she pines to return to her
home in Circassia, from whence she was violently torn. At first when
she came here, I was called upon to treat her case, for she had
lately recovered from some severe sickness, and I then saw how
tenderly the Sultan regarded her. Well, at that time she was both
deaf and dumb, but--"

"Hold! do you say she was deaf and dumb?" asked Selim, as if he
recalled some memory of the past.

"I did."

"Strange," mused the officer; "it must be the slave that I bid for
in the market."

And so indeed it was the same beautiful being who had so earnestly
attracted him, as the reader will remember, when the Sultan's agent,
Mustapha, overbid him in the bazaar.

"You know her then?" asked the Armenian.

"I think so; but go on."

"Well, I am satisfied that she pines to be released, and from
hearing her story, and tending her in a short illness, I have become
deeply interested in her. You know, Selim, that I hate the Turks in
my heart, and if I can by any means rob the Sultan of this girl, and
restore her to her home, I would risk much to do so."

"The very idea looks to me like an impossibility," answered the
young officer.

"Nothing is impossible where will and energy combine."

"What is your plan?"

"You have resolved to fly from here, you tell me at least, by
to-morrow night."

"Yes. I have purchased that skimmer of the waters, the Petrel, and I
shall sail at that time with Zillah, for the Russian coast, or
Trebizond on the south of the Black Sea."

"Very good; now why not take this gentle slave of the Sultan's along
with you?"

"But how to get possession of her? that's the question," answered
Selim.

"You know I have free access to the palace, and could easily inform
her of any plan for her release."

"One half of the trouble is over then at once, if she will second
your efforts."

"Well, I will visit the harem this very day. I have good excuse for
doing so, and will tell Komel--"

"Komel!" interrupted Selim.

"Yes, that it the slave's name; why, what makes you look so
thoughtful?"

"I do not know," said Selim; "the name sounded familiar to me at
first, but go on."

"Well, I will tell her what is proposed, and get her advice as to
any mode that she may think best to adopt in regard to her
escaping."

"But do you think she would prefer to go with me to an uncertain
home, to the luxury she enjoys?"

"Of course you will take her to her home on the Circassian coast.
That must