en he asked her for her
mantle and the handkerchief she had worn over her head. He took them,
and rolling them up, gave them to the young lad who had been with us. I
asked him as we rode along why he had done this.

"`The river which passes near the village is deep and rapid; I have told
him to go there as soon as it is dark, and throw them on the bank.
Their being found there will effectually mislead the steward, who will
believe that Aneouta has drowned herself, and will make no further
search for her.'

"In the hopes that this stratagem would succeed, my mind was relieved of
a very great anxiety; for I was certain that if it was known that
Aneouta had taken refuge among the gipsies, and she was demanded from
them, they would not venture to retain her. I expressed my fears to the
chief.

"`We will see to that,' he answered, laughing confidently. `They cannot
prove that she is among us, and they may come and search through every
tent, and not discover her if she desires to remain concealed.'

"`How can that be?' I asked.

"`By disguising her, so that she will become like one of ourselves,' he
answered.

"`You could not disguise me,' I answered; `she knew me at once.'

"`Ah, the eyes of love pierce deeper than any other eyes,' he answered;
`besides, Aneouta's features are much of the Zingari cast, and her eyes
are dark like ours. Depend on it, we will disguise her so that no one
will know her. If any come to look for her, we will tell them to come
and search, and take her if they can find her. Depend on it they will
fix on the wrong person rather than on her.'

"The perfect confidence of the Zingari chief very much assured me, if it
did not do so completely. When we encamped at night, I gave Aneouta a
rapid account of all that I had gone through, and all I proposed doing.
The watch-fire, by which we sat, had almost burnt out before we had
ceased talking, and I had not then told her half I had to say. When I
informed her that my great object, the sacred duty I had imposed on
myself, was to try and rescue my parents from the cruel fate to which
they were condemned, she at first eagerly besought me to let her
accompany me, and endeavour to aid in the object. However, this I soon
showed her would be impossible, and she then willingly consented to
remain with the Zingari till I had accomplished it or found the effort
hopeless.

"`If you fail entirely, my beloved, then we will fly together to the far
ea