Again they mounted, and, proceeding at a less rapid pace, they arrived towards evening at the ruined city, whither Alroy all this time had been directing his course. Dashing down the great street, they at length entered the old amphitheatre. They dismounted. Alroy made a couch with their united cloaks for Schirene. Some collected fuel, great store of which was found, and kindled large fires. Others, while it was yet light, chased the gazelles, and were sufficiently fortunate to provide their banquet, or fetched water from the well known to their leader.
In an hour"s time, cl.u.s.tering round their fires in groups, and sharing their rude fare, you might have deemed them, instead of the discomfited and luxurious guards of a mighty monarch, the accustomed tenants of this wild abode.
"Come, my lads," said Alroy, as he rubbed his hands over the ascending flame, "at any rate, this is better than the desert."
After all his exertions, Alroy fell into profound and dreamless sleep.
When he awoke, the sun had been long up. Schirene was still slumbering.
He embraced her, and she opened her eyes and smiled.
"You are now a bandit"s bride," he said. "How like you our new life?"
"Well! with thee."
"Rest here, my sweetest: I must rouse our men, and see how fortune speeds." So saying, and tripping lightly over many a sleeping form, he touched Benaiah.
"So! my brave captain of the guard, still napping! Come! stir, stir."
Benaiah jumped up with a cheerful face. "I am ever ready, Sire."
"I know it; but remember I am no more a king, only a co-mate. Away with me, and let us form some order."
The companions quitted the amphitheatre and reconnoitred the adjoining buildings. They found many stores, the remains of old days, mats, tents, and fuel, drinking-bowls, and other homely furniture. They fixed upon a building for their stable, and others for the accommodation of their band. They summoned their companions to the open place, the scene of Ha.s.san Subah"s fate, where Alroy addressed them and explained to them his plans. They were divided into companies; each man had his allotted duty. Some were placed on guard at different parts; some were sent out to the chase, or to collect dates from the Oasis; others led the horses to the contiguous pasture, or remained to attend to their domestic arrangements. The amphitheatre was cleared out. A rude but convenient pavilion was formed for Schirene. They covered its ground with mats, and each emulated the other in his endeavours to study her accommodation. Her kind words and inspiring smiles animated at the same time their zeal and their invention.
They soon became accustomed to their rough but adventurous life. Its novelty pleased them, and the perpetual excitement of urgent necessity left them no time to mourn over their terrible vicissitudes. While Alroy lived, hope indeed never deserted their sanguine bosoms. And such was the influence of his genius, that the most desponding felt that to be discomfited with him, was preferable to conquest with another. They were a faithful and devoted band, and merry faces were not wanting when at night they a.s.sembled in the amphitheatre for their common meal.
No sooner had Alroy completed his arrangements than he sent forth spies in all directions to procure intelligence, and especially to communicate, if possible, with Ithamar and Medad, provided that they still survived and maintained themselves in any force.
A fortnight pa.s.sed away without the approach of any stranger; at the end of which, there arrived four personages at their haunt, not very welcome to their chief, who, however, concealed his chagrin at their appearance.
These were Kisloch the Kourd, and Calidas the Indian, and their inseparable companions, the Guebre and the Negro.
"n.o.ble Captain," said Kisloch, "we trust that you will permit us to enlist in the band. This is not the first time we have served under your orders in this spot. Old co-mates, i"faith, who have seen the best and the worst. We suspected where you might be found, although, thanks to the ever felicitous invention of man, it is generally received that you died in battle. I hope your Majesty is well," added Kisloch, bowing to Schirene.
"You are welcome, friends," replied Alroy; "I know your worth. You have seen, as you say, the best and the worst, and will, I trust, see better.
Died in battle, eh! that"s good."
""Tis so received," said Calidas.
"And what news of our friends?"
"Not over good, but strange."
"How so?"
"Hamadan is taken."
"I am prepared; tell me all."
"Old Bostenay and the Lady Miriam are borne prisoners to Bagdad."
"Prisoners?"
"But so; all will be well with them, I trow. The Lord Honain is in high favour with the conqueror, and will doubtless protect them."
"Honain in favour?"
"Even so. He made terms for the city, and right good ones."
"Hah! he was ever dexterous. Well! if he save my sister, I care not for his favour."
"There is no doubt. All may yet be well, Sir."
"Let us act, not hope. Where"s Abner?"
"Dead."
"How?"
"In battle."
"Art sure?"
"I saw him fall, and fought beside him."
"A soldier"s death is all our fortune now. I am glad he was not captured. Where"s Medad, Ithamar?"
"Fled into Egypt."
"We have no force whatever, then?"
"None but your guards here."
"They are strong enough to plunder a caravan. Honain, you say, in favour?"
"Very high. He"ll make good terms for us."
"This is strange news."
"Very, but true."
"Well! you are welcome! Share our fare; "tis rough, and somewhat scanty; but we have feasted, and may feast again. Fled into Egypt, eh?"
"Ay! Sir."
"Schirene, shouldst like to see the Nile?"
"I have heard of crocodiles."
If the presence of Kisloch and his companions were not very pleasing to Alroy, with the rest of the band they soon became great favourites.
Their local knowledge, and their experience of desert life, made them valuable allies, and their boisterous jocularity and unceasing merriment were not unwelcome in the present monotonous existence of the fugitives.
As for Alroy himself, he meditated an escape to Egypt. He determined to seize the first opportunity of procuring some camels, and then, dispersing his band, with the exception of Benaiah and a few faithful retainers, he trusted that, disguised as merchants, they might succeed in crossing Syria, and entering Africa by Palestine. With these plans and prospects, he became each day more cheerful and more sanguine as to the future. He had in his possession some valuable jewels, which he calculated upon disposing of at Cairo for a sum sufficient for all his purposes; and having exhausted all the pa.s.sions of life while yet a youth, he looked forward to the tranquil termination of his existence in some poetic solitude with his beautiful companion.