Stark and stiff, like stretched and swathed corses, were they-and yet they had a movement, a wandering flitting motion, which the eye could not catch, nor the mind comprehend. No human tongue could name their forms;-dim and colourless, they seemed void of substance;-the very glare of their glassy eyes cast a deadly chill, which seemed to freeze the marrow in the young man's bones. "The dream of the preceding night rushed forcibly into the mind of Gregoor, as he gazed upon the scene around him; but the remembrance rather recalled his sinking courage than added to his alarm, for he doubted not that the visionary aid he had then experienced, would not desert him now in the reality of his danger. Casting forward his eyes, therefore, he saw at no great distance the chasm where the last bead had disappeared. May God grant that the adventure shall terminate there, and happily for his servant!' ejaculated the youth, and on he went. · "Scarcely had he reached its nearest verge when a mass of ice and snow appeared above him towering to the very clouds, and horridly tenanted by the ice ghouls, while a glance downwards betrayed to him a deeper and blacker gulf, with the dim glimmer of a roaring torrent at an immeasurable distance beneath. A sudden pang of horror seized his heart-his limbs trembled, and his hold almost relaxed; for now the rock and ice rose high on all sides, cutting off retreat; and there hung the unhappy youth above a fathomless abyss, into which it seemed that, sooner or later, he must drop. His courage, which till now had been unshaken, at that moment almost failed him, when his eye was attracted to a quivering rapid motion in a part of the ice above, but almost within his reach. A second and more attentive glance shewed him a creature like a serpent, of the same pale hue and transparent substance as the spirits of the ice, which was playing in and out of the cracks and crevices in the snow. Thanks be to God!' exclaimed the young man, aloud; behold it-it is mine!' and forgetting his precarious situation, he darted des. perately forward to seize it. A fearful cry arose from below-his footing failed him, and at the same mo ment the enormous mass of ice and snow which rose above him, bent forwards for an instant, then crashing downwards, bore with it the shrieking youth into the awful gulf below! His head reeled, but ere his senses quite fled, a mild benignant voice whispered, in tones which were heard in spite of the hideous din,- Well done, brave and virtuous youth! thou hast fought the good fight, and thousands will bless thy name.' "How long Gregoor remained insensible, or what may have occurred to him during his swoon, he never could tell. But, strange to say, agas, when he recovered his senses, it was neither upon the summit nor among the eternal snows of Agri-Daugh, nor in the fearful gulf below it, but just in the very cavern from whence he had set forth that morning- upon the same bed of leaves on which he had cast himself the preceding night; and over him was standing the recluse himself, in the identical sheepskin tunic which he had worn in the morning of this eventful day! "The youth gazed long upon the hermit, rubbed his eyes, shook himself heartily, lay still, and reflecting for some moments, shuddered at the recollections which dawned upon him, and then turning again to the recluse, who stood patiently bending over him, stared with a bewildered air, and exclaimed,- In the name of God and St Gregory! what has happened-and where am I?— In safe quarters, my son, by the favour of God, who has dealt with thee in great mercy,' replied the recluse, with solemnity. "And how came I here? Surely-surely again he shuddered. My son,' said the recluse, thou art here by the will of God-let that content thee; be thankful for thy safety, and seek no farther. It is time thou wert on thy journey-up, and be going.' and And whither must I go, father?How can I return?—Ah! I thought I believed, that all was well-that I had done my duty-that voice declared so.' And that voice was right, my son-mistrust it not-return whence thou camest, without delay or doubt. Boldly present thyself, and claim the promised reward. Fear not that it will be denied thee; but, in thy own prosperity, forget not the misery of others-extend to those who need it the mercy thou thyself hast tasted. Remember thy afflicted countrymen when thy voice has power, and fail not to let it rise in their behalf. And now, delay not farther-rise, and begone.' The wondering and still bewildered youth hesitated no longer; hastily partaking of the food which the recluse placed before him, he received back his arms, which, with his sandals, were laid by his bedside, and quitting the cavern, clambered up the side of the rocky ravine, and was soon on his way to the camp of Doozd Mahomed. "And what, agas, think you, had been going on there since the time of the young man's departure? The Khan's distemper had risen to its height just about that time. He raved frantically-abused every one around him-roared incessantly for water! water!