he depths of despondence to the summit of
hope; for to a man like himself, endowed with strong passions, but
accustomed to watch progressively their workings, such sudden
transitions betrayed a weakness utterly incompatible with desperate
enterprises.

"But how," now inquired Caneri, addressing El Feri, "has thy precious
life been preserved?"

"When I fell by the arm of Aguilar," returned El Feri, "it was more from
the excessive fatigue which I had for several days endured, than from
the nature of the wounds inflicted--they were not mortal; and as I lay
extended and helpless on the ground, I thought upon my country, and my
heart sunk within me when I considered that my life, which might still
have been preserved to her service, would soon, alas! be lost in a fiery
grave. The town was deserted--nought was heard but the crackling of the
flames, and the groans of those that were dying around me. Our enemies
were gone, and I, collecting my small remaining strength, with much
difficulty contrived to drag myself from that place of desolation. At
length, exhausted, I sunk under a tree, and there, for want of timely
assistance, I might have breathed my last, when, to my joy, I observed
two or three of our party, who had escaped in the general confusion,
advancing towards me, and the hopes which had almost abandoned me again
began to revive. My preservers removed me immediately to a place of
security, and administered all the remedies that their limited means
could afford. When I had sufficiently recovered my strength, in various
disguises we arrived at Granada, and made ourselves known to Mohabed
Alhamdem: at his dwelling the plan of a second rising has been
concerted, and I am come here to ask your support to the undertaking."

"Noble and beloved companion," replied Caneri, "next to the pleasure of
seeing thee alive, comes, certainly, that of hearing thy proposal. I
rejoice that, notwithstanding our little trivial disagreements, thou
hast thought of me in the hour of an important crisis: command me
freely, and command all mine."

As he delivered these words with his habitual affectation of dignity, he
looked around upon his reduced followers, who all inclined their heads
in token of blind acquiescence.

"And is this all thou canst command, Caneri?" asked El Feri.

"No, not all; for at a moment's notice, I can assemble a considerable
number, now prudently scattered in little parties, the better to avoid
observation. They