perienced, "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