show it, for
through you I may find poor old Hal, for he must be here after all, and
I shall find him yet: I know I shall. Why, who can say but what I may
have ridden past the very house to-day where he is kept as a slave?"

He meant something far different by the bright look of satisfaction
which sparkled from his eyes, but the young Emir in his egotism took it
to himself, and smiled and nodded as they rode gently on, Frank finding
that they were retracing their steps towards the opening through which
they had reached the plain, and a very short time after they were
approaching the open, barrack-yard-like place, which now to his surprise
was crowded with armed men, among whom were groups who could be nothing
else but captives, for to his horror he saw that they were bound.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

WILD WARRIORS.

Frank was puzzled for a few minutes; then he was convinced that the men
he saw were prisoners taken in the previous night's encounter, for there
was no doubt about their being members of a similar tribe. The manner,
too, of his companion endorsed the idea, as he spoke to him eagerly and
pointed at first one and then another with a scowl of hatred and
contempt, one of the nearest, to whom a few angry words were spoken,
turning upon him with a haughty look full of proud disdain and contempt,
which made the young Emir clap his hand to his sword and draw it from
its sheath, as he urged his horse forward as if to cut down the
prisoner, whose hands were securely tied behind him.

The dervish, whose garments were stained with blood, did not so much as
wince, but stood smiling at him with the same look of contempt, as if
quite ready to meet his fate at the hands of his cowardly enemy, and in
another minute the blow would have fallen, had not one of the mounted
spectators shouted something which Frank, whose blood felt chilled,
could not understand, and making his horse give a bound, interposed and
laughingly warned the young chief back.

It was quite enough; the young man nodded, lowered his sword, and
thrusting it into its sheath, rode back to Frank.

"And this is my new friend," thought the latter, as he strove hard to
conceal the repugnance he felt by gazing straight before him; so that
the change in his countenance passed unnoticed, the young Emir saying
something merrily and laughing in a peculiar manner, as he gave his head
a sidewise jerk in the direction of the prisoners.

"Why am I brought here?" sai