</P> + +<P> +During the whole of the day that followed she could think of nothing +but that strange serenade; she even thought of the possibility of +her father having traced her hither, and sung that song to ascertain +if she were there, and then she wondered that she had not thought on +time instant to reply to it, and resolved on the subsequent evening +to watch if the song should be repeated, resolving that if this was +the case, to respond to its notes come from whom they might. And +with this purpose, a little before the same hour, she repaired +thither with her light guitar hung by a silken cord by her neck. +</P> + +<P> +But in vain did she listen and watch for the song to be repeated. +All was still on those beautiful waters, and no sound came upon the +ear save the distant burst of delirious mirth from some opium shop +where the frequenters had reached a state of wild and noisy +hilarity, under the influence of the intoxicating drug. The +half-witted boy seemed to comprehend her wishes, and already with a +leap that would have done credit to a greyhound, had thrown himself +on the top of the seraglio wall on the sea side, and sat there, +watching first Komel, and then the water beneath the point. +</P> + +<P> +Despairing at last of again hearing the song, she lightly struck the +strings of her guitar, and thus accompanied, sung the song that she +had heard the previous night. The boy recognized the first note of +the air, and springing to his feet, peered off into the shadows upon +the water, supposing they came from thence; but seeing by a glance +that it was the slave who sung, he dropped from the wall and crept +quietly to her side. Before the song was ended he lay down at her +feet in a state apparently of dormancy, though his eyes, peering +from beneath one of his arms, were fixed upon a cluster of stars +that shone the heavens above him. +</P> + +<P> +The bell from an English man-of-war that lay but an arrow's shot +off, had sounded the middle watch before Komel left the spot where +she had hoped once more to hear those to her enchanting sounds. She +arose and walked away with reluctant steps from the place towards +the palace, leaving the idiot boy by himself. But scarcely had she +gone from sight, before he jumped to his feet, leaped once more to +the top of the wall, looked off with apparent earnestness among the +shipping and along the shore of the sparkling waters, where the moon +lay in long rays of silver light upon it, and then dropping once +more to the ground, came to the spot where Komel had sat, and lying +down there, slept, or seemed to do so. +</P> + +<P> +Here Komel came night after night, but the song was no more +repeated. Either the sentry's shot had effectually frightened away +the serenader, or else he had not come hither with any fixed object +connected with his song. In either case the poor girl felt unhappy +and disappointed in the matter, and her companions saw a cloud of +care upon her fair face. The Sultan, too, marked this, and seemed to +wonder that time did not heal the wounded spirit of his slave. His +kindly endeavors to please and render her content bore no fruit of +success. She avoided him now; the feeling of gratitude that she had +at first entertained towards him, had given way to one of deep but +silent hatred. +</P> + +<P> +The monarch could read as much in her face whenever they chanced to +meet, and the feelings of tenderness which he had entertained for +her were also changing, and he felt that he should soon exercise the +right of a master if he could make no impression upon the beautiful +Circassian as a lover. +</P> + +<P> +"You treat me with coldness, Komel," he said to her, reproachfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Our actions are only truthful when they speak the language of the +heart," replied she. +</P> + +<P> +"You forget my forbearance." +</P> + +<P> +"I forget nothing, but remember constantly too much," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be, Komel, that you do not remember on thing, which it is +necessary to recall to you mind. You are my slave!" +</P> + +<P> +Leaving the Sultan and his household, we will turn once more to +Capt. Selim, and see with what success he treated his fair patient, +the old Bey's daughter, in his assumed character of a Jewish leech. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE ELOPEMENT. +</H3> + +<P> +The palace of the old Bey, Zillah's father, was one of those gilded, +pagoda-like buildings, which, in any other climate or any other spot +in the wide world, would have looked foolish, from its profusion of +latticed external ornaments, and the filagree work that covered +every angle and point, more after the fashion of a child's toy than +the work most appropriate for a dwelling house. But here, on the +banks of the Bosphorus, in sight of Constantinople, and within the +dominion of that oriental people, it was appropriate in every +belonging, and seemed just what a Turkish palace should be. +</P> + +<P> +The building extended so over the water that its owner could drop at +once into his caique and be pulled to almost any part of the city, +and, like all the people who live along the river's banks, he was +much on its surface. Coiled away, a la Turk, with his pipe well +supplied, a pull either to the Black Sea, or that of Marmora, with a +dozen stout oarsmen, was a delightful way of passing an afternoon, +returning as the twilight hour settled over the scene. +</P> + +<P> +It was perhaps a week subsequent to the time when Selim and Zillah +met at the Bey's house, availing himself of the liberty so fully +extended by her father, Selim, in his disguise as a Jew, again +appeared at the palace gate, where he was received with a request +and consideration that showed to him he was expected, and at his +request he was conducted to the Bey's presence, and by him, again to +the apartment where his daughter was reposing.—The pretended Jew +followed his guide with the most profound sobriety, handling sundry +vials and jars he had brought with him, and upon which the Bey +looked with not a little interest and respect, as he strove to +decipher the cabalistic lines on each. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you found any improvement in the malady that affects your +child?" asked the Jew, pouring a part of the contents of one vial +into another, and holding it up against the light, exhibiting a +phosphorescent action in the vial. +</P> + +<P> +"By the beard of the prophet, yes; a marked and potent change has +your wonderful medicines produced. But what use do you make of that +strange compound that looks like liquid fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Tis a strange compound," answered the other, seeming to regard the +mixture with profound interest; "very strange. Perhaps you would +hardly believe it, but the contents of that vial cast into the +Bosphorus, would kill every fish below your latticed windows to the +Dardanelles." +</P> + +<P> +"Allah Akbar!" exclaimed the credulous Turk, holding up both hands. +"And this medicine, so powerful, do you intend for one so delicate +as she?" he asked, pointing to Zillah, who was reclining upon a pile +of cushions. +</P> + +<P> +"I do; but with that judicious, care that forms the art of our +profession. So peculiar is the means that I shall operate with +to-night, that should it harm her, it would equally affect me. But I +have studied her case well, and you will find when yonder fair moon +now rising from behind the hills of Scutari shall sink again to +rest, your daughter will be well." +</P> + +<P> +"Then will I stop and watch the wonderful operation of thy drugs." +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, they must be applied in the open air and beneath the moon's +rays, with none to observe, save the stars." +</P> + +<P> +"Then may the Prophet protect you. I will leave my child in your +care. Shall I do this, Zillah?" +</P> + +<P> +"Father, yes, with thy blessing first," said the fair girl; for well +she knew, that the medicine which was to cure her, would carry her +away from his side and her childhood home, perhaps forever. +</P> + +<P> +The Bey pressed his lips to her forehead, and with a curious glance +at the strange jars and vials, which the pretended Jew had +displayed, he turned away and left them together. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, dearest Zillah," said Selim, as soon as he found himself alone +with her he loved, "all is prepared as I promised thee, and at +midnight we will leave this palace forever." +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! dear Selim, my heart is ever with thee, but it is very sad to +turn away from these scenes among which I have grown up from +infancy; but full well I know I can never be thine otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"In time your father will be reconciled to us both, Zillah, and then +we may return again," said the disguised lover, striving to +re-assure the gentle girl, whose heart almost failed her. +</P> + +<P> +"But what a fearful risk you incur even now," she said; "your +disguise once discovered, Selim, and to-morrow's sun would never +shine upon you; your life would be forfeited." +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not for me, dearest. I am well versed in the part I am to +play. But come, it is already time for us to walk forth in the +moonlight. Clothe thyself thoughtfully, Zillah, for your dress must +be such as will suffice you for many days, since we must fly far +away over the sea, beyond the reach of pursuit." +</P> + +<P> +"I will be thoughtful," answered the gentle girl, retiring a few +moments from his side. +</P> + +<P> +They wandered on among the fairy-like scenes of the garden, where +the trees overhung the Bosphorus, repeating once more the story of +their love, and renewing those oft-repeated promises of eternal +fidelity, until nearly midnight, when Selim suddenly started as he +heard the low, muffled sound of oars. He paused but for a moment, +then hastily seizing upon Zillah's arm, he urged her to follow him +quickly to the water's edge. Throwing a heavy, long military cloak +about her, he completely screened her from all eyes, and placing her +in the stern of the boat that came for him, with a wave of the hand +he bade his men give way, while he steered the caique towards a +craft that lay up the river towards the city, and soon disappeared +among the forest of masts and shipping that lay at anchor off +Seraglio Point. +</P> + +<P> +They had made good their escape at least for the present, and were +safe on board the ship commanded by Captain Selim. The very boldness +of his scheme would prevent him from being discovered, and neither +feared that the ship of the Sultan would be searched at any event, +to find the lost daughter of the old Bey. +</P> + +<P> +On the subsequent day the old Bey summoned his royal master to +assist him to find his child. The Armenian doctor, who recommended +the pretended Jew, was called upon to explain matters, but, to the +astonishment of the Turk, he denied in toto any knowledge of what he +referred to, declared before the Sultan that he had neither offered +to send any one to the Bey's house, nor had he done so, nor did he +know a single Jewish leech in the capital. +</P> + +<P> +Confounded at such a flat contradiction, and having not the least +evidence to rebut it, the Turk was obliged to withdraw from the +royal presence discomfited, while the Armenian doctor retired to his +own dwelling, comforting himself, in the first place, if he had +uttered a falsehood it was in a good cause; and next, that he held +it no crime to deceive or to cheat an infidel, and ever one knows +how little love exists between the Turks and Armenians, at +Constantinople. +</P> + +<P> +The truth was that the Armenian had long known Selim, had taught him +his religion, and, had instructed him much at various times in such +matters as it behooved him to know, and which had placed him at an +early age far above many others in the service, who had all sorts of +favoritism to advance their interests. He knew of Selim's love for +the old Bey's daughter, and when chance led the father to consult +him about his child, the idea of sending Selim to his house, as he +succeeded in doing, flashed across his mind, and he proposed it to +the father, as we have seen. +</P> + +<P> +Selim's Armenian friend repaired on board his vessel as soon as he +was released from the presence of the Sultan, upon the inquiry to +which we have alluded. It would have gone hard with him had it not +been that his skill in his profession had long since recommended him +to the Sultan, in whose household he frequently appeared. Selim +greeted him kindly, and told him he was indebted to him for his +future happiness in life. +</P> + +<P> +"We have been so successful in this plan," said the Armenian, "that +I have half a mind to try one of a similar, but far bolder +character, if you will assist me." +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart. What is it you propose?" asked Captain Selim. +</P> + +<P> +"In my visits to the Sultan's harem, I have more than once been +brought—" +</P> + +<P> +"Is the attempt to be made upon the Sultan's harem?" interrupted +Selim. +</P> + +<P> +"Be patient and hear my story." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, but this must be a bold business." +</P> + +<P> +"I say, in my visits to the Sultan's household, I have often been +brought in contact with one whom I know to be very unhappy, and who +is detained there against her will. She is queen, I think, not only +of the harem, but also of its master's heart, her beauty and bearing +being of surpassing loveliness. Her history, too, as far as I can +learn, is one of romantic interest, and she pines to return to her +home in Circassia, from whence she was violently torn. At first when +she came here, I was called upon to treat her case, for she had +lately recovered from some severe sickness, and I then saw how +tenderly the Sultan regarded her. Well, at that time she was both +deaf and dumb, but—" +</P> + +<P> +"Hold! do you say she was deaf and dumb?" asked Selim, as if he +recalled some memory of the past. +</P> + +<P> +"I did." +</P> + +<P> +"Strange," mused the officer; "it must be the slave that I bid for +in the market." +</P> + +<P> +And so indeed it was the same beautiful being who had so earnestly +attracted him, as the reader will remember, when the Sultan's agent, +Mustapha, overbid him in the bazaar. +</P> + +<P> +"You know her then?" asked the Armenian. +</P> + +<P> +"I think so; but go on." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am satisfied that she pines to be released, and from +hearing her story, and tending her in a short illness, I have become +deeply interested in her. You know, Selim, that I hate the Turks in +my heart, and if I can by any means rob the Sultan of this girl, and +restore her to her home, I would risk much to do so." +</P> + +<P> +"The very idea looks to me like an impossibility," answered the +young officer. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing is impossible where will and energy combine." +</P> + +<P> +"What is your plan?" +</P> + +<P> +"You have resolved to fly from here, you tell me at least, by +to-morrow night." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I have purchased that skimmer of the waters, the Petrel, and I +shall sail at that time with Zillah, for the Russian coast, or +Trebizond on the south of the Black Sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good; now why not take this gentle slave of the Sultan's along +with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"But how to get possession of her? that's the question," answered +Selim. +</P> + +<P> +"You know I have free access to the palace, and could easily inform +her of any plan for her release." +</P> + +<P> +"One half of the trouble is over then at once, if she will second +your efforts." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I will visit the harem this very day. I have good excuse for +doing so, and will tell Komel—" +</P> + +<P> +"Komel!" interrupted Selim. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that it the slave's name; why, what makes you look so +thoughtful?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know," said Selim; "the name sounded familiar to me at +first, but go on." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I will tell her what is proposed, and get her advice as to +any mode that she may think best to adopt in regard to her +escaping." +</P> + +<P> +"But do you think she would prefer to go with me to an uncertain +home, to the luxury she enjoys?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course you will take her to her home on the Circassian coast. +That must be the understanding, and I will remunerate you for the +extra trouble and expense." +</P> + +<P> +"Never!" said the officer, honestly. "These Turks have paid me well +for my services, and I have already a purse heavy with gold, after +purchasing the Petrel, and if need be, I can make her pay." +</P> + +<P> +"Have it as you will; it matters not to me, so that she reaches her +home, and the Turk is foiled." +</P> + +<P> +"I am a rover myself, and the Circassian coast would suit me quite +as well as any other for a season. From whence does she come?" +</P> + +<P> +"Anapa." +</P> + +<P> +"Anapa? that shall be my destination," said Selim, at once. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark! what is that?" asked the physician, turning to the back part +of the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing, but a young friend of mine; he's asleep, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"Asleep; why he's moving, and must have overheard us, I am sure." +</P> + +<P> +"No fear." +</P> + +<P> +"But what we have said is no more nor less than downright treason." +</P> + +<P> +"That's true." +</P> + +<P> +"And would cost us both our heads if it should be reported." +</P> + +<P> +"He wont report it if he has heard it; he bears the Sultan no +good-will, I can assure you, for it is only a day or two since that +he was sentenced to death by him for some trivial cause." +</P> + +<P> +"What was it?" asked the Armenian. +</P> + +<P> +"Getting a peep at some of his favorites, I believe, or some such +affair." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you remember his name?" asked the Armenian, as the subject of +this conversation came out of one of the state-rooms in the cabin, +and approached them. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; he is a Circassian, named Aphiz Adegah!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. +</H3> + +<P> +Though to the Armenian physician the fact of Aphiz's being there was +nothing remarkable, to the reader we must explain how such a +circumstance could be possible after the scenes we have described; +for it will be remembered that we left him at the moment he was sunk +in the Bosphorus and left by the officers of the Sultan to drown. +</P> + +<P> +The fact was that the Circassian's sentence was more than usually +peremptory and sudden, and he was taken at once from the place of +confinement and borne away in the boat without his person being +searched, or indeed any of the usual precautions in such cases being +adopted to prevent accident or the escape of the prisoner. Aphiz +submitted without resistance to be placed in the sack, preparatory +to being cast into the sea, nor was he ignorant of the fate that was +intended to be inflicted upon him, but some confident hope, +nevertheless, seemed to support him at the time. +</P> + +<P> +The officers of the prison, not a little surprised at his quiet +acquiescence to all their purposes, when all was prepared, cast him, +as we have already described, into the sea, and quietly pulled away +from the spot. But no sooner did Aphiz find himself immersed in the +water than he commenced to cut the bag with his dagger, which he had +concealed in his bosom, and as he sank deeper and deeper towards the +bottom, quickly to release himself from the restraint of the heavy +canvas bag and shot that bore him still down, down, to the fearful +depth of the river's bed. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz Adegah was born near the sea-shore, and from childhood had +been accustomed to the freest exercise in the water. He was +therefore an expert and well-practised swimmer, and after he had +freed himself from the sack by the vigorous use of his dagger, he +gradually rose again to the surface of the water, but taking good +care to start away from the spot where he had been cast into the +sea, that he might not be observed by those who had been sent there +to execute the sentence of death upon him. +</P> + +<P> +Still starting away and swimming under water, he gradually rose to +the surface far from the spot where he had first sunk, but after a +breath, still fearing detection, he dove again, and deeper and +deeper, sought to follow the current, until he should be beyond the +possibility of discovery. What a volume of thoughts passed through +his mind in the few seconds while he was descending in that fearful +confinement of the sack, and how vigorously he worked with the edge +of his dagger to cut an opening for escape, and when he drew that +one long inspiration as he rose to the surface and instantly plunged +again, what a relief it was to his aching lungs and overtasked +powers! But, as we have said, he was a practised swimmer, knew well +his powers, and confidently dove again into the depth of the waters. +</P> + +<P> +As he sank deeper and deeper in this second dive, he found himself +suddenly losing all power and control over his body, and he felt as +though some invisible arm had seized upon him, and he was being +borne away he knew not whither. No effort of his was of the least +avail, and on, on, he was borne, and round and round he was turned +with the velocity of lightning, until he grew dizzy and faint, and +the density of the waters, acting upon the drums of his ears, became +almost insupportably painful, imparting a sensation as though the +head was between two iron plates, and a screw was being turned which +compressed it tighter and tighter every moment. +</P> + +<P> +Though he was in this situation not more than one minute, yet it +seemed to him to be an hour of torture, so intense was the agony +experienced; and yet it was beyond a doubt his salvation in the end, +for he had by chance struck one of those violent undertows that +prevail in all these fresh water inland seas, which defy all +philosophical calculation, and which bore him with the speed of an +arrow for two hundred rods far away from the spot where he had a +second time sunk below the surface, until, as he once more rose to +the surface, he found himself so far away from the boat that he +could not possibly be recognized. +</P> + +<P> +Close by him he heard the strokes and saw the oars of a large +man-of-war boat passing by the spot where he had risen from his +fearful contest with the water. His first impulse was to dive once +more, but his efforts with the current he had struck below had +seemed to deprive him of the power of all further exertion. The +shore was a quarter of a mile distant, and in his exhausted state, +he doubted if it was possible for him to reach it. He gave a second +look at the boat with longing eyes, his strength was momentarily +failing him, he felt that he must either sink or call to those in +the boat for assistance, and while he was thus debating in his own +mind, he observed the person who had the helm steer the boat towards +him, and in a moment after Aphiz was raised in the arms of the sea +men and placed in the bottom of the caique. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had he been placed in this position when there commenced +throughout his whole system such a combination of fearful and +harrowing pains that he almost prayed that he might die, and be +relieved from them. He had not the power left in his limbs to move +one inch, and yet he felt as though he could roll and writhe all +over the boat. The fact was that while exertion was necessary to +preserve him from drowning, his instinct and mental faculties +combined to support him, and enable the sufferer still to make an +effort to preserve his life, but now that no exertion on his part +could benefit himself, he was thrown back upon a realization of the +consequent suffering induced by his exposure. +</P> + +<P> +The quantity of water he had swallowed pained him beyond measure, +while the action of the dense water upon his brain, and the combined +pains he was enduring, rendered him almost deranged. It is said that +drowning is the easiest of deaths, but those who have recovered from +a state nearly approaching actual death by submersion in the water, +describe the sensations of recovery to consciousness to be beyond +description, painful and terrible. Those who have for a moment +fainted from some sudden cause have partially realized this misery +in the anguish caused for an instant by the first breath that +accompanies returning consciousness. +</P> + +<P> +All this proved too much for the young Circassian, and though +removed from the immediate cause of danger he fainted with +exhaustion. He who commanded the boat was also a young man, and +seemed at once to be uncommonly interested in the stranger whom he +had rescued from the sea. Neither he nor any of his men suspected +how the half drowned man had come there, and adopting such means as +his experience suggested, the officer of the boat soon again +restored Aphiz to a state of painful consciousness. Realizing the +kind efforts that were made for him, the young Circassian smiled +through the trembling features of his face in acknowledgement. +</P> + +<P> +Signing to his men to give way with more speed, the officer soon +moored along side one of the Sultan's sloops-of-war, and in a few +moments after the half drowned man was placed in the best berth the +cabin afforded. +</P> + +<P> +As to himself, Aphiz had only sufficient consciousness left to +realize that he had been most miraculously save from a watery grave, +but a bare thought of the suffering he had just passed through, was +almost too much for him. And leaving chance to decide his future +fate, he turned painfully in his cot and was soon lost in sleep. +</P> + +<P> +When the young Circassian awoke on the following morning he was once +more quite himself, being thoroughly refreshed by the long hours he +had slept. He thought over the last few days which had been so +eventful to him, and wondered what fate was now in store for him.—Of +course the generous conduct of Captain Selim, the Sultan's officer, +who had rescued him from drowning, and then hospitably entertained +him, was the most spontaneous action of a noble heart towards a +fellow-being in distress, but if he should know by what means Aphiz +had come in the situation which he had found him, would not his +loyalty to the Sultan demand that he should at once render up the +escaped prisoner once more to the executioner's hands? +</P> + +<P> +His true policy therefore seemed to be to keep his own secret, and +this he resolved to do, but he had reasoned without knowing the +character or feelings of him to whom he was so much indebted, as we +shall see. +</P> + +<P> +Scarcely had he resolved the matter in his mind, as we have +described, when Selim entered the cabin, and perceiving the +refreshed and cheerful appearance of Aphiz, addressed him in a +congratulatory tone. +</P> + +<P> +"I rejoice to see you so well." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks to your prompt assistance and hospitality that I am not now +at the bottom of the Bosphorus." +</P> + +<P> +"You were pretty close upon drowning, and must have been under water +for some time, I should say." +</P> + +<P> +"I had indeed, and was very nearly exhausted," answered Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +"But how came you in such a pitiable plight, what led you so far +from the shore without a boat?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—that is to say—" +</P> + +<P> +"O, I see, some matter that you wish to keep a secret. Very well; +far be it from me to ask aught of thee, or urge thee to reveal any +matter that might compromise thy feelings." +</P> + +<P> +"Not so," answered Aphiz; "but were I to speak, I might criminate +myself." +</P> + +<P> +"O, fear no such matter with me, were you an escaped prisoner from +the law, I—" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Aphiz, as he observed the young officer regarding him +intently. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I should not betray you again into the Sultan's power. I have +no real sympathy with these Turks, and would much rather serve you, +who seem to be a stranger, than them." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, a thousand thanks," answered Aphiz, warmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Therefore, confide in me, and if I can serve thee, I will do so at +once." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," said Aphiz, who felt that the officer was honest in what +he promised. +</P> + +<P> +Then he told him how he had been condemned by the Sultan, for some +private enmity, to die, but he carefully observed the utmost secrecy +as to what the actual motive of his punishment really was. He told +how he had been borne in the execution boat to the usual spot for +the execution of the sentence that had been pronounced upon him. How +he had been confined in the sack and cast into the sea, describing +his first sensations and his struggle with his dagger until he cut +himself free from the terrible confinement of his canvas prison. How +he had struggled beneath the element, and then of the fearful eddy +into which he had been drawn, and finally how at last he rose to the +surface near his own boat. +</P> + +<P> +That was all that Captain Selim knew of the matter, and after +hearing that Aphiz was a Circassian, he supplied him with an undress +uniform to further his disguise, and bade him welcome as his guest. +Therefore when the Armenian doctor and Selim found that their +conversation had been overheard by Aphiz, they neither feared his +betraying him, nor suspected the deep interest that the young +Circassian felt in the theme of their remarks. +</P> + +<P> +"You were speaking of a slave of the Sultan's harem, named Komel," +he said, approaching them. +</P> + +<P> +"We were; and perhaps have spoken too plainly of a purpose for her +release from bondage," said the Armenian. +</P> + +<P> +"Why too freely?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because in a degree we have placed ourselves in your power, having +spoken treason." +</P> + +<P> +"I care not whether it be treason or not," replied Aphiz; "it was +such as answered to the feelings of my own heart in every word. +Betray you! I will die to achieve the object you name." +</P> + +<P> +"This is singular," said Selim, surprised at his earnestness. +</P> + +<P> +"It would not seem so had I dared to tell you my story at first." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you know the girl?" asked the physician and Selim, in a +breath. +</P> + +<P> +"Know her? I have been her playmate from childhood. We have loved +and cherished each other until our very souls seemed blended into +one." +</P> + +<P> +"Then how came she separated from you, and now in the Sultan's +harem?" asked the Armenian. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay," continued Selim, "how was it that I saw her offered for sale +in the public bazaar?" +</P> + +<P> +"Have patience with me and I will tell you all, of both her history +and my own." +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz then related to them the story that is already familiar to the +reader, and seeing that those with whom he had to deal were in no +way particularly partial to the Sultan, he told word for word the +whole truth, even from the hour when he had saved him from the +Bedouins, to that when he had been cast into the sea. +</P> + +<P> +All this but the more incited both Selim and the Armenian to strive +for Komel's release, and sitting there together, the trio strove how +best they could manage the affair. The Armenian's possessing the +entree to the palace was a matter of intense importance to the +furtherance of the object, and whatever plan should be adopted it +was agreed that he should seek the harem and communicate it to +Komel, thus obtaining her aid in its execution. +</P> + +<P> +"Doubtless she thinks me dead," said Aphiz; "for the Sultan would +take care to tell her that." +</P> + +<P> +"That's true, and so let her think, and we will manage an agreeable +surprise for her." +</P> + +<P> +"As you will; but let us to this business this very night," said the +impatient Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +"That we will, and right heartily," said Selim, who hastened to his +young wife to tell her that she was to have a dear, beautiful +companion in their proposed voyage, and that she would be on board +before the morning. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz was now all impatience. He could scarcely wait for the hours +to pass that should bring about the period allotted for the attempt +to release her whom he so fondly, and until now so hopelessly, +loved. In the meantime the good Armenian physician, with redoubled +interest, now that he had learned Aphiz's story, sought the Sultan's +harem, where he quietly broached to Komel the plan that had been +agreed upon whereby she should be transported once more to her +distant home and the scenes of her childhood. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE ESCAPE FROM THE HAREM. +</H3> + +<P> +On one of those soft and glorious nights such as occur so often +beneath the eastern skies, when there was no moon and yet a blaze of +light pouring down from the myriad of bright stars, that one would +not have missed the absence of the Queen of Night; the walks of the +Sultan's gardens, fragrant with flowers and sweet blossoms, were +drinking in of the dewy hour, still and silently, save at the point +where we once before introduced the person of Komel. The spot from +whence she had listened to that tender and dearly loved song of her +native valley, and nearly in the same place she sat now, again +evidently listening and expecting the coming of some person or +preconcerted signal. +</P> + +<P> +On the extended branch of the nearest cypress hung the half-witted +boy by one arm, which he had cast over the limb, and from whence he +was now oscillating like a pendulum, his head hanging down upon his +breast, and the rest of his limbs as moveless seemingly, as though +he had hung there for months. It was one of the queer odd freaks +that he was so often performing, for what purpose no one knew, and +there he hung still, while the slave listened and cast anxious +glances at the stone wall that forms the sea side of the seraglio +gardens. +</P> + +<P> +But no sound greeted her ears save the never ceasing babbling of the +fountains, and now and then the soft plaintive cry of some night +bird that, wakeful while most of the species slept, warbled its +notes to the stars. Once she thought she heard the muffled sound of +oars, and started to her feet, but the noise soon died away in the +distance, and she relapsed again into the same attitude of impatient +and anxious anticipation. Out from under the apparently drooping and +senseless eyelids of the idiot, a quick thoughtful glance was turned +upon her at every motion she made, but she knew it not, nor did she +turn towards the boy at all, while he still swung steadily as though +he had been bound by cords to the tree. +</P> + +<P> +Once more she started, but it was a false alarm. The notes she had +heard were those of an instrument, played by some favorite of the +harem, who looked forth upon the night scene, and coupled its charms +with the notes of her lute.—But this too soon died away, and again +Komel breathed quick and anxiously as she sat there at midnight. The +guard on his rounds came past now, and she assumed a quiet and +careless air to avoid notice, while a soldier cast a wondering eye +at the idiot boy, and then strode on, with the barrel of his carbine +resting lazily in the hollow of his arm. +</P> + +<P> +At this moment there swelled forth upon the night air the note of +that well remembered song. It was the preconcerted signal, and +springing to her feet, Komel stole quickly to that part of the +seraglio wall nearest the water. The idiot boy seemed to comprehend +the movement instantly, and to recognize the notes that he had heard +once before, and which had so affected the beautiful Circassian, nor +had she fairly reached the wall before he was close by her side. She +paused for a moment to smile kindly upon him and place her hand upon +his head, then turned to listen again. +</P> + +<P> +The boy appeared to understand that something extraordinary was +going on, and became as nervous as possible. Now he darted off +towards the path where the sentinel had disappeared, and now came +back with a step as fleet as a deer, and as noiseless as a cat's. +But the scene soon changed by the appearance, above the wall, of the +head of Captain Selim, who, peering carefully around for a moment, +asked in a whispered tone: +</P> + +<P> +"Lady, lady, are you there?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am," replied Komel, cautiously, while the idiot crowded close to +her side. +</P> + +<P> +"If I throw over this rope ladder, will you mount now to the top of +the wall?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, O yes; let me get away from here quickly." +</P> + +<P> +"Step away from the wall then for a moment," said the young officer, +and in an instant after a rope ladder made fast on the outer side, +was cast over to her. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready, lady?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Then come quickly; don't pause for a moment in the ascent, lest you +be seen." +</P> + +<P> +Komel thinking of nothing but release from her confinement in the +Sultan's household, and seeing in perspective her home and parents, +for the Armenian had promised that she should be taken thither, +sprang lightly up the tiny, but strong ladder of cord, and was soon +on the other side, the boy creeping after as she went. But just as +she had passed over the top and was descending on the other side, +leaving the idiot boy on the top beside of the young officer, who +stood so that his neck and head were above the level of the summit +of the wall, the sentinel again came down the path in sight of the +place and instantly discovered the whole affair, running with all +speed to the spot. The soldier dropped his carbine to seize and +detain the ladder, when a struggle ensued between him and the young +officer for its possession. +</P> + +<P> +At this critical moment, the soldier seeming to recollect himself, +turned to raise his gun, either to shoot Selim or give the alarm; in +either case it would be equally fatal to the success of their +design. The boy had maintained his position during the brief +struggle, but the moment the guard turned to recover his carbine, +the half witted creature leaped from his high position directly upon +his back and neck and bore him to the ground. The weight of the +boy's body was sufficient to bring the soldier to the ground with +stunning effect and leave him nearly insensible. +</P> + +<P> +Had this not been the case the boy's finger clutched the throat with +the power of a vice and the guard was as insensible as a dead man. +In the mean time, the young officer scarcely knowing what to make of +the opportune and sudden interference in his favor, drew up the +ladder on the other side and prepared to follow Komel, who was +already hurried by the Armenian nearly to the side of the boat that +waited there, and in the stern of which sat another person in charge +of the same. Komel looked back as she was joined by Captain Selim, +and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the boy?" +</P> + +<P> +"What boy?" said the Armenian, ignorant as to whom they referred. +</P> + +<P> +"The half-witted pet of the Sultan's." +</P> + +<P> +"I left him in the grounds," said Selim.—"The guard passed over the +ladder, but just as he was about to discharge his carbine, that boy +sprang upon him like a tiger, and I think he must have killed him, +for I saw the soldier lying on the ground insensible." +</P> + +<P> +"That boy has been my best friend, I cannot bear to leave him." +</P> + +<P> +"It would be madness to stop for anything now," replied the young +officer; and so they passed around to the spot where the boat was in +waiting, moored closed to the shore. +</P> + +<P> +But let us look back for a moment at the scene on the other side of +the seraglio wall where we left the guard overcome by the boy. The +poor half witted child sat close beside the body, which was +perfectly inanimate. Now he looked up at the bright stars for an +instant, now at the still features of the guardsman, and then at the +spot where the slave had disappeared over the wall. His movements +were nervous and irregular, and he seemed to be trying to understand +something or to make up his mind upon some thought that had stolen +into his brain. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly he lifted his head, his eyes glowed like fire, and his +chest heaved like a woman's.—He scanned the wall for an instant, +then turning, retreated a few yards towards the centre of the +grounds. With a short start and a wild bound he was upon its top! +another leap carried him to the ground, and with the speed of a +horse he ran to the water's edge, just in time for Komel to stretch +out her hand and draw him on board the boat. He who sat in the stern +was muffled up, and his face could not be seen, but he started to +his feet at what seemed to him to be an intrusion; but a sign from +the Armenian put all to rights, and the boy coiled himself up like a +piece of rope at the feet of the fair girl. +</P> + +<P> +Time was precious to them now, and Selim seizing one oar, the +Armenian pulled with another, while he in the stern steered the +caique quietly beneath the shade of the shore for some distance, +when her course was suddenly altered, and striking boldly across the +harbor, it was soon lost among the shipping at anchor. +</P> + +<P> +A little adroitness, with cool courage, will often put all +calculations at fault, and thus had the plan for Komel's release +proved perfectly successful; thus had the Sultan been robbed of his +favorite slave from out the very walls that encircled his palace +grounds in spite of all his supposed security. Though it was very +plain that the whole affair came very near miscarrying at the time +when the guard appeared, and would perhaps have done so had the +fellow understood his duty and fired a shot at once, thus if not +shooting those engaged in this depredation upon the Sultan's +household, at least giving an alarm that would probably have +resulted in the arrest of all the parties concerned. But thanks to +the bravery and skill of the poor half-witted boy, all had gone +safely through, and now Komel found herself seated with the +beautiful Zillah in Selim's cabin, safe from all harm. +</P> + +<P> +"So," said the Armenian, drawing a long breath after the unusual +exertion he had just experienced, "all is safe thus far. Now we must +expedite matters for you to embark in your own craft at once, and in +the mean time keep every thing close, especially the boy. He seems +so devoted to the girl that it would be too bad to part them, but if +he should be seen by any one he will be remembered, and it may lead +to detection at once." +</P> + +<P> +"That is true," answered Selim; "but we have got all on board +without being observed even by the anchor watch." +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan will leave no means untried to detect the thief who has +stolen his fairest jewel," said the Armenian, "and his reward will +be so rich as to tempt the cupidity of every one, therefore be +cautious and trust none." +</P> + +<P> +"I will not. At midnight to-morrow we must be on board the Petrel, +and at the most quiet moment slip her cable and drop quietly down +the coast with the night breeze, and if every thing is propitious, +we can get well away in the Black Sea before anything will be +suspected of us, and pursuit instituted." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall feel the utmost anxiety until you are fairly away," said +the Armenian. +</P> + +<P> +"We owe much to you," replied Selim. +</P> + +<P> +Thus saying, the Armenian and Selim entered the cabin together, +where Zillah and Komel sat listening to each other's stories, and +fast coming to know each other better and better. Suddenly Komel +turned to Selim, and after acknowledging how much she already owed +him and the Armenian, said— +</P> + +<P> +"There is one thing I meant to have asked you before." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who was it that sang that song beneath the seraglio walls?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same notes that formed our signal to-night?" asked Selim. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"O, that was a young Circassian, who is on board here," was the +answer. +</P> + +<P> +"But judging from the song he sang, he must be from my native +valley." +</P> + +<P> +"Was it familiar to you?" +</P> + +<P> +"As my mother's voice," answered Komel, with feeling. "It is a song +that one most dear to me has sung to me many a time, and when a few +nights since I heard it, I would have declared that it was his voice +again; but I knew him to be gone to a better land; the Sultan took +his life, alas! on my own account." +</P> + +<P> +The Armenian looked at Selim, as much as to say, now for the +surprise, while the young officer seemed hesitating as to what he +should do next, when a noise was heard at the entrance of the cabin, +and in a moment after, he who had steered the boat, slipped within +and threw off the outer garment that had muffled him. All eyes were +turned upon him as he stood for a moment, when Komel exclaimed, +trembling as she said so: +</P> + +<P> +"Is this a miracle, or do my eyes deceive me? that is—is—" +</P> + +<P> +"Aphiz Adegah," said the Armenian, while an honest tear wet his +cheek. +</P> + +<P> +"Komel!" murmured the young mountaineer, as he pressed her trembling +form to his breast. +</P> + +<P> +All there knew their story, and could appreciate their feelings, +while not a word was spoken, to break the spell of so joyous a +meeting, the joy of such unhoped for bliss. +</P> + +<P> +"The Sultan then deceived me," said Komel, suddenly recovering her +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"He was himself deceived, and thinks me dead," replied Aphiz; "my +escape was miraculous." +</P> + +<P> +"O, let us away at once from here," said Komel, anxiously; "the +Sultan's agent will surely trace us, and I should die to go back to +his harem again. Cannot we go at once?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, have patience, my dear girl," said the Armenian, "our plans +have been carefully laid, and we shall hardly run a single risk of +detection or discovery if they are adhered to." +</P> + +<P> +All this while, the half-witted boy lay coiled up in one corner of +the cabin unseen, but himself noticing every movement that +transpired, until as they all settled more quietly to a realizing +sense of their relative positions, when Komel seeking him brought +him to Aphiz, and told him how much she owed the poor boy for +kindness rendered to her, and even that he had saved her life once, +if not a second time, by his mastering the guard. +</P> + +<P> +While the boy looked upon Komel as she spoke, his fine eye glowed +with warmth and expression, but when Aphiz took his hand, and he +turned towards him, that light was gone, like the fire from a seared +coal, and the optics of the idiot were cold and expressionless. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CHASE. +</H3> + +<P> +The reader will remember the fleet and beautiful slaver mentioned in +an early chapter, when lying off the port of Anapa. The same clipper +craft that had conveyed Komel away from her native shores, was +destined, singularly enough, to carry her back again, for this was +the vessel Selim had secretly purchased and prepared for his escape +with his companions from the domain of the Sultan. He was too good a +seaman not to manage affairs shrewdly, and though the coming night +was the one on which he had resolved to sail, yet the schooner +floated as lazily as ever at her moorings. The sails were closely +trailed, and the ropes and sheets coiled away as though they would +not be used for months again. +</P> + +<P> +But could one have looked on board beneath her hatches, and out of +sight of the crowded shipping in the bay, he might have counted a +dozen stalwart youths, in the Greek costume, busily employed in +getting everything ready below for a quick run, and as the shadows +deepened over the Oriental scene, and the sun had fairly sunk to +rest behind the lofty summit of Bulgurlu, one or two of the crew +might have been seen quietly engaged here and there on deck, but +their lazy, indolent movements, rather speaking of a long stay at +their present anchorage than an idea of an early departure, and yet +a true seaman would have observed that they were loosing everything, +in place of making fast. +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly midnight when Selim and his party, headed by Aphiz, +left his own ship in a small caique, and quietly pulled with muffled +oars, to the side of the schooner, which they boarded without +hailing. She had been moored the day previous without the outermost +of the shipping, and scarcely had the party got fairly on board, +when she slipped her cable, and showing the cap of her fore-topsail +to the gentle night air that set over the plains of Belgrade and +down the Valley of Sweet Waters, gradually floated away, until by +hoisting a few rings of the flying jib, her bows were brought round, +and she slipped off towards the Black Sea unnoticed. +</P> + +<P> +Not so much as the creaking of a block had been permitted to disturb +the stillness, and now, when Capt. Selim felt too impatient not to +make the most of the favorable land breeze, only the light jigger +sail that was set so well aft as to reach far over the taffrail, was +unfurled easily and dropped into its place, swelling away +noiselessly. As impatient as he felt, he wished to skirt those +shores silently, and resolved to take every precaution that would +prevent a suspicion of the real hurry and anxiety that he felt +from evincing itself. +</P> + +<P> +The cutter hugged the Bithynian shore until it had passed that +rendezvous for the caravans from Armenia and Persia, the favorite +city of Scutari, and then it gradually approached the sea, its +mainsail, foresail and topsails were spread, and before the first +gray of morning broke over the horizon of the sea, the cutter had +almost lost sight of the continent of Europe, and was swiftly +ploughing the waves of the great inland ocean. Classic waters! +laving the shores of Turkish Europe, Asia Minor, the broad coast of +Russia, and that ancient island of Crimea, and finally washing the +mountain coast of Circassia and Abrasia. +</P> + +<P> +One of those short cross seas to which inland waters are so liable, +was running at the time, and there were evidences, too, of foul +weather, for the wind that sets from the north-east for +three-fourths of the season in these waters, had hauled more +westerly, and dark, ominous looking clouds obstructed the light of +the sun as it rose from the horizon. The wind came in sudden and +unequal gusts, now causing the clipper to careen till her topsail +yards almost dipped, and then permitting her to rise once more to +the upright position. Capt. Selim noted these signs well, for he +knew the character of these waters, and that these signs +prognosticated no favorable coming weather. His sails were first +reefed, then close reefed, and finally furled altogether, save a +fore-staysail, and the mainsail reduced to its smallest reef points. +</P> + +<P> +While the clipper was scudding under this sail, a close lookout was +kept in her wake, for Selim knew very well that at farthest his +absence would only be concealed until the morning gun should fire, +when the fleetest ship in the Sultan's navy would be dispatched to +overtake him. And this was indeed the case, for just at this moment +there came to his side a young Greek, who acted as his first +officer, and pointing away astern in the south-western board, said: +</P> + +<P> +"There is a man-of-war, sir, standing right in our wake hereaway." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right—we are discovered, too, for he steers like a hawk on +the wing about to dive for its prey." +</P> + +<P> +"He is close handed, sir, while we are running nearly free." +</P> + +<P> +"Then he has not yet made out the schooner's bearings; keep her as +she is." +</P> + +<P> +Watching the frigate, Selim still held on his course steadily, but +the size of the enemy enabled her to carry twice the amount of +canvass in proportion to her tonnage that he dared to do. Indeed, he +felt the fleet craft under his feet tremble beneath the force with +which she was driven through the water even now. As the morning +advanced, the frigate gained fast upon them, until at the suggestion +of Aphiz, the foresail, close reefed, was put upon the schooner, but +quickly taken in again. It was too evident that the gale was +increasing, as the bows of the schooner were every other minute +quite under water, then she would rise on the next wave to shake the +spray from her prow and side like a living creature, then boldly +dash forward again. +</P> + +<P> +"That fellow is in earnest," said Selim to Aphiz, "and is determined +to have us, cost what it may. See, there goes his fore-to-gallant +sail clear out of the belt ropes. Heaven send he may carry away a +few more of sails, for he is overhauling us altogether too fast for +my liking." +</P> + +<P> +"There goes a gun," said Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +"Ay, fire away, my hearties," said Selim, "you lose a little with +every recoil of that gun, and you can't reach us with anything that +carries powder in the Sultan's navy—I know your points." +</P> + +<P> +"That shot struck a mile astern of us," said Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and at the present rate, it will take him nearly two hours to +overhaul us; but by that time, if the gale goes on increasing in +this style, he must take in his canvass or lose his masts over the +side." +</P> + +<P> +Selim was right, the fury of the gale did increase, and he soon saw +the frigate furl sail after sail for her own security, and yet she +seemed under nearly bare poles to gain slowly on the schooner, and +was now ranging within long shot distance, and commenced now and +then to fire from her bow ports. But gunner, ever uncertain on the +water, is doubly so in a gale, and nearly all her shot were thrown +away, one now and then hitting the clipper, and causing a shower of +splinters to fly into the air as though the spray had broken over +the spot. +</P> + +<P> +Chance did that for the frigate which all the skill of its gunner +could not have done, and a shot aimed at her running gear took a +slant upon the wave, and entered her side below the water line, +causing a leak that was not discovered until it was too late to +attempt its stoppage, and the schooner was slowly settling into the +sea. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the gale had reached its height, and the frigate, +too intent on her own business, had long since ceased firing, and +had dashed by the clipper like a race-horse, with everything lashed +to the her decks and battened down. And now, when Selim discovered +the extent of the danger, and realized that ere long the schooner +must sink, he almost wished that the frigate, which had gone out of +sight far down to leeward, might be seen once more. +</P> + +<P> +Already had the schooner leaked so fast as to drive the occupants +from the cabin to the quarter deck, and here, gathered in a small +group, they looked at each other in silence, for death seemed +inevitable. +</P> + +<P> +"O, Selim! must we perish?" whispered his young and lovely Zillah. +</P> + +<P> +"Dearest, I trust we may yet be saved. The gale will ere long +subside, and even now we are drifting towards the very coast that we +should have steered for had all been well with us." +</P> + +<P> +This was so. The clipper, though gradually settling deeper and +deeper into the sea, was yet propelled before the breeze by all the +canvass that it was deemed prudent to place upon her, right towards +the Circassian coast, at a rate perhaps of from four to five knots. +The gale, too, now gradually subsided, and enabled the half-wrecked +people to take more comfortable positions, and Aphiz and Selim to +prepare a raft with the assistance of the crew, for it was but too +apparent that the schooner must go down before long. Hollow groaning +sounds issued from the hatches as she settled lower and lower, and +it really seemed as though the fabric was uttering exclamations of +pain at its untimely fate. +</P> + +<P> +By unbinding and loosing the fore and main yards, a foundation was +made by lashing these spars together, upon which other timbers and +wood work was fastened, and in a few hours a broad and comparatively +comfortable raft was formed. But how to launch it? That was beyond +the power of all those on board united. To wait until the time when +the water should float it from the deck, would be to run the risk of +being engulfed with the schooner, and being drawn into the vortex of +water that would follow her going down, and thus meet a sure and +swift destruction. +</P> + +<P> +But this was now their only hope, and the only means offering itself +for their escape, since the stern and quarter boats had been lost or +stove in the course of the late gale, and so making a virtue of +necessity, they all gathered upon the centre of the raft that had +been thus hastily constructed, and awaited their fate. Aphiz and +Selim bound their respective charges to the raft by cords about +their bodies, to prevent the possibility of their being washed from +its unprotected flooring. +</P> + +<P> +Already the water washed over their very feet, and now and then the +schooner gave a fearful lurch, that caused all hands to stand fast +and believe her going down. Gradually the water crept higher and +higher, and the plunging schooner seemed at every fall of her bows +to be going down. Even the gentle Komel and Zillah could understand +the fearful momentary danger that must ensue when the hull should +plunge at last, and they silently held each other's hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah! hurrah!" cried one of the crew, at the top of his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"What now?" demanded Selim sternly of the man, at his seemingly +untimely mirth. +</P> + +<P> +"She floats, she floats—the raft's afloat." +</P> + +<P> +"Then in the name of Heaven, shove off as quickly as possible," said +Selim, as he and Aphiz seize each an oar and strove to force the +raft away from the deck. A way had already been cut through the +bulwarks. +</P> + +<P> +At first the raft did not stir, but gradually it slid away, and +finally, to the joy of all, it was free and clear of the schooner's +side, and by the strong efforts of the crew, they increased the +space between them in a very few moments to the distance of several +rods. It was not one moment too soon, for a deep gurgling sound rang +on the ear for a moment, then the stern rose above the surface of +the sea as the bows plunged, and in a moment after she was gone +forever. +</P> + +<P> +Even at a distance they had already gained, they felt the power of +the vortex, and were drawn towards its brink with fearful velocity, +as though they had been a mere feather floating upon the sea, but +gradually the raft became once more steady, and as the twilight +settled over the scene the whole party knelt in prayer for +protection upon that wide, unbroken waste of waters. +</P> + +<P> +They had taken the precaution to secure some food, though in a +damaged state, and partaking sparingly of this as the moon lit up +the wild scene, and the sea went down after its turmoil and tempest, +they arranged themselves to sleep, Komel and Zillah close by each +other's side, and the poor idiot boy coiled himself silently at +their feet. He had been uncomplaining and watchful ever since the +calamity, but had kept closer than ever to Komel's side, who, even +in those moments of fearful trial, found time to bestow upon the boy +looks and words of kind assurance,—that was enough—he seemed happy. +</P> + +<P> +All the day and another night were passed thus. The fearful gale had +cleared the sea of navigators, who had not yet ventured out from +their safe anchorage, and still the raft drove on, aided by a little +jury mast and the fore-topsail of the schooner, which had been +hastily unbent and placed on the raft. Hunger had attacked them, for +the provisions they had saved were now all gone, and this, added to +the exposure they suffered, caused many a blanched cheek, and Komel +and Zillah seemed ready to give way under the trial. +</P> + +<P> +It was at the dawn of the third day that their eyes were gladdened +by the distant hills of Abrasia, and soon after they neared the +coast so as to make out its headlands, when a favoring wind, as if +on purpose to speed them on their way, came over the Georgian hills +from the south-east, and blew them towards the north. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz was now in a region that he knew well the navigation of, and +he declared that with the wind holding thus for a few hours, they +would be off the port of Anapa as safely as a steamboat might carry +them. +</P> + +<P> +This was indeed the case, and before many hours the well known hills +and headlands of Circassia were visible to their longing eyes. Komel +could not suppress the joyous burst of feeling that a sight of her +native hills again infused into her bosom, but forgetting each pain +and trouble, she pointed out first to Zillah, then to Aphiz, and +even to the idiot boy, a beauty here, a well known spot there, and +the hill behind which stood the cottage of her dear parents. O, how +she trembled with impatient joy to reach its door once more. +</P> + +<P> +Under the skilful guidance of Aphiz and Selim, the raft was steered +into the harbor, and was soon surrounded by a score of boats, +offering their ready assistance to relieve their distresses, and a +short time after saw them landed safely, all upon the long, +projecting mole. +</P> + +<P> +All the while Selim seemed thoughtful and absent, and looked about +him with strange interest, at everything that met his gaze. He even +forgot to seek the side of Zillah, who, with Komel, was hurrying +away to a conveyance up the mountain side. Nor did he join them +until sent for by Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +Let another chapter explain the mystery of this singular +abstraction. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HAPPY CONCLUSION. +</H3> + +<P> +The skies were yet blushing with departing day, and the evening +shadows were quietly advancing over mountain top and sheltered +valley, the dew was already touching the evening atmosphere with its +fragrant mist, "Leaving on craggy hills and running streams, A +softness like the atmosphere of dreams," when those who had so +providentially been saved from the wreck, wended their way to the +door of Komel's home. Scarcely could the poor girl restrain her +impatience, scarcely wait for a moment to have the glad tidings +broken to those within, before she should throw herself into her +parents' arms. O, the joy that burst like sunshine upon those sad, +half broken hearts, while tears of happiness coursed like mountain +rivulets down their furrowed cheeks. Their dear, dear child was with +them once more. Komel was safe, and they were again happy. +</P> + +<P> +"But who are these, my child?" asked the father of Komel, pointing +to Selim and Zillah. +</P> + +<P> +"To him am I indebted, jointly with Aphiz, for my deliverance from +bondage," she answered, taking Selim's hand and leading him to her +father. "And this," she continued, putting an arm about Zillah, "is +a dear sister whom I have learned to love for her kindness and sweet +disposition. Both come to make our mountain side their future home." +</P> + +<P> +Nor was the poor half-witted boy forgotten, but he received a share +of the kindly welcome, and seemed in his peculiar way to understand +and appreciate it, keeping continually by Komel's side. +</P> + +<P> +An hour around the social board seemed to acquaint them all with the +history of the past twelvemonth, and to reveal more than we might +specify in many pages. The cottage was full of grateful hearts and +happy souls that night; and Aphiz learned that since Krometz had +fallen in that fatal encounter, the deed of the abduction had been +fully proved upon him, and that so earnest were the feelings of the +mountaineers in relation to the justice of Aphiz's conduct in that +matter that he need fear no trouble concerning it. Thus assured, he +too joined the home circle of his parents. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Selim, with his bride, made Komel's house their home, but +the young officer could not close his eyes to sleep. He rose with +fevered brow and paced the lawn before the cottage until morning. +Strange struggles seemed to be going on in his brain like a waking +dream; he was striving to recall something in the dark vista of the +past. +</P> + +<P> +"You seem trouble this morning," said Komel's father, observing his +mood. "Are you not well?