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 Latest Date stamped below. 
 
 University of Illinois Library 
 
 L161— H41
 
 THE 
 
 DARK FALCON. 
 
 A TALE OF THE ATTRUCK. 
 
 By J. B. FRASER, Esq. 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 THE KUZZILBASH," "ALLEE NEEMROO," &c. 
 
 IN FOUR VOLUMES. 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 
 
 1844. 
 
 ft
 
 London : 
 
 Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley, 
 Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
 
 A- 
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ^ A FEW words respecting the character and 
 
 object of the following work may prove neither 
 useless nor uninteresting to those who honour it 
 with a perusal. It relates to a period of much 
 interest in the modern history of Persia, when 
 that country was convulsed and made a theatre 
 of bloodshed, treachery, and crime, by the strug- 
 gle for the throne between the powerful families 
 of the Zend and the Kajar. The events and in- 
 .. cidents it narrates are all historically correct ; — 
 
 ^ the characters of the principal personages are 
 drawn not merely from written and historical 
 
 ^ authorities, but from the information of contem- 
 porary individuals who bore a part in the busy 
 
 ^ scenes that are described, and were connected by
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 blood or by service with the chief actors in them ; 
 and all the anecdotes of these personages have the 
 same authentic origin. 
 
 The struggles and domestic feuds of the noble 
 Kajar family, with many of the events which 
 these gave rise to, had long engaged the Author''s 
 attention as calculated to afford subjects of great 
 interest for a narrative, and particularly that 
 which forms the catastrophe of the present work. 
 All these, in so far as they fall within its scope, 
 are described with strict adherence to truth ; and 
 the circumstances connected with the arrest of the 
 fiery Mustapha Koolee, and the murder of the 
 gallant JaafFer Koolee Khan, were taken from 
 the mouths of living eye-witnesses, including old 
 Mustapha Koolee himself, who died only some 
 twenty years ago. 
 
 Of the story which serves to connect the histo- 
 rical and more important events of the work, the 
 Author has only to remark, that he has endea- 
 voured on this, as on all former occasions, to 
 make it a vehicle for conveying descriptions of a
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 country and of the character and habits of a 
 people which have at all times excited consider- 
 able interest in Europe ; and there are few tra- 
 vellers in the East who can have failed to witness 
 more or less of the gloomy superstitions, or to 
 hear some of the wild imaginative legends, which 
 afford the ground-work of the more mysterious 
 passages of the tale. 
 
 The Author's object, then, has been to present, 
 in a more attractive shape than that of a mere 
 narrative of rather repulsive facts, certain remark- 
 able events of Persian history ; conveying, at the 
 same time, to his readers as lively a picture as he 
 could of the characters and motives of the prin- 
 cipal actors, and of the manners, customs, and 
 feelings of the people. How he has succeeded in 
 his purpose his readers must determine. He is 
 aware that the interest once felt in Oriental tales 
 has of late become rather diminished — there is 
 perhaps somewhat of a sameness in their subjects 
 which may have palled upon the public appetite ; 
 and no doubt, literary, like other tastes, are liable
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 to change. Be that as it may, he is not likely to 
 tresspass again upon the public patience. Grate- 
 ful for, and contented with, the degree of indul- 
 gence he has already experienced on so many 
 occasions, he would take his leave and retire 
 before that kindly feeling may be quite worn 
 out ; well pleased if, more fortunate than the 
 celebrated Archbishop of Toledo, his last work 
 shall escape being pronounced by his readers to 
 " smell of the apoplexy.''''
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A WINTER PIECE. 
 
 A COLD and gusty day of February was draw- 
 ing near its close ; and the clouds which had 
 been driven fiercely over the face of heaven by 
 the breath of the tempest — like the scattered 
 squadrons of a beaten host, were abating of their 
 speed; and parting here and there to display 
 a glimpse of the blue vault above them, when 
 the inhabitants of the village of Serderreh, tempt- 
 ed by the transient gleam, came forth from 
 the dark, though warm habitations in which the 
 inclemency of the weather had confined them 
 during the morning, and repaired to an open 
 space without the gateway, where they could sit 
 and smoke, and converse together at their ease, 
 and speculate upon the weather, the times, and 
 other subjects of interest. 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 The village itself lay ensconced in a pictu- 
 resque hollow, in one of the magnificent passes 
 that lead from the low country of the province of 
 Asterabad, to the higher regions of IrMc ; and 
 just beyond the line, where the dense forests 
 that clothe the northern skirts of the Elburz 
 mountains are lost in high pastoral tracts, which 
 in their turn terminate in lofty peaks and ridges. 
 From many points in the ascent, the traveller's 
 eye might range over a vast extent of darkly 
 wooded mountains, rising beneath him in undu- 
 lating grandeur, and sinking into a plain, equally 
 well clothed with verdure, and scarcely distin- 
 guishable from the blue Caspian, which melted 
 into air on the far horizon. Above, rose the 
 huge barrier of the Elburz, cleft into innumera- 
 ble ridges by ravines of stupendous depth and 
 terrific wildness. 
 
 Each of these ravines was the bed of a stream 
 which was swelled by innumerable springs and 
 smaller rills from the enclosing mountains, until 
 rising high into their bosom, the main trunk was 
 lost in a multitude of branches. It was just above 
 the forks of one of these streams, and near the 
 head of a principal branch, that the village we 
 speak of lay nestled : its dwellings rising in ter-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 3 
 
 races upon a steep bank of rock and fertile soil ; 
 and the harmonious intermingling of its, houses 
 and orchards with the straggling cultivation which 
 covered the ground, both around and below the 
 village walls, formed a picture of natural beauty 
 that could not be surpassed. The opposite bank, 
 precipitous and rough, and glittering with many 
 rills of living water, was sprinkled with brush- 
 wood and rocks ; and rose high into a group of 
 fantastic peaks, one of which towered above the 
 rest, and was seldom seen without a wreath of 
 vapour curling round its brow. 
 
 On the whole, it was a pleasant and secluded 
 spot ; shut out, one might have imagined, from 
 the world and its bustle — responsive to no sounds 
 but the ceaseless murmur of the waters, and the 
 mysterious voice of the surrounding mountains. 
 But such was far from being the case ; for the 
 ravine was the channel of a pass by which a 
 great traffic was carried on between the upper 
 and lower country ; and the village of Serderreh 
 being a principal halting-place for the muleteers 
 who carried it on, it was pretty generally filled 
 with members of that rude, though useful fra- 
 ternity; and the tinkling of mule-bells, the 
 shouts of their drivers, their loud abuse, and
 
 4 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 vehement altercations with the inhabitants, were 
 ever mingling in strange discord with the me^ 
 lodious and more congenial music of the place. 
 
 At the time in question, the scene though 
 invested perhaps with more of grandeur, was 
 stripped by the unpropitious season of much of its 
 natural beauty ; for the orchard trees and bushes 
 were leafless, and the snow which completely 
 covered the heights, descended in long streaks 
 and wreaths on their sides, while that which had 
 newly fallen, had left its powdery film on ridge 
 and hollow, down to within a few hundred feet of 
 the village. Yet, nevertheless, its inhabitants, 
 as we have said, hailing the gleam which had just 
 broke through the leaden clouds, had crawled 
 forth from their lairs, and wrapped in their 
 j)oosteens, or long sheepskin cloaks, took their 
 seats on the accustomed terraces of clay, or on 
 the dry ground beside the gateway. There at 
 their ease, the elders passed the calleeoons to 
 one another, and the young men spun their ropes 
 of hair, while all talked together with the 
 eagerness and vivacity so universal among their 
 countrymen. 
 
 While thus employed, a lad who had been 
 posted on a height to watch the cattle and pre-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. O 
 
 vent them from straying, came hastily down and 
 informed the ketkhodah, or head man, that he 
 had seen from his post a party of horsemen 
 making their way up the glen toward the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 " Good,'" replied the ketkhodah ; " a caravan 
 no doubt ; Kara EussufF is expected from Aster- 
 abad, with a hundred mules and yaboos, loaded 
 with skins of butter, and bags of corn. — He will 
 be welcome." 
 
 " This is no caravan," said the lad; " there are 
 not above a dozen persons, and all of them are 
 mounted. They get too fast over the ground 
 for a caravan." 
 
 " Then who can they be, in Allah's name ? — 
 how far may they be off?" said the ketkhodah. 
 
 " Scarce a quarter of a fursuck," replied the 
 lad ; "but who they may be, God knows." 
 
 '* It is some of these Kajars, no doubt,"" said 
 an old man with a bushy red-dyed beard, " they 
 are always on the move. Who but they could 
 be mounting the pass at this time, seeing it is no 
 
 caravan 
 
 " Had we not better shut the gate, Baba 
 Allee, till we know who they are ?" 
 
 " Patience comrade, till we hear something
 
 6 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 more ; no good in provoking these fiery fellows 
 by shewing them shut gates. If there are but a 
 dozen of them, we can deal with them by fair 
 means or foul ; please God they prove of the 
 right sort." 
 
 " Ay, Allah keep us from rebels ! they take, 
 and pay not even with thanks ; whatever they 
 touch is burnt. As for our chief and his friends, 
 God send him success ! He is the Ryot's protector; 
 whatever is taken for him goes by account, 
 and we may look for some allowance at reckoning 
 day." 
 
 " Right, Baba ; what care these ghorumsangs 
 but for their own profit and pleasure ; nothing 
 will they want, when might can seize what they 
 require. All is gain to them, for we are as dirt 
 under their feet ; now the Khan, may his shadow 
 increase ! regards us as his children ; if they are 
 ruined, he knows the loss is his own in the end ; 
 for where is he to get money and food, but from 
 us.^ Would to Allah, his success were complete ! 
 for then we should have peace and rest." 
 
