"That you are my friend," said Hamid, laying his hands upon the reins and stopping their further progress. "Canst thou recollect my last orders to the troop?"

"I can; to remain within the walls, silent and vigilant, until your return."

66

" "Tis well; I had almost feared I was myself the blunderer; what think you, then, of the red patch which appears almost hid behind vonder shelving rock? Is it some stray signal from the tower?" Harran gazed at the point directed, long and steadfastly, then suddenly -"By Heaven, it moves! it is a man! and clapping the spurs into the flanks of his steed, he was quickly on his path to the unknown. The man, seeing he was perceived, came from his lurking place, and warily scanning the advancing horsemen, descended to the plain to meet them." The fellow has impudence," said Harran, to face us thus; but he is the first, and it is my care he shall be the last traitor within these walls;" as he spoke, he slowly raised his rifle to his shoulder, and took his accustomed deadly aim. Nor had Hamid been idle in the while, but spurring on to a nearer view of the stranger, he immediately perceived he was their scout, who had acted under his private orders." Down with your piece," he cried to Harran, in a hurried though firm voice; "all is right, the fellow is our own spy." "Then why not show his white cap?" said the other moodily, slowly and reluctantly lowering his gun; "he deserves a shot for his negligence."

"Fire at your peril! he is acting under my orders; to your post, sir-I would speak with him alone." The command was given in a tone which he feared to disobey, and replacing his rifle on the saddle, he spurred on and was soon lost to the view. Hamid followed the figure of the retreating horseman with his eye until he was hid in the thicket; then beckoned to the other to advance; the motion was quickly obeyed, and the stranger was soon by the side of his commander.

"You have been speedy in your mission, good Kamak, and I need not ask if it has been truly performed. You saw the lady—couldst

judge of her determination?”

"Unfavourable, I fear, my lord."

"Unfavourable! you must err-what said she?”

"That her father would punish you as you deserved; that you were a wretch, condemned by man and Mohammed."

A deep frown loured over the brow of Hamid as he said—" Said she so?-then am I lost; the last tie which binds me to the earth has gone; and I am free to work my own fate. By my soul, they shall know that a man foiled at every point can prove a wary foe.-Sirrah! sayest thou true? Beware! if I find you false I will punish you to your death-speak!"

"I tell you what I heard," said Kamak, "if more, may I die !"

"I will judge for myself," cried Hamid; and ere his companion had raised his eyes from the ground, his chief had fled; he stood a moment in a thoughtful attitude, and then retraced his steps to the mountains.

Dark and gloomy were the thoughts of the chief as he urged his

noble steed over hill and dale at his utmost speed. For two hours h continued thus rapidly advancing, whilst he maintained a mood, silence, seemingly regardless of all around him. The heat of the sun was excessive, and his horse was gradually slackening in his speed; as they mounted to the summit of a rising ground, the rider stopped and took a cautious glance around him; as his eyes wandered round the horizon they rested upon a troop of military, who had encamped on the plain before him; for awhile he took a long, steadfast, and eager gaze-then, as if satisfied with his scrutiny, he muttered lowly to himself, and drawing forth a flag of pure white, he opened it to the breeze. The signal remained for a moment unanswered-another, and another-but still no corresponding colours were returned, and Hamid was about to lower his own in despair of success, when a pure white field from the tent of the agar rose gracefully in the air; no sooner had it caught his eye, than, fearless of danger, he dashed forward, and soon found himself alone in the centre of his foes. "Bring me to your chief," said he, addressing one who appeared superior to the others," I must speak with him alone." His voice commanded even respect from his enemies; and, dismounting, he followed his guide to the tent of the agar-when the door was opened, and he paced into the centre of the enclosure, he beheld Mustapha reclining on a couch at the other extremity; he was alone and surrounded by his weapons. "I am come," said Hamid, "to inquire from you my fate,-whether am I to live and die an exile, with the curses of the Prophet upon me, or shall I again find peace in the land of my birth?—I ask you, Mustapha, as the friend of my youth,-as the father of her I love."

"Who art thou?" cried the noble, springing from his lair: "you came with a flag of truce, and I concluded you were one of the banditti.” "I am Abd-ul-Hamid, a proscribed man, for I know not what; I loved my Sultan, my country, and my troop, and for that I was to die but will the same judgment be mine now I hate them all? Mustapha, you are powerful, reverse my fate, and I will ever be to you true and faithful,-refuse, and mine shall be the vengeance of a disappointed man.'