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not exactly well," replied Selim; "indeed a strange dream seems +to come over me while I look about me here—this mountain air, these +surrounding hills, the distant view of the sea, have I ever seen +these things before, or is it some troubled action of the brain that +oppresses me with undefined recollections?" +</P> + +<P> +"Come in and partake of our morning meal; that will refresh you," +said the mountaineer. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks; yes, I will join you at once," he replied, but turned away +thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +With the earliest morning, Aphiz was again at the cottage and by +Komel's side. O, how beautiful did she look to him now, once more +attired in her simple dress of a mountaineer's daughter. No tongue +could describe the fondness of his heart, or the dear truthfulness +of her own expressive face when they met thus again. Their hearts +were too full, far too full for words, and they wandered away +together to old familiar scenes and spots in silence, save that +their sympathetic souls were all the while communing with each +other. At last they came to a spot from whence the lovely valley +opened just below them, when suddenly Aphiz pointed to a projecting +and dead limb of a tree far beneath them, and asked Komel if she +remembered the scene of the hawk and dove. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! dear Aphiz, but too well. It was indeed an unheeded warning." +</P> + +<P> +"But the dove is once more restored now, dearest, and we must look +only for happy omens." +</P> + +<P> +"I have seen so much of sadness, Aphiz," she answered, "that I shall +only the more dearly prize the quiet peacefulness of our native +hills." +</P> + +<P> +"Thus too is it with me. A few months of excitement, toil, danger +and unhappiness abroad, has endeared each spot that we have loved in +our childhood still more strongly to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Then shall good come out of evil, dear Aphiz, inasmuch as we shall +now live content." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you seen Captain Selim this morning, Komel?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I fear he is ill, some heavy weight seems to be upon his +heart." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us seek him then, for we owe all to his manliness and courage." +</P> + +<P> +As the twilight hour once crept over hill and valley, the evening +meal was spread on the open lawn before the cottage, and when this +was over, all sat there and told of the events that had passed, and +each other's experiences, for the few past months, during which time +Komel had remained a prisoner at the Sultan's palace. Of Selim, they +knew only so much of his history as was connected with themselves, +and he was asked to relate his story. +</P> + +<P> +"Mine has been a life of little interest," he said, "save to myself +alone. Of my birth and parentage I know nothing, and my earliest +recollections carry me back to the period when I was a boy on board +a Trebizond merchantman, at a time when I was just recovering from +what is called the Asia fever, a malady that often attacks those who +come from the north of the Black Sea to the Asia coast to live. This +fever leaves the invalid deranged for weeks, and when he recovers +from it, he is like an infant and obliged from that hour to +cultivate his brain as from earliest childhood, and he can recall +nothing of the past. Thus I lost the years of my life up to the age +of eight or nine. +</P> + +<P> +"I served in that ship until I was its first officer, and by good +luck, having been once employed in one of the Sultan's ships as a +pilot during a fierce gale, through which I was enabled, by my good +luck, to carry the ship safely. I was appointed at once a lieutenant +in the service, with good pay, and the means of improvement. The +latter my taste led me to take advantage of, and in a short time I +found myself in the command, where I was able to serve you." +</P> + +<P> +"But you had no means whereby to learn of your birth and early +childhood?" asked Komel's mother. +</P> + +<P> +"None; I have thought much of the subject, but what effort to make +in order to discover the truth as it regards this matter, I know +not." +</P> + +<P> +"Had you nothing about your person that could indicate your origin?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor could the people with whom you sailed account for these +things?" asked Aphiz. +</P> + +<P> +"They said that I was taken off from a wreck on the Asia shore, the +only survivor of a crew." +</P> + +<P> +"How very strange," repeated all. +</P> + +<P> +"You found nothing then upon you to mark the fact?" asked Komel's +mother once more, sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing—stay—there was an oaken cross upon my neck. I had nearly +forgotten that; I wear it still, and for years I have thought it a +sacred amulet, but it can reveal nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"The cross, the cross?" they cried in one voice, "let us see it." +</P> + +<P> +As he unbuttoned the collar of his coat and drew forth the emblem, +Komel's mother, who had drawn close to his side, uttered a wild cry +of delight as she fell into her husband's arms, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"It is our lost boy!" +</P> + +<P> +Words would but faintly express the scene and feelings that followed +this announcement, and we leave the reader's own appreciations to +fill up the picture to which we have referred. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, Captain Selim, the gallant officer who had saved Aphiz's life, +and liberated Komel from the Sultan's harem, was her own dear +brother, but who had been counted as dead years and years gone by. +Could a happier consummation have been devised? and Zillah, who +loved Selim so tenderly before, now found fresh cause for joy, +delight and tenderness in the new page in her husband's history. +</P> + +<P> +Selim, too, now understood the secret influence that had led him to +bid so high for the lone slave he had met in the bazaar, the reason +why he had, by some undefined intuitive sense, been so drawn towards +her in his feelings, for the dumb and beautiful girl was his unknown +sister! +</P> + +<P> +And again when he heard her name mentioned, for the first time, by +the Armenian physician, it will be remembered how the name rung in +his ears, awaking some long forgotten feelings, yet so indistinctly +that he could not express or fairly analyze them. The same +sensations have more than once come over him since that hour while +they were suffering together the hardships of the week, and the +fearful scenes that followed the gale they had encountered after the +chase. +</P> + +<P> +Aphiz and Komel loved each other now, as they never could have done, +but for the strange vicissitudes which they had shared together. +They had grown to be necessary to each other's being, and even when +absent from each other for a few hours, in soul they were still +together. And hand in hand, side by side, they still wandered about +the wild mountain scenery of their native hills. They had no +thoughts but of love, no desires that were not in unison, no +throbbing of their breasts that did not echo a kindred token in each +other's hearts. Life, kindred, the whole world were seen by them +through the soft ideal hues of ever present affection. +</P> + +<P> +And when, at last, with full consent from her parents, Aphiz led +Komel a blushing bride to the altar, and Selim and Zillah supported +them on either side, how happy were they all! +</P> + +<P> +Years pass on in the hills of Circassia as in all the rest of the +world beside. Sunshine and shadow glance athwart its crowning peaks, +the waves of the Black Sea lave its shores, its daughters still +dream of a home among the Turks, and the secret cargoes are yet run +from Anapa up the Golden Horn. The slave bazaar of the Ottoman +capital still presents its bevy of fair creatures from the north, +and the Sultan's agents are ever on the alert for the most beautiful +to fill the monarch's harem. The Brother of the Sun chooses his +favorites from out a score of lovely Georgians and Circassians, but +he does not forget her who had so entranced his heart, so enslaved +his affections, and then so mysteriously escaped from his gilded +cage. +</P> + +<P> +But as time passes on the scene changes—rosy-cheeked children cling +about Aphiz's knees, and a dear, black-eyed representative of her +mother clasps her tiny arms about his neck. And so, too, are Selim +and Zillah blessed, and their children play and laugh together, +causing an ever constant flow of delight to the parents' hearts. +</P> + +<P> +There ever watches over them one sober, quiet eye—one whom the +children love dearly, for he joins them in all their games and +sports, and astonishes and delights them by his wonderful feats of +agility. It is the half-witted creature, who had followed and loved +Komel so well. As years have passed over him, the sun-light of +reason gradually crept into his brain, and the poor boy saw a new +world before him. His only care, his only thought, his constant +delight seeming to be these lovely children. +</P> + +<P> +The events of the past are often recurred to by Komel and her +husband, around the quiet hearthstone that forms the united home of +Selim, Zillah, and themselves, and the sun sets in the west, +shedding its parting rays over no happier circle than theirs. Nor +does Komel now regret that she was once the Sultan's slave. +</P> + +<P> +As now he lays down his pen, let the author hope that he has won the +kind consideration and remembrance of those who have read his story +of THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +[FROM GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION.] +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +A SCRAP OF ROMAN HISTORY. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +BY AN UNKNOWN POET. +</P> + +<PRE> + In the olden days of Roman + Grandeur, glory, wealth, and pride; + Once there came a might legion + From a vast and far-off region + And this Roman power defied. + Naught could stay their devastations + In the lands through which they came; + All the weeping supplications + Of the terror-stricken nations + Could not quench these Vandals' flame. + Ah! most cruel were the invaders, + Cruel their chastizing rods! + For their hearts were stone-like hardened, + These remorseless and unpardoned + Foes of men and all the gods. + And at last they came with boastings + To the gods' and learning's home; + Came with boasting, loud and merry, + Came, at last, unto the very + Walls of proud, imperial Rome. + Ah! why did they not, in mercy, + Spare the "Mistress of the World!" + Or, why did they not, when power + Sat on Roman wall and tower, + Come, and bid their darts be hurled. + For the Romans' strength was broken. + Gone, like light from darkness, now; + Now, when most that strength was need, + Strength was not;—there + Weakness worse than Venla's vow. + Bearing all the outward semblance + Of a firm and mighty hold, + Rome was inwardly as feeble + As a cemeteried people + Changed into corruption's mould. + Ease, corruption, strife, dissension, + Gaiety, licentious mirth, + Luxury;—O, bane of mortals! + All had sapped the very portals + Of this mightiest queen of earth. + Therefore, when these hordes of robbers + Swarmed around the Roman's way, + Scarcely shadow of resistance + Met them near, or in the distance, + And they found an easy prey. + Vandals, Alans, Allemanni, + Longobardi, Avars, Moors, + Goths, Suevi, Huns, Bulgarians, + Overwhelming, rude barbarians + Conquered Rome with deafening roars. + Desecrated, fired and plundered, + Worse than vessel tempest-tost. + Rome was by her dissipations + Blotted from the list of nations; + Rome was lost!—forever lost! +</PRE> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's +Favorite, by Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE *** + +***** This file should be named 4795-h.htm or 4795-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/9/4795/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's Favorite + A Story of Constantinople and the Caucasus + +Author: Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +Posting Date: September 4, 2009 [EBook #4795] +Release Date: December, 2003 +First Posted: March 22, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + + +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE: + +OR, THE SULTAN'S FAVORITE. + +A Story of Constantinople and the Caucasus. + + +BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY. + + + +BOSTON: + +1851. + + + + +PUBLISHER's NOTE.--The following Novelette was originally published +in THE PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION, and is but a specimen of +the many deeply entertaining Tales, and the gems of literary merit, +which grace the columns of that elegant and highly popular journal. +THE COMPANION embodies a corps of contributors of rare literary +excellence, and is regarded as the ne plus ultra, by its scores of +thousands of readers. + + + +CONTENTS + + I. THE SLAVE MARKET. + II. THE SULTAN'S HAREM. + III. THE BEDOUIN ARABS. + IV. VALES OF CIRCASSIA. + V. THE SLAVE SHIP. + VI. A SINGULAR MEETING. + VII. THE SULTAN'S PRISONER. + VIII. PUNISHMENT OF THE SACK. + IX. THE LOVER'S STRATAGEM. + X. THE SERENADE. + XI. THE ELOPEMENT. + XII. THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + XIII. THE ESCAPE FROM THE HAREM. + XIV. THE CHASE. + XV. HAPPY CONCLUSION. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following story relates to that exceedingly interesting and +romantic portion of the world bordering on the Black Sea, the Sea of +Marmora, and the Bosphorus. The period of the story being quite +modern, its scenes are a transcript of the present time in the city +of the Sultan. The peculiarities of Turkish character are of the +follower of Mahomet, as they appear to-day; and the incidents +depicted are such as have precedents daily in the oriental capital. +Leaving the tale to the kind consideration of the reader, the author +would not fail to express his thanks for former indulgence and +favor. + + + + +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SLAVE MARKET. + + +Upon one of those hot, sultry summer afternoons that so often +prevail about the banks of the Bosphorus, the sun was fast sinking +towards its western course, and gilding as it went, the golden +crescents of a thousand minarets, now dancing with fairy feet over +the rippling waters of Marmora, now dallying with the spray of the +oarsmen's blades, as they pulled the gilded caique of some rich old +Mussulman up the tide of the Golden Horn. The soft and dainty +scented air came in light zephyrs off the shore of Asia to play upon +the European coast, and altogether it was a dreamy, siesta-like hour +hat reigned in the Turkish capital. + +Let the reader come with us at this time into the circular area that +forms the slave market of Constantinople. The bazaar is well filled; +here are Egyptians, Bulgarians, Persians, and even Africans; but we +will pass them by and cross to the main stand, where are exposed for +sale some score of Georgians and Circassians. They are all chosen +for their beauty of person, and present a scene of more than usual +interest, awaiting the fate that the future may send them in a kind +or heartless master; and knowing how much of their future peace +depends upon this chance, they watch each new comer with almost +painful interest as he moves about the area. + +A careless crowd thronged the place, lounging about in little knots +here and there, while one lot of slave merchants, with their broad +but graceful turbans, were sitting round a brass vessel of coals, +smoking or making their coffee, and discussing the matters +pertaining to their trade. Some came there solely to smoke their +opium-drugged pipes, and some to purchase, if a good bargain should +offer and a beauty be sold cheap. Here were sprightly Greeks, sage +Jews, and moody Armenians, but all outnumbered by the sedate old +Turks, with beards sweeping their very breasts. It was a motley +crowd that thronged the slave market. + +Now and then there burst forth the ringing sound of laughter front +an enclosed division of the place where were confined a whole bevy +of Nubian damsels, flat-nostriled and curly-headed, but as slight +and fine-limbed as blocks of polished ebony. They were lying +negligently about, in postures that would have taken a painter's +eye, but we have naught to do with then at this time. + +The females that were now offered for sale were principally of the +fair and rosy-cheeked Circassian race, exposed to the curious eve of +the throng only so far as delicacy would sanction, yet leaving +enough visible to develope charms that fired the spirits of the +Turkish crowd; and the bids ran high on this sale of humanity, until +at last a beautiful creature, with a form of ravishing loveliness, +large and lustrous eyes, and every belonging that might go to make +up a Venus, was led forth to the auctioneer's stand. She was young +and surpassingly handsome, while her hearing evinced a degree of +modesty that challenged their highest admiration. + +Of course the bidding was spirited and liberal for such a specimen +of her race; but suddenly the auctioneer paused, and declared that +he had forgotten to mention one matter which might, perhaps, be to +some purchasers even a favorable consideration, which was, that the +slave was deaf and dumb! The effects of this announcement were of +course various; on some it did have a favorable effect, inasmuch as +it seemed to add fresh interest to the undoubted charms she evinced, +but other shrank back disappointed that a creature of so much +loveliness should be even partially bereft of her faculties. + +"Are you deaf and dumb?" asked an old Turk, approaching the +Circassian where she stood, as though he wished to satisfy himself +as to the truth of what the salesman had announced. + +The slave lifted her eyes at his approach, and only shook her head +in signification that she could not speak, as she saw his lips move +in the utterance of some words, which she supposed addressed to her. +The splendid beauty of her eyes, and the general expression of her +countenance, seemed to act like magic on the Musselman, who, turning +to the auctioneer, bid five hundred piasters, a hundred advance on +the first offer. + +At this moment a person wearing the uniform of the Turkish navy, +made his way towards the stand from the centre of the bazaar, where +he had for some minutes been intently regarding the scene, and bid + +"Six hundred piasters." + +"Seven," said the previous bidder. + +"Eight," continued the naval officer. + +"Eight fifty," responded the old Turk. + +"Nine hundred," said the officer, with a promptness that attracted +the attention of the crowd. + +"One thousand piasters," said his competitor, as he continued to +regard her exquisite and beautiful mould, and her features, so like +a picture, in their regular and artistic lines of beauty. It was +very plain that the old Turk felt, as he gazed upon her, so silent +yet so beautiful, that she was richly worth her weight in pearls. + +"A thousand piasters," repeated the vender of the slave market, +turning once more to the officer, then added, as he received no +encouraging sign from him, "a thousands piasters, and sold!" + +The officer regarded her with much interest, and turned away in +evident disappointment, for the old Turk who had outbid him, had +gone beyond any means that he possessed. The purchaser handed forth +the money in a couple of small bags, and throwing a close veil over +the head of the slave, led her away through the narrow and winding +streets of old Stamboul to the water's side, where they entered a +caique that awaited them, and pulled up the harbor. + +Its shooting caiques, its forest of merchantmen, and its hoard of +Turkish war ships; were changed, in a few moments of swift pulling, +for the breathless solitude of the Valley of Sweet Waters, which +opens with a gentle curve from the Golden Horn, and winds away into +the hills towards Belgrade, where the river assumes the character of +a silvery stream, threading its way through a soft and verdant +meadow on either hand, as beautiful in aspect as the Prophet's +Paradise. The spot where the Sultan sends his swift-footed Arabians +to graze on the earliest verdure that decks the face of spring. + +It was up this fairy-like passage that the dumb slave was swept in +her master's caique, and by scenes so beautiful as even to enchant +her sad and silent bosom. The Turk marked well the influence of the +scenery upon the Circassian, and slowly stroked his beard with +silent satisfaction at the sight. + +The caique soon stopped before a gorgeous palace, in the midst of +this fine plain, and the Turk, by a signal, summoned the guard of +eunuchs from a tent of the Prophet's green, that was pitched near +the banks of the Barbyses, that ran its meandering course through +this verdant scene. It was a princely home, the proudest harem in +all this gem of the Orient, for the old Turk had acted not for +himself in the purchase he had made, but as the agent of a higher +will than his own, and the dumb slave was led to the seraglio of the +Sultan. + +The old Turk was evidently a privileged body, and following close +upon the heels of the eunuchs, he divested himself of his slippers +at the entrance of the palace, and led the slave before the "Brother +of the Sun." + +The monarch was a noble specimen of his race, tall, commanding, and +with a spirit of firmness breathing from his expressive face. His +beard was jetty black, and gave a much older appearance to his +features than belonged to them. He was the child of a seraglio, +whose mothers were chosen for beauty alone, and how could he escape +being handsome? The blood of Circassian upon Circassian was in his +veins, and the trace of their nationality was upon his brow, but +there was in the eye a doomed darkness of expression that caused the +beautiful creature before him to almost tremble with fear. + +"Beautiful, indeed," mused the Sultan, as he gazed upon the slave +with undisguised interest; "and how much did she cost us, good +Mustapha?" + +"One thousand piasters, excellency," answered the agent, with +profound respect. + +"A thousand piasters," repeated the monarch, again gazing at the +slave. + +"Yes, excellency, the bids ran high." + +"A goodly sum, truly, Mustapha, but a goodly return," continued the +Sultan. + +"There was one fault, excellency," continued the agent, "that I +feared might disappoint you." + +"And what is that, good Mustapha?" + +"She is both deaf and dumb, excellency." + +"A mute?" + +"Yes, excellency." + +"Both deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan, rising from his divan and +approaching the lovely Circassian, actuated by the interest that he +felt at so singular an announcement. + +While the old Turk stroked his beard with an air of satisfaction at +the result of his purchase as it regarded the approval of his +master, the slave bent humbly before the monarch, for though she +knew not by any word or sign addressed to her who her master was, +yet she felt that no one could assume that air of dignity and +command but the Sultan. A blush stole over the pale face of the +Circassian as the monarch laid his hand on her arm and gazed +intently upon her face, and whatever his inward thoughts were, his +handsome countenance expressed a spirit of tenderness and gentle +concern for her situation that became him well, for clemency is the +brightest jewel in a crown. + +"Deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan against to himself, "and yet so +very beautiful." + +"She is beautiful, indeed, excellency," said the old Turk, echoing +his master's thoughts. + +"So they sought her eagerly at the market, good Mustapha, did they +not?" + +"Excellency, yes. One of your own officers bid against me heavily; +he wore the marine uniform." + +"Ha! did the fellow know you?" asked the Sultan, quickly, with a +flashing eye that showed how capable that face was of a far +different expression from that which the dumb slave had given rise +to. + +"I think he did not know me, excellency." + +After a moment's pause the Sultan turned again to the gentle girl +that stood before him, and taking her hand, endeavored by his looks +of kind assurance to express to her that he should strive to make +her happy; and as he smoothed her dark, glossy hair tenderly, the +slave bent her forehead to the hand that held her own, in token of +gratitude for the kindness with which she was received, and when she +raised her face again. Both the Sultan and Mustapha saw that tears +had wet her cheeks, and her bosom heaved quickly with the emotion +that actuated her. + +At this moment the Circassian felt her dress slightly drawn from +behind, and turning, confronted the person of a lad who might, +judging from his size, be some seventeen years of age. His form was +beautiful in its outline, and his step light and graceful; but the +face, alas! that throne of the intellect was a barren waste, and his +vacant eye and lolling lip showed at once that the poor boy was +little less than an idiot. And yet, as he looked upon the slave, and +saw the tear glistening in her eye, there seemed to be a flash of +intelligence cross his features, as though there was still a spark +of heaven in the boy. But 'twas gone again, and seeming to forget +the object that had led him to her side, he sank down upon the +cushioned floor, and played with a golden tassel as an infant would +char have done. + +The idiot was an exemplification of a strange but universal +superstition among the Turks. With these eastern people there is a +traditionary belief in what is called the evil eye, answering to the +evil spirit that is accredited to exist by more civilized nations. +Any human being bereft of reason, or seriously deformed in any way, +is held by them to be a protection against the blight of the evil +eye, which, being once cast upon a person, renders him doomed +forever. Holding, therefore, that dwarfs, idiots or mad-men are +partially inspired, every considerable such establishment supports +one or more, whose privilege it is to follow, untrammeled, their own +pleasure. The idiot boy, in the Sultan's palace, was one of this +class, whom no one thwarted, and who was regarded with a half +superstitious reverence by all. + +While this scene had been transpiring between the idiot boy and the +slave, the Sultan had been talking with Mustapha concerning the +latter. It seemed by his story that she had been very ill since she +was brought from her native valley, and that she was hardly yet +recovered from the debility that had followed her sickness. She +would not write nor read one word of either the Turkish or +Circassian tongue, and therefore could only express herself by signs; +for which reason, neither those who sold her nor the purchaser +knew aught of her history beyond the fact that she was a Circassian, +and also that she seemed to be less happy than those of her +countrywomen generally who come to Constantinople. This might be +owing to the affliction under which she labored as to being dumb, +but it was evident that Sultan Mahomet thought otherwise as he gazed +silently at her. + +"She came not of her own free will from her native vales, Mustapha," +said his master. + +"No one knows, excellency, though her people generally come most +cheerfully to our harems." + +"There is no means of understanding her save by signs?" asked the +Sultan. + +"None, excellency." + +"Take her to the harem, Mustapha," said his master, after a few +moments of thoughtful silence, "take her to the harem, and give +strict charge that she be well cared for." + +"Excellency, yes," said the old Turk, with a profound reverence +after the manner of the East, "your wish is your slave's law," he +continued, as he turned away. + +"And look you, good Mustapha," said the Sultan, recalling him once +more, "say it is our will that she be made as happy as may be." + +"Excellency, yes," again repeated the old man with a salaam, and +then turning to the Circassian, he signed to her to follow him. + +As the slave retired she could not but look back at the Sultan, who +had greeted her with such kind consideration, and as she did so she +met his dark, piercing eye bent upon her in gentle pity. She almost +sighed to leave the presence of one who had showed her the first +kindness, the first token of thoughtful consideration for her +situation since she left her own home, far away beyond the sea. But +Mustapha beckoned her forward, and she hastened to obey his summons, +wondering as she went what was to be her fate; whether that was to +be her future home, and what position she was to hold there. Musing +thus, she followed the Turk towards the sacred precincts of the +harem. + +The monarch left alone, save the thoughtless boy, who lay upon the +rich divan, coiled up like an animal gone to sleep, seemed to be +troubled in his mind. Stern and imperious by nature, it was not +usual for him to evince such feeling as had exercised him towards +the dumb slave, and it was plain that his heart was moved by +feelings that were novel there. Touching a silver gong that hung +pendent from the wall, just within reach of his arm, a Nubian slave +opened the hangings of the apartment, and appeared as though he had +come out of the wall. + +The slave knew well his master's summons, and preparing for him the +bowl of his pipe, and lighting it, coiled the silken tube to his +hand, and on his knee presented the amber mouthpiece. + +Thus occupied, the Sultan was soon lost in the dreamy narcotic of +the tobacco. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SULTAN'S HAREM. + + +The harem into which the dumb Circassian girl was conducted by the +woman to whom the old Turk delivered his message, was a place of +such luxuriant splendor as to puzzle her, and she stood like one +amazed for some moments.--The costly and grateful lounges, the heavy +and downy carpets, the rich velvet and silken hangings about the +walls, the picturesque and lovely groups of female slaves that +laughed and toyed with each other, mingling in pleasant games, the +rich though scanty dress of these favorites of the Sultan, all were +confusing and dazzling to her untutored eye, and when, after a few +moments' minutes, a dozen of these lovely girls crowded about her +with curious eyes to know who was the new comer that was to be their +companion, the poor girl shrunk back half abashed, for she could not +speak to them. + +They too were puzzled that she made no reply to them, and stood +there in wonder. + +It was only for a moment, however, when the beautiful stranger +pointed to her mouth and ears significantly, and gently shook her +head with a sadness of expression that was electrical, for each one +instantly understood her meaning, and pitied her. Some little +feeling of envy might have been ready to burst forth in the breasts +of those about her, but gentle pity loves to linger by beauty's +side, and so they all loved and condoled with the fair stranger. One +took her hand and led her to a cushion in the centre of the little +circle that had just been formed, another unloosed the wealth of +beautiful hair that astonished them by its dark richness and +profusion as it fell about her fair neck. She who had unloosed the +new comer's hair, now fell to braiding it in solid masses and +plaiting it about her head. + +A second one taking a rare bracelet of pearls off her own fair arms, +placed it upon the Circassian's, and sealed it there with a +kiss!--Another removed the leather shoes she wore, and replaced them +with satin ones of curious workmanship and richly wrought with +thread of gold, and still another loosened the coarse mantle that +enshrouded her shoulders, and covered her with a shawl that had come +across the desert from the far east, rich in texture and beautiful +as costly. And as another tossed a handful of fresh flowers into her +lap, the poor girl's cheeks became wet with tears, for their +unselfish kindness and generous tenderness had touched heart. + +But these tokens were quickly brushed away and kisses took their +place, while fair and delicate hands were busy upon her, until the +poor slave who had so lately stood exposed in the open bazaar of the +capital, now saw among this family of the Turkish monarch, literally +as a star of the harem. In beauty, she did indeed outshine them all, +but they forgot this in the memory of her misfortune, and envied not +the dumb slave. They touched her fingers with henna dye, and +anointed her with rare and costly perfumes, seeming to vie with each +other in their interesting efforts to deck and beautify one who had +only the voluptuous softness of her dark eyes to thank them with, +for those lovely lips, of such tempting freshness in their coral +hue, could utter no sound. + +They brought to her all their jewels and rich ornaments to amuse +her, and each one contributed to give her from out their store some +becoming ornament, now a diamond broach, and now a ruby ring, next a +necklace of emeralds, interspersed with glowing opals, a fourth +added a girdle of golden chain braced at every link by close and +richly cut garnets, and other rings of sapphire and amethysts, until +the lovely stranger was dazzling with the combined brilliancy and +reflection of so many rare and beautiful jewels about her person. + +It was not the jewels that so gratified the young Circassian, but +the good will they represented. She cared little for them +intrinsically, beautiful and rich as they were, but she grew very +fast to love the donors. + +Days passed on in this manner, and the Sultan was no less surprised +than delighted to witness this voluntary kindness and affection that +was so freely rendered to the lovely girl. Her affliction seemed to +render her sacred in his eyes, and there was no kindness on his part +that was forgotten. Her manners and intelligent bearing showed her +to belong to the better class of her own nation, and her gentle +dignity commanded respect as well as love. She had already come to a +degree of understanding with those about her that was sufficient as +it regarded her ordinary wishes and wants, but of the past or future +she had not means to communicate, her tongue was sealed, and for +this reason her history must remain a hidden mystery to those about +her whom she loved, and would gladly have confided in. + +One occupation seemed to delight her above all else, it was so +simple and beautiful, besides which it enabled her to convey her +feelings by means of an agency that, as far as it went, supplied to +her the loss of her speech. It was the arranging of flowers so as to +make them speak the language of her heart to another, a means of +communication in which the women of the East excel. Indeed it is the +only mode in which they can hold silent converse, since they know +not the cunning of the pen. Engaged in this gentle and pleasing +occupation, the Circassian passed hours and days in the study and +practice of the sweet language of flowers. + +For hours together, while she was thus occupied, the idiot boy would +sit and watch her movements, and now and then receive some kindly +token of consideration from her hand that seemed to delight him +beyond measure. He followed her every movement with his eye, and +seemed only content when close by her side, sitting near her, +patient and silent; in fact he could utter but few audible sounds, +and no one had ever taught the poor idiot how to talk. + +One afternoon, in the gardens that opened from the harem, the +Circassian had been engaged thus, sitting beneath the projecting +roof of a lattice-work summer house. The sun as it crept down +towards the western horizon threw lengthened shadows across the soft +green sward where minaret, cypress, or projecting angle of the +palace intervened. The boy would pick out one of those dark shadows, +and sitting down where it terminated, seem to think that he could +keep it there, but when the shadow lengthened every moment more and +more, and seemed to his untutored and simple comprehension to creep +out from under him, he would look amazed to see how it was done +while he sat upon it. + +In following up a projecting shadow thus, he had come at last almost +to the very side of the dumb slave just as a gaudy winged parrot lit +upon the eve of the summer house on a large piece of the picket work +that had been used as an ornament for its top, but which having been +broken from its position, had slid down to the very eaves and now +hung but half suspended upon the roof. Even the lighting of the +parrot upon its edge was sufficient to balance it from the fragile +support that retained it on the roof, and then it slid off +immediately above the head of the Circassian girl. + +The boy was on his feet as quick as thought itself, and springing to +the spot, with both hands outspread above her head, he canted the +heavy frame work away from her so that it came upon the ground, +sinking deep into the earth from its sharp points and considerable +weight. Had the falling mass come upon her head, as it would most +inevitably have done but for the boy, its effect must have been +instantly fatal. The Circassian saw the imminent service the boy had +rendered her, but he was sitting on the end of another shadow in a +moment after! + +Was it reason or instinct that had caused him to make that +successful effort with such wonderful speed and accuracy? The slave +looked at him in wonder. It was very evident that he had already +forgotten the service which he had rendered, and the same listless, +childlike, and almost idiotic expression was in his face. This event +endeared the boy very much to the Circassian, and she never failed +to show him every kindness in her power. She would arrange his +straggling dress, and part his hair, smoothly away from his handsome +forehead, and give him always of each delicacy provided for herself, +until the boy seemed to feel himself almost solely dependent upon +her, and to seek her side as a faithful hound might have done. + +Thus had time passed with the dumb slave in the Sultan's palace on +the Barbyses. + +At times she would stroll among the rare beds of plants, and culling +fresh chaplets for her head, wreathe herself a fragrant garland, +ever finding some familiar scent that recalled her far off home in +all its freshness. Wearied of this she wandered among the jasper +fountains, and watched the play of those waters, the soft and +rippling music of which she might not hear, or still further on in +the many labyrinths of the garden and harem walks, would throw +herself upon some rich cushions beside a silver urn, where burnt +sweet aloes and sandal wood and rods of spice to perfume the air. At +early morn she loved to pet the blue pigeons that had been brought +from far off Mecca, held so sacred by the faithful, to feed them +from her own hands, and to toy with the golden thrushes from +Hindostan, and the gaudy birds of Paradise that flew about with +other rare and beautiful songsters in this fairy palace of the +Sultan. + +Her companions watching her with loving eyes, never faltered in +their kindness and love for her. Indeed it seemed as though they +could not avoid tendering her this affection, she was so very +beautiful and gentle in all things. They had named her Lalla, or the +tulip, because of her love for that beautiful and delicate flower. + +The Sultan looked upon the young Circassian--she had numbered hardly +seventeen summers--more in the light of a daughter than a slave, and +she who could have feared him else, even looked with pleasure for +his coming, and sought in a thousand earnest but silent ways to +please him. There was no spirit of sycophancy in this, no coquetry, +or false pretense; she was all simpleness and truth, and her conduct +towards her master sprang alone from a sense of gratitude. Thus too +did the monarch translate her behaviour to him, for he was well +versed in human nature, young as he was, and could appreciate the +promptings of a young and trusting spirit, such as she exhibited in +all her intercourse with him. + +As exhibited in our illustration, the Sultan would often seek her +side in the harem, his tall, manly form contrasting strongly with +her gentle and delicate proportions, and he would regard her thus +with tender solicitude, too fully realizing her misfortune not to +pity and respect her, and he felt too that these frequent meetings +were binding his heart in a tender bondage to her. Sultan Mahomet +was a fine specimen of a Turk; in features he was markedly handsome, +and his long, flowing beard gave to him the appearance of more age +than was rightfully his. His physical developments were manly, and +to look upon he was "every inch a king." Lalla was no less beautiful +as a female; indeed she was far handsomer as it related to such a +comparison, and those who saw them so often together in the harem +could not but think what a noble pair they were, and seemingly +worthy of each other. + +She possessed all that soft delicacy of appearance that reminds the +sterner sex how frail and dependent is woman, while she bore in her +face that sweet and winning expression of intellect, that, in other +climes more favored by civilization, and where cultivation adds so +much to the charms of her sex, would alone have marked her as +beautiful. Her eyes, which were surpassing in their dreamy +loveliness, were enhanced in beauty by a languid plaintiveness that +a realizing sense of her misfortunes had imparted to the expression +of her face, while her whole manner bore that subdued and quiet air +that sorrow ever imparts. Those of her companions who knew her best, +could easily understand that her heart was far away from her present +home; for her actions spoke this as plainly as might have ever been +done by words, and poor Lalla, wherever she had come from, and under +whatever circumstances, had evidently left her heart behind her +among her childhood's scenes. + +The Sultan was earnestly interested in his dumb but beautiful slave, +and instituted a series of inquiries as to her history. His agents +were instructed to find out, if possible, the mode in which she had +been brought hither, and also to learn, if possible, the manner and +cause of her leaving her native hills in the Caucasus; for of these +things the fair girl had no means of communicating. The monarch and +all Constantinople knew that her people generally looked forward +with joy to the time when they should be old enough to be taken to +the Turkish capital, and seek their fortunes there, and the fact of +this being so different apparently with Lalla, created the more +curiosity to ferret out her story. + +But all their efforts were useless in the pursuit of this purpose. +Since the Sultan's object in the inquiry was announced, much time +had transpired; but had his proclamation met the eye or ear of those +who transported the fair Circassian hither, they would hardly have +responded to it, as it might, for aught they knew, cost them their +heads. And thus the gentle slave lived on, a mystery to those about +her which even she was unable to solve. + +"You made all inquiries at the bazaar, good Mustapha?" asked the +Sultan. + +"Most rigid inquiries, excellency." + +"And could learn nothing of the history of this beautiful slave?" +continued the Sultan. + +"Nothing, excellency." + +"It is very strange that no one can be found who knows aught about +her. Did you trace her back to those who sold her to the salesman of +the bazaar?" + +"Yes, excellency, and two sales beyond that; but it seemed that +although so beautiful, the fact of her being dumb had caused her to +be very much undervalued, and she had passed through the hands of a +number of irresponsible slave merchants, who took but little heed of +her before she came to the bazaar." + +"Doubtless, then, we may hardly expect to hear more concerning her." + +"The reward you offered was munificent, excellency, but has brought +no response." + +"You have not yet purchased for me those Georgians, good Mustapha," +continued the monarch, after a few moments' pause, and probably +desiring to change a subject in which he felt that he was only too +much interested. + +"Excellency, they are held at so high a price that I have refused to +pay it." + +"Well, well, be discreet, and purchase shrewdly," said the Sultan, +resuming his pipe. + +And in this manner the Sultan forgot his lovely slave, and removing +the mouth-piece of his pipe now and then, continued to question his +slave touching the matters that seemed to pertain to his department +of the household. + +Poor Lalla! she had only her own unhappiness to brood upon as she +sat by some rippling fountain and watched its silvery jets and +sparkling drops, at times forgetting for a moment her sadness of +heart in the beauty that completely surrounded her; and then again, +perhaps mingling her tears with the fragrant blossoms that strewed +her lap and filled her hands. Alas! poor child! how it would have +eased the quick beating of thy heart if thou couldst have told the +story of thy unhappiness to some other confiding spirit. + +The idiot boy would watch these tears, and at times he would wear a +fixed, vacant stare, as though he took no note of their meaning; and +at others, he would seem to comprehend their sorrowful import. When +this was the case, he would creep close to her side and lay his head +by her feet, and closing his eyes, remain as motionless as death. +This would at length arouse her from her unhappy mood, and she would +turn and gently caress the poor boy. Once when she had done this, +she saw a large tear drop steal out from beneath his closed eyelids, +and fall across his check. She rejoiced at this, for, while all +others set him down as without feeling, she saw that kindness at +least would awaken his heart. + +Lalla had been weeping, and now sat alone by a bed of fragrant +flowers, when one of those fairy-like children of the harem, +scarcely older than herself, came tripping with light and +thoughtless steps towards her, and detecting her saddened mood, +kissed way the tears that still lingered upon her cheeks, and +binding a wreath of fresh and beautiful flowers about her head, lay +down in Lalla's lap and toyed with the stray buds, looking up into +her eyes with gentle love and tenderness. + +How grateful were these delicate and beautiful manifestations of +feeling to the lonely-hearted slave. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BEDOUIN ARABS. + + +It was one of those soft days, made up of nature's sweetest smiles, +of sunshine and gentle zephyrs, when sky, and sea, and shore were +radiant, and all the earth seemed glad, that a lone horseman sat +with the reins cast loosely upon the arching neck of his proud +Arabian, on the plain beyond the Armenian cemetery, in the suburbs +of Constantinople. The rider was dressed in the plainest attire of a +quiet citizen, though the material of his clothes and the few +ornaments that were visible about his person indicated their owner +to be one who was no meagre possessor of the riches of this world. +Both rider and horse were as still as though they had been carved in +marble instead of being living objects, save the quick, nervous +motion, now and then, of the full-blooded animal's ears, as some +distant sound rose over the Turkish city. + +The Mussulman, as he sat there in a thoughtful and silent mood, +stroked slowly the jetty black beard that swept his breast, while he +seemed completely absorbed in contemplating the scene before him. He +had galloped at once from paved streets to the unfenced and +uncultivated desert that stretches away from the seven hills of +Stamboul to the very horizon. No wonder he paused there to gaze upon +the beauties that the eye might take in at a single glance. + +Before him lay the city in all its oriental beauty, while, on every +sloping hillside about it, in every rural nook stood a dark +nekropolis, or city of the dead, shadowed by the close growing +cypresses, beneath whose shadows turbaned heads alone are permitted +to rest. From out of these, stretching its slender point away +towards the blue heavens, rose the fairy-like minaret, as if +pointing whither had gone the spirits of the faithful. + +There, too, lay the incomparable Bosphorus, stretching away towards +the sea, and the beautiful isles in the sweet waters of Marmora, +with countless boats swarming in the Golden Horn, and then the eye +would turn back again to the city with its thousand minarets. There +lay, too, the velvet-carpeted Valley of Sweet Waters, where was the +Sultan's serai, looking like some fair scene described in the Koran, +so soft, fairy-like, and enticing. + +The rider now slowly gathered up the reins from his horse's neck, +and, slightly restraining the spirited animal by a pressure of the +curb, permitted him slowly to walk on while his master appeared +still to be lost in thought. Once or twice he cast his eyes again +towards the city, and then again mused to himself, as though his +cares and thoughts lay there. So much was the rider absorbed within +himself that he did not observe two power Bedouin Arabs of the +desert, who had wandered to the outskirts of the city, and whose +longing eyes were bent, not on him, but upon the horse which he +rode. To the skillful eyes of these children of the desert he was +almost invaluable; every step betrayed his metal, while the clean +limb, nervous action, and distended nostrils told of the fleetness +that was in him! + +You may trust an Arab often with gold or precious goods; the very +fact of the confidence, you accord to him makes him faithful. You +may trust your life in his hands, and the laws of hospitality shall +protect you; but trust him not with a fine horse--that will betray +him, though nothing else might do so. Born in the desert where they +are reared and loved so well, he imbibes from childhood a regard for +the full blooded barb, that falls little short of reverence; and +being once possessed of one, no money can part them. The two +Bedouins stealthily watched the Turk as he rode slowly along, and +were evidently only awaiting a favorable moment to attack and +overcome him. + +By an ingenious movement they doubled a slight hillock that lay +between them and the woods of Belgrade, and as they came up on the +other side, placed themselves directly in the path of the horseman. +Still they were unobserved by him, and not until one had laid his +hand upon the bridle, and the other violent hands upon his garments, +did he arouse from the dreamy thoughts which had so completely +absorbed him. Thus taken at disadvantage, the horseman was forced +from the saddle before he could offer any resistance, but having +once reached the ground, and being fairly on his feet, his bright +blade glistened in the sun and flashed before the eyes of the Arab +robbers. + +"Yield us the horse and go thy way!" said one of the assailants, +soothingly. + +"By the Prophet, never!" shouted the Turk, setting upon them +fiercely as he spoke and wounding one severely at the very outset, +while he held the bridle of the horse. + +The horseman was one used to the weapon he wielded, and the Arabs +saw that they had no easy enemy to conquer. He who held the horse +was forced to unloose the bridle to defend himself, while the other +was now striving to use the gun that was strapped to his back; but +they were at too close quarters for the employing of such a weapon, +and the stout, iron-like frames of the Arabs were fast conquering +the skill and endurance of the Turk. But that bright sword was not +wielded so skillfully for naught, and one of the robbers was already +glad to creep from without its reach, just as his companion +succeeded in breaking the finely-tempered blade with his gun barrel, +leaving the Turk comparatively at his mercy; and again he bade him +surrender the horse, the animal trained to the nicest point of +perfection, still remaining quiet close to the spot where the +encounter had taken place. The clashing of the weapons had startled +him, and he breathed quick, and his ears showed that the nervous +energy of his frame was aroused, but a spear point thrust into his +very flanks would not have started him away until his master bade +him to go. + +"Yield thou now, or die!" shouted the excited Bedouin, drawing his +long dagger. + +"By the Prophet, never!" again exclaimed the Turk, with vehemence, +though he panted sorely from the extraordinary exertion he had made +to defend himself from the attack of his two assailants. + +All this had transpired in far less time than we have occupied in +the relation, and once more now having him greatly at disadvantage, +the Bedouins rushed upon him. + +But there came now upon the scene a third party, at this excited +moment, from out the forest of Belgrade. He seemed but a weary +traveller, though when his eyes rested upon the scene we have +described, an instantaneous change came over him, and he appeared at +once to comprehend the meaning of the whole affair. Just at the very +moment when the Arab, who had been partially vanquished and somewhat +severely wounded, regained his feet, and was coming once more to the +contest, the traveller, espousing the side of the weaker party, who +was now indeed unarmed, fiercely attacked the robbers with a heavy +staff that he carried, and in a moment, being comparatively fresh, +and aided by the surprise as well as the lusty blows that he dealt +about him, he caused the two Bedouins to retreat precipitately, +though they made a last and nearly successful effort to carry off +the horse, but this the ready arm of the traveller prevented. + +A moment sufficed to put both the Turk and his deliverer in breath +once more. + +"Who art thou that hast been so opportunely sent to rescue me?" +asked the Turk, at he called his horse by his name, and the +beautiful animal came quietly to his side. + +"A poor traveller, well nigh wearied by the long way," answered the +other. + +"Thy habiliments bespeak thee as coming from the North, and they +look as though want had been thy companion on the way," continued he +whom the traveller had rescued. + +"It has, indeed," said the other; "fatigue and want have kept me +company these many long days." As he answered thus, he wiped the +perspiration that his late exertion had caused, from his brow. + +"I owe you my hearty thanks for this timely service," said the Turk. + +"A trifling deed that any man in my place would have performed." + +"Take this," replied the Turk, depositing a purse, heavy with gold, +in the stranger's hands. "Use the contents as you will, and when you +have need of further assistance, if there be aught that one +possessing some influence can serve thee in, present that purse at +the gates of the seraglio gardens, and you will find me." + +"Thanks! a thousand thanks!" said the stranger, "though I must look +upon this as a gift, a charity, not in the light of a payment. The +service I have rendered might have been afforded by the meanest +slave." + +"I know well how to esteem a favor, and how to pay it," answered the +Turk, as he mounted his spirited horse and turned his head towards +the entrance of the city of Constantine. He rode with a free rein +now, and the horse dashed over the level plain like an antelope, +while his rider sat in the saddle like a Marmaluke. + +The traveller poured out a quantity of the gold from the purse to +assure himself of its value, and weighing the whole together, said +to himself, "A few moments since and I was a beggar, now I am rich; +after starving for many long weeks, fortune fills my hand with gold, +as if to show me the contrast. It was a piece of singular good luck +for me to meet with that rich old Turk; those fellows from the +desert were giving him sharp practice; it was only the barb that +they wanted. What a cunning eye those rascals have for horseflesh!" +Talking thus to himself, he placed the gold in a secure part of his +dress, though he need hardly have feared that any one would suspect +him of possessing so much of value. + +The traveller turned once more to look after the Turk, but he was +already far away, though he could still make out his bearing and +stately carriage as he disappeared. Picking up the staff that had +just served him to such good purpose, he followed in the same path, +which would lead him to Constantinople, ere the sun should set in +the west. + +As he drew nearer to the city he too paused to drink in of the +beauties of that twilight hour. The scene was new to him, and his +eye was filled with delight and surprise as it roamed over that +oriental sunset view. As he came down the side of the gently sloping +hill beyond Pera, he paused for a moment in the cemetery there, and +among the deep shadows of the heavy funereal cypresses and the tall, +white gravestones that thickly overspread the ground, he felt a +chill of loneliness that made him to hasten on to a spot where he +could catch the last lingering rays of the setting sun kissing the +waves of the Bosphorus. + +He hurried on now into the city proper, though seemingly without any +fixed purpose, and strolled carelessly along, gazing with interest +upon all that met his curious eye; now pausing before some rich +Persian fountain half as large as a church, covered with curious +inscriptions and ornaments of gold; now regarding some sequestered +mosque almost hidden in cypresses; and now watching a cluster of +indolent-looking, large-trowsered, and moustached, but often +handsome men. + +Here he was jostled by a bevy of females, shuffling along in their +yellow slippers, their faces shrouded to the eyes in that +never-forgotten covering with the Turkish wives, the yashmach; now +crowded one side by an armed kervos who is clearing the way for some +dignitary to follow; and now forced here and there by, Jew, Turk or +Armenian. But still, while he regarded intently this busy scene, he +yielded the way to all, for he was wearied and his spirits were +evidently depressed both by physical and mental suffering. + +The traveller was started from his reverie by the attack upon him of +some hundred dogs, who saluted his ears with such a volley of howls +as nearly to stun him. These natural scavengers are protected by the +laws here, and whenever a stranger is seen, one whose dress or +manner betrays him as such, they set upon him like mad, but the +staff that had stood him in such good service not long before, soon +dispersed his canine tormentors, though he showed that even this +little circumstance annoyed him seriously; it was a sad welcome to a +stranger. + +Perhaps there is no feeling more desolate and forsaken in its +promptings than that realized by one who finds himself alone in a +crowd. His inward solitude is more acutely realized by the contrast +he sees about him, and he feels how much he is alone. Thus it was +with the young traveller who had made his way into the city as we +have described; he was indeed solitary though surrounded by hosts, +for he was a stranger and knew no one in the Sultan's beautiful +capital. + +Still he wandered on amid the crowd until at last he found himself +in the drug bazaar, where a scene so peculiarly oriental and rich +met his observation as to make him forget for a while his own sad +and weary mood. Strange and antique jars of every shape crowded the +shelves of the various stalls, their edges turned over with +brilliant colored paper, each drug bearing its own appropriate one. +The shelves were bending under the weight of rich gums, spices, +incense-wood, medicinal roots, and cunning dyes. The sedate Turk +who presides over each stall at this hour, sits with his legs +crossed and his eyes rolling in a sort of dreamy languor from the +powerful narcotic of his opium-drugged pipe. He is happy and +thoughtless in the dissipation that sooner or later hurries him to +the grave. + +It was the corflew hour, and from out the lofty spires of the +neighboring mosques there came a voice that called to prayer. Each +Mussulman prostrated himself, no matter in what occupation he was +engaged, and bowing his head towards Mecca, the tomb of the Prophet, +performing his silent devotion. In famine, in pestilence, or in +plenty, five times a day the Turk finds time for this solemn +religious duty; whether right or wrong in creed, what a lesson it is +to the Christian. And so thought the lonely traveller, for he bent +his own head upon his breast in respectful awe at the exhibition he +beheld. + +Pausing in silence until the scene had changed from the solemn act +of prayer to that of busy life, he passed out of the dim-lighted +bazaar once more into the open street. Night was fast creeping over +the city, and he remembered how much he required rest and +refreshment, and availing himself of the proffered services of a +Jewish interpreter, he told his wants, and not long after found +himself seated in one of the little Armenian houses of resort in the +outskirts of Stamboul. + +Here again he found enough of character to study in the singular and +medley company that resorted thither, but wayworn and weary, after +partaking of some refreshment, he soon lost himself in sleep. + +It was late on the subsequent morning when the traveller awoke, +greatly refreshed by his night's rest, and once more refreshing the +inner man with meats and such coffee as one gets only in Turkey, he +roamed again into the streets, where we must leave him to pursue his +purpose, be it what it might, while we turn to other scenes in our +story, taking the reader across the sea, to another, but no less +interesting land. