They travelled prosperously onwards during the day, laying by at noon to give their horses rest. Cara Bey's castle, perched on a commanding eminence, was seen in the blue horizon, as the sun was about to set, and, in order to reach it, it was necessary to cross a chain of arid hills, on the farther side of which flowed the Arpachai - a river which we have before named, and celebrated in this narrative for Osmond's feat in saving the life of Hassan. The sun set gloriously, tinging every height with his golden beams, enhancing the ruggedness of some, and slanting over the gentle declivities of others; to his dazzling light succeeded the subdued and soft light of the moon, which being at the full, rose with unclouded beauty, and gave a charm to the landscape, glancing in playful streaks over the rushing waters of the river, and throwing long slopes of the adjacent mountains into unbroken masses of shade. The five horsemen rode quietly onwards, enjoying their security, for they felt themselves now within the influence of Cara Bey's power; and although he in fact owned no territory but that upon which his castle was built, yet still, such was the terror of his name, that none but the most foolhardy would venture to travel in his neighbourhood, unless in such numbers as to defy his attacks. On a sudden, as they turned the abrupt angle of a defile, Osmond's eye was arrested by the vision of what he supposed was an immense city. Walls, houses, towers, cupolas, and battlements, arose before him in massive groups, exhibiting to his astonished mind, not the small and insignificant structures of a common Asiatic town, but the severe and well-defined masses of ancient times, such as one fond of classic illusions might imagine to have been the residence of Greeks or Romans. Although some of its angles were glanced upon by the moon, its principal outlines were in deep shade; the whole bearing so dark, awful and mysterious an appearance, that a poet might without much exaggeration have called it "The Spectre City". Osmond was struck with astonishment, and gave himself up to contemplation: he could think of nothing but the sublimity of the view before him, and did not at first trouble himself to inquire its history: but without inquiry, he was certain that what he had so abruptly stumbled upon, could be nothing else than the famous remains of Anni, formerly one of the principal cities of Armenia. His companions scarcely noticed what so powerfully struck Osmond; for, in their ignorance, they passed unheeded any ruins or remains rendered interesting merely by recollections of the past. Hassan called them the remains of a Giaour city. Mustafa shuddered when he heard them called the ruins of Anni, for he knew them to be the headquarters of banditti, and had always shunned their approach with as much care as his master now hailed their vicinity with joy. Stasso eyed them with respect, for he recognised the remains of churches among the towering groups, and occasionally distinguished the sign of the cross; but, when he was told that they had belonged to Armenians, his Greek prejudices arose in his breast, and he did not deign to make his sign of the cross, which, had they belonged to his own nation, he would have done without intermission.
It was not long before the travellers, having passed the first broken outskirts, began to wind through the desolate streets. There was not sufficient light to exhibit every detail of ruin, and an ignorant observer might have mistaken what he saw for a flourishing city, the inhabitants of which had suddenly been smitten by the plague, or with one consent had abandoned their homes and fled. The silence which prevailed was fearful, and struck involuntary horror. House succeeded house in sad array, and not a sound was heard. A magnificent structure, looking like a royal palace, lifted up its walls and towers, cutting the clear blue vault of heaven with its angular lines, and lighted up by the moon in its splendour. The travellers paced along at the foot of its walls; the only noise which broke the still air was that of the reverberating hoofs of their horses, heard in echoes throughout the long-deserted courts. Osmond would have questioned Hassan, - but observed that he also was full of thought, and rode on with caution as if he feared to meet with some unwelcome vision. He looked at Mustafa, - who seemed the personification of despair; if ever so awful a passion would condescend to put up with so diminutive a representative. Stasso kept up his spirits by every now and then exclaiming, "
Ti diavolo!" At length, very distant and indistinct sounds, as if from the beating of a small drum, accompanied by strange screams or voices of men, either in pain or in frenzy, or in outrageous merriment, stole upon the ear, and broke the silent spell which seemed to have arrested every tongue.
"What is that?" exclaimed Mustafa, as he pulled in his horse's bridle, and trembled from head to foot.
"What can it be?" answered Osmond, not a little startled by so strange a circumstance: "if this were the land of elves and fairies, one might suppose this was their capital."
"Hassan Aga!" roared out Stasso, "tell me, my soul! what has happened - what do we hear?"