"Abd-ul-Hamid," said Mustapha, advancing, "I would aid you, but the Sultan is firm in his resolves, and you already know his fatal decree. However, it may yet be done; years have rolled on since the affair, and you must have adopted some manner of living; what art thou now?"

"What I ever was, a doomed man, but now doubly doomed, both by the people and the laws; I am he whom men call The Devil."

As he uttered the last words, Mustapha started in evident amazement, and recoiling a few steps, drew his sword from its sheath, and stood as if expecting an attack. Hamid marked his ungrounded suspicion, and continued in a tone of bitter irony,-"Yet though I am thus censured, nay, cursed by mankind, still am I possessed of a spirit which would scorn a base act; do you think I am a murderer, my lord, that you stand thus on your defence? Shame to your suspicion; you should have known enough of my character to have saved you this."

"Your character," said Mustapha, recovering his self-possession,

"has been so often sounded throughout the empire, that the meanest serf dreads the name, and shrinks from your villany."

"I know it all," said he thoughtfully, "but the purest characters may be tainted by calumny. Mustapha, it is in your power to reclaim one, who otherwise may be for ever lost; none but yourself know who I am, to them I might be friend or foe; what say you? will you do what is in your power?"

"Will you ask me to betray my trust-to prove a traitor to my sovereign? No, Abd-ul-Hamid, my commands are strict, and must be obeyed; you are my prisoner, and will do well to surrender at discretion."

"Mustapha," he replied proudly, "when I was a Janizary and fought for my country, to surrender was my farthest thought. I was taught from a boy to conquer or die; and do you think that now, when my liberty or life is at stake, I would pursue another course? No, what I would have done for my Sultan, I now perform for myself,-and I surrender only as a corpse."

"We will try-your sword, sir; or I call those who will assist in your capture."

Hamid seized a pistol from his belt, and presenting it to the head of his opponent, said, "If you move or utter but one word, my lord, which may command assistance, I fire! Now then we are on equal terms, and I ask you again, will you aid in my pardon? Consider, I do not act thus to affright you to a compliance to my wishes, but in mine own defence; be candid in what you say, for if I discover in you one spark of treachery, you die. Now, your answer.'

"You had it in my former words, and you should know I am not one to swerve from my oath."

Hamid mused a moment and then said, "I have cast my last die and have lost; 'tis well, I must now earn the name I have got; Mustapha, answer me one question, ere we part, perhaps for ever,-yourdaughter-" "Ask me not of her," was the answer he received; "Alla be praised, she is safe." A smile passed over the handsome features of Abd-ulHamid, as he received the equivocal answer, and augured a happier issue to his plans than he before thought. "Adieu, Mustapha," said he, turning to go, "but before I leave, you shall see I was not a murderer who sought your life:" as he spoke he discharged his pistol, holding his hand about a yard from the muzzle. As the smoke cleared off, the noble looked up and beheld his enemy uninjured-" the weapon was charged with powder only; but think not, Mustapha, the others are so-they are ready for more deadly use. Adieu !"-and in a moment he was gone.

The troops had been aroused by the noise of the pistol in the tent of their commander, and not seeing him come forth with the stranger, they concluded he had died by his hand; and seeing the unknown hastily remount his steed, they all, as if actuated by one common feeling, rushed forward to his seizure. Hamid saw the peril of his situation, and raising himself in his stirrups demanded the cause of the

uproar.

"Seize him!" cried a commanding voice from the rear, "seize him, and he who brings him to the ground, shall receive the reward." Hamid

looked round, and beheld the speaker was Mustapha. Rage and indignation at his baseness seemed suddenly to inspire him with the courage of a madman, and discharging his pistols at those who held the reins, he clapped the spurs into the flank of his tried steed, and urged on the noble animal towards the hill; luckily for him the royal troops had considered themselves in a state of security, and were none of them prepared for pursuit, so that when they had discharged their weapons, their chance of capture was over. "He is gone," muttered Mustapha, as he followed with his eyes, his fine form hastily retreating from his sight: "Fools! why were ye all from your guard? prepare ye now, and speedily-he will be upon my house ere the sun has waned, but I will foil him there." The soldiers obeyed the command rapidly, but in silence; and in a few minutes, Mustapha, at the head of a small troop of horse, was on the road to his estate: when he arrived at his mansion, his first inquiry was for his daughter, and finding she was alone, he proceeded to the apartment where she stayed. The surprise and grief of Ada may be imagined, when she perceived her father enter, for although she tenderly loved him, she wished not to have her plans thwarted.

