74 MELAI, A TALE. May I?> 



and faid, that a proviuce would be the reward of my head- 

 I was fitting by chance in fuch a fituation, that he could 

 not. at firil get a view of my face : of this he appeared to be 

 very defirous ; and after he had fucceeded, he and his fa- 

 ther whifpered together for fome minutes. 



I heard indeed but a few words •, but of thefe fevf, //{//>/- 

 ous was one; andfoon after, he went away. This, you may 

 fuppofe, was fufficient to alarm me: I pretended to be drow- 

 fy, and feiCed on fome pretext to get out once more before I 

 went to bed. I hailed into the garden, which was behind 

 the houfe, where I found rny horfe falleneJ to a tree. I 

 loofed him immediately, fet myfelf upon him, jumped in a 

 moment over the little hedge, and fprung forward with the 

 fwiftnefs of an arrow. 



I had fcarcely proceeded a hundred fteps, when I heard 

 fomeijody calling me back ; and after I had run about a 

 quarter of an hour, I faw behind me, by the light of the 

 moon, fomething at a diftance which appeared to me in 

 motion. I could no longer doubt that I was purfued ; 

 but I trufled to my horle, and I was not deceived, for 

 I foon after loft fight of my purfuers. I rode, or rather 

 flew the whole night, avoiding always the public ways : but 

 I foon difcovered that I had avoided them too much ; for I 

 found myfelf, at the return of day-light, in the midft of an 

 extenlive field of fand. I was concerned for my horfe, but 

 ftill more fo for my life •, and therefore continued to fpur 

 him forward till about noon, when the heat was moft power- 

 ful ; he funk down exhaufted with wearinefs and hunger, 

 without a poflibility of rifing again. 



" Thou too, I exclaimed, hall forfaken me," while I un- 

 tied the girth and the reins of the bridle : " Poor creature, 

 at leaft thy inclinations did not fail fooner than thy llrength : 

 oh I that the infamous wretches who furrounded me, had 

 fulfilled theit duty but half fo welL" I quitted him witTi 

 tears •, and if it could have helped him, I willingly would 

 have parted with one of my arms. For myfelf, there was^ 

 now no where either hope or confolation. 



I now continued my dight on foot ; but was conftrained 

 by the craving call of neceflity to flop at the next village 

 that I faw. Here I purchafed fome jrovifions, gave 

 'fliyfelf out for a merchant who had been pillaged hj 