Hassan, after a pause, lending his whole attention to the sounds, after having stopped his horse, and again urged it forward, said, with a voice not the most encouraging, and with evident signs of perturbation, - "It is Cara Bey!"
Mustafa, on hearing these words, would have fallen from his horse, had not his scared senses been restored to him by the firmness of his master's voice, who, overjoyed at having at length reached the object of their search, urged Hassan to push on, and introduce him into the presence of his redoubted chief.
They made for the spot whence came the sounds, and after having wound for some time through a succession of skeleton-like streets, which appeared to be familiar to Hassan, all at once he stopped near a ruined archway, the entrance to some once large mansion, and desired them there to await his return. They did so, and instantly he and his companion disappeared; the steps of their horses gradually becoming fainter as they increased their distance, until they entirely died away upon the ear.
Osmond dismounted, and seating himself upon the fragment of an architrave, the moonbeams darting full upon him, whilst his servants stood near him, he leaned his head upon his hand, wearied with the day's journey, and gave himself up to reflection.
The mysterious tone which Hassan had recently adopted, and his evident perturbation at the vicinity of Cara Bey, made him reflect that there must be something more in the character of this man than he had imagined; and that, if there were not danger to be encountered, at least there was a great degree of caution necessary to be preserved. Several times a thought would cross his mind that even now he might be free, by avoiding the meeting with Cara Bey, and endeavouring to make the Russian frontier, which, he knew, could not be very far distant. But every time this thought arose, another would immediately oppose itself, in which the image of his Ayesha was presented to his mind in colours so vivid and fascinating, that he could not prevail upon himself to abandon scenes which might again afford him the pleasure of seeing her. He never ceased, either directly or indirectly, to fix his thoughts upon her; - to leave her for ever appeared to him almost as great a crime as to abjure his faith. He had so impressed himself with the certainty that she was not a child of Turkish parents, and that her history, if fully investigated, would disclose to him secrets which, if brought to light, would lead to the happiness, not only of himself, but of many others - that, every time he thought of escaping from his present situation and seeking the protection of others, he felt that he was doing her an injustice, that he was acting cruelly towards her, and that nothing but the most positive necessity should ever prevent him from devoting himself to her happiness.
Both Mustafa and Stasso had watched their master's looks with considerable anxiety ever since Hassan had left them, and thought that he betrayed symptoms of impatience at his absence. The strange noise which they had heard, and which still at intervals struck their ear, had much shaken their nerves, and had given reality to the thousand and one stories which they had heard of the life and character of the man they were about to visit. They sounded like the midnight orgies of some infernal being, and as they occasionally became louder, might have been taken for a sort of flourish preparatory to the introduction of the demon of wickedness on the stage.
Mustafa could no longer maintain silence, but, overcome by his increasing apprehensions, broadly entreated his master to take advantage of the favourable moment for escape. He pointed out the facilities which the surrounding vastness of the ruined city afforded for concealment; and asserted that, once having regained the plain, there could be no difficulty in eluding any search which might be made for them. "Besides," said he, whilst he furbished up a momentary bit of courage, "are there not three of us? Mashallah! there is you; then there is me; and here is Stasso. - Cara Bey indeed! I laugh at his mother! Be you but safe, and we do not care a para for him."At that moment he thought he heard the distant tread of a, horse, when his valour died away, and he again became silent through apprehension.
