overpowering the feeble glimmer of a small lamp
which hung suspended from the pole. I remained motionless for some
little time after I had opened my eyes, trying to remember where I was,
and what had happened, and then wondering in a vague speculative sort of
way who and what was the strange being who appeared to govern the
reckless band of outlaws into whose hands I had fallen. I thought at
first that I was alone in the tent, but a restless movement on my part
undeceived me.

A cool soft hand was laid upon my forehead, and the voice of my hostess
inquired in gentle tones whether I felt better.

I replied that I did, but complained of thirst, upon which there was a
faint rustle, followed by a gurgling sound, and then the beautiful
unknown, kneeling beside me, raised my head and presented to my lips a
brimming goblet containing a draught of very peculiar taste, but cold as
ice, and, oh! _so_ refreshing. I drained it to the last drop, and asked
for more, which was given me. I was then advised to lie down, and sleep
once more.

It was evening when I next awoke, and on opening my eyes I felt more
bewildered than ever.

I was stretched upon a luxurious bed, the four slender posts of which
were elaborately carved into the semblance of palm-trees, the graceful
foliage forming the canopy; the stems and leaves of the trees being
richly gilt. The bed was draped with heavy silken hangings overlaid
with magnificent lace, and the linen was pure, white, and fresh as new
fallen snow. This bed occupied one end of a lofty room of moderate
size.

A massive cornice ran round the room, and was supported by decorated
pilasters, which divided the walls into compartments. A coved ceiling
sprang from the cornice, and both ceiling and walls were decorated with
paintings, in distemper, of mythological subjects; the lower portion of
the wall, however, having what is, I believe, termed a dado, ornamented
with a diaper pattern, each square of which contained a conventional
representation of a different flower.

The end of the room facing the bed was almost entirely occupied by a
large bay-window draped with heavy curtains of silk and lace, matching
the hangings of the bed. There was not much furniture in the room; an
elegantly-appointed toilet-table, a couch, and one or two chairs being
all that it contained, as far as I could see. One of the casements of
the window was open, and through it there stole into the room a cool
gentle