The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-29

shout, so fierce and wild, rose from the oppo-
site side of the villa, followed by prolonged
sdc-T-r-e, and a volley of oaths so unmis-
takably French, that Arden exclaimed
'D'Epernays in q mess, and confound it ALL
how are we to help him2"
81 don't know, I'm sure. Dia6lei look
here! We shall first have to think of helping
ourselves"
And, as he spoke, one of the doors of the
harem was thrown violently open, and con-
fused crowd of female slaves and eunuchs
rushed in. Apparently something of the
most alarming character had occurred, which
the two friends at once judged to be the dis
covery or capture of D'Epernay.
A hurried consultation convinced them that,
for the present, they were less liable to dis
covery by remaining where they we're; and it
was with the most intense interest that they
watched the scene within the harem.
A perfect babel of female tongues ensued
| for the first five minutes, until an old
eunuch, eevidently of high authority, sue
ceeded in some measure in restoring quiet.
| During the confusion, the lady whose won-
derful loneliness had so strongly attracted st.
| Heliers and Arden remained quiet and COM
posed, although deeply interested in the tale
| the old eunuch, with marks of the most pro-
| found respect had begun to relate to her.
After listening for a short time, she inter-
| rupted him to utter few words of command,
| which were followed by the immediate depar-
| ture of several slaves.
During this time the female slaves of the
| household had collected near the entrance
door, and were squatted in groups, awaiting
| some new scene in the drama.
''St. Hehers," whispered Arden, 1--WE had
better be off; they going to search the
park, and, by this bright moonlight, we shall
| be seen to certainty"
There was no time for q reply; the old
eunuch, as if struck by sudden thought,
walked across the room to the lattice, and
began to uDfasten the inner sash.
| You old william, may Sheitan fly off with
| you!" exclaimed st. Heliers shaking his fist
at him with SO much energy that he lost his
balance, and fell with crash through the
thick foliage of the vine to the ground. A
loud yell announced to Arden that all hopes
of concealment we're at an end, and he began
to descend as rapidly as the OBTAINING
branches of the creeper would admit; but, in
the haste of the moment, his foot slipped,
and he also came tumbling to the grounds;
and landing on top of st. Helers, who was
busily searching on his hands and knees for
missing boot they rolled over lovingly on
the grass together.
Hope 1 didn't hurt you, old fellow" ex-
claimed Arden, breathless with laughter, in
spite of himself.
"Only knocked out of me the little breath
had left. Where's that confounded boot
gone? Look sharp, Arden, these fellows mean
mischief"
pistol-shot or two was fired from the lat
tice; but in the confusion and hustle of the
moment, the balls went high overhead. The
yells of the eunuch, mingled with the shrill
screams of the women, made such an uproai
that both the young soldiers felt they had
no time to lose Selling boots and sabres
without stopping to draw the former articles
on, they ran at full speed as nearly as possible
in the direction from which they entered the
garden.
Noises in several quarters indicated thai
more than one party was in pursuit, and the
knowledge that Turkish vengeance was ap
to ho prompt and summary in oaeos like this
caused them to exert every energy to reach
their friendly table cloth. More than once,
as the flashing of torches and the sound OF
voices warned them of the approach of &
party, they were obliged to conceal them
selves within some of the coverts of myrtle
scattered through the park.
'Ill tell you what" whispered st. Heliers,
as they were crouched under the low branches
of a iessamine, while the sound of eager
questions and the occasional ring of steel, as
a scabbard struck sharply against the ground
gave warning of the closeness of the pursuit
81 am alarmed about D'Epernay, these fel
! lows look so savage; now it seems to me they
are all off in this part of the grounds away
from the house; what do you say if we &c
, back and look for him and Duchesne?"
"Wait till I get my boots on, and an
ready to go back, of course. Now then!"
Carefully retracing their steps to where
they supposed their companions had beer
, discovered, to satisfy themselves, if possible
, that they were not held as prisoners; and
taking advantage of the deep shadows arount
them, they at length reached spot shor
{ distance from the villa. An anxious survey
satisfied them that their friends were not de
tanned without the building.
''St. Heliers !" suddenly cried Arden, ''the
Bosphorus must be close to u.s. I'll wage
that DEpernay has managed to double OF
these rascally slaves, who, you see, are all al
) the other end of the park, and has
reached the shore, where he may get away il
, | q cdfQue."
, 'True, replied St. Heliers, thoughtfully
sat all events, We had better look
Judging now that there was less danger o
being seen, they walked rapidly forward, with
out taking their previous precaution OF keepin,
in the shade. Arden was even laughing a
st. Heliers sober countenance, and accusing
> him of thinking of the harem, when tn
izz-izz-Zz, followed by the heavy, numbering
+ report Of matchbox, warned them of thei
I | mistake
"Come, Arden, our only chance now is tn
3 water! cried st. Heliers plunging into
thick coppice, followed by his friend
r The report of the matchbox at once brough
3 the rest of his pursuers upon their traces, Az
it was soon evident to both that, unles
+ happily cdigue should be near the shore
: they would have to swim, or be taken pris
: oners. On they went, regardless now of a.
: concealment, dashing through brakes an
Y over parterres of flowers, while the moon
Y breaking through her thin veil of silver