Ada," said he, throwing himself upon a couch," you must prepare for your departure; the banditti are abroad, and this is not a safe spot in which you can remain alone."

The beauteous girl almost fainted as she heard her father's commands, but summoning her courage, she endeavoured to remonstrate against such a sudden movement. "But, father," said she, “we are perfectly safe; the men will not dare to approach so near the capital, and this spot is such a favourite of mine, you will not debar me the pleasure of its enjoyment."

"I will debar you nothing, Ada, but what is for your own happiness. I know from certain evidence the fellows are abroad, and for your own safety you must go." This, which was said in a positive tone, convinced the maiden she must obey, and with a heavy heart she commenced the necessary preparation. In three hours after Ada had been conveyed to the city, and the chief and his followers had returned to their encampment.

The third day had arrived, and Abd-ul-Hamid, alone, set forth to learn the issue of the determination of one who held his fate in her power. The sun had just risen as he emerged from the hills, and stood before the late residence of her he loved; slowly and cautiously he approached it, and as he stood at the entrance, he looked round to see that no one was within sight, and then gave a loud knock; the blood thrilled through his veins, as the sound was reverberated through the house, but no one answered to the summons: his heart misgave him, but he tried again-the same silence prevailed-another and another, even louder than before-but it remained still unbroken. "She is gone," said he, seating himself at the threshold, and burying his face in his hands; " Kamak, it was true!-she is false !-she has discarded me for another. Alas, Ada! where is your plighted troth; your love? But she is mine," said he, springing to his feet," she is my bride, and not the world shall take her from me! I am discarded by the world, by her I love! my last, my dearest hope has gone, and

now shall they know their own fate!" As he spoke, he collected a quantity of sticks and dried leaves which lay strewed around him, and placing them at an angle of the house, which was composed chiefly of wood, set them on fire; the combustible material of which the mansion was formed was soon caught by the devouring element, and in a few minutes, the favourite residence of the noble was enveloped in flames; a bright red glare was shed around, which vied in splendour with the rising sun; and as the timbers crackled and refused their support, the roof fell, and the gilded minarets which had so lately towered to the clouds, were now level with the dust. As Abd-ul-Hamid mounted his horse, and looked upon the devastation he had occasioned, he wielded his lance above his head, gave vent to his feelings in a madlike shriek, and spurring his steed, was soon lost amongst the hills.

It was about this time, that Ilarran, with a party of their troop, descended to the plain to reconnoitre; by some unguarded movement he had proceeded too far, and when he least expected it, found himself hotly pressed by a strong fire from a party of the enemy. "To cover!" said he, gazing around him, "to cover, my good fellows! give no quarter, but make good your retreat; I wish to heaven that Hamid were here to share in our glory." As they turned to retire, they found themselves surrounded on every side by their foes; Harran saw the danger of his situation, and with the coolness of one accustomed to such, collected his followers, and drew up in a square, presenting at every point of attack a strong line of lances, strongly resembling our own chevaux de frise, behind each, two rows of spears, and supported by them from a charge, were the musqueteers ready to return the fire of the enemy. Often did Mustapha, with a chosen few, rush on to the attack, and endeavour to break the line of the enemy, but as often was he repulsed by the loss of some of his best troops; thus they continued for two hours, the bandits still firm at their post, although their numbers had been materially diminished: when Mustapha, tired of the frequent endeavours to break their line, drew off, as if to refresh his men, but actually to draw the rebels from their post. Harran would at this moment have given his life for the return of Hamid, but this was time for action, and not for vain regret, and he conceived it most necessary to get the troops from their exposed situation; with this feeling, and considering the enemy off their guard, he rushed forward, and commanded all who loved their lives, to follow him. "Ay! ay! muttered Kamak, although it is to death." Mustapha desired no more; his men had been on the alert ready for their charge, and as they advanced in a disordered state, they were received upon the spears of an enemy five times their number. slaughter was merciless, not one of the brave fellows escaped, but all fell fighting to the last gasp; as Mustapha looked upon the dead, and was certain of the victory, he drew off his men, who encamped themselves at the other extremity of the plain. Thus, for the want of their leader, was a brave troop utterly destroyed.

The

The fight had hardly concluded, when Hamid, breathless, pale, and in haste, appeared upon the plain; as he sprung from his horse, he looked round upon his oft tried troops, but they lay before him breathless-dead. "I feared this," said he, pacing amongst the corpses ;—