THE IKON NAIL. 421 



excitement of her mind, stronger than her fear, and in despite of her 

 better feeling, urged her to learn the secret, that a vague presenti- 

 ment coloured with such sombre tints. 



Ali slept soundly, and his trembling wife slowly and carefully 

 withdrew herself from his circling arms. With a palpitating heart, 

 and holding her breath through fear, she noiselessly placed he? 

 little white feet on the carpeted floor, and lighted a lamp by that 

 which hung from above. Making a shade with her transparent hand, 

 that the rays of the flame might not awaken her husband, she glided 

 onward, trembling and pale, towards the object of her regards, still 

 hanging, as before, with its white mysterious folds. She approached 

 she gazed on it with an undefinable fear the light folds moved 

 to and fro with a gentle motion, and she started with affright ! 'Twas 

 but her breath. It seemed to invite the hand she yielded to the 

 temptation <-she gently raised the veil ! 



Horror ! horror ! she beheld the ghastly head of an old man the 

 long white beard all clotted with black blood ! the eyes stretched 

 open widely, and staring directly at her with a look of intense agony 

 the mouth unclosed, as though vainly crying for vengeance ! 



Terror froze her blood ; her limbs were unable to support her, 

 and uttering a cry, she sunk on her knees, her eyes still directed 

 with a sort of maniac fixedness upon the ghastly spectacle ! She 

 recognized in those mutilated remains the head of her father ! It had 

 been embalmed with care in the manner of the Egyptians its very 

 colour was preserved, and it retained the last expression of agony, as 

 in the moment of death ! 



Ali started from his bed the moment he heard the cry of Ildiz. 

 He arose like a phantom, for in his heart there was a presage of evil. 

 He glanced fearfully around, until his eyes rested upon the frightful 

 object before which his wife was kneeling as though one bereft of sense! 

 He neither moved nor spoke, but seemed to petrify while gazing ; - 

 the discovery of his crime flashed before him, and he beheld a 

 damning accuser raised from another world. 



The groans of Ildiz were answered ; another voice was heard a 

 voice of mockery and triumph, like that of a demon. A portion of 

 the tapestry which covered the wall was suddenly rent away, and 

 behold ! there stepped forth a swarthy Arab, clad in an old mantle, 

 soiled and tattered, and bearing in his hand a naked sabre, which 

 glittered in the lamp-light. 



Ali uttered a cry of fear as he pronounced the name of Zahab ! 

 and he rushed for his arms. " A useless struggle !" said the Arab, 

 interposing] and he thrust him backward on the bed disarmed and 

 powerless, while his features betrayed terror and despair. 



" Effendi ! do you remember your ancient friend ?" said the Arab, 

 " now, when in his former garb, and his face, as when darkened by 

 toil ? Do you recollect the Bedouin Zahab, who on one bright night, 

 with the full moon shining above us, assisted thee to slay the white- 

 bearded old man the father of Ildiz." 



" Oh ! God protect me from my father's murderers !" cried Ildiz , 

 and she shrieked wildly, and with a phrenzied feeling tore her long 

 dark tresses, until they were scattered around her and on her snow- 

 white garments like a mantle of black ! 



