Washington sentinel., 1854-01-01

ana there surrendered himself willing captive
to the Magyar, asking only to be permitted to
tend and console his imprisoned master.
The grim count accepted the proposal with
a mocking laugh; and, as an earnest of the
favor which he might thenceforward expect at
his hands, commanded him forthwith to de-
scend- from his own saddle, and to mount a
superb but unframed Arabian, which man-at-
arms was endeavoring to restrain at the father
extremity of the court. Two MANNED and
writhing victims of Keretsenyi's cruelty already
lay weltering in their blood upon the EARTH
where they had been cast by the terrified and
fiery animal but the impatience Of the boy who
stood beside him to see the magnificent steed
subjected to his own government left him no
opportunity to regret this waste of human life !;
and he eagerly seized the occasion offered by
the arrival of Hassau to indulge yet further the
pampered will Of the STRIPPING.
Spurning one of the shattered and quiyering
bodies with his mailed foot, he ordered them to
be hurled over the battlements, and space made
for the Moslem to mount and master the horse
of the Count Christopher. The mandate was
instantly obeyed. With a quiet sneer he then
turned to the devoted Hassau, and bade him,
as the price Of his continuance under that root,
bring to obedience the wild animal, whose feet
race had hitherto been over the desert plains,
untouched either by rein or spur
The Turk listened unmoved, and answered
the taunting command with respectful salu-
tation then, advancing towards the manat-
arms who held the steed, he withdrew the bri-
die from his hand, and, flinging it of, seized
the flowing name of the wild horse and sprang
lightly on his back. The astonished animal
stood for brief instant motionless and then,
bounding into the air, strove to hurl the bold
rider from his seat. Vainly, however, did the
high-blooded Arabian fly round the battle-
mented space with speed which seemed to
take away the breath of the spectators Has
sau, calm and firm, still kept his seat, turning
the maddened courser right and left, as he
listed, by the touch of his sheathed yataghan,
until at length, as he tossed up his head, and
snufed the air, sheets of foam few far and
wide from his quivering lips, and heat-drops
covered his hanks.
Murmurs Of admiration ran through the ranks
of the counts retainers at so noble show of
horsemanship, and even Keretsenyi himself
vouchsafnd to give signs of astonishment and
approval; but Nassau no more needed his
favor than he had done his scorn. He con-
tinued to urge and excite the now failing steed
to new exertion, until, at length, the trembling
and steaming animal, thoroughly subdued,
halted at word, and stood still while his rider
sprang to the earth. Then, fixing his large
dark eye upon that of the horse, the Turk mo-
toned with his hand, and the obedient animal
with dropping head, followed slowly and will
hngly the steps of Nassau, who conducted him
thus free and unbridled to the side of the young
magnate.
This daring and dexterous feat secured the
impunity of the Moslem follower; for, from that
hour, he become the oracle of the impetuous
boy, whose will was law in the fortress; and
he was not only permitted to be the companion
of his sports, but what to him was dearer far
than any personal indulgence, he was allowed
free access to the dungeon of his master, under
the superintendence of the men-at-arms who
kept guard. His voluntary surrender to the
power Of Keretsenyi, coupled with the favor Of
the young count, secured him from all coer-
cion; and, save that he was never suffered to
pass beyond the walls of the fortress, he was
free to come and to 20 as he listed for the
magnate too well knew the terror which he in
spired in his own followers to dread the effect
Of any treachery which might be planed against
him by single in6del, and that one in his
power, and manacled, moreover, morally, by
his devoted love for his imprisoned lord.
Thus, tediously for Nassau, and hopelessly
for the despairing Ali, wore away eight long,
weary years The proffered ransom had been
contemptuously and repeatedly refused, and he
had at length lost all prospect Of deliverance,
unless by death, when, in skirmish between
the followers of Keretsenyi and those of the
father of Ali, who was governor of one Of the
frontier provinces, the magnate succeeded in
capturing the favorite wife Of the unfortunate
old man, whom he had so long deprived of his
only son; upon which he caused his prisoner
to be informed that he was at liberty to dis
patch his attendant, Nassau, to the camp of
his father, and to intimate that he was ready
to deliver him up on the receipt of the ransom
money.
Too well was the count aware that in with
holding the young and beautiful Zelma, he was
robbing the unfortunate pasha of every rem
nant Of happiness Already habituated to the
absence Of his son, whose heavy years of cap
tivity had dragged on their weary length until
all hope of a reunion had become extinct in
his paternal heart, he had formed another and
more tender interest for his old age in the
loving care of his fair and gentle Zelma. The
daughter of an aga Of great wealth and repu-
taton she had become the wife of the gray haired
pasha with that tacit and unquestioning obe-
dience which is the first duty Of an eastern
woman and the mother of Ali having long
been dead, she soon grew to be not only recon-
ciled, but even happy and devoted in her at
tachment to theindnlgent and fond old man, who
poured out upon her all the long-blighted affec-
tons of his nature.
Such was the new captive of Keretsenyi, who
was conveyed in her litter to Nikolsburg with all
dispatch Rumors Of her excelling loveliness
had previously reached even to the Christian
stronghold; and the magnate naturally con-
cuded that no effort would be spared on the
part of her husband to effect her rescue. In
the confusion of the melee, however, some time
elapsed before her absence was discovered, and
pursuit then became useless; for no in6del
banner had ever waved on the towers of Nikols-
burg, which we're visible from the scene Of the
encounter, and whittier the stricken and deso-
late old man soon learned that she had been
carried. In that moment of anguish he re-
membered that gold had failed to purchase the
freedom of his son, and he instantly felt how
difficult it would be TO effect the liberation of
his wife, should her ruthless captor once set eyes
upon her. Moreover, the jewelled robes and
ornaments in which she was attired when ta
ken, were of more value than any ransom in
his power to offer; and thus he saw himself de-
prived for ever Of his wife, by the same cruel
enemy who had already robbed him Of his son.
II. ~ II A. -. .a..z 49,