a few minutes she heard distinctly the clash of steel,
and all the tumult of a fight. Instantaneously two or
three horsemen dashed back toward the litter, and
ordered it to retreat at an accelerated pace, by a byeroad apparently hidden from general observation, so
much did it look like a mere indentation in the hill.
The bearers plunged into the dark narrow lane on the
word, and directly were completely hidden from observation, while the shouts of the combatants, and the
clashing of their sabres grew fainter on the ear. The
sudden hope which had been aroused in Haidai's bosom
by the appearance of succor now gave way ; her despair
became uncontrollable ; and for the first time since her
capture she gave way to a flood of tears.
She was recalled to her recollection at length by the sound as of some one dashing through a neighboring jungle, and on the instant she beheld a horsemen emerge at full speed into the narrow lane, followed by three or four spahis. She saw at once they had come to her rescue, for they charged instantly on the bearers, one or two of whom they cut down in a twinkling, the rest only saving themselves by flight. In less time than we have taken to describe it the field had been cleared, and Haidai remained alone with her rescuers. The scene had passed so quick that it seemed like a dream. Their leader instantly advanced toward her. With the instinctive modesty of her sex she drew her veil still closer around her, yet not so close but she could notice the manly form and gallant bearing of the officer who now approached her. "Will your highness," said he, " entrust yourself to us-my spahis shall bear you to the main body, which has, I trust, driven your captors from the field. Luckily I saw you borne down this narrow bye-lane, and came to your rescue." There was something so musical in the deep rich tone of the speaker- something so deferential in his demeanor that the princess was taken by surprise, and remained silent for a moment. At length she spoke. "You have won the thanks of the Rajah, and of," and she hesitated, she knew not why, and then continued, " myself for your gallantry. Be assured we shall not forget it ask any boon-promotion, wealth, anything -and I will ensure it to you." "It is enough to have saved you," said the officer, with a devotion the princess could not fail to perceive, and yet a devotion tempered with such humility that she could not find offence at it. She blushed deeply at his words, but made no reply, only motioning her hand to signify that she was willing to submit herself to his care. The spahis at once assumed the place of bearers, and the little cavalcade moved briskly back toward the road they had left. As they approached it they heard the clattering of horses' hoofs, and soon found themselves
surrounded by a troop of cavalry which Haidai recognized as belonging to her father. Immediately the troops parted, and an officer approached, whom she knew as one in high rank at her father's court. In measured and stately terms he assured her of her safety. But when he had finished his pompous harangue, and she looked around for her real deliverer, she found that he was no longer to be seen. CHAPTER III . WHо can fathom the thousand shapes which LOVE assumes, or the ten thousand avenues through which he finds his way to the heart ? Haidai hitherto had never loved, her heart had been as free as her own mountain air, and she had yielded passively to her father's wish for her marriage, as much because she knew nothing of the passion as because such was the custom of her nation. Now, however, she regarded her approaching union in a different light. Even since the night when the unknown young soldier had rescued her from the hands of her captors, she had dwelt upon his image with an interest which was a puzzle even to herself. And yet, though she made many efforts, she could not drive him from her heart. His manly figure was always before her. His low deep musical voice was ever ringing in her ears. She saw him constantly in her memory, as he appeared when he approached her, after having saved her from the hands of her captor. That look of lofty courage tempered with deferential awe recurred to her when sitting among her slaves, or idling the afternoon away on her divan. Was she not in love ? It may seem strange, but Haidai had never since seen or heard of her deliverer. Yet when we call to mind the seclusion in which an oriental princess spends her days our wonder diminishes. Haidai had ventured indeed once or twice a hint respecting him, but she found that her father's high officer had taken all the credit to himself, and that the merit of her deliverer was in fact unknown. Thus discouraged in her enquiries, the princess hesitated to ask further; especially since the emotions of love which already had possession of her bosom, made her shrink with instinctive delicacy from questions which might betray her feelings. Love nursed in secret has no cure, since it lives on the ideal perfection of its object, and that ideal perfection is never destroyed by the reality. Thus the love of Haidai increased until it had attained an intensity which threatened to consume her being. Her usual amusements failed to yield her pleasure ; she no longer smiled when her slaves danced around her ; but she would sit for hours on her cushions, wrapped in a reverie which nothing seemed sufficiently powerful to dissipate. And daily she pined away. Her melancholy was increased by the approach of her union, since she no longer had a heart to bestow on her future husband. Oh ! what
