"Your master Kaloret Khan?" cried Ina, still more terrified than before, at the sound of that name. "Yet he would never dare to rob a noble Uzden of his daughter. Release me, ruffian!" "My master fears not any chief of Atteghei," answered the man, fiercely. "I'll waste no more speech; so cease your cries, and come willingly. My noble master waits your coming." Ina shrieked with fear. "Oh, Allah, protect me!" she cried, as the savage endeavoured to drag her away. "Barbarian, release me, I pray you, let me go." "No, no, girl, your prayers are useless," answered the man. "Let my master hear them. On me, they are thrown away." "Haste, haste, Conrin," she cried, in Turkish; "fly to our home. Send messengers to Selem, to my father, and rouse the villagers." As the barbarian saw the page hastening to obey, he said to Ina: "Stay that boy, till we are out of sight. If he moves hence, I'll send an arrow through his breast." Conrin, who understood not his words--Ina being too terrified to interpret them--was hurrying from rock to rock, fearless of the peril which a single false step might cause, or of the cruel death which threatened him; when the barbarian prepared to put his threat into execution. For an instant, he loosened his hold of Ina, unslinging his bow from his back, and drawing a shaft to its head, with a hand which never missed its aim. In vain, Ina shrieked to Conrin to stop, and implored the monster to hold his hand. Neither of them heard her voice. The last moment of the poor boy's life seemed to have arrived, as the arrow flew from the string; but ere the hand which drew it reached the ear, it was struck by a violent blow, and the shaft wavering in its aim, flew high above the page's head. The fierce mountaineer, taking a second arrow, turned to his aggressor, when he found his arm held by a powerful and firm grasp. Ina shrieked with fear for her preserver's life--for in him she beheld the stranger Thaddeus--as the follower of the Khan attempted to seize his heavy spear, and to fell him to the ground. But the young Pole, grappling with him, prevented his raising it high enough to strike. Though Thaddeus was strong and active, his fierce opponent was heavier and more powerful. Releasing his arm with a sudden exertion, he sought his dagger in his girdle; but the Pole throwing himself upon him with his whole force, the two combatants fell to the ground. "Fear not for me, dearest Ina," cried he; "save yourself. Hasten down the cliffs, and fly homewards. I will hold this robber, until you are safe."