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +VALES OF CIRCASSIA. + + +Circassia, the land of beauty and oppression, whose noble valleys +produce such miracles of female loveliness, and whose level plains +are the vivid scenes of such terrible struggles; where a brave, +unconquerable peasantry have, for a very long period, defied the +combined powers of the whole of Russia, and whose daughters, though +the children of such brave sires, are yet taught and reared from +childhood to look forward to a life of slavery in a Turkish harem as +the height of their ambition--Circassia, the land of bravery, beauty +and romance, is one of the least known, but most interesting spots +in all Europe. + +Whether it be that the genial air of its hills and vales possesses +power to beautify the forms and faces of its daughters, or that they +inherit those charms from their ancestors by right of blood, we may +not say; but from the farthest dates, it has ever supplied the +Sultan and his people with the lovely beings who have rendered of +the harems of the Mussulmen so celebrated for the charms they +enshrine. Its daughters have been the mothers of the highest +dignitaries of the courts, and Sultan Mahomet himself was born of a +Circassian mother. + +Unendowed with mental culture, Providence has seemed, in a degree, +to compensate to the girls of Circassia for want of intellectual +brilliancy, by rendering them physically beautiful almost beyond +description. No wonder, then, educated, or rather uneducated as they +are, that the visions of their childhood, the dreams of their +girlish days, and even the aspirations of their riper years, should +be in the anticipation of a life of independence, luxury and love, +in those fairy-like homes that skirt the Bosphorus at Constantinople. + +Being from their earliest childhood taught by their parents to look +upon this destiny as an enviable one, these fair girls do not fail +to appreciate and fully realize the captivating charms that Heaven +has so liberally endowed them with, and wait with trembling breasts +and hopeful hearts for the period when they shall change the humble +scenes of their existence, from the long and rugged ravines of the +Caucasus, for the glittering and gaudy palaces of the Mussulmen, in +the Valley of Sweet Waters, or on the banks of the Golden Horn. + +In former years, the Trebizond merchantman took on board his cargo +of young and lovely Circassians, and navigated the Black Sea with a +flowing sheet and a flag flying at his peak, which told his business +and the commerce that he was engaged in; now the trade is +contraband, and the slave ship has to pick its way cautiously about +the island of Crimea, and keep a sharp lookout to avoid the Russian +war steamers that skirt the entire coast, and keep up a +never-ceasing blockade from the Georgian shore to the ancient port +of Anapa. + +This latter place was, for centuries, one of vital importance to the +Circassians, being their general depot or rendezvous for the trade +between themselves and the ports that lay at the other extreme of +the Black Sea. It was the point where they were always sure to find +a ready market for their females, receiving as payment in exchange +from the Turks, fire-arms, ammunition and gold. But at last the +Russians, assuming a virtue that did not actuate them, stormed and +took the fort, ostensibly to put a stop to this trade, as opposed to +the principles it involved, but in reality to stop the supplies that +enabled the brave mountaineers to oppose them so successfully. + +In the country lying immediately back of Anapa, there is a +succession of hills and vales of surpassing loveliness, presenting +the extremes of wild and rugged mountain scenery, joining fertile +plains and beautiful valleys, where, among fragrant and luxuriant +groves, many a fair creature has grown up to be brought to the slave +market and sold for a price. Vales where brave and stalwart youths +have been nurtured and taught the dexterous use of arms, being ever +educated to look upon the Russians as their natural enemies, and +also to believe that any revenge exercised upon their Moscovite +neighbors was not only commendable, but holy and just. + +In a valley opening towards the north, a short league above the port +of Anapa, at the time of our story there dwelt two families, named +Gymroc and Adegah. Both these families traced their ancestry back to +noble chiefs, who, in the days of Circassian glory and independence, +were at the head of large and powerful tribes of their countrymen. +These families, from the fact that they were thus descended, were +still held by the mountaineers who lived about them in reverence, +and their words had double weight in council when important subjects +were discussed; and indeed the present head of each was often chosen +to lead them on to the almost constantly recurring battles and +bloody guerilla contests that transpired between the mountaineers +and their enemies, the Russian Cossacks. + +The family of Gymroc was blessed with a fair daughter, an only +child, who, though living among a people who were so universally +endowed with loveliness in their gentler sex, was famed for her +transcendent loveliness far and near, and the youths of the +neighboring valleys and plains sighed in their hearts to think that +the fairest flower in all Circassia was but blooming to shed its +ripened fragrance and loveliness in the harem of some dark and +bearded Mahometan, to be the toy of some rich and heartless Turk. + +One there was among the young mountaineers, Aphiz Adegah, whose +whole life and soul seemed bound up in the lovely Komel, as she was +called. Neither was more than eighteen; indeed Komel was not so old, +for but sixteen full summers had passed over her head. They had +grown up together from very childhood, played together, worked +together, sharing each other's burthens, and mutually aiding each +other; now quietly watching the sheep and goats upon the hillsides, +and now working side by side in the fields, content and happy, so +they were always together. + +Komel was almost too beautiful. With every grace and delicacy of +outline that has, for centuries, rendered her sex so famed in her +native land, she added also a sweet, natural intelligence, which, +though all uncultivated, was yet ever beaming from her eyes, and +speaking forth from her face. Her form possessed a most captivating +voluptuous fullness, without once trespassing upon the true lines of +female delicacy. Her large and lustrous eyes were brilliant yet +plaintive, her lips red and full, and the features generally of a +delicate Grecian cast. Her hair was of that dark, glossy hue, that +defies comparison, and was heavy and luxuriant in its fullness. + +Some one has said that no one can write real poetry until he has +known the sting of unhappiness; and sure it is that beauty ever +lacks that moss-rose finish that tender melancholy throws about it, +until it has known what sorrow is. Komel had been called to mourn, +and melancholy had thrown about her a gentle glow of plaintiveness, +as a grateful angel added another grace to the rose that had +sheltered its slumber, by a shroud of moss. + +While she was yet but a little child, her only brother, but little +older than herself, and whom she loved with all the sisterly +tenderness of her young heart, had strayed away from home to the +seaside, and been drowned. From that day she had sorrowed for his +loss, and even now as memory recalled her early playmate, the tears +would dim her eyes, nor did her spirits seem ever entirely free from +the grief that had imbued them at her brother's loss. This hue of +tender melancholy was in Komel only an additional beauty, as we have +said, and lent its witchery to her other charms. + +To say that Komel was insensible to all her personal advantages +would be unreasonable, and supposing her not possessed of an +ordinary degree of perception. She knew that she was fair, nay, that +she was more beautiful than any of the youthful companions of her +native valley; but whatever others might have anticipated for her, +she had never looked forward, as nearly all of her sex do, in +Circassia, to a splendid foreign home across the Black Sea. No, no; +her young and loving heart had already made its choice of him she +had so long and tenderly loved,--him who had stepped in when there +was that vacant spot in her heart that her brother's loss had left, +and filled it; for he had been both brother and lover to her from +the tenderest years of childhood. They had probably thought little +upon the subject of their relation to each other, and had said less, +until Komel was nearly sixteen, and then it was only in that tender +and hopeful strain of a happy future, and that future to be shared +by each other. + +Aphiz was as noble and generous in spirit as he was handsome in +person. Nature had cast him in a sinewy, yet graceful form; his +native mountain air and vigorous habits had ripened his physical +developments to an early manliness and already had he more than once +charged the enemy upon the open plains of his native land. His +falchion had glanced in the tide of battle, and his stout arm had +dealt many a fatal blow to the Cossack forces, that sought to +conquer and possess themselves of all Circassia. It was a stern +school for the young mountaineer, and it was well, as he grew up in +this manner, that there was always the tender and chastening +association before his mind, of his love for the gentle and +beautiful girl who had given her young heart into his keeping. He +needed such promptings to enable him to combat the rough +associations of the camp, and the hardening duty of a soldier in +time of war. + +It was, therefore, to her side that he came for that true happiness +that emanates from the better feelings of the heart; by her side +that he enjoyed the quiet but grand scenery of their native hills +and valleys, looking, as it were, through each other's eyes at every +beauty, either of thought or that lay tangible before them. + +Though both Komel and Aphiz had been thrice happy in their constant +intercourse in the days of childhood, though those days, so well +remembered, had been to them like a pleasant morning filled with +song, or the gliding on of a summer stream, and were marked only by +truthfulness and peaceful content, still both realized as they now +entered upon a riper age of youth, that they were far happier than +ever before, that they loved each other better, and all things about +them. It is an error to suppose that childhood is the happiest +period of life, though philosophers tell us so, for a child's +pleasures are like early spring flowers--pretty, but pale, and +fleeting, and scentless. The rich and fragrant treasures of the +heart are not developed so early; they come with life's summer, and +thus it was with these Circassian youths. + +Growing up daily and hourly together to that period when love holds +strongest sway over the heart, both felt how happily they could +kneel before Heaven and be pronounced one and inseparable; but Aphiz +was poor and had no home to offer a bride, besides which, the +character of the times was sufficient to prevent their more prudent +parents from yielding their consent to such an arrangement as their +immediate union, though they offered no opposition to their +intimacy. + +Komel was of such a happy and cheerful disposition at heart that she +scattered pleasure always about her, but Aphiz's very love rendered +him thoughtful and perhaps at times a little melancholy; for he +feared that some future chance might in an unforeseen, way rob him +of her who was so ineffably dear to him. He did not exactly fear +that Komel's parents would sell her to go to Constantinople, though +they were now, since war and pestilence had swept away lands, home +and title, poor enough; and yet there was an undefined fear ever +acting in his heart as to her he loved. Sometimes when he realized +this most keenly, he could not help whispering his forebodings to +Komel herself. + +"Nay, dear Aphiz," she would say to him, with a gentle smile upon +her countenance, "let not that shadow rest upon thy brow, but rather +look with the sun on the bright side of everything. Am I not a +simple and weak girl, and yet I am cheerful and happy, while thou, +so strong, so brave and manly, art ever fearing some unknown ill." + +"Only as it regards thee, Komel, do I fear anything." + +"That's true, but I should inspire thee with joy, not fear and +uneasiness." + +"It is only the love I bear thee, dearest, that makes me so jealous, +so anxious, so fearful lest some chance should rob me of thee +forever," he would reply tenderly. + +"It is ever thus; what is there to fear, Aphiz?" + +"I know not, dearest. No one feared your gentle brother's loss years +ago, and yet one day he woke happy and cheerful, and went forth to +play, but never came back again." + +"You speak too truly," answered the beautiful girl with a sigh, "and +yet because harm came to him, it is no reason that it should come to +me, dear Aphiz." + +"Still the fear that aught may happen to separate us is enough to +make me sad, Komel." + +"Father says, that it is troubles which never happen that chiefly +make men miserable," answered the happy-spirited girl, as she laid +her head pleasantly upon Aphiz's arm. + +They stood at her father's door in the closing hour of the day when +they spoke thus, and hardly had Aphiz's words died upon his lips +when the attention of both was directed towards the heavy, dark form +of a mountain-hawk, as it swept swiftly through the air, and poising +itself for an instant, marked where a gentle wood dove was perched +upon a projecting bough in the valley. Komel laid her hand with +nervous energy upon Aphiz's arm. The hawk was beyond the reach of +his rifle, and realizing this he dropped its breach once more to his +side. A moment more and the bolder bird was bearing its prey to its +mountain nest, there to feed upon it innocent body. Neither Komel +nor Aphiz uttered one word, but turned sadly away from the scene +that had seemed so applicable to the subject of their conversation. +He bade her a tender good night, but as the young mountaineer wended +his way down the valley he was sad at heart, and asked himself if +Komel might not be that dove. + +So earnestly was he impressed with this idea, after the conversation +which had just occurred, that twice he turned his steps and resolved +to seek the lofty cliff where the hawk had flown, as though he could +yet release the poor dove; then remembering himself, he would once +more press the downward path to the valley. + +It was not to be presumed that Komel should not have found other +admirers among the youths of her native valley. She had touched the +hearts of many, though being no coquette, they soon learned to +forget her, seeing how much her heart was already another's. This, +we say, was generally the case, but there was one exception, in the +person of a young man but little older than Aphiz, whose name was +Krometz. He had loved Komel truly, had told her so, and had been +gently refused her own affection by her; but still he persevered, +until the love he had borne her had turned to something very unlike +love, and he resolved in his heart that if she loved not him, +neither should she marry Aphiz. + +At one time when Aphiz was in the heat of battle, charging upon the +Russian infantry, suddenly he staggered, reeled and fell, a bullet +had passed into his chest near the heart. His comrades raised him up +and brought him off the battle-field, and after days of painful +suffering he recovered, and was once more as well as ever, little +dreaming that the bullet which had so nearly cost him his life came +from one of his own countrymen. Could the ball have been examined, +it would have fitted exactly Krometz's rifle! + +Though the rifle shot had failed, Krometz's enmity had in no way +abated; he only watched for an opportunity more successfully to +effect the object that now seemed to be the motive of his life. +Before Komel he was all gentleness, and affected the highest sense +of honor, but at heart he was all bitterness and revenge. + +Another chapter will show the treacherous and deep game that the +rejected lover played. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SLAVE SHIP. + + +It was on a fair summer's evening that a beautiful English built +craft, after having beat up the Black Sea all day against the ever +prevailing a north-cast wind, now gathered in her light sails and +barely kept steerageway by still spreading her jib and mainsail. +With the setting sun the breeze had lulled also to rest, and there +was but a cap full now coming from off the mountains of the +Caucasus, just enough to keep the little clipper steady in hand. + +It would be difficult to define the exact class to which the rig of +this craft would make her belong, there was so much that was English +in the hull and raking step of her masts, while the rigging, and the +way in which she was managed, smacked so strongly of the +Mediterranean that her nation also might have puzzled one familiar +with such a subject. The lofty spread of canvas, the jib, flying-jib +and fore-staysail, that are rarely worn save by the larger class of +merchantmen, gave rather an odd appearance to a craft that could +count hardly more than an hundred tons measurement. + +Besides her fore and mainsail, and those already named, the +schooner, for so we must call her, carried two heavy, but graceful +topsails upon her fore and mainmasts, and even a jigger sail or +spanker and gaff above it, on a slender spur rigged from the quarter +deck. Altogether the schooner with her various appurtenances, +resembled such a yacht as some of the English noblemen sail in the +channel and about the Isle of Man in the sporting season. + +The schooner was not unobserved from the shore, and a careful +observer could have noticed a group of persons that were evidently +regarding her with no common interest from the landing just above +the harbor of Anapa. + +"That must be the craft that has been so long expected," said one of +the group, "and we had best get our girls ready at once to put on +board before the morning." + +"This comes in a bad time, for the steamer should be here before +nightfall." + +"That's true; as she doesn't seem inclined to run in too close, +perhaps she knows it." + +"What was the signal agreed upon?" asked the first speaker of his +companion, who was silently regarding the schooner. + +"A red flag at the foretopmast head, and there it goes. Yes, it is +here sure enough." + +"How like a witch she looks." + +"They say she will outsail anything between here and Gibraltar, in +any wind." + +"What does that mean? she's going about." + +"Sure enough, and up goes her foresail, they work with a will and +are in a hurry." + +"She don't like the looks of something on the coast," said the +other. + +The fact was, while the schooner lay under the easy sail we have +described, just off the port of Anapa, the little Russian government +steamer that plies between Odessa and the ports along the Circassian +coast held by the emperor's troops, hove in sight, having just come +down the Sea of Azoff through the Straits of Yorkcale. Her dark line +of smoke was discovered by those on board the schooner, before she +had doubled the headland of Tatman, and it was very plain, that, let +the schooner's purpose be what it might, she desired to avoid all +unnecessary observation, and especially that of the steamer. + +A single movement of the helm while the mainsail sheet was eased +away, and the schooner brought the gentle night breeze that was +still setting from the north and east off the Georgian shore, right +aft, and quietly hoisting her foresail, the two were set wing and +wing, and a sea bird could not have skimmed with a more easy and +graceful motion over the deep waters that glanced beneath her hull, +than she did now. If the steamer had desired she might have +overhauled the schooner, but it would have taken all night to do it +with that leading wind in her favor; and so, after looking towards +the clipper craft with her bows for a moment, the steamer again held +on her course. + +"Too swift of wing for that smoke pipe of yours," said one of the +Circassians who had been watching the evolutions of the two crafts +from the shore. + +"The steamer has put her helm down and gives it up for it bad job," +said another, as her black bow came once more to look towards the +port of Anapa. + +"She will be off before night sets in, and we shall have the +schooner back again." + +This was in fact the policy of those on board the schooner; for no +sooner did she find herself unpursued than she hauled her wind, +jibed her foresail to starboard and looked down, towards the coast +of Asia Minor, until the moon crept up from behind the mountains of +the Caucasus as though it had come from a bath in the Caspian Sea +beyond, when the schooner was closer hauled on the other trick, and +bore up again for the harbor of Anapa. + +We have said that the little clipper numbered some hundred tons, but +though her appearance would indicate this to be the case, yet your +thorough-bred sailor would have marked how stiffly she bore so much +top hamper, and would have judged more correctly by the depth of +water that the schooner evidently drew. It was plain that she was +deep and much heavier than she looked. A few sprightly Greek youths, +in their picturesque costume were dispersed here and there in the +waist and on the forecastle, while two or three persons wearing the +same dress and evidently of that nation, were talking together in a +group upon the weather-side of the quarter-deck. + +As the hours drew towards midnight, the schooner at length opened +communication with the land by means of signal lanterns, and +immediately after boats commenced to ply between the clipper and the +shore, and continued to do so for several hours. It was plain enough +to any one who knew the usages and trade of these waters, that the +schooner was preparing to run a cargo of Circassian girls, the trade +having been, as we have already shown, made contraband by the +Russians. + +At last the clipper seemed to have received all on board that she +expected in the shape of passengers, but still stood off and on for +some reason until the breaking day began to tinge the mountain tops +beyond Anapa; when a last boat with five persons, one of whom was a +female, came down to the clipper which was thrown in the wind's eye +long enough for those to get on board, or rather for three of them +to do so; and then, as the other two pulled back to the shore, the +schooner gradually came round under the force of her topsail, and +one sail after another was distended and sheeted home until she +looked to those on shore as though enveloped in canvas, and drove +over the waters like a flying cloud. + +One of those who pulled away from the schooner as she lay her +course, would have been recognized by the reader as Krometz; and now +half way to the landing he motioned his companion to cease rowing, +while he paused himself and looked after the receding clipper with a +strange medley of expression pictured in his face. + +"Give way, give way," said his companion at last, somewhat +impatiently; "one would think, by the way you look seaward, that you +would like to head in that direction instead of pulling into the +harbor." + +"You are right, comrade. I do wish that yonder clipper was carrying +me away from here." + +"You are a queer fellow, Krometz, to let that girl make you so +unhappy, but she's off now, and will probably bring up in some +Turkish harem, where she will end her days. Not so bad a fate +either," continued the oarsman. "Surrounded by every luxury the +heart could wish or the imagination conceive, it's a better lot than +either yours or mine." + +"Well, say no more of this, and remember the utmost secrecy is to be +observed, for that tiger of an Aphiz will hunt us to death if he +does but suspect that we had a hand in the business." + +"Our disguise was sufficient," said the other, "and by-the-way, we +may as well get rid of this black stuff now;" and as he spoke he +dashed the water from alongside upon his face and hands, and removed +a coat of black from them. + +"Now give way again; let us get in, and separate before any one is +stirring abroad." + +Leaving Krometz and his companion to pursue their own business, and +the clipper craft with her course laid for the Sea of Marmora, we +will, with the reader, return once more to the mountain side where +we met Komel and Aphiz. + +In time of peace, or rather when there was no open outbreak between +the Circassians and the Russian forces, Aphiz Adegah passed his time +in hunting among the rugged hills and cliffs, and with the early +morn was abroad with his gun strapped to his back, and in his hand +the long iron-pointed staff that helped him to climb the otherwise +inaccessible rocks of the mountain's sides. Thus equipped, he came, +in the morning referred to above, to the cottage of Komel's parents, +but, instead of the cheerful, happy welcome that usually greeted him +on such occasions, he beheld consternation and misery written in the +father's face, while the mother wept as though her heart would +break. + +"What means this strange scene?" asked the young hunter, hastily. +"Where is Komel?" + +"Alas! gone, gone," sighed both. + +"Gone!" + +"Ay, gone forever." + +"What mean you? whither has she gone? what has happened to render +you so miserable?" + +"Alas, Aphiz; Komel has gone to be the star of some proud Turkish +harem," said the father. + +"And with your consent?" + +"No! O, no!" + +"Nor by her own free will, that I know," he continued, quickly. + +"Alas! no; this night she was stolen from us, and we saw her borne +away before our very eyes." + +"Was there no one by to strike a blow for her, no one to render you +aid?" + +"Yes, one there was, an honest friend who lives in the next cottage. +He was aroused by the noise, and outraged by the violence he beheld, +he rushed upon the thieves, but they struck him bleeding and dead to +the earth. It was a terrible sight and poor Komel saw it as they +carried her away, and uttered such a fearful, piercing scream that +it seems to ring in our cars even now. She fainted then in their +arms, and we saw her no more." + +"Heaven guard her!" said Aphiz, with inward anguish expressed in his +face. + +"Amen!" said the aged father, with a deep, heartfelt sigh, full of +sorrow. + +This told the whole story of the previous night, and the last boat +that put off from, the shore for the clipper schooner contained +Komel as a prisoner, insensible to all about, abducted by her own +countrymen, incited by the revengeful spirit of Krometz. Actuated by +the vilest motives himself, he had persuaded a companion, as we have +seen, by a small bribe and the representation that Komel would in +reality be better off than with her parents, to aid him in his +object. Krometz had not hesitated to receive the handsome sum that +one so beautiful as Komel could not fail to command. + +Aphiz was almost too miserable to be able to find words to express +his feelings. A bitter tear stole down his sunburnt check as he saw +the mother's grief, but a stern flash of the eye was also visible in +the expression of his face. He sought at once the highest cliff +beyond the cottage, and in the distant, far-off horizon, could dimly +make out the white canvas of the slave cutter, no bigger than a +sea-bird, on the skirts of the horizon. He sat down in the +bitterness of his anguish, alone and heart-broken, and then he +remembered the scene of the previous evening, how they both together +had seen the hawk pounce down and carry off in its talons the poor +wood dove. + +That scene, so suggestive to his mind, was not without its meaning. +It was the forerunner of the calamity under which his heart now +grieved so bitterly. Aphiz Adegah's life had been a bold one, he +knew no fear. The air of his native hills was not freer than his own +spirit and as he looked off once more at the tiny white speck in the +distance that marked the spot where Komel was, his resolution was +instantly made, and he swore to follow and rescue her. + +It was but natural that the young mountaineer should desire to find +out the agency by which that evil business had been consummated. He +knew very well that such a plan as Komel's abduction could not have +been perpetrated without the aid of parties that knew her and her +home, but never for one moment did he suspect Krometz. He had ever +professed the warmest friendship for both him and Komel, and he was +deemed honest. But during the melee, when the honest mountaineer had +rushed to Komel's rescue, and had received the fatal blow, her +parents heard a voice that they recognized, and both exclaimed, "Can +that voice be Krometz's!" + +This was afterwards made known to Aphiz, and with this clue, though +he could scarcely believe that there was the possibility of fact or +correctness in the surmise, he sought his pretended friend. He +charged him with the evidence and its inference, and bade him speak +and say if this was true. + +"It matters not, friend Aphiz, since she is gone, how she came to +go." + +"This answer," said the young mountaineer, "is but another evidence +against thee." + +"Do you pretend to call me to an account, Aphiz? You are but a boy, +while I have already reached the full age of manhood. Think not, +because you were more successful with that girl, than I, that you +can lord it over me. I shall answer no further charges from you." + +"Krometz, your guilt speaks out in every line of your face," said +the excited Aphiz. "Meet me at sunset behind the signal rock on the +cliff, and we will settle this affair together." + +"I will neither meet thee, nor account to thee for aught I may have +done." + +"Then, as true as to-morrow's sun shall rise, with this good rifle I +will shoot you to the heart. I shall be there at the sunset hour; +fail me, and to-morrow you shall die." + +Krometz knew well with whom he had to deal; he knew if he met Aphiz, +as he proposed, there would be a chance for his life, but if he +failed him, he feared the unerring aim of his rifle. He was no +coward--both of them had faced the enemy together, but he lacked the +moral courage that is far more sustaining than mere dogged bravery, +or contempt for immediate danger. Thus influence, at sunset he kept +the appointment. + +The young mountaineer had been taught this mode of resort to arms by +the Russian and Polish officers who had been thrown much among them. +They had no seconds, but fought alone, starting back to back, +walking forward five paces, wheeling and firing together. The +position was on the brink of a precipice, and he who fell would be +hurled at once down an immense depth. Aphiz was desperate, Krometz +reckless; they fired and the body of the latter fell over the cliff. +Aphiz was unharmed. + +In a moment after he realized his situation, has act, however just, +had made him a fugitive, and he must fly at once from those scenes +of his boyish love and happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A SINGULAR MEETING. + + +Turning from the mountain scenes we have described, let us back once +more to Constantinople, and direct our footsteps up the fragrant +valley where the Barbyses threads its meandering course. Here let us +look once more into the gilded cage that holds the Sultan's +favorites, where art had exhausted itself to form a fairy-like spot, +as beautiful as the imagination could conceive. We find here, once +more, amid the fragrant atmosphere and the playing fountains, the +form of Lalla, and by her side again that form, before which all the +tribes of the faithful kneel in humble submission. It was strange +what a potent charm the dumb but beautiful Circassian had thrown +about herself. It seemed as though some fairy circle enshrined her, +within which no harm might possibly reach the gentle slave. + +An observant person could have noticed also a third party in that +presence, though he was some distance from Lalla's side, lying upon +the ground, so near the jet of a fountain, that the spray dampened +his face. It was the idiot. To the monarch, or his slave, he +appeared unconscious of aught save the play of water; but one nearer +to him would have seen that no movement of either escaped the now +watchful eye of the boy. Was it possible that he possessed a degree +of reason, after all, and more than half assumed the strange guise +that seemed to enshroud his wits. + +Now he tossed the pure white pebble stones into the playing waters, +and saw them carried up by the force of the jets, and now half +rising to his elbow, startled the gold and silver fish in the basin +by a tiny shower of gravel, but still with a strange tenacity, ever +watching both the Sultan and his slave, though not appearing to do +so. + +A change had come over that proud, eastern prince. He had been +awakened to fresh impulses, and a new and joyful sense of +realization; the sentiments that actuated him were novel, indeed, to +his breast. From childhood he had been taught by every association +to look upon the gentler sex as toys, merely, of his own; but here +was one, yes, and the first one, too, who had caused him to realize +that she had a soul, a heart, a brilliant, natural intelligence of +mind, that surprised and delighted him. Besides this, the fact of +her sad physical misfortune had, no doubt, increased his tender and +respectful solicitude, and thus altogether he was most peculiarly +situated, as it regarded his dumb slave. + +The stern warrior, the relentless foe, the severe judge, and the +pampered monarch, all were merged in the man, when by her side--and +Sultan Mahomet, for the first time in his life, felt that he loved! + +As we have shown, it was not the headstrong promptings of passion +that actuated him--far from it; for had the monarch been heedless of +her love and respect in return, how easily might he have commanded +any submission, on her part, that he could wish. The truth was, he +feared to risk the love he now felt that he coveted so strongly, by +any overt act, and thus day by day her life stole quietly on, and +lie was still ever tender and respectful, ever thoughtful for her +comfort or pleasure, and ever assiduous to make her feel contented +and happy with her lot. + +It would have been most unnatural had not Lalla experienced, in +return for all this kindness, the warmest sentiments of gratitude, +and this she showed in the expression of her dark, dreamy eyes, at +all times; and to speak truly, the Sultan felt himself amply repaid +by her gentle gratitude and tender smiles. + +In the mean time, as days and weeks passed on, silently registering +the course of life, the chill of homesickness, which had been so +keen and saddening at first, wore gradually away from the radiant +face of the slave, though she thought no less earnestly and dearly +of her friends and her home, far away in the Circassian hills; yet +absence and time had robbed her grief of its keenness, while the +easy and luxuriant mode of living that she enjoyed had again +restored the roundness of her beautiful form, had once more imparted +the rose to her check, and the elasticity of her childhood's day to +her movements. In short, she who was so lovely when she entered the +harem, had now grown so much more so, that the companions who +surrounded her, with sentiments almost akin to awe, declared her too +beautiful to live, and sagely hinting that ere long she would hear +the songs of those spirits who chant around Allah's throne. + +All this had wrought a corresponding change in the heart of the +Sultan; indeed his affection and, interest for Lalla had even more +than kept pace with this improvement in her appearance; and now it +was for the first time since she came there, that those scarcely +less beautiful Georgians, the petted favorites, heretofore, of the +monarch, now evinced feelings of envy that it was impossible to +disguise. They saw but too plainly that the Sultan cared only for +the dumb slave, had smiles for no one else, and that he was ever by +her side when within the precincts of the harem. + +Nor is it to be wondered at that they should feel thus. In a country +where personal beauty constitutes the marketable value of a woman, +it was but natural, that they should be led to prize this endowment, +and perhaps also in the end to dislike all who should successfully +contest the palm with them in this respect. Still, so sweet was +Lalla's disposition, so yielding and considerate, that they could +not openly express the feelings that brooded in their breasts; nor +had one unkind word yet been expressed towards her, since the first +hour that she had entered the Sultan's household. + +Leaving the dumb slave thus bound by silken cords, thus chained in a +gilded cage, we will once more turn to the fortunes of the lone and +weary traveller, whom we left in the Armenian quarter of the +capital. + +He was evidently a wanderer, and, save the liberal means he had +received from the hands of the grateful Turk whom he had so +providentially rescued near the forest borders of Belgrade, he was +poor indeed. Yet with strict economy this purse had served him well, +and for a long while; whatever his errand in this capital might be, +he seemed to keep it sacredly to himself, and to wander day after +day, front morning until night, here, there, and everywhere, now in +the slave market, now in the opium bazaar, now among the silk +merchants, now among the splendid and picturesque dwellings along +the banks of the Bosphorus, and now in this quarter, now in that, +seemingly in search of some one he hoped to find; but as night +returned, he, too, came to his temporary home, tired, dejected and +unhappy. + +But day after day and week after week had at last entirely emptied +his purse of its golden contents, and he stood now very near the +spot where we first introduced him to the reader. The purse was in +his hand, and he was consulting with himself now as to what course +he should pursue for the future, when his eyes rested once more upon +the jewelled receptacle he held in his hand. He had often marked its +richness, and the thought came across him that he might realize a +small sum by selling it at some of the fancy bazaars, and he had +even made up his mind to adopt this plan, when he suddenly +remembered, for the first time, that the Turk had told him to +present it at the gates of the seraglio gardens when he needed +further aid. + +"Fool that I have been!" ejaculated the wanderer, vehemently, +"perhaps I might not only obtain the necessary pecuniary aid from +him, but also that information which I so sadly but earnestly seek. +Why should I, until this late hour, have forgotten his proffered +aid? I will away to him at once, tell him my sad history, and +beseech him to lend me the assistance I require." Thus saying, he +turned his eyes towards the little point of land that jets out +towards Asia from the Turkish city, known as Seraglio Point, a +fairy-like cluster of gardens and palaces marking the spot. + +His quick, nervous step soon brought him to the gilded portal that +formed the entrance to the splendid gardens beyond, and through the +sentinel who guarded the spot he summoned an officer of the +household, to whom he showed the purse, telling him that he had +received it from the owner as a token of friendship, and that he had +bidden him, when necessity should dictate, to show it at the +seraglio gates, and he would be admitted to his presence. + +"God is great!" said the officer, as he looked upon the purse with a +profound reverence, astonishing the humble wanderer by the respect +he showed to the jewelled bag. + +"And what place is this?" he asked of the officer, as hie looked +curiously about him. + +"By the beard of the Prophet, young man, do you not know?" asked the +official. + +"I do not." + +"Not know whose purse you hold, and in whose grounds you stand!" +reiterated the soldier. + +"Not I." + +"Allah akbar! it is the palace of the defender of the faith, Sultan +Mahomet!" + +"The Sultan!" exclaimed the lone wanderer, struck dumb with +amazement. + +"The Brother of the Sun," repeated the official, with a profound +salaam as he repeated the name, while at the same time he noted the +astonishment of the stranger. + +"The Sultan," repeated the new comer, musing to himself, "rides he +forth alone?" + +"At times, yes, when it suits him. No harm can come to him--he is +sacred, and need not fear." + +"Perhaps not," answered the other, as he recalled the scene on the +borders of the forest. + +At the singular piece of intelligence which he had received, the +stranger seemed to hesitate. He surely would not have come hither +had he known to whom he was about to apply for assistance. Could it +be the Sultan that he so opportunely aided? If so, he surely need +not fear to meet him again; perhaps he might even venture still to +tell him honestly his story, and ask at least for advice in the +pursuit of the object which had brought him to Constantinople. In +this half undecided mood he stood musing for some minutes, and then +with a struggle for resolution, bade the officer lead him to his +master. + +Let us look in upon the royal presence for a moment. It is a +gorgeous saloon, where the monarch lounges upon satin cushions, with +the rich amber mouthpiece of his pipe between his lips, and the +perfumed tobacco gently wreathing in blue smoke above his head. +Mahomet was at this moment seated on a pedestal of cushions, so rich +and soft that he seemed almost, lost in their luxuriance. Reclining +by his side was a creature so lovely in her maidenly beauty, that +pencil, not pen, should describe her. Ever and anon the monarch cast +glances of such tenderness towards her that an unprejudiced observer +would have noticed at once the warmth of his feelings towards her, +while the gentle slave, for it was Lalla, turned over a pile of rich +English engravings, pausing now and then to hold one of more than +usual interest before his eyes. + +It was an interesting scene. The pictures had deeply interested the +slave, and with graceful abandon she had forgotten everything but +them; now smiling over some curious representation, or sighing over +another no less truthful, and her fair, young face expressing the +feelings that actuated her bosom with telltale accuracy all the +while. Her dark hair was interwoven with pearls by the running hands +of the Nubian slaves, and its long plaits reached nearly to her +feet, while across her fair brow there hung a cluster of diamonds +which might have ransomed an emperor--a gift from the Sultan himself. + +The Sultan seemed, of late, scarcely contented to have her from his +side for a single hour, and even received his officials and gave +audience, with her in the presence oftentimes, first motioning her, +on such occasions, to cover her face, after the style of the Turkish +women; but even this precaution was rarely taken, for Lalla was not +used to it, and the Sultan pressed nothing upon her that he found to +be in any way disagreeable to her feelings. So when the officer +announced a stranger who had shown a purse which bore the Sultan's +arms as his talisman, he was bidden to admit him at once. + +The slave turned her back by chance as the stranger entered, and +hearing not his steps she still bent absorbedly over the roll of +engravings while the new comer with profound respect told the Sultan +that until a moment since he had not known that it was his good +fortune to have served his highness, and that perhaps had he +realized this he would not then be before him.--But the monarch +generously re-assured him by his kindness, and repeated his offer of +any service in his power. + +"I feel that I am already a heavy pensioner on your bounty, +excellency," he replied. + +"Not so; your bravery and prompt assistance stood us in aid at an +important moment.--Speak then, and if there be aught in which we can +further your wishes or good, it will afford us pleasure." + +"It is of a matter, which would hardly interest your excellency that +I would speak." + +"We are the best judge of that matter." + +"Shall I tell my story then, excellency?" + +"Ay, speak on," said the monarch, resuming his pipe, and pouring +forth a lazy cloud of smoke from his mouth. + +"Excellency," he commenced, "I am it very humble mountaineer of the +Caucasus, but until these few months past have been as happy as +heart could wish. True, we have often been called upon to confront +the Cossack, but that is a duty and a pleasure, and the tide of +battle once over, we have returned with renewed joy to our cottage +homes. Our hearths are rude and homely, but our wants are few, and +our hearts are warm among our native hills. + +"Suddenly, a hawk swooped down upon our mountain side, and bore away +the sweetest and most innocent dove that nestled there, making +desolate many hearts, and causing an aged mother and father to weep +tears of bitter anguish. I loved that being, excellency, so well +that my whole soul was hers, and she too in turn loved me. Broken +hearted and most miserable I have wandered hither to seek her, for +hither I found that she had been brought, and perhaps even now is +the unhappy slave of some heartless one, and is pining for the home +she has been torn from. If you would bless me, excellency, ay, bless +yourself by a noble deed, then aid me to find her in this great +capital." + +The monarch listened with unfeigned interest, he, had a strong dash +of romance in his disposition, besides which he could feel for the +disconsolate lover now, since his own heart bad been so awakened to +itself. + +"Your story interests me," said the Sultan, still regarding him +intently. + +"It is very simple, excellency, but alas! it is also very true," was +the reply. + +"What name do you bear?" + +"Aphiz Adegah, excellency!" + +"And what was her name of whom you have spoken?" + +"Her name was Komel." + +At the same moment that he answered thus, Lalla turned by chance +from her engravings, towards them, when her eyes resting upon those +of Aphiz, she rose, staggered a few steps towards him, and uttered a +scream so shrill and piercing that even the imperturbable Turk +sprang to his feet in amazement, while Aphiz cried: + +"It is she, it is my lost Komel!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE SULTAN'S PRISONER. + + +The Sultan was as capable of revenge as he was of love or gratitude, +and this, Aphiz was destined to learn to his sorrow; for no sooner +did the monarch comprehend the scene we have just described, after +having heard the story of Aphiz related, than he immediately +summoned the guard, and the young Circassian found himself borne +away to a place of confinement within the seraglio gardens, where he +was left alone to ponder upon his singular situation. It was not an +easy task for him to divest his mind of the thought that all was a +dream, so singular were the threads of the past woven together since +the happy hours when Komel and himself bade good night at her +father's cottage door. + +As to the fair and beautiful slave herself, she was conducted back +to the harem, at the same time that Aphiz was borne away to prison, +but a new world had opened to her. Her voice and hearing, lost by +the fearful shock she had realized by that sight of bloodshed on the +night when they stole her away from her parents, had, strangely +enough, been again restored by a shock scarcely less potent in its +effect upon her. That startling scream which she uttered on +beholding Aphiz had loosened the portals of her ears, and the +violent effort made in order to utter that exclamation had again +loosened the power of utterance. In spite of the attending +circumstances, she could not but rejoice at the return of those +faculties that she had now been taught the value of. + +The delight of the Sultan at Komel's recovery of her speech and +hearing, was only equalled by his uneasiness at the extraordinary +position of affairs between himself and the man who had so gallantly +saved his life on the Belgrade plains. Loving his slave so tenderly, +what could he do under the circumstances? He now found the music of +her voice as delicious as the almost angelic beauty of her form and +features, and so charmed was he with the improvement that Komel +evinced, and so did he love to listen to her voice, that he could +even bear to hear her plead for Aphiz, and beseech that he might be +brought to her. Much as this would have been against his own +feelings and wishes, still to have her talk to him he listened +patiently, or seemed to do so, even while she besought him thus. + +There was another being whose joy at Komel's recovery of her speech +seemed, if possible, more extravagant even than the Sultan's, and +far more remarkable in manifestation. When the idiot boy first heard +her voice, he started, and crouching like an animal, crept away to a +spot whence he could observe her without himself being seen. By +degrees he drew nearer, and finally received her kind tokens without +any evidences of fear. And by degrees, as she spoke to him and +tutored her words to his simple capacity, he seemed to be filled +with the very ecstasy of joy, and ran and leaped like a hound newly +loosed from confinement. Then he would return, and taking her hand, +place it upon his forehead and temples, and then curling his body +into a ball, lie motionless by her side. + +"You love this young Circassian, and would leave me and your present +home for him?" asked the Sultan, as Komel entered the reception +saloon in answer to a summons he had sent to her. + +"I do love him, excellency," replied the slave, honestly; "we were +children together, and I cannot remember the time when I loved him +not, for we were always as brother and sister." + +"There are not many of thy nation, Komel, who would choose an humble +mountaineer to a Sultan," said the monarch, with a bitter intonation +of voice. + +"Alas! excellency," she replied, "too many of my untutored +countrywomen, being brought up from their infancy to consider it as +their infallible lot, make a barter of their hearts for gold. Such +know no true promptings of love." + +"You are happy and contented here, you want for nothing, you are the +mistress of this broad palace. Bid me send thy countryman away +loaded with gold, and we will live always together." + +"Excellency, I am not happy here, and though I participate in all +the splendor you so liberally furnish for me, my heart, alas! is +ever straying back to my humble home." + +"This feeling of discontent will soon die away, Komel, and you will +be happy again," said the Sultan, toying with her delicate hands +which had been tipped at the finger ends by the Nubian slaves with +the henna dye. + +"Never, excellency, my early home and my heart will always be +together," she replied, with a sigh. + +"Nevertheless, Komel," continued the Sultan in a decided tone of +voice, "you are my slave, and I love you. This being the case, think +you I shall be very ready to part with you?" + +"Ah! excellency, you are too generous, too kind-hearted, to detain +me here against my wishes. I know this by the gentle and considerate +care I have already received at your hands." + +"You mistake, you mistake," repeated the Sultan, earnestly; "that +was because I loved you so well, Komel. I saw in you, not only the +transparent beauty with which Heaven has endowed your race, but a +soul and intelligence that won my heart. Your infirmity, now so +suddenly removed, demanded for you every consideration, but now +aroused by the opposition that circumstances seem to have woven +around me, other feelings are fast becoming rooted in my breast. +Shall such as I am be thwarted in my wish by an humble mountaineer +of the Caucasus?" + +As the monarch spoke thus he laid aside the mouth-piece of his pipe, +and leaning upon his elbow amid the yielding cushions, covered his +face with his hand and seemed lost in silent meditation. + +The beautiful slave regarded him intently while he remained in this +position. His uniform kindness to her for so long a period had led +her to regard him with no slight attachment, but she knew that Aphiz +was at that very moment under close confinement within the palace +walls for his faithfulness in following and seeking her, and as she +was wholly his before, this but endeared him more earnestly to her. +All the splendor that Sultan Mahomet could offer her, the rank and +wealth, were all counted as naught in comparison with the tender +affection which had grown up with her from childhood. + +She awaited in silence the monarch's mood, but resolved to appeal to +his mercy, and beg him to release both Aphiz and herself, that they +might return together once more to their distant home. + +But alas! how utterly useless were all her efforts to this end. They +were received by the Sultan in that cold, irrascible spirit that +seems to form so large a share of the Turkish character. Her words +seemed only to arouse and fret him now, and she could see in his +looks of fixed determination and resolve that in the end he would +stop at no means to gratify his own wishes, and that perhaps, +Aphiz's life alone would satisfy his bitter spirit. It was a fearful +thought that he should be sacrificed for her sake, and she trembled +as she looked into the dark depths of his stern, cold eye, which had +never beamed on her thus before. + +She crept nearer to his side, and raising his hand within her own, +besought him to look kindly upon her again, to smile on her as he +used to do. It was a gentle, confiding and entreating appeal, and +for a moment the stern features of the monarch did relent, but it +was for an instant only his thoughts troubled him, and he was ill at +ease. + +In the meantime Aphiz Adegah found himself confined in a close +prison; the entire current of his feelings were changed by the +discovery he had made. Not having been able to exchange one word +with Komel, of course he could not possibly know aught of her real +situation further than appearances indicated by her presence there, +and he could not but tremble at the fear that naturally suggested +itself to his mind as to the relationship which she bore to the +Sultan--In this painful state of doubt, he counted the weary hours in +his lonely cell, and calmly awaited his impending fate, let it be +what it might. + +He knew the summary mode in which Turkish justice was administered; +he was not unfamiliar with the dark stories that were told of sunken +bodies about the outer bastion of the palace where its walls were +laved by the Bosphorus. He knew very well that an unfaithful wife or +rival lover was often sacrificed to the pride or revenge of any +titled or rich Turk who happened to possess the power to enable him +to carry out his purpose. Knowing all this he prepared his mind for +whatever might come, and had he been summoned to follow a guard +detailed to sink him in the sea, he would not have been surprised. +The idiot boy, half-witted as he was, seemed at once by some natural +instinct to divine the relationship that existed between Komel and +the prisoner, and suggested to her a plan of communication with him +by means of flowers. She saw the boy gather up a handful of loose +buds and blossoms from her lap several times, and observed him carry +them away. Curiosity led her to see what he did with then, and she +followed him as far as she might do consistently with the rules of +the harem, and from thence observed him scale a tree that overhung a +dark sombre-looking building, and toss the flowers through a small +window, into what she knew at once must be Aphiz's cell. + +In childhood, Aphiz and herself had often interpreted to each other +the language of flowers, and now hastening back to the luxuriant +conservatory of plants, she culled such as she desired, and +arranging them with nervous fingers, told in their fragrant folds +how tenderly she still loved him, and that she was still true to +their plighted faith. + +Entrusting this to the boy she indicated what he was to do with it, +while the poor half-witted being seemed in an ecstacy of delight at +his commission, and soon deposited the precious token inside the +window of Aphiz's prison. + +It needed no conjuror to tell Aphiz whom that floral letter came +from. The shower of buds and blossoms that had been thrown to him by +the boy had puzzled him, coming without any apparent design, +regularity, or purpose; but this, as he read its hidden mystery, was +all clear enough to him, he knew the hand that had to gathered and +bound them together. She was true and loved him still. + +Komel, in her earnest love, despite the rebuff she had already +received, determined once more to appeal to the Sultan for the +release of his prisoner. But the monarch had grown moody and +thoughtful, as we have seen, when he realized that his slave loved +another; and every word she now uttered in his behalf was bitterness +to his very soul. She only found that he was the more firmly set in +his design as to retraining her in the harem, if not to take the +life of the young mountaineer. + +The Sultan brooded over this state of affairs with a settled frown +upon his brow. Had it not been that Aphiz had saved his life by his +brave assistance at a critical moment, he would not have hesitated +one instant as to what he should do, for had it been otherwise he +would have ordered him to be destroyed as quickly as he would have +ordered the execution of any criminal.--But hardened and calloused as +he was by power, and self-willed as he was from never being thwarted +in his wishes, yet he found it difficult to give the order that +should sacrifice the life of one who had so gallantly saved him from +peril. + +At last the monarch seemed to have resolved upon some plan, whereby +he hoped to relieve himself from the dilemma that so seriously +annoyed him. He was most expert at disguises; indeed, it was often +his custom to walk the streets of his capital incog, or to ride out +unattended, in a plain citizen's dress, as we have seen, that he +might the better observe for himself those things concerning which +he required accurate information. It was then nothing new for him to +don the dress of an officer of the household guard; and in this +costume he visited Aphiz in his cell, representing himself to be the +agent of the Sultan. + +"I come as an agent of the Sultan," he said, as the turnkey +introduced him to the cell. + +"The Sultan is very gracious to remember' me; what is his will?" +asked the prisoner. + +"He has a proposition to offer you, to which, if you accede, you are +at once free to go from here." + +"And what are these terms?" asked Aphiz, with perfect coolness. + +"That you instantly leave Constantinople, never again to return to +it." + +"Alone?" + +"Except that he will fill a purse with gold for thee to help thee on +thy homeward way." + +"I shall never leave the city alone," replied the prisoner, with +firmness. + +"Is that your answer?" + +"As well thus perhaps as any way. I shall never leave this city +without Komel." + +"But if you remain it may cost you your life," continued the +stranger. + +"I do not fear death," replied the Circassian, with the utmost +coolness. + +"A painful and degrading death," suggested the agent, earnestly. + +"I care not. I have faced death in too many forms to fear him in +any." + +"Stubborn man!" continued the visiter, irritated in the extreme at +the cool decision and dauntless bravery of the prisoner, adding, +"you tempt your own fate by refusing this generous offer." + +"No fate can be worse than to be separated from her I love. If that +is to be done, then welcome death; for life without her would cease +to be desirable." + +"Do not be hasty in your decision." + +"I am all calmness," was the reply. + +"And shall I bear your refusal to leave the city, to the Sultan? +Weigh the matter well; you can return to your native land with a +purse heavy with gold, but if you remain you die." + +"You have then my plain refusal of the terms. Tell the Sultan for +me,"--Aphiz in his acuteness easily penetrated the monarch's +disguise,--"tell him I thank him heartily for the generous means that +he afforded me when I was poor and needy, and whereby I have been +supported in his capital so long. Tell him too that I forgive him +for this causeless imprisonment, and that if it be his will that I +should die, because I love one who has loved me from childhood, I +forgive him that also." + +"You will not reconsider this answer." + +"I am firm, and no casualty can alter my feelings, no threats can +alarm me." + +The visiter could not suppress his impatience at these remarks, but +telling Aphiz that if he repeated his answer to the Sultan he feared +that it would seal his fate forever, he left him once more alone. + +Aphiz, as we have said, knew very well who had visited him in his +cell, and now that he was gone he composed himself as best he could, +placing Komel's bouquet in his bosom and trying to sleep, for it was +now night. But he felt satisfied in his own mind that his worst +expectations would be realized ere long, for he had marked well the +expression of the Sultan's face, and he fell asleep to dream that he +had bidden Komel and life itself adieu. + +And while he, whom she loved so well, lay upon the damp floor of the +cell to sleep, Komel lounged on a couch of downy softness, and was +lulled to sleep by the playing of sweet fountains, and the gentle +notes of the lute played by a slave, close by her couch, that her +dreams might be sweet and her senses beguiled to rest by sweet +harmony. But the lovely girl forgot him not, and her dreams were of +him as her waking thoughts were ever full of him. + +What is there, this side of heaven, brighter than the enduring +constancy of woman? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PUNISHMENT OF THE SACK. + + +The sun was almost set, and the soft twilight was creeping over the +incomparable scenery that renders the coast of Marmora so beautiful; +the gilded spires of the oriental capital were not more brilliant +than the dimpled surface of the sea where it opened and spread away +from the mouth of the Bosphorus. The blue waters had robbed the +evening sky of its blushing tints, and seemed to revel in the +richness of its coloring.--It was at this calm and quiet hour that a +caique, propelled by a dozen oarsmen, shot out from the shore of the +Seraglio Point, and swept round at once with its prow turned towards +the open sea. In the stern at two dark, uncouth looking Turks, +between whom was a young man who seemed to be under restraint, and +in whom the reader would have recognized Aphiz, the Sultan's +prisoner. + +It was plain that the caique was bound on some errand of more than +ordinary interest, and many eyes from the shore were regarding it +curiously, as did also the various boat crews that met it on the +water. + +Still it held on its way steadily, propelled by the long, regular +stroke of the oarsmen over the half mile of blue water that +separates Europe and Asia at this point, sweeping as it went by, +lovely villages, mosques, minarets, and the dark cemeteries that +line the shores, until, a certain point having been gained, the +oarsmen at a signal from those in the stern, rested from their +labors, while the boat still glided on from the impetus it had +received. In a moment more, Aphiz was completely covered with a +large, stout canvas bag or sack, which was secured about him and +tied up. At one extremity was attached a heavy shot, and when these +preparations were completed, he was cast into the sea, sinking as +quickly from sight as a stone might have done. A few bubbles rose to +the surface where the sack had gone down, and all was over. The bows +of the caique were instantly turned towards the city, and the men +gave way as carelessly as though nothing uncommon had transpired. + +Aphiz had thus been made to suffer the penalty usually inflicted +upon certain crimes, and especially to the wives of such of the +Turks as suspected them of inconstancy, a punishment that is even to +this day common in Constantinople. The Sultan had reasoned that if +Komel knew Aphiz Adegah to be dead, she would after awhile recover +from the shock, and gradually forgetting him, receive his own regard +instead of that of the young mountaineer, as he would have her do +voluntarily; for he felt, as much as he coveted her favor, that he +could never claim her for a wife unless it was with her own consent +and free will. If he had not love her, he would have felt +differently, and would have commanded that favor which now would +lose its charms unless 'twas wooed and won. + +But we shall see how mistaken the monarch was in his selfish +calculations. + +Reasoning upon the grounds that we have named, the Sultan had +ordered Aphiz to be drowned in the Bosphorus, as we have seen, and +the deed was performed by the regular executioners of government. +The Sultan was supreme, and his orders were obeyed without question; +this being the case, Aphiz's fate caused no remark even among the +gossips. + +The few days that had transpired since Komel had regained her speech +and hearing, had of course taught her more in relation to her actual +situation and the character of those about her than she had been +able to gather by silent observation during her entire previous +confinement in the harem of the palace. + +She was aware that the Sultan was impetuous and self-willed, but she +could hardly bring her mind to believe that he would actually put in +practice such a piece of villany as should cost Aphiz his life. +Knowing as much as she did of his imperious and stern habits, she +did not believe him capable of such cold-blooded baseness. But no +sooner had the officers, sent to execute his sentence against the +innocent mountaineer, returned and announced the task as performed, +than Komel was summoned to the presence of the the Sultan. + +"I have sent for you, Komel," said the monarch, while he regarded +her intently as he spoke, "to tell you that Aphiz is dead." + +"Dead, excellency; do you say dead?" + +"Yes." + +"You do but jest with me, excellency," she said, trying in her +tremor to smile. + +"I rarely jest with any one and surely should not have sent for you +were I in that mood. He has gone to make food for the fishes at the +bottom of the Bosphorus." + +"Has his life been taken by your orders, excellency?" she asked, +with a pallid cheek and blanched lips. + +"You have said," answered the Sultan. + +"Ah! excellency, I am but a weak girl and can ill abide a jest. +Aphiz can have done nothing to receive your displeasure, and surely +you would not take his life without reason." + +"I had reason sufficient for me." + +"What was it, excellency?" + +"The fellow loved you, Komel." + +"O, sorrow me, sorrow me, that his love for should have been his +ending." + +The struggle in the beautiful girl's bosom for a moment was fearful. +It was like the rough and sudden blast that sweeps tempest--like over +a glassy lake and turns its calm waters into trembling waves and +dark shadows. She did not give way under the fearful news that she +hear; a counter current of feeling seemed to save her, and to bring +back the color once more to her lips, and cheeks, and to add +brilliancy to the large, lustrous eyes so peculiar to her race. All +this the Sultan marked well, and indeed was at a loss rightly to +understand these demonstrations. + +So quick and marked was the change that it puzzled the monarch, +though he read something still of its rightful character, for he had +known before the bitterness of a revengeful spirit, and bore upon +his breast, at that hour, the deep impression of a dagger's point, +where a Circassian slave, whom he had deprived of her child, had +attempted to stab him to the heart. And now as he looked upon Komel, +he thought he could read some such spirit in the expression of the +beautiful slave before him, and he was right! Dark thoughts seemed +to be struggling even in her gentle breast, when she realized that +Aphiz was no more, and that his murderer was before her. + +Nothing in reality could be more gentle than the loving disposition +of the slave. Her natural character was all tenderness and modest +diffidence, but she had now been touched at a point where she was +most sensitive. Aphiz, without the shadow of guilt, save that he was +true in his love to her, had been murdered in cold blood, and the +announcement of the fact by the Sultan had chilled every fountain of +tenderness in her bosom. She looked wistfully at the jewelled dagger +that hung in the monarch's girdle, and fearful thoughts were +thronging her brain. The Sultan little knew on how slender thread +his life hung at that moment, for a very slight blow from his +dagger, swiftly and truly given, would have revenged Aphiz in a +moment. + +"And what end do you propose to yourself that this deed has been +done?" she asked, after a few moments' pause, during which the +Sultan had regarded her most intently, and, if possible, with +increased interest, at the picture she now presented of startled and +spirited energy. + +"You told me, Komel, that you loved him, did you not?" he asked. + +"I did." + +"Can you see no reason now why he should not live, at least, in +Constantinople?" + +"None." + +"He had his choice, and was told that he might leave here in peace; +but he chose to stay and die." + +"And for his devotion to me you have killed him?" continued Komel, +bitterly. + +"Not for his devotion, but his stubbornness," said the Sultan. +"Come, Komel, smile once more. He is dead-time flies quickly on, and +he will soon be forgotten." + +"Never!" replied the slave, with startling energy. "You will find +that a Circassian's heart is not so easily moulded in a Turkish +shape!" + +The monarch bit his lip at the sarcasm of the remark, and as it, was +expressed with no lack of bitterness, it could not but cut him +keenly. Still preserving that calm self-possession which a full +consciousness of his power imparted, he smiled instead of frowning +upon her, and said: + +"You are heated now; to-morrow, or perhaps the next day, you may +come to me, and I trust that you will then be in a better humor than +at present." + +Komel bowed coldly at the intimation, while her expression told how +bitterly she felt towards him. + +A dark frown came over the Sultan's face at the same moment, and an +accurate reader of physiognomy would have detected the fear +expressed there that his violent purpose, as executed upon Aphiz, +had failed totally of success. + +Turning coldly away from him, the slave sought her own apartment in +the gorgeous palace, to mourn in silence and alone over the fearful +and bitter news she had just heard concerning one who was to her all +in all, and who had taken with him her heart to the spirit land. The +world, and all future time, looked to her like a blank, as though +overspread by one heavy cloud, that obliterated entirely and forever +the sight of that sun which had so long warmed her heart with its +genial rays. As we have already said, Komel lacked not for +tenderness of feeling. Her heart was gentle and susceptible; but +dashing now the tears from her eyes, she assumed a forced calmness, +and strove to reason with herself as she said, quietly, "We shall +meet again in heaven!" Humming some wild air of her native land, the +slave then tried to lose herself in some trifling occupation, that +she might partially forget her sorrows. + +Her flowers were not forgotten, nor her pet pigeons unattended. She +wandered amid the fragrant divisions of the harem, and threw herself +down by its bubbling jets and fountains as she had done before, but +not thoughtlessly. The spirit of Aphiz seemed to her to be ever by +her side, and she would talk to him as though he was actually +present, in soft and tender whispers, and sing the songs of their +native valley with low and witching cadence; and thus she was +partially happy, for the soul is where it loves, rather than where +it lives. From childhood she had been taught to believe the +Swedenborgian doctrine, of the presence of the spirits of those who +have gone before us to the better land; and she deemed, as we have +said, that Aphiz Adegah was ever by her side, listening to her, and +sympathizing with all she did and said. + +It is a happy faith, that the disembodied spirits of those whom we +have loved and respected here are still, though invisible, watching +over us with tender solicitude. Such a realization must be +chastening in its influence, for who would do an unworthy deed, +believing his every act visible to those eyes that he had delighted +to please on earth? And yet, could we but realize it, there is +always one eye, the Infinite and Supreme One, ever upon us, and +should we not be equally sensitive in our doings beneath his ever +present being? + +It was the character of Komel's belief as to the spirits of the +departed, that rendered her so calm and resigned, though the Sultan, +in his blindness, attributed it to the forgetfulness engendered by +time, and smiled to himself to think how quickly the fickle girl had +forgotten one whose ardent devotion to her cost him his life. "She +scarcely deserved this fidelity on his part," said the monarch, with +a dark frown, as the memory of the gallant service the young +Circassian had done him when he was beset by the Bedouins, flashed +across his mind, rendering even his hardened spirit, for a moment, +uneasy. "The difficulty, after all," he said to him himself, "is not +so much to die for one we love, as to find one worthy of dying for." +Shaking an extra dose of the powdered drug into the bowl of his +pipe, the blue smoke curled away in tiny clouds above his head, +while its narcotic effect soon lulled both mental and physical +faculties into a state of dreamy insensibility. + +What ardent spirits are to our countrymen, opium is in the East, +except, perhaps that the powerful drug is more exalting in its +stimulating influences, and less vile in its immediate effects; but +no less severe is it to hurry those who indulge in such dissipation, +with a broken constitution and ruined mental faculties to the grave. + +Komel seemed gradually to settle down to a quiet and even half +satisfied consciousness of her situation. True, she could not but +often sigh for her home and parents, but with her more settled +condition fresh spirits had come to her features, and renewed +energies were depicted in every movement of her graceful and lovely +form. Though constantly surrounded by a troop of slaves, chosen +solely for their personal beauty and the charms that made them excel +their sex generally, still she outshone them all, and that, too, +without the simplest effort to do so; and yet for all this, so sweet +was her native disposition, and so winning and gentle her spirit at +all times, that they loved her still as at first, without one +thought of envy or jealousy. + +So far as her companions were concerned, therefore, she could hardly +have been more happily situated than she was, and for their kindness +she strove to manifest the kind, affectionate promptings that +actuated her heart. She even joined them in many of their games and +sports, though most of her time was passed alone, save that the +idiot boy almost ever sought her out, and came and slept at her +side, or seemed to do so, only too much delighted when she showed +him any little, careful attention, and watching her when she did not +observe him, with an intensity that seemed strange in one who was +not supposed to be possessed of any actual reasoning powers, or +indeed of much brains at all. + +Having no mental occupation, the poor boy, who was, as far as his +physical developments went, a specimen of rare youthful beauty and +grace of form, employed a large portion of his time in such +exercises and feats of agility as a sort of animal instinct might +lead him to attempt, and thus Komel was often startled by suddenly +beholding him dangling by his feet from some lofty cypress, swinging +to and fro like a monkey; or to observe him turning a series of +summersets, in a broad circle, with such incredible swiftness as to +cause all distinctness of his form to be lost, producing a most +singular and magical appearance. Then, perhaps, after forming a +circle thus on the green sod he would suddenly plunge into its +midst, coil himself up like a snail, or put his head between his +feet, and thus go to sleep, or lie there as still as though he had +been a stone, for hours at a time. + +Thus, days and weeks passed on in the same routine of fairy-like +scenes, and the Sultan's slaves counted not the time that brought to +them but a never varying dull monotony of indolent luxuriance. They +had no intellectual pursuits or tastes, and therefore were but sorry +companions for one whose native intelligence was so prominent a +trait in her character. Thus it was, therefore, having no one with +whom she could truly and honestly sympathize, that Komel preferred +to whisper her thoughts to the birds and flowers, and to fancy that +Aphiz's spirit was near by, smiling upon her the while. What a +strange and dreamy life the Circassian was passing in the Sultan's +harem! + +Komel, it is true, mourned for her liberty, and what caged bird is +there that does not! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LOVER'S STRATAGEM. + + +It was morning in the East, and all things partook of the dewy +freshness of early days.--The busy din of the city was momentarily +increasing, and as the hours advanced, the broad sunlight gilded all +things far and near. It was at this bright and exhilarating hour +that two persons sat together on the silky grass that caps the +summit of Bulgarlu. They had wandered hither, seemingly, to view the +splendid scenery together, and were regarding it with earnest eyes. + +How beautiful looked the Turkish capital below them! From Seraglio +Point, seven miles down the coast of Roumelia, the eye followed a +continued wall, and from the same point twenty miles up the +Bosphorus on either shore, stretched one crowded and unbroken city, +with its star-shaped bay in the midst, floating a thousand maritime +crafts, prominent among which were the Turkish men-of-war flaunting +their blood-red flags in the breeze. Far away over the Sea of +Mannora their eyes rested on a snow-white cloud at the edge of the +horizon. It was Mount Olympus, the fabulous residence of the gods. +In this far-off scene, too, lay Bithynia, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, +and the entire scene of the apostle Paul's travels in Asia Minor. +Then their eyes wandered back once more and rested now on the old +Fortress of the Seven Towers, where fell the emperor Constantine, +and where Othman the second was strangled. + +Between the Seven Towers and the Golden Horn, were the seven hills +of ancient Stamboul, the towering arches of the aqueduct of Valens +crossing from one to another, and the swelling domes and gold-tipped +minarets of a hundred imperial mosques crowning their summits. And +there too was Seraglio Point, a spot of enchanting loveliness, +forming a tiny cape as it projects towards the opposite continent +and separates the bay from the Sea of Marmora; its palaces buried in +soft foliage, out of which gleam gilded cupolas and gay balconies +and a myriad of brilliant and glittering domes. And then their eyes +ran down the silvery link between the two seas, where lay fifty +valleys and thirty rivers, while an imperial palace rests on each of +the loveliest spots, the entire length, from the Black Sea to +Marmora. + +Such was the beautiful and classic scenery that lay outspread before +the two young persons who had seated themselves on the summit of +Bulgarlu, and if its charms had power over the casual observer, how +much more beautiful did it appear to these two who saw it through +each other's eyes. A closer observation would have shown that one of +the couple was a female, for some purpose seeking to disguise her +sex; he by her side was evidently her lover, to meet whom, she had +hazarded this exposure beyond the city walls at so early an hour. + +"Ah, dearest Zillah'," said he who sat by the maiden's side, "I +would that we lived beyond the sea from whence, come those ships +that bear the stars and stripes, for I am told that in America, +religious belief is no bar to the union of heart, as it is in the +Sultan's domains." + +"Nor should it be so here, Capt. Selim," she answered, "did our +noble Sultan understand the best good of his people. May the Prophet +open his eyes." + +"Though I love thee far better than all else on the earth, Zillah, +still I cannot abjure my Christian faith, and, like a hypocrite, +pretend to be a true follower of Mahomet. At best, we can be but a +short time here on earth, and if I was unfaithful in my holy creed, +how could I hope at last to meet thee, dearest, in paradise?" + +"I do love thee but the more dearly," she replied, "for thy +constancy to the Christian faith, and though my father has reared me +in the Mussulman belief, still I am no bigot, as thou knowest." + +Zillah was a child in years--scarcely sixteen summers had developed +their power in her slight but beautiful form, and yet it was rounded +so nearly to perfection, so slightly and gracefully full, as to +captivate the most fastidious eye. Like every child of these Turkish +harems, she was beautiful, with feature of faultless regularity, and +eyes that were almost too large and brilliant. + +He who was her companion, and whom she had called Capt. Selim, was +the same young officer whom the reader met in an early chapter at +the slave bazaar, and who bid to the extent of his means for Komel, +who was at last borne away by the Sultan's agent. He was well formed +and handsome, his undress uniform showing him to be attached to the +naval service of the Sultan. He might be four or five years her +senior, but though he appeared thus young, he seemed to have many +years of experience, with an unflinching steadiness of purpose +denoted in his countenance, showing him fitted for stern emergencies +calling for promptness and daring in the hour of danger. The story +of their love was easily told. While young Selim was yet a +lieutenant in the Sultan's navy, a caique containing Zillah and the +rich of Bey, her father, had met with an accident in the Bosphorus +while close by a boat which he commanded, and by which accident +Zillah was thrown into the water, and but for the officer's prompt +delivery would doubtless have been drowned. But with a stout +purpose, and being a daring swimmer, he bore her safely to the +shore. + +With the suddenness of oriental passion they loved at once, but +their after intercourse was necessarily kept a secret, since they +knew full well that the Bey would at once punish them both if he +should discover them, for how could a Musselman tolerate a +Christian, and to this sect the young officer was known to belong. +They had met often thus, and by the ingenious device adopted in +Zillah's dress had avoided detection. But these stolen meetings, so +sweet, were fearfully dangerous to the young officer, the punishment +of his offence, if discovered, being death. + +Finally, on one of these stolen excursions, Zillah was detained so +long as to cause notice and surprise in the harem, and when she +returned she was reprimanded by the Bey, who gave orders, that for +the future she should not be permitted to leave the garden walks of +the palace, and the poor girl pined like a caged wild bird. The +latticed balcony of Zillah's apartment, like many of the Turkish +houses, overhung the Bosphorus, so that a boat might lie beneath it +within a distance to afford easy means of communication, and thus +Selim still was able at times, though with the utmost caution, to +hold converse with her he loved so well. + +But Zillah's susceptible and gentle disposition could not sustain +her present treatment. She loved the young officer so earnestly and +truly that it was misery to be deprived of his society as was now +the case, for even their partial intercourse had been suspended +since the Bey had discovered his daughter talking to some one, and +he had forbidden her to ever enter the apartment again that overhung +the water. + +Thus confined and crossed in her feelings, Zillah grew sick, and +paler and paler each day, until the old Bey, now thoroughly aroused, +was extremely anxious lest she should be taken to the Prophet's +house. The best sages and doctors to be found were summoned, and +constantly attended the drooping flower, but alas! to no effect. +Their art was not cunning enough to discover the true cause of her +malady, and they could only shake their heads, and strike their +beards ominously to the inquiries of the anxious old Bey, her +father. + +The cold-hearted Bey never dreamed of the real cause of her illness. +True, he had suspected her of being too unguarded in her habits, +and had laid restrictions upon her liberty, but as to disappointment +in love being the cause of her malady, indeed it did not seem to his +heartless disposition that love could produce such a result. She was +perhaps the only being in the world who had ever caused him to +realize that he had a heart. After thinking long and much upon the +illness of his child, he resolved to seek her confidence, and +turning his steps toward the harem, he found his drooping and fading +flower reclining upon a velvet couch. Seating himself by her side, +he parted the hair from her fair, young brow, and told his child how +dearly he loved her, and if aught weighed upon her mind he besought +her to open her lips and speak to him. Zillah loved her father, +though she was not blind to his many faults. + +"Dear father, what shall I say to thee?" + +"Speak thy whole heart, my child." + +"Nay, but it would only displease thee, my father, for me to do so." + +"Tell me, Zillah, if thou knowest what it is that sickens thee, and +robs thy cheek of its bloom?" + +"Father," she answered, with a sigh, "my heart is breaking with +unhappy love." + +"Love!" + +"Ay, I love Selim, he who saved me from drowning in the Bosphorus." + +"The Sultan's officer?" + +"Yes, father, Capt. Selim." + +"Why, child, that young rascal is a notorious dog of a Christian. Do +you know it?" + +"I know he believes not in the faith of our fathers," she answered, +modestly. + +The old Turk bit his lips with vexation, but dared not vent the +passion he felt in the delicate ear of his sick child. Indeed he had +only to look into her pale face to turn the whole current of his +anger into pity at the danger he read there. + +The old Bey knew the spirit that Zillah had inherited both from +himself and from her mother, and that she was fixed in her purpose. +She frankly told him that she could never be happy unless Selim was +her husband. The father was most sadly annoyed. He referred to the +best physicians in the city to know if a malady such as his daughter +suffered under, could prove fatal, and they assured him that this +had frequently been the case. One, however, to whom he applied, +informed the Bey that he knew of a Jewish leech who was famed for +curing all maladies arising from depression, physical or mental, and +if he desired it, he would send the Jew to his house on the +subsequent day, when he would say if he could do her any good as it +regarded her illness. + +Much as the Mussulman despised the race, still, in the hope of +benefiting his child by the man's medical skill, he desired the +Armenian physician to send the Jew, as he proposed, on the following +day, and paying the heavy fee that these leeches know so well how to +charge the rich old Turks, the Bey departed once more to his palace. + +At the hour appointed, the Armenian physician despatched the Jewish +doctor to the Bey's gates, where he was admitted, and received with +as much respect as the Turk could bring his mind to show towards +unbelievers, and the business being properly premised, the father +told the Jew how his daughter was affected, and asked if he might +hope for her recovery. + +"With great care and cunning skill, perhaps so," said the Jew, from +out his overgrown beard. + +"If this can be accomplished through thy means, I make thee rich for +life," said the Bey. + +"We can but try," said the Jew, "and hope for the best. Lead me to +thy daughter." + +The Bey conducted the leech to his daughter's apartment, and bidding +her tell freely all her pains and ills, left the Jew to study her +case, while he retired once more to silent converse with himself. + +"You are ill," said the Jew, addressing Zillah, while he seated +himself and rested his head upon his staff. + +"Yes, I am indeed." + +"And yet methinks no physical harm is visible in thy person. The +pain is in the heart?" + +"You speak truly," said Zillah, with a sigh--"I am very unhappy." + +"You love?" + +"I do." + +"And art loved again?" + +"Truly, I believe so." + +"Then, whencefore art thou unhappy; reciprocal love begets not +unhappiness?" + +"True, good leech; but he whom I love so well is a Christian, and I +can hold no communication with him, much less even hope to be his +wife." + +"Do you love him so well that you would leave home, father, +everything, for him?" asked the Jew. + +"Alas! it would be hard to leave my father but still am I so wholly +his, I would do even so." + +"Then may you be happy yet," said he, who spoke to her, as he tossed +back the hood of his gaberdine, and removed the false hair that he +wore, presenting the features of young Selim, whom she loved! + +"How is this possible?" she said, between her sobs and smiles of +joy; "my father told me that the Armenian recommended you for your +skill in the healing art." + +"He is my friend, the man who taught me my religion, my everything, +and the only confidant I have in all Constantinople. To him I told +the grief of my heart at our separation; by chance your father +called on him for counsel; he knew the Bey, and his mind suggested +that I was the true physician whom you needed, and fabricating the +story of my profession, he sent me hither." + +The fair young girl gazed at him she loved, and wept with joy, and +with her hands held tremblingly in his own, Selim told her of a plan +he had formed for their escape from the city to some distant land +where they might live together unmolested and happy in each other's +society. He explained to her that he should tell her father that it +was necessary for him to administer certain medicines to her beneath +the rays of the moon, and that while she was strolling with him thus +the water's edge, he would have a boat ready and at a favorable +moment jumping into this, they would speed away. + +The moments flew with fearful speed, and pressing her tenderly to +his heart, the pretended Jew had only time to resume his disguise +when the Bey entered. He saw in the face of his child a color and +spirit that had not been there for months before, and delighted, he +turned to the Jew to know if he had administered any of his cunning +medicines, and being told that a small portion of the necessary +article had been given, was overjoyed at the effect. + +Being of a naturally superstitious race, the Turk heard the Jew's +proposition as it regarded the administering of his next dose of +medicine beneath the calm rays of the moon in the open air, with +satisfaction; for had he not already worked a miracle upon his +child? He was told that by administering the medicine once or twice +at the proper moment beneath the midnight rays of the moon, he +should doubtless be able to effect a perfect cure. + +Satisfied fully of what he had seen and heard, he dismissed the +pretended Jew with a heavy purse of gold, and bade him choose his +own time, telling him also that his palace gates should ever be open +to him. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE SERENADE. + + +Beautiful as a poet's fancy can picture, is the seraglio, a fitting +home for the proud Turkish monarch, gemmed with gardens, fantastic +palaces, and every variety of building and tree on its gentle slope, +descending so gracefully towards the sea, spreading before the eye +its towers, domes, and dark spots of cypresses like a sacred +division of the city of Constantinople, as indeed it is to the eye +of the true believer. + +The Sultan's household were removed at his will from the Valley of +Sweet Waters hither and back again, as fancy might dictate. Thus +Komel had met her lover Aphiz Adegah here before his sentence; and +here she was now, still queen of its royal master's heart, still the +fairest creature that shone in the Sultan's harem. Every luxury and +beauty that ingenuity could devise or wealthy purchase, surrounded +her with oriental profusion. Still left entirely to herself, the +same occupation employed her time, of tending flowers and toying +with beautiful birds. Sometimes the Sultan would come and sit by her +side, but he found that the wound he had given was not one to heal +so quickly as he had supposed, and that the Circassian cherished the +memory of Aphiz as tenderly as ever. + +The idiot boy, almost the only person in whom she seemed to take any +real interest, still followed her footsteps hither and thither, now +toying with some pet of the gardens, a parrot or a dog, now +performing most incredible feats of legerdemain, running off upon +his hands, with his feet in a perpendicular position, to a distance, +and coming back again by a series of summersets, until suddenly +gathering his limbs and body together like a ball, he went off +rolling like a helpless mass down some gentle slope, and having +reached the bottom, would lie there as if all life were gone, for +the hour together, yet always so managing as to keep one eye upon +Komel nearly all the while. + +The Circassian loved the poor half-witted boy, for love begets love, +and the lad had seemed to love her from the first moment they had +met in the Sultan's halls, since when they had been almost +inseparable. + +It was on a fair summer's afternoon, that the Sultan, strolling in +the flower gardens of the palace, either by design or accident, came +upon a spot where Komel was half reclining upon one of the soft +lounges that were strewn here and there under tiny latticed pagodas, +to shelter the occupant from the sun. While yet a considerable way +off, the Turk paused to admire his slave as she reclined there in +easy and unaffected gracefulness, apparently lost in a day dream. +She was very beautiful there all by herself, save the half-witted +boy, who seemed to be asleep now, away out on the projecting limb of +a cypress tree that nearly overhung the spot, and where he had +coiled himself up, and managed to sustain his position upon the limb +by some unaccountable means of his own. + +The Sultan drew quietly nearer until he was close by her side before +she discovered him, when starting from the reverie that had bound +her so long, she half rose out of respect for the monarch's +presence, but no smile clothed her features; she welcomed him not by +greeting of any kind. + +"What dreams my pretty favorite about, with her eyes open all the +while?" asked the Sultan. + +"How knew you that I dreamed?" + +"I read it in your face. It needs no conjuror to define that, +Komel." + +"Would you know of what I was thinking?" + +"It was my question, pretty one." + +"Of home--of my poor parents, and of my lost Aphiz," she answered, +bitterly. + +"I have told thee to forget those matters, and content thyself here +as mistress of my harem." + +"That can never be; my heart to-day is as much as ever among my +native hills." + +"Well, Komel, time must and will change you, at last. We are not +impatient." + +Had the monarch rightly interpreted the expression of her face at +this moment, he would have understood how deeply rooted was her +resolve, at least, so far as he was concerned, and that she bitterly +despised the murderer of Aphiz, and in this spirit only could she +look upon the proud master of the Turkish nation. He mistook Komel's +disposition and nature, in supposing that she would ever forgive or +tolerate him. He did not remember how unlike her people she had +already proved herself. He did not realize that his high station, +his wealth, the pomp and elegance that surrounded his slave, were +looked upon by her only as the flowers that adorn the victim of a +sacrifice. Having never been thwarted in his will and purpose, he +had yet to learn that such a thing could be accomplished by a simple +girl. + +As the Sultan turned an angle in the path that led towards the +palace, he was met by one of the eunuch guards, who saluted him +after the military style with his carbine, and marched steadily on +in pursuance of his duty. The monarch did not even lift his eyes at +the guard's salute--his thoughts were uneasy, and his brow dark with +disappointment. + +It was but a few hours subsequent to the scene which we have just +described, that Komel was again seated in the seraglio gardens on +the gentle slope where it curves towards the sea. She had wandered +beneath the bright stars and silvery moon as far as it was prudent +for her to do, and cleft only the narrow path trod by the silent +guard between her and the wall of the seraglio. The hour was so late +that stillness reigned over the moon-lit capital, and the place was +as silent as the deep shadows of night. The half-witted boy had +followed her steps by swinging himself from tree to tree, until now +he was close by the spot where she sat, though lost to sight among +the thick foliage of the funereal cypress. + +Komel was thinking of the strange vicissitudes of her life, of her +lost lover, of the dear cottage where she was born, and the happy +home from which she had been so ruthlessly torn by violent hands. It +was an hour for quiet thoughtfulness, and her innocent bosom heaved +with almost audible motion as it realized the scene and her own +memories. She sat and looked up at those bright lamps hung in the +blue vault above her, until her eyes ached with the effort, and now +the train of thoughts in which she had indulged, at last started the +pearly drops upon her check, and dimmed her eyes. It was not often +that she gave way to tears, but her thoughts, the scene about her, +and everything, seemed to have combined to touch her tenderest +sensibilities. + +In this mood, breathing the soft and gentle night breeze, she +gradually lost her consciousness, and fell asleep as quietly as a +babe might have done in its cradle, and presented a picture as pure +and innocent. + +She dreamed, too, of home and all its happy associations. Once more, +in fancy, she was by her own cottage door; once more she breathed +her native mountain air, once more sat by the side of Aphiz, her +loved, dearly loved companion. Ah! how her dimpled cheeks were +wreathed in smiles while she slept; how happy and unconscious was +the beautiful slave. And now she seems to hear the song of her +native valley falling upon her ear as Aphiz used to sing it. Hark! +is that delusion, or do those sounds actually fall upon her waking +ear? Now she rouses, and like a startled fawn listens to hear from +whence come those magic notes, and by whom could they be uttered. +She stood electrified with amazement. + +And still there fell upon her ear the song of her native hills, +breathed in a soft, low chant, to the accompaniment of a guitar, and +in notes that seemed to thrill her very soul while she listened. + +They came evidently from beyond the seraglio wall, and from some +boatman on the river. Then a sort of superstitious awe crept over +the slave as she remembered that it was in these very waters that +Aphiz had been drowned. Had his spirit come back to sing to her the +song they had so often sung together? Thus she thought while she +listened, and still the same sweet familiar notes came daintily over +the night air to her ears. The only spot that commanded a view +beyond the wall was occupied by the sentinel, and Komel could not +gratify the almost irresistible desire to satisfy herself with her +own eyes from whence these well remembered notes came. It was either +Aphiz's spirit, or the voice of one born and bred among her native +hills--of this she felt assured. + +So marked was her excitement, and so peculiar her behaviour, that +the guard seemed at last aroused to take notice of the affair, and +in his ignorance of the circumstances, presumed that the serenader, +who could be seen in a small boat on the river from the spot where +he stood, was attempting some intrigue with the Sultan's people, and +knowing well the object of his being placed there was to prevent +such things, he took particular note of both the slave and the +serenader for many minutes, until at last, satisfied of the +correctness of his surmise, he resolved to gain for himself some +credit with his officer, by making an example of the venturesome +boatman, whoever he might be. + +Where the sentinel stood, as we have said, he could command a +perfect view of the spot from whence the song came, and also discern +the serenader himself. He saw him, too, pull the little egg-shell +caique in which he sat still nearer the wall of the seraglio. Komel, +too, had observed the guard, and now perceived that it was evident +by his actions that he saw some tangible form from whence came that +dear song; and as she saw him deliberately raise and aim his carbine +towards that direction, she could not suppress an involuntary scream +as she beheld the Turkish guard preparing to shoot probably some +native of her own dear valley. + +There had been another though silent observer of this scene, and as +he heard the cry from Komel's lips, he dropped himself from the tree +under which the sentry stood, right upon his shoulders, bearing him +to the ground, while the contents of the carbine were cast into the +air harmlessly. The half-witted boy had destroyed the aim, and the +alarm given by the report of his carbine enabled the boatman, +whoever he was, to make good his escape at once. The enraged guard +turned to vent his anger upon the cause of his failure to kill the +boatman, but when he beheld the half-witted being gazing up at the +stars as unconcernedly as though nothing had happened, he remembered +that the person of the boy was sacred. + +With a suppressed oath the guard resumed his weapon, and paced along +the path that formed his post. + +As soon as the excitement attendant upon the scene we have related +had subsided, Komel once more turned in wonder to recall those sweet +notes, so endeared to her by a thousand associations, and to wonder +from whom and whence they came. Was it possible that some dear +friend from home had discovered her prison, her gilded cage, and +that those notes were intended for her ear, or had the singer, by +some miraculous chance, come hither and uttered those notes +thoughtlessly? Thus conjecturing and surmising, Komel scarcely +closed her eyes all night, and when she did so, it was to live over +in her dreams the scenes we have referred to, and to seem to hear +once more those thrilling and tender notes of her far off home. Then +she seemed once more to behold the Turk taking his deadly aim, and +the idiot boy dropping from the tree to frustrate his murderous +intention, and throwing the guard by his weight to the ground; and +then the imaginary report of the carbine would again arouse her, to +fall asleep and dream once more. + +During the whole of the day that followed she could think of nothing +but that strange serenade; she even thought of the possibility of +her father having traced her hither, and sung that song to ascertain +if she were there, and then she wondered that she had not thought on +time instant to reply to it, and resolved on the subsequent evening +to watch if the song should be repeated, resolving that if this was +the case, to respond to its notes come from whom they might. And +with this purpose, a little before the same hour, she repaired +thither with her light guitar hung by a silken cord by her neck. + +But in vain did she listen and watch for the song to be repeated. +All was still on those beautiful waters, and no sound came upon the +ear save the distant burst of delirious mirth from some opium shop +where the frequenters had reached a state of wild and noisy +hilarity, under the influence of the intoxicating drug. The +half-witted boy seemed to comprehend her wishes, and already with a +leap that would have done credit to a greyhound, had thrown himself +on the top of the seraglio wall on the sea side, and sat there, +watching first Komel, and then the water beneath the point. + +Despairing at last of again hearing the song, she lightly struck the +strings of her guitar, and thus accompanied, sung the song that she +had heard the previous night. The boy recognized the first note of +the air, and springing to his feet, peered off into the shadows upon +the water, supposing they came from thence; but seeing by a glance +that it was the slave who sung, he dropped from the wall and crept +quietly to her side. Before the song was ended he lay down at her +feet in a state apparently of dormancy, though his eyes, peering +from beneath one of his arms, were fixed upon a cluster of stars +that shone the heavens above him. + +The bell from an English man-of-war that lay but an arrow's shot +off, had sounded the middle watch before Komel left the spot where +she had hoped once more to hear those to her enchanting sounds. She +arose and walked away with reluctant steps from the place towards +the palace, leaving the idiot boy by himself. But scarcely had she +gone from sight, before he jumped to his feet, leaped once more to +the top of the wall, looked off with apparent earnestness among the +shipping and along the shore of the sparkling waters, where the moon +lay in long rays of silver light upon it, and then dropping once +more to the ground, came to the spot where Komel had sat, and lying +down there, slept, or seemed to do so. + +Here Komel came night after night, but the song was no more +repeated. Either the sentry's shot had effectually frightened away +the serenader, or else he had not come hither with any fixed object +connected with his song. In either case the poor girl felt unhappy +and disappointed in the matter, and her companions saw a cloud of +care upon her fair face. The Sultan, too, marked this, and seemed to +wonder that time did not heal the wounded spirit of his slave. His +kindly endeavors to please and render her content bore no fruit of +success. She avoided him now; the feeling of gratitude that she had +at first entertained towards him, had given way to one of deep but +silent hatred. + +The monarch could read as much in her face whenever they chanced to +meet, and the feelings of tenderness which he had entertained for +her were also changing, and he felt that he should soon exercise the +right of a master if he could make no impression upon the beautiful +Circassian as a lover. + +"You treat me with coldness, Komel," he said to her, reproachfully. + +"Our actions are only truthful when they speak the language of the +heart," replied she. + +"You forget my forbearance." + +"I forget nothing, but remember constantly too much," she replied. + +"It may be, Komel, that you do not remember on thing, which it is +necessary to recall to you mind. You are my slave!" + +Leaving the Sultan and his household, we will turn once more to +Capt. Selim, and see with what success he treated his fair patient, +the old Bey's daughter, in his assumed character of a Jewish leech. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE ELOPEMENT. + + +The palace of the old Bey, Zillah's father, was one of those gilded, +pagoda-like buildings, which, in any other climate or any other spot +in the wide world, would have looked foolish, from its profusion of +latticed external ornaments, and the filagree work that covered +every angle and point, more after the fashion of a child's toy than +the work most appropriate for a dwelling house. But here, on the +banks of the Bosphorus, in sight of Constantinople, and within the +dominion of that oriental people, it was appropriate in every +belonging, and seemed just what a Turkish palace should be. + +The building extended so over the water that its owner could drop at +once into his caique and be pulled to almost any part of the city, +and, like all the people who live along the river's banks, he was +much on its surface. Coiled away, a la Turk, with his pipe well +supplied, a pull either to the Black Sea, or that of Marmora, with a +dozen stout oarsmen, was a delightful way of passing an afternoon, +returning as the twilight hour settled over the scene. + +It was perhaps a week subsequent to the time when Selim and Zillah +met at the Bey's house, availing himself of the liberty so fully +extended by her father, Selim, in his disguise as a Jew, again +appeared at the palace gate, where he was received with a request +and consideration that showed to him he was expected, and at his +request he was conducted to the Bey's presence, and by him, again to +the apartment where his daughter was reposing.--The pretended Jew +followed his guide with the most profound sobriety, handling sundry +vials and jars he had brought with him, and upon which the Bey +looked with not a little interest and respect, as he strove to +decipher the cabalistic lines on each. + +"Have you found any improvement in the malady that affects your +child?" asked the Jew, pouring a part of the contents of one vial +into another, and holding it up against the light, exhibiting a +phosphorescent action in the vial. + +"By the beard of the prophet, yes; a marked and potent change has +your wonderful medicines produced. But what use do you make of that +strange compound that looks like liquid fire?" + +"'Tis a strange compound," answered the other, seeming to regard the +mixture with profound interest; "very strange. Perhaps you would +hardly believe it, but the contents of that vial cast into the +Bosphorus, would kill every fish below your latticed windows to the +Dardanelles." + +"Allah Akbar!" exclaimed the credulous Turk, holding up both hands. +"And this medicine, so powerful, do you intend for one so delicate +as she?" he asked, pointing to Zillah, who was reclining upon a pile +of cushions. + +"I do; but with that judicious, care that forms the art of our +profession. So peculiar is the means that I shall operate with +to-night, that should it harm her, it would equally affect me. But I +have studied her case well, and you will find when yonder fair moon +now rising from behind the hills of Scutari shall sink again to +rest, your daughter will be well." + +"Then will I stop and watch the wonderful operation of thy drugs." + +"Nay, they must be applied in the open air and beneath the moon's +rays, with none to observe, save the stars." + +"Then may the Prophet protect you. I will leave my child in your +care. Shall I do this, Zillah?" + +"Father, yes, with thy blessing first," said the fair girl; for well +she knew, that the medicine which was to cure her, would carry her +away from his side and her childhood home, perhaps forever. + +The Bey pressed his lips to her forehead, and with a curious glance +at the strange jars and vials, which the pretended Jew had +displayed, he turned away and left them together. + +"Ah, dearest Zillah," said Selim, as soon as he found himself alone +with her he loved, "all is prepared as I promised thee, and at +midnight we will leave this palace forever." + +"Alas! dear Selim, my heart is ever with thee, but it is very sad to +turn away from these scenes among which I have grown up from +infancy; but full well I know I can never be thine otherwise." + +"In time your father will be reconciled to us both, Zillah, and then +we may return again," said the disguised lover, striving to +re-assure the gentle girl, whose heart almost failed her. + +"But what a fearful risk you incur even now," she said; "your +disguise once discovered, Selim, and to-morrow's sun would never +shine upon you; your life would be forfeited." + +"Fear not for me, dearest. I am well versed in the part I am to +play. But come, it is already time for us to walk forth in the +moonlight. Clothe thyself thoughtfully, Zillah, for your dress must +be such as will suffice you for many days, since we must fly far +away over the sea, beyond the reach of pursuit." + +"I will be thoughtful," answered the gentle girl, retiring a few +moments from his side. + +They wandered on among the fairy-like scenes of the garden, where +the trees overhung the Bosphorus, repeating once more the story of +their love, and renewing those oft-repeated promises of eternal +fidelity, until nearly midnight, when Selim suddenly started as he +heard the low, muffled sound of oars. He paused but for a moment, +then hastily seizing upon Zillah's arm, he urged her to follow him +quickly to the water's edge. Throwing a heavy, long military cloak +about her, he completely screened her from all eyes, and placing her +in the stern of the boat that came for him, with a wave of the hand +he bade his men give way, while he steered the caique towards a +craft that lay up the river towards the city, and soon disappeared +among the forest of masts and shipping that lay at anchor off +Seraglio Point. + +They had made good their escape at least for the present, and were +safe on board the ship commanded by Captain Selim. The very boldness +of his scheme would prevent him from being discovered, and neither +feared that the ship of the Sultan would be searched at any event, +to find the lost daughter of the old Bey. + +On the subsequent day the old Bey summoned his royal master to +assist him to find his child. The Armenian doctor, who recommended +the pretended Jew, was called upon to explain matters, but, to the +astonishment of the Turk, he denied in toto any knowledge of what he +referred to, declared before the Sultan that he had neither offered +to send any one to the Bey's house, nor had he done so, nor did he +know a single Jewish leech in the capital. + +Confounded at such a flat contradiction, and having not the least +evidence to rebut it, the Turk was obliged to withdraw from the +royal presence discomfited, while the Armenian doctor retired to his +own dwelling, comforting himself, in the first place, if he had +uttered a falsehood it was in a good cause; and next, that he held +it no crime to deceive or to cheat an infidel, and ever one knows +how little love exists between the Turks and Armenians, at +Constantinople. + +The truth was that the Armenian had long known Selim, had taught him +his religion, and, had instructed him much at various times in such +matters as it behooved him to know, and which had placed him at an +early age far above many others in the service, who had all sorts of +favoritism to advance their interests. He knew of Selim's love for +the old Bey's daughter, and when chance led the father to consult +him about his child, the idea of sending Selim to his house, as he +succeeded in doing, flashed across his mind, and he proposed it to +the father, as we have seen. + +Selim's Armenian friend repaired on board his vessel as soon as he +was released from the presence of the Sultan, upon the inquiry to +which we have alluded. It would have gone hard with him had it not +been that his skill in his profession had long since recommended him +to the Sultan, in whose household he frequently appeared. Selim +greeted him kindly, and told him he was indebted to him for his +future happiness in life. + +"We have been so successful in this plan," said the Armenian, "that +I have half a mind to try one of a similar, but far bolder +character, if you will assist me." + +"With all my heart. What is it you propose?" asked Captain Selim. + +"In my visits to the Sultan's harem, I have more than once been +brought--" + +"Is the attempt to be made upon the Sultan's harem?" interrupted +Selim. + +"Be patient and hear my story." + +"I will, but this must be a bold business." + +"I say, in my visits to the Sultan's household, I have often been +brought in contact with one whom I know to be very unhappy, and who +is detained there against her will. She is queen, I think, not only +of the harem, but also of its master's heart, her beauty and bearing +being of surpassing loveliness. Her history, too, as far as I can +learn, is one of romantic interest, and she pines to return to her +home in Circassia, from whence she was violently torn. At first when +she came here, I was called upon to treat her case, for she had +lately recovered from some severe sickness, and I then saw how +tenderly the Sultan regarded her. Well, at that time she was both +deaf and dumb, but--" + +"Hold! do you say she was deaf and dumb?" asked Selim, as if he +recalled some memory of the past. + +"I did." + +"Strange," mused the officer; "it must be the slave that I bid for +in the market." + +And so indeed it was the same beautiful being who had so earnestly +attracted him, as the reader will remember, when the Sultan's agent, +Mustapha, overbid him in the bazaar. + +"You know her then?" asked the Armenian. + +"I think so; but go on." + +"Well, I am satisfied that she pines to be released, and from +hearing her story, and tending her in a short illness, I have become +deeply interested in her. You know, Selim, that I hate the Turks in +my heart, and if I can by any means rob the Sultan of this girl, and +restore her to her home, I would risk much to do so." + +"The very idea looks to me like an impossibility," answered the +young officer. + +"Nothing is impossible where will and energy combine." + +"What is your plan?" + +"You have resolved to fly from here, you tell me at least, by +to-morrow night." + +"Yes. I have purchased that skimmer of the waters, the Petrel, and I +shall sail at that time with Zillah, for the Russian coast, or +Trebizond on the south of the Black Sea." + +"Very good; now why not take this gentle slave of the Sultan's along +with you?" + +"But how to get possession of her? that's the question," answered +Selim. + +"You know I have free access to the palace, and could easily inform +her of any plan for her release." + +"One half of the trouble is over then at once, if she will second +your efforts." + +"Well, I will visit the harem this very day. I have good excuse for +doing so, and will tell Komel--" + +"Komel!" interrupted Selim. + +"Yes, that it the slave's name; why, what makes you look so +thoughtful?" + +"I do not know," said Selim; "the name sounded familiar to me at +first, but go on." + +"Well, I will tell her what is proposed, and get her advice as to +any mode that she may think best to adopt in regard to her +escaping." + +"But do you think she would prefer to go with me to an uncertain +home, to the luxury she enjoys?" + +"Of course you will take her to her home on the Circassian coast. +That must be the understanding, and I will remunerate you for the +extra trouble and expense." + +"Never!" said the officer, honestly. "These Turks have paid me well +for my services, and I have already a purse heavy with gold, after +purchasing the Petrel, and if need be, I can make her pay." + +"Have it as you will; it matters not to me, so that she reaches her +home, and the Turk is foiled." + +"I am a rover myself, and the Circassian coast would suit me quite +as well as any other for a season. From whence does she come?" + +"Anapa." + +"Anapa? that shall be my destination," said Selim, at once. + +"Hark! what is that?" asked the physician, turning to the back part +of the cabin. + +"Nothing, but a young friend of mine; he's asleep, I think." + +"Asleep; why he's moving, and must have overheard us, I am sure." + +"No fear." + +"But what we have said is no more nor less than downright treason." + +"That's true." + +"And would cost us both our heads if it should be reported." + +"He wont report it if he has heard it; he bears the Sultan no +good-will, I can assure you, for it is only a day or two since that +he was sentenced to death by him for some trivial cause." + +"What was it?" asked the Armenian. + +"Getting a peep at some of his favorites, I believe, or some such +affair." + +"Do you remember his name?" asked the Armenian, as the subject of +this conversation came out of one of the state-rooms in the cabin, +and approached them. + +"Yes; he is a Circassian, named Aphiz Adegah!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + + +Though to the Armenian physician the fact of Aphiz's being there was +nothing remarkable, to the reader we must explain how such a +circumstance could be possible after the scenes we have described; +for it will be remembered that we left him at the moment he was sunk +in the Bosphorus and left by the officers of the Sultan to drown. + +The fact was that the Circassian's sentence was more than usually +peremptory and sudden, and he was taken at once from the place of +confinement and borne away in the boat without his person being +searched, or indeed any of the usual precautions in such cases being +adopted to prevent accident or the escape of the prisoner. Aphiz +submitted without resistance to be placed in the sack, preparatory +to being cast into the sea, nor was he ignorant of the fate that was +intended to be inflicted upon him, but some confident hope, +nevertheless, seemed to support him at the time. + +The officers of the prison, not a little surprised at his quiet +acquiescence to all their purposes, when all was prepared, cast him, +as we have already described, into the sea, and quietly pulled away +from the spot. But no sooner did Aphiz find himself immersed in the +water than he commenced to cut the bag with his dagger, which he had +concealed in his bosom, and as he sank deeper and deeper towards the +bottom, quickly to release himself from the restraint of the heavy +canvas bag and shot that bore him still down, down, to the fearful +depth of the river's bed. + +Aphiz Adegah was born near the sea-shore, and from childhood had +been accustomed to the freest exercise in the water. He was +therefore an expert and well-practised swimmer, and after he had +freed himself from the sack by the vigorous use of his dagger, he +gradually rose again to the surface of the water, but taking good +care to start away from the spot where he had been cast into the +sea, that he might not be observed by those who had been sent there +to execute the sentence of death upon him. + +Still starting away and swimming under water, he gradually rose to +the surface far from the spot where he had first sunk, but after a +breath, still fearing detection, he dove again, and deeper and +deeper, sought to follow the current, until he should be beyond the +possibility of discovery. What a volume of thoughts passed through +his mind in the few seconds while he was descending in that fearful +confinement of the sack, and how vigorously he worked with the edge +of his dagger to cut an opening for escape, and when he drew that +one long inspiration as he rose to the surface and instantly plunged +again, what a relief it was to his aching lungs and overtasked +powers! But, as we have said, he was a practised swimmer, knew well +his powers, and confidently dove again into the depth of the waters. + +As he sank deeper and deeper in this second dive, he found himself +suddenly losing all power and control over his body, and he felt as +though some invisible arm had seized upon him, and he was being +borne away he knew not whither. No effort of his was of the least +avail, and on, on, he was borne, and round and round he was turned +with the velocity of lightning, until he grew dizzy and faint, and +the density of the waters, acting upon the drums of his ears, became +almost insupportably painful, imparting a sensation as though the +head was between two iron plates, and a screw was being turned which +compressed it tighter and tighter every moment. + +Though he was in this situation not more than one minute, yet it +seemed to him to be an hour of torture, so intense was the agony +experienced; and yet it was beyond a doubt his salvation in the end, +for he had by chance struck one of those violent undertows that +prevail in all these fresh water inland seas, which defy all +philosophical calculation, and which bore him with the speed of an +arrow for two hundred rods far away from the spot where he had a +second time sunk below the surface, until, as he once more rose to +the surface, he found himself so far away from the boat that he +could not possibly be recognized. + +Close by him he heard the strokes and saw the oars of a large +man-of-war boat passing by the spot where he had risen from his +fearful contest with the water. His first impulse was to dive once +more, but his efforts with the current he had struck below had +seemed to deprive him of the power of all further exertion. The +shore was a quarter of a mile distant, and in his exhausted state, +he doubted if it was possible for him to reach it. He gave a second +look at the boat with longing eyes, his strength was momentarily +failing him, he felt that he must either sink or call to those in +the boat for assistance, and while he was thus debating in his own +mind, he observed the person who had the helm steer the boat towards +him, and in a moment after Aphiz was raised in the arms of the sea +men and placed in the bottom of the caique. + +Scarcely had he been placed in this position when there commenced +throughout his whole system such a combination of fearful and +harrowing pains that he almost prayed that he might die, and be +relieved from them. He had not the power left in his limbs to move +one inch, and yet he felt as though he could roll and writhe all +over the boat. The fact was that while exertion was necessary to +preserve him from drowning, his instinct and mental faculties +combined to support him, and enable the sufferer still to make an +effort to preserve his life, but now that no exertion on his part +could benefit himself, he was thrown back upon a realization of the +consequent suffering induced by his exposure. + +The quantity of water he had swallowed pained him beyond measure, +while the action of the dense water upon his brain, and the combined +pains he was enduring, rendered him almost deranged. It is said that +drowning is the easiest of deaths, but those who have recovered from +a state nearly approaching actual death by submersion in the water, +describe the sensations of recovery to consciousness to be beyond +description, painful and terrible. Those who have for a moment +fainted from some sudden cause have partially realized this misery +in the anguish caused for an instant by the first breath that +accompanies returning consciousness. + +All this proved too much for the young Circassian, and though +removed from the immediate cause of danger he fainted with +exhaustion. He who commanded the boat was also a young man, and +seemed at once to be uncommonly interested in the stranger whom he +had rescued from the sea. Neither he nor any of his men suspected +how the half drowned man had come there, and adopting such means as +his experience suggested, the officer of the boat soon again +restored Aphiz to a state of painful consciousness. Realizing the +kind efforts that were made for him, the young Circassian smiled +through the trembling features of his face in acknowledgement. + +Signing to his men to give way with more speed, the officer soon +moored along side one of the Sultan's sloops-of-war, and in a few +moments after the half drowned man was placed in the best berth the +cabin afforded. + +As to himself, Aphiz had only sufficient consciousness left to +realize that he had been most miraculously save from a watery grave, +but a bare thought of the suffering he had just passed through, was +almost too much for him. And leaving chance to decide his future +fate, he turned painfully in his cot and was soon lost in sleep. + +When the young Circassian awoke on the following morning he was once +more quite himself, being thoroughly refreshed by the long hours he +had slept. He thought over the last few days which had been so +eventful to him, and wondered what fate was now in store for him.--Of +course the generous conduct of Captain Selim, the Sultan's officer, +who had rescued him from drowning, and then hospitably entertained +him, was the most spontaneous action of a noble heart towards a +fellow-being in distress, but if he should know by what means Aphiz +had come in the situation which he had found him, would not his +loyalty to the Sultan demand that he should at once render up the +escaped prisoner once more to the executioner's hands? + +His true policy therefore seemed to be to keep his own secret, and +this he resolved to do, but he had reasoned without knowing the +character or feelings of him to whom he was so much indebted, as we +shall see. + +Scarcely had he resolved the matter in his mind, as we have +described, when Selim entered the cabin, and perceiving the +refreshed and cheerful appearance of Aphiz, addressed him in a +congratulatory tone. + +"I rejoice to see you so well." + +"Thanks to your prompt assistance and hospitality that I am not now +at the bottom of the Bosphorus." + +"You were pretty close upon drowning, and must have been under water +for some time, I should say." + +"I had indeed, and was very nearly exhausted," answered Aphiz. + +"But how came you in such a pitiable plight, what led you so far +from the shore without a boat?" + +"I--that is to say--" + +"O, I see, some matter that you wish to keep a secret. Very well; +far be it from me to ask aught of thee, or urge thee to reveal any +matter that might compromise thy feelings." + +"Not so," answered Aphiz; "but were I to speak, I might criminate +myself." + +"O, fear no such matter with me, were you an escaped prisoner from +the law, I--" + +"What?" asked Aphiz, as he observed the young officer regarding him +intently. + +"Why, I should not betray you again into the Sultan's power. I have +no real sympathy with these Turks, and would much rather serve you, +who seem to be a stranger, than them." + +"Thanks, a thousand thanks," answered Aphiz, warmly. + +"Therefore, confide in me, and if I can serve thee, I will do so at +once." + +"I will," said Aphiz, who felt that the officer was honest in what +he promised. + +Then he told him how he had been condemned by the Sultan, for some +private enmity, to die, but he carefully observed the utmost secrecy +as to what the actual motive of his punishment really was. He told +how he had been borne in the execution boat to the usual spot for +the execution of the sentence that had been pronounced upon him. How +he had been confined in the sack and cast into the sea, describing +his first sensations and his struggle with his dagger until he cut +himself free from the terrible confinement of his canvas prison. How +he had struggled beneath the element, and then of the fearful eddy +into which he had been drawn, and finally how at last he rose to the +surface near his own boat. + +That was all that Captain Selim knew of the matter, and after +hearing that Aphiz was a Circassian, he supplied him with an undress +uniform to further his disguise, and bade him welcome as his guest. +Therefore when the Armenian doctor and Selim found that their +conversation had been overheard by Aphiz, they neither feared his +betraying him, nor suspected the deep interest that the young +Circassian felt in the theme of their remarks. + +"You were speaking of a slave of the Sultan's harem, named Komel," +he said, approaching them. + +"We were; and perhaps have spoken too plainly of a purpose for her +release from bondage," said the Armenian. + +"Why too freely?" + +"Because in a degree we have placed ourselves in your power, having +spoken treason." + +"I care not whether it be treason or not," replied Aphiz; "it was +such as answered to the feelings of my own heart in every word. +Betray you! I will die to achieve the object you name." + +"This is singular," said Selim, surprised at his earnestness. + +"It would not seem so had I dared to tell you my story at first." + +"Then you know the girl?" asked the physician and Selim, in a +breath. + +"Know her? I have been her playmate from childhood. We have loved +and cherished each other until our very souls seemed blended into +one." + +"Then how came she separated from you, and now in the Sultan's +harem?" asked the Armenian. + +"Ay," continued Selim, "how was it that I saw her offered for sale +in the public bazaar?" + +"Have patience with me and I will tell you all, of both her history +and my own." + +Aphiz then related to them the story that is already familiar to the +reader, and seeing that those with whom he had to deal were in no +way particularly partial to the Sultan, he told word for word the +whole truth, even from the hour when he had saved him from the +Bedouins, to that when he had been cast into the sea. + +All this but the more incited both Selim and the Armenian to strive +for Komel's release, and sitting there together, the trio strove how +best they could manage the affair. The Armenian's possessing the +entree to the palace was a matter of intense importance to the +furtherance of the object, and whatever plan should be adopted it +was agreed that he should seek the harem and communicate it to +Komel, thus obtaining her aid in its execution. + +"Doubtless she thinks me dead," said Aphiz; "for the Sultan would +take care to tell her that." + +"That's true, and so let her think, and we will manage an agreeable +surprise for her." + +"As you will; but let us to this business this very night," said the +impatient Aphiz. + +"That we will, and right heartily," said Selim, who hastened to his +young wife to tell her that she was to have a dear, beautiful +companion in their proposed voyage, and that she would be on board +before the morning. + +Aphiz was now all impatience. He could scarcely wait for the hours +to pass that should bring about the period allotted for the attempt +to release her whom he so fondly, and until now so hopelessly, +loved. In the meantime the good Armenian physician, with redoubled +interest, now that he had learned Aphiz's story, sought the Sultan's +harem, where he quietly broached to Komel the plan that had been +agreed upon whereby she should be transported once more to her +distant home and the scenes of her childhood. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE ESCAPE FROM THE HAREM. + + +On one of those soft and glorious nights such as occur so often +beneath the eastern skies, when there was no moon and yet a blaze of +light pouring down from the myriad of bright stars, that one would +not have missed the absence of the Queen of Night; the walks of the +Sultan's gardens, fragrant with flowers and sweet blossoms, were +drinking in of the dewy hour, still and silently, save at the point +where we once before introduced the person of Komel. The spot from +whence she had listened to that tender and dearly loved song of her +native valley, and nearly in the same place she sat now, again +evidently listening and expecting the coming of some person or +preconcerted signal. + +On the extended branch of the nearest cypress hung the half-witted +boy by one arm, which he had cast over the limb, and from whence he +was now oscillating like a pendulum, his head hanging down upon his +breast, and the rest of his limbs as moveless seemingly, as though +he had hung there for months. It was one of the queer odd freaks +that he was so often performing, for what purpose no one knew, and +there he hung still, while the slave listened and cast anxious +glances at the stone wall that forms the sea side of the seraglio +gardens. + +But no sound greeted her ears save the never ceasing babbling of the +fountains, and now and then the soft plaintive cry of some night +bird that, wakeful while most of the species slept, warbled its +notes to the stars. Once she thought she heard the muffled sound of +oars, and started to her feet, but the noise soon died away in the +distance, and she relapsed again into the same attitude of impatient +and anxious anticipation. Out from under the apparently drooping and +senseless eyelids of the idiot, a quick thoughtful glance was turned +upon her at every motion she made, but she knew it not, nor did she +turn towards the boy at all, while he still swung steadily as though +he had been bound by cords to the tree. + +Once more she started, but it was a false alarm. The notes she had +heard were those of an instrument, played by some favorite of the +harem, who looked forth upon the night scene, and coupled its charms +with the notes of her lute.