the Orin, you will save
Almah's life--and as for Almah, why, she will be happy--and dear papa
is quite willing to marry her. You must see, therefore, dear Atam-or,
that my plan is the very best that can be thought of for all of us,
and above all for Almah."

This, however, was intolerable; and I could not consent to desert
Almah, even if by doing so I should save her life. My own nature
revolted from it. Still it was not a thing which I could dismiss on
the instant. The safety of Almah's life, indeed, required
consideration; but then the thought came of her wonder at my
desertion. Would she not think me false? Would not the thought of my
falsity be worse than death?

"No," said I, "I will not leave her--not even to save her life. Even
among us there are things worse than death. Almah would rather die by
the sacrificial knife than linger on with a broken heart."

"Oh no," said Layelah, sweetly; "she will rejoice that you are safe.
Do you not see that while you are together death is inevitable, but if
you separate you may both live and be happy?"

"But she will think me dead," said I, as a new idea occurred. "She
will think that some accident has befallen me."

"Oh no, she won't," said Layelah; "she will think that you have gone
off with me."

"Then that will be worse, and I would rather die, and have her die
with me, than live and have her think me false."

"You are very, very obstinate," said Layelah, sweetly.

I made no reply. During this conversation I had been too intent upon
Layelah's words to notice the athalebs before me; but now as I looked
up I saw that we had fallen far behind, and that Layelah had headed
our athaleb in a new direction. Upon this I once more snatched the
reins from her, and tried to return to our former course. This,
however, I was utterly unable to do.

Layelah laughed.

"You will have to let me guide our course," said she. "You can do
nothing. The athaleb will now go in a straight line to the land of the
Orin."

Upon this I started up in wild excitement.

"Never, never, never!" I cried, in a fury. "I will not; I will destroy
this athaleb and perish in the water!"

As I said this I raised my rifle.

"What are you going to do?" cried Layelah, in accents of fear.

"Turn back," I cried, "or I will kill this athaleb!"

Upon this Layelah dropped the reins, stood up, and looked at me with a
smile.

"Oh, Atam-or," said she, "what a thing to ask! How can I go back now,
when we