But let us look back for a moment at the scene on the other side of the seraglio wall where we left the guard overcome by the boy.  The poor half witted child sat close beside the body, which was perfectly inanimate.  Now he looked up at the bright stars for an instant, now at the still features of the guardsman, and then at the spot where the slave had disappeared over the wall.  His movements were nervous and irregular, and he seemed to be trying to understand something or to make up his mind upon some thought that had stolen into his brain.

Suddenly he lifted his head, his eyes glowed like fire, and his chest heaved like a woman’s.—­He scanned the wall for an instant, then turning, retreated a few yards towards the centre of the grounds.  With a short start and a wild bound he was upon its top! another leap carried him to the ground, and with the speed of a horse he ran to the water’s edge, just in time for Komel to stretch out her hand and draw him on board the boat.  He who sat in the stern was muffled up, and his face could not be seen, but he started to his feet at what seemed to him to be an intrusion; but a sign from the Armenian put all to rights, and the boy coiled himself up like a piece of rope at the feet of the fair girl.

Time was precious to them now, and Selim seizing one oar, the Armenian pulled with another, while he in the stern steered the caique quietly beneath the shade of the shore for some distance, when her course was suddenly altered, and striking boldly across the harbor, it was soon lost among the shipping at anchor.

A little adroitness, with cool courage, will often put all calculations at fault, and thus had the plan for Komel’s release proved perfectly successful; thus had the Sultan been robbed of his favorite slave from out the very walls that encircled his palace grounds in spite of all his supposed security.  Though it was very plain that the whole affair came very near miscarrying at the time when the guard appeared, and would perhaps have done so had the fellow understood his duty and fired a shot at once, thus if not shooting those engaged in this depredation upon the Sultan’s household, at least giving an alarm that would probably have resulted in the arrest of all the parties concerned.  But thanks to the bravery and skill of the poor half-witted boy, all had gone safely through, and now Komel found herself seated with the beautiful Zillah in Selim’s cabin, safe from all harm.

“So,” said the Armenian, drawing a long breath after the unusual exertion he had just experienced, “all is safe thus far.  Now we must expedite matters for you to embark in your own craft at once, and in the mean time keep every thing close, especially the boy.  He seems so devoted to the girl that it would be too bad to part them, but if he should be seen by any one he will be remembered, and it may lead to detection at once.”

“That is true,” answered Selim; “but we have got all on board without being observed even by the anchor watch.”