-and for cold! cold! -and besought his attendants to cut open his breast, and take out his heart, which had become, he said, a burning coal. The physicians ordered a last application of ice, gave their last dose of iced vinegar and water, and then left him to his fate. This frenzied state was too violent to continue very long; it gradually subsided into a less furious, though scarcely a more tranquil condition. Cries and shrieks gave place to low moanings, and his terrible convulsions to a less uncontrollable restless ness. ded from that moment, and late on the ensuing day the Khan awoke from a long sleep, perfectly collected, and free from all disease, although still weak and exhausted. Many were the Shukhur Khodahs!' and 'Alhumdulillahs!'* that were poured out upon this occasion by the attendants and all the household-but the first demand made by the Khan was for the Armenian youth whom he had ordered into confinement at the commencement of his ill ness. His servants, alarmed, and unwilling to tell the truth, looked at each other in silence. It was the Khanum alone who dared to inform him that the youth was no longer in camp. Not in camp!' echoed the Khan; and what, then, has become of him? By your own soul, Khanum, and by the holy Caaba! tell me where he is!' "The attendants, still imagining that the Khan's only reason for the enquiry was to order his immediate execution, and fearful of incurring blame for his unauthorized dismissal from the camp, could get no farther than to mutter some unintelligible excuses. Even the Khanum was alarmed at the emotion of her Lord, who still continued conjuring them in God's name to tell him the truth. At last, dreading the consequences of his impatience even more than his anticipated wrath- By the Khan's own head, then,' said she, the youth is gone to Agri-Daugh for an ice-worm to cure your fever, my Lord!' "Towards midnight, the sick man's mutterings became more distinct. He "I know that,' said the Khan imtalked as if he had been addressing patiently- I know it as well as you some person present, and in less dis--but where is he now? for he has tracted phrases. At length his at- returned from Agri-Daugh.'-' Retendants could distinguish some of turned?-who?-Gregoor the Armehis expressions. Allah! have mer- nian? no, Khan-not a bit of himcy Oh, holy Mahomed!-By nor ever will doubtless-who ever the holy Koran!-by the Sacred returns from the top of Agri-Daugh? Caaba! yes! yes! I promise, I swear! Inshallah! Inshallah!'-and each ejaculation was accompanied by a corresponding movement of head and hands, as if confirming what he said. This seemed to be the crisis of his disorder; for after it he grew still and tranquil, and, to the astonishment of those who looked every moment for his death, the heat and fever subsi and who cares about a scurvy Armenian, since your Lordship has got rid of your fever? Let the poor wretch go about his business.''Who cares?' echoed the Khan. By the head of my father, there is cause to care!-for it is just thishis life and mine-if he goes, so do I; we are bound up together in a strange fashion-so where is the lad? Thank God!-- Persian, the old white-bearded Ket Khodah of the last Armenian village we plundered, throwing himself before my horse's feet, and beseeching me to spare his grey hairs; and there was something in the old man's look that troubled me-my liver melted within me like water, and strongly checking my horse, he bounded to one side, and the old man was saved. Suddenly his form altered in my sight, he wore long floating garments, and his countenance assumed a grave and noble, yet not unpleasing aspect. Ye surely have not slain him?' added he, suddenly fixing his frowning eye upon them. God forbid!-no, by the head of the Prophet!-no, by the Khan's salt!' burst forth the whole attendants in reply, greatly relieved as to the object of their Lord's urgency, and now, on their own accounts, wishing for the youth's return. Then let every one of my people set off this moment in search of him,' said the Khan; nor let them return till they bring him.'And accordingly the tent was soon cleared, and every one sallied forth to hunt for poor Gregoor. "By this time the physicians, hearing of the great man's unexpected recovery, had all come back to offer their congratulations on this fortunate event, hinting at the same time at their own great merit, and the handsome reward they expected for it. C May your fathers all be well roasted, ye cousins of an ass!' cried the Khan, whose strength and energy appeared hourly to revive. This is no dish of your cooking-I'll eat all you have in this matter any day of the Ramazaun, and never break my fast. Away with your long beards, big bellies, and empty heads!