Stasso, too, urged every argument to induce his master to escape. "Effendi!" said he, "who knows what this devil may be? We hear every where that he is the greatest wretch ever known; that nothing stands in the way of his humour. That Hassan there, even he, told me just now, shuddering as he spoke, that he spares neither man, woman, nor child, in the pursuit of his villany; and that you, Effendi, when you appear before him, must be very cautious not to displease him: that a word, either one way or the other, may excite his wrath, and lead to mischief. Let me speak to you now, O my master! there is still time: I have noted every inch of the way - I know the direction of all the mountains. The Peak of Aligez is not very far distant; and one can never mistake the position of
Agridah (Ararat). Before many hours have elapsed we could be within the territory of Persia, and then, may the devil take Cara Bey! What say you, Effendi? Shall I get the horses, a word from you, and we are off"
These were words of temptation to Osmond, and suited the humour into which Hassan's delay had thrown his mind. So long as he was in action, and his thoughts bent upon one object, so long had he refrained from reflecting upon the dangers and difficulties which he was likely to encounter; but this pause had opened the gate for the intrusion of doubts and fears. The impulse in favour of Ayesha began to weaken as the delay increased: he reflected that he might aid her in some more effectual manner, by not submitting himself to Cara Bey's power: he thought that he might be at greater liberty to reward Hassan, were he to place himself in a more independent position than he was now likely to be in. Hassan himself, by this delay, perhaps wished to afford him an opportunity of escaping: he conceived that it might not be looked upon as a breach of confidence were he to do so: in short, arguments for taking this step now flowed so fast, that he was on the point of ceding to them. He rose from his seat; Stasso had brought his horse close to him; Mustafa was already mounted, and Osmond was actually about to put his foot into the stirrup with the determination of departure, when horse's footsteps were heard approaching with such speed that there could no longer be any illusion. Mustafa's tremors came on again; Stasso said "
Ti diavolo!" within his teeth; and Osmond seated himself in his saddle, ready to await the result. At length Hassan appeared: he came in haste, and apparently full of care. All his words bespoke haste. "Come, come!" said he, "the Aga wants you. Do not wait. I have seen him; he wants you."
"Hassan," said Osmond with dignity, "am I welcome? If not, I will not approach your chief. You have been my friend, and I well know how to show you my gratitude; but if I am not welcome to Cara Bey, I do not proceed."
"Come, come, my Aga!" exclaimed Hassan with evident signs of perturbation: "the Bey, it is true, is somewhat hasty; he is a bit of fire; he is a quick man, and likes to be obeyed in an instant: it is on that account I am anxious that we should not delay. But, Inshallah! you will receive welcome! He is not the man to turn away from those who seek his skirt. Bismillah! Come on, in the name of Allah!"
Upon this Osmond, lending himself to the impatience of his guide, and slowly turning his horse's head in the proper direction, followed his steps, accompanied by his two attendants. They had not proceeded far before they caught glimpses here and there of men's heads darkly peeping from behind the ruins, and occasionally groups of horses, with indications of troops on a march, were seen. These objects increased as they advanced, and it was evident that some predatory excursion was on foot. Men in the picturesque Kurdish costume, some on the watch, armed from head to foot, wielding the characteristic lance of that people - others asleep in recumbent attitudes - others, again, seated round fires, were now plainly seen, and bespoke the vicinity of their chief. A more striking moonlight scene could not well be imagined: overhanging turrets, broken battlements, lengthened walls, arose on all aides. Parts of the fragments, overgrown with wild vegetation, were lighted up by the pale gleaming of the moon, whilst the deepest shade concealed the remainder, and presented a series of outlines which became mysterious from being undefined. The whole was diversified by the shadowy forms of men, and horses and other cattle, producing a picture to which the pen or the pencil would find it difficult to do justice. Osmond would willingly have paused to enjoy it at his leisure, but he was impelled onwards by his guide, whose protection gave him security among the lawless gang through which he was about to pass, and who probably otherwise would not have failed to make him their prey. At length they reached the front of a large building, evidently the remains of a Christian church. Built in the form of a cross, one of its sides, in the centre of which was the principal entrance, was terminated by a lofty pediment, and opened upon the square in which the building was situated. A triangular steeple rose from the summit of the roof, and presented to the eye a form of architecture so like a European place of worship, that Osmond could scarcely believe that he was far away from the blessings of his own Christian country, and in the midst of ruthless barbarians. The whole square was full of armed men, evidently ready at a moment's notice to obey the call of their chief, who was now close at hand. Presently Hassan, with a look of agitation, casting his eyes behind him, and looking at Osmond, said, "In the name of Allah! let us dismount; the chief is here." Upon which Osmond dismounted, and giving his horse in charge to one of the slanders by, followed Hassan, accompanied by Mustafa and Stasso, and together they entered the small court by which the church was enclosed.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Thou elvish-mark'd, abortive, rooting hog!
Thou that wast seal'd in thy nativity
The slave of Nature and the son of Hell!