 " Ahi friend ! that time is far off yet, I fear ; 
 for this Mustapha Koolee Khan, who is now 
 setting the country in a blaze, is neither ass nor 
 coward ; but a stiff-necked mule who can kick
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 7 
 
 hard; a very Roostum for fighting; and there are 
 many -who have placed their hands upon his 
 skirts, and account a stout handed soldier better 
 suited to rule Iram, than one like our Aga, whose 
 misfortune, according to their account, unfits 
 him for reigning at all. By your own lives, 
 agas, this man divides the Kajars with his high- 
 ness, ay, and much of the country ; depend upon 
 it, the game will not be played out so soon." 
 
 " W3II, that may be, Baba ; but those who 
 follow Mustapha Koolee reckon by a false ac- 
 count. Brave he is, and stout, — ay, and a 
 liberal chief, how else should he have won so 
 many hearts and hands from our Aga ? But 
 little do they know Aga Mahomed Khan ; after 
 all, he is the true prince, the wise, the prudent, 
 the trustworthy ; his head will beat the other's 
 sword out of the field yet, stick to him who 
 may ; it cannot be otherwise. And then remem- 
 ber the treachery of Mustapha ; think of his 
 taking service with these Zeuds — the savages, 
 against his own tribe, against his elder brother. 
 Allah-il-Allah ! — is that to be forgiven ? Rest 
 assured that will come up against him in the 
 end ; and he will be abandoned and betrayed 
 himself, — ay, and Moorteza also, for he took
 
 8 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the same part, — both were traitors. But would 
 to Allah, as you say, that the game were at an 
 end ! for what has Muzunderan and Asterabad 
 been since it began, but a hell ? " 
 
 "Ay, comrades, the mushedee has said the 
 truth ; traitors they are, and with traitors they 
 consort — like to like. A wonderful villain that 
 JaafFer Khan Zeud. But here comes Allee 
 Cootchick. "Well, Batchah, what news? — 
 what have these sharp eyes of yours made out ?" 
 
 " I would represent, Aga, that the matter is 
 as I stated. Just as I came down I saw the 
 horsemen appearing from the bushes at the turn 
 below. There are twelve of them, all armed 
 too, for I saw the gleam of a sword, or a spear ; 
 and there are two yeduks* besides. They will 
 be here immediately, for they rode fast, as men 
 in haste." , 
 
 " And could you make out no more ? " 
 
 " Nothing, Aga, except that they wear the 
 Kajar cap instead of the turban, or Toorkoman 
 head-gear." 
 
 "Ay, Kajars they are, no doubt; we may as 
 well prepare for the worst, too ; yet they can 
 hardly be going to Bostam, or even to Damghan, 
 * Led horses.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. \) 
 
 by this road at such a time ; but after all, who 
 can tell the tricks of such rogues. See Batchah, 
 look to the cattle and sheep, keep all on the hill- 
 face behind yonder ; and take the mare and her 
 foal to the hollow among the bushes. Let the 
 w^omen have an eye to the corn ambaras,* and 
 valuables, and let everything be made snug be- 
 fore they turn the comer." 
 
 Practice makes perfect. The villagers in these 
 quarters were accustomed to such alertes, so that 
 this affair was taken easily ; many of the young 
 men departed in haste different ways, and there 
 were a few minutes of rapid, but not noisy bustle. 
 A like activity prevailed for a while within the 
 dwellings , but the old men remained in their 
 places, quietly smoking their pipes, and by the 
 time the strangers had turned the last corner in 
 sight of the village, and were seen rapidly ap- 
 proaching the gateway, the whole , arrangements 
 were complete, and the place and all belonging 
 to it wore the aspect of perfect security. 
 
 The travellers, twelve in number, as the boy 
 had reported, were headed by a leader of striking 
 mien. Above the common height, his frame, 
 though shrouded in the thick folds of an Affghan 
 
 * Stores. 
 
 B 5
 
 10 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 poosteen, was obviously powerful and muscular, 
 and his features, fully displayed beneath the 
 black lambskin cap, bore the well known cha- 
 racteristics of the noble Kajar tribe. Eyes of 
 the deepest hazel beamed forth with bold intel- 
 ligence from under their dark and arched brows, 
 and a nose of the finest proportions rose above 
 lips half hid in the full black beard that clothed 
 the lower portion of his oval countenance. Con- 
 stant exposure to the winds and storms of heaven 
 had deepened the ruddy brown of a once clear 
 complexion, and fun-owed the cheeks with some 
 stronger lines than properly belonged to their 
 years ; for the firm clastic port gave no token 
 of age; and spite of the lofty bearing, and a shade 
 of thought which would sometimes cross the 
 noble brow, the general expression of the coun- 
 tenance bespoke a frank and kindly nature, and 
 beamed with a joyous and unsuspicious goodwill, 
 that belonged rather to the fresh enthusiasm of 
 early youth, than the sober and cautious self- 
 command which marks the man of forty winters. 
 
 This personage bestrode a powerful courser, 
 from whose silver-mounted saddle-bow depended 
 holsters of crimson velvet, and the point of a 
 black-sheathed and steel-mounted scymitar might
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 11 
 
 be seen hanging beneath the skirt of his sheep- 
 skin cloak. The rest of the party, obviously his 
 attendants, were more heavily armed ; each, in 
 addition to the sword at his waist, carrying a 
 matchlock and shield at his back ; and all were 
 well mounted on powerful horses, or strong built 
 serviceable yaboos. 
 
 As the leader, on mounting the last terrace, 
 pushed his horse more swiftly towards the gate- 
 way, the men who on his approach had risen 
 from their seats, advanced, and making a low 
 obeisance, gave him the welcome in Turkish ; 
 and the ketkhodah in particular moving forward 
 with alacrity took hold of his stirrup, and ad- 
 dressing him in warm and respectful terms, stood 
 ready to assist him in alighting. 
 
 "Ahah! Baba Alice, art thou there?'' said 
 the traveller; "How goes it?— art well, old 
 man ? " 
 
 " May your favour never diminish ! may your 
 prosperity increase ! we live under your highness' 
 shadow, you have brought light to our eyes ; be 
 pleased to alight, a munzil shall be ready ere vou 
 shall have smoked a calleeoon." 
 
 " Ah, no — no Baba, that cannot be just now; 
 we have a long way before us, and little time to
 
 12 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 go it in ; we can but give our beasts a mouthful 
 of corn and then push on." 
 
 *' AstafFerullah ! " replied the ketkhodah ; 
 " push on to night — and in such weather ? — it 
 is impossible — it cannot be. Bismillah ! set foot 
 to ground, Khan, and be pleased to walk in." 
 
 " No, no, old man, it cannot be. I tell you 
 that to stop is impossible, and all we shall want 
 here is a guide. Here, Alice Beg ! Mustapha ! 
 Jan Koolee ! dismount and rub your horses 
 down ; give them their nose-bags ; put a few 
 handfuls of corn on the straw ; old Baba Allee 
 there will furnish it, — but what was that you 
 said of the weather, old man ? won't it hold up ? 
 how is it in the pass think you ?" 
 
 '' It has been bad enough here, and must have 
 been far worse above, Aga ; we have had storm 
 all last night, and a heavy fall of snow, — see, all 
 is white, almost down to the walls. There has 
 been much drift, too, for the wind was high ; no 
 doubt the road is blocked up." 
 
 " Well, if it is so, we must force it, for get 
 through I must ; you have capital guides here, 
 and I must have the best of them, and then, 
 JahuUah!" 
 
 " Ahi Aga ! what can the best of guides do in
 
 THE DARK FALCON. lo 
 
 ten gez deep of snow ? See how it drifts from 
 yon ridge ; and tlie storm is rising again ; there 
 will be another fall before an hour passes. The 
 booraun * is in the mountains already, Aga. 
 Allah-il-Allah ! you would be overwhelmed be- 
 fore you went a fursuck.'" 
 
 '' Be it so, if it must be — we can but try. 
 Who are the last that came the road ?"" 
 
 *' No one has reached us from the other side 
 these three days, Aga ; but four hours ago, a 
 small caravan started from hence, to try the pass, 
 and they carried with them our two best guides ; 
 but they can never get on. They will leave 
 their loads, and return, no doubt, or take shelter 
 under the rocks — we look for them, indeed, every 
 moment." 
 
 " Ah ! if muleteers with loaded beasts, could 
 think of it, shame on us if we can't make it 
 fullv out — we shall have their track, too, to help 
 us on ; come old friend, bestir yourself, let us 
 have the guide, and then ' Khodah hafiz."* " 
 
 "My lord, be persuaded; by your own au- 
 gust head ! the thing is impossible — not one guide 
 have we here who would attempt the Cotliul 
 
 ■* A fierce drifting wind that often drives the snow in 
 heaps on the mountains when all is calm below.
 
 14 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 now; wait but an hour, and you will see the 
 muleteers back, if — which Allah forbid ! — they be 
 not already buried. See only how it blows 
 yonder. Their track ! what track could remain 
 for a moment with such a drift as that ?" 
 
 " Well, it does blow hard; but I must never- 
 theless push on ; it is a case of necessity, not 
 of choice — my business will brook no delay, so 
 do you set about yours, old man. Open your 
 eyes, summon the guide, and let us be going. I 
 know something of the road myself; so does 
 Jan Koolee ; but this snow may puzzle us both : 
 so no more loitering ; and hark you, no more 
 excuses, the thing must be. See, our horses have 
 eaten up their mouthfuls already." 
 
 " It is well, my lord, I have not a word more. 
 On your own head be it — Baba Alice is blame- 
 less. Heif! lieif! alas, alas! as for a guide, 
 Wullabillah, I know not, all our best are ab- 
 sent. If, indeed, you could overtake the Cafilah !" 
 
