"'Then disarm him, my men; but harm him not at your peril!' said the Circassian; and, after a desperate resistance, Garstoff was made a prisoner, Zara lay fainting in the arms of two stout mountaineers, and every Russian soldier bled to death. "'To the house with them!' said Nemyl, in his usual tones, leading the way with an air of triumph. "Garstoff soon found himself in the apartment where he had supped with the father of Zara, who now stood before him as his captor. "'You have repaid my hospitality with a vengeance,' said Nemyl. "'Beware how you abuse a Russian officer!' he answered, proudly. "'Remember, Christian, the truce expires to-morrow, and if I keep you a prisoner until then, you will be treated as a prisoner of war.' "'I know it.' "'You are now completely in my power; and there is but one feeling that withholds my sword from your heart. Do you know what feeling that is?' "'Fear!' "'No, Christian devil! Nemyl knows no such word! It is _gratitude_ for the preservation of my life towards my preserver. _You are free._ Depart in peace.' "'I honor the nobility of your sentiments,' answered Garstoff, filled with admiration of such magnanimity; 'yet I would willingly yield my life to preserve Zara from the fate you promise her.' "'Mention not her name. She deserves the bowstring, instead of the Sultan's embraces,' said Nemyl, sternly. "'Are you then so insensible to----' "'Will you give me five thousand doblas for her?' "'A hundred thousand, if I had them!' "'But you have them not?' "'Alas, no!' "'Then you cannot have Zara. Depart in peace.' "Garstoff looked frantically about him for a moment and then rushed from the apartment like one demented. "'My friends,' continued Nemyl, turning to the mountaineers, who stood behind him--'I wished you to aid me in recovering a lost treasure, and you drew your swords for me. My daughter is delivered from the Christian robber, and six of his soldiers are sent to Eblis. I gave the dog his life, because he saved mine, when it was nearly forfeited; but we shall soon meet in battle, and then let the Giaour beware! Depart in peace, my friends.' "As I have before stated, Zara fell into a swoon, immediately after the first appearance of her father, on the evening of her attempted flight, and was carried to her chamber, unconscious of how the affray resulted. For two days, she was kept a prisoner in her own apartment, seeing no one but the little mute. At the end of that period, her father made his appearance, while she slept, and rudely pulled her from the couch on which she lay. "'Holy Prophet, have mercy!' she exclaimed, in an agony of fear, imagining that he intended to slay her. "'Dress, and prepare to depart!' thundered Nemyl. 'We must be on the road before day-break.' "Trembling like an aspen, Zara suffered the attendant to array her, and then asked, with quivering lips-- "'Where do you intend to take me!'