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small piece of ripe melon, desiring him to eat it off immediately. Its invigorating and strengthening effects were the same as those produced from taking the olive-leaf, and Abdallah, naturally supposed, that it had been prepared in a similar manner, with a choice and singular mixture, composed of the same peculiar and rare virtues and properties. The merchant also took a piece himself, after which they enjoyed a hearty meal. Upon its conclusion, they lost no time in prosecuting, towards a completion, their journey over the desert.

The singular nature of their meeting; the. extraordinary events which had signalized their intimacy; and the recent danger which they had together encountered and escaped from, had superinduced a friendship between the infidel merchant and Abdallah Mirza, which seemed to each other to have been of a standing from infancy, and not the growth of only six days; but so eventful had those six days been, that the space of

time swelled to an age in the eyes of both, and they felt as if they had been familiarly acquainted all their lives.

Such is ever the leaning affinity between noble-minded men, especially, when great dangers and vicissitudes have been periled together.

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CHAPTER V.

"O, memory! thou fond deceiver,
Still importunate and vain,
To former joys recurring ever,

And turning all the past to pain.

Thou, like the world, th' opprest oppressing,

Thy smiles increase the wretch's woe;

And he who wants each other blessing,

In thee must ever find a foe.

But hope, like the glimmering taper's light,
Brightens, adorns, and cheers the way;
And will still, as darker grows the night,
Stronger emit a clearer ray."

On the fourth day from the tempest, the travellers reached, in safety, and without meeting with any fresh adventure worth recording, the confines of the desert, over which they had come nearly in a straight line, directed by the position of the rising and the setting

sun.

"Friend Abdallah," said the merchant, on

approaching the cultivated soil around a few straggling habitations, which was, at first, extremely cheerful to their senses, but these feelings soon gave way to thoughts of the necessity for them to use the greatest caution and care. "Friend Abdallah, for thy better security, thou must hold but little conversation with me, for the present, and none whatever with the natives, who are mortally enraged against the Christians. "Twill be well for thee to lose the use of thy tongue, and appear dumb, for we may, otherwise, chance to get into collision with those who may not sufficiently understand, or appreciate the authority with which I am empowered. I would rather that we met the whole army of the faithful, than have to encounter the ignorant brutality of the boors, for there would then be imminent danger to thee, friend Abdallah, in thy detection, by them, as a Christian, without the likelihood of attention being paid to that protection, which was respected by the band of troopers, which came upon us on the other side of the desert. Thou would'st

have reason to apprehend more from their instant vengeance, than from the moving sands, in repeated passages across the wilds we have. just passed, for they are equally as senseless, and an appeal to the one, would be just as effective, as an appeal to the other. Silence, therefore, dear friend, I enjoin thee, though much it will pain me to observe it with thee."

The merchant's speech was marked with singular feeling, and towards its close, it was almost indistinct with emotion.

The evening had far advanced, as they freely entered a small cabin, the neatest and cleanest which presented itself in that almost deserted district, and in which they were desirous of passing, as comfortably as possible, the ensuing night, intending, at the first glimpse of dawn, to be again on their way.

"May Mahomet bless and prosper thee and thine, friend," said the merchant, addressing the inhabitant of the cabin, who had just returned from his daily labour, with a basket of grapes and figs in his hand, and