 " We shall overtake it, man. But by my 
 soul, it does look villanously," added he, cast- 
 ing a glance upwards at the hills which again be- 
 gan to be obscured by fast driving clouds, from 
 which the roar of the wind could be heard in 
 heavy gusts, and the snow was bolted forth, as
 
 TPIE DARK FALCON. 15 
 
 by the breath of a tornado. " Well, we must 
 prepare for it. Here, Jan Koolee, and you, 
 Mustapha, your horses are fresh. Allee Beg, do 
 you take the brown yaboo ; he is as strong as an 
 elephant — ^leave all loads and stuff behind, I will 
 mount the dark bay myself; we four will try it, 
 and push through, no doubt. The rest will re- 
 main here for the night, and come on at daylight, 
 when the horses shall be fresh. Some caravan 
 will surely be up by that time. So a calleeoon, 
 Baba Allee, and we are off."" 
 
 The attendants called upon were too well 
 accustomed to obedience to dispute their master's 
 orders, and though fully awake to the desperate 
 nature of the service they were about to at- 
 tempt, now set to work in earnest to complete 
 the needful preparations ; and, after some mi- 
 nutes of rapid bustle, announced themselves as 
 ready. " Good," said their master, " but where is 
 the guide ?" 
 
 After a further short delay, which caused much 
 impatience in the traveller — as daylight was fast 
 waning, a young man was dragged forward like 
 a culprit to punishment, bitterly remonstrating 
 against the whole proceeding, and protesting with 
 a hundred oaths that they were forcing him and
 
 16 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 themselves to certain destruction — nay, to death 
 itself. But finding all in vain, he sat down sulkily, 
 tied up his feet in many folds of woollen rags, filled 
 his coarse buckskins with hay before stuffing in his 
 feet — drew tight the girdle round his loins, threw 
 another cloak over his shoulders ; and taking 
 in his hand a stout pole, without further cere- 
 mony moved forward up the hill, muttering as 
 he went, to relieve his mind of the displeasure 
 he dared not express more explicitly. 
 
 The leader himself had not neglected his pre- 
 paratives ; for he also gathered his garments more 
 closely about his person, pressed his cap more 
 firmly on his head, tied a handkerchief round his 
 neck, and having fixed himself firmly in his sad- 
 dle, with the skirts of his sheepskin well tucked 
 in about his limbs, he threw a kind word or 
 two at parting to his host, who mingled his 
 blessings and farewells with many upbraidings 
 for his imprudence, and pushed on after the 
 guide, followed by his three chosen associates, 
 who all looked as if they would fain have re- 
 mained at the village, and threw many a wistful 
 glance at the cheerful blazes which now began 
 to be visible from every open door. But it was 
 in vain ; so they too girthed cloaks and jubbas
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 17 
 
 round them, tied up heads and faces from the 
 bitter blast, and striking their heels into their 
 horses' sides were soon at their masters back. 
 
 For some small space, the path, winding up 
 the steep bosom of the hollow, derived some 
 shelter from the orchards and inclosures of the 
 village ; and even after these were passed, as it 
 crossed the gravelly scaurs, and among the scat- 
 tered rocks and bushes that sprinkled the ac- 
 clivity, the rising shoulder of a projecting height 
 still continued to afford them some protection ; 
 but on crossing this point the travellers found 
 themselves at once exposed, upon the bleak 
 mountain side, to the unmitigated force of a 
 fierce wind that was now bringing the snow flakes 
 and drift fast in their faces. The ground beneath 
 their feet was covered with that which had 
 already fallen, and its depth increased at every 
 step, while all trace of a path was quite oblite- 
 rated. The guide, however, still held forward 
 without wavering ; and thus did the party proceed 
 in silence, each occupied in securing himself 
 against the gusts which threatened to hurl horse 
 and man over the precipice : until after an hour's 
 continual struggle with the increasing diflficulties 
 of the way, they succeeded in reaching a loftier
 
 18 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 hollow which lay before them as far as their eyes 
 could reach, in one unbroken waste of snow. 
 But night had now set in, and even the nearest 
 heights could scarcely be discerned through the 
 deepening gloom, increased as it was by the snow- 
 drift that filled the air. 
 
 The horses harassed by the buffeting wind, 
 and the depth of the snow, began already to shew 
 tokens of distress, and the guide to betray symp- 
 toms of uncertainty and uneasiness, which com- 
 municated themselves to some at least of the 
 attendants as, on crowning the difficult ascent, 
 this cheerless prospect greeted their view. The 
 guide, indeed, appeared more than half inclined 
 to come to a stand ; but the leader, in a cheerful 
 though decided tone, demanding What the 
 matter was ? and shouting out " Onwards ! 
 onwards ! or we shall get benighted," he con- 
 tinued his way, floundering through the deep 
 unbroken snow, sounding for the path with his 
 staff, and often sinking into unseen hollows, 
 while the horses equally perplexed, stumbled and 
 started, and plunged along, in a manner that 
 made their progress every moment more slow and 
 uncertain. 
 
 At this point of the way the ears of the party
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 19 
 
 were greeted by the sound of mule-bells ; and, in 
 due time, emerging from the dim grey obscurity, 
 advanced a string of mules, some being bestridden 
 by riders, while others had their pack-saddles 
 empty, the muleteers running on foot behind 
 them. 
 
 " Alhumdulillah ! Praise be to God ! this 
 is fortunate," exclaimed the guide ; " it is an 
 escape from death ! we can now return in safety 
 along with these Chcrwadars whom Allah has sent 
 to our assistance ; these empty mules will clear 
 the way for us bravely. In the name of God, 
 Aga, let them pass, and turn with them. Allah 
 will not suffer us to advance. See he has shut 
 up the way in front, and opened it for us to 
 retire. Bismillah ! " 
 
 *'Art thou a fool?" demanded the leader, 
 sternly ; " dost thou imagine I have come thus 
 far to be scared back by the folly of a coward ? 
 As we have come, so shall we proceed ; so on 
 with you ghorumsang — bismillah ! " 
 
 " Allah ! Allah ! it is impossible ! Look, 
 Aga, look at that sky, — look at this snow, — 
 listen to that bouran which drifts it into mountains, 
 — see these men who have tried it and failed, — 
 men that have been at this work since their
 
 20 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 childhood, and how can we hope to mahe it out ? 
 at night too! — kedmut ! Ahi, comrade," cried 
 he to one of the approaching muleteers, " how is 
 the road ? where are you bound ? '' 
 
 " The road is closed — there is no road — no 
 passing this night, and we are returning to the 
 village : better that than lose life and goods in 
 the snow." 
 
 " Hear ye that, Aga? In the name of Allah, 
 listen to reason ! These men are no cowards in 
 the snow, — no, by your own soul ! but they 
 know better than to face it in such a night as this. 
 Be satisfied : for the sake of the blessed Imaum 
 Reza, return with them ; and try the road with 
 fresh cattle, and plenty of them, to-morrow." 
 
 " Be silent, beast ; I want your guidance, not 
 your counsel. The track of these men is as open 
 for us to advance by as it would be for retreat ; 
 and retreat, as thou wilt find, is not much in my 
 way ; push on, ere it be again closed up by this 
 wind." 
 
 " Closed ? Ai Aga ! it is closed already ; 
 see how the snow runs along the ground filling 
 every hollow! Ai Vahi ! Ai Vahi! it is ten 
 gez deep in the Dehineh, and who could stand on 
 the heights to-night.'*"
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 21 
 
 "Ay, it will be deep enougli if we linger 
 thus. Hoh, brothers ! where left ye your loads ? 
 is there any one along with them P"" 
 
 '' Ay, ay ! they all lie half a fursuck on from 
 hence — under the rocks by the katerjee's stone — 
 three of our men are with them." 
 
 " It is well ; we shall find them, Inshallah ! " 
 And the muleteers having swept by with their 
 beasts, the chief waving the guide with a threaten- 
 ing and impatient glance to move on, the party 
 struck into the track of the mules, and proceeded 
 as rapidly as the obstacles in their way would 
 permit. Their speed, however, which of necessity 
 was small from the first, soon diminished ; for, as 
 the guide had foretold, the track became totally 
 obliterated by the torrent of drift which poured 
 along the surface, before the furious gusts that 
 swept the lonely valley ; and even where a ves- 
 tige remained, it served rather to perplex than 
 to aid the travellers ; for the feet of their horses 
 would frequently sink so deep into the holes 
 made by those who had preceded them, that 
 the riders had to dismount before the animals 
 could be extricated. The wind too continued 
 to buffet them unceasingly, and men and horses 
 already fatigued, became still more exhausted by
 
 22 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the painful work. Even the Khan's powerful 
 Toorkoman shewed symptoms of distress. 
 
 Upwards of an hour had been spent in these 
 struggles, and yet the party had neither cleared 
 the valley nor reached the katerjee's stone. At 
 length one of the horses, deviating from the 
 pathway, sunk with his rider quite out of sight 
 in the snow. This brought the rest to a stand 
 still. With infinite difficulty, by clearing away 
 above, the fallen rider having fortunately con- 
 trived to extricate himself from his horse and 
 raise himself upon its back, he was dragged by 
 his companions from his unpleasant predicament. 
 But to raise the horse was found beyond their 
 power. The animal had unhappily sunk into a 
 hollow filled either with melted snow, or with 
 the water from some spring; and was too much 
 spent, to aid by its own exertions the efforts of 
 those who attempted to raise it. They were thus 
 forced to abandon it to its fate, while the dis- 
 mounted rider, weary as he was, had to follow the 
 party on foot. 
 