--But this too soon died away, and again +Komel breathed quick and anxiously as she sat there at midnight. The +guard on his rounds came past now, and she assumed a quiet and +careless air to avoid notice, while a soldier cast a wondering eye +at the idiot boy, and then strode on, with the barrel of his carbine +resting lazily in the hollow of his arm. + +At this moment there swelled forth upon the night air the note of +that well remembered song. It was the preconcerted signal, and +springing to her feet, Komel stole quickly to that part of the +seraglio wall nearest the water. The idiot boy seemed to comprehend +the movement instantly, and to recognize the notes that he had heard +once before, and which had so affected the beautiful Circassian, nor +had she fairly reached the wall before he was close by her side. She +paused for a moment to smile kindly upon him and place her hand upon +his head, then turned to listen again. + +The boy appeared to understand that something extraordinary was +going on, and became as nervous as possible. Now he darted off +towards the path where the sentinel had disappeared, and now came +back with a step as fleet as a deer, and as noiseless as a cat's. +But the scene soon changed by the appearance, above the wall, of the +head of Captain Selim, who, peering carefully around for a moment, +asked in a whispered tone: + +"Lady, lady, are you there?" + +"I am," replied Komel, cautiously, while the idiot crowded close to +her side. + +"If I throw over this rope ladder, will you mount now to the top of +the wall?" + +"Yes, O yes; let me get away from here quickly." + +"Step away from the wall then for a moment," said the young officer, +and in an instant after a rope ladder made fast on the outer side, +was cast over to her. + +"Are you ready, lady?" + +"Yes." + +"Then come quickly; don't pause for a moment in the ascent, lest you +be seen." + +Komel thinking of nothing but release from her confinement in the +Sultan's household, and seeing in perspective her home and parents, +for the Armenian had promised that she should be taken thither, +sprang lightly up the tiny, but strong ladder of cord, and was soon +on the other side, the boy creeping after as she went. But just as +she had passed over the top and was descending on the other side, +leaving the idiot boy on the top beside of the young officer, who +stood so that his neck and head were above the level of the summit +of the wall, the sentinel again came down the path in sight of the +place and instantly discovered the whole affair, running with all +speed to the spot. The soldier dropped his carbine to seize and +detain the ladder, when a struggle ensued between him and the young +officer for its possession. + +At this critical moment, the soldier seeming to recollect himself, +turned to raise his gun, either to shoot Selim or give the alarm; in +either case it would be equally fatal to the success of their +design. The boy had maintained his position during the brief +struggle, but the moment the guard turned to recover his carbine, +the half witted creature leaped from his high position directly upon +his back and neck and bore him to the ground. The weight of the +boy's body was sufficient to bring the soldier to the ground with +stunning effect and leave him nearly insensible. + +Had this not been the case the boy's finger clutched the throat with +the power of a vice and the guard was as insensible as a dead man. +In the mean time, the young officer scarcely knowing what to make of +the opportune and sudden interference in his favor, drew up the +ladder on the other side and prepared to follow Komel, who was +already hurried by the Armenian nearly to the side of the boat that +waited there, and in the stern of which sat another person in charge +of the same. Komel looked back as she was joined by Captain Selim, +and asked: + +"Where is the boy?" + +"What boy?" said the Armenian, ignorant as to whom they referred. + +"The half-witted pet of the Sultan's." + +"I left him in the grounds," said Selim.--"The guard passed over the +ladder, but just as he was about to discharge his carbine, that boy +sprang upon him like a tiger, and I think he must have killed him, +for I saw the soldier lying on the ground insensible." + +"That boy has been my best friend, I cannot bear to leave him." + +"It would be madness to stop for anything now," replied the young +officer; and so they passed around to the spot where the boat was in +waiting, moored closed to the shore. + +But let us look back for a moment at the scene on the other side of +the seraglio wall where we left the guard overcome by the boy. The +poor half witted child sat close beside the body, which was +perfectly inanimate. Now he looked up at the bright stars for an +instant, now at the still features of the guardsman, and then at the +spot where the slave had disappeared over the wall. His movements +were nervous and irregular, and he seemed to be trying to understand +something or to make up his mind upon some thought that had stolen +into his brain. + +Suddenly he lifted his head, his eyes glowed like fire, and his +chest heaved like a woman's.--He scanned the wall for an instant, +then turning, retreated a few yards towards the centre of the +grounds. With a short start and a wild bound he was upon its top! +another leap carried him to the ground, and with the speed of a +horse he ran to the water's edge, just in time for Komel to stretch +out her hand and draw him on board the boat. He who sat in the stern +was muffled up, and his face could not be seen, but he started to +his feet at what seemed to him to be an intrusion; but a sign from +the Armenian put all to rights, and the boy coiled himself up like a +piece of rope at the feet of the fair girl. + +Time was precious to them now, and Selim seizing one oar, the +Armenian pulled with another, while he in the stern steered the +caique quietly beneath the shade of the shore for some distance, +when her course was suddenly altered, and striking boldly across the +harbor, it was soon lost among the shipping at anchor. + +A little adroitness, with cool courage, will often put all +calculations at fault, and thus had the plan for Komel's release +proved perfectly successful; thus had the Sultan been robbed of his +favorite slave from out the very walls that encircled his palace +grounds in spite of all his supposed security. Though it was very +plain that the whole affair came very near miscarrying at the time +when the guard appeared, and would perhaps have done so had the +fellow understood his duty and fired a shot at once, thus if not +shooting those engaged in this depredation upon the Sultan's +household, at least giving an alarm that would probably have +resulted in the arrest of all the parties concerned. But thanks to +the bravery and skill of the poor half-witted boy, all had gone +safely through, and now Komel found herself seated with the +beautiful Zillah in Selim's cabin, safe from all harm. + +"So," said the Armenian, drawing a long breath after the unusual +exertion he had just experienced, "all is safe thus far. Now we must +expedite matters for you to embark in your own craft at once, and in +the mean time keep every thing close, especially the boy. He seems +so devoted to the girl that it would be too bad to part them, but if +he should be seen by any one he will be remembered, and it may lead +to detection at once." + +"That is true," answered Selim; "but we have got all on board +without being observed even by the anchor watch." + +"The Sultan will leave no means untried to detect the thief who has +stolen his fairest jewel," said the Armenian, "and his reward will +be so rich as to tempt the cupidity of every one, therefore be +cautious and trust none." + +"I will not. At midnight to-morrow we must be on board the Petrel, +and at the most quiet moment slip her cable and drop quietly down +the coast with the night breeze, and if every thing is propitious, +we can get well away in the Black Sea before anything will be +suspected of us, and pursuit instituted." + +"I shall feel the utmost anxiety until you are fairly away," said +the Armenian. + +"We owe much to you," replied Selim. + +Thus saying, the Armenian and Selim entered the cabin together, +where Zillah and Komel sat listening to each other's stories, and +fast coming to know each other better and better. Suddenly Komel +turned to Selim, and after acknowledging how much she already owed +him and the Armenian, said-- + +"There is one thing I meant to have asked you before." + +"And what is that?" + +"Who was it that sang that song beneath the seraglio walls?" + +"The same notes that formed our signal to-night?" asked Selim. + +"Yes." + +"O, that was a young Circassian, who is on board here," was the +answer. + +"But judging from the song he sang, he must be from my native +valley." + +"Was it familiar to you?" + +"As my mother's voice," answered Komel, with feeling. "It is a song +that one most dear to me has sung to me many a time, and when a few +nights since I heard it, I would have declared that it was his voice +again; but I knew him to be gone to a better land; the Sultan took +his life, alas! on my own account." + +The Armenian looked at Selim, as much as to say, now for the +surprise, while the young officer seemed hesitating as to what he +should do next, when a noise was heard at the entrance of the cabin, +and in a moment after, he who had steered the boat, slipped within +and threw off the outer garment that had muffled him. All eyes were +turned upon him as he stood for a moment, when Komel exclaimed, +trembling as she said so: + +"Is this a miracle, or do my eyes deceive me? that is--is--" + +"Aphiz Adegah," said the Armenian, while an honest tear wet his +cheek. + +"Komel!" murmured the young mountaineer, as he pressed her trembling +form to his breast. + +All there knew their story, and could appreciate their feelings, +while not a word was spoken, to break the spell of so joyous a +meeting, the joy of such unhoped for bliss. + +"The Sultan then deceived me," said Komel, suddenly recovering her +voice. + +"He was himself deceived, and thinks me dead," replied Aphiz; "my +escape was miraculous." + +"O, let us away at once from here," said Komel, anxiously; "the +Sultan's agent will surely trace us, and I should die to go back to +his harem again. Cannot we go at once?" + +"Nay, have patience, my dear girl," said the Armenian, "our plans +have been carefully laid, and we shall hardly run a single risk of +detection or discovery if they are adhered to." + +All this while, the half-witted boy lay coiled up in one corner of +the cabin unseen, but himself noticing every movement that +transpired, until as they all settled more quietly to a realizing +sense of their relative positions, when Komel seeking him brought +him to Aphiz, and told him how much she owed the poor boy for +kindness rendered to her, and even that he had saved her life once, +if not a second time, by his mastering the guard. + +While the boy looked upon Komel as she spoke, his fine eye glowed +with warmth and expression, but when Aphiz took his hand, and he +turned towards him, that light was gone, like the fire from a seared +coal, and the optics of the idiot were cold and expressionless. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CHASE. + + +The reader will remember the fleet and beautiful slaver mentioned in +an early chapter, when lying off the port of Anapa. The same clipper +craft that had conveyed Komel away from her native shores, was +destined, singularly enough, to carry her back again, for this was +the vessel Selim had secretly purchased and prepared for his escape +with his companions from the domain of the Sultan. He was too good a +seaman not to manage affairs shrewdly, and though the coming night +was the one on which he had resolved to sail, yet the schooner +floated as lazily as ever at her moorings. The sails were closely +trailed, and the ropes and sheets coiled away as though they would +not be used for months again. + +But could one have looked on board beneath her hatches, and out of +sight of the crowded shipping in the bay, he might have counted a +dozen stalwart youths, in the Greek costume, busily employed in +getting everything ready below for a quick run, and as the shadows +deepened over the Oriental scene, and the sun had fairly sunk to +rest behind the lofty summit of Bulgurlu, one or two of the crew +might have been seen quietly engaged here and there on deck, but +their lazy, indolent movements, rather speaking of a long stay at +their present anchorage than an idea of an early departure, and yet +a true seaman would have observed that they were loosing everything, +in place of making fast. + +It was nearly midnight when Selim and his party, headed by Aphiz, +left his own ship in a small caique, and quietly pulled with muffled +oars, to the side of the schooner, which they boarded without +hailing. She had been moored the day previous without the outermost +of the shipping, and scarcely had the party got fairly on board, +when she slipped her cable, and showing the cap of her fore-topsail +to the gentle night air that set over the plains of Belgrade and +down the Valley of Sweet Waters, gradually floated away, until by +hoisting a few rings of the flying jib, her bows were brought round, +and she slipped off towards the Black Sea unnoticed. + +Not so much as the creaking of a block had been permitted to disturb +the stillness, and now, when Capt. Selim felt too impatient not to +make the most of the favorable land breeze, only the light jigger +sail that was set so well aft as to reach far over the taffrail, was +unfurled easily and dropped into its place, swelling away +noiselessly. As impatient as he felt, he wished to skirt those +shores silently, and resolved to take every precaution that would +prevent a suspicion of the real hurry and anxiety that he felt +from evincing itself. + +The cutter hugged the Bithynian shore until it had passed that +rendezvous for the caravans from Armenia and Persia, the favorite +city of Scutari, and then it gradually approached the sea, its +mainsail, foresail and topsails were spread, and before the first +gray of morning broke over the horizon of the sea, the cutter had +almost lost sight of the continent of Europe, and was swiftly +ploughing the waves of the great inland ocean. Classic waters! +laving the shores of Turkish Europe, Asia Minor, the broad coast of +Russia, and that ancient island of Crimea, and finally washing the +mountain coast of Circassia and Abrasia. + +One of those short cross seas to which inland waters are so liable, +was running at the time, and there were evidences, too, of foul +weather, for the wind that sets from the north-east for +three-fourths of the season in these waters, had hauled more +westerly, and dark, ominous looking clouds obstructed the light of +the sun as it rose from the horizon. The wind came in sudden and +unequal gusts, now causing the clipper to careen till her topsail +yards almost dipped, and then permitting her to rise once more to +the upright position. Capt. Selim noted these signs well, for he +knew the character of these waters, and that these signs +prognosticated no favorable coming weather. His sails were first +reefed, then close reefed, and finally furled altogether, save a +fore-staysail, and the mainsail reduced to its smallest reef points. + +While the clipper was scudding under this sail, a close lookout was +kept in her wake, for Selim knew very well that at farthest his +absence would only be concealed until the morning gun should fire, +when the fleetest ship in the Sultan's navy would be dispatched to +overtake him. And this was indeed the case, for just at this moment +there came to his side a young Greek, who acted as his first +officer, and pointing away astern in the south-western board, said: + +"There is a man-of-war, sir, standing right in our wake hereaway." + +"You are right--we are discovered, too, for he steers like a hawk on +the wing about to dive for its prey." + +"He is close handed, sir, while we are running nearly free." + +"Then he has not yet made out the schooner's bearings; keep her as +she is." + +Watching the frigate, Selim still held on his course steadily, but +the size of the enemy enabled her to carry twice the amount of +canvass in proportion to her tonnage that he dared to do. Indeed, he +felt the fleet craft under his feet tremble beneath the force with +which she was driven through the water even now. As the morning +advanced, the frigate gained fast upon them, until at the suggestion +of Aphiz, the foresail, close reefed, was put upon the schooner, but +quickly taken in again. It was too evident that the gale was +increasing, as the bows of the schooner were every other minute +quite under water, then she would rise on the next wave to shake the +spray from her prow and side like a living creature, then boldly +dash forward again. + +"That fellow is in earnest," said Selim to Aphiz, "and is determined +to have us, cost what it may. See, there goes his fore-to-gallant +sail clear out of the belt ropes. Heaven send he may carry away a +few more of sails, for he is overhauling us altogether too fast for +my liking." + +"There goes a gun," said Aphiz. + +"Ay, fire away, my hearties," said Selim, "you lose a little with +every recoil of that gun, and you can't reach us with anything that +carries powder in the Sultan's navy--I know your points." + +"That shot struck a mile astern of us," said Aphiz. + +"Yes, and at the present rate, it will take him nearly two hours to +overhaul us; but by that time, if the gale goes on increasing in +this style, he must take in his canvass or lose his masts over the +side." + +Selim was right, the fury of the gale did increase, and he soon saw +the frigate furl sail after sail for her own security, and yet she +seemed under nearly bare poles to gain slowly on the schooner, and +was now ranging within long shot distance, and commenced now and +then to fire from her bow ports. But gunner, ever uncertain on the +water, is doubly so in a gale, and nearly all her shot were thrown +away, one now and then hitting the clipper, and causing a shower of +splinters to fly into the air as though the spray had broken over +the spot. + +Chance did that for the frigate which all the skill of its gunner +could not have done, and a shot aimed at her running gear took a +slant upon the wave, and entered her side below the water line, +causing a leak that was not discovered until it was too late to +attempt its stoppage, and the schooner was slowly settling into the +sea. + +In the meantime the gale had reached its height, and the frigate, +too intent on her own business, had long since ceased firing, and +had dashed by the clipper like a race-horse, with everything lashed +to the her decks and battened down. And now, when Selim discovered +the extent of the danger, and realized that ere long the schooner +must sink, he almost wished that the frigate, which had gone out of +sight far down to leeward, might be seen once more. + +Already had the schooner leaked so fast as to drive the occupants +from the cabin to the quarter deck, and here, gathered in a small +group, they looked at each other in silence, for death seemed +inevitable. + +"O, Selim! must we perish?" whispered his young and lovely Zillah. + +"Dearest, I trust we may yet be saved. The gale will ere long +subside, and even now we are drifting towards the very coast that we +should have steered for had all been well with us." + +This was so. The clipper, though gradually settling deeper and +deeper into the sea, was yet propelled before the breeze by all the +canvass that it was deemed prudent to place upon her, right towards +the Circassian coast, at a rate perhaps of from four to five knots. +The gale, too, now gradually subsided, and enabled the half-wrecked +people to take more comfortable positions, and Aphiz and Selim to +prepare a raft with the assistance of the crew, for it was but too +apparent that the schooner must go down before long. Hollow groaning +sounds issued from the hatches as she settled lower and lower, and +it really seemed as though the fabric was uttering exclamations of +pain at its untimely fate. + +By unbinding and loosing the fore and main yards, a foundation was +made by lashing these spars together, upon which other timbers and +wood work was fastened, and in a few hours a broad and comparatively +comfortable raft was formed. But how to launch it? That was beyond +the power of all those on board united. To wait until the time when +the water should float it from the deck, would be to run the risk of +being engulfed with the schooner, and being drawn into the vortex of +water that would follow her going down, and thus meet a sure and +swift destruction. + +But this was now their only hope, and the only means offering itself +for their escape, since the stern and quarter boats had been lost or +stove in the course of the late gale, and so making a virtue of +necessity, they all gathered upon the centre of the raft that had +been thus hastily constructed, and awaited their fate. Aphiz and +Selim bound their respective charges to the raft by cords about +their bodies, to prevent the possibility of their being washed from +its unprotected flooring. + +Already the water washed over their very feet, and now and then the +schooner gave a fearful lurch, that caused all hands to stand fast +and believe her going down. Gradually the water crept higher and +higher, and the plunging schooner seemed at every fall of her bows +to be going down. Even the gentle Komel and Zillah could understand +the fearful momentary danger that must ensue when the hull should +plunge at last, and they silently held each other's hands. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" cried one of the crew, at the top of his voice. + +"What now?" demanded Selim sternly of the man, at his seemingly +untimely mirth. + +"She floats, she floats--the raft's afloat." + +"Then in the name of Heaven, shove off as quickly as possible," said +Selim, as he and Aphiz seize each an oar and strove to force the +raft away from the deck. A way had already been cut through the +bulwarks. + +At first the raft did not stir, but gradually it slid away, and +finally, to the joy of all, it was free and clear of the schooner's +side, and by the strong efforts of the crew, they increased the +space between them in a very few moments to the distance of several +rods. It was not one moment too soon, for a deep gurgling sound rang +on the ear for a moment, then the stern rose above the surface of +the sea as the bows plunged, and in a moment after she was gone +forever. + +Even at a distance they had already gained, they felt the power of +the vortex, and were drawn towards its brink with fearful velocity, +as though they had been a mere feather floating upon the sea, but +gradually the raft became once more steady, and as the twilight +settled over the scene the whole party knelt in prayer for +protection upon that wide, unbroken waste of waters. + +They had taken the precaution to secure some food, though in a +damaged state, and partaking sparingly of this as the moon lit up +the wild scene, and the sea went down after its turmoil and tempest, +they arranged themselves to sleep, Komel and Zillah close by each +other's side, and the poor idiot boy coiled himself silently at +their feet. He had been uncomplaining and watchful ever since the +calamity, but had kept closer than ever to Komel's side, who, even +in those moments of fearful trial, found time to bestow upon the boy +looks and words of kind assurance,--that was enough--he seemed happy. + +All the day and another night were passed thus. The fearful gale had +cleared the sea of navigators, who had not yet ventured out from +their safe anchorage, and still the raft drove on, aided by a little +jury mast and the fore-topsail of the schooner, which had been +hastily unbent and placed on the raft. Hunger had attacked them, for +the provisions they had saved were now all gone, and this, added to +the exposure they suffered, caused many a blanched cheek, and Komel +and Zillah seemed ready to give way under the trial. + +It was at the dawn of the third day that their eyes were gladdened +by the distant hills of Abrasia, and soon after they neared the +coast so as to make out its headlands, when a favoring wind, as if +on purpose to speed them on their way, came over the Georgian hills +from the south-east, and blew them towards the north. + +Aphiz was now in a region that he knew well the navigation of, and +he declared that with the wind holding thus for a few hours, they +would be off the port of Anapa as safely as a steamboat might carry +them. + +This was indeed the case, and before many hours the well known hills +and headlands of Circassia were visible to their longing eyes. Komel +could not suppress the joyous burst of feeling that a sight of her +native hills again infused into her bosom, but forgetting each pain +and trouble, she pointed out first to Zillah, then to Aphiz, and +even to the idiot boy, a beauty here, a well known spot there, and +the hill behind which stood the cottage of her dear parents. O, how +she trembled with impatient joy to reach its door once more. + +Under the skilful guidance of Aphiz and Selim, the raft was steered +into the harbor, and was soon surrounded by a score of boats, +offering their ready assistance to relieve their distresses, and a +short time after saw them landed safely, all upon the long, +projecting mole. + +All the while Selim seemed thoughtful and absent, and looked about +him with strange interest, at everything that met his gaze. He even +forgot to seek the side of Zillah, who, with Komel, was hurrying +away to a conveyance up the mountain side. Nor did he join them +until sent for by Aphiz. + +Let another chapter explain the mystery of this singular +abstraction. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HAPPY CONCLUSION. + + +The skies were yet blushing with departing day, and the evening +shadows were quietly advancing over mountain top and sheltered +valley, the dew was already touching the evening atmosphere with its +fragrant mist, "Leaving on craggy hills and running streams, A +softness like the atmosphere of dreams," when those who had so +providentially been saved from the wreck, wended their way to the +door of Komel's home. Scarcely could the poor girl restrain her +impatience, scarcely wait for a moment to have the glad tidings +broken to those within, before she should throw herself into her +parents' arms. O, the joy that burst like sunshine upon those sad, +half broken hearts, while tears of happiness coursed like mountain +rivulets down their furrowed cheeks. Their dear, dear child was with +them once more. Komel was safe, and they were again happy. + +"But who are these, my child?" asked the father of Komel, pointing +to Selim and Zillah. + +"To him am I indebted, jointly with Aphiz, for my deliverance from +bondage," she answered, taking Selim's hand and leading him to her +father. "And this," she continued, putting an arm about Zillah, "is +a dear sister whom I have learned to love for her kindness and sweet +disposition. Both come to make our mountain side their future home." + +Nor was the poor half-witted boy forgotten, but he received a share +of the kindly welcome, and seemed in his peculiar way to understand +and appreciate it, keeping continually by Komel's side. + +An hour around the social board seemed to acquaint them all with the +history of the past twelvemonth, and to reveal more than we might +specify in many pages. The cottage was full of grateful hearts and +happy souls that night; and Aphiz learned that since Krometz had +fallen in that fatal encounter, the deed of the abduction had been +fully proved upon him, and that so earnest were the feelings of the +mountaineers in relation to the justice of Aphiz's conduct in that +matter that he need fear no trouble concerning it. Thus assured, he +too joined the home circle of his parents. + +Captain Selim, with his bride, made Komel's house their home, but +the young officer could not close his eyes to sleep. He rose with +fevered brow and paced the lawn before the cottage until morning. +Strange struggles seemed to be going on in his brain like a waking +dream; he was striving to recall something in the dark vista of the +past. + +"You seem trouble this morning," said Komel's father, observing his +mood. "Are you not well?" + +"No, not exactly well," replied Selim; "indeed a strange dream seems +to come over me while I look about me here--this mountain air, these +surrounding hills, the distant view of the sea, have I ever seen +these things before, or is it some troubled action of the brain that +oppresses me with undefined recollections?" + +"Come in and partake of our morning meal; that will refresh you," +said the mountaineer. + +"Thanks; yes, I will join you at once," he replied, but turned away +thoughtfully. + +With the earliest morning, Aphiz was again at the cottage and by +Komel's side. O, how beautiful did she look to him now, once more +attired in her simple dress of a mountaineer's daughter. No tongue +could describe the fondness of his heart, or the dear truthfulness +of her own expressive face when they met thus again. Their hearts +were too full, far too full for words, and they wandered away +together to old familiar scenes and spots in silence, save that +their sympathetic souls were all the while communing with each +other. At last they came to a spot from whence the lovely valley +opened just below them, when suddenly Aphiz pointed to a projecting +and dead limb of a tree far beneath them, and asked Komel if she +remembered the scene of the hawk and dove. + +"Alas! dear Aphiz, but too well. It was indeed an unheeded warning." + +"But the dove is once more restored now, dearest, and we must look +only for happy omens." + +"I have seen so much of sadness, Aphiz," she answered, "that I shall +only the more dearly prize the quiet peacefulness of our native +hills." + +"Thus too is it with me. A few months of excitement, toil, danger +and unhappiness abroad, has endeared each spot that we have loved in +our childhood still more strongly to me." + +"Then shall good come out of evil, dear Aphiz, inasmuch as we shall +now live content." + +"Have you seen Captain Selim this morning, Komel?" he asked. + +"Yes, and I fear he is ill, some heavy weight seems to be upon his +heart." + +"Let us seek him then, for we owe all to his manliness and courage." + +As the twilight hour once crept over hill and valley, the evening +meal was spread on the open lawn before the cottage, and when this +was over, all sat there and told of the events that had passed, and +each other's experiences, for the few past months, during which time +Komel had remained a prisoner at the Sultan's palace. Of Selim, they +knew only so much of his history as was connected with themselves, +and he was asked to relate his story. + +"Mine has been a life of little interest," he said, "save to myself +alone. Of my birth and parentage I know nothing, and my earliest +recollections carry me back to the period when I was a boy on board +a Trebizond merchantman, at a time when I was just recovering from +what is called the Asia fever, a malady that often attacks those who +come from the north of the Black Sea to the Asia coast to live. This +fever leaves the invalid deranged for weeks, and when he recovers +from it, he is like an infant and obliged from that hour to +cultivate his brain as from earliest childhood, and he can recall +nothing of the past. Thus I lost the years of my life up to the age +of eight or nine. + +"I served in that ship until I was its first officer, and by good +luck, having been once employed in one of the Sultan's ships as a +pilot during a fierce gale, through which I was enabled, by my good +luck, to carry the ship safely. I was appointed at once a lieutenant +in the service, with good pay, and the means of improvement. The +latter my taste led me to take advantage of, and in a short time I +found myself in the command, where I was able to serve you." + +"But you had no means whereby to learn of your birth and early +childhood?" asked Komel's mother. + +"None; I have thought much of the subject, but what effort to make +in order to discover the truth as it regards this matter, I know +not." + +"Had you nothing about your person that could indicate your origin?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nor could the people with whom you sailed account for these +things?" asked Aphiz. + +"They said that I was taken off from a wreck on the Asia shore, the +only survivor of a crew." + +"How very strange," repeated all. + +"You found nothing then upon you to mark the fact?" asked Komel's +mother once more, sadly. + +"Nothing--stay--there was an oaken cross upon my neck. I had nearly +forgotten that; I wear it still, and for years I have thought it a +sacred amulet, but it can reveal nothing." + +"The cross, the cross?" they cried in one voice, "let us see it." + +As he unbuttoned the collar of his coat and drew forth the emblem, +Komel's mother, who had drawn close to his side, uttered a wild cry +of delight as she fell into her husband's arms, saying: + +"It is our lost boy!" + +Words would but faintly express the scene and feelings that followed +this announcement, and we leave the reader's own appreciations to +fill up the picture to which we have referred. + +Yes, Captain Selim, the gallant officer who had saved Aphiz's life, +and liberated Komel from the Sultan's harem, was her own dear +brother, but who had been counted as dead years and years gone by. +Could a happier consummation have been devised? and Zillah, who +loved Selim so tenderly before, now found fresh cause for joy, +delight and tenderness in the new page in her husband's history. + +Selim, too, now understood the secret influence that had led him to +bid so high for the lone slave he had met in the bazaar, the reason +why he had, by some undefined intuitive sense, been so drawn towards +her in his feelings, for the dumb and beautiful girl was his unknown +sister! + +And again when he heard her name mentioned, for the first time, by +the Armenian physician, it will be remembered how the name rung in +his ears, awaking some long forgotten feelings, yet so indistinctly +that he could not express or fairly analyze them. The same +sensations have more than once come over him since that hour while +they were suffering together the hardships of the week, and the +fearful scenes that followed the gale they had encountered after the +chase. + +Aphiz and Komel loved each other now, as they never could have done, +but for the strange vicissitudes which they had shared together. +They had grown to be necessary to each other's being, and even when +absent from each other for a few hours, in soul they were still +together. And hand in hand, side by side, they still wandered about +the wild mountain scenery of their native hills. They had no +thoughts but of love, no desires that were not in unison, no +throbbing of their breasts that did not echo a kindred token in each +other's hearts. Life, kindred, the whole world were seen by them +through the soft ideal hues of ever present affection. + +And when, at last, with full consent from her parents, Aphiz led +Komel a blushing bride to the altar, and Selim and Zillah supported +them on either side, how happy were they all! + +Years pass on in the hills of Circassia as in all the rest of the +world beside. Sunshine and shadow glance athwart its crowning peaks, +the waves of the Black Sea lave its shores, its daughters still +dream of a home among the Turks, and the secret cargoes are yet run +from Anapa up the Golden Horn. The slave bazaar of the Ottoman +capital still presents its bevy of fair creatures from the north, +and the Sultan's agents are ever on the alert for the most beautiful +to fill the monarch's harem. The Brother of the Sun chooses his +favorites from out a score of lovely Georgians and Circassians, but +he does not forget her who had so entranced his heart, so enslaved +his affections, and then so mysteriously escaped from his gilded +cage. + +But as time passes on the scene changes--rosy-cheeked children cling +about Aphiz's knees, and a dear, black-eyed representative of her +mother clasps her tiny arms about his neck. And so, too, are Selim +and Zillah blessed, and their children play and laugh together, +causing an ever constant flow of delight to the parents' hearts. + +There ever watches over them one sober, quiet eye--one whom the +children love dearly, for he joins them in all their games and +sports, and astonishes and delights them by his wonderful feats of +agility. It is the half-witted creature, who had followed and loved +Komel so well. As years have passed over him, the sun-light of +reason gradually crept into his brain, and the poor boy saw a new +world before him. His only care, his only thought, his constant +delight seeming to be these lovely children. + +The events of the past are often recurred to by Komel and her +husband, around the quiet hearthstone that forms the united home of +Selim, Zillah, and themselves, and the sun sets in the west, +shedding its parting rays over no happier circle than theirs. Nor +does Komel now regret that she was once the Sultan's slave. + +As now he lays down his pen, let the author hope that he has won the +kind consideration and remembrance of those who have read his story +of THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. + + + + +THE END. + + + + +[FROM GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION.] + +A SCRAP OF ROMAN HISTORY. + +BY AN UNKNOWN POET. + + In the olden days of Roman + Grandeur, glory, wealth, and pride; + Once there came a might legion + From a vast and far-off region + And this Roman power defied. + Naught could stay their devastations + In the lands through which they came; + All the weeping supplications + Of the terror-stricken nations + Could not quench these Vandals' flame. + Ah! most cruel were the invaders, + Cruel their chastizing rods! + For their hearts were stone-like hardened, + These remorseless and unpardoned + Foes of men and all the gods. + And at last they came with boastings + To the gods' and learning's home; + Came with boasting, loud and merry, + Came, at last, unto the very + Walls of proud, imperial Rome. + Ah! why did they not, in mercy, + Spare the "Mistress of the World!" + Or, why did they not, when power + Sat on Roman wall and tower, + Come, and bid their darts be hurled. + For the Romans' strength was broken. + Gone, like light from darkness, now; + Now, when most that strength was need, + Strength was not;--there + Weakness worse than Venla's vow. + Bearing all the outward semblance + Of a firm and mighty hold, + Rome was inwardly as feeble + As a cemeteried people + Changed into corruption's mould. + Ease, corruption, strife, dissension, + Gaiety, licentious mirth, + Luxury;--O, bane of mortals! + All had sapped the very portals + Of this mightiest queen of earth. + Therefore, when these hordes of robbers + Swarmed around the Roman's way, + Scarcely shadow of resistance + Met them near, or in the distance, + And they found an easy prey. + Vandals, Alans, Allemanni, + Longobardi, Avars, Moors, + Goths, Suevi, Huns, Bulgarians, + Overwhelming, rude barbarians + Conquered Rome with deafening roars. + Desecrated, fired and plundered, + Worse than vessel tempest-tost. + Rome was by her dissipations + Blotted from the list of nations; + Rome was lost!--forever lost! + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's +Favorite, by Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE *** + +***** This file should be named 4795.txt or 4795.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/7/9/4795/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Circassian Slave; or, The Sultan's Favorite: A Story of +Constantinople and the Caucasus + +Author: Lieutenant Maturin Murray + +Release Date: December, 2003 [EBook #4795] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 22, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE; OR, THE SULTAN'S FAVORITE: A STORY OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE CAUCASUS *** + + + + +Edited by Charles Aldarondo (aldarondo@yahoo.com) + + + +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE: + +OR, THE SULTAN'S FAVORITE. + +A Story of Constantinople and the Caucasus. + +BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY. + +BOSTON: + +1851. + + + + + + +PUBLISHER's NOTE.--The following Novelette was originally published +in THE PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION, and is but a specimen of +the many deeply entertaining Tales, and the gems of literary merit, +which grace the columns of that elegant and highly popular journal. +THE COMPANION embodies a corps of contributors of rare literary +excellence, and is regarded as the ne plus ultra, by its scores of +thousands of readers. + + + + + + +PREFACE. + + + + + +The following story relates to that exceedingly interesting and +romantic portion of the world bordering on the Black Sea, the Sea of +Marmora, and the Bosphorus. The period of the story being quite +modern, its scenes are a transcript of the present time in the city +of the Sultan. The peculiarities of Turkish character are of the +follower of Mahomet, as they appear to-day; and the incidents +depicted are such as have precedents daily in the oriental capital. +Leaving the tale to the kind consideration of the reader, the author +would not fail to express his thanks for former indulgence and +favor. + + + + + + +THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SLAVE MARKET. + + + + + +Upon one of those hot, sultry summer afternoons that so often +prevail about the banks of the Bosphorus, the sun was fast sinking +towards its western course, and gilding as it went, the golden +crescents of a thousand minarets, now dancing with fairy feet over +the rippling waters of Marmora, now dallying with the spray of the +oarsmen's blades, as they pulled the gilded caique of some rich old +Mussulman up the tide of the Golden Horn. The soft and dainty +scented air came in light zephyrs off the shore of Asia to play upon +the European coast, and altogether it was a dreamy, siesta-like hour +hat reigned in the Turkish capital. + +Let the reader come with us at this time into the circular area that +forms the slave market of Constantinople. The bazaar is well filled; +here are Egyptians, Bulgarians, Persians, and even Africans; but we +will pass them by and cross to the main stand, where are exposed for +sale some score of Georgians and Circassians. They are all chosen +for their beauty of person, and present a scene of more than usual +interest, awaiting the fate that the future may send them in a kind +or heartless master; and knowing how much of their future peace +depends upon this chance, they watch each new comer with almost +painful interest as he moves about the area. + +A careless crowd thronged the place, lounging about in little knots +here and there, while one lot of slave merchants, with their broad +but graceful turbans, were sitting round a brass vessel of coals, +smoking or making their coffee, and discussing the matters +pertaining to their trade. Some came there solely to smoke their +opium-drugged pipes, and some to purchase, if a good bargain should +offer and a beauty be sold cheap. Here were sprightly Greeks, sage +Jews, and moody Armenians, but all outnumbered by the sedate old +Turks, with beards sweeping their very breasts. It was a motley +crowd that thronged the slave market. + +Now and then there burst forth the ringing sound of laughter front +an enclosed division of the place where were confined a whole bevy +of Nubian damsels, flat-nostriled and curly-headed, but as slight +and fine-limbed as blocks of polished ebony. They were lying +negligently about, in postures that would have taken a painter's +eye, but we have naught to do with then at this time. + +The females that were now offered for sale were principally of the +fair and rosy-cheeked Circassian race, exposed to the curious eve of +the throng only so far as delicacy would sanction, yet leaving +enough visible to develope charms that fired the spirits of the +Turkish crowd; and the bids ran high on this sale of humanity, until +at last a beautiful creature, with a form of ravishing loveliness, +large and lustrous eyes, and every belonging that might go to make +up a Venus, was led forth to the auctioneer's stand. She was young +and surpassingly handsome, while her hearing evinced a degree of +modesty that challenged their highest admiration. + +Of course the bidding was spirited and liberal for such a specimen +of her race; but suddenly the auctioneer paused, and declared that +he had forgotten to mention one matter which might, perhaps, be to +some purchasers even a favorable consideration, which was, that the +slave was deaf and dumb! The effects of this announcement were of +course various; on some it did have a favorable effect, inasmuch as +it seemed to add fresh interest to the undoubted charms she evinced, +but other shrank back disappointed that a creature of so much +loveliness should be even partially bereft of her faculties. + +"Are you deaf and dumb?" asked an old Turk, approaching the +Circassian where she stood, as though he wished to satisfy himself +as to the truth of what the salesman had announced. + +The slave lifted her eyes at his approach, and only shook her head +in signification that she could not speak, as she saw his lips move +in the utterance of some words, which she supposed addressed to her. +The splendid beauty of her eyes, and the general expression of her +countenance, seemed to act like magic on the Musselman, who, turning +to the auctioneer, bid five hundred piasters, a hundred advance on +the first offer. + +At this moment a person wearing the uniform of the Turkish navy, +made his way towards the stand from the centre of the bazaar, where +he had for some minutes been intently regarding the scene, and bid + +"Six hundred piasters." + +"Seven," said the previous bidder. + +"Eight," continued the naval officer. + +"Eight fifty," responded the old Turk. + +"Nine hundred," said the officer, with a promptness that attracted +the attention of the crowd. + +"One thousand piasters," said his competitor, as he continued to +regard her exquisite and beautiful mould, and her features, so like +a picture, in their regular and artistic lines of beauty. It was +very plain that the old Turk felt, as he gazed upon her, so silent +yet so beautiful, that she was richly worth her weight in pearls. + +"A thousand piasters," repeated the vender of the slave market, +turning once more to the officer, then added, as he received no +encouraging sign from him, "a thousands piasters, and sold!" + +The officer regarded her with much interest, and turned away in +evident disappointment, for the old Turk who had outbid him, had +gone beyond any means that he possessed. The purchaser handed forth +the money in a couple of small bags, and throwing a close veil over +the head of the slave, led her away through the narrow and winding +streets of old Stamboul to the water's side, where they entered a +caique that awaited them, and pulled up the harbor. + +Its shooting caiques, its forest of merchantmen, and its hoard of +Turkish war ships; were changed, in a few moments of swift pulling, +for the breathless solitude of the Valley of Sweet Waters, which +opens with a gentle curve from the Golden Horn, and winds away into +the hills towards Belgrade, where the river assumes the character of +a silvery stream, threading its way through a soft and verdant +meadow on either hand, as beautiful in aspect as the Prophet's +Paradise. The spot where the Sultan sends his swift-footed Arabians +to graze on the earliest verdure that decks the face of spring. + +It was up this fairy-like passage that the dumb slave was swept in +her master's caique, and by scenes so beautiful as even to enchant +her sad and silent bosom. The Turk marked well the influence of the +scenery upon the Circassian, and slowly stroked his beard with +silent satisfaction at the sight. + +The caique soon stopped before a gorgeous palace, in the midst of +this fine plain, and the Turk, by a signal, summoned the guard of +eunuchs from a tent of the Prophet's green, that was pitched near +the banks of the Barbyses, that ran its meandering course through +this verdant scene. It was a princely home, the proudest harem in +all this gem of the Orient, for the old Turk had acted not for +himself in the purchase he had made, but as the agent of a higher +will than his own, and the dumb slave was led to the seraglio of the +Sultan. + +The old Turk was evidently a privileged body, and following close +upon the heels of the eunuchs, he divested himself of his slippers +at the entrance of the palace, and led the slave before the "Brother +of the Sun." + +The monarch was a noble specimen of his race, tall, commanding, and +with a spirit of firmness breathing from his expressive face. His +beard was jetty black, and gave a much older appearance to his +features than belonged to them. He was the child of a seraglio, +whose mothers were chosen for beauty alone, and how could he escape +being handsome? The blood of Circassian upon Circassian was in his +veins, and the trace of their nationality was upon his brow, but +there was in the eye a doomed darkness of expression that caused the +beautiful creature before him to almost tremble with fear. + +"Beautiful, indeed," mused the Sultan, as he gazed upon the slave +with undisguised interest; "and how much did she cost us, good +Mustapha?" + +"One thousand piasters, excellency" answered the agent, with +profound respect. + +"A thousand piasters," repeated the monarch, again gazing at the +slave. + +"Yes, excellency, the bids ran high." + +"A goodly sum, truly, Mustapha, but a goodly return," continued the +Sultan. + +"There was one fault, excellency," continued the agent, "that I +feared might disappoint you." + +"And what is that, good Mustapha?" + +"She is both deaf and dumb, excellency." + +"A mute?" + +"Yes, excellency." + +"Both deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan, rising from his divan and +approaching the lovely Circassian, actuated by the interest that he +felt at so singular an announcement. + +While the old Turk stroked his beard with an air of satisfaction at +the result of his purchase as it regarded the approval of his +master, the slave bent humbly before the monarch, for though she +knew not by any word or sign addressed to her who her master was, +yet she felt that no one could assume that air of dignity and +command but the Sultan. A blush stole over the pale face of the +Circassian as the monarch laid his hand on her arm and gazed +intently upon her face, and whatever his inward thoughts were, his +handsome countenance expressed a spirit of tenderness and gentle +concern for her situation that became him well, for clemency is the +brightest jewel in a crown. + +"Deaf and dumb," repeated the Sultan against to himself, "and yet so +very beautiful." + +"She is beautiful, indeed, excellency," said the old Turk, echoing +his master's thoughts. + +"So they sought her eagerly at the market, good Mustapha, did they +not?" + +"Excellency, yes. One of your own officers bid against me heavily; +he wore the marine uniform." + +"Ha! did the fellow know you?" asked the Sultan, quickly, with a +flashing eye that showed how capable that face was of a far +different expression from that which the dumb slave had given rise +to. + +"I think he did not know me, excellency." + +After a moment's pause the Sultan turned again to the gentle girl +that stood before him, and taking her hand, endeavored by his looks +of kind assurance to express to her that he should strive to make +her happy; and as he smoothed her dark, glossy hair tenderly, the +slave bent her forehead to the hand that held her own, in token of +gratitude for the kindness with which she was received, and when she +raised her face again. Both the Sultan and Mustapha saw that tears +had wet her cheeks, and her bosom heaved quickly with the emotion +that actuated her. + +At this moment the Circassian felt her dress slightly drawn from +behind, and turning, confronted the person of a lad who might, +judging from his size, be some seventeen years of age. His form was +beautiful in its outline, and his step light and graceful; but the +face, alas! that throne of the intellect was a barren waste, and his +vacant eye and lolling lip showed at once that the poor boy was +little less than an idiot. And yet, as he looked upon the slave, and +saw the tear glistening in her eye, there seemed to be a flash of +intelligence cross his features, as though there was still a spark +of heaven in the boy. But 'twas gone again, and seeming to forget +the object that had led him to her side, he sank down upon the +cushioned floor, and played with a golden tassel as an infant would +char have done. + +The idiot was an exemplification of a strange but universal +superstition among the Turks. With these eastern people there is a +traditionary belief in what is called the evil eye, answering to the +evil spirit that is accredited to exist by more civilized nations. +Any human being bereft of reason, or seriously deformed in any way, +is held by them to be a protection against the blight of the evil +eye, which, being once cast upon a person, renders him doomed +forever. Holding, therefore, that dwarfs, idiots or mad-men are +partially inspired, every considerable such establishment supports +one or more, whose privilege it is to follow, untrammeled, their own +pleasure. The idiot boy, in the Sultan's palace, was one of this +class, whom no one thwarted, and who was regarded with a half +superstitious reverence by all. + +While this scene had been transpiring between the idiot boy and the +slave, the Sultan had been talking with Mustapha concerning the +latter. It seemed by his story that she had been very ill since she +was brought from her native valley, and that she was hardly yet +recovered from the debility that had followed her sickness. She +would not write nor read one word of either the Turkish or +Circassian tongue, and therefore could only express herself by signs; +for which reason, neither those who sold her nor the purchaser +knew aught of her history beyond the fact that she was a Circassian, +and also that she seemed to be less happy than those of her +countrywomen generally who come to Constantinople. This might be +owing to the affliction under which she labored as to being dumb, +but it was evident that Sultan Mahomet thought otherwise as he gazed +silently at her. + +"She came not of her own free will from her native vales, Mustapha," +said his master. + +"No one knows, excellency, though her people generally come most +cheerfully to our harems." + +"There is no means of understanding her save by signs?" asked the +Sultan. + +"None, excellency." + +"Take her to the harem, Mustapha," said his master, after a few +moments of thoughtful silence, "take her to the harem, and give +strict charge that she be well cared for." + +"Excellency, yes," said the old Turk, with a profound reverence +after the manner of the East, "your wish is your slave's law," he +continued, as he turned away. + +"And look you, good Mustapha," said the Sultan, recalling him once +more, "say it is our will that she be made as happy as may be." + +"Excellency, yes," again repeated the old man with a salaam, and +then turning to the Circassian, he signed to her to follow him. + +As the slave retired she could not but look back at the Sultan, who +had greeted her with such kind consideration, and as she did so she +met his dark, piercing eye bent upon her in gentle pity. She almost +sighed to leave the presence of one who had showed her the first +kindness, the first token of thoughtful consideration for her +situation since she left her own home, far away beyond the sea. But +Mustapha beckoned her forward, and she hastened to obey his summons, +wondering as she went what was to be her fate; whether that was to +be her future home, and what position she was to hold there. Musing +thus, she followed the Turk towards the sacred precincts of the +harem. + +The monarch left alone, save the thoughtless boy, who lay upon the +rich divan, coiled up like an animal gone to sleep, seemed to be +troubled in his mind. Stern and imperious by nature, it was not +usual for him to evince such feeling as had exercised him towards +the dumb slave, and it was plain that his heart was moved by +feelings that were novel there. Touching a silver gong that hung +pendent from the wall, just within reach of his arm, a Nubian slave +opened the hangings of the apartment, and appeared as though he had +come out of the wall. + +The slave knew well his master's summons, and preparing for him the +bowl of his pipe, and lighting it, coiled the silken tube to his +hand, and on his knee presented the amber mouthpiece. + +Thus occupied, the Sultan was soon lost in the dreamy narcotic of +the tobacco. + + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SULTAN'S HAREM. + + + + + +The harem into which the dumb Circassian girl was conducted by the +woman to whom the old Turk delivered his message, was a place of +such luxuriant splendor as to puzzle her, and she stood like one +amazed for some moments.--The costly and grateful lounges, the heavy +and downy carpets, the rich velvet and silken hangings about the +walls, the picturesque and lovely groups of female slaves that +laughed and toyed with each other, mingling in pleasant games, the +rich though scanty dress of these favorites of the Sultan, all were +confusing and dazzling to her untutored eye, and when, after a few +moments' minutes, a dozen of these lovely girls crowded about her +with curious eyes to know who was the new comer that was to be their +companion, the poor girl shrunk back half abashed, for she could not +speak to them. + +They too were puzzled that she made no reply to them, and stood +there in wonder. + +It was only for a moment, however, when the beautiful stranger +pointed to her mouth and ears significantly, and gently shook her +head with a sadness of expression that was electrical, for each one +instantly understood her meaning, and pitied her. Some little +feeling of envy might have been ready to burst forth in the breasts +of those about her, but gentle pity loves to linger by beauty's +side, and so they all loved and condoled with the fair stranger. One +took her hand and led her to a cushion in the centre of the little +circle that had just been formed, another unloosed the wealth of +beautiful hair that astonished them by its dark richness and +profusion as it fell about her fair neck. She who had unloosed the +new comer's hair, now fell to braiding it in solid masses and +plaiting it about her head. + +A second one taking a rare bracelet of pearls off her own fair arms, +placed it upon the Circassian's, and sealed it there with a +kiss!