scarcely to be determined; but the song was hardly done, and another dance commenced, when down at full gallop came a body of horsemen, rather disturbing the graceful movements of the dancers, who seemed not a little frightened at this unexpected intrusion. But after a moment or two, as the new-comers dismounted, the Greeks began to take courage, and to assemble round them, with looks of mingled suspicion, inquiry, and dislike.

Mary and Charles looked on, not fancying any danger, and from what they could understand, by the gestures of the others, the Turks were either inquiring for some delinquent who had made his escape, or were investigating some misdemeanour; and though they sometimes gave a look towards the strangers, they did not seem to concern themselves much about them. At length one of the Osmanlee stepped forward, and took an elderly. Greek by the bosom of his vest. A shew of resistance was offered, a scuffle ensued, during

which several blows were given, and a pistol or two fired; but in a moment the Greeks were obliged to make their retreat, leaving several prisoners in the hands of the Turks. But what was the surprise of our travellers, when they were themselves forcibly seized, tied, and carried away with the rest!

Charles was taken totally by surprise, which would have prevented him making resistance, even could it have been of any use. Remonstrance was in vain, for they did not understand a word he said; and the rage that swelled within his bosom could only spend itself by making him the more miserable. The person who commanded the Turks was a cool phlegmatic Mahometan, who for some time scarcely noticed the gestures or expostulations of the young Englishman; but at length, as if some touch of feeling yet're`mained in his breast, he gave some direc tions to his followers, who immediately permitted Charles to walk by the side of F 6

the

the horse on which Mary was placed; and here he endeavoured as much as possible to subdue his own feelings, in order to give her encouragement and consolation, telling her that they would soon be at liberty, for that it was worth the pacha's head, in the present state of Turkish affairs, to detain an English subject for any length of time.

Mary wept as she answered, though she endeavoured to restrain her tears, that she might not inflict more pain on her cousin than he already suffered.

The sensations of the lovers during a journey of fourteen or fifteen miles may be conceived, but do not admit of description. At length they arrived at a kind of straggling town, at the extremity of which was a large confused house, of one story high, enclosed within a sort of half-andhalf fortification, at the gate of which the prisoners were taken from their horses; and notwithstanding her tears, and Charles's more vehement entreaties, Mary was sepa

rated

rated from him, and he himself forced into a court-yard, under the piazza of which sat an old, sedate, white-bearded man, who continued smoking a long pipe with most indefatigable perseverance. Behind him stood a good many attendants, and on a carpet beside the one on which he himself was placed, sat a middle-aged man, splendidly attired, in the Turkish dress; but whose quick dark eye, and a certain restlessness of manner, shewed that he did not possess that phlegmatic indifference usually to be met with in the Moslem, either natural or assumed.

The old man, to whom Charles heard given the title of pacha, regarded the Greeks, one by one, as they were passed before him, every now and then interrupting his smoking, to ask some questions, with a mild, placable look, and then turning to an officer who stood by his side, he gave a nod and a word, which seemed to seal their fate; for while some of them passed sullenly on, as if prepared

to

to bear the utmost, others, of less constant minds, cast themselves grovelling on the ground before him, and appeared begging for compassion. But without avail; the old man maintained his calm placidity; not the least disturbed by the agony of their despair; and saw them dragged away without a change of expression. After all the Greeks had been disposed of, Charles was brought forward, and his foreign dress seemed for a moment to awaken the pacha's curiosity; for he left off smoking, and put two or three questions to him, which of course he did not understand. The old man seemed puzzled, but after bethinking himself for a while, he turned to the dark-looking man who sat beside him, and who, though much more splendidly dressed than himself, was evidently inferior in station. The pacha appeared desiring him to interpret for him, often pointing to Charles, who observed in the countenance of the other a momentary agitation. But that was not all;