 This accident struck a damp on the rest, and 
 they were almost in despair, when the leader, 
 breaking the moody silence he had for some time 
 maintained, exclaimed, " A light ! by my father's 
 soul, a light !"
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 23 
 
 Alhumdulillali ! " responded the guide; ''it 
 must be in the cavern. It is, no doubt, the 
 watchmen of the loads left by the katerjees. In 
 the name of Allah, let us join them ! we shall 
 find fire and food with them, at all events/** 
 And, exhilarated by the hope of even a tempo- 
 rary relief from suffering, every man mustered 
 his failing strength and pressed forwards, while 
 even the horses appeared to have caught some 
 fresh spirit and exerted themselves anew ; so 
 that, after another hard struggle, the whole party 
 reached the spot where the light still beamed 
 forth with welcome lustre. 
 
 At the termination of the plain or valley 
 through which they had, at length, won their 
 way, the summits of the mountains again closed 
 in upon the narrow ravine, and there rose, from 
 the bank of the little rill that trickled through it, 
 a huge mass of rock projected from the mountain, 
 which, beetling over its base, overhung a confined 
 strip of ground, which was thus kept clear of 
 snow ; and though the howling blast might bring 
 with it abundance of drift, — so thick, indeed, 
 as to hide from view the superincumbent height, 
 — it rested not within, being swept out ere it fell 
 by the strong eddy wind which gambolled round
 
 24 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the interior of the cavern. On this half-sheltered 
 space were heaped a number of bales and pack- 
 ages, disposed in such a manner as to form a 
 screen from the tempest, while others strewed the 
 ground beyond and were half covered with snow. 
 Within the space thus defended there blazed a 
 fire, the light from which had cheered the tra- 
 vellers, and round it sat four men wrapped in 
 cloaks of sheepskin. 
 
 The noise of the wind prevented those in the 
 cavern from hearing the approach of the travellers 
 until they were close at hand, when the muleteers 
 rose abruptly, and, seizing their arms, demanded 
 loudly who they were and what they sought ; 
 nor was it till after the guide had been duly 
 recognized, and his assurance that they were 
 peaceable and benighted travellers reiterated, that 
 the sturdy guardians of the goods would permit 
 them to approach. Being satisfied, however, they 
 at once made room by the fire ; when the com- 
 manding figure of the leader, as he advanced and 
 stood forth in its light, produced a powerful im- 
 pression, and a sensible increase of courtesy and 
 ready service. Food was offered, but the saddle- 
 bags of the attendants furnished a sufficiency to 
 stop the cravings of appetite, which was all that
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 25 
 
 tte chief, at least, appeared to require, for scarce 
 had he warmed his limbs and swallowed a few 
 mouthfuls of victuals, when he began to inquire 
 into the nature and state of the road, and the dis- 
 tance there might be to the first village on the 
 other side the Cothul, naming it. 
 
 The men, in reply to his questions, mentioned 
 the distance, and described the nature of the road 
 as in common times, but added, that any attempt 
 to reach the village, after so heavy and fresh a fall 
 of snow, must for the present prove fruitless, as 
 the combined efforts of a large caravan would now 
 be requisite to force the way through the wreaths 
 of drift which must everywhere block up the 
 valleys. 
 
 " Ay, my men," said the leader, " you talk 
 now of loaded cattle ; but stout fellows such as 
 you, if well paid for it, and the matter were of 
 moment, would easily make your way where a 
 caravan would stick fast. — Hah ?" 
 
 " Money might make us do much, Aga," re- 
 plied one of the men, " and necessity still more ; 
 but neither the one nor the other, nor both to- 
 gether, would carry a man safe over the Gurdun- 
 e-Ghaur-e-Chuppun to-night. By the head of 
 the Prophet ! there are two spears'* depth of snow 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 26 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 in the pass now, and it is still drifting and 
 falling/' 
 
 " Nevertheless, I must attempt it, friend, and 
 that without more delay ; for cross the mountain 
 I must before morning ; and here are ten tomauns 
 in gold for the man who helps me through the 
 pass. Come, Bismillah ! who is for the cash ?" 
 
 The men were silent, as they gazed upon the 
 speaker, and then looked at each other : and the 
 chief's followers, with faces all aghast, could not 
 suppress their groans and exclamations of alarm. 
 After the pause of a minute, the elder of the 
 muleteers took up the discourse, and said, " Aga, 
 you are no doubt a rich and powerful man, and 
 have your reasons for so much anxiety to perform 
 an impossibility ; we are poor fellows, who fain 
 would earn a baksheesh, such as you have 
 offered ; but by your own august head, there is 
 not one of us, who would venture to provoke the 
 wrath of Allah, by attempting to cross the Shah- 
 koh in such a night of judgement as this. In an 
 evil hour did you leave the village, Aga, but your 
 star has been powerful in bringing you, even to this 
 poor shelter. — Tempt your destiny no further; 
 remain with us till morning, and then, please God, 
 we shall see what may be done."
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 21 
 
 " Well, friend," returned the ctief, '' no doubt 
 you mean well, but your good-will alone can do 
 me little service. Proceed I must; and you may 
 judge of the necessity of the case, from seeing me 
 resolved, even in such weather, to attempt the 
 thing myself, if I can get no one else to shew me 
 the way — Hoh Batchahs ! you that can, follow; 
 those who cannot, remain here, and come on 
 with the cafilah." 
 
 "In the name of God, my lord!" said the 
 man whom the chief had addressed as Allee Beg, 
 "consider for a moment what you are about to 
 do. No doubt of the urgency of your business — 
 no doubt we must press forwards; but should 
 life be lost in the attempt, what profit could 
 then be ? The evil caused by a little delay 
 may be repaired, but what could compensate 
 for ^our loss ? 
 
 " Pshah, Allee Beg, are you also turned 
 coward ? What should I be worth, were I always 
 to calculate chances so nicely ? But stay, if you 
 fear to go on ; stay with the rest ; the guide and 
 I will make it out ourselves." 
 
 "May God forbid, Aga!" replied Allee Beg 
 calmly, taking up the arms which he had cast 
 aside on approaching the fire. " I am ready in 
 
 c 2
 
 ^8 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 your service, ready for what it may please Allah 
 to send — Bismillah ! " 
 
 '' Afereen ! that is more like thee, man; then 
 come with us. Hoh you guide ! get on before — 
 do you hear?" and the chief beckoned for his 
 horse, which was held by another of his atten- 
 dants. 
 
 " Ahi, God forbid ! Amaun, Amaun ! though 
 the Aga be mad, I am not — none but a madman 
 would dream of such a thing. Cut me in pieces, 
 Aga, if you will, but your guide this night I 
 cannot and will not be. I am neither jin nor 
 deeve to flit about in such weather, among the 
 storms and snows of the Shah-koh, Wullah !" 
 
 " Hah, ghorumsang ! do you rebel ? Hoh 
 there Jan Koolee, seize and place him in front — 
 prick him with your spears if he move not. 
 By the soul of my father, go he shall !" — but on 
 the attempt being made, the man threw himself 
 on the ground, grovelling and roaring like a 
 ^righted bull; while the chief, divided between 
 indignation and laughter, now abused the miser- 
 able man, and now re-iterated his orders to 
 force him forwards. The muleteers, to whom he 
 was well known, rose one and all, to remonstrate, 
 and appeared strongly inclined to more active in-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 29 
 
 terference, when a young man, the fourth of 
 their party, who though he had taken no part in 
 the conversation, had continued unceasingly to 
 gaze upon the chief, started from his seat, and 
 stepping between the guide and his tormenter, 
 exclaimed, " Let him alone, by your souls, — a 
 dog can be but a dog, you will never make him a 
 lion ; if the Aga be resolved to go, Bismillah ! 
 here am I ready to attend and guide him; the road 
 is dangerous, the storm is fierce, and we may die ; 
 but he shall not die alone, nor shall he want a 
 guide." 
 
 The tone, not less than the appearance of the 
 young man, as he stood forth with free un- 
 daunted air, in striking contrast to the grovelling 
 creature at his foot, arrested the chiefs atten- 
 tion ; and he was about to express his admira- 
 tion, and to inquire who he might be, when 
 the old muleteer interfered, exclaiming, " Ahi, 
 Batchah ! what news is this ? — hast thou gone 
 mad also ? When men like us refuse to put 
 a finger to the job, is it for thee, a beardless boy, 
 to think of undertaking it ? money must be 
 scarcer with thee than brains, it seems. What 
 dirt is this thou woukFst eat, hah ?''' 
 
 " And who art thou, fellow, who dares to in-
 
 30 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 terfere with the youth ?" demanded the chief, 
 with stern voice and darkening brow. *' If thou 
 art coward, must thou seek to turn his blood to 
 water also ? Be silent — thou hadst best — ''"' 
 " Afereen youth ! thou art a bold one, and I 
 like thee well ; thou shalt not have cause to 
 repent thine offer. Allah ever protects the brave ; 
 and we shall both of us live, please God, to 
 help thee to better work than muleteering. But, 
 come ; if thou art ready, let us lose no more 
 time — Bismillah I"" 
 
 Without another word, the young man began 
 his preparations. Girding around him, and tuck- 
 ing up the skirts of the Toorkoman jubba which 
 he wore, and tying his broad-topped sheepskin 
 cap with a handkerchief fast upon his head, and 
 drawing tighter the thongs of his leathern sandals, 
 he grasped a long stout club, and stood ready to 
 set forth. The Khan looked at him for a mo- 
 ment by the flickering blaze of the fire ; he could 
 perceive, even through his loose wrappings, that 
 the figure of the youth, though tall and slender, 
 was active, as it seemed, and vigorous ; and there 
 was somewdiat in his voice and mien, even by that 
 imperfect light, which strongly prepossessed the 
 chief in his favour.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 31 
 
 *' Aga,"" said the muleteer, as the young man 
 was stepping forward to take the lead, " thou 
 hast been displeased with thy servant ; yet, by 
 thine own soul, he desired but to serve thee. 
 We are old travellers, well experienced in these 
 mountains ; we know the danger which thou art 
 about to encounter, and would fain have pre- 
 vented thee from almost certain fate. But what 
 is written must come to pass ; in the name of 
 Allah, proceed — thou takest with thee our best 
 assistant, and the ablest and most active guide 
 between Jahjerm and Demawund. But the 
 storm is high and the snow deep, and only He who 
 sends it can guide thee in safety through it. In 
 the name of Allah, Karatoghaur, go on I it is 
 thine own act, and thy blood be on thy head !" 
 