Richard III
THE great gate of the church, being unenclosed by doors, presented to the sight of Osmond, as he approached it, an immense glare of torchlight, which fell upon the ruined and dilapidated ornaments of its interior, as well as upon a large crowd of variously dressed people. The scene was as strange as it was impressive. In front was the ancient altar, backed by a recess of highly-wrought fretwork in stone, in the centre of which stood conspicuous the sacred emblem of the cross; the high ceiling, supported by heavy pillars with grotesque capitals, received the rays of the brilliant light, and disclosed many details of sculpture which would be interesting to the scientific traveller; whilst the walls, broken into heavy compartments, engraved with Armenian inscriptions, and diversified by carved window frames of stone, showed, by the cracks and fissures which intersected them, that the hand of time was not to be cheated of its slow but certain labour.
Osmond's eye could not rest upon objects which at another time would have absorbed his attention, but fell upon a figure recumbent, in a half-indolent, half-animated attitude, on carpets spread on the ground, and against cushions which rested upon the very steps of the altar. To describe the countenance of this person, or give an idea of the sensation which his appearance produced in Osmond, would be difficult. His countenance seemed as it were the rallying point of every evil passion; he looked the very personification of wickedness.
He was rather inclined to be fat and bloated; but his cheeks were pale and livid, his forehead of a marble whiteness, whilst the lower part of the face was dark and blue. The nose was strongly arched, the mouth drawn down and full, with two strong lines on either side, and the cheekbones broad. But it was the eyes which gave the look of the demon to the whole. Their brilliancy was almost superhuman; it might be said, "they flashed intolerable day;" they shone through the shade of an overhanging brow, like torches within a cavern. There was an obliquity in their look which produced deformity and gave a cast of villany to their expression - had they been well matched, they would have been accounted beautiful. And, withal, the settled tone of the features wag a fixed smile. He was remarkable for a scowl on the brow, and a smile on the lip - a smile denoting contempt of every thing good, which did not vanish even at the sight of inflicted tortures and agonizing death. Such was the man before whom Osmond stood, and this was Cara Bey. In his person he was tall and muscular, and the breadth of his shoulders, and the deepness of his chest, spoke for his strength.
Every object by which he was surrounded, showed him to be a voluptuary. He was waited upon by richly-dressed attendants; dancers fantastically decked in brocades, velvets, and silks, with flowing ribands and a profusion of pendent hair, were doing their utmost, by studied contortions and measured attitudes, to draw forth his approbation; whilst all the ingredients for excess in wine and gluttony were placed before him.
His only companion was a most singular-looking person, whose appearance bespoke neither a warrior nor a man of the pen. He looked more like a ruffian grafted on a priest. He was as thin and ill-favoured as the other was the contrary. His hollow cheek and sunken eye did not announce him to be a great partaker of the good things which were spread before his chief. All strength had apparently left him. The small features which he possessed were scarcely discernible, owing to a profusion of hair, which he allowed to grow uncut and untrimmed over his face, whilst the only part which he kept shorn was his protruding chin. This creature, ill-omened and ill-conditioned as he naturally was, was rendered doubly so by the dress which he wore, the colours of which were a mixture of blue and black. Their dark hue combined, gave him the look of a man of woe; whilst from his head-dress flowed a profusion of black silk trimming and tassels, that threw his swarthy features into constant shade. This personage sat at a respectable distance from Cara Bey, and looked more like an automaton, than one intended to go through the offices of life. He was, in fact, a priest of the Yezidies, of whom Cara Bey was one of the most devoted disciples, and he never left his side. To him Cara Bey referred on all occasions, and by his words was he guided according to the strange and extravagant rites and ceremonies of their odious worship.
Osmond was allowed to stand unnoticed for some time before Cara Bey took heed of him, or seemed to be aware of his presence. At length, Hassan having ventured to announce his arrival, whilst he made his obeisance, the monster cast his eyes upwards, and eyeing Osmond and his attendants in silence, scrutinizing them from head to foot, and looking too suspicious not to throw doubt upon the sincerity of his greeting, he said doggedly "Khosh geldin - you are welcome!"
Osmond having made his proper answer, stood aloof in deep attention to every thing which surrounded him, and at once perceived that his conduct in this emergency demanded the greatest circumspection, for evidently his safety required that he should give way to the humours of a wretch of no small pretensions.
After a pause, turning to Hassan, Cara Bey said, "A Prank you say he is, is it so?"
"Yes," said Hassan, "so it is."
"What is his name?" said the chief.
"Osman," answered Hassan, giving it the true Turkish expression.
"Osman!" exclaimed the other; "why then he must be a Mussulman, how is that?"