--Another removed the leather shoes she wore, and replaced them +with satin ones of curious workmanship and richly wrought with +thread of gold, and still another loosened the coarse mantle that +enshrouded her shoulders, and covered her with a shawl that had come +across the desert from the far east, rich in texture and beautiful +as costly. And as another tossed a handful of fresh flowers into her +lap, the poor girl's cheeks became wet with tears, for their +unselfish kindness and generous tenderness had touched heart. + +But these tokens were quickly brushed away and kisses took their +place, while fair and delicate hands were busy upon her, until the +poor slave who had so lately stood exposed in the open bazaar of the +capital, now saw among this family of the Turkish monarch, literally +as a star of the harem. In beauty, she did indeed outshine them all, +but they forgot this in the memory of her misfortune, and envied not +the dumb slave. They touched her fingers with henna dye, and +anointed her with rare and costly perfumes, seeming to vie with each +other in their interesting efforts to deck and beautify one who had +only the voluptuous softness of her dark eyes to thank them with, +for those lovely lips, of such tempting freshness in their coral +hue, could utter no sound. + +They brought to her all their jewels and rich ornaments to amuse +her, and each one contributed to give her from out their store some +becoming ornament, now a diamond broach, and now a ruby ring, next a +necklace of emeralds, interspersed with glowing opals, a fourth +added a girdle of golden chain braced at every link by close and +richly cut garnets, and other rings of sapphire and amethysts, until +the lovely stranger was dazzling with the combined brilliancy and +reflection of so many rare and beautiful jewels about her person. + +It was not the jewels that so gratified the young Circassian, but +the good will they represented. She cared little for them +intrinsically, beautiful and rich as they were, but she grew very +fast to love the donors. + +Days passed on in this manner, and the Sultan was no less surprised +than delighted to witness this voluntary kindness and affection that +was so freely rendered to the lovely girl. Her affliction seemed to +render her sacred in his eyes, and there was no kindness on his part +that was forgotten. Her manners and intelligent bearing showed her +to belong to the better class of her own nation, and her gentle +dignity commanded respect as well as love. She had already come to a +degree of understanding with those about her that was sufficient as +it regarded her ordinary wishes and wants, but of the past or future +she had not means to communicate, her tongue was sealed, and for +this reason her history must remain a hidden mystery to those about +her whom she loved, and would gladly have confided in. + +One occupation seemed to delight her above all else, it was so +simple and beautiful, besides which it enabled her to convey her +feelings by means of an agency that, as far as it went, supplied to +her the loss of her speech. It was the arranging of flowers so as to +make them speak the language of her heart to another, a means of +communication in which the women of the East excel. Indeed it is the +only mode in which they can hold silent converse, since they know +not the cunning of the pen. Engaged in this gentle and pleasing +occupation, the Circassian passed hours and days in the study and +practice of the sweet language of flowers. + +For hours together, while she was thus occupied, the idiot boy would +sit and watch her movements, and now and then receive some kindly +token of consideration from her hand that seemed to delight him +beyond measure. He followed her every movement with his eye, and +seemed only content when close by her side, sitting near her, +patient and silent; in fact he could utter but few audible sounds, +and no one had ever taught the poor idiot how to talk. + +One afternoon, in the gardens that opened from the harem, the +Circassian had been engaged thus, sitting beneath the projecting +roof of a lattice-work summer house. The sun as it crept down +towards the western horizon threw lengthened shadows across the soft +green sward where minaret, cypress, or projecting angle of the +palace intervened. The boy would pick out one of those dark shadows, +and sitting down where it terminated, seem to think that he could +keep it there, but when the shadow lengthened every moment more and +more, and seemed to his untutored and simple comprehension to creep +out from under him, he would look amazed to see how it was done +while he sat upon it. + +In following up a projecting shadow thus, he had come at last almost +to the very side of the dumb slave just as a gaudy winged parrot lit +upon the eve of the summer house on a large piece of the picket work +that had been used as an ornament for its top, but which having been +broken from its position, had slid down to the very eaves and now +hung but half suspended upon the roof. Even the lighting of the +parrot upon its edge was sufficient to balance it from the fragile +support that retained it on the roof, and then it slid off +immediately above the head of the Circassian girl. + +The boy was on his feet as quick as thought itself, and springing to +the spot, with both hands outspread above her head, he canted the +heavy frame work away from her so that it came upon the ground, +sinking deep into the earth from its sharp points and considerable +weight. Had the falling mass come upon her head, as it would most +inevitably have done but for the boy, its effect must have been +instantly fatal. The Circassian saw the imminent service the boy had +rendered her, but he was sitting on the end of another shadow in a +moment after! + +Was it reason or instinct that had caused him to make that +successful effort with such wonderful speed and accuracy? The slave +looked at him in wonder. It was very evident that he had already +forgotten the service which he had rendered, and the same listless, +childlike, and almost idiotic expression was in his face. this event +endeared the boy very much to the Circassian, and she never failed +to show him every kindness in her power. She would arrange his +straggling dress, and part his hair, smoothly away from his handsome +forehead, and give him always of each delicacy provided for herself, +until the boy seemed to feel himself almost solely dependent upon +her, and to seek her side as a faithful hound might have done. + +Thus had time passed with the dumb slave in the Sultan's palace on +the Barbyses. + +At times she would stroll among the rare beds of plants, and culling +fresh chaplets for her head, wreathe herself a fragrant garland, +ever finding some familiar scent that recalled her far off home in +all its freshness. Wearied of this she wandered among the jasper +fountains, and watched the play of those waters, the soft and +rippling music of which she might not hear, or still further on in +the many labyrinths of the garden and harem walks, would throw +herself upon some rich cushions beside a silver urn, where burnt +sweet aloes and sandal wood and rods of spice to perfume the air. At +early morn she loved to pet the blue pigeons that had been brought +from far off Mecca, held so sacred by the faithful, to feed them +from her own hands, and to toy with the golden thrushes from +Hindostan, and the gaudy birds of Paradise that flew about with +other rare and beautiful songsters in this fairy palace of the +Sultan. + +Her companions watching her with loving eyes, never faltered in +their kindness and love for her. Indeed it seemed as though they +could not avoid tendering her this affection, she was so very +beautiful and gentle in all things. They had named her Lalla, or the +tulip, because of her love for that beautiful and delicate flower. + +The Sultan looked upon the young Circassian--she had numbered hardly +seventeen summers--more in the light of a daughter than a slave, and +she who could have feared him else, even looked with pleasure for +his coming, and sought in a thousand earnest but silent ways to +please him. There was no spirit of sycophancy in this, no coquetry, +or false pretense; she was all simpleness and truth, and her conduct +towards her master sprang alone from a sense of gratitude. Thus too +did the monarch translate her behaviour to him, for he was well +versed in human nature, young as he was, and could appreciate the +promptings of a young and trusting spirit, such as she exhibited in +all her intercourse with him. + +As exhibited in our illustration, the Sultan would often seek her +side in the harem, his tall, manly form contrasting strongly with +her gentle and delicate proportions, and he would regard her thus +with tender solicitude, too fully realizing her misfortune not to +pity and respect her, and he felt too that these frequent meetings +were binding his heart in a tender bondage to her. Sultan Mahomet +was a fine specimen of a Turk; in features he was markedly handsome, +and his long, flowing beard gave to him the appearance of more age +than was rightfully his. His physical developments were manly, and +to look upon he was "every inch a king." Lalla was no less beautiful +as a female; indeed she was far handsomer as it related to such a +comparison, and those who saw them so often together in the harem +could not but think what a noble pair they were, and seemingly +worthy of each other. + +She possessed all that soft delicacy of appearance that reminds the +sterner sex how frail and dependent is woman, while she bore in her +face that sweet and winning expression of intellect, that, in other +climes more favored by civilization, and where cultivation adds so +much to the charms of her sex, would alone have marked her as +beautiful. Her eyes, which were surpassing in their dreamy +loveliness, were enhanced in beauty by a languid plaintiveness that +a realizing sense of her misfortunes had imparted to the expression +of her face, while her whole manner bore that subdued and quiet air +that sorrow ever imparts. Those of her companions who knew her best, +could easily understand that her heart was far away from her present +home; for her actions spoke this as plainly as might have ever been +done by words, and poor Lalla, wherever she had come from, and under +whatever circumstances, had evidently left her heart behind her +among her childhood's scenes. + +The Sultan was earnestly interested in his dumb but beautiful slave, +and instituted a series of inquiries as to her history. His agents +were instructed to find out, if possible, the mode in which she had +been brought hither, and also to learn, if possible, the manner and +cause of her leaving her native hills in the Caucasus; for of these +things the fair girl had no means of communicating. The monarch and +all Constantinople knew that her people generally looked forward +with joy to the time when they should be old enough to be taken to +the Turkish capital, and seek their fortunes there, and the fact of +this being so different apparently with Lalla, created the more +curiosity to ferret out her story. + +But all their efforts were useless in the pursuit of this purpose. +Since the Sultan's object in the inquiry was announced, much time +had transpired; but had his proclamation met the eye or ear of those +who transported the fair Circassian hither, they would hardly have +responded to it, as it might, for aught they knew, cost them their +heads. And thus the gentle slave lived on, a mystery to those about +her which even she was unable to solve. + +"You made all inquiries at the bazaar, good Mustapha?" asked the +Sultan. + +"Most rigid inquiries, excellency." + +"And could learn nothing of the history of this beautiful slave?" +continued the Sultan. + +"Nothing, excellency." + +"It is very strange that no one can be found who knows aught about +her. Did you trace her back to those who sold her to the salesman of +the bazaar?" + +"Yes, excellency, and two sales beyond that; but it seemed that +although so beautiful, the fact of her being dumb had caused her to +be very much undervalued, and she had passed through the hands of a +number of irresponsible slave merchants, who took but little heed of +her before she came to the bazaar." + +"Doubtless, then, we may hardly expect to hear more concerning her." + +"The reward you offered was munificent, excellency, but has brought +no response." + +"You have not yet purchased for me those Georgians, good Mustapha," +continued the monarch, after a few moments' pause, and probably +desiring to change a subject in which he felt that he was only too +much interested. + +"Excellency, they are held at so high a price that I have refused to +pay it." + +"Well, well, be discreet, and purchase shrewdly," said the Sultan, +resuming his pipe. + +And in this manner the Sultan forgot his lovely slave, and removing +the mouth-piece of his pipe now and then, continued to question his +slave touching the matters that seemed to pertain to his department +of the household. + +Poor Lalla! she had only her own unhappiness to brood upon as she +sat by some rippling fountain and watched its silvery jets and +sparkling drops, at times forgetting for a moment her sadness of +heart in the beauty that completely surrounded her; and then again, +perhaps mingling her tears with the fragrant blossoms that strewed +her lap and filled her hands. Alas! poor child! how it would have +eased the quick beating of thy heart if thou couldst have told the +story of thy unhappiness to some other confiding spirit. + +The idiot boy would watch these tears, and at times he would wear a +fixed, vacant stare, as though he took no note of their meaning; and +at others, he would seem to comprehend their sorrowful import. When +this was the case, he would creep close to her side and lay his head +by her feet, and closing his eyes, remain as motionless as death. +This would at length arouse her from her unhappy mood, and she would +turn and gently caress the poor boy. Once when she had done this, +she saw a large tear drop steal out from beneath his closed eyelids, +and fall across his check. She rejoiced at this, for, while all +others set him down as without feeling, she saw that kindness at +least would awaken his heart. + +Lalla had been weeping, and now sat alone by a bed of fragrant +flowers, when one of those fairy-like children of the harem, +scarcely older than herself, came tripping with light and +thoughtless steps towards her, and detecting her saddened mood, +kissed way the tears that still lingered upon her cheeks, and +binding a wreath of fresh and beautiful flowers about her head, lay +down in Lalla's lap and toyed with the stray buds, looking up into +her eyes with gentle love and tenderness. + +How grateful were these delicate and beautiful manifestations of +feeling to the lonely-hearted slave. + + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BEDOUIN ARABS. + + + + + +It was one of those soft days, made up of nature's sweetest smiles, +of sunshine and gentle zephyrs, when sky, and sea, and shore were +radiant, and all the earth seemed glad, that a lone horseman sat +with the reins cast loosely upon the arching neck of his proud +Arabian, on the plain beyond the Armenian cemetery, in the suburbs +of Constantinople. The rider was dressed in the plainest attire of a +quiet citizen, though the material of his clothes and the few +ornaments that were visible about his person indicated their owner +to be one who was no meagre possessor of the riches of this world. +Both rider and horse were as still as though they had been carved in +marble instead of being living objects, save the quick, nervous +motion, now and then, of the full-blooded animal's ears, as some +distant sound rose over the Turkish city. + +The Mussulman, as he sat there in a thoughtful and silent mood, +stroked slowly the jetty black beard that swept his breast, while he +seemed completely absorbed in contemplating the scene before him. He +had galloped at once from paved streets to the unfenced and +uncultivated desert that stretches away from the seven hills of +Stamboul to the very horizon. No wonder he paused there to gaze upon +the beauties that the eye might take in at a single glance. + +Before him lay the city in all its oriental beauty, while, on every +sloping hillside about it, in every rural nook stood a dark +nekropolis, or city of the dead, shadowed by the close growing +cypresses, beneath whose shadows turbaned heads alone are permitted +to rest. From out of these, stretching its slender point away +towards the blue heavens, rose the fairy-like minaret, as if +pointing whither had gone the spirits of the faithful. + +There, too, lay the incomparable Bosphorus, stretching away towards +the sea, and the beautiful isles in the sweet waters of Marmora, +with countless boats swarming in the Golden Horn, and then the eye +would turn back again to the city with its thousand minarets. There +lay, too, the velvet-carpeted Valley of Sweet Waters, where was the +Sultan's serai, looking like some fair scene described in the Koran, +so soft, fairy-like, and enticing. + +The rider now slowly gathered up the reins from his horse's neck, +and. slightly restraining the spirited animal by a pressure of the +curb, permitted him slowly to walk on while his master appeared +still to be lost in thought. Once or twice he cast his eyes again +towards the city, and then again mused to himself, as though his +cares and thoughts lay there. So much was the rider absorbed within +himself that he did not observe two power Bedouin Arabs of the +desert, who had wandered to the outskirts of the city, and whose +longing eyes were bent, not on him, but upon the horse which he +rode. To the skillful eyes of these children of the desert he was +almost invaluable; every step betrayed his metal, while the clean +limb, nervous action, and distended nostrils told of the fleetness +that was in him! + +You may trust an Arab often with gold or precious goods; the very +fact of the confidence, you accord to him makes him faithful. You +may trust your life in his hands, and the laws of hospitality shall +protect you; but trust him not with a fine horse--that will betray +him, though nothing else might do so. Born in the desert where they +are reared and loved so well, he imbibes from childhood a regard for +the full blooded barb, that falls little short of reverence; and +being once possessed of one, no money can part them. The two +Bedouins stealthily watched the Turk as he rode slowly along, and +were evidently only awaiting a favorable moment to attack and +overcome him. + +By an ingenious movement they doubled a slight hillock that lay +between them and the woods of Belgrade, and as they came up on the +other side, placed themselves directly in the path of the horseman. +Still they were unobserved by him, and not until one had laid his +hand upon the bridle, and the other violent hands upon his garments, +did he arouse from the dreamy thoughts which had so completely +absorbed him. Thus taken at disadvantage, the horseman was forced +from the saddle before he could offer any resistance, but having +once reached the ground, and being fairly on his feet, his bright +blade glistened in the sun and flashed before the eyes of the Arab +robbers. + +"Yield us the horse and go thy way!" said one of the assailants, +soothingly. + +"By the Prophet, never!" shouted the Turk, setting upon them +fiercely as he spoke and wounding one severely at the very outset, +while he held the bridle of the horse. + +The horseman was one used to the weapon he wielded, and the Arabs +saw that they had no easy enemy to conquer. He who held the horse +was forced to unloose the bridle to defend himself, while the other +was now striving to use the gun that was strapped to his back; but +they were at too close quarters for the employing of such a weapon, +and the stout, iron-like frames of the Arabs were fast conquering +the skill and endurance of the Turk. But that bright sword was not +wielded so skillfully for naught, and one of the robbers was already +glad to creep from without its reach, just as his companion +succeeded in breaking the finely-tempered blade with his gun barrel, +leaving the Turk comparatively at his mercy; and again he bade him +surrender the horse, the animal trained to the nicest point of +perfection, still remaining quiet close to the spot where the +encounter had taken place. The clashing of the weapons had startled +him, and he breathed quick, and his ears showed that the nervous +energy of his frame was aroused, but a spear point thrust into his +very flanks would not have started him away until his master bade +him to go. + +"Yield thou now, or die!" shouted the excited Bedouin, drawing his +long dagger. + +"By the Prophet, never!" again exclaimed the Turk, with vehemence, +though he panted sorely from the extraordinary exertion he had made +to defend himself from the attack of his two assailants. + +All this had transpired in far less time than we have occupied in +the relation, and once more now having him greatly at disadvantage, +the Bedouins rushed upon him. + +But there came now upon the scene a third party, at this excited +moment, from out the forest of Belgrade. He seemed but a weary +traveller, though when his eyes rested upon the scene we have +described, an instantaneous change came over him, and he appeared at +once to comprehend the meaning of the whole affair. Just at the very +moment when the Arab, who had been partially vanquished and somewhat +severely wounded, regained his feet, and was coming once more to the +contest, the traveller, espousing the side of the weaker party, who +was now indeed unarmed, fiercely attacked the robbers with a heavy +staff that he carried, and in a moment, being comparatively fresh, +and aided by the surprise as well as the lusty blows that he dealt +about him, he caused the two Bedouins to retreat precipitately, +though they made a last and nearly successful effort to carry off +the horse, but this the ready arm of the traveller prevented. + +A moment sufficed to put both the Turk and his deliverer in breath +once more. + +"Who art thou that hast been so opportunely sent to rescue me?" +asked the Turk, at he called his horse by his name, and the +beautiful animal came quietly to his side. + +"A poor traveller, well nigh wearied by the long way," answered the +other. + +"Thy habiliments bespeak thee as coming from the North, and they +look as though want had been thy companion on the way," continued he +whom the traveller had rescued. + +"It has, indeed," said the other; "fatigue and want have kept me +company these many long days." As he answered thus, he wiped the +perspiration that his late exertion had caused, from his brow. + +"I owe you my hearty thanks for this timely service," said the Turk. + +"A trifling deed that any man in my place would have performed." + +"Take this," replied the Turk, depositing a purse, heavy with gold, +in the stranger's hands. "Use the contents as you will, and when you +have need of further assistance, if there be aught that one +possessing some influence can serve thee in, present that purse at +the gates of the seraglio gardens, and you will find me." + +"Thanks! a thousand thanks!" said the stranger, "though I must look +upon this as a gift, a charity, not in the light of a payment. The +service I have rendered might have been afforded by the meanest +slave." + +"I know well how to esteem a favor, and how to pay it," answered the +Turk, as he mounted his spirited horse and turned his head towards +the entrance of the city of Constantine. He rode with a free rein +now, and the horse dashed over the level plain like an antelope, +while his rider sat in the saddle like a Marmaluke. + +The traveller poured out a quantity of the gold from the purse to +assure himself of its value, and weighing the whole together, said +to himself, "A few moments since and I was a beggar, now I am rich; +after starving for many long weeks, fortune fills my hand with gold, +as if to show me the contrast. It was a piece of singular good luck +for me to meet with that rich old Turk; those fellows from the +desert were giving him sharp practice; it was only the barb that +they wanted. What a cunning eye those rascals have for horseflesh!" +Talking thus to himself, he placed the gold in a secure part of his +dress, though he need hardly have feared that any one would suspect +him of possessing so much of value. + +The traveller turned once more to look after the Turk, but he was +already far away, though he could still make out his bearing and +stately carriage as he disappeared. Picking up the staff that had +just served him to such good purpose, he followed in the same path, +which would lead him to Constantinople, ere the sun should set in +the west. + +As he drew nearer to the city he too paused to drink in of the +beauties of that twilight hour. The scene was new to him, and his +eye was filled with delight and surprise as it roamed over that +oriental sunset view. As he came down the side of the gently sloping +hill beyond Pera, he paused for a moment in the cemetery there, and +among the deep shadows of the heavy funereal cypresses and the tall, +white gravestones that thickly overspread the ground, he felt a +chill of loneliness that made him to hasten on to a spot where he +could catch the last lingering rays of the setting sun kissing the +waves of the Bosphorus. + +He hurried on now into the city proper, though seemingly without any +fixed purpose, and strolled carelessly along, gazing with interest +upon all that met his curious eye; now pausing before some rich +Persian fountain half as large as a church, covered with curious +inscriptions and ornaments of gold; now regarding some sequestered +mosque almost hidden in cypresses; and now watching a cluster of +indolent-looking, large-trowsered, and moustached, but often +handsome men. + +Here he was jostled by a bevy of females, shuffling along in their +yellow slippers, their faces shrouded to the eyes in that +never-forgotten covering with the Turkish wives, the yashmach; now +crowded one side by an armed kervos who is clearing the way for some +dignitary to follow; and now forced here and there by, Jew, Turk or +Armenian. But still, while he regarded intently this busy scene, he +yielded the way to all, for he was wearied and his spirits were +evidently depressed both by physical and mental suffering. + +The traveller was started from his reverie by the attack upon him of +some hundred dogs, who saluted his ears with such a volley of howls +as nearly to stun him. These natural scavengers are protected by the +laws here, and whenever a stranger is seen, one whose dress or +manner betrays him as such, they set upon him like mad, but the +staff that had stood him in such good service not long before, soon +dispersed his canine tormentors, though he showed that even this +little circumstance annoyed him seriously; it was a sad welcome to a +stranger. + +Perhaps there is no feeling more desolate and forsaken in its +promptings than that realized by one who finds himself alone in a +crowd. His inward solitude is more acutely realized by the contrast +he sees about him, and he feels how much he is alone. Thus it was +with the young traveller who had made his way into the city as we +have described; he was indeed solitary though surrounded by hosts, +for he was a stranger and knew no one in the Sultan's beautiful +capital. + +Still he wandered on amid the crowd until at last he found himself +in the drug bazaar, where a scene so peculiarly oriental and rich +met his observation as to make him forget for a while his own sad +and weary mood. Strange and antique jars of every shape crowded the +shelves of the various stalls, their edges turned over with +brilliant colored paper, each drug bearing its own appropriate one. +The shelves were bending under the weight of rich gums, spices, +incense-wood, medicinal roots, and cunning dyes. The sedate Turk +who presides over each stall at this hour, sits with his legs +crossed and his eyes rolling in a sort of dreamy languor from the +powerful narcotic of his opium-drugged pipe. He is happy and +thoughtless in the dissipation that sooner or later hurries him to +the grave. + +It was the corflew hour, and from out the lofty spires of the +neighboring mosques there came a voice that called to prayer. Each +Mussulman prostrated himself, no matter in what occupation he was +engaged, and bowing his head towards Mecca, the tomb of the Prophet, +performing his silent devotion. In famine, in pestilence, or in +plenty, five times a day the Turk finds time for this solemn +religious duty; whether right or wrong in creed, what a lesson it is +to the Christian. And so thought the lonely traveller, for he bent +his own head upon his breast in respectful awe at the exhibition he +beheld. + +Pausing in silence until the scene had changed from the solemn act +of prayer to that of busy life, he passed out of the dim-lighted +bazaar once more into the open street. Night was fast creeping over +the city, and he remembered how much he required rest and +refreshment, and availing himself of the proffered services of a +Jewish interpreter, he told his wants, and not long after found +himself seated in one of the little Armenian houses of resort in the +outskirts of Stamboul. + +Here again he found enough of character to study in the singular and +medley company that resorted thither, but wayworn and weary, after +partaking of some refreshment, he soon lost himself in sleep. + +It was late on the subsequent morning when the traveller awoke, +greatly refreshed by his night's rest, and once more refreshing the +inner man with meats and such coffee as one gets only in Turkey, he +roamed again into the streets, where we must leave him to pursue his +purpose, be it what it might, while we turn to other scenes in our +story, taking the reader across the sea, to another, hut no loss +interesting land. + + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +VALES OF CIRCASSIA. + + + + + +Circassia, the land of beauty and oppression, whose noble valleys +produce such miracles of female loveliness, and whose level plains +are the vivid scenes of such terrible struggles; where a brave, +unconquerable peasantry have, for a very long period, defied the +combined powers of the whole of Russia, and whose daughters, though +the children of such brave sires, are yet taught and reared from +childhood to look forward to a life of slavery in a Turkish harem as +the height of their ambition--Circassia, the land of bravery, beauty +and romance, is one of the least known, but most interesting spots +in all Europe. + +Whether it be that the genial air of its hills and vales possesses +power to beautify the forms and faces of its daughters, or that they +inherit those charms from their ancestors by right of blood, we may +not say; but from the farthest dates, it has ever supplied the +Sultan and his people with the lovely beings who have rendered of +the harems of the Mussulmen so celebrated for the charms they +enshrine. Its daughters have been n the mothers of the highest +dignitaries of the courts, and Sultan Mahomet himself was born of a +Circassian mother. + +Unendowed with mental culture, Providence has seemed, in a degree, +to compensate to the girls of Circassia for want of intellectual +brilliancy, by rendering them physically beautiful almost beyond +description. No wonder, then, educated, or rather uneducated as they +are, that the visions of their childhood, the dreams of their +girlish days, and even the aspirations of their riper years, should +be in the anticipation of a life of independence, luxury and love, +in those fairy-like homes that skirt the Bosphorus at +Constantinople. + +Being from their earliest childhood taught by their parents to look +upon this destiny as an enviable one, these fair girls do not fail +to appreciate and fully realize the captivating charms that Heaven +has so liberally endowed them with, and wait with trembling breasts +and hopeful hearts for the period when they shall change the humble +scenes of their existence, from the long and rugged ravines of the +Caucasus, for the glittering and gaudy palaces of the Mussulmen, in +the Valley of Sweet Waters, or on the banks of the Golden Horn. + +In former years, the Trebizond merchantman took on board his cargo +of young and lovely Circassians, and navigated the Black Sea with a +flowing sheet and a flag flying at his peak, which told his business +and the commerce that he was engaged in; now the trade is +contraband, and the slave ship has to pick its way cautiously about +the island of Crimea, and keep a sharp lookout to avoid the Russian +war steamers that skirt the entire coast, and keep up a +never-ceasing blockade from the Georgian shore to the ancient port +of Anapa. + +This latter place was, for centuries, one of vital importance to the +Circassians, being their general depot or rendezvous for the trade +between themselves and the ports that lay at the other extreme of +the Black Sea. It was the point where they were always sure to find +a ready market for their females, receiving as payment in exchange +from the Turks, fire-arms, ammunition and gold. But at last the +Russians, assuming a virtue that did not actuate them, stormed and +took the fort, ostensibly to put a stop to this trade, as opposed to +the principles it involved, but in reality to stop the supplies that +enabled the brave mountaineers to oppose them so successfully. + +In the country lying immediately back of Anapa, there is a +succession of hills and vales of surpassing loveliness, presenting +the extremes of wild and rugged mountain scenery, joining fertile +plains and beautiful valleys, where, among fragrant and luxuriant +groves, many a fair creature has grown up to be brought to the slave +market and sold for a price. Vales where brave and stalwart youths +have been nurtured and taught the dexterous use of arms, being ever +educated to look upon the Russians as their natural enemies, and +also to believe that any revenge exercised upon their Moscovite +neighbors was not only commendable, but holy and just. + +In a valley opening towards the north, a short league above the port +of Anapa, at the time of our story there dwelt two families, named +Gymroc and Adegah. Both these families traced their ancestry back to +noble chiefs, who, in the days of Circassian glory and independence, +were at the head of large and powerful tribes of their countrymen. +These families, from the fact that they were thus descended, were +still held by the mountaineers who lived about them in reverence, +and their words had double weight in council when important subjects +were discussed; and indeed the present head of each was often chosen +to lead them on to the almost constantly recurring battles and +bloody guerilla contests that transpired between the mountaineers +and their enemies, the Russian Cossacks. + +The family of Gymroc was blessed with a fair daughter, an only +child, who, though living among a people who were so universally +endowed with loveliness in their gentler sex, was famed for her +transcendent loveliness far and near, and the youths of the +neighboring valleys and plains sighed in their hearts to think that +the fairest flower in all Circassia was but blooming to shed its +ripened fragrance and loveliness in the harem of some dark and +bearded Mahometan, to be the toy of some rich and heartless Turk. + +One there was among the young mountaineers, Aphiz Adegah, whose +whole life and soul seemed bound up in the lovely Komel, as she was +called. Neither was more than eighteen; indeed Komel was not so old, +for but sixteen full summers had passed over her head. They had +grown up together from very childhood, played together, worked +together, sharing each other's burthens, and mutually aiding each +other; now quietly watching the sheep and goats upon the hillsides, +and now working side by side in the fields, content and happy, so +they were always together. + +Komel was almost too beautiful. With every grace and delicacy of +outline that has, for centuries, rendered her sex so famed in her +native land, she added also a sweet, natural intelligence, which, +though all uncultivated, was yet ever beaming from her eyes, and +speaking forth from her face. Her form possessed a most captivating +voluptuous fullness, without once trespassing upon the true lines of +female delicacy. Her large and lustrous eyes were brilliant yet +plaintive, her lips red and full, and the features generally of a +delicate Grecian cast. Her hair was of that dark, glossy hue, that +defies comparison, and was heavy and luxuriant in its fullness. + +Some one has said that no one can write real poetry until he has +known the sting of unhappiness; and sure it is that beauty ever +lacks that moss-rose finish that tender melancholy throws about it, +until it has known what sorrow is. Komel had been called to mourn, +and melancholy had thrown about her a gentle glow of plaintiveness, +as a grateful angel added another grace to the rose that had +sheltered its slumber, by a shroud of moss. + +While she was yet but a little child, her only brother, but little +older than herself, and whom she loved with all the sisterly +tenderness of her young heart, had strayed away from home to the +seaside, and been drowned. From that day she had sorrowed for his +loss, and even now as memory recalled her early playmate, the tears +would dim her eyes, nor did her spirits seem ever entirely free from +the grief that had imbued them at her brother's loss. This hue of +tender melancholy was in Komel only an additional beauty, as we have +said, and lent its witchery to her other charms. + +To say that Komel was insensible to all her personal advantages +would be unreasonable, and supposing her not possessed of an +ordinary degree of perception. She knew that she was fair, nay, that +she was more beautiful than any of the youthful companions of her +native valley; but whatever others might have anticipated for her, +she had never looked forward, as nearly all of her sex do, in +Circassia, to a splendid foreign home across the Black Sea. No, no; +her young and loving heart had already made its choice of him she +had so long and tenderly loved,--him who had stepped in when there +was that vacant spot in her heart that her brother's loss had left, +and filled it; for he had been both brother and lover to her from +the tenderest years of childhood. They had probably thought little +upon the subject of their relation to each other, and had said less, +until Komel was nearly sixteen, and then it was only in that tender +and hopeful strain of a happy future, and that future to be shared +by each other. + +Aphiz was as noble and generous in spirit as he was handsome in +person. Nature had cast him in a sinewy, yet graceful form; his +native mountain air and vigorous habits had ripened his physical +developments to an early manliness and already had he more than once +charged the enemy upon the open plains of his native land. His +falchion had glanced in the tide of battle, and his stout arm had +dealt many a fatal blow to the Cossack forces, that sought to +conquer and possess themselves of all Circassia. It was a stern +school for the young mountaineer, and it was well, as he grew up in +this manner, that there was always the tender and chastening +association before his mind, of his love for the gentle and +beautiful girl who had given her young heart into his keeping. He +needed such promptings to enable him to combat the rough +associations of the camp, and the hardening duty of a soldier in +time of war. + +It was, therefore, to her side that he came for that true happiness +that emanates from the better feelings of the heart; by her side +that he enjoyed the quiet but grand scenery of their native hills +and valleys, looking, as it were, through each other's eyes at every +beauty, either of thought or that lay tangible before them. + +Though both Komel and Aphiz had been thrice happy in their constant +intercourse in the days of childhood, though those day. so well +remembered, had been to them like a pleasant morning filled with +song, or the gliding on of a summer stream, and were marked only by +truthfulness and peaceful content, still both realized as they now +entered upon a riper age of youth, that they were far happier than +ever before, that they loved each other better, and all things about +them. It is an error to suppose that childhood is the happiest +period of life, though philosophers tell us so, for a child's +pleasures are like early spring flowers--pretty, but pale, and +fleeting, and scentless. The rich and fragrant treasures of the +heart are not developed so early; they come with life's summer, and +thus it was with these Circassian youths. + +Growing up daily and hourly together to that period when love holds +strongest sway over the heart, both felt how happily they could +kneel before Heaven and be pronounced one and inseparable; but Aphiz +was poor and had no home to offer a bride, besides which, the +character of the times was sufficient to prevent their more prudent +parents from yielding their consent to such an arrangement as their +immediate union, though they offered no opposition to their +intimacy. + +Komel was of such a happy and cheerful disposition at heart that she +scattered pleasure always about her, but Aphiz's very love rendered +him thoughtful and perhaps at times a little melancholy; for he +feared that some future chance might in an unforeseen, way rob him +of her who was so ineffably dear to him. He did not exactly fear +that Komel's parents would sell her to go to Constantinople, though +they were now, since war and pestilence had swept away lands, home +and title, poor enough; and yet there was an undefined fear ever +acting in his heart as to her he loved. Sometimes when he realized +this most keenly, he could not help whispering his forebodings to +Komel herself. + +"Nay, dear Aphiz," she would say to him, with a gentle smile upon +her countenance, "let not that shadow rest upon thy brow, but rather +look with the sun on the bright side of everything. Am I not a +simple and weak girl, and yet I am cheerful and happy, while thou, +so strong, so brave and manly, art ever fearing some unknown ill." + +"Only as it regards thee, Komel, do I fear anything." + +"That's true, but I should inspire thee with joy, not fear and +uneasiness." + +"It is only the love I bear thee, dearest, that makes me so jealous, +so anxious, so fearful lest some chance should rob me of thee +forever," he would reply tenderly. + +"It is ever thus; what is there to fear, Aphiz?" + +"I know not, dearest. No one feared your gentle brother's loss years +ago, and yet one day he woke happy and cheerful, and went forth to +play, but never came back again." + +"You speak too truly," answered the beautiful girl with a sigh, "and +yet because harm came to him, it is no reason that it should come to +me, dear Aphiz." + +"Still the fear that aught may happen to separate us is enough to +make me sad, Komel." + +"Father says, that it is troubles which never happen that chiefly +make men miserable," answered the happy-spirited girl, as she laid +her head pleasantly upon Aphiz's arm. + +They stood at her father's door in the closing hour of the day when +they spoke thus, and hardly had Aphiz's words died upon his lips +when the attention of both was directed towards the heavy, dark form +of a mountain-hawk, as it swept swiftly through the air, and poising +itself for an instant, marked where a gentle wood dove was perched +upon a projecting bough in the valley. Komel laid her hand with +nervous energy upon Aphiz's arm. The hawk was beyond the reach of +his rifle, and realizing this he dropped its breach once more to his +side. A moment more and the bolder bird was bearing its prey to its +mountain nest, there to feed upon it innocent body. Neither Komel +nor Aphiz uttered one word, but turned sadly away from the scene +that had seemed so applicable to the subject of their conversation. +He bade her a tender good night, but as the young mountaineer wended +his way down the valley he was sad at heart, and asked himself if +Komel might not be that dove. + +So earnestly was he impressed with this idea, after the conversation +which had just occurred, that twice he turned his steps and resolved +to seek the lofty cliff where the hawk had flown, as though he could +yet release the poor dove; then remembering himself, he would once +more press the downward path to the valley. + +It was not to be presumed that Komel should not have found other +admirers among the youths of her native valley. She had touched the +hearts of many, though being no coquette, they soon learned to +forget her, seeing how much her heart was already another's. This, +we say, was generally the case, but there was one exception, in the +person of a young man but little older than Aphiz, whose name was +Krometz. He had loved Komel truly, had told her so, and had been +gently refused her own affection by her; but still he persevered, +until the love he had borne her had turned to something very unlike +love, and he resolved in his heart that if she loved not him, +neither should she marry Aphiz. + +At one time when Aphiz was in the heat of battle, charging upon the +Russian infantry, suddenly he staggered, reeled and fell, a bullet +had passed into his chest near the heart. His comrades raised him up +and brought him off the battle-field, and after days of painful +suffering he recovered, and was once more as well as ever, little +dreaming that the bullet which had so nearly cost him his life came +from one of his own countrymen. Could the ball have been examined, +it would have fitted exactly Krometz's rifle! + +Though the rifle shot had failed, Krometz's enmity had in no way +abated; he only watched for an opportunity more successfully to +effect the object that now seemed to be the motive of his life. +Before Komel he was all gentleness, and affected the highest sense +of honor, but at heart he was all bitterness and revenge. + +Another chapter will show the treacherous and deep game that the +rejected lover played. + + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SLAVE SHIP. + + + + + +It was on a fair summer's evening that a beautiful English built +craft, after having beat up the Black Sea all day against the ever +prevailing a north-cast wind, now gathered in her light sails and +barely kept steerageway by still spreading her jib and mainsail. +With the setting sun the breeze had lulled also to rest, and there +was but a cap full now coming from off the mountains of the +Caucasus, just enough to keep the little clipper steady in hand. + +It would be difficult to define the exact class to which the rig of +this craft would make her belong, there was so much that was English +in the hull and raking step of her masts, while the rigging, and the +way in which she was managed, smacked so strongly of the +Mediterranean that her nation also might have puzzled one familiar +with such a subject. The lofty spread of canvas, the jib, flying-jib +and fore-staysail, that are rarely worn save by the larger class of +merchantmen, gave rather an odd appearance to a craft that could +count hardly more than an hundred tons measurement. + +Besides her fore and mainsail, and those already named, the +schooner, for so we must call her, carried two heavy, but graceful +topsails upon her fore and mainmasts, and even a jigger sail or +spanker and gaff above it, on a slender spur rigged from the quarter +deck. Altogether the schooner with her various appurtenances, +resembled such a yacht as some of the English noblemen sail in the +channel and about the Isle of Man in the sporting season. + +The schooner was not unobserved from the shore, and a careful +observer could have noticed a group of persons that were evidently +regarding her with no common interest from the landing just above +the harbor of Anapa. + +"That must be the craft that has been so long expected," said one of +the group, "and we had best get our girls ready at once to put on +board before the morning." + +"This comes in a bad time, for the steamer should be here before +nightfall." + +"That's true; as she doesn't seem inclined to run in too close, +perhaps she knows it." + +"What was the signal agreed upon?" asked the first speaker of his +companion, who was silently regarding the schooner. + +"A red flag at the foretopmast head, and there it goes. Yes, it is +here sure enough." + +"How like a witch she looks." + +"They say she will outsail anything between here and Gibraltar, in +any wind." + +"What does that mean? she's going about." + +"Sure enough, and up goes her foresail, they work with a will and +are in a hurry." + +"She don't like the looks of something on the coast," said the +other. + +The fact was, while the schooner lay under the easy sail we have +described, just off the port of Anapa, the little Russian government +steamer that plies between Odessa and the ports along the Circassian +coast held by the emperor's troops, hove in sight, having just come +down the Sea of Azoff through the Straits of Yorkcale. Her dark line +of smoke was discovered by those on board the schooner, before she +had doubled the headland of Tatman, and it was very plain, that, let +the schooner's purpose be what it might, she desired to avoid all +unnecessary observation, and especially that of the steamer. + +A single movement of the helm while the mainsail sheet was eased +away, and the schooner brought the gentle night breeze that was +still setting from the north and east off the Georgian shore, right +aft, and quietly hoisting her foresail, the two were set wing and +wing, and a sea bird could not have skimmed with a more easy and +graceful motion over the deep waters that glanced beneath her hull, +than she did now. If the steamer had desired she might have +overhauled the schooner, but it would have taken all night to do it +with that leading wind in her favor; and so, after looking towards +the clipper craft with her bows for a moment, the steamer again held +on her course. + +"Too swift of wing for that smoke pipe of yours," said one of the +Circassians who had been watching the evolutions of the two crafts +from the shore. + +"The steamer has put her helm down and gives it up for it bad job," +said another, as her black bow came once more to look towards the +port of Anapa. + +"She will be off before night sets in, and we shall have the +schooner back again." + +This was in fact the policy of those on board the schooner; for no +sooner did she find herself unpursued than she hauled her wind, +jibed her foresail to starboard and looked down, towards the coast +of Asia Minor, until the moon crept up from behind the mountains of +the Caucasus as though it had come from a bath in the Caspian Sea +beyond, when the schooner was closer hauled on the other trick, and +bore up again for the harbor of Anapa. + +We have said that the little clipper numbered some hundred tons, but +though her appearance would indicate this to be the case, yet your +thorough-bred sailor would have marked how stiffly she bore so much +top hamper, and would have judged more correctly by the depth of +water that the schooner evidently drew. It was plain that she was +deep and much heavier than she looked. A few sprightly Greek youths, +in their picturesque costume were dispersed here and there in the +waist and on the forecastle, while two or three persons wearing the +same dress and evidently of that nation, were talking together in a +group upon the weather-side of the quarter-deck. + +As the hours drew towards midnight, the schooner at length opened +communication with the land by means of signal lanterns, and +immediately after boats commenced to ply between the clipper and the +shore, and continued to do so for several hours. It was plain enough +to any one who knew the usages and trade of these waters, that the +schooner was preparing to run a cargo of Circassian girls, the trade +having been, as we have already shown, made contraband by the +Russians. + +At last the clipper seemed to have received all on board that she +expected in the shape of passengers, but still stood off and on for +some reason until the breaking day began to tinge the mountain tops +beyond Anapa; when a last boat with five persons, one of whom was a +female, came down to the clipper which was thrown in the wind's eye +long enough for those to get on board, or rather for three of them +to do so; and then, as the other two pulled back to the shore, the +schooner gradually came round under the force of her topsail, and +one sail after another was distended and sheeted home until she +looked to those on shore as though enveloped in canvas, and drove +over the waters like a flying cloud. + +One of those who pulled away from the schooner as she lay her +course, would have been recognized by the reader as Krometz; and now +half way to the landing he motioned his companion to cease rowing, +while he paused himself and looked after the receding clipper with a +strange medley of expression pictured in his face. + +"Give way, give way," said his companion at last, somewhat +impatiently; "one would think, by the way you look seaward, that you +would like to head in that direction instead of pulling into the +harbor." + +"You are right, comrade. I do wish that yonder clipper was carrying +me away from here." + +"You are a queer fellow, Krometz, to let that girl make you so +unhappy, but she's off now, and will probably bring up in some +Turkish harem, where she will end her days. Not so bad a fate +either," continued the oarsman. "Surrounded by every luxury the +heart could wish or the imagination conceive, it's a better lot than +either yours or mine." + +"Well, say no more of this, and remember the utmost secrecy is to be +observed, for that tiger of an Aphiz will hunt us to death if he +does but suspect that we had a hand in the business." + +"Our disguise was sufficient," said the other, "and by-the-way, we +may as well get rid of this black stuff now;" and as he spoke he +dashed the water from alongside upon his face and hands, and removed +a coat of black from them. + +"Now give way again; let us get in, and separate before any one is +stirring abroad." + +Leaving Krometz and his companion to pursue their own business, and +the clipper craft with her course laid for the Sea of Marmora, we +will, with the reader, return once more to the mountain side where +we met Komel and Aphiz. + +In time of peace, or rather when there was no open outbreak between +the Circassians and the Russian forces, Aphiz Adegah passed his time +in hunting among the rugged hills and cliffs, and with the early +morn was abroad with his gun strapped to his back, and in his hand +the long iron-pointed staff that helped him to climb the otherwise +inaccessible rocks of the mountain's sides. Thus equipped, he came, +in the morning referred to above, to the cottage of Komel's parents, +but, instead of the cheerful, happy welcome that usually greeted him +on such occasions, he beheld consternation and misery written in the +father's face, while the mother wept as though her heart would +break. + +"What means this strange scene?" asked the young hunter, hastily. +"Where is Komel?" + +"Alas! gone, gone," sighed both. + +"Gone!" + +"Ay, gone forever." + +"What mean you? whither has she gone? what has happened to render +you so miserable?" + +Alas, Aphiz; Komel has gone to be the star of some proud Turkish +harem," said the father. + +"And with your consent?" + +"No! O, no!" + +"Nor by her own free will, that I know," he continued, quickly. + +"Alas! no; this night she was stolen from us, and we saw her borne +away before our very eyes." + +"Was there no one by to strike a blow for her, no one to render you +aid?" + +"Yes, one there was, an honest friend who lives in the next cottage. +He was aroused by the noise, and outraged by the violence he beheld, +he rushed upon the thieves, but they struck him bleeding and dead to +the earth. It was a terrible sight and poor Komel saw it as they +carried her away, and uttered such a fearful, piercing scream that +it seems to ring in our cars even now. She fainted then in their +arms, and we saw her no more." + +"Heaven guard her!" said Aphiz, with inward anguish expressed in his +face. + +"Amen!" said the aged father, with a deep, heartfelt sigh, full of +sorrow. + +This told the whole story of the previous night, and the last boat +that put off from, the shore for the clipper schooner contained +Komel as a prisoner, insensible to all about, abducted by her own +countrymen, incited by the revengeful spirit of Krometz. Actuated by +the vilest motives himself, he had persuaded a companion, as we have +seen, by a small bribe and the representation that Komel would in +reality be better off than with her parents, to aid him in his +object. Krometz had not hesitated to receive the handsome sum that +one so beautiful as Komel could not fail to command. + +Aphiz was almost too miserable to be able to find words to express +his feelings. A bitter tear stole down his sunburnt check as he saw +the mother's grief, but a stern flash of the eye was also visible in +the expression of his face. He sought at once the highest cliff +beyond the cottage, and in the distant, far-off horizon, could dimly +make out the white canvas of the slave cutter, no bigger than a +sea-bird, on the skirts of the horizon. He sat down in the +bitterness of his anguish, alone and heart-broken, and then he +remembered the scene of the previous evening, how they both together +had seen the hawk pounce down and carry off in its talons the poor +wood dove. + +That scene, so suggestive to his mind, was not without its meaning. +It was the forerunner of the calamity under which his heart now +grieved so bitterly. Aphiz Adegah's life had been a bold one, he +knew no fear. The air of his native hills was not freer than his own +spirit and as he looked off once more at the tiny white speck in the +distance that marked the spot where Komel was, his resolution was +instantly made, and he swore to follow and rescue her. + +It was but natural that the young mountaineer should desire to find +out the agency by which that evil business had been consummated. He +knew very well that such a plan as Komel's abduction could not have +been perpetrated without the aid of parties that knew her and her +home, but never for one moment did he suspect Krometz. He had ever +professed the warmest friendship for both him and Komel, and he was +deemed honest. But during the melee, when the honest mountaineer had +rushed to Komel's rescue, and had received the fatal blow, her +parents heard a voice that they recognized, and both exclaimed, "Can +that voice be Krometz's!" + +This was afterwards made known to Aphiz, and with this clue, though +he could scarcely believe that there was the possibility of fact or +correctness in the surmise, he sought his pretended friend. He +charged him with the evidence and its inference, and bade him speak +and say if this was true. + +"It matters not, friend Aphiz, since she is gone, how she came to +go." + +"This answer," said the young mountaineer, "is but another evidence +against thee." + +"Do you pretend to call me to an account, Aphiz? You are but a boy, +while I have already reached the full age of manhood. Think not, +because you were more successful with that girl, than I, that you +can lord it over me. I shall answer no further charges from you." + +"Krometz, your guilt speaks out in every line of your face," said +the excited Aphiz. "Meet me at sunset behind the signal rock on the +cliff, and we will settle this affair together." + +"I will neither meet thee, nor account to thee for aught I may have +done." + +"The, as true as to-morrow's sun shall rise, with this good rifle I +will shoot you to the heart. I shall be there at the sunset hour; +fail me, and to-morrow you shall die." + +Krometz knew well with whom he had to deal; he knew if he met Aphiz, +as he proposed, there would be a chance for his life, but if he +failed him, he feared the unerring aim of his rifle. He was no +coward--both of them had faced the enemy together, but he lacked the +moral courage that is far more sustaining than mere dogged bravery, +or contempt for immediate danger. Thus influence, at sunset he kept +the appointment. + +The young mountaineer had been taught this mode of resort to arms by +the Russian and Polish officers who had been thrown much among them. +They had no seconds, but fought alone, starting back to back, +walking forward five paces, wheeling and firing together. The +position was on the brink of a precipice, and he who fell would be +hurled at once down an immense depth. Aphiz was desperate, Krometz +reckless; they fired and the body of the latter fell over the cliff. +Aphiz was unharmed. + +In a moment after he realized his situation, has act, however just, +had made him a fugitive, and he must fly at once from those scenes +of his boyish love and happiness. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A SINGULAR MEETING. + + + + + +Turning from the mountain scenes we have described, let us back once +more to Constantinople, and direct our footsteps up the fragrant +valley where the Barbyses threads its meandering course. Here let us +look once more into the gilded cage that holds the Sultan's +favorites, where art had exhausted itself to form a fairy-like spot, +as beautiful as the imagination could conceive. We find here, once +more, amid the fragrant atmosphere and the playing fountains, the +form of Lalla, and by her side again that form, before which all the +tribes of the faithful kneel in humble submission. It was strange +what a potent charm the dumb but beautiful Circassian had thrown +about herself. It seemed as though some fairy circle enshrined her, +within which no harm might possibly reach the gentle slave. + +An observant person could have noticed also a third party in that +presence, though he was some distance from Lalla's side, lying upon +the ground, so near the jet of a fountain, that the spray dampened +his face. It was the idiot. To the monarch, or his slave, he +appeared unconscious of aught save the play of water; but one nearer +to him would have seen that no movement of either escaped the now +watchful eye of the boy. Was it possible that he possessed a degree +of reason, after all, and more than half assumed the strange guise +that seemed to enshroud his wits. + +Now he tossed the pure white pebble stones into the playing waters, +and saw them carried up by the force of the jets, and now half +rising to his elbow, startled the gold and silver fish in the basin +by a tiny shower of gravel, but still with a strange tenacity, ever +watching both the Sultan and his slave, though not appearing to do +so. + +A change had come over that proud, eastern prince. He had been +awakened to fresh impulses, and a new and joyful sense of +realization; the sentiments that actuated him were novel, indeed, to +his breast. From childhood he had been taught by every association +to look upon the gentler sex as toys, merely, of his own; but here +was one, yes, and the first one, too, who had caused him to realize +that she had a soul, a heart, a brilliant, natural intelligence of +mind, that surprised and delighted him. Besides this, the fact of +her sad physical misfortune had, no doubt, increased his tender and +respectful solicitude, and thus altogether he was most peculiarly +situated, as it regarded his dumb slave. + +The stern warrior, the relentless foe, the severe judge, and the +pampered monarch, all were merged in the man, when by her side--and +Sultan Mahomet, for the first time in his life, felt that he loved! + +As we have shown, it was not the headstrong promptings of passion +that actuated him--far from it; for had the monarch been heedless of +her love and respect in return, how easily might he have commanded +any submission, on her part, that he could wish. The truth was, he +feared to risk the love he now felt that he coveted so strongly, by +any overt act, and thus day by day her life stole quietly on, and +lie was still ever tender and respectful, ever thoughtful for her +comfort or pleasure, and ever assiduous to make her feel contented +and happy with her lot. + +It would have been most unnatural had not Lalla experienced, in +return for all this kindness, the warmest sentiments of gratitude, +and this she showed in the expression of her dark, dreamy eyes, at +all times; and to speak truly, the Sultan felt himself amply repaid +by her gentle gratitude and tender smiles. + +In the mean time, as days and weeks passed on, silently registering +the course of life, the chill of homesickness, which had been so +keen and saddening at first, wore gradually away from the radiant +face of the slave, though she thought no less earnestly and dearly +of her friends and her home, far away in the Circassian hills; yet +absence and time had robbed her grief of its keenness, while the +easy and luxuriant mode of living that she enjoyed had again +restored the roundness of her beautiful form, had once more imparted +the rose to her check, and the elasticity of her childhood's day to +her movements. In short, she who was so lovely when she entered the +harem, had now grown so much more so, that the companions who +surrounded her, with sentiments almost akin to awe, declared her too +beautiful to live, and sagely hinting that ere long she would hear +the songs of those spirits who chant around Allah's throne. + +All this had wrought a corresponding change in the heart of the +Sultan; indeed his affection and, interest for Lalla had even more +than kept pace with this improvement in her appearance; and now it +was for the first time since she came there, that those scarcely +less beautiful Georgians, the petted favorites, heretofore, of the +monarch, now evinced feelings of envy that it was impossible to +disguise. They saw but too plainly that the Sultan cared only for +the dumb slave, had smiles for no one else, and that he was ever by +her side when within the precincts of the harem. + +Nor is it to be wondered at that they should feel thus. In a country +where personal beauty constitutes the marketable value of a woman, +it was but natural, that they should be led to prize this endowment, +and perhaps also in the end to dislike all who should successfully +contest the palm with them in this respect. Still, so sweet was +Lalla's disposition, so yielding and considerate, that they could +not openly express the feelings that brooded in their breasts; nor +had one unkind word yet been expressed towards her, since the first +hour that she had entered the Sultan's household. + +Leaving the dumb slave thus bound by silken cords, thus chained in a +gilded cage, we will once more turn to the fortunes of the lone and +weary traveller, whom we left in the Armenian quarter of the +capital. + +He was evidently a wanderer, and, save the liberal means he had +received from the hands of the grateful Turk whom he had so +providentially rescued near the forest borders of Belgrade, he was +poor indeed. Yet with strict economy this purse had served him well, +and for a long while; whatever his errand in this capital might be, +he seemed to keep it sacredly to himself, and to wander day after +day, front morning until night, here, there, and everywhere, now in +the slave market, now in the opium bazaar, now among the silk +merchants, now among the splendid and picturesque dwellings along +the banks of the Bosphorus, and now in this quarter, now in that, +seemingly in search of some one he hoped to find; but as night +returned, he, too, came to his temporary home, tired, dejected and +unhappy. + +But day after day and week after week had at last entirely emptied +his purse of its golden contents, and he stood now very near the +spot where we first introduced him to the reader. The purse was in +his hand, and he was consulting with himself now as to what course +he should pursue for the future, when his eyes rested once more upon +the jewelled receptacle he held in his hand. He had often marked its +richness, and the thought came across him that he might realize a +small sum by selling it at some of the fancy bazaars, and he had +even made up his mind to adopt this plan, when he suddenly +remembered, for the first time, that the Turk had told him to +present it at the gates of the seraglio gardens when he needed +further aid. + +"Fool that I have been!" ejaculated the wanderer, vehemently, +"perhaps I might not only obtain the necessary pecuniary aid from +him, but also that information which I so sadly but earnestly seek. +Why should I, until this late hour, have forgotten his proffered +aid? I will away to him at once, tell him my sad history, and +beseech him to lend me the assistance I require." Thus saying, he +turned his eyes towards the little point of land that jets out +towards Asia from the Turkish city, known as Seraglio Point, a +fairy-like cluster of gardens and palaces marking the spot. + +His quick, nervous step soon brought him to the gilded portal that +formed the entrance to the splendid gardens beyond, and through the +sentinel who guarded the spot he summoned an officer of the +household, to whom he showed the purse, telling him that he had +received it from the owner as a token of friendship, and that he had +bidden him, when necessity should dictate, to show it at the +seraglio gates, and he would be admitted to his presence. + +"God is great!" said the officer, as he looked upon the purse with a +profound reverence, astonishing the humble wanderer by the respect +he showed to the jewelled bag. + +"And what place is this?" he asked of the officer, as hie looked +curiously about him. + +"By the beard of the Prophet, young man, do you not know?" asked the +official. + +"I do not." + +"Not know whose purse you hold, and in whose grounds you stand!" +reiterated the soldier. + +"Not I." + +"Allah akbar! it is the palace of the defender of the faith, Sultan +Mahomet!" + +"The Sultan!" exclaimed the lone wanderer, struck dumb with +amazement. + +"The Brother of the Sun," repeated the official, with a profound +salaam as he repeated the name, while at the same time he noted the +astonishment of the stranger. + +"The Sultan," repeated the new comer, musing to himself, "rides he +forth alone?" + +"At times, yes, when it suits him. No harm can come to him--he is +sacred, and need not fear." + +"Perhaps not," answered the other, as he recalled the scene on the +borders of the forest. + +At the singular piece of intelligence which the had received, the +stranger seemed to hesitate. He surely would not have come hither +had he known to whom he was about to apply for assistance. Could it +be the Sultan that he so opportunely aided? If so, he surely need +not fear to meet him again; perhaps he might even venture still to +tell him honestly his story, and ask at least for advice in the +pursuit of the object which had brought him to Constantinople. In +this half undecided mood he stood musing for some minutes, and then +with a struggle for resolution, bade the officer lead him to his +master. + +Let us look in upon the royal presence for a moment. It is a +gorgeous saloon, where the monarch lounges upon satin cushions, with +the rich amber mouthpiece of his pipe between his lips, and the +perfumed tobacco gently wreathing in blue smoke above his head. +Mahomet was at this moment seated on a pedestal of cushions, so rich +and soft that he seemed almost, lost in their luxuriance. Reclining +by his side was a creature so lovely in her maidenly beauty, that +pencil, not pen, should describe her. Ever and anon the monarch cast +glances of such tenderness towards her that an unprejudiced observer +would have noticed at once the warmth of his feelings towards her, +while the gentle slave, for it was Lalla, turned over a pile of rich +English engravings, pausing now and then to hold one of more than +usual interest before his eyes. + +It was an interesting scene. The pictures had deeply interested the +slave, and with graceful abandon she had forgotten everything but +them; now smiling over some curious representation, or sighing over +another no less truthful, and her fair, young face expressing the +feelings that actuated her bosom with telltale accuracy all the +while. Her dark hair was interwoven with pearls by the running hands +of the Nubian slaves, and its long plaits reached nearly to her +feet, while across her fair brow there hung a cluster of diamonds +which might have ransomed an emperor--a gift from the Sultan himself. + +The Sultan seemed, of late, scarcely contented to have her from his +side for a single hour, and even received his officials and gave +audience, with her in the presence oftentimes, first motioning her, +on such occasions, to cover her face, after the style of the Turkish +women; but even this precaution was rarely taken, for Lalla was not +used to it, and the Sultan pressed nothing upon her that he found to +be in any way disagreeable to her feelings. So when the officer +announced a stranger who had shown a purse which bore the Sultan's +arms as his talisman, he was bidden to admit him at once. + +The slave turned her back by chance as the stranger entered, and +hearing not his steps she still bent absorbedly over the roll of +engravings while the new comer with profound respect told the Sultan +that until a moment since he had not known that it was his good +fortune to have served his highness, and that perhaps had he +realized this he would not then be before him.--But the monarch +generously re-assured him by his kindness, and repeated his offer of +any service in his power. + +"I feel that I am already a heavy pensioner on your bounty, +excellency," he replied. + +"Not so; your bravery and prompt assistance stood us in aid at an +important moment.