 " So be it," replied the youth ; " but, a word 
 with thee, Mahomed f' and, after a few moment's 
 earnest conversation with the muleteer, the young 
 man turned to the chief, and said, " Aga, I am 
 thy servant, and ready to do thy bidding ; but, 
 before leaving this place, I would respectfully 
 represent that these men are undoubtedly in the 
 right in what they say. The attempt we are 
 to make is one of great hazard ; and, spite of 
 thy servant's best efforts, we may fail."
 
 o2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " For that I am prepared, youth ; let that suf- 
 fice," replied the chief, with some impatience. 
 
 " It is well, Aga. It remains then, to take 
 the best precautions in our power, and leave 
 the rest to Allah ; and now, let thy servant 
 explain the way in which he proposes to proceed. 
 The proper road winds along in that ravine 
 which opens before us, and would lead us gra- 
 dually, and without much toil, to the top of the 
 Geddook ; but it is now impracticable, for the 
 Aga will soon see that the snow in the hollow 
 is more than thirty gez deep. The only way left 
 is, to take the sides and tops of the mountains, 
 where the wind blows strong and the snow can- 
 not lie. Along these we must make our way ; 
 hard work it will be, no doubt, in the teeth of 
 such a blast, and there are some fearful spots. 
 But what of that ? the Aga requires it ; and for 
 the rest, what is written, must be — "" 
 
 " Afereen, Batchah ! well said, let us then de- 
 part. It will not be the first mountain-side I 
 have climbed by night, though by the soul of 
 my father, it is not just the weather or the time 
 to choose ; but on, on in the name of Allah.'' 
 
 " If the karatoghaur goes with the Aga, I will 
 go too," said the village guide, who had been
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 33 
 
 watching all that passed with a somewhat sul- 
 len aspect; *'dog or lion, I will not see him 
 take the hill on such a service, and leave him in 
 the lurch ;" and he too, once more, arranged 
 his cloak and tightened his girdle, and stood forth 
 with the other. 
 
 " Hah, Barikillah ! this sounds better !" said 
 the Khan, " the weather is improving, thank hea- 
 ven ! and now no fear of our success, Bismil- 
 
 lah r 
 
 Fierce blew the blast, and thick flew the snow- 
 flakes in the faces of the travellers as they left 
 the shelter of the rock, nor could the stoutest 
 of them repress an involuntary shudder of re- 
 luctance, as he turned from the cheerful glim- 
 mer of the fire, whose embers caught by the 
 driving gale, threw flashes of fitful radiance across 
 the whitened waste, to face the dim, cold at- 
 mosphere beyond, thick with icy haze and blind- 
 ing drift ; but the spirit of the chief was re- 
 solved, and his attendants had made up their 
 minds to share his fate. Before the little party 
 had advanced a hundred yards, they were stopped 
 by a snow-wreath which stretched right across 
 the valley barring up all advance ; but the young 
 guide casting a single glance of scrutiny around, 
 
 c5
 
 34> THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 without a moment's hesitation, struck right up 
 the left hand height, and gained a ridge from 
 which the snow had evidently been carried off by 
 the blast, to increase the mass below. 
 
 And now began an arduous task for the horses. 
 The foot-men active and practised in the work, 
 shot nimbly up the ascent ; but the horses, 
 though they made good their way, snorted and 
 blew as they scrambled up the difficult ground, 
 their riders holding on by their manes. Some- 
 times their footing was the bare soil, thinly 
 sprinkled with dry weeds, which afforded a tolera- 
 ble hold ; at others, the loose stones of the 
 mountain-side gave way under their feet, and 
 the labouring animals slid back nearly as fast as 
 they advanced, while they slipped or stumbled 
 occasionally upon slabs of rough bare rock, 
 which the powdering of snow just hid sufficient- 
 ly to render dangerous to the smooth-shod hoofs 
 of the horses. 
 
 This desperate burst continued for full twenty 
 minutes, when seeing that the ascent rather in- 
 creased than diminished in asperity, the chief 
 called aloud to the youth who was leading, and 
 desired him to halt for a moment that the horses 
 might draw breath before going further. *' For,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. S5 
 
 by the head of Allee," added he, '' this ascent 
 would try the wind of Bourrak himself." 
 
 " True, Aga," responded Allee Beg, with a 
 groan ; " not even the blessed mule of the Vicar 
 of Allah could stand such work long ; as for my 
 yaboo, wullah ! he is all but gone already ; the 
 horse of the Presence itself will scarcely hold 
 out for another half hour. Ai vahi ! ai vahi ! 
 what a night of judgement ! — what an unblest 
 mountain !" 
 
 "Ay," growled the village guide, "all this I 
 warned you of, but you would not listen ; now 
 you have caught it, and our bones will bleach 
 under the snow this night ; we have worse than 
 this before us." 
 
 " Silence, evil-tongued wretch !" said the 
 youth ; "is this your aid, shameless ? silence, 
 and think rather of helping, than annoying the 
 Aga. Courage, my lord ! heed not that raven ; 
 this, after all, is the worst of it, — the most diffi- 
 cult, at least ; but, less or more, by Allah's might 
 we shall get through ; and let us push on while we 
 can, for every fresh snow-flake adds to our labour." 
 
 " Bismillah, lad ! — proceed ; for on I must go, 
 and in you, for the present, lies my trust ; bring 
 us through, and name your own reward."
 
 SG THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 In fact, as the youth had said, after another 
 severe burst, they appeared to have gained the 
 summit of some height, for the ground became 
 less steep ; but the chief observed through the 
 gloom, that a wall of dark rocks rose close upon 
 his left, while to the right he could discern no- 
 thing but a black abyss, into which the still driv- 
 ing snow descended, preventing the eye from 
 penetrating to any distance. 
 
 It was a dreary prospect, but it soon became 
 still more confined ; for a furious blast, right in 
 their faces, brought with it such a blinding cloud 
 of drift, that the chief could now see nothing, ex- 
 cept the shadowy figure of his guide wading for- 
 ward through the unbroken snow. In a few 
 minutes he stopped short, and, as the Khan came 
 up, said, " Softly, Aga, here ; move slowly and 
 carefully in my traces, and beware of false steps, 
 for the path gets narrow here and the snow is deep, 
 and the descent on our right is very precipitous." 
 
 In truth, the horses themselves seemed instinc- 
 tively to know the danger, for they betrayed 
 every symptom of alarm, and, as the blast drove 
 in their faces, they cowered and leaned towards 
 the rock, snorting and blowing, until at length 
 the chiefs horse stood still, setting forward its
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 37 
 
 fore feet in the attitude of resistance, and drawing 
 back upon its haunches, as if expressing its reso- 
 lution to proceed no further. 
 
 " Strike him not, Aga, strike him not !" ex- 
 claimed the guide hastily, and running to the 
 animal's head. " It is a bad step, and the horse, 
 mashallah ! knows it well ; be pleased to let me 
 lead him for a few paces ; the path gets better 
 then;^ 
 
 " By the soul of my father ! boy, thou sayest 
 true ; the road is a villanous one ; could we not 
 have kept the crest, or taken the other side of 
 this unsainted rock ? WuUah ! the beasts would 
 need wings as well as legs here." 
 
 " Impossible, Aga, on my head be it ! the 
 crest of this ridge is like a saw, and there is no 
 path whatever leading round it. Three hundred 
 gez below us, in the valley on our right, runs the 
 summer path, buried to half that depth in snow, 
 and, wullah billah ! there is no other path than 
 this besides ; but the summit of the pass is scarce 
 half a fursuck distant now ; let us push on.'' 
 
 " Proceed, then," replied the chief ; *' be it as 
 you say ;" and the guide, walking by the horse's 
 head, encouraged and led it carefully by the 
 bridle over the worst and narrowest steps, until.
 
 38 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 after a while, the path widened, and the space 
 between rock and precipice became so broad as to 
 remove all cause of alarm on that account. But, 
 just as the chief was congratulating himself on 
 having escaped a peril which had made his flesh 
 creep on his bones, he started at hearing a cry in 
 the rear, and the young guide sprang back to 
 learn the cause. He found the village guide em- 
 ployed in setting on his legs Alice Beg, after 
 pulling him out of the snow that covered the 
 brink of the path ; but his horse had disappeared, 
 and he learned that the creature, exhausted or 
 bewildered, had missed its footing in the nar- 
 rowest spot, striking its foot against a stone 
 under the snow, and unable, after a violent effort, 
 to recover itself, had rolled down the deep decli- 
 vity. Fortunately for its rider, its struggle to 
 regain its footing had given him time to disen- 
 gage his feet and throw himself forward ; the 
 village guide, too, had seized hold of the bridle, 
 which, though it broke short in his hand, had 
 checked the animal's fall for a few moments, and 
 thereby aided the rider's effort to free himself. 
 Thus he had lighted on the soft snow, which 
 arrested his further fall, and from which the guide 
 was able to extricate him, while the unfortunate
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 39 
 
 horse rolled floundering and crashing down, far 
 beyond the reach of vision. 
 
 '« Allah-il- Allah ! there goes the brown 
 yaboo ! " was the first exclamation of Alice Beg, 
 as he shook himself out of the snow crust in 
 which he was enveloped as with a garment ; 
 " there is just so much goods burnt. God grant 
 we find not a winding-sheet of the same stuff, 
 every one of us, before day breaks ! Good ; we 
 must now try what can be done on foot." 
 
