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garb and aspect were much ruder than any that Alick had yet seen. A large cumbrous garment of rough hair enveloped their persons, from beneath which gleamed weapons of various kinds. Their heads were wrapped in shawls, so disposed as to cover the neck and brow; and the faces that looked out from the midst of their uncouth drapery were perfectly in keeping with the costume. He who appeared as their chief, or leader, was the least prepossessing among a party of five, whose general character was repulsiveness itself. After some private conversation with this man, Da Costa returned to Alick, and asked him whether he thought he could make himself at home in a dress like those he saw before him?

'I have no objection; but certainly our pale skins will discover us, if a disguise is what you aim at, unless we contrive to tint them.'

'That is easily done,' answered the other: and in a very short time they were so transformed that Alick would not have recognized himself any more than he could his companion, under the complete metamorphosis that had taken place. His naturally mirthful spirits rose to their former pitch, while surveying Da Costa, whose grave, anxious face heightened the contrast with his former self- My dear fellow! what a paragraph for the Morning Post we should furnish! It was worth some pains-taking to become such accomplished masqueraders.'

Da Costa smiled as he looked on him, and said, 'would Esther acknowledge us now?'

Esther? what, my cousin Esther? why I never named her to you.'

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No, but others have done so and now, Alick, since we are embarked in an enterprise of considera

ble difficulty and some danger, I may as well give poor Wilhelm a sort of claim on your now gratuitous sympathy, by telling you that in aiding to rescue him you will confer a boon on Esther, such as her inmost heart will acknowledge to the end of her days.'

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'I'll stick at nothing to do that:' exclaimed Alick with energy. Poor dear Estber! many a sigh has my perverse liberalism caused her, and many an illnatured thing have I said and done to cross her devoted attachment to the faith of her fathers. I wanted no spur in this matter: but if she, dear girl, takes the interest you seem to imply in Wilhelm, it will prove a sharp one to my zeal in his cause.'

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They have long been attached, and indeed betrothed, secretly.'

'But Wilhelm did not visit at our house.'

No: Esther passed some months in Germany among his friends.'

'I remember it: and also that she brought home thence a copy of the law and of the prophets, which I often detected her studying so profoundly that I used to banter her upon it: I knew no better then.' 'Well, we must now proceed: my worthy friend Sheikh Abdalla looks impatient.'

On hearing himself named, the leader approached, and Da Costa inquired in what mode they should travel. Camels were named, at which Alick petitioned for a horse, or at least a mule, but was told they must be satisfied with camels until they had made some progress on the route.

'I don't like that fellow at all,' muttered Alick to his friend, and I wish you would insist on our being so mounted as to admit of acting in self-defence, if

called on. With this whimsical dress, and astride on one of those long-necked hunchbacks, with his intellectual face and discomposing trot, I shall be as helpless as a babe in the cradle.'

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Oh, never fear: our companions are friendly and will take good care of us.'

I'd rather by half take care of myself, though,' thought the youth, as he suffered himself to be placed on the back of the docile creature, who kneeled down to receive him.

It was now that he might really be said to have entered upon Oriental life; and the momentary dissatisfaction soon gave way to pleasanter feelings. Before them lay a track as magnificently, wildly glorious as imagination could picture. Mountains rising abruptly to an immense height, every chasm in their bold, rocky crags shooting forth some species of graceful or gorgeous vegetation, crested with trees of gigantic stature, yet light and feathery as the plumage of a bird; here they might discern the mouth of a cavern, screened by masses of arbutus, rhododendron, and the prolific nopal: there, perched on the brow of a naked precipice, some semblance of a building, but whether inhabited, or merely a solitary ruin, the eye could not at such a depth decide. Winding along the foot of this mountain-barrier, the travellers frequently found themselves among fragments that bespoke the ancient site of edifices now crumbling into dust: and one of these extended so far, and exhibited such massive blocks of stone, bearing the marks of fine proportion, and elaborate sculpture, that, being on nearly a level plain, intermixed with the richest, loveliest, choicest vegetation, profusely covering the few ruins not actually sunk into the soil,

Alick remarked This must have been a city, rather than a cluster of edifices.'

Some noble city, beyond a doubt,' answered Da Costa which sent up its stately sons to Jerusalem to keep the appointed feasts. The whole country, up to the mountain tops, was inhabited: the denseness of its population, compared with the extent of territory, was prodigious. Every rood of ground must have been made available for tillage or pasturage : every hill mantled with vineyards and olive-grounds. Of this you will perceive tokens, go where we may. We tread on the ashes of our fathers (may they rest in peace!) and the lonely wilderness around us was the mart, the palace, the garden of the world.'

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Was, and shall be!' said Alick, as he stroked the long neck of the camel that carried him. How could I object to mount this creature, descendant as he is of a race who rejoiced in the fostering care of my fathers, and preserved to aid in the future triumph of their sons. "The multitude of camels shall cover thee." Perhaps this, even this poor animal is one destined to the fulfilment of prophecy, when the cities of Judah shall again be inhabited!'

Again he looked around; and as they skirted the abrupt acclivity, he saw an upland path, entering the mouth of a defile that seemed to issue in a very steep ladder-like track, inaccessible to any but the most daring pedestrian. Here they paused for a while, Da Costa continuing in earnest discourse with the Sheikh, and both waxing rather warm. Alick longed to ascend the path, to obtain a more extended view, but how they were to mount it was a question he could not solve. At length the Sheikh drew towards his men, with increased sullenness of aspect; and

Da Costa rejoining Alick, remarked, 'I gave myself credit for having provided against all difficulties and precluded all dispute; but these fellows are wholly intractable-wholly unfathomable-and I am fairly at a nonplus.'

"His hand against every man, and every man's hand against his," repeated Alick; and you never can put them down; for "He shall dwell in the presence of his brethren."'

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How complacent you are at the most unreasonble, vexatious, rascally conduct that ever men were exposed to!'

'Yes; for when I see, even at my own expense, the promise of God fulfilled to a wild Ishmaelite, it strengthens my assurance that the seed of Jacob shall be remembered too, in his time.'

Ah, Cohen, I know more scripture than you, but your little goes ten times as far as my much, because you apply it-you realize it-so delightfully. Well, I won't seek to put down these most obstinate half-brothers of ours; but try a little fraternal coaxing.'

He approached the group, whose dark looks were very portentous; what he said, Alick did not hear, but their countenances soon relaxed, and the Shiekh's tone became more amicable. So much for the value of a soft answer,' thought Alick, assured by his friend's pleasant manner and kind voice, that he had tried its efficacy. Da Costa soon came back, and told him they had agreed to a compromise, by which his plans would be less deranged than he had feared. Alick asked if Shiekh Abdalla was the same he had once mentioned, as aiding him to search the convent. No, no, not he. My noble band are genuine sons

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