welcome! Share our fare; 'tis rough, and somewhat scanty;
but we have feasted, and may feast again. Fled into Egypt, eh?'

'Ay! Sir.'

'Schirene, shouldst like to see the Nile?'

'I have heard of crocodiles.'

If the presence of Kisloch and his companions were not very pleasing
to Alroy, with the rest of the band they soon became great favourites.
Their local knowledge, and their experience of desert life, made them
valuable allies, and their boisterous jocularity and unceasing merriment
were not unwelcome in the present monotonous existence of the fugitives.
As for Alroy himself, he meditated an escape to Egypt. He determined
to seize the first opportunity of procuring some camels, and then,
dispersing his band, with the exception of Benaiah and a few faithful
retainers, he trusted that, disguised as merchants, they might succeed
in crossing Syria, and entering Africa by Palestine. With these plans
and prospects, he became each day more cheerful and more sanguine as
to the future. He had in his possession some valuable jewels, which he
calculated upon disposing of at Cairo for a sum sufficient for all his
purposes; and having exhausted all the passions of life while yet a
youth, he looked forward to the tranquil termination of his existence in
some poetic solitude with his beautiful companion.

One evening, as they returned from the Oasis, Alroy guiding the camel
that bore Schirene, and ever and anon looking up in her inspiring face,
her sanguine spirit would have indulged in a delightful future.

'Thus shall we pass the desert, sweet,' said Schirene. 'Can this be
toil?'

'There is no toil with love,' replied Alroy.

'And we were made for love, and not for empire,' rejoined Schirene.

'The past is a dream,' said Alroy. 'So sages teach us; but, until we
act, their wisdom is but wind. I feel it now. Have we ever lived in
aught but deserts, and fed on aught but dates? Methinks 'tis very
natural. But that I am tempted by the security of distant lands, I could
remain here a free and happy outlaw. Time, custom, and necessity form
our natures. When I first met Scherirah in these ruins, I shrank with
horror from degraded man; and now I sigh to be his heir. We must not
think!'

'No, love, we'll only hope,' replied Schirene; and they passed through
the gates.

The night was beautiful, the air was still warm and sweet. Schirene
gazed upon the luminous heavens. 'We thought not of these skies when
we were at Bagdad,'