sister. He it was, therefore, who begged the Syud, the constant preceptor of Hoossein, to endeavour to dissuade him from involving himself too closely with the ringlets of the fair, which might prove a snare to the bird of wisdom.

The absence of Hoossein greatly alarmed Sadik, who made strict enquiry concerning it, and soon discovered he had been seized by mistake by the emissaries of Fusad Khan, and thus, after all his caution, fallen at last into the hands of his unnatural parent, who, under the firm persuasion of his being Mirza, would doubtless sacrifice him to his fury. After turning in his mind the most likely way to effect his delivery, he spread the report that Mirza was actually in the possession of Fusad Khan, upon. which Bayezid sent a force to demand him. Sadik thus hoped, when the youth should be given up and the mistake made manifest, Hoossein would be released. Little did this careful guardian imagine that the real Mirza was at this very time in reality detained in the fortress of Fusad Khan, or that his zeal for the safety of Hoossein would be the means of apprehending Mirza, whom he heartily wished might have effectually escaped. If it was with pleasure, therefore, he received Hoossein on his return from the fortress, it was with no inconsiderable pain he beheld the trembling Mirza accompany him. Sadik, as well as Hoossein, strained every nerve to save Mirza, but in vain, and both attended in the market-place to witness his execution, which nothing but the mysterious interference of the woman could have prevented. Urged by curiosity to gain a view of the features of the singular being who had thus preserved poor Mirza, Sadik continued to place himself opposite to her, when she unveiled herself before

Bayezid when what was his surprise at recognising the woman to whose care he had formerly entrusted the children of Fusad Khan! He refrained from bringing himself to her notice for the present, anxiously, however, looking forward to the time when he should be able to develop the mystery in which those children were enveloped.

Sadik having seen Mirza liberated, once more returned to the mansion of Ibrahim Khan; but, alas! great was his grief to hear his noble patron had breathed his last but two days previously. Having died suddenly, he censured himself severely for delaying his visit, as it had ever been his intention to have undeceived him with respect to the fate of his grandchildren, and endeavour to have effected a reconciliation; death, however, disappointing him in his good intentions, he returned to Paishawer, where preparation he found was making to march against Fusad Khan, who, it should have been mentioned, had long ago quitted the country wherein was his estate, and partially embraced the Rosheniah tenets. Seeing Hoossein armed for battle, Sadik determined on accompanying the troop, in the hope he might spare the youth from the sword of Fusad Khan, and also save that chieftain from the sin of slaying his own child; added to which he learned with dismay that the lovely Noor Mihr had also become the captive of her relentless father. When the maiden was, therefore, brought upon the ramparts, he conceived it to be the proper time to inform Fusad Khan of the relationship between them. Sadik having from their infancy to the present moment watched over and guarded Hoossein and his sister, Fusad Khan could not admit of a doubt as to the truth of all he had heard; and pleased

with the warlike appearance of the one, and the beauty of the other, felt a pride in being the father of them; and embracing them both, gave into the hand of Mirza that of the lovely Noor Mihr, declaring this to be the happiest moment of his life.

'Chieftain,' cried Sadik, 'there is yet one point on which you are ignorant: the youth to whom thou hast given thy daughter is the son of thine enemy, Bayezid, but henceforth, let us hope, thy firmest friend; haste, therefore, to accompany us back, not a prisoner, but an ally and friend of Bayezid, who having comprehended the extraordinary events this day disclosed, will receive you with open arms!'

Fusad Khan was indeed unprepared for this latter piece of intelligence; but, considering how little he would be likely to gain by maintaining hostility towards Bayezid, exclaimed, 'Be it so, Sadik-I follow; and may we be received as friends, and all former animosities forgiven and forgotten.'

The chieftain then set out, accompanied by his son and daughter, and the truly happy Mirza, Sadik, and Hoossein, attended by a numerous suite, and in due time reached Paishawer, where Mirza undertook to explain to Bayezid the result of the expedition. To Bayezid, who had anticipated a bloody battle, little dreaming of any connection with the family of his enemy, this intelligence was indeed surprising; and it was with pleasure he received with open arms the powerful Fusad Khan, and gave his blessing to Mirza and the lovely Noor Mihr. Fatimah also partook of the felicity experienced by the families, and was astonished on discovering Sadik to be the man whom she had met in the forest many years back, the protector of the babes of Fusad Khan;

and that her son, Mirza, should now be about to espouse the girl whom she had nurtured. It is needless to add, that Fusad Khan, in consequence of the alliance with Bayezid, refused the aid of the Afghans, and declared himself the firm friend of old Bayezid.

The nuptials of Mirza and Noor Mihr were celebrated with all the pomp and splendour due to their station, and the city of Paishawer never witnessed a happier day. Bayezid lived happy for many years in the society of his wife Fatimah. He lived to be very old, and during his lifetime the sect over whom he ruled flourished; but afterwards, historians relate that the tribe dispersed, and that to this day many of its adherents are to be found in the wildest and most inaccessible districts of Afghanistan and in Cabul, but are more numerous amongst the tribes of the Yusufzei; but that in such abhorrence are the sect held by the Mahommedans, that the few who are left in Paishawer are obliged to meet in secret at an ancient edifice, with a dome, said to be the place where Bayezid himself resided; and that at this building the pious Moslems as they pass cast stones, in token of their abhorrence of the founder of so abominable a sect.

Thus ended the tale related by the Captain of the Guard, who, bowing, retired; and the party proceeded as before to the palace of the Deewan to determine who should relate a story on the following day. The lot fell upon Katil-bhae, the butcher, who was ordered to appear at the usual hour.

The Nuwab and his ladies having assembled, the butcher was led before his highness; and having made his obeisance, commenced the tale contained in the following chapter.

CHAPTER XX.

THE BUTCHER'S STORY.

It is well known to your Highness that the City of Ahmedabad, in the reign of Shah Jehan, the True Star of the Faith, was the most flourishing city in the world, and that, on account of the salubrity of its situation, that illustrious monarch often honoured it by a long residence therein. It was about a year after his accession to the throne, which was in the Hegira 1037,' that he first visited this noble city, striving all in his power to improve its wealth and commerce; he also established a school for the education of youth, and granted land for the maintenance of the only one resorted to by many of the sons of the merchants and inhabitants. This royal gift was considered an act of unparalleled liberality, indicative of the great interest the sovereign took in the welfare of his subjects. Amongst those who extolled the gracious monarch none were so loud in their praises as Adeeb Khan, the schoolmaster himself, who, in place of his former uncertain means of subsistence, now found himself enjoying a sure and permanent salary from the government, arising from the lands devoted to the public seminary.

Amongst the youths who attended the school of Adeeb Khan 1 A.D. 1628.