-your long yellow faces make me sickPack-go! Hearken,' continued he to a few of his favourites, when the apartment had been cleared of intruders-'I will tell you how it all came about. Those wise heads thought that all was over with me--and bad enough truly matters were. I heard what they said about the ice-worm, while they believed me to be insensible, although well did I know that mortal hands would never bring it from the old Daugh, yonder. Soon after, my head begun to spin round and simmer like a boiling pot-and wild fancies passed through my seething brain. Sometimes I was among ice and snow, sometimes in flames and fire. Then again I was upon my old warhorse, careering forward at a fearful rate, along with a whole troop of fiendish-looking riders, trampling and cutting down thousands of these miserable Armenians, while our very foot-tramps set their villages on fire. There was a terrible hurly-burlyand my whirling head was like to burst with pain from the heat of the burning houses; at last, out rushed The Khan has done well,' said he, 'the mercy he has shewn he shall find;' and I found my heart soften in that moment, and the pangs that had so long gnawed my vitals experienced a momentary relief. But the whole scene had passed away, and I was lying in this very tent with all my attendants sleeping around my couch; and I tried to awaken them, but they would not hear me, when the same venerable person entered, accompanied by the Armenian youth Gregoor, who held in his hand a small basket of twigs. Chief,' said the former, addressing me, while every one around still slept profoundly,behold, thy heart has been touched; unworthy though thou art, thou hast tasted the mercy of the Omnipotent, who sends by the hands of his servant the remedy which will heal thy bodily ailments-take heed that thy mind partake the cure-beware that thou turn not good to evil-a blessing to a curse. Abandon thy evil ways- devote the life which has been granted thee, to repairing the evil thou hast already committed, rather than to increasing it-persecute no more my people the Armenians-set free the captives thou hast taken-rebuild the villages thou hast burned, and, to the youth who freely risked his life to preserve thine, restore what thou hast taken -dismiss him and his wife with blessings and with benefits-for know that to his zeal thou owest thy life.-Dost thou promise all this?' I need scarcely say, friends, that I gave the promise in ready and in earnest terms. "The old man then turning to the young man, took from his basket a wonderful creature-how shall I describe it ?-it resembled a serpent of pure ice, its very look was chilling; and as it moved to and fro with a quick wavering motion, I felt its power in every vein. He stooped over my bed, and taking the creature, which lay passive in his grasp, wound it like a fillet round my head. The touch was magical-in a moment all the burning heat and restless confusion were gone, and gave place to a thrill of delicious calm, the more enchanting from my long previous sufferings. Thou art healed, and at peace,' said the aged man, and the continuance of that peace rests with thyself-the delicious coolness which the touch of this pure creature sheds over a repentant heart, will turn to fiercer tortures than yet thou hast experienced, if thy vows are ever broken-be virtuous and be happy.' With these words my aged physician and his companion vanished from my sight, and a deep sleep came over my senses, until I awoke just now, restored, as you all see, to health. And now, my friends, you will comprehend the cause of my solicitude for the young man's safety-God grant that no evil may have befallen him!' "Agas, the Khan's fears were soon dissipated; for while he was yet speaking, a bustle at the tent-door announced an arrival, and the attendants entered, bringing in Gregoor, who had been met on his return close to the camp by those who were sent to seek him. I scarce need assure you, that the Khan, taught by his sufferings and his dream, never for got his promise to the old saint. Not only did he restore to the youth his wife, and loaded them with presents, but he set all his Armenian captives at liberty, restored the plunder taken, rebuilt the burnt villages, and made good their losses to the inhabitants; in fine, until the day of his death, Doozd Mahomed Khan became the patron and protector of the very district and people, whom before this singular event he had bitterly persecuted. 66 Thus, agas, you see that there is truth in what has always been told of the terrors of old Agri-Daugh, and the impossibility of reaching his summit, when even the good Gregoor failed, after encountering such terrible danger. You smile, as if you had still doubts ?-Ah, well, agas, you are not the first Frank sahebs,* who have expressed this strange incredulity after they had heard this very story. I even remember onemay God forgive him! who ventured to hint a doubt of the Armenian youth having ever gone further than the cave of the recluse; that all the rest was merely a dream proceeding from an over-excited imagination, and that the Khan's recovery from his fever was more attributable to the cold applications of the despised physicians, than to this wonderful ice-worm La-illah-il-allah! Some people can never be convinced! But come--we are late; and behold, yonder are the walls of the castle shining in the moonlight-Let us push forward." * Gentlemen. "WE return-we return-we return no more!" "We return-we return-we return no more!" "We return-we return-we return no more!" No! it is not the rose that returns no more; Nor the frail flush'd leaves which the wild wind strews. "We return-we return-we return no more!" They come, with the sunshine, when waves grow calm. "But WE-WE return-we return no more!" The boundless trust in ideal worth; The faith in affection-deep, fond, yet vain- "Ha til-ha til-ha til mi tulidle"-We return-we return-we return no more, the burden of the Highland song of emigration. |