"Osman!" repeated Hassan, "so he calls himself."
"Does he talk Turkish?" inquired Cara Bey, with much animation.
"He does," answered the other. Then addressing himself at once to Osmond in a loud tone, Cara Bey exclaimed:
"How is this! you a Frank, and called Osman? This cannot be!" Osmond endeavoured to explain the difference between his own name and the Turkish Osman, but in so doing, expressed himself with idioms so truly characterictic of the language, and so like a native, that Cara Bey, on hearing him, remained perfectly astonished, and, what is more, confirmed in his suspicions that he was not what he professed himself to he.
"No Frank talks Turkish as this man," muttered Cara Bey to himself, although loud enough to be heard. "Bak - see!" said he addressing himself to Hassan: "if there is any treachery in this, I look to you - your head shall pay for it. Angnadimne - have you understood me?"
Upon which Osmond answered boldly: "If you suspect us, bid us depart. We come to you for protection; we have been basely treated by the Turks, who, but for your officer, would have put us to death. All we require is to return to our own countries. Send us to your neighbours, the Moscovcs; or, if you object to that, to your other neighbours, the Persians. We do not wish to remain with you, if you think us traitors."
"To my neighbours, the Moscoves!" cried Cara Bey, tauntingly; "well, very well - Mashallah! so you think me an ass! So you would have me send one who has been a spy in my camp, to my bitterest enemy! - Or to my neighbours, the Persians! better still. The foul red-caps! who do not allow a year to pass without endeavouring to destroy me and my castle. Perhaps, they have paid you for coming. Thanks to Allah! Cara Bey is not come to that pitch of stupidity yet. Is it not so?" said he, turning round to his priest: "is Cara Bey all at once become a fool of that magnitude!"
The dark man uttered a few sounds which were unintelligible, but which evidently marked his obsequiousness, and then remained as fixed and immoveable as ever.
"What then can I propose?" said Osmond, "Try me; all I can say is, that I am no Mussulman, I am an Englishman : I come to you for protection; if you do not choose to grant if to me, Sen ektiar der - you are the master!"
Upon this Cara Bey, knitting his sullen brows more than usual, remained silent for some minutes, and then muttered to himself, "Try you!" after which, turning to his oracle, He inquired, "Shall I try him?" To which the dark man in answer, said, "Try him."
"Well," said Cara Bey, "there is no harm done, I will try you. If you are a Frank, you must be acquainted with the manners of Franks, and, if of Franks, of Muscovites. See! this very morning I am about to attack a neighbouring village which belongs to the Russians and is garrisoned by their troops. You shall prove to me there whether you he my friend or my enemy. If my friend, you can help me; if my enemy, Bak! by this beard! I swear, were you to take refuge under the throne, or under the grandfather of the throne of the king, or of the father of the king of the Franks, I, I, who am Cara Bey, I would find you out! More I say not - only of this be assured, that my eyes, the eyes of Cara Bey," (upon which he glared with more than usual fierceness,) "shall be upon you; from them you cannot escape, and by them you wilt be judged. Have you understood me?"
"I have understood you," answered Osmond, boldly, "and I agree, to the trial."
"So be it," said Cara Bey: "and here, if you be a Frank, let me see you drink off this cup of wine."
Upon which a small basin full of wine was brought to him, which he would not willingly have touched, but, considering the exigency of the moment, drank off.
"Aferin! - well done!" came from the monster, who deemed drinking wine one of the tests of being a Christian, and who, consequently, laughed at the scruples of Mahomedans on that head.
Cara Bey then cast a look upon Stasso and Mustafa. Perceiving that the latter was a Turk, he fixed his eyes fiercely upon him, and inquired, " Who may you be?"
Mustafa, who had already shrunk to half his original size from fear, and apprehending that some test of bravery would also be required of him, stammered out a few unconnected words in a tone so suppliant, that Cara Bey was more excited to merriment than to anger by the sorry figure which he cut.
"So they call you a man in Turkey," said the ruffian chief, "do they!"
"What can I do?" said Mustafa; " I am a Tatar, and, if you please, a man," taking up a little more courage as he spoke.
"Mashallah! - a man! - hah!'' roared out the chief in an offensive laugh. " Such men as you are good to keep women in order. My harem is in want of one such. What say you - are you ready?"
