Under the skilful guidance of Aphiz and Selim, the raft was steered into the harbor, and was soon surrounded by a score of boats, offering their ready assistance to relieve their distresses, and a short time after saw them landed safely, all upon the long, projecting mole.

All the while Selim seemed thoughtful and absent, and looked about him with strange interest, at everything that met his gaze.  He even forgot to seek the side of Zillah, who, with Komel, was hurrying away to a conveyance up the mountain side.  Nor did he join them until sent for by Aphiz.

Let another chapter explain the mystery of this singular abstraction.

CHAPTER XV.

Happy conclusion.

The skies were yet blushing with departing day, and the evening shadows were quietly advancing over mountain top and sheltered valley, the dew was already touching the evening atmosphere with its fragrant mist, “Leaving on craggy hills and running streams, A softness like the atmosphere of dreams,” when those who had so providentially been saved from the wreck, wended their way to the door of Komel’s home.  Scarcely could the poor girl restrain her impatience, scarcely wait for a moment to have the glad tidings broken to those within, before she should throw herself into her parents’ arms.  O, the joy that burst like sunshine upon those sad, half broken hearts, while tears of happiness coursed like mountain rivulets down their furrowed cheeks.  Their dear, dear child was with them once more.  Komel was safe, and they were again happy.

“But who are these, my child?” asked the father of Komel, pointing to Selim and Zillah.

“To him am I indebted, jointly with Aphiz, for my deliverance from bondage,” she answered, taking Selim’s hand and leading him to her father.  “And this,” she continued, putting an arm about Zillah, “is a dear sister whom I have learned to love for her kindness and sweet disposition.  Both come to make our mountain side their future home.”

Nor was the poor half-witted boy forgotten, but he received a share of the kindly welcome, and seemed in his peculiar way to understand and appreciate it, keeping continually by Komel’s side.

An hour around the social board seemed to acquaint them all with the history of the past twelvemonth, and to reveal more than we might specify in many pages.  The cottage was full of grateful hearts and happy souls that night; and Aphiz learned that since Krometz had fallen in that fatal encounter, the deed of the abduction had been fully proved upon him, and that so earnest were the feelings of the mountaineers in relation to the justice of Aphiz’s conduct in that matter that he need fear no trouble concerning it.  Thus assured, he too joined the home circle of his parents.

Captain Selim, with his bride, made Komel’s house their home, but the young officer could not close his eyes to sleep.  He rose with fevered brow and paced the lawn before the cottage until morning.  Strange struggles seemed to be going on in his brain like a waking dream; he was striving to recall something in the dark vista of the past.