--Speak then, and if there be aught in which we can +further your wishes or good, it will afford us pleasure." + +"It is of a matter, which would hardly interest your excellency that +I would speak." + +"We are the best judge of that matter." + +"Shall I tell my story then, excellency?" + +"Ay, speak on," said the monarch, resuming his pipe, and pouring +forth a lazy cloud of smoke from his mouth. + +"Excellency," he commenced, "I am it very humble mountaineer of the +Caucasus, but until these few months past have been as happy as +heart could wish. True, we have often been called upon to confront +the Cossack, but that is a duty and a pleasure, and the tide of +battle once over, we have returned with renewed joy to our cottage +homes. Our hearths are rude and homely, but our wants are few, and +our hearts are warm among our native hills. + +"Suddenly, a hawk swooped down upon our mountain side, and bore away +the sweetest and most innocent dove that nestled there, making +desolate many hearts, and causing an aged mother and father to weep +tears of bitter anguish. I loved that being, excellency, so well +that my whole soul was hers, and she too in turn loved me. Broken +hearted and most miserable I have wandered hither to seek her, for +hither I found that she had been brought, and perhaps even now is +the unhappy slave of some heartless one, and is pining for the home +she has been torn from. If you would bless me, excellency, ay, bless +yourself by a noble deed, then aid me to find her in this great +capital." + +The monarch listened with unfeigned interest, he, had a strong dash +of romance in his disposition, besides which he could feel for the +disconsolate lover now, since his own heart bad been so awakened to +itself. + +"Your story interests me," said the Sultan, still regarding him +intently. + +"It is very simple, excellency, but alas! it is also very true," was +the reply. + +"What name do you bear?" + +"Aphiz Adegah, excellency!" + +"And what was her name of whom you have spoken?" + +"Her name was Komel." + +At the same moment that he answered thus, Lalla turned by chance +from her engravings, towards them, when her eyes resting upon those +of Aphiz, she rose, staggered a few steps towards him, and uttered a +scream so shrill and piercing that even the imperturbable Turk +sprang to his feet in amazement, while Aphiz cried: + +"It is she, it is my lost Komel!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE SULTAN'S PRISONER. + + + + + +The Sultan was as capable of revenge as he was of love or gratitude, +and this, Aphiz was destined to learn to his sorrow; for no sooner +did the monarch comprehend the scene we have just described, after +having heard the story of Aphiz related, than he immediately +summoned the guard, and the young Circassian found himself borne +away to a place of confinement within the seraglio gardens, where he +was left alone to ponder upon his singular situation. It was not an +easy task for him to divest his mind of the thought that all was a +dream, so singular were the threads of the past woven together since +the happy hours when Komel and himself bade good night at her +father's cottage door. + +As to the fair and beautiful slave herself, she was conducted back +to the harem, at the same time that Aphiz was borne away to prison, +but a new world had opened to her. Her voice and hearing, lost by +the fearful shock she had realized by that sight of bloodshed on the +night when they stole her away from her parents, had, strangely +enough, been again restored by a shock scarcely less potent in its +effect upon her. That startling scream which she uttered on +beholding Aphiz had loosened the portals of her ears, and the +violent effort made in order to utter that exclamation had again +loosened the power of utterance. In spite of the attending +circumstances, she could not but rejoice at the return of those +faculties that she had now been taught the value of. + +The delight of the Sultan at Komel's recovery of her speech and +hearing, was only equalled by his uneasiness at the extraordinary +position of affairs between himself and the man who had so gallantly +saved his life on the Belgrade plains. Loving his slave so tenderly, +what could he do under the circumstances? He now found the music of +her voice as delicious as the almost angelic beauty of her form and +features, and so charmed was he with the improvement that Komel +evinced, and so did he love to listen to her voice, that he could +even bear to hear her plead for Aphiz, and beseech that he might be +brought to her. Much as this would have been against his own +feelings and wishes, still to have her talk to him he listened +patiently, or seemed to do so, even while she besought him thus. + +There was another being whose joy at Komel's recovery of her speech +seemed, if possible, more extravagant even than the Sultan's, and +far more remarkable in manifestation. When the idiot boy first heard +her voice, he started, and crouching like an animal, crept away to a +spot whence he could observe her without himself being seen. By +degrees he drew nearer, and finally received her kind tokens without +any evidences of fear. And by degrees, as she spoke to him and +tutored her words to his simple capacity, he seemed to be filled +with the very ecstasy of joy, and ran and leaped like a hound newly +loosed from confinement. Then he would return, and taking her hand, +place it upon his forehead and temples, and then curling his body +into a ball, lie motionless by her side. + +"You love this young Circassian, and would leave me and your present +home for him?" asked the Sultan, as Komel entered the reception +saloon in answer to a summons he had sent to her. + +"I do love him, excellency," replied the slave, honestly; "we were +children together, and I cannot remember the time when I loved him +not, for we were always as brother and sister." + +"There are not many of thy nation, Komel, who would choose an humble +mountaineer to a Sultan," said the monarch, with a bitter intonation +of voice. + +"Alas! excellency," she replied, "too many of my untutored +countrywomen, being brought up from their infancy to consider it as +their infallible lot, make a barter of their hearts for gold. Such +know no true promptings of love." + +"You are happy and contented here, you want for nothing, you are the +mistress of this broad palace. Bid me send thy countryman away +loaded with gold, and we will live always together." + +"Excellency, I am not happy here, and though I participate in all +the splendor you so liberally furnish for me, my heart, alas! is +ever straying back to my humble home." + +"This feeling of discontent will soon die away, Komel, and you will +be happy again," said the Sultan, toying with her delicate hands +which had been tipped at the finger ends by the Nubian slaves with +the henna dye. + +"Never, excellency, my early home and my heart will always be +together," she replied, with a sigh. + +"Nevertheless, Komel," continued the Sultan in a decided tone of +voice, "you are my slave, and I love you. This being the case, think +you I shall be very ready to part with you?" + +"Ah! excellency, you are too generous, too kind-hearted, to detain +me here against my wishes. I know this by the gentle and considerate +care I have already received at your hands." + +"You mistake, you mistake," repeated the Sultan, earnestly; "that +was because I loved you so well, Komel. I saw in you, not only the +transparent beauty with which Heaven has endowed your race, but a +soul and intelligence that won my heart. Your infirmity, now so +suddenly removed, demanded for you every consideration, but now +aroused by the opposition that circumstances seem to have woven +around me, other feelings are fast becoming rooted in my breast. +Shall such as I am be thwarted in my wish by an humble mountaineer +of the Caucasus?" + +As the monarch spoke thus he laid aside the mouth-piece of his pipe, +and leaning upon his elbow amid the yielding cushions, covered his +face with his hand and seemed lost in silent meditation. + +The beautiful slave regarded him intently while he remained in this +position. His uniform kindness to her for so long a period had led +her to regard him with no slight attachment, but she knew that Aphiz +was at that very moment under close confinement within the palace +walls for his faithfulness in following and seeking her, and as she +was wholly his before, this but endeared him more earnestly to her. +All the splendor that Sultan Mahomet could offer her, the rank and +wealth, were all counted as naught in comparison with the tender +affection which had grown up with her from childhood. + +She awaited in silence the monarch's mood, but resolved to appeal to +his mercy, and beg him to release both Aphiz and herself, that they +might return together once more to their distant home. + +But alas! how utterly useless were all her efforts to this end. They +were received by the Sultan in that cold, irrascible spirit that +seems to form so large a share of the Turkish character. Her words +seemed only to arouse and fret him now, and she could see in his +looks of fixed determination and resolve that in the end he would +stop at no means to gratify his own wishes, and that perhaps, +Aphiz's life alone would satisfy his bitter spirit. It was a fearful +thought that he should be sacrificed for her sake, and she trembled +as she looked into the dark depths of his stern, cold eye, which had +never beamed on her thus before. + +She crept nearer to his side, and raising his hand within her own, +besought him to look kindly upon her again, to smile on her as he +used to do. It was a gentle, confiding and entreating appeal, and +for a moment the stern features of the monarch did relent, but it +was for an instant only his thoughts troubled him, and he was ill at +ease. + +In the meantime Aphiz Adegah found himself confined in a close +prison; the entire current of his feelings were changed by the +discovery he had made. Not having been able to exchange one word +with Komel, of course he could not possibly know aught of her real +situation further than appearances indicated by her presence there, +and he could not but tremble at the fear that naturally suggested +itself to his mind as to the relationship which she bore to the +Sultan--In this painful state of doubt, he counted the weary hours in +his lonely cell, and calmly awaited his impending fate, let it be +what it might. + +He knew the summary mode in which Turkish justice was administered; +he was not unfamiliar with the dark stories that were told of sunken +bodies about the outer bastion of the palace where its walls were +laved by the Bosphorus. He knew very well that an unfaithful wife or +rival lover was often sacrificed to the pride or revenge of any +titled or rich Turk who happened to possess the power to enable him +to carry out his purpose. Knowing all this he prepared his mind for +whatever might come, and had he been summoned to follow a guard +detailed to sink him in the sea, he would not have been surprised. +The idiot boy, half-witted as he was, seemed at once by some natural +instinct to divine the relationship that existed between Komel and +the prisoner, and suggested to her a plan of communication with him +by means of flowers. She saw the boy gather up a handful of loose +buds and blossoms from her lap several times, and observed him carry +them away. Curiosity led her to see what he did with then, and she +followed him as far as she might do consistently with the rules of +the harem, and from thence observed him scale a tree that overhung a +dark sombre-looking building, and toss the flowers through a small +window, into what she knew at once must be Aphiz's cell. + +In childhood, Aphiz and herself had often interpreted to each other +the language of flowers, and now hastening back to the luxuriant +conservatory of plants, she culled such as she desired, and +arranging them with nervous fingers, told in their fragrant folds +how tenderly she still loved him, and that she was still true to +their plighted faith. + +Entrusting this to the boy she indicated what he was to do with it, +while the poor half-witted being seemed in an ecstacy of delight at +his commission, and soon deposited the precious token inside the +window of Aphiz's prison. + +It needed no conjuror to tell Aphiz whom that floral letter came +from. The shower of buds and blossoms that had been thrown to him by +the boy had puzzled him, coming without any apparent design, +regularity, or purpose; but this, as he read its hidden mystery, was +all clear enough to him, he knew the hand that had to gathered and +bound them together. She was true and loved him still. + +Komel, in her earnest love, despite the rebuff she had already +received, determined once more to appeal to the Sultan for the +release of his prisoner. But the monarch had grown moody and +thoughtful, as we have seen, when he realized that his slave loved +another; and every word she now uttered in his behalf was bitterness +to his very soul. She only found that he was the more firmly set in +his design as to retraining her in the harem, if not to take the +life of the young mountaineer. + +The Sultan brooded over this state of affairs with a settled frown +upon his brow. Had it not been that Aphiz had saved his life by his +brave assistance at a critical moment, he would not have hesitated +one instant as to what he should do, for had it been otherwise he +would have ordered him to be destroyed as quickly as he would have +ordered the execution of any criminal.--But hardened and calloused as +he was by power, and self-willed as he was from never being thwarted +in his wishes, yet he found it difficult to give the order that +should sacrifice the life of one who had so gallantly saved him from +peril. + +At last the monarch seemed to have resolved upon some plan, whereby +he hoped to relieve himself from the dilemma that so seriously +annoyed him. He was most expert at disguises; indeed, it was often +his custom to walk the streets of his capital incog, or to ride out +unattended, in a plain citizen's dress, as we have seen, that he +might the better observe for himself those things concerning which +he required accurate information. It was then nothing new for him to +don the dress of an officer of the household guard; and in this +costume he visited Aphiz in his cell, representing himself to be the +agent of the Sultan. + +"I come as an agent of the Sultan," he said, as the turnkey +introduced him to the cell. + +"The Sultan is very gracious to remember' me; what is his will?" +asked the prisoner. + +"He has a proposition to offer you, to which, if you accede, you are +at once free to go from here." + +"And what are these terms?" asked Aphiz, with perfect coolness. + +"That you instantly leave Constantinople, never again to return to +it." + +"Alone?" + +"Except that he will fill a purse with gold for thee to help thee on +thy homeward way." + +"I shall never leave the city alone," replied the prisoner, with +firmness. + +"Is that your answer?" + +"As well thus perhaps as any way. I shall never leave this city +without Komel." + +"But if you remain it may cost you your life," continued the +stranger. + +"I do not fear death," replied the Circassian, with the utmost +coolness. + +"A painful and degrading death," suggested the agent, earnestly. + +"I care not. I have faced death in too many forms to fear him in +any." + +"Stubborn man!" continued the visiter, irritated in the extreme at +the cool decision and dauntless bravery of the prisoner, adding, +"you tempt your own fate by refusing this generous offer." + +"No fate can be worse than to be separated from her I love. If that +is to be done, then welcome death; for life without her would cease +to be desirable." + +"Do not be hasty in your decision." + +"I am all calmness," was the reply. + +"And shall I bear your refusal to leave the city, to the Sultan? +Weigh the matter well; you can return to your native land with a +purse heavy with gold, but if you remain you die." + +"You have then my plain refusal of the terms. Tell the Sultan for +me,"--Aphiz in his acuteness easily penetrated the monarch's +disguise,--"tell him I thank him heartily for the generous means that +he afforded me when I was poor and needy, and whereby I have been +supported in his capital so long. Tell him too that I forgive him +for this causeless imprisonment, and that if it be his will that I +should die, because I love one who has loved me from childhood, I +forgive him that also." + +"You will not reconsider this answer." + +"I am firm, and no casualty can alter my feelings, no threats can +alarm me." + +The visiter could not suppress his impatience at these remarks, but +telling Aphiz that if he repeated his answer to the Sultan he feared +that it would seal his fate forever, he left him once more alone. + +Aphiz, as we have said, knew very well who had visited him in his +cell, and now that he was gone he composed himself as best he could, +placing Komel's bouquet in his bosom and trying to sleep, for it was +now night. But he felt satisfied in his own mind that his worst +expectations would be realized ere long, for he had marked well the +expression of the Sultan's face, and he fell asleep to dream that he +had bidden Komel and life itself adieu. + +And while he, whom she loved so well, lay upon the damp floor of the +cell to sleep, Komel lounged on a couch of downy softness, and was +lulled to sleep by the playing of sweet fountains, and the gentle +notes of the lute played by a slave, close by her couch, that her +dreams might be sweet and her senses beguiled to rest by sweet +harmony. But the lovely girl forgot him not, and her dreams were of +him as her waking thoughts were ever full of him. + +What is there, this side of heaven, brighter than the enduring +constancy of woman? + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +PUNISHMENT OF THE SACK. + + + + + +The sun was almost set, and the soft twilight was creeping over the +incomparable scenery that renders the coast of Marmora so beautiful; +the gilded spires of the oriental capital were not more brilliant +than the dimpled surface of the sea where it opened and spread away +from the mouth of the Bosphorus. The blue waters had robbed the +evening sky of its blushing tints, and seemed to revel in the +richness of its coloring.--It was at this calm and quiet hour that a +caique, propelled by a dozen oarsmen, shot out from the shore of the +Seraglio Point, and swept round at once with its prow turned towards +the open sea. In the stern at two dark, uncouth looking Turks, +between whom was a young man who seemed to be under restraint, and +in whom the reader would have recognized Aphiz, the Sultan's +prisoner. + +It was plain that the caique was bound on some errand of more than +ordinary interest, and many eyes from the shore were regarding it +curiously, as did also the various boat crews that met it on the +water. + +Still it held on its way steadily, propelled by the long, regular +stroke of the oarsmen over the half mile of blue water that +separates Europe and Asia at this point, sweeping as it went by, +lovely villages, mosques, minarets, and the dark cemeteries that +line the shores, until, a certain point having been gained, the +oarsmen at a signal from those in the stern, rested from their +labors, while the boat still glided on from the impetus it had +received. In a moment more, Aphiz was completely covered with a +large, stout canvas bag or sack, which was secured about him and +tied up. At one extremity was attached a heavy shot, and when these +preparations were completed, he was cast into the sea, sinking as +quickly from sight as a stone might have done. A few bubbles rose to +the surface where the sack had gone down, and all was over. The bows +of the caique were instantly turned towards the city, and the men +gave way as carelessly as though nothing uncommon had transpired. + +Aphiz had thus been made to suffer the penalty usually inflicted +upon certain crimes, and especially to the wives of such of the +Turks as suspected them of inconstancy, a punishment that is even to +this day common in Constantinople. The Sultan had reasoned that if +Komel knew Aphiz Adegah to be dead, she would after awhile recover +from the shock, and gradually forgetting him, receive his own regard +instead of that of the young mountaineer, as he would have her do +voluntarily; for he felt, as much as he coveted her favor, that he +could never claim her for a wife unless it was with her own consent +and free will. If he had not love her, he would have felt +differently, and would have commanded that favor which now would +lose its charms unless 'twas wooed and won. + +But we shall see how mistaken the monarch was in his selfish +calculations. + +Reasoning upon the grounds that we have named, the Sultan had +ordered Aphiz to be drowned in the Bosphorus, as we have seen, and +the deed was performed by the regular executioners of government. +The Sultan was supreme, and his orders were obeyed without question; +this being the case, Aphiz's fate caused no remark even among the +gossips. + +The few days that had transpired since Komel had regained her speech +and hearing, had of course taught her more in relation to her actual +situation and the character of those about her than she had been +able to gather by silent observation during her entire previous +confinement in the harem of the palace. + +She was aware that the Sultan was impetuous and self-willed, but she +could hardly bring her mind to believe that he would actually put in +practice such a piece of villany as should cost Aphiz his life. +Knowing as much as she did of his imperious and stern habits, she +did not believe him capable of such cold-blooded baseness. But no +sooner had the officers, sent to execute his sentence against the +innocent mountaineer, returned and announced the task as performed, +than Komel was summoned to the presence of the the Sultan. + +"I have sent for you, Komel," said the monarch, while he regarded +her intently as he spoke, "to tell you that Aphiz is dead." + +"Dead, excellency; do you say dead?" + +"Yes." + +"You do but jest with me, excellency," she said, trying in her +tremor to smile. + +"I rarely jest with any one and surely should not have sent for you +were I in that mood. He has gone to make food for the fishes at the +bottom of the Bosphorus." + +"Has his life been taken by your orders, excellency?" she asked, +with a pallid cheek and blanched lips. + +"You have said," answered the Sultan. + +"Ah! excellency, I am but a weak girl and can ill abide a jest. +Aphiz can have done nothing to receive your displeasure, and surely +you would not take his life without reason." + +"I had reason sufficient for me." + +"What was it, excellency?" + +"The fellow loved you, Komel." + +"O, sorrow me, sorrow me, that his love for should have been his +ending." + +The struggle in the beautiful girl's bosom for a moment was fearful. +It was like the rough and sudden blast that sweeps tempest--like over +a glassy lake and turns its calm waters into trembling waves and +dark shadows. She did not give way under the fearful news that she +hear; a counter current of feeling seemed to save her, and to bring +back the color once more to her lips, and cheeks, and to add +brilliancy to the large, lustrous eyes so peculiar to her race. All +this the Sultan marked well, and indeed was at a loss rightly to +understand these demonstrations. + +So quick and marked was the change that it puzzled the monarch, +though he read something still of its rightful character, for he had +known before the bitterness of a revengeful spirit, and bore upon +his breast, at that hour, the deep impression of a dagger's point, +where a Circassian slave, whom he had deprived of her child, had +attempted to stab him to the heart. And now as he looked upon Komel, +he thought he could read some such spirit in the expression of the +beautiful slave before him, and he was right! Dark thoughts seemed +to be struggling even in her gentle breast, when she realized that +Aphiz was no more, and that his murderer was before her. + +Nothing in reality could be more gentle than the loving disposition +of the slave. Her natural character was all tenderness and modest +diffidence, but she had now been touched at a point where she was +most sensitive. Aphiz, without the shadow of guilt, save that he was +true in his love to her, had been murdered in cold blood, and the +announcement of the fact by the Sultan had chilled every fountain of +tenderness in her bosom. She looked wistfully at the jewelled dagger +that hung in the monarch's girdle, and fearful thoughts were +thronging her brain. The Sultan little knew on how slender thread +his life hung at that moment, for a very slight blow from his +dagger, swiftly and truly given, would have revenged Aphiz in a +moment. + +"And what end do you propose to yourself that this deed has been +done?" she asked, after a few moments' pause, during which the +Sultan had regarded her most intently, and, if possible, with +increased interest, at the picture she now presented of startled and +spirited energy. + +"You told me, Komel, that you loved him, did you not?" he asked. + +"I did." + +"Can you see no reason now why he should not live, at least, in +Constantinople?" + +"None." + +"He had his choice, and was told that he might leave here in peace; +but he chose to stay and die." + +"And for his devotion to me you have killed him?" continued Komel, +bitterly. + +"Not for his devotion, but his stubbornness," said the Sultan. +"Come, Komel, smile once more. He is dead-time flies quickly on, and +he will soon be forgotten." + +"Never!" replied the slave, with startling energy. "You will find +that a Circassian's heart is not so easily moulded in a Turkish +shape!" + +The monarch bit his lip at the sarcasm of the remark, and as it, was +expressed with no lack of bitterness, it could not but cut him +keenly. Still preserving that calm self-possession which a full +consciousness of his power imparted, he smiled instead of frowning +upon her, and said: + +"You are heated now; to-morrow, or perhaps the next day, you may +come to me, and I trust that you will then be in a better humor than +at present." + +Komel bowed coldly at the intimation, while her expression told how +bitterly she felt towards him. + +A dark frown came over the Sultan's face at the same moment, and an +accurate reader of physiognomy would have detected the fear +expressed there that his violent purpose, as executed upon Aphiz, +had failed totally of success. + +Turning coldly away from him, the slave sought her own apartment in +the gorgeous palace, to mourn in silence and alone over the fearful +and bitter news she had just heard concerning one who was to her all +in all, and who had taken with him her heart to the spirit land. The +world, and all future time, looked to her like a blank, as though +overspread by one heavy cloud, that obliterated entirely and forever +the sight of that sun which had so long warmed her heart with its +genial rays. As we have already said, Komel lacked not for +tenderness of feeling. Her heart was gentle and susceptible; but +dashing now the tears from her eyes, she assumed a forced calmness, +and strove to reason with herself as she said, quietly, "We shall +meet again in heaven!" Humming some wild air of her native land, the +slave then tried to lose herself in some trifling occupation, that +she might partially forget her sorrows. + +Her flowers were not forgotten, nor her pet pigeons unattended. She +wandered amid the fragrant divisions of the harem, and threw herself +down by its bubbling jets and fountains as she had done before, but +not thoughtlessly. The spirit of Aphiz seemed to her to be ever by +her side, and she would talk to him as though he was actually +present, in soft and tender whispers, and sing the songs of their +native valley with low and witching cadence; and thus she was +partially happy, for the soul is where it loves, rather than where +it lives. From childhood she had been taught to believe the +Swedenborgian doctrine, of the presence of the spirits of those who +have gone before us to the better land; and she deemed, as we have +said, that Aphiz Adegah was ever by her side, listening to her, and +sympathizing with all she did and said. + +It is a happy faith, that the disembodied spirits of those whom we +have loved and respected here are still, though invisible, watching +over us with tender solicitude. Such a realization must be +chastening in its influence, for who would do an unworthy deed, +believing his every act visible to those eyes that he had delighted +to please on earth? And yet, could we but realize it, there is +always one eye, the Infinite and Supreme One, ever upon us, and +should we not be equally sensitive in our doings beneath his ever +present being? + +It was the character of Komel's belief as to the spirits of the +departed, that rendered her so calm and resigned, though the Sultan, +in his blindness, attributed it to the forgetfulness engendered by +time, and smiled to himself to think how quickly the fickle girl had +forgotten one whose ardent devotion to her cost him his life. "She +scarcely deserved this fidelity on his part," said the monarch, with +a dark frown, as the memory of the gallant service the young +Circassian had done him when he was beset by the Bedouins, flashed +across his mind, rendering even his hardened spirit, for a moment, +uneasy. "The difficulty, after all," he said to him himself, "is not +so much to die for one we love, as to find one worthy of dying for." +Shaking an extra dose of the powdered drug into the bowl of his +pipe, the blue smoke curled away in tiny clouds above his head, +while its narcotic effect soon lulled both mental and physical +faculties into a state of dreamy insensibility. + +What ardent spirits are to our countrymen, opium is in the East, +except, perhaps that the powerful drug is more exalting in its +stimulating influences, and less vile in its immediate effects; but +no less severe is it to hurry those who indulge in such dissipation, +with a broken constitution and ruined mental faculties to the grave. + +Komel seemed gradually to settle down to a quiet and even half +satisfied consciousness of her situation. True, she could not but +often sigh for her home and parents, but with her more settled +condition fresh spirits had come to her features, and renewed +energies were depicted in every movement of her graceful and lovely +form. Though constantly surrounded by a troop of slaves, chosen +solely for their personal beauty and the charms that made them excel +their sex generally, still she outshone them all, and that, too, +without the simplest effort to do so; and yet for all this, so sweet +was her native disposition, and so winning and gentle her spirit at +all times, that they loved her still as at first, without one +thought of envy or jealousy. + +So far as her companions were concerned, therefore, she could hardly +have been more happily situated than she was, and for their kindness +she strove to manifest the kind, affectionate promptings that +actuated her heart. She even joined them in many of their games and +sports, though most of her time was passed alone, save that the +idiot boy almost ever sought her out, and came and slept at her +side, or seemed to do so, only too much delighted when she showed +him any little, careful attention, and watching her when she did not +observe him, with an intensity that seemed strange in one who was +not supposed to be possessed of any actual reasoning powers, or +indeed of much brains at all. + +Having no mental occupation, the poor boy. who was, as far as his +physical developments went, a specimen of rare youthful beauty and +grace of form, employed a large portion of his time in such +exercises and feats of agility as a sort of animal instinct might +lead him to attempt, and thus Komel was often startled by suddenly +beholding him dangling by his feet from some lofty cypress, swinging +to and fro like a monkey; or to observe him turning a series of +summersets, in a broad circle, with such incredible swiftness as to +cause all distinctness of his form to be lost, producing a most +singular and magical appearance. Then, perhaps, after forming a +circle thus on the green sod he would suddenly plunge into its +midst, coil himself up like a snail, or put his head between his +feet, and thus go to sleep, or lie there as still as though he had +been a stone, for hours at a time. + +Thus, days and weeks passed on in the same routine of fairy-like +scenes, and the Sultan's slaves counted not the time that brought to +them but a never varying dull monotony of indolent luxuriance. They +had no intellectual pursuits or tastes, and therefore were but sorry +companions for one whose native intelligence was so prominent a +trait in her character. Thus it was, therefore, having no one with +whom she could truly and honestly sympathize, that Komel preferred +to whisper her thoughts to the birds and flowers, and to fancy that +Aphiz's spirit was near by, smiling upon her the while. What a +strange and dreamy life the Circassian was passing in the Sultan's +harem! + +Komel, it is true, mourned for her liberty, and what caged bird is +there that does not! + + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LOVER'S STRATAGEM. + + + + + +It was morning in the East, and all things partook of the dewy +freshness of early days.--The busy din of the city was momentarily +increasing, and as the hours advanced, the broad sunlight gilded all +things far and near. It was at this bright and exhilarating hour +that two persons sat together on the silky grass that caps the +summit of Bulgarlu. They had wandered hither, seemingly, to view the +splendid scenery together, and were regarding it with earnest eyes. + +How beautiful looked the Turkish capital below them! From Seraglio +Point, seven miles down the coast of Roumelia, the eye followed a +continued wall, and from the same point twenty miles up the +Bosphorus on either shore, stretched one crowded and unbroken city, +with its star-shaped bay in the midst, floating a thousand maritime +crafts, prominent among which were the Turkish men-of-war flaunting +their blood-red flags in the breeze. Far away over the Sea of +Mannora their eyes rested on a snow-white cloud at the edge of the +horizon. It was Mount Olympus, the fabulous residence of the gods. +In this far-off scene, too, lay Bithynia, Cappadocia, Paphlagonia, +and the entire scene of the apostle Paul's travels in Asia Minor. +Then their eyes wandered back once more and rested now on the old +Fortress of the Seven Towers, where fell the emperor Constantine, +and where Othman the second was strangled. + +Between the Seven Towers and the Golden Horn, were the seven hills +of ancient Stamboul, the towering arches of the aqueduct of Valens +crossing from one to another, and the swelling domes and gold-tipped +minarets of a hundred imperial mosques crowning their summits. And +there too was Seraglio Point, a spot of enchanting loveliness, +forming a tiny cape as it projects towards the opposite continent +and separates the bay from the Sea of Marmora; its palaces buried in +soft foliage, out of which gleam gilded cupolas and gay balconies +and a myriad of brilliant and glittering domes. And then their eyes +ran down the silvery link between the two seas, where lay fifty +valleys and thirty rivers, while an imperial palace rests on each of +the loveliest spots, the entire length, from the Black Sea to +Marmora. + +Such was the beautiful and classic scenery that lay outspread before +the two young persons who had seated themselves on the summit of +Bulgarlu, and if its charms had power over the casual observer, how +much more beautiful did it appear to these two who saw it through +each other's eyes. A closer observation would have shown that one of +the couple was a female, for some purpose seeking to disguise her +sex; he by her side was evidently her lover, to meet whom, she had +hazarded this exposure beyond the city walls at so early an hour. + +"Ah, dearest Zillah'," said he who sat by the maiden's side, "I +would that we lived beyond the sea from whence, come those ships +that bear the stars and stripes, for I am told that in America, +religious belief is no bar to the union of heart, as it is in the +Sultan's domains." + +"Nor should it be so here, Capt. Selim," she answered, "did our +noble Sultan understand the best good of his people. May the Prophet +open his eyes." + +"Though I love thee far better than all else on the earth, Zillah, +still I cannot abjure my Christian faith, and, like a hypocrite, +pretend to be a true follower of Mahomet. At best, we can be but a +short time here on earth, and if I was unfaithful in my holy creed, +how could I hope at last to meet thee, dearest, in paradise?" + +"I do love thee but the more dearly," she replied, "for thy +constancy to the Christian faith, and though my father has reared me +in the Mussulman belief, still I am no bigot, as thou knowest." + +Zillah was a child in years--scarcely sixteen summers had developed +their power in her slight but beautiful form, and yet it was rounded +so nearly to perfection, so slightly and gracefully full, as to +captivate the most fastidious eye. Like every child of these Turkish +harems, she was beautiful, with feature of faultless regularity, and +eyes that were almost too large and brilliant. + +He who was her companion, and whom she had called Capt. Selim, was +the same young officer whom the reader met in an early chapter at +the slave bazaar, and who bid to the extent of his means for Komel, +who was at last borne away by the Sultan's agent. He was well formed +and handsome, his undress uniform showing him to be attached to the +naval service of the Sultan. He might be four or five years her +senior, but though he appeared thus young, he seemed to have many +years of experience, with an unflinching steadiness of purpose +denoted in his countenance, showing him fitted for stern emergencies +calling for promptness and daring in the hour of danger. The story +of their love was easily told. While young Selim was yet a +lieutenant in the Sultan's navy, a caique containing Zillah and the +rich of Bey, her father, had met with an accident in the Bosphorus +while close by a boat which he commanded, and by which accident +Zillah was thrown into the water, and but for the officer's prompt +delivery would doubtless have been drowned. But with a stout +purpose, and being a daring swimmer, he bore her safely to the +shore. + +With the suddenness of oriental passion they loved at once, but +their after intercourse was necessarily kept a secret, since they +knew full well that the Bey would at once punish them both if he +should discover them, for how could a Musselman tolerate a +Christian, and to this sect the young officer was known to belong. +They had met often thus, and by the ingenious device adopted in +Zillah's dress had avoided detection. But these stolen meetings, so +sweet, were fearfully dangerous to the young officer, the punishment +of his offence, if discovered, being death. + +Finally, on one of these stolen excursions, Zillah was detained so +long as to cause notice and surprise in the harem, and when she +returned she was reprimanded by the Bey, who gave orders, that for +the future she should not be permitted to leave the garden walks of +the palace, and the poor girl pined like a caged wild bird. The +latticed balcony of Zillah's apartment, like many of the Turkish +houses, overhung the Bosphorus, so that a boat might lie beneath it +within a distance to afford easy means of communication, and thus +Selim still was able at times, though with the utmost caution, to +hold converse with her he loved so well. + +But Zillah's susceptible and gentle disposition could not sustain +her present treatment. She loved the young officer so earnestly and +truly that it was misery to be deprived of his society as was now +the case, for even their partial intercourse had been suspended +since the Bey had discovered his daughter talking to some one, and +he had forbidden her to ever enter the apartment again that overhung +the water. + +Thus confined and crossed in her feelings, Zillah grew sick, and +paler and paler each day, until the old Bey, now thoroughly aroused, +was extremely anxious lest she should be taken to the Prophet's +house. The best sages and doctors to be found were summoned, and +constantly attended the drooping flower, but alas! to no effect. +Their art was not cunning enough to discover the true cause of her +malady, and they could only shake their heads, and strike their +beards ominously to the inquiries of the anxious old Bey, her +father. + +The cold-hearted Bey never dreamed of the real cause of her illness. +True, he had suspected her of being too unguarded in her habits, +and had laid restrictions upon her liberty, but as to disappointment +in love being the cause of her malady, indeed it did not seem to his +heartless disposition that love could produce such a result. She was +perhaps the only being in the world who had ever caused him to +realize that he had a heart. After thinking long and much upon the +illness of his child, he resolved to seek her confidence, and +turning his steps toward the harem, he found his drooping and fading +flower reclining upon a velvet couch. Seating himself by her side, +he parted the hair from her fair, young brow, and told his child how +dearly he loved her, and if aught weighed upon her mind he besought +her to open her lips and speak to him. Zillah loved her father, +though she was not blind to his many faults. + +"Dear father, what shall I say to thee?" + +"Speak thy whole heart, my child." + +"Nay, but it would only displease thee, my father, for me to do so." + +"Tell me, Zillah, if thou knowest what it is that sickens thee, and +robs thy cheek of its bloom?" + +"Father," she answered, with a sigh, "my heart is breaking with +unhappy love." + +"Love!" + +"Ay, I love Selim, he who saved me from drowning in the Bosphorus." + +"The Sultan's officer?" + +"Yes, father, Capt. Selim." + +"Why, child, that young rascal is a notorious dog of a Christian. Do +you know it?" + +"I know he believes not in the faith of our fathers," she answered, +modestly. + +The old Turk bit his lips with vexation, but dared not vent the +passion he felt in the delicate ear of his sick child. Indeed he had +only to look into her pale face to turn the whole current of his +anger into pity at the danger he read there. + +The old Bey knew the spirit that Zillah had inherited both from +himself and from her mother, and that she was fixed in her purpose. +She frankly told him that she could never be happy unless Selim was +her husband. The father was most sadly annoyed. He referred to the +best physicians in the city to know if a malady such as his daughter +suffered under, could prove fatal, and they assured him that this +had frequently been the case. One, however, to whom he applied, +informed the Bey that he knew of a Jewish leech who was famed for +curing all maladies arising from depression, physical or mental, and +if he desired it, he would send the Jew to his house on the +subsequent day, when he would say if he could do her any good as it +regarded her illness. + +Much as the Mussulman despised the race, still, in the hope of +benefiting his child by the man's medical skill, he desired the +Armenian physician to send the Jew, as he proposed, on the following +day, and paying the heavy fee that these leeches know so well how to +charge the rich old Turks, the Bey departed once more to his palace. + +At the hour appointed, the Armenian physician despatched the Jewish +doctor to the Bey's gates, where he was admitted, and received with +as much respect as the Turk could bring his mind to show towards +unbelievers, and the business being properly premised, the father +told the Jew how his daughter was affected, and asked if he might +hope for her recovery. + +"With great care and cunning skill, perhaps so," said the Jew, from +out his overgrown beard. + +"If this can be accomplished through thy means, I make thee rich for +life," said the Bey. + +"We can but try," said the Jew, "and hope for the best. Lead me to +thy daughter." + +The Bey conducted the leech to his daughter's apartment, and bidding +her tell freely all her pains and ills, left the Jew to study her +case, while he retired once more to silent converse with himself. + +"You are ill," said the Jew, addressing Zillah, while he seated +himself and rested his head upon his staff. + +"Yes, I am indeed." + +"And yet methinks no physical harm is visible in thy person. The +pain is in the heart?" + +"You speak truly," said Zillah, with a sigh--"I am very unhappy." + +"You love?" + +"I do." + +"And art loved again?" + +"Truly, I believe so." + +"Then, whencefore art thou unhappy; reciprocal love begets not +unhappiness?" + +"True, good leech; but he whom I love so well is a Christian, and I +can hold no communication with him, much less even hope to be his +wife." + +"Do you love him so well that you would leave home, father, +everything, for him?" asked the Jew. + +"Alas! it would be hard to leave my father but still am I so wholly +his, I would do even so." + +"Then may you be happy yet," said he, who spoke to her, as he tossed +back the hood of his gaberdine, and removed the false hair that he +wore, presenting the features of young Selim, whom she loved! + +"How is this possible?" she said, between her sobs and smiles of +joy; "my father told me that the Armenian recommended you for your +skill in the healing art." + +"He is my friend, the man who taught me my religion, my everything, +and the only confidant I have in all Constantinople. To him I told +the grief of my heart at our separation; by chance your father +called on him for counsel; he knew the Bey, and his mind suggested +that I was the true physician whom you needed, and fabricating the +story of my profession, he sent me hither." + +The fair young girl gazed at him she loved, and wept with joy, and +with her hands held tremblingly in his own, Selim told her of a plan +he had formed for their escape from the city to some distant land +where they might live together unmolested and happy in each other's +society. He explained to her that he should tell her father that it +was necessary for him to administer certain medicines to her beneath +the rays of the moon, and that while she was strolling with him thus +the water's edge, he would have a boat ready and at a favorable +moment jumping into this, they would speed away. + +The moments flew with fearful speed, and pressing her tenderly to +his heart, the pretended Jew had only time to resume his disguise +when the Bey entered. He saw in the face of his child a color and +spirit that had not been there for months before, and delighted, he +turned to the Jew to know if he had administered any of his cunning +medicines, and being told that a small portion of the necessary +article had been given, was overjoyed at the effect. + +Being of a naturally superstitious race, the Turk heard the Jew's +proposition as it regarded the administering of his next dose of +medicine beneath the calm rays of the moon in the open air, with +satisfaction; for had he not already worked a miracle upon his +child? He was told that by administering the medicine once or twice +at the proper moment beneath the midnight rays of the moon, he +should doubtless be able to effect a perfect cure. + +Satisfied fully of what he had seen and heard, he dismissed the +pretended Jew with a heavy purse of gold, and bade him choose his +own time, telling him also that his palace gates should ever be open +to him. + + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE SERENADE. + + + + + +Beautiful as a poet's fancy can picture, is the seraglio, a fitting +home for the proud Turkish monarch, gemmed with gardens, fantastic +palaces, and every variety of building and tree on its gentle slope, +descending so gracefully towards the sea, spreading before the eye +its towers, domes, and dark spots of cypresses like a sacred +division of the city of Constantinople, as indeed it is to the eye +of the true believer. + +The Sultan's household were removed at his will from the Valley of +Sweet Waters hither and back again, as fancy might dictate. Thus +Komel had met her lover Aphiz Adegah here before his sentence; and +here she was now, still queen of its royal master's heart, still the +fairest creature that shone in the Sultan's harem. Every luxury and +beauty that ingenuity could devise or wealthy purchase, surrounded +her with oriental profusion. Still left entirely to herself, the +same occupation employed her time, of tending flowers and toying +with beautiful birds. Sometimes the Sultan would come and sit by her +side, but he found that the wound he had given was not one to heal +so quickly as he had supposed, and that the Circassian cherished the +memory of Aphiz as tenderly as ever. + +The idiot boy, almost the only person in whom she seemed to take any +real interest, still followed her footsteps hither and thither, now +toying with some pet of the gardens, a parrot or a dog, now +performing most incredible feats of legerdemain, running off upon +his hands, with his feet in a perpendicular position, to a distance, +and coming back again by a series of summersets, until suddenly +gathering his limbs and body together like a ball, he went off +rolling like a helpless mass down some gentle slope, and having +reached the bottom, would lie there as if all life were gone, for +the hour together, yet always so managing as to keep one eye upon +Komel nearly all the while. + +The Circassian loved the poor half-witted boy, for love begets love, +and the lad had seemed to love her from the first moment they had +met in the Sultan's halls, since when they had been almost +inseparable. + +It was on a fair summer's afternoon, that the Sultan, strolling in +the flower gardens of the palace, either by design or accident, came +upon a spot where Komel was half reclining upon one of the soft +lounges that were strewn here and there under tiny latticed pagodas, +to shelter the occupant from the sun. While yet a considerable way +off, the Turk paused to admire his slave as she reclined there in +easy and unaffected gracefulness, apparently lost in a day dream. +She was very beautiful there all by herself, save the half-witted +boy, who seemed to be asleep now, away out on the projecting limb of +a cypress tree that nearly overhung the spot, and where he had +coiled himself up, and managed to sustain his position upon the limb +by some unaccountable means of his own. + +The Sultan drew quietly nearer until he was close by her side before +she discovered him, when starting from the reverie that had bound +her so long, she half rose out of respect for the monarch's +presence, but no smile clothed her features; she welcomed him not by +greeting of any kind. + +"What dreams my pretty favorite about, with her eyes open all the +while?" asked the Sultan. + +"How knew you that I dreamed?" + +"I read it in your face. It needs no conjuror to define that, +Komel." + +"Would you know of what I was thinking?" + +"It was my question, pretty one." + +"Of home--of my poor parents, and of my lost Aphiz," she answered, +bitterly. + +"I have told thee to forget those matters, and content thyself here +as mistress of my harem." + +"That can never be; my heart to-day is as much as ever among my +native hills." + +"Well, Komel, time must and will change you, at last. We are not +impatient." + +Had the monarch rightly interpreted the expression of her face at +this moment, he would have understood how deeply rooted was her +resolve, at least, so far as he was concerned, and that she bitterly +despised the murderer of Aphiz, and in this spirit only could she +look upon the proud master of the Turkish nation. He mistook Komel's +disposition and nature, in supposing that she would ever forgive or +tolerate him. He did not remember how unlike her people she had +already proved herself. He did not realize that his high station, +his wealth, the pomp and elegance that surrounded his slave, were +looked upon by her only as the flowers that adorn the victim of a +sacrifice. Having never been thwarted in his will and purpose, he +had yet to learn that such a thing could be accomplished by a simple +girl. + +As the Sultan turned an angle in the path that led towards the +palace, he was met by one of the eunuch guards, who saluted him +after the military style with his carbine, and marched steadily on +in pursuance of his duty. The monarch did not even lift his eyes at +the guard's salute--his thoughts were uneasy, and his brow dark with +disappointment. + +It was but a few hours subsequent to the scene which we have just +described, that Komel was again seated in the seraglio gardens on +the gentle slope where it curves towards the sea. She had wandered +beneath the bright stars and silvery moon as far as it was prudent +for her to do, and cleft only the narrow path trod by the silent +guard between her and the wall of the seraglio. The hour was so late +that stillness reigned over the moon-lit capital, and the place was +as silent as the deep shadows of night. The half-witted boy had +followed her steps by swinging himself from tree to tree, until now +he was close by the spot where she sat, though lost to sight among +the thick foliage of the funereal cypress. + +Komel was thinking of the strange vicissitudes of her life, of her +lost lover, of the dear cottage where she was born, and the happy +home from which she had been so ruthlessly torn by violent hands. It +was an hour for quiet thoughtfulness, and her innocent bosom heaved +with almost audible motion as it realized the scene and her own +memories. She sat and looked up at those bright lamps hung in the +blue vault above her, until her eyes ached with the effort, and now +the train of thoughts in which she had indulged, at last started the +pearly drops upon her check, and dimmed her eyes. It was not often +that she gave way to tears, but her thoughts, the scene about her, +and everything, seemed to have combined to touch her tenderest +sensibilities. + +In this mood, breathing the soft and gentle night breeze, she +gradually lost her consciousness, and fell asleep as quietly as a +babe might have done in its cradle, and presented a picture as pure +and innocent. + +She dreamed, too, of home and all its happy associations. Once more, +in fancy, she was by her own cottage door; once more she breathed +her native mountain air, once more sat by the side of Aphiz, her +loved, dearly loved companion. Ah! how her dimpled cheeks were +wreathed in smiles while she slept; how happy and unconscious was +the beautiful slave. And now she seems to hear the song of her +native valley falling upon her ear as Aphiz used to sing it. Hark! +is that delusion, or do those sounds actually fall upon her waking +ear? Now she rouses, and like a startled fawn listens to hear from +whence come those magic notes, and by whom could they be uttered. +She stood electrified with amazement. + +And still there fell upon her ear the song of her native hills, +breathed in a soft, low chant, to the accompaniment of a guitar, and +in notes that seemed to thrill her very soul while she listened. + +They came evidently from beyond the seraglio wall, and from some +boatman on the river. Then a sort of superstitious awe crept over +the slave as she remembered that it was in these very waters that +Aphiz had been drowned. Had his spirit come back to sing to her the +song they had so often sung together? Thus she thought while she +listened, and still the same sweet familiar notes came daintily over +the night air to her ears. The only spot that commanded a view +beyond the wall was occupied by the sentinel, and Komel could not +gratify the almost irresistible desire to satisfy herself with her +own eyes from whence these well remembered notes came. It was either +Aphiz's spirit, or the voice of one born and bred among her native +hills--of this she felt assured. + +So marked was her excitement, and so peculiar her behaviour, that +the guard seemed at last aroused to take notice of the affair, and +in his ignorance of the circumstances, presumed that the serenader, +who could be seen in a small boat on the river from the spot where +he stood, was attempting some intrigue with the Sultan's people, and +knowing well the object of his being placed there was to prevent +such things, he took particular note of both the slave and the +serenader for many minutes, until at last, satisfied of the +correctness of his surmise, he resolved to gain for himself some +credit with his officer, by making an example of the venturesome +boatman, whoever he might be. + +Where the sentinel stood, as we have said, he could command a +perfect view of the spot from whence the song came, and also discern +the serenader himself. He saw him, too, pull the little egg-shell +caique in which he sat still nearer the wall of the seraglio. Komel, +too, had observed the guard, and now perceived that it was evident +by his actions that he saw some tangible form from whence came that +dear song; and as she saw him deliberately raise and aim his carbine +towards that direction, she could not suppress an involuntary scream +as she beheld the Turkish guard preparing to shoot probably some +native of her own dear valley. + +There had been another though silent observer of this scene, and as +he heard the cry from Komel's lips, he dropped himself from the tree +under which the sentry stood, right upon his shoulders, bearing him +to the ground, while the contents of the carbine were cast into the +air harmlessly. The half-witted boy had destroyed the aim, and the +alarm given by the report of his carbine enabled the boatman, +whoever he was, to make good his escape at once. The enraged guard +turned to vent his anger upon the cause of his failure to kill the +boatman, but when he beheld the half-witted being gazing up at the +stars as unconcernedly as though nothing had happened, he remembered +that the person of the boy was sacred. + +With a suppressed oath the guard resumed his weapon, and paced along +the path that formed his post. + +As soon as the excitement attendant upon the scene we have related +had subsided, Komel once more turned in wonder to recall those sweet +notes, so endeared to her by a thousand associations, and to wonder +from whom and whence they came. Was it possible that some dear +friend from home had discovered her prison, her gilded cage, and +that those notes were intended for her ear, or had the singer, by +some miraculous chance, come hither and uttered those notes +thoughtlessly? Thus conjecturing and surmising, Komel scarcely +closed her eyes all night, and when she did so, it was to live over +in her dreams the scenes we have referred to, and to seem to hear +once more those thrilling and tender notes of her far off home. Then +she seemed once more to behold the Turk taking his deadly aim, and +the idiot boy dropping from the tree to frustrate his murderous +intention, and throwing the guard by his weight to the ground; and +then the imaginary report of the carbine would again arouse her, to +fall asleep and dream once more. + +During the whole of the day that followed she could think of nothing +but that strange serenade; she even thought of the possibility of +her father having traced her hither, and sung that song to ascertain +if she were there, and then she wondered that she had not thought on +time instant to reply to it, and resolved on the subsequent evening +to watch if the song should be repeated, resolving that if this was +the case, to respond to its notes come from whom they might. And +with this purpose, a little before the same hour, she repaired +thither with her light guitar hung by a silken cord by her neck. + +But in vain did she listen and watch for the song to be repeated. +All was still on those beautiful waters, and no sound came upon the +ear save the distant burst of delirious mirth from some opium shop +where the frequenters had reached a state of wild and noisy +hilarity, under the influence of the intoxicating drug. The +half-witted boy seemed to comprehend her wishes, and already with a +leap that would have done credit to a greyhound, had thrown himself +on the top of the seraglio wall on the sea side, and sat there, +watching first Komel, and then the water beneath the point. + +Despairing at last of again hearing the song, she lightly struck the +strings of her guitar, and thus accompanied, sung the song that she +had heard the previous night. The boy recognized the first note of +the air, and springing to his feet, peered off into the shadows upon +the water, supposing they came from thence; but seeing by a glance +that it was the slave who sung, he dropped from the wall and crept +quietly to her side. Before the song was ended he lay down at her +feet in a state apparently of dormancy, though his eyes, peering +from beneath one of his arms, were fixed upon a cluster of stars +that shone the heavens above him. + +The bell from an English man-of-war that lay but an arrow's shot +off, had sounded the middle watch before Komel left the spot where +she had hoped once more to hear those to her enchanting sounds. She +arose and walked away with reluctant steps from the place towards +the palace, leaving the idiot boy by himself. But scarcely had she +gone from sight, before he jumped to his feet, leaped once more to +the top of the wall, looked off with apparent earnestness among the +shipping and along the shore of the sparkling waters, where the moon +lay in long rays of silver light upon it, and then dropping once +more to the ground, came to the spot where Komel had sat, and lying +down there, slept, or seemed to do so. + +Here Komel came night after night, but the song was no more +repeated. Either the sentry's shot had effectually frightened away +the serenader, or else he had not come hither with any fixed object +connected with his song. In either case the poor girl felt unhappy +and disappointed in the matter, and her companions saw a cloud of +care upon her fair face. The Sultan, too, marked this, and seemed to +wonder that time did not heal the wounded spirit of his slave. His +kindly endeavors to please and render her content bore no fruit of +success. She avoided him now; the feeling of gratitude that she had +at first entertained towards him, had given way to one of deep but +silent hatred. + +The monarch could read as much in her face whenever they chanced to +meet, and the feelings of tenderness which he had entertained for +her were also changing, and he felt that he should soon exercise the +right of a master if he could make no impression upon the beautiful +Circassian as a lover. + +"You treat me with coldness, Komel," he said to her, reproachfully. + +"Our actions are only truthful when they speak the language of the +heart," replied she. + +"You forget my forbearance." + +"I forget nothing, but remember constantly too much," she replied. + +"It may be, Komel, that you do not remember on thing, which it is +necessary to recall to you mind. You are my slave!" + +Leaving the Sultan and his household, we will turn once more to +Capt. Selim, and see with what success he treated his fair patient, +the old Bey's daughter, in his assumed character of a Jewish leech. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE ELOPEMENT. + + + + + +The palace of the old Bey, Zillah's father, was one of those gilded, +pagoda-like buildings, which, in any other climate or any other spot +in the wide world, would have looked foolish, from its profusion of +latticed external ornaments, and the filagree work that covered +every angle and point, more after the fashion of a child's toy than +the work most appropriate for a dwelling house. But here, on the +banks of the Bosphorus, in sight of Constantinople, and within the +dominion of that oriental people, it was appropriate in every +belonging, and seemed just what a Turkish palace should be. + +The building extended so over the water that its owner could drop at +once into his caique and be pulled to almost any part of the city, +and, like all the people who live along the river's banks, he was +much on its surface. Coiled away, a la Turk, with his pipe well +supplied, a pull either to the Black Sea, or that of Marmora, with a +dozen stout oarsmen, was a delightful way of passing an afternoon, +returning as the twilight hour settled over the scene. + +It was perhaps a week subsequent to the time when Selim and Zillah +met at the Bey's house, availing himself of the liberty so fully +extended by her father, Selim, in his disguise as a Jew, again +appeared at the palace gate, where he was received with a request +and consideration that showed to him he was expected, and at his +request he was conducted to the Bey's presence, and by him, again to +the apartment where his daughter was reposing.