 "Ay," said the guide, "and by your own 
 head ! in such paths, you are far better on your 
 own feet than on those of a beast, especially one 
 that was done up before we left the katurjee's 
 stone. Bismillah ! take heart, Aga, and come on, 
 we are close to the pass." 
 
 " Ay, Batchah," replied the dismounted man, 
 "it is well for you who have legs, that from 
 childhood, no doubt, have done little else than 
 make their way over these mountains, to talk in 
 that fashion. My beard is somewhat longer and 
 whiter than yours, and my limbs rather stifFer, I 
 suspect ; but after all, there is nothing for it, as 
 you say, but to take heart and push on ; so in 
 the name of Allah, forward ! " 
 
 So having reported the accident which had
 
 40 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 befallen the unfortunate yaboo to their master, 
 who could but utter a few words of encouragement 
 to his followers, the party continued their way 
 along the remainder of the narrow ledge, and soon 
 emerged upon a broad mountain-side, leaving the 
 declivity considerably to their right, while the 
 rocks receded to the left. The snow, however, 
 increased in depth ; and while they toiled through 
 it slowly they reached a hollow, probably the bed 
 of some inconsiderable stream. 
 
 At this instant the moon appeared, for a space, 
 through the dark and fast flying clouds, giving 
 the first glimpse of hope that the storm might be 
 breaking, and casting her watery light upon a 
 white unbroken expanse bounded by dim and 
 frowning, but equally snow-clad peaks. 
 
 " Behold the pass !" said the young guide, 
 pointing to a deep cleft that could just be dis- 
 cerned between two gigantic crags. 
 
 " Ay, if we could but reach it ! '"' groaned 
 Allee Beg, as he painfully drew one leg after the 
 other from the tough snow. 
 
 The chief said nothing ; and before another 
 remark could be made, the sky closed. The 
 moon was shrouded ; the drift flew ; and all was 
 dark again.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 41 
 
 The depth of snow increased as they pro- 
 ceeded ; that which was fresh fallen yielding with 
 ease to the pressure of the travellers' feet, while 
 that which was old and lay beneath in a hard 
 crust, would frequently give way and imbed them 
 deeply in its more tenacious substance. Several 
 times had the khan been dismounted by the 
 sinking of his horse over saddle-flaps, and with 
 difficulty extricated by the united efforts of the 
 party. At length the young guide observing the 
 increasing fatigue and failing powers of the party, 
 requested the chief to halt and draw breath for a 
 little, while he should go forward and make sure 
 of the path. 
 
 " In that hollow,'"' said he, " the snow lies still 
 deeper than here, because it has not been carried 
 off by the wind, and much has fallen this night ; 
 but as we cannot avoid it, we must look for the 
 hardest track. Once across this spot, the rest will 
 be easy work." 
 
 A few minutes of cessation from their constant 
 efforts, were, indeed, most welcome to all ; but 
 they were not long in discovering that movement, 
 however painful, was necessary to the retention of 
 life ; for such was the influence of the freezing 
 blast that it produced intolerat)le pain, followed
 
 42 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 hj that dangerous numbness whicli is the precur- 
 sor of fatal torpidity ; and the return of the guide 
 from his exploration was scarcely less acceptable 
 than had been the halt occasioned by his absence. 
 He said nothing, however, but took the khan's 
 rein and led his horse step by step along 
 what certainly proved to be a hardened track, and 
 which continued to the bottom of the hollow. 
 There the young man halted. , 
 
 " This," said he, " is a bad bit ; if we can but 
 pass it we shall do ; but we have only one means of 
 getting the horse across it, and that we must try." 
 
 Divesting himself of his own cloak, he called 
 on each of the others to do the same. " Now 
 beat down a path here," said he, " and harden 
 it as much as we can." 
 
 The whole party accordingly set vigorously to 
 work and trod down a path for some thirty or 
 forty yards across a space which was obviously 
 swampy beneath the snow. After which the 
 guide spread the cloaks upon it, and the horse 
 passed over them without sinking or pressing this 
 artificial covering more than fetlock deep ; while 
 by removing those behind to the front as the 
 animal advanced he was safely ferried over the 
 dangerous spot.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 43 
 
 " Barikillah ! this is well ! " exclaimed the 
 Khan. 
 
 " Ay, thanks be to Allah ! we shall now do 
 well,'' responded the young man, as each resumed 
 his cloak, and they continued their way. 
 
 But in a very short while after, Allee Beg 
 came to a standstill, and declared himself unable 
 to move another step. The guide tried to cheer 
 him, and by dint of dragging and lifting by the 
 arms, he did get on a few paces, when the chiefs 
 horse, which had hitherto contrived to keep the 
 hard track discovered by the guide, no doubt that 
 of some caravan obliterared by the drift, unluckily 
 swerved, and in attempting to recover its footing, 
 plunged over into the soft snow, where flounder- 
 ing for a few moments, it sunk entirely out of 
 sight, and, totally exhausted, at length lay still. 
 
 This was a most unlucky chance ; for one of 
 the party being quite disabled, to extricate the 
 fallen animal proved beyond the power of the 
 rest. Time was fast flying ; no progress was 
 made by their strongest efforts ; and the situation 
 of the whole party became critical. At length 
 the young man spoke. 
 
 " This will never do, Aga ; we must leave the 
 horse where he is, with your servant, who is
 
 44 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 unable to keep up. This guide shall stay with 
 them, and no fear of their lives, for with their 
 own cloaks and mine, which I will leave with 
 them, and lying beside the beast in that hole, 
 they will be safe from cold until help can be sent to 
 them. We will push forwards, and should we 
 not even be able to cross the pass and reach the 
 village, there is a shelter known to me, where 
 you, Aga, can remain while I return to help our 
 friends." 
 
 To this proposition, no objection could be 
 offered. The reckless despondency of total ex- 
 haustion rendered the arrangement a relief, rather 
 than a cause of terror to Allee Beg, whose facul- 
 ties were deadened by suffering, while the chief 
 saw no remedy ; and the village guide, to whom 
 such incidents were far from uncommon, acqui- 
 esced in what he could not help, and for which 
 he anticipated a handsome reward. Accordingly, 
 the chief, preceded by his young guide, and at- 
 tended by Jan Koolee, recommenced their pro- 
 gi'ess towards the pass ; but his dress and accou- 
 trements were far less fitted for exertion on foot 
 than for protecting him from cold on horseback. 
 Although he had left his sheepskin cloak with 
 his disabled servant, his heavy boots and riding
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 45 
 
 shulwars were a load that dragged him back at 
 every step ; and they had not proceeded above 
 half a mile, when he also evinced decided symp- 
 toms of distress. 
 
 "Stop, stop!" at length he gasped; "God 
 knows — this accursed Geddook ! Batchah ! — 
 thou art a good youth, and hast done well ; but, 
 I believe, I too am knocked up. I never shall 
 reach that infernal pass ; and, if I could, where 
 is the pass, and where the village ? — It is all 
 over, I fear, with me."" 
 
 "Oh, courage, my lord! — take heart, take 
 breath," said the guide ; *' never despair — never 
 think of sticking at the very door. Muster your 
 spirits for one more effort, and you are safe ; 
 reach but that cleft, and I promise you rest and 
 a fire. Come, lean on me, Aga — afereen, afereen ! 
 — that is it ; the higher we get here, the less 
 snow. Bismillah ! — bear up ; behold that dark 
 lump yonder, which looks black in the snow." 
 
 " No, boy, no — it is all over with me — your 
 good will is vain. This sickness at my heart 
 — this trembling of my limbs — Allah-il-ullah ! — 
 go — save thyself; as for me, I am gone." 
 
 " Never, Aga, never ! — what, can we not make 
 out two hundred paces ? We shall do it, — by
 
 46 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 your own head we shall ! — if I carry you on my 
 back, — take heart, take heart. But, see ! — 
 Allah ! Allah ! — travellers already in the cave. 
 Alhumdulillah ! — this is luck. Come, Aga, 
 courage — there is help at hand ; see, yonder,"" 
 and, as he looked towards the spot pointed out 
 by the guide, the Khan became aware of a light, 
 which burned brightly in the still driving gale. 
 The effect of this sight was instantaneous. Hope 
 revived in his heart, and with it came strength 
 to his limbs. " Praise be to Allah !" said he; 
 '' this is good fortune ; oh, my happy star ! 
 why did I doubt thy influence ? On, Batchah, 
 on ! — all is right now ;" and on he pressed with 
 so much vigour, that they soon reached the foot 
 of the immediate ascent to the spot whither they 
 were bound. But, scarce had they begun to 
 mount the remaining space, when the guide ex- 
 claimed " Penah-bur-Khodah ! is it he ?" and 
 the chief, raising his eyes at the words, and di- 
 recting them upwards, discovered that the light 
 which from a distance had seemed to proceed 
 from the mouth of the cavern was, in fact, shed 
 from a torch in the hand of a figure, which cer- 
 tainly wore no very inviting appearance. 
 
 From the slightness of its limbs, it might
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 47 
 
 have been a youth, but its stature was that of 
 a full-grown man ; who, with one long lean arm 
 bore the torch on high, while the other was 
 occupied in trying to prevent the wind from 
 stripping from his person the rude sheepskin 
 garment which was his only covering, and which, 
 in ordinary times, enveloped him from head to 
 foot ; but now, blown forth from his limbs, left 
 them bare in all their gauntness. The head, 
 of extraordinary size, was bent forward, as search- 
 ing into the obscure atmosphere beneath ; while 
 there streamed from it in wild disorder a multi- 
 tude of long, dark, elf locks, which would have 
 quite hid the features, had distance and position 
 admitted of their being discerned. Yet, even 
 thus concealed, there was something in the aspect 
 of the creature which bespoke an unnatural de- 
 formity, calculated to startle the beholder. 
 
