up the tiny, but strong ladder of cord, and was soon
on the other side, the boy creeping after as she went. But just as
she had passed over the top and was descending on the other side,
leaving the idiot boy on the top beside of the young officer, who
stood so that his neck and head were above the level of the summit
of the wall, the sentinel again came down the path in sight of the
place and instantly discovered the whole affair, running with all
speed to the spot. The soldier dropped his carbine to seize and
detain the ladder, when a struggle ensued between him and the young
officer for its possession.

At this critical moment, the soldier seeming to recollect himself,
turned to raise his gun, either to shoot Selim or give the alarm; in
either case it would be equally fatal to the success of their
design. The boy had maintained his position during the brief
struggle, but the moment the guard turned to recover his carbine,
the half witted creature leaped from his high position directly upon
his back and neck and bore him to the ground. The weight of the
boy's body was sufficient to bring the soldier to the ground with
stunning effect and leave him nearly insensible.

Had this not been the case the boy's finger clutched the throat with
the power of a vice and the guard was as insensible as a dead man.
In the mean time, the young officer scarcely knowing what to make of
the opportune and sudden interference in his favor, drew up the
ladder on the other side and prepared to follow Komel, who was
already hurried by the Armenian nearly to the side of the boat that
waited there, and in the stern of which sat another person in charge
of the same. Komel looked back as she was joined by Captain Selim,
and asked:

"Where is the boy?"

"What boy?" said the Armenian, ignorant as to whom they referred.

"The half-witted pet of the Sultan's."

"I left him in the grounds," said Selim.--"The guard passed over the
ladder, but just as he was about to discharge his carbine, that boy
sprang upon him like a tiger, and I think he must have killed him,
for I saw the soldier lying on the ground insensible."

"That boy has been my best friend, I cannot bear to leave him."

"It would be madness to stop for anything now," replied the young
officer; and so they passed around to the spot where the boat was in
waiting, moored closed to the shore.

But let us look back for a moment at the scene on the other side of
the seraglio wall whe