At last, excited by the view and his thoughts, the rider rose in his stirrups, and stretching out his arms, gave expression, in a low voice, to his feelings—­

“Well may these men, who hope to found a new dynasty, be proud of the lovely land which they have chosen for a refuge!  If iron resolution, scorn of delights and contempt of death could do it, they would accomplish the emprise—­mais l’homme propose et Dieu dispose.  Without the directing mind and sustaining arm of the source of all wisdom and power, in vain is the labor of man.  Ruin and disgrace shall overwhelm all undertakings not founded on the Rock of Ages.  With what great events teems the bosom of futurity?  O, that my eyes could pierce the misty distance; that my dim presaging soul could behold the stately advance of the coming centuries, whose sounding feet I fancy that I can hear!  Bear they in their hands weal or woe to humanity?  Hath the creative energy set a limit, beyond which the tide of human accomplishment, like the hidden power in yonder heaving ocean, may not rise; but, having reached its destined apex, must, with hoarse murmurs, recoil back upon itself in disordered fragments?—­or in these later times, when men were ripe for the blessing, revealed to the world these virgin regions, separated from the vices of Europe and of the East by a mighty sea, here to recommence that experiment which hath partially failed elsewhere, and imparted sufficient measure of His spirit to chosen instruments to work out the problem of human happiness, and to conduct mankind to heights of felicity, beginning here and never ending?—­the bare contemplation whereof causes my flesh to quiver with delight.”

As he uttered these words, forgetful of his situation, he stuck the spurs into his horse’s flanks, and the astonished animal started with a bound.  It was then the consummate address wherewith the stranger sat, his horse specially exhibited itself.  As if the feeling of the startled steed were instantly communicated to himself; and one spirit animated both, his body bent gently forward in the saddle, catching at once the motion, and accommodating itself thereto, so that the rider appeared as firmly fastened, and as much at his ease, as though he were a part of the animal.  After half a dozen plunges, and some soothing words, the excited horse having expressed his displeasure by snorts, frequent and loud at first, but gradually decreasing in rapidity and loudness, yielded to the strong arm of his master, and reduced his pace to the long trot at which he had before proceeded.

“My noble Mourad,” said the rider, patting the steed’s neck, and addressing him as if capable of understanding language—­“I wonder not at thine astonishment; but when these thoughts possess me, I am oblivious of everything else.  I will be more heedful henceforth, nor allow splendid imaginations to prick thine innocent sides.”

The flexible ears of Mourad moved backward and forward while his rider was speaking, his dilated eyes glanced repeatedly back at him, and he shook his head as if not half satisfied with the apology.