Upon this, he laughed outright, and was answered by the obsequious chuckle of his surrounding attendants, whilst poor Mustafa's face flushed crimson with a rage which he was forced to suppress.
"And who are you?" exclaimed the chief, looking at Stasso. " You indeed, are a man. Mashallah! we are in want of such arms and shoulders as you possess."
"I am Milord Osmond's servant," said Stasso, nothing abashed.
"Both these men are attached to me," said Osmond; they have travelled with me from Constantinople through all parts of Asia, and I can answer for their good conduct."
"Very well," said Cara Bey; "very well, Bakalum! - we shall see!"
He then called for a cup of wine, which he drank off; and after that, assuming a tone of protection, which made Osmond shudder with indignation, he called him to sit by him, and, in so doing, ordered his music to strike up, and his dancers to recornmence their feats.
As soon as Osmond was seated, Cara Bey, under cover of the music, (for even he respected Asiatic prejudices sufficiently not to talk openly of women,) began to question him concerning his adventures at Kars, and particularly with reference to the daughter of Suleiman Aga. The reputation of her charms seemed to be well known to him; he dwelt much upon what he had heard of her excellence, and talked of her with a freedom and a license which fully developed the wickedness of his nature. Feelings of horror rose in Osmond's breast, in a manner which he could with difficulty suppress, upon hearing his odious remarks: his colour came and went; he could scarcely find words to answer the questions put to him, which mainly tended to ascertain the precise spot of her dwelling, and the best manner of invading it. A host of new ideas came across his mind when he found that the monster's intention was neither more nor less than to invade the city and to seize upon Ayesha for himself. As he sat on the odious cushions, his ears stunned by the din of the infernal music, his eyes offended by the coarseness and barbarism of the dances, and seated side by side with one who was a devil in all his characteristics, though he might not really be one in person, he felt a disgust and a rage which almost deprived him of his senses, and left him in a state of stupefaction." And all this abomination too," said he to himself, "in what has once been a Christian church!"
Such an accumulation of horrors might have deprived any other but one of Osmond's sound mind, of all power of action; but, making an effort upon himself, he determined to dissemble his real feelings, in the hope of being able to devise some mode of warding off from his mistress the impending blow. On a sudden he felt an energy and a resolution spring up within him to protect the innocent maiden to the utmost extent of his abilities and strength, even should it cost him his life; but fearing lest, at this particular moment, his disgust might betray him into some act of imprudence, he did not refrain from appearing to enter into the spirit of the scene before him, and even to drink of the wine that was repeatedly offered to him, more than he ever before had ventured to do. The result was, that he lulled Cara Bey's suspicions, and found himself at liberty to reflect upon his situation, and upon the line of action he ought to adopt.
By this time it was nearly midnight, when the chieftain, turning to Hassan, ordered him to take charge of Osmond and his servants, to see them provided with food and other necessaries, and, particularly, that a good horse should be provided for him in the ensuing attack upon the Russians. He then dismissed his dancers, musicians, and attendants, and ordered every one to be in readiness on horseback two hours before the break of day; and forthwith rolling himself up in his fur-cloak, he fell asleep upon the spot on which he had passed the evening.
