THE PIRATES OF SEGXA. 329 



The old Turk bowed his head assentingly. 



" Glory be to God and the Sultan ! " continued the 

 youth. " Before the bright countenance of the 

 Prophet's vicegerent, who reigneth in Stamboul, no 

 misdeed can remain hidden that occurs in the re- 

 motest corner of his vast dominions. Xay, much of 

 what happens in the land of the Giaour is also mani- 

 fest to his penetrating vision. Witness the veil of 

 turpitude and cunning which has long been seen 

 through by the clear eyes of our holy mollahs, and 

 of the council at the Seraglio, and which has just 

 now been torn away from before me, like a mist dis- 

 persing in the sunshine of truth. Truly spoke the 

 Christian maiden, whom but a few weeks back I took 

 captive in a fight with the Uzcoques, but who was 

 shortly after rescued by another band of those raging 

 fiends." 



" Saw you the maiden," exclaimed Hassan " the 

 good maiden that accompanies the pirates, like an 

 angel walking among demons ? " 



'What know you of the Houri?" eagerly de- 

 manded the youth, in vain endeavouring to raise his 

 head from the damp stones. 



" That it was the hand of Allah that rescued her 

 from you," replied the other. " He chastiseth his crea- 

 tures with rods, but even in his chastisement is mercy. 

 How many more had not the dogs and the ravens 

 devoured, had the Christian maiden been taken from 

 among the Uzcoques ? She belongs to them ; she is 



