of arms.  Weseloff fancied that he heard the voice of the Khan shouting for assistance.  He remembered the communication made by that prince in the morning; and, 25 requesting his companions to support him, he rode off in the direction of the sound.  A very short distance brought him to an open glade in the wood, where he beheld four men contending with a party of at least nine or ten.  Two of the four were dismounted at the very instant of 30 Weseloff’s arrival.  One of these he recognized almost certainly as the Khan, who was fighting hand to hand, but at great disadvantage, with two of the adverse horsemen.  Seeing that no time was to be lost, Weseloff fired and brought down one of the two.  His companions discharged their carabines at the same moment; and then all rushed simultaneously into the little open area.  The thundering sound of about thirty horses, all rushing at once into a narrow space, gave the impression that a 5 whole troop of cavalry was coming down upon the assailants, who accordingly wheeled about and fled with one impulse.  Weseloff advanced to the dismounted cavalier, who, as he expected, proved to be the Khan.  The man whom Weseloff had shot was lying dead; and both were 10 shocked, though Weseloff at least was not surprised, on stooping down and scrutinizing his features, to recognize a well-known confidential servant of Zebek-Dorchi.  Nothing was said by either party.  The Khan rode off, escorted by Weseloff and his companions; and for some 15 time a dead silence prevailed.  The situation of Weseloff was delicate and critical.  To leave the Khan at this point was probably to cancel their recent services; for he might be again crossed on his path, and again attacked, by the very party from whom he had just been delivered.  Yet, on 20 the other hand, to return to the camp was to endanger the chances of accomplishing the escape.  The Khan, also, was apparently revolving all this in his mind; for at length he broke silence and said:  “I comprehend your situation; and, under other circumstances, I might feel it my duty to 25 detain your companions, but it would ill become me to do so after the important service you have just rendered me.  Let us turn a little to the left.  There, where you see the watch fire, is an outpost.  Attend me so far.  I am then safe.  You may turn and pursue your enterprise; for 30 the circumstances under which you will appear as my escort are sufficient to shield you from all suspicion for the present.  I regret having no better means at my disposal for testifying my gratitude.  But tell me before we part—­was it accident only which led you to my rescue?  Or had you acquired any knowledge of the plot by which I was decoyed into this snare?” Weseloff answered very candidly that mere accident had brought him to the spot at which he heard the uproar; but that, having heard it, 5 and connecting it with the Khan’s