 '' Allah ! " exclaimed the chief, " what imp 
 of the devil is this ? but Jin or Ghol, be he 
 what he may, we shall soon know, for out of the 
 shelter thou speakest of, he shall not keep me. 
 So Bismillah irruhman irruheem !" and with these 
 words, springing forward once more, he soon 
 gained the spot where the elf-like being had 
 stood. There, however, he stood no longer :
 
 48 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 for, slipping backwards as the traveller advanced, 
 he had retreated towards an opening in the rock 
 behind him, from which glowed the light of a 
 fire ; here, halting for a moment, he beckoned 
 them to follow, and then promptly disappeared. 
 
 The chief unhesitatingly complied; and, ac- 
 companied by his guide and attendant, in another 
 moment found himself in a cavern formed in the 
 rock, the interior of which was illuminated by 
 a glowing fire. The sudden transition thus made 
 from the darkness and howling of the storm 
 without, to the glare and warmth, and stillness 
 of the cave, confounded the chiefs senses ; and 
 for some moments prevented him from discern- 
 ing any object within. But as, after shaking 
 off the snow which had adhered thickly to his 
 person, and shrouding his eyes with his hand, 
 he approached towards the fire with the salute 
 of peace ; he was surprised at seeing no one. 
 He stopped, and gazed around ; and his eyes after 
 some time, serving him better, lighted on a single 
 form which half wreathed in the smoke that curled 
 round the cavern, might have passed for that of 
 a spirit. In another moment it advanced ; 
 and he heard a voice, strange even from its 
 peculiar sweetness, pronounce these words : —
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 49 
 
 " Let the Eagle of his race approach — let him 
 warm his chilled limbs, and refresh his failing 
 strength." 
 
 " In the name of Allah !" replied the chief, 
 ''who art thou, and what dost thou know of 
 me?" 
 
 " Thy friend — let that suffice ; that I know 
 thee, thou seest. Question not, but enjoy what 
 Allah sends thee." 
 
 " By my soul thou art right ! be thou who 
 thou mayest ; yet it is strange. How camest thou 
 here. How knowest thou of my coming ? La- 
 illah-il-ullah ! art thou of the race of Adam, or 
 of Jinnestan ?" added he with yet more wonder, as 
 he saw that the being who addressed him wore 
 female garments, and marked her singular and 
 impressive aspect. Tall and commanding, her 
 form was shrouded in dark drapery, which closely 
 wrapped around the head, yet leaving the face 
 uncovered, flowed over the shoulders and de- 
 scended nearly to the ground. But it was the 
 countenance thus left unveiled, and exposed to the 
 full blaze of the fire, which chiefly drew the Khan's 
 attention. Of dark complexion and regular, though 
 emaciated features, the hollow cheeks and hag- 
 gard lines that now furrowed the brow, had not 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 THE DARR FALCON. 
 
 been able to destroy the traces of former beauty, 
 nor to efface the expression of peculiar feeling 
 which still animated it. Yet it was the strange 
 and startling character of the deep-set eyes that 
 formed its most striking, if not its most pleasing 
 feature. Close set under their speaking brows, 
 they sparkled with almost appalling lustre ; nor 
 was it at once, or until the gazer had recovered 
 from the first effect of their piercing brilliancy, 
 that he could trace its source to their peculiar 
 formation, and discover that round the circle of 
 each jet black pupil was drawn a ring of sparkling 
 white. Thus the chief, though conscious of their 
 power, did not at the moment make this dis- 
 covery. He only caught the wild, almost un- 
 earthly expression, increased by the sable elf- 
 locks that had escaped from under her head-gear, 
 and saw the long lean arm raised high to give 
 emphasis to her speech, while the dark robes so 
 loose and flowing, seemed as if they were ready 
 to melt into the vapours with which she was sur- 
 rounded. 
 
 "Speakest thou, too, as one of the feeble?" 
 demanded the female, in reply to his hurried 
 question. " But be satisfied a child of Adam, 
 a worm of clay addresses thee, — a servant of the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 51 
 
 Most High, sent by Him to minister to thy 
 wants. Refuse not His bounty though sent by 
 an unworthy messenger." 
 
 " May God forbid ! in His name I accept 
 it. But hearken ; there are others near who 
 need help more than I do ; art thou alone, or 
 canst thou also send aid to them .?" 
 
 '' Be satisfied ; aid shall be sent." 
 
 " And I am ready," said the guide, " to lead 
 the way ; rest assured that thy servants will soon 
 be here in safety, for she whom Allah has sent 
 to aid thee, is well able to succour others also." 
 
 "Thou knowest her then, youth?" said the 
 Khan interrogatively, and fixing a keen regard on 
 his face. 
 
 "Aga, I do. She is both trustworthy and 
 powerful ;" and stepping forward he addressed 
 the female in terms expressive of deep respect, 
 but which satisfied the Khan that he knew well 
 to whom he spoke. A signal then brought to 
 her side a creature whom the Khan recognized at 
 once as the torch-bearer, but whose appearance 
 gained nothing by a closer inspection ; and he 
 shuddered as he surveyed the wild and savage 
 lineaments of his countenance, illuminated as 
 they were by eyes so closely resembling those of 
 
 D 2 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
 
 52 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the female, as to betoken near kindred, yet filled 
 with an almost demoniac lustre. 
 
 At an order from the female, conveyed by 
 means which the chief could not understand, this 
 imp-like being wrapped his sheepskin mantle 
 round him, and issued from the cavern, beckon- 
 ing with a fantastic motion to the guide to 
 follow. 
 
 " Is that thy helpmate ?" demanded the chief, 
 whose look of wonder had scarcely been turned 
 from the creature from the moment of his en- 
 trance ; " canst thou put trust in such an ally ?"' 
 
 " Fear not, my lord," replied the youth, "your 
 servant trusts in those who now are aiding us 
 because he knows their power. Be pleased to take 
 your rest, and be satisfied that long before dawn 
 both horse and man, please God, shall be safe 
 in this place, from whence with morning's light 
 you may pursue your journey at pleasure."" 
 
 " A fere en, youth !'"* replied the chief, I will 
 trust to thy counsel, and receive thy comfort. 
 By my soul ! if thou dost perform what thou hast 
 said, thou wilt merit all that I can do to reward 
 thee." 
 
 The chief and his mysterious hostess being 
 thus left alone, the former addressed her at once
 
 THE DA UK FALCON. 53 
 
 with frankness. " And now, mother, I am at 
 thy disposal — Bismillah ! in the name of God, 
 bestow thine hospitality."''' 
 
 Without reply, the female addressed herself 
 to work ; and, removing a rude cooking vessel 
 from the ashes in which it had been placed, set 
 its contents before her guest, who found them 
 of so savoury a nature, that he rapidly discussed 
 an ample portion of them. A gourdful of cool 
 water served to quench his thirst, nor was there 
 wanting a rude water-pipe to soothe and exhi- 
 larate his spirits. During the time he was thus 
 employed, his hostess spread a heap of grass or 
 weeds on one side ; and, throwing over it a 
 coarse covering, as soon as the pipe was ex- 
 hausted, made a sign that his bed was prepared. 
 More than once did he address her with ques- 
 tions, but she preserved a resolute silence ; and 
 the chief, whose curiosity had for the time given 
 way to fatigue, and the soporific effects of warmth 
 and a comfortable meal, quietly took his place on 
 the couch prepared for him, and fell into the 
 deep sleep of weariness.
 
 54 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 THE FAKEEREH. 
 
 The repose of the Khan had continued unin- 
 terrupted and profound ; for, when he awoke, 
 and saw the light of a brilliant morning stream- 
 ing in at the entrance of the cavern, it required 
 some moments^ reflection to remind him of 
 where he was. Rousing himself, however, and 
 looking round him, his eye fell upon the recum- 
 bent persons of three men ; and scarcely had 
 he recognized them as those of his servant and 
 the guides, when the hinneying of a horse in an- 
 other quarter gave token that his charger had also 
 been rescued from its cold berth, and was safely 
 restored to him. His attention was next directed 
 to discover the authors of this good deed, but 
 no one, save his sleeping attendants, were to be 
 seen within the cavern, which now was tolerably 
 well lighted up by the slanting rays of the sun.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 55 
 
 Anxious to find tliem, or to solve the mystery 
 of their disappearance, yet reluctant to disturb 
 those whose title to repose had been earned by 
 a toil far severer than any he had suffered, he 
 rose noiselessly from his couch, and first giving 
 a look to his horse, in whose nose-bag some re- 
 mains of barley and chopped straw proved that 
 his wants had not been neglected, he repaired 
 to the entrance of the cavern to see whether 
 any traces could be detected of those he had 
 lost sight of within. No living creature was 
 to be seen ; yet, on emerging from the cavern 
 into the open air, his eyes were greeted with 
 a prospect calculated to touch the most insensi- 
 ble heart, and draw forth admiration and wonder. 
 The storm had ceased, and not a breath of air 
 now moved the light and powdery snow that 
 lay thick and unbroken over the vast mountain- 
 ous track which stretched around in every ima- 
 ginable variety of peak, and ridge, and shapeless 
 mass. The cavern occupied a ledge on the shoul- 
 der of one of the crags which formed the but- 
 tresses of the pass. It lay amongst the ruins 
 of a huge rocky mass, which still rose behind it, 
 and from which they had originally fallen in such 
 a manner as to form a chamber of considerable
 
 56 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 space and height ; and so firmly had the walls 
 and roof of this structure of accident become 
 jammed together by the superincumbent debris, 
 that the security of its shelter was as perfect as if 
 framed by the most cunning art ; while the soil 
 that had been washed down, and gradually accu- 
 mulated above its roof, had rendered it almost 
 perfectly water-tight. From its frequently giv- 
 ing shelter to shepherds, who in summer led their 
 flocks and herds to the luxuriant pasture of this 
 part of the Shah-koh, it had become known as the 
 Ghaur-e-chuppun, or shepherd**s cave ; and many 
 a storm-pressed and benighted traveller had by its 
 rough but friendly walls been saved from otherwise 
 inevitable destruction. 
 
