The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-13

dark and deserted street which led to the east
gate. There they surprised the small guard
with equal felicity, and cut men down before
they could even think of resistance. But in
spite of their quick and cautious proceedings,
they were detected by Turkish sentinel who
fired his gun, which aroused the others at their
posts on the walls, and the alarm drum soon
reechoed from every quarter of the place.
No time was now to be lost The gate was
forced open with all speed and the drawbrdge
let down. Leikem gave a shrill whistle, and
on its being repeated at distance from the
fortress, in short time band of i so brave
men rushed in through the open gate. Leikem
placing himself at their head, led to a decisive
attack on the barracks, where the Turks already
began to rally in overwhelming numbers. The
battle ensued in the market place, where the
dwelling of the commander and the barracks
stood, and where the mass of the garrison was
arrayed. Leikem's irresistible charge, and tie
death of the pasha, who fell at the beginning
of the engagement, discouraged the Turks,
darkness and confusion did the rest, and after
a short and sanguinary massacre they surren-
dered to the mercy of the victorious Hungarlans.
The garrison still numbered six hundred men,
who were greatly surprised to find that they
were conquered by SO small a band. You will
have already guessed that, instead of the sup
posed maidens, Leikem and eleven Of his men,
disguised in female attire. formed the party so
carefully escorted to the fortress, which enabled
them so successfully toaccompish to their hazard
oInss undertaking.
Attic news of the fall of Hatvan the greater
part of the inhabitants of Gyongyes fled to that
stronghold, to seek shelter against the ven
geance of the Turks, and they were determined
in case Of serious attack, to die under the
ruins of its walls.
Among the arrivals were Irma and her
father. Leikem, now commander of fortress
the fruit of his bold enterprise, celebrated his
marriage with his beloved Irma, who by the
way, was accompanied to the altar by her
eleven beautiful companions so gallantly res
cued by the bridegroom.
THE TRAITOR LovER.-During the siege of
Damascus, Derar was appointed patrol round
the city, and the camp with two thousand
horses. AS party of these was one night
going their rounds near the walls they heard
the distant neighing of horse, and looking
narrowly around, deserted a horseman coming
stealthily from the gate of Keisau. Hating III
a shadowy place, they waited until he came
close to them, when rushing forth they made
him a prisoner He was youthful Surian
richly and gallantly arrayed, and apparently n
person of distinction. Scarcely had they seized
him when they behed another issuing from the
same gate, who in soft voice, called upon
their captive by the name of Jonas. They
commanded the latter to invite his companion
to advance. He seemed to reply, and called
out something in Greek, upon hearing which,
the other turned bride and galloped back into
the city. The Arabs, gnorant of Greek, and
suspecting the words to be warning. would
have slain their prisoner on the spot, but on
second thought, conducted him to Khaled.
The youth avowed himself nobleman of
Damascus, and betrothed to beautiful maiden
named Eudocea, but her parents for some
capricious reason, had withdrawn their consent
to his nuptials, whereupon the lovers had Sc
cretly agreed to fly from Damascus. A sum
of gold had bribed the sentines who kept
watch that night at the gate. The damsel,
disguised in male attire, and accompanied BY
two domescs, was following her lover at a
distance, as he sailed in advance. His reply
in Greek, when she called upon him was, "that
the bird is caught" warning at the hearing
of which she fled to the city.
Khaled was not a man to be moved by love
tale, but he gave the prisoner his alternative.
embrace the faith of Islam," said he, "and
when Damascus falls into our power you shall
have your betrothed, refuse, and your head is
the forfeit"
The youth paused not between a sclmetar
and bride. He made immediate profession
of faith between the hands of Khaled and
thenceforth fought jealousy for the capture of
the city, since it's downfall was to GROVE his
hopes.
When Damascus yielded to its foes, he
sought the dwelling of Eudocea, and learnt e.
new proof for her affection. Supposing on his
capture by the Arabs, that he had fallen a
martyr to his faith, she renounced the world,
and Shut herself up in convent. With a throb-
bing heart he hastened to the convent but
when the ofty-minded maiden beheld him a
regenade she turned from him with seorn, re-
tired to her cell, and refused to see him more.
She was among the noble ladies who followed
Thomas and Herbs into exile. Her lover,
frantic at the thoughts of leaving her, remn-
ded Khaled of hispromise to restore her to him,
and entreated that she might be detained, but
khaled pleaded the convent of Aba Obediah,
according to which all had free leave to de-
part.
When Jonas afterwards discovered that
Khaled meditated pursuit of the exi'es, but
was discouraged by the lapse Of time, he Of
fered to conduct him by short and secret passa-
ges through the mountains, which would insure
his overtaking them. His offer was accepted
On the fourth day of the departure of the ex'
lies, Khaled set out in pursuit, with four thou
sand chosen horsemen, who by the advice Of
Jonas, were disguised as christian Arabs Fo'
some time they traced the exiles along the
plains, by the numerous foot prints of mules
and camels, and by the articles thrown away to
enable them to travel more expeditiously. AT
length the foot prints turned towards the noun
tains of Lebanon, Ind were lost in their arid
and rocky defles. The moslems began to
falter. 'Courage!" cried Jonas, 'they will be
entangled among the mountains, they cannot
now escape"
In the midst of the carnage and confusion,
| Jonas fastened in search of his betrothed. Ii
she had treated him with disdain as a regenade,
she now regarded him with horror, as the
traitor who had brought this destruction upon
his unhappy countrymen. All his entreaties
| Co. b,r 70 forc;vo opd he raeonci1ed to him