When left to himself, Osmond for some time attempted in vain to unravel the complicated knot of difficulties with which he was encompassed. He found himself in the hands of one whom he was in honour compelled not to betray, although, were he to do so, it was evident he would be the means of ridding the world of one of the greatest criminals that encumbered its surface. He had, moreover, in some measure, bound himself to farther his views; for, in self-preservation, he was about lending himself to an attack which might lead to bloodshed. He felt that it would be in vain to attempt flight; - besides, if he did, he must give up all chance of endeavouring to protect his Ayesha, who, from what he had heard from Cara Bey, and from what he had already seen of his character, would inevitably fall into his hands. The more he thought upon the line of conduct he ought to pursue, the less was he able to see his way before him, Of course, he felt that, under Providence, much must be left to the chapter of accidents, and to his own promptitude of decision at the moment of action; and as he pondered on what might happen, his heart was refreshed by the hope that all his present miseries would work out for him a futurity of happiness, and would, perhaps, be the means, not only of delivering Ayesha from her Turkish bondage altogether, but of uniting her to him for ever, and of placing her in that situation of life to which his warm imagination assured him she was entitled. Happen what might, he determined in the present case to keep aloof from the fight, and not to interfere, except to save the life of a fellow creature, and to prevent the effusion of blood. Full of such-like thoughts, it is not surprising, that when the signal was heard for the gang (for we will not honour it by any other name) to prepare themselves and their horses to march, Osmond rose totally unrefreshed by sleep. For the first time during his travels he felt really oppressed and unhappy: his spirit of adventure had never carried him so far as to contemplate the possibility of his ever becoming leagued with robbers, assassins, and freebooters; and here he was one among those "whose hand was against every one, and every one's hand against them." He endeavoured to cheer himself by a feeling of conscious rectitude, and by the hope that some lucky opportunity would soon intervene, which would enable him with honour to clear himself from his present entanglement. But, surrounded as he was on all sides by ferocious men bent upon deeds of blood and rapine, his heart sank within him; nor would he, perhaps, have been relieved from this state of despondency, had he not sought comfort, where true comfort is only to be acquired, at the foot of the throne of grace. A flood of tears came to his relief, as he fervently and earnestly prayed to God for pardon and protection; and like a drooping plant which acquires fresh life and vigour from a refreshing shower, so, after this exercise, did his mind regain its energy, and his heart strength and peace, conscious of being under the protection of that Almighty power which sees all and directs all for the benefit of his creatures.
The troop was not long in collecting. From different parts of the surrounding ruins, horsemen, by three and four at a time, were seen to issue, and to make for the place of rendezvous, - the square in front of the chieftain's quarters. Every thing was done in silence. The picturesque forms of the men, in their wild costume, with lances resting on the shoulder, were discerned gliding through the darkness, passing and re-passing among the ruins, like evil spirits on the move, bent upon mischief.
Osmond was called upon by Hassan to attend his chief, who, the foremost of the band, was already mounted, awaiting the gathering together of his adherents. Cara Bey showed himself to be as vigorous and intelligent in action, as he was indolent and sensual in repose. His eye was every where. Ho distinguished the active by his approbation, and censured the tardy. His own interest led him to the right path in securing the devotedness of his followers: he was liberal to them, though unrelenting in his rapacity to acquire the means of that liberality. He talked to all with familiarity; but whenever he found it necessary to be severe, the blow was struck at once, and the result of this vigour of decision tended to secure his power and establish his authority.
The whole troop was assembled when Osmond joined it: it consisted of about one hundred men, who were not marshalled in regular order, but compressed into one compact mass. Cara Bey but slightly noticed Osmond as he approached to greet him, and, satisfied that he was properly guarded by several confidential servants whom he had placed around him, he occupied himself in giving requisite orders, and taking every precaution to ensure his success.
The Russians, whose increasing power in Georgia, and to the south of the Caucasus, had brought them in contact with the frontiers of Turkey, possessed an advanced post, almost touching the base of the abrupt hill upon which the castle of Cara Bey was situated. They had frequently attempted to dislodge him, but without success; and he, in return, never lost an opportunity of annoying them, sometimes attacking their military stations unawares, and running off with prisoners; at others, making a feint upon one point, whilst he plundered another. On the present occasion, he was informed that the small detachment which occupied the post in his neighbourhood, had been recently changed; and hoping to take advantage of the supposed inexperience of the new commander, he determined to attack it - to destroy it, if possible, or, at all events, to carry away as many prisoners as the fortune of war might throw into his hands. He collected his men in the ruins of Anni, in order to cloak his operations; and now he expected that he should he able to come upon the enemy unawares, and achieve an easy conquest.
At length, some two hours before break of day, the troop began its march. They defiled through the ruins in silence and with the caution of freebooters; the only voice heard was that of the chief - shrill, loud, and querulous, which every now and then would sound in echoes among the projecting walls and high towers, and, instead of cheering, infuse a cold creeping of horror in the hearts of those who heard it. Mustafa felt it vibrate through every nerve, and he accompanied it, whenever it fell upon his ear, with suitable execrations at its owner - execrations, however, which he carefully concealed at the bottom of his throat, Stasso did his best to assume the Turk both in look and manner, although, in his heart, he would have been happy to accompany his master on any other expedition than the present. Osmond rode onwards absorbed in thought, watching ever and anon the approach of day, - that day, thought he, which might, perhaps, seal his fate in this world.
