For a time she could only reply by incoherencies and with profuse thanks, for her mind was bewildered by terror and agitation. "Fear nothing, maiden," said I, "for a strong hand and a stout heart are at your service. I am Osman, whose people dwelt by the Kisselbash River; you have heard of me, perhaps?" "Yes, Aga----" "Alas! no Aga am I; but a poor outcast, whose sword and bow are his sole inheritance; yet you have heard of me?" "Yes, and of your two brothers, Selim and Karolyi, for to them and to you the people look as leaders when war is made on the Muscovites." "As soon it must be, maiden; and then I hope to see the ramparts of yonder fortress of Anapa flung into the Euxine. But may I ask your name?" "Basilia," she replied, in a low voice, and drew her veil yet closer. "Basilia, the daughter of Abdallah ibn Obba, the rich merchant of Soudjack Kaleh, who is said to be making pyramids of gold by trading with Tartars of the Crimea, and exporting from Sampsoon the copper of Tocat, and the silks and fruit of Amasia?" "I am the daughter of Abdallah, and, rich though he is, I assure you he is yet poor in his own idea; for neither the Prophet nor the santons can bound my father's idea of wealth; but convey me to him, and for the good deed of to-day, he will reward you, noble Osman, by the most gorgeous suit of armour, the richest weapons, and the noblest horse a Tcherkesse warrior ever possessed." "I seek no reward; let the horse and armour be given to some poor patriot who is without them; I seek no reward, Basilia," I continued, with enthusiasm, "beyond your own approbation and the memory that I have this day done a kind, and, it may be, a gallant deed, in rescuing you from the fate which those sons of the devil had in store for you; but how came you into their hands?" "We had gone on a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Santon Seozeres among the mountains, when we fell in with these marauders; my father's aged hands were unable to protect me; he was struck to the earth; his reverend beard was spat on, and his turban torn off and flung in his face, while I was dragged from the arms of my terrified attendants; but see, Osman Rioni, they are now approaching us, and behold my father." She uttered a cry of joy, and rushed to meet the old merchant Abdallah ibn Obba, who now came forward on horseback, with rage, alarm, and grief in his eyes, and his great turban awry. He corroborated her story, saying, that having a large ship, which had long been delayed on her voyage from Stamboul, he had paid a propitiatory visit to the tomb of Seozeres, the most famous and powerful of Circassian Santons, and the object of especial reverence by all merchants, seamen, and dwellers on the coast; for the waves and winds are reputed to be under his subjection, and the storm and the thunderbolt are alike at his disposal; thus we celebrate his festival in the early days of spring, and when on this mission had Abdallah and his daughter fallen among the Russians.