"Will it not be dangerous?"

We are safe from the

"There is no danger now. Russian scouts up here. We may descend at once, and give ourselves up to the Turkish guard in that nearest tabia. They will pay me a good price for my buffalo and corn."

The heart of Mathias bounded with joy. In another hour, at the very outside, he would be pressed to the bosom of his father; and then there would be a happiness he had long hoped for, long anticipated, and yet had dreaded would never be realised. Cautiously, lest they should be fired at as enemies or spies, the pair descended from their elevated perch, the Karapapak leading his buffalo with great care, for he now felt that the animal and grain would be eagerly bought up; and, crossing from the north to the south of the river by a bridge that had been constructed by the English officers, they approached what was known as the Arab tabia, and gave themselves into the charge of the fat Turkish Captain commanding that post. They were at once taken before the English General, Williams, who, with the Hungarian General, Kmety, really commanded the garrison, although there was a Turkish Pasha nominally in power to soothe the religious prejudices of the subjects of the Sultan, who could not bear to be considered under the orders of a

Ghiaour. A few moments' explanation sufficed to assure the authorities of the good faith of the newcomers, who were accordingly dismissed, the Karapapak to dispose of his goods at a most exorbitant profit, and Mathias Kisfaludy to seek out his father, whom neither General Williams nor his secretary remembered even by name. This news somewhat daunted Mathias: he had always believed, knew indeed, that his father was one of the leading foreign merchants in the town, and it seemed to him excessively strange that he should not be known at the head-quarters of a garrison of such slender dimensions. Begging the names and addresses of any of his countrymen, for there were many Hungarians in Kars, he made his way into the filthy lanes of the town, swarming as they were with a population made up of representatives of half the Asiatic tribes, to seek comfort and advice with the first of his own people he could come across.

But he sought in vain: every address he called at, he found the owner, or lodger (as the case most frequently was) absent, and to all his inquiries he could only get the one answer:-"They are with the troops in the entrenchments on the plateau!" At last, wearied, worn out with hunger and disappointment, he

* An unbeliever in the Prophet and the Mahomedan religion.

found himself once more at the English head-quarters, whence he had started, and with bitter though halfsuppressed tears of mortification and real sorrow, he crept into the shade of a doorway, and sat down to ponder on what was next to be done. Completely exhausted with the day's fatigue, anxiety, and defeated anticipations, as well as from the severe pangs of hunger under which he was suffering, Mathias gradually dropped his head upon his breast, and a deep sleep cast him into that realm of oblivion where all is rest and peace. He woke up-the stars were twinkling brightly in the rich blue heavens above, so he must have slept for a considerable time—with a sudden start, to find a kindly face looking down upon him and a kindly voice addressing him :

"Well, my boy, who are you, and what do you want?" it said; while its owner, stepping out of the shadow, showed himself to be an English officer in an undress uniform. But Mathias could not understand English, so the question had to be repeated in French ere he comprehended its purport. Then he told his tale. "Why," said the officer, who was General Williams in person, and who had just returned from a night visit to his outposts, "you are the lad I saw to-day, are you not?"

"Yes, sir; but I have not succeeded in finding any of those to whom you kindly sent me."