PART VII.

I.

"YOUR pace is troubled, uncle." "So is my mind."

"All may go well."

"Miriam, we have seen the best. Prepare yourself for sorrow, gentle girl. I care not for myself for I am old, and age makes heroes of us all. I have endured, and can endure more. As we approach our limit it would appear our minds grow callous. I have seen my wealth, raised with the labours of a thoughtful life, vanish in a morn: my people, a fragile remnant, nevertheless a people dispersed, or what is worse. I have wept for them, although no tear of selfish grief has tinged this withered cheek. And were I but alone-ay! there's the pang. The solace of my days is now my sorrow." "Weep not for me, dear uncle. Rather let us pray our God will not desert us."

Our hours

"We know not when we are well. stole tranquilly along, and then we murmured. Prospering, we murmured, and now we are rightly stricken. The legend of the past is Israel's bane. The past is a dream; and in the waking present we

should discard the enervating shadow. Why would we be free? We murmured against captivity. This is captivity: this damp, dim cell, where we are brought to die.

"Oh! youth, rash youth, thy being is destruction. But yesterday a child-it seems but yesterday I nursed him in these arms, a thoughtless child-and now our house has fallen by his deeds. I'll not think of it; 'twill make me mad."

"Uncle, dearest, dearest uncle, we have lived together, and we will die together, and both in love: but, but, I pray you,-speak no harsh word of David."

"Shall I praise him?"

"Say nothing. What he has done, if done in grief, has been done all in honour. Would you that he had spared Alschiroch ?"

"Never! I would have struck him myself. Brave boy, he did his duty, and I-I, Miriam, thy uncle, at whom they wink behind his back and call him niggard, was I wanting in that hour of trial? Was my treasure spared to save my people? Did I shrink from all the toil and trouble of that time? A trying time, my Miriam, but compared with this, the building of the temple."

"You were then what you have ever been, the best and wisest. And since our fathers' God did not desert us, even in that wilderness of wildest wo, I offer gratitude in present faith, and pay him for past mercies by my prayers for more. "2

"Well, well; life must end. The hour approaches when we must meet our rulers and mock trial; precious justice that begins in threats and ends in torYou are silent, Miriam."

ture.

"I am speaking to my God."

"What is that noise ? A figure moves behind

the dusky grate. Our gaoler. No, no, it is Caleb! Faithful child, I fear you have periled much." "I enter with authority, my lord, and bear good tidings."

"He smiles! Is 't possible? Speak on, speak on!" "Alroy has captured the harem of our governor, as they journeyed from Bagdad to this city, guarded by his choicest troops. And he has sent to offer that they shall be exchanged for you and for your household. And Hassan has answered that his women shall owe their freedom to nothing but his sword. But in the meantime it is agreed between him and the messenger of your nephew, that both companies of prisoners shall be treated with all becoming courtesy. You, therefore, are remanded to your palace, and the trumpet is now sounding before the great mosque to summon all the host against Alroy, whom Hassan has vowed to bring to Hamadan dead or alive."

"The harem of the governor, guarded too by his choicest troops. 'Tis a great deed. He did remember us. Faithful boy! The harem of the governor!-his choicest troops! 'Tis a very great deed. Methinks the Lord is with him. He has his great father's heart. Only think of David—a child! I nursed him-often. Caleb! Can this be David, our David, a child, a girl! Yet he struck Alschiroch! Miriam! where is she? Worthy Caleb, look to your mistress; she has fallen. Dead, quite dead. Fetch water. 'Tis not very purebut we shall be in our palace soon. The harem of the governor! I can't believe it. Sprinkle, sprinkle. David take them prisoners! Why, when they pass, we are obliged to turn our heads, and dare not look. More water: I'll rub her hands. 'Tis warmer! Her eyes open! Miriam, choice news, my darling! The harem of the governor!-I'll not believe it!"

II.

"Once more within our walls, Caleb. Life is a miracle. I feel young again. This is home; and yet I am a prisoner. You said the host were assembling; he can have no chance. Think you, Caleb, he has any chance? I hope he will die. I would not have him taken. I fear their tortures. We will die too; we will all die. Now I am out of that dungeon, methinks I even could fight. Is it true that he has joined with robbers ?"

"I saw the messenger, and learnt that he first repaired to some bandits in the ruins in the desert. He had become acquainted with them in his pilgrimage. They say their leader is one of our people." "I am glad of that. He can eat with him. I would not have him eat unclean things with the Ishmaelites."

"Lord, sir! our people gather to him from all quarters. "Tis said Jabaster, the great cabalist, has joined him from the mountains with ten thou

sand men."

"The great Jabaster! then there is some chance. I know Jabaster well. He is too wise to join a desperate cause. Ar't sure about Jabaster ? 'Tis a great name, a very potent spirit. I have heard such things of that Jabaster, sir, would make you stare like Saul before the spirit! Only think of our David, Caleb, making all this noise! I am full of hope. I feel not like a prisoner. He beat the harem guard, and now he has got Jabaster, he will beat them all."

"The messenger told me he captured the harem only to free his uncle and his sister.'

"He ever loved me; I have done my duty to him; I think I have. Jabaster! why, man, the name is a spell ! There are men at Bagdad who will get up in the night to join Jabaster. I hope David will follow his counsels in all things. I would I had seen his servant, I could have sent him a message."

"Lord, sir! the prince Alroy has no great need of counsellors, I can tell you. 'Tis said he bears the sceptre of great Solomon, which he himself obtained in the unknown tombs of Palestine."

"The sceptre of Solomon !-could I but believe it! 'Tis an age of wonders! Where are we? Call for Miriam, I'll tell her this. Only think of David-a mere child-our David with the sceptre of Solomon! and Jabaster too! I have great faith. The Lord confound his enemies!"

III.

"Gentle Rachel, I fear I trouble you; sweet Beruna, I thank you for your zeal. I am better now ; the shock was great. These are strange tidings, maidens."

"Yes, dear lady! who would have thought of your brother turning out a captain ?"

"I am

sure I always thought he was the quietest person in the world," said Beruna, "though he did kill Alschiroch."

"One could never get a word out of him," said Rachel.

"He was always moping alone," said Beruna. "And when one spoke to him he always turned away,” said Leah.

"Or blushed," added Imra.