d slaves, who must have come with the vehicle by
the road, now went on board the boat to carry their invalid lord to his
chariot; and it then became apparent that the seat in which he reclined
was provided with arms by which it could be lifted and moved. A burly
negro took this at the back, but just as another was stooping to lift it
in front Orion pushed him away and took his place, raised the couch with
his father on it, and carried him across the landing-stage between the
deck and the shore, past Haschim to the chariot. The young man did the
work of bearer with cheerful ease, and looked affectionately at his
father while he shouted to the ladies--for only his mother and the
physician accompanied the invalid after carefully wrapping him in
shawls--to get out of the barge and wait for him. Then he went forward,
lighted by the torches which were carried before them.

"Poor man!" thought the merchant as he looked after the Mukaukas. "But
to a man who has such a son to carry him the saddest and hardest lot
floats by like a cloud before the wind."

He was now ready to forgive Orion even the rejected flowers; and when
the young girl stepped on shore, the child clinging fondly to her arm,
he confessed to himself that Dame Susannah's little daughter would find
it hard indeed to hold her own by the side of this tall and royal vision
of beauty. What a form was this maiden's, and what princely bearing;
and how sweet and engaging the voice in which she named some of the
constellations to her little companion, and pointed out the comet which
was just rising!

Haschim was sitting in shadow; he could see without being seen, and
note all that took place on the bench, which was lighted by one of the
barge's lanterns. The unexpected entertainment gave him pleasure, for
everything that affected the governor's son roused his sympathy and
interest. The idea of forming an opinion of this remarkable young man
smiled on his fancy, and the sight of the beautiful girl who sat on the
bench yonder warmed his old heart. The child must certainly be Mary, the
governor's granddaughter.

Then the chariot started off, clattering away down the road, and in a
few minutes Orion came back to the rest of the party.

Alas! Poor little heiress of Susannah's wealth! How different was his
demeanor to this beautiful damsel from his treatment of that little
thing! His eyes rested on her face in rapture, his speech failed him now
and again as he addressed he