--The pretended Jew +followed his guide with the most profound sobriety, handling sundry +vials and jars he had brought with him, and upon which the Bey +looked with not a little interest and respect, as he strove to +decipher the cabalistic lines on each. + +"Have you found any improvement in the malady that affects your +child?" asked the Jew, pouring a part of the contents of one vial +into another, and holding it up against the light, exhibiting a +phosphorescent action in the vial. + +"By the beard of the prophet, yes; a marked and potent change has +your wonderful medicines produced. But what use do you make of that +strange compound that looks like liquid fire?" + +"'Tis a strange compound," answered the other, seeming to regard the +mixture with profound interest; "very strange. Perhaps you would +hardly believe it, but the contents of that vial cast into the +Bosphorus, would kill every fish below your latticed windows to the +Dardanelles." + +"Allah Akbar!" exclaimed the credulous Turk, holding up both hands. +"And this medicine, so powerful, do you intend for one so delicate +as she?" he asked, pointing to Zillah, who was reclining upon a pile +of cushions. + +"I do; but with that judicious, care that forms the art of our +profession. So peculiar is the means that I shall operate with +to-night, that should it harm her, it would equally affect me. But I +have studied her case well, and you will find when yonder fair moon +now rising from behind the hills of Scutari shall sink again to +rest, your daughter will be well." + +"Then will I stop and watch the wonderful operation of thy drugs." + +"Nay, they must be applied in the open air and beneath the moon's +rays, with none to observe, save the stars." + +"Then may the Prophet protect you. I will leave my child in your +care. Shall I do this, Zillah?" + +"Father, yes, with thy blessing first," said the fair girl; for well +she knew, that the medicine which was to cure her, would carry her +away from his side and her childhood home, perhaps forever. + +The Bey pressed his lips to her forehead, and with a curious glance +at the strange jars and vials, which the pretended Jew had +displayed, he turned away and left them together. + +"Ah, dearest Zillah," said Selim, as soon as he found himself alone +with her he loved, "all is prepared as I promised thee, and at +midnight we will leave this palace forever." + +"Alas! dear Selim, my heart is ever with thee, but it is very sad to +turn away from these scenes among which I have grown up from +infancy; but full well I know I can never be thine otherwise." + +"In time your father will be reconciled to us both, Zillah, and then +we may return again," said the disguised lover, striving to +re-assure the gentle girl, whose heart almost failed her. + +"But what a fearful risk you incur even now," she said; "your +disguise once discovered, Selim, and to-morrow's sun would never +shine upon you; your life would be forfeited." + +"Fear not for me, dearest. I am well versed in the part I am to +play. But come, it is already time for us to walk forth in the +moonlight. Clothe thyself thoughtfully, Zillah, for your dress must +be such as will suffice you for many days, since we must fly far +away over the sea, beyond the reach of pursuit." + +"I will be thoughtful," answered the gentle girl, retiring a few +moments from his side. + +They wandered on among the fairy-like scenes of the garden, where +the trees overhung the Bosphorus, repeating once more the story of +their love, and renewing those oft-repeated promises of eternal +fidelity, until nearly midnight, when Selim suddenly started as he +heard the low, muffled sound of oars. He paused but for a moment, +then hastily seizing upon Zillah's arm, he urged her to follow him +quickly to the water's edge. Throwing a heavy, long military cloak +about her, he completely screened her from all eyes, and placing her +in the stern of the boat that came for him, with a wave of the hand +he bade his men give way, while he steered the caique towards a +craft that lay up the river towards the city, and soon disappeared +among the forest of masts and shipping that lay at anchor off +Seraglio Point. + +They had made good their escape at least for the present, and were +safe on board the ship commanded by Captain Selim. The very boldness +of his scheme would prevent him from being discovered, and neither +feared that the ship of the Sultan would be searched at any event, +to find the lost daughter of the old Bey. + +On the subsequent day the old Bey summoned his royal master to +assist him to find his child. The Armenian doctor, who recommended +the pretended Jew, was called upon to explain matters, but, to the +astonishment of the Turk, he denied in toto any knowledge of what he +referred to, declared before the Sultan that he had neither offered +to send any one to the Bey's house, nor had he done so, nor did he +know a single Jewish leech in the capital. + +Confounded at such a flat contradiction, and having not the least +evidence to rebut it, the Turk was obliged to withdraw from the +royal presence discomfited, while the Armenian doctor retired to his +own dwelling, comforting himself, in the first place, if he had +uttered a falsehood it was in a good cause; and next, that he held +it no crime to deceive or to cheat an infidel, and ever one knows +how little love exists between the Turks and Armenians, at +Constantinople. + +The truth was that the Armenian had long known Selim, had taught him +his religion, and, had instructed him much at various times in such +matters as it behooved him to know, and which had placed him at an +early age far above many others in the service, who had all sorts of +favoritism to advance their interests. He knew of Selim's love for +the old Bey's daughter, and when chance led the father to consult +him about his child, the idea of sending Selim to his house, as he +succeeded in doing, flashed across his mind, and he proposed it to +the father, as we have seen. + +Selim's Armenian friend repaired on board his vessel as soon as he +was released from the presence of the Sultan, upon the inquiry to +which we have alluded. It would have gone hard with him had it not +been that his skill in his profession had long since recommended him +to the Sultan, in whose household he frequently appeared. Selim +greeted him kindly, and told him he was indebted to him for his +future happiness in life. + +"We have been so successful in this plan," said the Armenian, "that +I have half a mind to try one of a similar, but far bolder +character, if you will assist me." + +"With all my heart. What is it you propose?" asked Captain Selim. + +"In my visits to the Sultan's harem, I have more than once been +brought--" + +"Is the attempt to be made upon the Sultan's harem?" interrupted +Selim. + +"Be patient and hear my story." + +"I will, but this must be a bold business." + +"I say, in my visits to the Sultan's household, I have often been +brought in contact with one whom I know to be very unhappy, and who +is detained there against her will. She is queen, I think, not only +of the harem, but also of its master's heart, her beauty and bearing +being of surpassing loveliness. Her history, too, as far as I can +learn, is one of romantic interest, and she pines to return to her +home in Circassia, from whence she was violently torn. At first when +she came here, I was called upon to treat her case, for she had +lately recovered from some severe sickness, and I then saw how +tenderly the Sultan regarded her. Well, at that time she was both +deaf and dumb, but--" + +"Hold! do you say she was deaf and dumb?" asked Selim, as if he +recalled some memory of the past. + +"I did." + +"Strange," mused the officer; "it must be the slave that I bid for +in the market." + +And so indeed it was the same beautiful being who had so earnestly +attracted him, as the reader will remember, when the Sultan's agent, +Mustapha, overbid him in the bazaar. + +"You know her then?" asked the Armenian. + +"I think so; but go on." + +"Well, I am satisfied that she pines to be released, and from +hearing her story, and tending her in a short illness, I have become +deeply interested in her. You know, Selim, that I hate the Turks in +my heart, and if I can by any means rob the Sultan of this girl, and +restore her to her home, I would risk much to do so." + +"The very idea looks to me like an impossibility," answered the +young officer. + +"Nothing is impossible where will and energy combine." + +"What is your plan?" + +"You have resolved to fly from here, you tell me at least, by +to-morrow night." + +"Yes. I have purchased that skimmer of the waters, the Petrel, and I +shall sail at that time with Zillah, for the Russian coast, or +Trebizond on the south of the Black Sea." + +"Very good; now why not take this gentle slave of the Sultan's along +with you?" + +"But how to get possession of her? that's the question," answered +Selim. + +"You know I have free access to the palace, and could easily inform +her of any plan for her release." + +"One half of the trouble is over then at once, if she will second +your efforts." + +"Well, I will visit the harem this very day. I have good excuse for +doing so, and will tell Komel--" + +"Komel!" interrupted Selim. + +"Yes, that it the slave's name; why, what makes you look so +thoughtful?" + +"I do not know," said Selim; "the name sounded familiar to me at +first, but go on." + +"Well, I will tell her what is proposed, and get her advice as to +any mode that she may think best to adopt in regard to her +escaping." + +"But do you think she would prefer to go with me to an uncertain +home, to the luxury she enjoys?" + +"Of course you will take her to her home on the Circassian coast. +That must be the understanding, and I will remunerate you for the +extra trouble and expense." + +"Never!" said the officer, honestly. "These Turks have paid me well +for my services, and I have already a purse heavy with gold, after +purchasing the Petrel, and if need be, I can make her pay." + +"Have it as you will; it matters not to me, so that she reaches her +home, and the Turk is foiled." + +"I am a rover myself, and the Circassian coast would suit me quite +as well as any other for a season. From whence does she come?" + +"Anapa." + +"Anapa? that shall be my destination," said Selim, at once. + +"Hark! what is that?" asked the physician, turning to the back part +of the cabin. + +"Nothing, but a young friend of mine; he's asleep, I think." + +"Asleep; why he's moving, and must have overheard us, I am sure." + +"No fear." + +"But what we have said is no more nor less than downright treason." + +"That's true." + +"And would cost us both our heads if it should be reported." + +"He wont report it if he has heard it; he bears the Sultan no +good-will, I can assure you, for it is only a day or two since that +he was sentenced to death by him for some trivial cause." + +"What was it?" asked the Armenian. + +"Getting a peep at some of his favorites, I believe, or some such +affair." + +"Do you remember his name?" asked the Armenian, as the subject of +this conversation came out of one of the state-rooms in the cabin, +and approached them. + +"Yes; he is a Circassian, named Aphiz Adegah!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. + + + + + +Though to the Armenian physician the fact of Aphiz's being there was +nothing remarkable, to the reader we must explain how such a +circumstance could be possible after the scenes we have described; +for it will be remembered that we left him at the moment he was sunk +in the Bosphorus and left by the officers of the Sultan to drown. + +The fact was that the Circassian's sentence was more than usually +peremptory and sudden, and he was taken at once from the place of +confinement and borne away in the boat without his person being +searched, or indeed any of the usual precautions in such cases being +adopted to prevent accident or the escape of the prisoner. Aphiz +submitted without resistance to be placed in the sack, preparatory +to being cast into the sea, nor was he ignorant of the fate that was +intended to be inflicted upon him, but some confident hope, +nevertheless, seemed to support him at the time. + +The officers of the prison, not a little surprised at his quiet +acquiescence to all their purposes, when all was prepared, cast him, +as we have already described, into the sea, and quietly pulled away +from the spot. But no sooner did Aphiz find himself immersed in the +water than he commenced to cut the bag with his dagger, which he had +concealed in his bosom, and as he sank deeper and deeper towards the +bottom, quickly to release himself from the restraint of the heavy +canvas bag and shot that bore him still down, down, to the fearful +depth of the river's bed. + +Aphiz Adegah was born near the sea-shore, and from childhood had +been accustomed to the freest exercise in the water. He was +therefore an expert and well-practised swimmer, and after he had +freed himself from the sack by the vigorous use of his dagger, he +gradually rose again to the surface of the water, but taking good +care to start away from the spot where he had been cast into the +sea, that he might not be observed by those who had been sent there +to execute the sentence of death upon him. + +Still starting away and swimming under water, he gradually rose to +the surface far from the spot where he had first sunk, but after a +breath, still fearing detection, he dove again, and deeper and +deeper, sought to follow the current, until he should be beyond the +possibility of discovery. What a volume of thoughts passed through +his mind in the few seconds while he was descending in that fearful +confinement of the sack, and how vigorously he worked with the edge +of his dagger to cut an opening for escape, and when he drew that +one long inspiration as he rose to the surface and instantly plunged +again, what a relief it was to his aching lungs and overtasked +powers! But, as we have said, he was a practised swimmer, knew well +his powers, and confidently dove again into the depth of the waters. + +As he sank deeper and deeper in this second dive, he found himself +suddenly losing all power and control over his body, and he felt as +though some invisible arm had seized upon him, and he was being +borne away he knew not whither. No effort of his was of the least +avail, and on, on, he was borne, and round and round he was turned +with the velocity of lightning, until he grew dizzy and faint, and +the density of the waters, acting upon the drums of his ears, became +almost insupportably painful, imparting a sensation as though the +head was between two iron plates, and a screw was being turned which +compressed it tighter and tighter every moment. + +Though he was in this situation not more than one minute, yet it +seemed to him to be an hour of torture, so intense was the agony +experienced; and yet it was beyond a doubt his salvation in the end, +for he had by chance struck one of those violent undertows that +prevail in all these fresh water inland seas, which defy all +philosophical calculation, and which bore him with the speed of an +arrow for two hundred rods far away from the spot where he had a +second time sunk below the surface, until, as he once more rose to +the surface, he found himself so far away from the boat that he +could not possibly be recognized. + +Close by him he heard the strokes and saw the oars of a large +man-of-war boat passing by the spot where he had risen from his +fearful contest with the water. His first impulse was to dive once +more, but his efforts with the current he had struck below had +seemed to deprive him of the power of all further exertion. The +shore was a quarter of a mile distant, and in his exhausted state, +he doubted if it was possible for him to reach it. He gave a second +look at the boat with longing eyes, his strength was momentarily +failing him, he felt that he must either sink or call to those in +the boat for assistance, and while he was thus debating in his own +mind, he observed the person who had the helm steer the boat towards +him, and in a moment after Aphiz was raised in the arms of the sea +men and placed in the bottom of the caique. + +Scarcely had he been placed in this position when there commenced +throughout his whole system such a combination of fearful and +harrowing pains that he almost prayed that he might die, and be +relieved from them. He had not the power left in his limbs to move +one inch, and yet he felt as though he could roll and writhe all +over the boat. The fact was that while exertion was necessary to +preserve him from drowning, his instinct and mental faculties +combined to support him, and enable the sufferer still to make an +effort to preserve his life, but now that no exertion on his part +could benefit himself, he was thrown back upon a realization of the +consequent suffering induced by his exposure. + +The quantity of water he had swallowed pained him beyond measure, +while the action of the dense water upon his brain, and the combined +pains he was enduring, rendered him almost deranged. It is said that +drowning is the easiest of deaths, but those who have recovered from +a state nearly approaching actual death by submersion in the water, +describe the sensations of recovery to consciousness to be beyond +description, painful and terrible. Those who have for a moment +fainted from some sudden cause have partially realized this misery +in the anguish caused for an instant by the first breath that +accompanies returning consciousness. + +All this proved too much for the young Circassian, and though +removed from the immediate cause of danger he fainted with +exhaustion. He who commanded the boat was also a young man, and +seemed at once to be uncommonly interested in the stranger whom he +had rescued from the sea. Neither he nor any of his men suspected +how the half drowned man had come there, and adopting such means as +his experience suggested, the officer of the boat soon again +restored Aphiz to a state of painful consciousness. Realizing the +kind efforts that were made for him, the young Circassian smiled +through the trembling features of his face in acknowledgement. + +Signing to his men to give way with more speed, the officer soon +moored along side one of the Sultan's sloops-of-war, and in a few +moments after the half drowned man was placed in the best berth the +cabin afforded. + +As to himself, Aphiz had only sufficient consciousness left to +realize that he had been most miraculously save from a watery grave, +but a bare thought of the suffering he had just passed through, was +almost too much for him. And leaving chance to decide his future +fate, he turned painfully in his cot and was soon lost in sleep. + +When the young Circassian awoke on the following morning he was once +more quite himself, being thoroughly refreshed by the long hours he +had slept. He thought over the last few days which had been so +eventful to him, and wondered what fate was now in store for him.--Of +course the generous conduct of Captain Selim, the Sultan's officer, +who had rescued him from drowning, and then hospitably entertained +him, was the most spontaneous action of a noble heart towards a +fellow-being in distress, but if he should know by what means Aphiz +had come in the situation which he had found him, would not his +loyalty to the Sultan demand that he should at once render up the +escaped prisoner once more to the executioner's hands? + +His true policy therefore seemed to be to keep his own secret, and +this he resolved to do, but he had reasoned without knowing the +character or feelings of him to whom he was so much indebted, as we +shall see. + +Scarcely had he resolved the matter in his mind, as we have +described, when Selim entered the cabin, and perceiving the +refreshed and cheerful appearance of Aphiz, addressed him in a +congratulatory tone. + +"I rejoice to see you so well." + +"Thanks to your prompt assistance and hospitality that I am not now +at the bottom of the Bosphorus." + +"You were pretty close upon drowning, and must have been under water +for some time, I should say." + +"I had indeed, and was very nearly exhausted," answered Aphiz. + +"But how came you in such a pitiable plight, what led you so far +from the shore without a boat?" + +"I--that is to say--" + +"O, I see, some matter that you wish to keep a secret. Very well; +far be it from me to ask aught of thee, or urge thee to reveal any +matter that might compromise thy feelings." + +"Not so," answered Aphiz; "but were I to speak, I might criminate +myself." + +"O, fear no such matter with me, were you an escaped prisoner from +the law, I--" + +"What?" asked Aphiz, as he observed the young officer regarding him +intently. + +"Why, I should not betray you again into the Sultan's power. I have +no real sympathy with these Turks, and would much rather serve you, +who seem to be a stranger, than them." + +"Thanks, a thousand thanks," answered Aphiz, warmly. + +"Therefore, confide in me, and if I can serve thee, I will do so at +once." + +"I will," said Aphiz, who felt that the officer was honest in what +he promised. + +Then he told him how he had been condemned by the Sultan, for some +private enmity, to die, but he carefully observed the utmost secrecy +as to what the actual motive of his punishment really was. He told +how he had been borne in the execution boat to the usual spot for +the execution of the sentence that had been pronounced upon him. How +he had been confined in the sack and cast into the sea, describing +his first sensations and his struggle with his dagger until he cut +himself free from the terrible confinement of his canvas prison. How +he had struggled beneath the element, and then of the fearful eddy +into which he had been drawn, and finally how at last he rose to the +surface near his own boat. + +That was all that Captain Selim knew of the matter, and after +hearing that Aphiz was a Circassian, he supplied him with an undress +uniform to further his disguise, and bade him welcome as his guest. +Therefore when the Armenian doctor and Selim found that their +conversation had been overheard by Aphiz, they neither feared his +betraying him, nor suspected the deep interest that the young +Circassian felt in the theme of their remarks. + +"You were speaking of a slave of the Sultan's harem, named Komel," +he said, approaching them. + +"We were; and perhaps have spoken too plainly of a purpose for her +release from bondage," said the Armenian. + +"Why too freely?" + +"Because in a degree we have placed ourselves in your power, having +spoken treason." + +"I care not whether it be treason or not," replied Aphiz; "it was +such as answered to the feelings of my own heart in every word. +Betray you! I will die to achieve the object you name." + +"This is singular," said Selim, surprised at his earnestness. + +"It would not seem so had I dared to tell you my story at first." + +"Then you know the girl?" asked the physician and Selim, in a +breath. + +"Know her? I have been her playmate from childhood. We have loved +and cherished each other until our very souls seemed blended into +one." + +"Then how came she separated from you, and now in the Sultan's +harem?" asked the Armenian. + +"Ay," continued Selim, "how was it that I saw her offered for sale +in the public bazaar?" + +"Have patience with me and I will tell you all, of both her history +and my own." + +Aphiz then related to them the story that is already familiar to the +reader, and seeing that those with whom he had to deal were in no +way particularly partial to the Sultan, he told word for word the +whole truth, even from the hour when he had saved him from the +Bedouins, to that when he had been cast into the sea. + +All this but the more incited both Selim and the Armenian to strive +for Komel's release, and sitting there together, the trio strove how +best they could manage the affair. The Armenian's possessing the +entree to the palace was a matter of intense importance to the +furtherance of the object, and whatever plan should be adopted it +was agreed that he should seek the harem and communicate it to +Komel, thus obtaining her aid in its execution. + +"Doubtless she thinks me dead," said Aphiz; "for the Sultan would +take care to tell her that." + +"That's true, and so let her think, and we will manage an agreeable +surprise for her." + +"As you will; but let us to this business this very night," said the +impatient Aphiz. + +"That we will, and right heartily," said Selim, who hastened to his +young wife to tell her that she was to have a dear, beautiful +companion in their proposed voyage, and that she would be on board +before the morning. + +Aphiz was now all impatience. He could scarcely wait for the hours +to pass that should bring about the period allotted for the attempt +to release her whom he so fondly, and until now so hopelessly, +loved. In the meantime the good Armenian physician, with redoubled +interest, now that he had learned Aphiz's story, sought the Sultan's +harem, where he quietly broached to Komel the plan that had been +agreed upon whereby she should be transported once more to her +distant home and the scenes of her childhood. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE ESCAPE FROM THE HAREM. + + + + + +On one of those soft and glorious nights such as occur so often +beneath the eastern skies, when there was no moon and yet a blaze of +light pouring down from the myriad of bright stars, that one would +not have missed the absence of the Queen of Night; the walks of the +Sultan's gardens, fragrant with flowers and sweet blossoms, were +drinking in of the dewy hour, still and silently, save at the point +where we once before introduced the person of Komel. The spot from +whence she had listened to that tender and dearly loved song of her +native valley, and nearly in the same place she sat now, again +evidently listening and expecting the coming of some person or +preconcerted signal. + +On the extended branch of the nearest cypress hung the half-witted +boy by one arm, which he had cast over the limb, and from whence he +was now oscillating like a pendulum, his head hanging down upon his +breast, and the rest of his limbs as moveless seemingly, as though +he had hung there for months. It was one of the queer odd freaks +that he was so often performing, for what purpose no one knew, and +there he hung still, while the slave listened and cast anxious +glances at the stone wall that forms the sea side of the seraglio +gardens. + +But no sound greeted her ears save the never ceasing babbling of the +fountains, and now and then the soft plaintive cry of some night +bird that, wakeful while most of the species slept, warbled its +notes to the stars. Once she thought she heard the muffled sound of +oars, and started to her feet, but the noise soon died away in the +distance, and she relapsed again into the same attitude of impatient +and anxious anticipation. Out from under the apparently drooping and +senseless eyelids of the idiot, a quick thoughtful glance was turned +upon her at every motion she made, but she knew it not, nor did she +turn towards the boy at all, while he still swung steadily as though +he had been bound by cords to the tree. + +Once more she started, but it was a false alarm. The notes she had +heard were those of an instrument, played by some favorite of the +harem, who looked forth upon the night scene, and coupled its charms +with the notes of her lute.--But this too soon died away, and again +Komel breathed quick and anxiously as she sat there at midnight. The +guard on his rounds came past now, and she assumed a quiet and +careless air to avoid notice, while a soldier cast a wondering eye +at the idiot boy, and then strode on, with the barrel of his carbine +resting lazily in the hollow of his arm. + +At this moment there swelled forth upon the night air the note of +that well remembered song. It was the preconcerted signal, and +springing to her feet, Komel stole quickly to that part of the +seraglio wall nearest the water. The idiot boy seemed to comprehend +the movement instantly, and to recognize the notes that he had heard +once before, and which had so affected the beautiful Circassian, nor +had she fairly reached the wall before he was close by her side. She +paused for a moment to smile kindly upon him and place her hand upon +his head, then turned to listen again. + +The boy appeared to understand that something extraordinary was +going on, and became as nervous as possible. Now he darted off +towards the path where the sentinel had disappeared, and now came +back with a step as fleet as a deer, and as noiseless as a cat's. +But the scene soon changed by the appearance, above the wall, of the +head of Captain Selim, who, peering carefully around for a moment, +asked in a whispered tone: + +"Lady, lady, are you there?" + +"I am," replied Komel, cautiously, while the idiot crowded close to +her side. + +"If I throw over this rope ladder, will you mount now to the top of +the wall?" + +"Yes, O yes; let me get away from here quickly." + +"Step away from the wall then for a moment," said the young officer, +and in an instant after a rope ladder made fast on the outer side, +was cast over to her. + +"Are you ready, lady?" + +"Yes." + +"Then come quickly; don't pause for a moment in the ascent, lest you +be seen." + +Komel thinking of nothing but release from her confinement in the +Sultan's household, and seeing in perspective her home and parents, +for the Armenian had promised that she should be taken thither, +sprang lightly up the tiny, but strong ladder of cord, and was soon +on the other side, the boy creeping after as she went. But just as +she had passed over the top and was descending on the other side, +leaving the idiot boy on the top beside of the young officer, who +stood so that his neck and head were above the level of the summit +of the wall, the sentinel again came down the path in sight of the +place and instantly discovered the whole affair, running with all +speed to the spot. The soldier dropped his carbine to seize and +detain the ladder, when a struggle ensued between him and the young +officer for its possession. + +At this critical moment, the soldier seeming to recollect himself, +turned to raise his gun, either to shoot Selim or give the alarm; in +either case it would be equally fatal to the success of their +design. The boy had maintained his position during the brief +struggle, but the moment the guard turned to recover his carbine, +the half witted creature leaped from his high position directly upon +his back and neck and bore him to the ground. The weight of the +boy's body was sufficient to bring the soldier to the ground with +stunning effect and leave him nearly insensible. + +Had this not been the case the boy's finger clutched the throat with +the power of a vice and the guard was as insensible as a dead man. +In the mean time, the young officer scarcely knowing what to make of +the opportune and sudden interference in his favor, drew up the +ladder on the other side and prepared to follow Komel, who was +already hurried by the Armenian nearly to the side of the boat that +waited there, and in the stern of which sat another person in charge +of the same. Komel looked back as she was joined by Captain Selim, +and asked: + +"Where is the boy?" + +"What boy?" said the Armenian, ignorant as to whom they referred. + +"The half-witted pet of the Sultan's." + +"I left him in the grounds," said Selim.--"The guard passed over the +ladder, but just as he was about to discharge his carbine, that boy +sprang upon him like a tiger, and I think he must have killed him, +for I saw the soldier lying on the ground insensible." + +"That boy has been my best friend, I cannot bear to leave him." + +"It would be madness to stop for anything now," replied the young +officer; and so they passed around to the spot where the boat was in +waiting, moored closed to the shore. + +But let us look back for a moment at the scene on the other side of +the seraglio wall where we left the guard overcome by the boy. The +poor half witted child sat close beside the body, which was +perfectly inanimate. Now he looked up at the bright stars for an +instant, now at the still features of the guardsman, and then at the +spot where the slave had disappeared over the wall. His movements +were nervous and irregular, and he seemed to be trying to understand +something or to make up his mind upon some thought that had stolen +into his brain. + +Suddenly he lifted his head, his eyes glowed like fire, and his +chest heaved like a woman's.--He scanned the wall for an instant, +then turning, retreated a few yards towards the centre of the +grounds. With a short start and a wild bound he was upon its top! +another leap carried him to the ground, and with the speed of a +horse he ran to the water's edge, just in time for Komel to stretch +out her hand and draw him on board the boat. He who sat in the stern +was muffled up, and his face could not be seen, but he started to +his feet at what seemed to him to be an intrusion; but a sign from +the Armenian put all to rights, and the boy coiled himself up like a +piece of rope at the feet of the fair girl. + +Time was precious to them now, and Selim seizing one oar, the +Armenian pulled with another, while he in the stern steered the +caique quietly beneath the shade of the shore for some distance, +when her course was suddenly altered, and striking boldly across the +harbor, it was soon lost among the shipping at anchor. + +A little adroitness, with cool courage, will often put all +calculations at fault, and thus had the plan for Komel's release +proved perfectly successful; thus had the Sultan been robbed of his +favorite slave from out the very walls that encircled his palace +grounds in spite of all his supposed security. Though it was very +plain that the whole affair came very near miscarrying at the time +when the guard appeared, and would perhaps have done so had the +fellow understood his duty and fired a shot at once, thus if not +shooting those engaged in this depredation upon the Sultan's +household, at least giving an alarm that would probably have +resulted in the arrest of all the parties concerned. But thanks to +the bravery and skill of the poor half-witted boy, all had gone +safely through, and now Komel found herself seated with the +beautiful Zillah in Selim's cabin, safe from all harm. + +"So," said the Armenian, drawing a long breath after the unusual +exertion he had just experienced, "all is safe thus far. Now we must +expedite matters for you to embark in your own craft at once, and in +the mean time keep every thing close, especially the boy. He seems +so devoted to the girl that it would be too bad to part them, but if +he should be seen by any one he will be remembered, and it may lead +to detection at once." + +"That is true," answered Selim; "but we have got all on board +without being observed even by the anchor watch." + +"The Sultan will leave no means untried to detect the thief who has +stolen his fairest jewel," said the Armenian, "and his reward will +be so rich as to tempt the cupidity of every one, therefore be +cautious and trust none." + +"I will not. At midnight to-morrow we must be on board the Petrel, +and at the most quiet moment slip her cable and drop quietly down +the coast with the night breeze, and if every thing is propitious, +we can get well away in the Black Sea before anything will be +suspected of us, and pursuit instituted." + +"I shall feel the utmost anxiety until you are fairly away," said +the Armenian. + +"We owe much to you," replied Selim. + +Thus saying, the Armenian and Selim entered the cabin together, +where Zillah and Komel sat listening to each other's stories, and +fast coming to know each other better and better. Suddenly Komel +turned to Selim, and after acknowledging how much she already owed +him and the Armenian, said-- + +"There is one thing I meant to have asked you before." + +"And what is that?" + +"Who was it that sang that song beneath the seraglio walls?" + +"The same notes that formed our signal to-night?" asked Selim. + +"Yes." + +"O, that was a young Circassian, who is on board here," was the +answer. + +"But judging from the song he sang, he must be from my native +valley." + +"Was it familiar to you?" + +"As my mother's voice," answered Komel, with feeling. "It is a song +that one most dear to me has sung to me many a time, and when a few +nights since I heard it, I would have declared that it was his voice +again; but I knew him to be gone to a better land; the Sultan took +his life, alas! on my own account." + +The Armenian looked at Selim, as much as to say, now for the +surprise, while the young officer seemed hesitating as to what he +should do next, when a noise was heard at the entrance of the cabin, +and in a moment after, he who had steered the boat, slipped within +and threw off the outer garment that had muffled him. All eyes were +turned upon him as he stood for a moment, when Komel exclaimed, +trembling as she said so: + +"Is this a miracle, or do my eyes deceive me? that is--is--" + +"Aphiz Adegah," said the Armenian, while an honest tear wet his +cheek. + +"Komel!" murmured the young mountaineer, as he pressed her trembling +form to his breast. + +All there knew their story, and could appreciate their feelings, +while not a word was spoken, to break the spell of so joyous a +meeting, the joy of such unhoped for bliss. + +"The Sultan then deceived me," said Komel, suddenly recovering her +voice. + +"He was himself deceived, and thinks me dead," replied Aphiz; "my +escape was miraculous." + +"O, let us away at once from here," said Komel, anxiously; "the +Sultan's agent will surely trace us, and I should die to go back to +his harem again. Cannot we go at once?" + +"Nay, have patience, my dear girl," said the Armenian, "our plans +have been carefully laid, and we shall hardly run a single risk of +detection or discovery if they are adhered to." + +All this while, the half-witted boy lay coiled up in one corner of +the cabin unseen, but himself noticing every movement that +transpired, until as they all settled more quietly to a realizing +sense of their relative positions, when Komel seeking him brought +him to Aphiz, and told him how much she owed the poor boy for +kindness rendered to her, and even that he had saved her life once, +if not a second time, by his mastering the guard. + +While the boy looked upon Komel as she spoke, his fine eye glowed +with warmth and expression, but when Aphiz took his hand, and he +turned towards him, that light was gone, like the fire from a seared +coal, and the optics of the idiot were cold and expressionless. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CHASE. + + + + + +The reader will remember the fleet and beautiful slaver mentioned in +an early chapter, when lying off the port of Anapa. The same clipper +craft that had conveyed Komel away from her native shores, was +destined, singularly enough, to carry her back again, for this was +the vessel Selim had secretly purchased and prepared for his escape +with his companions from the domain of the Sultan. He was too good a +seaman not to manage affairs shrewdly, and though the coming night +was the one on which he had resolved to sail, yet the schooner +floated as lazily as ever at her moorings. The sails were closely +trailed, and the ropes and sheets coiled away as though they would +not be used for months again. + +But could one have looked on board beneath her hatches, and out of +sight of the crowded shipping in the bay, he might have counted a +dozen stalwart youths, in the Greek costume, busily employed in +getting everything ready below for a quick run, and as the shadows +deepened over the Oriental scene, and the sun had fairly sunk to +rest behind the lofty summit of Bulgurlu, one or two of the crew +might have been seen quietly engaged here and there on deck, but +their lazy, indolent movements, rather speaking of a long stay at +their present anchorage than an idea of an early departure, and yet +a true seaman would have observed that they were loosing everything, +in place of making fast. + +It was nearly midnight when Selim and his party, headed by Aphiz, +left his own ship in a small caique, and quietly pulled with muffled +oars, to the side of the schooner, which they boarded without +hailing. She had been moored the day previous without the outermost +of the shipping, and scarcely had the party got fairly on board, +when she slipped her cable, and showing the cap of her fore-topsail +to the gentle night air that set over the plains of Belgrade and +down the Valley of Sweet Waters, gradually floated away, until by +hoisting a few rings of the flying jib, her bows were brought round, +and she slipped off towards the Black Sea unnoticed. + +Not so much as the creaking of a block had been permitted to disturb +the stillness, and now, when Capt. Selim felt too impatient not to +make the most of the favorable land breeze, only the light jigger +sail that was set so well aft as to reach far over the taffrail, was +unfurled easily and dropped into its place, swelling away +noiselessly. As impatient as he felt, he wished to skirt those +shores silently, and resolved to take every precaution that would +prevent a suspicion of the real hurry and anxiety that he felt +from evincing itself. + +The cutter hugged the Bithynian shore until it had passed that +rendezvous for the caravans from Armenia and Persia, the favorite +city of Scutari, and then it gradually approached the sea, its +mainsail, foresail and topsails were spread, and before the first +gray of morning broke over the horizon of the sea, the cutter had +almost lost sight of the continent of Europe, and was swiftly +ploughing the waves of the great inland ocean. Classic waters! +laving the shores of Turkish Europe, Asia Minor, the broad coast of +Russia, and that ancient island of Crimea, and finally washing the +mountain coast of Circassia and Abrasia. + +One of those short cross seas to which inland waters are so liable, +was running at the time, and there were evidences, too, of foul +weather, for the wind that sets from the north-east for +three-fourths of the season in these waters, had hauled more +westerly, and dark, ominous looking clouds obstructed the light of +the sun as it rose from the horizon. The wind came in sudden and +unequal gusts, now causing the clipper to careen till her topsail +yards almost dipped, and then permitting her to rise once more to +the upright position. Capt. Selim noted these signs well, for he +knew the character of these waters, and that these signs +prognosticated no favorable coming weather. His sails were first +reefed, then close reefed, and finally furled altogether, save a +fore-staysail, and the mainsail reduced to its smallest reef points. + +While the clipper was scudding under this sail, a close lookout was +kept in her wake, for Selim knew very well that at farthest his +absence would only be concealed until the morning gun should fire, +when the fleetest ship in the Sultan's navy would be dispatched to +overtake him. And this was indeed the case, for just at this moment +there came to his side a young Greek, who acted as his first +officer, and pointing away astern in the south-western board, said: + +"There is a man-of-war, sir, standing right in our wake hereaway." + +"You are right--we are discovered, too, for he steers like a hawk on +the wing about to dive for its prey." + +"He is close handed, sir, while we are running nearly free." + +"Then he has not yet made out the schooner's bearings; keep her as +she is." + +Watching the frigate, Selim still held on his course steadily, but +the size of the enemy enabled her to carry twice the amount of +canvass in proportion to her tonnage that he dared to do. Indeed, he +felt the fleet craft under his feet tremble beneath the force with +which she was driven through the water even now. As the morning +advanced, the frigate gained fast upon them, until at the suggestion +of Aphiz, the foresail, close reefed, was put upon the schooner, but +quickly taken in again. It was too evident that the gale was +increasing, as the bows of the schooner were every other minute +quite under water, then she would rise on the next wave to shake the +spray from her prow and side like a living creature, then boldly +dash forward again. + +"That fellow is in earnest," said Selim to Aphiz, "and is determined +to have us, cost what it may. See, there goes his fore-to-gallant +sail clear out of the belt ropes. Heaven send he may carry away a +few more of sails, for he is overhauling us altogether too fast for +my liking." + +"There goes a gun," said Aphiz. + +"Ay, fire away, my hearties," said Selim, "you lose a little with +every recoil of that gun, and you can't reach us with anything that +carries powder in the Sultan's navy--I know your points." + +"That shot struck a mile astern of us," said Aphiz. + +"Yes, and at the present rate, it will take him nearly two hours to +overhaul us; but by that time, if the gale goes on increasing in +this style, he must take in his canvass or lose his masts over the +side." + +Selim was right, the fury of the gale did increase, and he soon saw +the frigate furl sail after sail for her own security, and yet she +seemed under nearly bare poles to gain slowly on the schooner, and +was now ranging within long shot distance, and commenced now and +then to fire from her bow ports. But gunner, ever uncertain on the +water, is doubly so in a gale, and nearly all her shot were thrown +away, one now and then hitting the clipper, and causing a shower of +splinters to fly into the air as though the spray had broken over +the spot. + +Chance did that for the frigate which all the skill of its gunner +could not have done, and a shot aimed at her running gear took a +slant upon the wave, and entered her side below the water line, +causing a leak that was not discovered until it was too late to +attempt its stoppage, and the schooner was slowly settling into the +sea. + +In the meantime the gale had reached its height, and the frigate, +too intent on her own business, had long since ceased firing, and +had dashed by the clipper like a race-horse, with everything lashed +to the her decks and battened down. And now, when Selim discovered +the extent of the danger, and realized that ere long the schooner +must sink, he almost wished that the frigate, which had gone out of +sight far down to leeward, might be seen once more. + +Already had the schooner leaked so fast as to drive the occupants +from the cabin to the quarter deck, and here, gathered in a small +group, they looked at each other in silence, for death seemed +inevitable. + +"O, Selim! must we perish?" whispered his young and lovely Zillah. + +"Dearest, I trust we may yet be saved. The gale will ere long +subside, and even now we are drifting towards the very coast that we +should have steered for had all been well with us." + +This was so. The clipper, though gradually settling deeper and +deeper into the sea, was yet propelled before the breeze by all the +canvass that it was deemed prudent to place upon her, right towards +the Circassian coast, at a rate perhaps of from four to five knots. +The gale, too, now gradually subsided, and enabled the half-wrecked +people to take more comfortable positions, and Aphiz and Selim to +prepare a raft with the assistance of the crew, for it was but too +apparent that the schooner must go down before long. Hollow groaning +sounds issued from the hatches as she settled lower and lower, and +it really seemed as though the fabric was uttering exclamations of +pain at its untimely fate. + +By unbinding and loosing the fore and main yards, a foundation was +made by lashing these spars together, upon which other timbers and +wood work was fastened, and in a few hours a broad and comparatively +comfortable raft was formed. But how to launch it? That was beyond +the power of all those on board united. To wait until the time when +the water should float it from the deck, would be to run the risk of +being engulfed with the schooner, and being drawn into the vortex of +water that would follow her going down, and thus meet a sure and +swift destruction. + +But this was now their only hope, and the only means offering itself +for their escape, since the stern and quarter boats had been lost or +stove in the course of the late gale, and so making a virtue of +necessity, they all gathered upon the centre of the raft that had +been thus hastily constructed, and awaited their fate. Aphiz and +Selim bound their respective charges to the raft by cords about +their bodies, to prevent the possibility of their being washed from +its unprotected flooring. + +Already the water washed over their very feet, and now and then the +schooner gave a fearful lurch, that caused all hands to stand fast +and believe her going down. Gradually the water crept higher and +higher, and the plunging schooner seemed at every fall of her bows +to be going down. Even the gentle Komel and Zillah could understand +the fearful momentary danger that must ensue when the hull should +plunge at last, and they silently held each other's hands. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" cried one of the crew, at the top of his voice. + +"What now?" demanded Selim sternly of the man, at his seemingly +untimely mirth. + +"She floats, she floats--the raft's afloat." + +"Then in the name of Heaven, shove off as quickly as possible," said +Selim, as he and Aphiz seize each an oar and strove to force the +raft away from the deck. A way had already been cut through the +bulwarks. + +At first the raft did not stir, but gradually it slid away, and +finally, to the joy of all, it was free and clear of the schooner's +side, and by the strong efforts of the crew, they increased the +space between them in a very few moments to the distance of several +rods. It was not one moment too soon, for a deep gurgling sound rang +on the ear for a moment, then the stern rose above the surface of +the sea as the bows plunged, and in a moment after she was gone +forever. + +Even at a distance they had already gained, they felt the power of +the vortex, and were drawn towards its brink with fearful velocity, +as though they had been a mere feather floating upon the sea, but +gradually the raft became once more steady, and as the twilight +settled over the scene the whole party knelt in prayer for +protection upon that wide, unbroken waste of waters. + +They had taken the precaution to secure some food, though in a +damaged state, and partaking sparingly of this as the moon lit up +the wild scene, and the sea went down after its turmoil and tempest, +they arranged themselves to sleep, Komel and Zillah close by each +other's side, and the poor idiot boy coiled himself silently at +their feet. He had been uncomplaining and watchful ever since the +calamity, but had kept closer than ever to Komel's side, who, even +in those moments of fearful trial, found time to bestow upon the boy +looks and words of kind assurance,--that was enough--he seemed happy. + +All the day and another night were passed thus. The fearful gale had +cleared the sea of navigators, who had not yet ventured out from +their safe anchorage, and still the raft drove on, aided by a little +jury mast and the fore-topsail of the schooner, which had been +hastily unbent and placed on the raft. Hunger had attacked them, for +the provisions they had saved were now all gone, and this, added to +the exposure they suffered, caused many a blanched cheek, and Komel +and Zillah seemed ready to give way under the trial. + +It was at the dawn of the third day that their eyes were gladdened +by the distant hills of Abrasia, and soon after they neared the +coast so as to make out its headlands, when a favoring wind, as if +on purpose to speed them on their way, came over the Georgian hills +from the south-east, and blew them towards the north. + +Aphiz was now in a region that he knew well the navigation of, and +he declared that with the wind holding thus for a few hours, they +would be off the port of Anapa as safely as a steamboat might carry +them. + +This was indeed the case, and before many hours the well known hills +and headlands of Circassia were visible to their longing eyes. Komel +could not suppress the joyous burst of feeling that a sight of her +native hills again infused into her bosom, but forgetting each pain +and trouble, she pointed out first to Zillah, then to Aphiz, and +even to the idiot boy, a beauty here, a well known spot there, and +the hill behind which stood the cottage of her dear parents. O, how +she trembled with impatient joy to reach its door once more. + +Under the skilful guidance of Aphiz and Selim, the raft was steered +into the harbor, and was soon surrounded by a score of boats, +offering their ready assistance to relieve their distresses, and a +short time after saw them landed safely, all upon the long, +projecting mole. + +All the while Selim seemed thoughtful and absent, and looked about +him with strange interest, at everything that met his gaze. He even +forgot to seek the side of Zillah, who, with Komel, was hurrying +away to a conveyance up the mountain side. Nor did he join them +until sent for by Aphiz. + +Let another chapter explain the mystery of this singular +abstraction. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HAPPY CONCLUSION. + + + + + +The skies were yet blushing with departing day, and the evening +shadows were quietly advancing over mountain top and sheltered +valley, the dew was already touching the evening atmosphere with its +fragrant mist, "Leaving on craggy hills and running streams, A +softness like the atmosphere of dreams," when those who had so +providentially been saved from the wreck, wended their way to the +door of Komel's home. Scarcely could the poor girl restrain her +impatience, scarcely wait for a moment to have the glad tidings +broken to those within, before she should throw herself into her +parents' arms. O, the joy that burst like sunshine upon those sad, +half broken hearts, while tears of happiness coursed like mountain +rivulets down their furrowed cheeks. Their dear, dear child was with +them once more. Komel was safe, and they were again happy. + +"But who are these, my child?" asked the father of Komel, pointing +to Selim and Zillah. + +"To him am I indebted, jointly with Aphiz, for my deliverance from +bondage," she answered, taking Selim's hand and leading him to her +father. "And this," she continued, putting an arm about Zillah, "is +a dear sister whom I have learned to love for her kindness and sweet +disposition. Both come to make our mountain side their future home." + +Nor was the poor half-witted boy forgotten, but he received a share +of the kindly welcome, and seemed in his peculiar way to understand +and appreciate it, keeping continually by Komel's side. + +An hour around the social board seemed to acquaint them all with the +history of the past twelvemonth, and to reveal more than we might +specify in many pages. The cottage was full of grateful hearts and +happy souls that night; and Aphiz learned that since Krometz had +fallen in that fatal encounter, the deed of the abduction had been +fully proved upon him, and that so earnest were the feelings of the +mountaineers in relation to the justice of Aphiz's conduct in that +matter that he need fear no trouble concerning it. Thus assured, he +too joined the home circle of his parents. + +Captain Selim, with his bride, made Komel's house their home, but +the young officer could not close his eyes to sleep. He rose with +fevered brow and paced the lawn before the cottage until morning. +Strange struggles seemed to be going on in his brain like a waking +dream; he was striving to recall something in the dark vista of the +past. + +"You seem trouble this morning," said Komel's father, observing his +mood. "Are you not well?" + +"No, not exactly well," replied Selim; "indeed a strange dream seems +to come over me while I look about me here--this mountain air, these +surrounding hills, the distant view of the sea, have I ever seen +these things before, or is it some troubled action of the brain that +oppresses me with undefined recollections?" + +"Come in and partake of our morning meal; that will refresh you," +said the mountaineer. + +"Thanks; yes, I will join you at once," he replied, but turned away +thoughtfully. + +With the earliest morning, Aphiz was again at the cottage and by +Komel's side. O, how beautiful did she look to him now, once more +attired in her simple dress of a mountaineer's daughter. No tongue +could describe the fondness of his heart, or the dear truthfulness +of her own expressive face when they met thus again. Their hearts +were too full, far too full for words, and they wandered away +together to old familiar scenes and spots in silence, save that +their sympathetic souls were all the while communing with each +other. At last they came to a spot from whence the lovely valley +opened just below them, when suddenly Aphiz pointed to a projecting +and dead limb of a tree far beneath them, and asked Komel if she +remembered the scene of the hawk and dove. + +"Alas! dear Aphiz, but too well. It was indeed an unheeded warning." + +"But the dove is once more restored now, dearest, and we must look +only for happy omens." + +"I have seen so much of sadness, Aphiz," she answered, "that I shall +only the more dearly prize the quiet peacefulness of our native +hills." + +"Thus too is it with me. A few months of excitement, toil, danger +and unhappiness abroad, has endeared each spot that we have loved in +our childhood still more strongly to me." + +"Then shall good come out of evil, dear Aphiz, inasmuch as we shall +now live content." + +"Have you seen Captain Selim this morning, Komel?" he asked. + +"Yes, and I fear he is ill, some heavy weight seems to be upon his +heart." + +"Let us seek him then, for we owe all to his manliness and courage." + +As the twilight hour once crept over hill and valley, the evening +meal was spread on the open lawn before the cottage, and when this +was over, all sat there and told of the events that had passed, and +each other's experiences, for the few past months, during which time +Komel had remained a prisoner at the Sultan's palace. Of Selim, they +knew only so much of his history as was connected with themselves, +and he was asked to relate his story. + +"Mine has been a life of little interest," he said, "save to myself +alone. Of my birth and parentage I know nothing, and my earliest +recollections carry me back to the period when I was a boy on board +a Trebizond merchantman, at a time when I was just recovering from +what is called the Asia fever, a malady that often attacks those who +come from the north of the Black Sea to the Asia coast to live. This +fever leaves the invalid deranged for weeks, and when he recovers +from it, he is like an infant and obliged from that hour to +cultivate his brain as from earliest childhood, and he can recall +nothing of the past. Thus I lost the years of my life up to the age +of eight or nine. + +"I served in that ship until I was its first officer, and by good +luck, having been once employed in one of the Sultan's ships as a +pilot during a fierce gale, through which I was enabled, by my good +luck, to carry the ship safely. I was appointed at once a lieutenant +in the service, with good pay, and the means of improvement. The +latter my taste led me to take advantage of, and in a short time I +found myself in the command, where I was able to serve you." + +"But you had no means whereby to learn of your birth and early +childhood?" asked Komel's mother. + +"None; I have thought much of the subject, but what effort to make +in order to discover the truth as it regards this matter, I know +not." + +"Had you nothing about your person that could indicate your origin?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nor could the people with whom you sailed account for these +things?" asked Aphiz. + +"They said that I was taken off from a wreck on the Asia shore, the +only survivor of a crew." + +"How very strange," repeated all. + +"You found nothing then upon you to mark the fact?" asked Komel's +mother once more, sadly. + +"Nothing--stay--there was an oaken cross upon my neck. I had nearly +forgotten that; I wear it still, and for years I have thought it a +sacred amulet, but it can reveal nothing." + +"The cross, the cross?" they cried in one voice, "let us see it." + +As he unbuttoned the collar of his coat and drew forth the emblem, +Komel's mother, who had drawn close to his side, uttered a wild cry +of delight as she fell into her husband's arms, saying: + +"It is our lost boy!" + +Words would but faintly express the scene and feelings that followed +this announcement, and we leave the reader's own appreciations to +fill up the picture to which we have referred. + +Yes, Captain Selim, the gallant officer who had saved Aphiz's life, +and liberated Komel from the Sultan's harem, was her own dear +brother, but who had been counted as dead years and years gone by. +Could a happier consummation have been devised? and Zillah, who +loved Selim so tenderly before, now found fresh cause for joy, +delight and tenderness in the new page in her husband's history. + +Selim, too, now understood the secret influence that had led him to +bid so high for the lone slave he had met in the bazaar, the reason +why he had, by some undefined intuitive sense, been so drawn towards +her in his feelings, for the dumb and beautiful girl was his unknown +sister! + +And again when he heard her name mentioned, for the first time, by +the Armenian physician, it will be remembered how the name rung in +his ears, awaking some long forgotten feelings, yet so indistinctly +that he could not express or fairly analyze them. The same +sensations have more than once come over him since that hour while +they were suffering together the hardships of the week, and the +fearful scenes that followed the gale they had encountered after the +chase. + +Aphiz and Komel loved each other now, as they never could have done, +but for the strange vicissitudes which they had shared together. +They had grown to be necessary to each other's being, and even when +absent from each other for a few hours, in soul they were still +together. And hand in hand, side by side, they still wandered about +the wild mountain scenery of their native hills. They had no +thoughts but of love, no desires that were not in unison, no +throbbing of their breasts that did not echo a kindred token in each +other's hearts. Life, kindred, the whole world were seen by them +through the soft ideal hues of ever present affection. + +And when, at last, with full consent from her parents, Aphiz led +Komel a blushing bride to the altar, and Selim and Zillah supported +them on either side, how happy were they all! + +Years pass on in the hills of Circassia as in all the rest of the +world beside. Sunshine and shadow glance athwart its crowning peaks, +the waves of the Black Sea lave its shores, its daughters still +dream of a home among the Turks, and the secret cargoes are yet run +from Anapa up the Golden Horn. The slave bazaar of the Ottoman +capital still presents its bevy of fair creatures from the north, +and the Sultan's agents are ever on the alert for the most beautiful +to fill the monarch's harem. The Brother of the Sun chooses his +favorites from out a score of lovely Georgians and Circassians, but +he does not forget her who had so entranced his heart, so enslaved +his affections, and then so mysteriously escaped from his gilded +cage. + +But as time passes on the scene changes--rosy-cheeked children cling +about Aphiz's knees, and a dear, black-eyed representative of her +mother clasps her tiny arms about his neck. And so, too, are Selim +and Zillah blessed, and their children play and laugh together, +causing an ever constant flow of delight to the parents' hearts. + +There ever watches over them one sober, quiet eye--one whom the +children love dearly, for he joins them in all their games and +sports, and astonishes and delights them by his wonderful feats of +agility. It is the half-witted creature, who had followed and loved +Komel so well. As years have passed over him, the sun-light of +reason gradually crept into his brain, and the poor boy saw a new +world before him. His only care, his only thought, his constant +delight seeming to be these lovely children. + +The events of the past are often recurred to by Komel and her +husband, around the quiet hearthstone that forms the united home of +Selim, Zillah, and themselves, and the sun sets in the west, +shedding its parting rays over no happier circle than theirs. Nor +does Komel now regret that she was once the Sultan's slave. + +As now he lays down his pen, let the author hope that he has won the +kind consideration and remembrance of those who have read his story +of THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE. + +THE END. + +[FROM GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING ROOM COMPANION.] + +A SCRAP OF ROMAN HISTORY. + +BY AN UNKNOWN POET. + + In the olden days of Roman + Grandeur, glory, wealth, and pride; + Once there came a might legion + From a vast and far-off region + And this Roman power defied. + Naught could stay their devastations + In the lands through which they came; + All the weeping supplications + Of the terror-stricken nations + Could not quench these Vandals' flame. + Ah! most cruel were the invaders, + Cruel their chastizing rods! + For their hearts were stone-like hardened, + These remorseless and unpardoned + Foes of men and all the gods. + And at last they came with boastings + To the gods' and learning's home; + Came with boasting, loud and merry, + Came, at last, unto the very + Walls of proud, imperial Rome. + Ah! why did they not, in mercy, + Spare the "Mistress of the World!" + Or, why did they not, when power + Sat on Roman wall and tower, + Come, and bid their darts be hurled. + For the Romans' strength was broken. + Gone, like light from darkness, now; + Now, when most that strength was need, + Strength was not;--there + Weakness worse than Venla's vow. + Bearing all the outward semblance + Of a firm and mighty hold, + Rome was inwardly as feeble + As a cemeteried people + Changed into corruption's mould. + Ease, corruption, strife, dissension, + Gaiety, licentious mirth, + Luxury;--O, bane of mortals! + All had sapped the very portals + Of this mightiest queen of earth. + Therefore, when these hordes of robbers + Swarmed around the Roman's way, + Scarcely shadow of resistance + Met them near, or in the distance, + And they found an easy prey. + Vandals, Alans, Allemanni, + Longobardi, Avars, Moors, + Goths, Suevi, Huns, Bulgarians, + Overwhelming, rude barbarians + Conquered Rome with deafening roars. + Desecrated, fired and plundered, + Worse than vessel tempest-tost. + Rome was by her dissipations + Blotted from the list of nations; + Rome was lost!--forever lost! + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE CIRCASSIAN SLAVE; OR, +THE SULTAN'S FAVORITE: A STORY OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE CAUCASUS *** + +This file should be named tcsts10.txt or tcsts10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, tcsts11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, tcsts10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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