366 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



sudden, as of something falling in the adjacent prison, 

 caught his ear. Eetracing his steps, he re-entered the 

 apartment, where, after a brief search, he found be- 

 neath one of the embrasures a paper folded round a 

 large pebble. Hastily opening it, the following lines, 

 written in the linf/ua franca so common in the Le- 

 vant, were visible : 



" Moslem ! If thy soul belie not thy noble form 

 and features, thou wilt not withhold thine aid from a 

 bereaved and sorrowing daughter. Before to-morrow's 

 sunset thou wilt be free, for Austria wars not with 

 the Turk. Then straight repair to Venice, and there 

 await the Battle of the Bridge. Take thy stand be- 

 neath the portal of St Barbara, and follow the man 

 who whispers in thine ear, STRASOLDA." 



" Mashallah ! " shouted the enraptured youth, 

 " these lines are from the Uzcoque maiden ; and by 

 the gates of Paradise I'll do her bidding, though it 

 perils life." 



For a time he was tempted to follow her guidance 

 implicitly, and await the promised release from the 

 authorities of Gradiska ; recollecting, however, the 

 proverbial slowness of Austrian counsellors, and too 

 restless and ardent to endure suspense, he resumed 

 his purpose of exploring the secret passage. After he 

 had secured the panel and replaced the boss, he bade 

 Hassan follow him and began to descend. The stair- 



