326 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



heavy gates of the fortress were opened with much 

 din and rattle ; after a short space they were again 

 slammed to, the portcullis fell, and then no further 

 sound broke the deep silence that reigned in the 

 ravine. 



The collection of the plunder, the discussion among 

 the pirates, and their departure, had passed so rapidly, 

 that the young Turk had scarcely had time to recover 

 from the giddy, half-stunned state into which the 

 rough usage he had received had thrown him, when 

 he found himself alone with his old fellow-captive. 



" Well, Hassan," said he at last, in a voice of sup- 

 pressed fury, "what think you of all this?" 



The old man made no verbal reply, but merely 

 stroked his beard, shrugged his shoulders, and opened 

 his eyes wider than before, as much as to say, "I 

 don't think at all; what do you think?" 



" It is not the prospect of passing the night in this 

 damp hole, bound hand and foot, that chafes me to 

 madness, and makes my very blood boil in my veins," 

 resumed the young man after a pause. " That is a 

 small matter, but 



" A small matter ! " interrupted Hassan, with un- 

 usual vivacity. " That is, because you have forgotten 

 the most dreadful part of our position. Bound hand 

 and foot as we are, we can expect nothing less than 

 to fall, ere cock-crow, into the power of Satan." 



"Of Satan!" repeated the other. "Has terror 

 turned thy brain 1 ?" 



