a kind master to thee, if the world would let
me. Oh, that we were once more by my own fair fountain! The thought is
madness. And Miriam too! I fear I am sadly tender-hearted.' He leant
against his horse's back, with a feeling of utter exhaustion, and burst
into hysteric sobs.

And the steed softly moaned, and turned its head, and gently rubbed its
face against his arm, as if to solace him in his suffering. And strange,
but Alroy was relieved by having given way to his emotion, and, charmed
with the fondness of the faithful horse, he leant down and took water,
and threw it over its feet to cool them, and wiped the foam from its
face, and washed it, and the horse again neighed.

And now Alroy tried to remount, but his strength failed him, and the
horse immediately knelt down and received him. And the moment that the
Prince was in his seat, the horse rose, and again proceeded at a rapid
pace in their old direction. Towards sunset they were within a few miles
of the broken and rocky ground into which the mountains descended; and
afar off Alroy recognised the cupola of the long-expected well. With
re-animated courage and rallied energies he patted his courser's neck,
and pointed in the direction of the cupola, and the horse pricked up its
ears, and increased its pace.

Just us the sun set, they reached the well. Alroy jumped off the horse,
and would have led it to the fountain, but the animal would not advance.
It stood shivering with a glassy eye, and then with a groan fell down
and died.

Night brings rest; night brings solace; rest to the weary, solace to the
sad. And to the desperate night brings despair.

The moon has sunk to early rest; but a thousand stars are in the sky.
The mighty mountains rise severe in the clear and silent air. In the
forest all is still. The tired wind no longer roams, but has lightly
dropped on its leafy couch, and sleeps like man. Silent all but the
fountain's drip. And by the fountain's side a youth is lying.

Suddenly a creature steals through the black and broken rocks. Ha, ha!
the jackal smells from afar the rich corruption of the courser's clay.
Suddenly and silently it steals, and stops, and smells. Brave banqueting
I ween to-night for all that goodly company. Jackal, and fox, and
marten-cat, haste ye now, ere morning's break shall call the vulture to
his feast and rob you of your prey.

The jackal lapped the courser's blood, and moaned with exquisite
delight. And in a moment, a