All this had transpired in far less time than we have occupied in the relation, and once more now having him greatly at disadvantage, the Bedouins rushed upon him.

But there came now upon the scene a third party, at this excited moment, from out the forest of Belgrade.  He seemed but a weary traveller, though when his eyes rested upon the scene we have described, an instantaneous change came over him, and he appeared at once to comprehend the meaning of the whole affair.  Just at the very moment when the Arab, who had been partially vanquished and somewhat severely wounded, regained his feet, and was coming once more to the contest, the traveller, espousing the side of the weaker party, who was now indeed unarmed, fiercely attacked the robbers with a heavy staff that he carried, and in a moment, being comparatively fresh, and aided by the surprise as well as the lusty blows that he dealt about him, he caused the two Bedouins to retreat precipitately, though they made a last and nearly successful effort to carry off the horse, but this the ready arm of the traveller prevented.

A moment sufficed to put both the Turk and his deliverer in breath once more.

“Who art thou that hast been so opportunely sent to rescue me?” asked the Turk, at he called his horse by his name, and the beautiful animal came quietly to his side.

“A poor traveller, well nigh wearied by the long way,” answered the other.

“Thy habiliments bespeak thee as coming from the North, and they look as though want had been thy companion on the way,” continued he whom the traveller had rescued.

“It has, indeed,” said the other; “fatigue and want have kept me company these many long days.”  As he answered thus, he wiped the perspiration that his late exertion had caused, from his brow.

“I owe you my hearty thanks for this timely service,” said the Turk.

“A trifling deed that any man in my place would have performed.”

“Take this,” replied the Turk, depositing a purse, heavy with gold, in the stranger’s hands.  “Use the contents as you will, and when you have need of further assistance, if there be aught that one possessing some influence can serve thee in, present that purse at the gates of the seraglio gardens, and you will find me.”

“Thanks! a thousand thanks!” said the stranger, “though I must look upon this as a gift, a charity, not in the light of a payment.  The service I have rendered might have been afforded by the meanest slave.”

“I know well how to esteem a favor, and how to pay it,” answered the Turk, as he mounted his spirited horse and turned his head towards the entrance of the city of Constantine.  He rode with a free rein now, and the horse dashed over the level plain like an antelope, while his rider sat in the saddle like a Marmaluke.