st upon us, and
this is no place for thee."

Thyra mounted, but steadfastly refused to flight.

"Thinkest thou, O chief, that I will fly from this danger?" she said
scornfully. "Never! I will escape with my best friends, or perish with
them."

In vain the emir persuaded her to seek safety at once.

"To perish or to fall again into the hands of the licentious Turks," he
said; "remember, rash girl, these two terrible fates menace thee."

"If I am killed," responded Thyra, "it is the will of Heaven; but ere I
become a captive to the Turks, the dagger shall end my life."

Her resolution being evidently fixed, the Arab chief ceased to
persuade, but resolved, throughout the coming fight, to do all he could
to shield her from danger.

On came the enemy's forces.

The light was now sufficient for it to be perceived that they consisted
of a large and well-armed body of Turkish cavalry.

They were led, as before, by the captain of the guard, and the
truculent vizier Abdullah.

If was through the latter's acuteness that the vaults beneath the
castle had been discovered, and conjecturing that the fugitives had
escaped thus, he had traced them into the desert.

He, therefore, organized an expedition to set out and surprise them in
the camp.

Abdullah's plans were deeply laid.

He wished to capture the Greek girl, that he might curry favour with
the Pasha Ibrahim by presenting her to him.

He was resolved to secure and punish Harkaway and the other Christians,
to turn away every public suspicion from himself and Ibrahim, as to the
late pasha's assassination.

After that, it is exceedingly probable that the unscrupulous
interpreter meant in some way to destroy Ibrahim, and set up as pasha
himself.

These subtle treacheries are common under the corruptions of Oriental
rule.

The vizier intended to take the Arabs by surprise, and he would have
succeeded in this, had it not been for Thyra.

Instead, therefore, of finding a sleeping encampment, he found the
whole tribe up in arms, and ready to receive him.

Other tactics were therefore necessary, but Abdullah believed that his
own superiority in numbers would ensure victory.

As the Turkish regiment approached, they spread themselves out, their
object being to surround the force opposed to them.

On came the Turks.

Their sabres flashing and clashing.

The steeds neighing.

The sands of the desert rising up in clouds beneath their thundering
tread.

Arr