herself seized by four men, who, unmoved by her screams, conveyed her through a low private door into a wood adjoining, where one of the men, lifting her on a horse, and placing himself behind her, galloped away, followed by his companions, well-mounted.

In vain she entreated and implored the men to release her; they spurred their horses through woods and broken ground, nor stopped until darkness impeded their progress. Food was offered the sinking Zeefa, who, alas! could only partake of a cup of cold water. A shed was discovered, in which a bed, composed of the saddle-cloths of the horses, was made for the fatigued terrorstricken girl, whilst the men stood as guards without the place. What could be the object of these men? Who was the instigator of the outrage? Not Zekey Khan; he was far away. Yet when she called to mind his angry words, and his horrid expression of countenance when he uttered them, suspicion deeply entered her mind that he indeed it must be who thus dared to seize and convey her from the protection of his mother. There was no help, and the forlorn Zeefa resigned herself to her fate.

As soon as morning dawned the men prepared to proceed; and thus they continued for many days, until they reached Busrah, where, in an obscure and gloomy abode, they deposited their lovely captive.

293

CHAPTER XIX.

CONCLUSION.

THE sanguinary deeds of Nadir Shah in Hindústan are too well known to require repetition; suffice it to say that Humza distinguished himself in battle so highly that the king was induced to grant him any boon he should ask of him. The youth on his bended knee demanded the sanction of the sovereign to his union with the lovely Zeefa.

'Your request is granted,' cried the king, 'provided Zeefa herself consent; but her uncle has repeatedly informed me of her love for your brother, Zekey Khan, in whose favour I had nearly decided; but, as bravery alone deserves the fair, be the prize yours, if you can win her.'

The delighted Humza arose amidst the congratulations of the surrounding courtiers. The news was soon conveyed to Shamil Beg and Zekey Khan. The latter swore a terrible oath never to

permit Humza to wed

Zeefa, or ever again to set eyes upon her,

if he could help it. That his mother had executed the plan of removal he had no doubt; but he dreaded the return of the king, who would doubtless, at the intercession of Humza, not only discover Zeefa, but learn who was the instigator of the outrage.

In due time the king, flushed with conquest, and satiated by acts of bloodshed and cruelty, returned to Persia. Hunza on the wings of love flew to his beloved Zeefa, but he found her not. His mother, with well-affected grief, related her mysterious disappearance. To her husband even she durst not reveal the truth, so monstrous was her conduct in the affair; and to Zekey Khan she expressed her repentance of the part she had taken in the transaction, especially when she heard of the high favours showered down on Humza by the king.

Zekey Khan, by all the rhetoric he was master of, besought his mother to quiet her alarms, for that whatever might be his fate her name should ever by him be kept secret. Humza applied to his sovereign for aid to discover his fair cousin, and the King issued his royal orders throughout his vast empire. Zekey Khan, to avoid suspicion, set forward with a party of men, purposely taking the road to Busrah, where having arrived, he learned from his trusty hirelings that Zeefa was safe in the retreat in which they had at first deposited her. Zekey Khan, aware of the strict search instituted by the king, was at a loss what step to take to secure his fair cousin and at the same time to shield himself from suspicion.

Convinced no place in Persia was safe, he bargained with an Arab captain of a merchant vessel about to sail for India, informing him that his sister being about to form an improper connection, he was desirous, for a time, to remove her to a distance from the object of her affections, promising to follow himself in a short time. The captain consenting, the helpless Zeefa was conveyed on board his ship in the still hour of midnight, the captain having

been directed to place her, on his arrival at Calcutta, under the protection of a respectable and wealthy Persian merchant of that city, to whom Zekey Khan penned a friendly letter.

Scarcely had the vessel weighed anchor ere Zekey Khan learned that his brother Humza was arrived in Busrah with a large party, having in vain searched in a contrary direction. The artful Zekey Khan immediately proceeded to his anxious brother, to whom he declared he had received positive information that Zeefa, or some lady answering her description, had been conveyed towards Bagdad. 'Let us hasten, then,' said he, 'to her rescue.'

Humza, delighted at the most distant prospect of once more beholding his beloved Zeefa, instantly prepared to march towards Bagdad, accompanied by the wily Zekey Khan, who, to all appearance, was no less anxious than his brother.

It was far from the intention of the crafty Zekey Khan to accompany his brother in what he too well knew was a fruitless search through the wilds of Arabia; and consequently, after the second day's march, feigned sickness, retaining only one trusty follower, directing the rest of his men to follow the footsteps of Humza, to whom he lamented the impossibility of his proceeding farther, at the same time promising to prosecute the search in another direction as soon as his indisposition would allow him. The unsuspecting Humza took an affectionate farewell of his brother, and pursued his route to Bagdad.

The sickness of Zekey Khan was but of short duration, and with his attendant he returned to Schiraz, where he learned the king then was. To his sovereign he reported his ill-success, but expressed the most sanguine hopes that his brother Humza would

eventually discover his beloved cousin; at the same time offered his services to proceed to Hindústan, if his royal master would furnish him with his royal firman to the Emperor of Delhi.

Nadir Shah, anxious to do all in his power, granted a firman, in which he desired every exertion should be made by the governors of places throughout India to discover Zeefa, and that the bearer was authorised to take charge of her and conduct her to his court in Persia. This document Zekey Khan preserved, little dreaming he should ever be reduced to the necessity of making use of it. In due time Zekey Khan, accompanied by his servant, who was, he knew, privy to most of his machinations, and whom it would be dangerous to leave behind, arrived at Calcutta, where in breathless impatience he sought out the residence of the merchant under whose care he expected to find the lovely Zeefa.

How was he vexed and mortified, however, on learning that no such person had been delivered to him, nor had the captain of the Arab ship ever visited him! Zekey Khan was now quite at a loss to know how to act or where to go; he cursed the Arab captain from the bottom of his heart, and rushed through the city in the hope of meeting him, but learned that he sailed for Mocha many days ago. There seemed but one step to take, viz. to return to Persia in the same ship in which he had come, and for this purpose he agreed with the commander of the vessel, who promised to set sail as soon as his business should be completed.

Every day seemed a year to the impatient and restless Zekey Khan. At last the day was fixed for the sailing of the ship, and with a favourable breeze they bade adieu to the shores of Hindústan. Zekey Khan was, however, destined once more to visit