 From the terrace in front of this cavern, which 
 commanded both sides of the pass, the chief 
 looked down on one side over the country he had 
 toiled through on the preceding night. A large 
 hollow beneath his feet sunk into a deep ravine, 
 from the opposite side of which sprang up a vast 
 mountain, furrowed in its turn by many a cleft, 
 each of which conveyed its tribute of waters to 
 the stream at its feet. The other side of the hol- 
 low was bounded by an irregular congregation of 
 heights, beyond which rose other and grander
 
 THE DARK FALCON. i)^ 
 
 peaks, while the vista between disclosed a grey and 
 shadowy tract, with here and there a point or in- 
 sulated mass rising dubiously among it, all dim 
 and hazy in the rays of the eastern sun. This was 
 the low country east of Asterabad, where sea and 
 plain, the Caspian and the low rich lands of Gour- 
 gaun, were blended together in undistinguishable 
 distance. 
 
 On the other side of the pass the view was 
 more bounded, for peaks rose above peaks and ridge 
 beyond ridge, with many a valley and hollow be- 
 tween, and all glitteringly white, save where those 
 more distant were spotted with the dark bushes of 
 the kaudje or red cedar tree, which is thinly 
 scattered over all this range of mountains. It was 
 in truth a glorious spectacle — the white peaks 
 rose sharp against the deep blue sky, all smiling 
 in the sunshine, like the ocean in a calm, as if 
 death had never made his home in their cold and 
 ghastly bosoms. The chief stood gazing for a 
 while as if entranced with the sublimity of the 
 scene ; then shuddering, probably at the recollec- 
 tion of his late narrow escape, he turned, and again 
 entering the cavern, found that his youthful guide 
 had also risen from sleep, and was busily looking 
 
 after his charger. 
 
 d6
 
 58 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " Afereen, Batchah ! Afereen !" said he, ad- 
 dressing the young man, '' thou art a careful fel- 
 low, and by my soul thou appearest to understand 
 the handling of a good horse — ay, that is the way 
 — rub down that ofF-leg a little ; the fetlock seems 
 swelled, and no wonder it should have got some 
 strain in that unblest hole he fell into. Hah 
 Barikillah ! that is it ; thou art as good groom as 
 guide, and, by the head of Allee, if thou seekest 
 service thou shalt not lack a master. What sayest 
 thou, hah ? Who art thou, youth ?" 
 
 " Thy servant is nothing; a Toorkoman lad 
 from the Attruck, who has lived among horses, 
 and who knows something of these border 
 countries." 
 
 " A Toorkoman, thou ! By the head of Allee, 
 impossible. No Toorkoman dam ever foaled 
 such a colt. These eyes and that nose never 
 came from Toorkoman sire. Wert thou not ra- 
 ther a captive in their hands ?" 
 
 " That might be so, Aga ; vague recollections 
 will sometimes rise in my mind of some former 
 state before I lived in a Toorkoman camp." 
 
 <• Ay, my head upon it, boy, thou art Toork, 
 and not Toorkoman ; but be thou what thou 
 may est, thou didst a job last night which few
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 59 
 
 could have performed : and to bring on these lag- 
 gers, too, so cleverly — how didst thou manage it 
 after all ? I thought I had seen the last of my 
 poor Arab Hogloo." 
 
 " The storm was abating, Aga, when we left 
 the cave, and I had able help ; your servant and 
 the guide, too, were better off than we thought 
 for ; the aid we brought gave them courage. 
 Even your lordship felt that hope revived inspires 
 fresh vigour."' 
 
 " And that is true, boy ; but what was that 
 aid — not surely that strange being with whom 
 you left the cave ?"" 
 
 *' He it was, Aga, and none else ; but he was 
 sufficient, as you have seen." 
 
 " Indeed, it so appears — a wonderful creature 
 he seems to be. But who is he ? You have met 
 with him before ?" 
 
 " Ay, Aga, I have met with him ; but as for 
 who he is, wullah ! I cannot tell." 
 
 " Indeed — strange enough that. Is he not 
 the child of that woman who received us here last 
 night ?" 
 
 " It is so believed, Aga ; but no one knows 
 the truth, nor whence they come, or who they 
 are."
 
 60 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " Singular enough ; you know her also well ; 
 you have met with her, too, before, it ap- 
 pears ?" 
 
 "Ay, Aga, often." 
 
 " And where, boy ?" 
 
 *' In our obah, in the mountains on the At- 
 truck's banks, in Gourgaun, in many parts of these 
 border countries ; but never so far from the plains 
 before. At one time she was much in our obah, 
 and seldom did many weeks pass without my see- 
 ing her, for she loved the Alachick of Oghuz Aga: 
 she had cause to do so ; but there I have not been 
 of late, nor have I seen her for months until last 
 night." 
 
 *' And the boy ? Does he constantly attend 
 her.?" 
 
 " Boy .'^" repeated the young man shaking his 
 head emphatically ; '* no, Aga, he is seldom seen, 
 but cannot, as it would seem, be ever far distant 
 from her, for I have known him appear on a sud- 
 den, and then she would immediately depart along 
 with him." 
 
 "And by what name or appellation is she 
 known, or what is her occupation ?" 
 
 " In our camp, Aga, she was called the Fakee- 
 reh. As. for her occupation, what shall I represent?
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 61 
 
 Many were the reports that prevailed regarding 
 her, but no one knew the truth. Some said that 
 she was skilled in many wonderful arts ; and it is 
 certain that no munajem could prescribe a fortu- 
 nate hour, or read the stars, as she could when she 
 would ; but others averred,*" — and here he lowered 
 his voice, — " that she had obtained power over the 
 Jins ; that she possesses the great talisman, and can 
 discover the hidden treasures of the earth. Those 
 who disliked her reviled her for a witch, and pro- 
 tested that she practised jadoo geeree (magic). 
 God knows the truth ! To me she was always 
 kind, and nothing but good did I ever receive, or 
 know to have been received at her hand. May 
 Alia forgive her sins ! She has predicted fortune 
 for me, and declared that I was born to wealth and 
 honour. What can I tell?'' 
 
 " A wonderful tale, boy ! — and what can have 
 become of her now ? Why has she left us so sud- 
 denly ? I owe her many acknowledgments for 
 her worthy and opportune service. She appeared 
 to know me, too, — ay, and called herself my 
 friend ; may her life be prosperous ! Strange ! I 
 would fain see her again." 
 
 " That she has left this place is clear, Aga ; 
 but how, or when, who can tell ? This is her wonted
 
 62 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 way ; before you had waked this morning, I knew 
 that she was no longer here." 
 
 " An extraordinary creature ! a strange adven- 
 ture, truly. But, come, it is past, and the day 
 advances ; Taushkoon is far distant ; rouse the 
 people, boy, and make ready my horse ; Allah 
 only knows whether the poor animal will ever get 
 clear of these villanous mountains." 
 
 *' Do not fear it, my lord. The way now is 
 all descent, and the snow lies less upon this side 
 the hill. You will meet with caravans, too, in- 
 shallah ! and their track will make the path easy ; 
 there is no booraun to-day, praise be to God ! " 
 
 The men were now roused, and the horse being 
 saddled received a few handfuls of corn found in 
 a corner, the remainder, no doubt, of what had 
 been provided by their singular hostess ; and a 
 further search discovered some ready-cooked vic- 
 tuals, destined, probably, for their morning's 
 meal. Blowing into life the embers of the fire 
 which had been kept up till late on the preceding 
 night, the youth warmed the food, and made ready 
 a rude mountain pipe ; and the chief, refreshed 
 with food and rest, prepared once more to mount 
 his steed ; but he stopped on observing his young 
 guide preparing to take leave. " How is this,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 63 
 
 Batchah ? " said he. "Dost thou not mean to 
 accompany us ? art thou already weary of serving 
 us ? Dost thou reject ray offer of employ- 
 ment?" 
 
 " God forbid, Aga !" replied the young man, 
 with a modest energy. " Willingly would I 
 continue to perform the little service I can render 
 to your lordship, and still more would I desire to 
 follow so kind and gallant a leader ; but my 
 comrades require my assistance, and will expect 
 me — I must return." Yet his lingering step 
 and kindling eye, as he stood gazing on the 
 person of the chief, betrayed how much at va- 
 riance were his wishes and what he deemed his 
 duty. 
 
 " Pshah, youth I" replied the former. " What 
 callest thou thy duty ? Are there not cherwa- 
 dars and yaboos enough in Mazunderan and 
 Asterabad to follow lead, without thy adding to 
 the string ! Up with thee, man ! Thy com- 
 rades will find a fitter mate. Do thou complete 
 thy work, and guide me through these hills, — 
 though by the death of my father I should know 
 the way from hence as well as thou. Cross not 
 the path of thy happy star while it is in the 
 humour to rise — there are few in thy station
 
 64 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 who would hesitate in accepting the proifered 
 favour of Jaaffer Koolee Khan." 
 
 '' Allah ! " exclaimed the youth, as that name, 
 so well known and beloved throughout all 
 Mazunderan and its bordering districts, fell upon 
 his ear. " Is it truly thus ? Well done, then, 
 my good star. My head is indeed exalted, if 
 thou hast brought it beneath the shadow of 
 the noble Jaaffer Koolee Khan ! Thy servant is 
 less than the least, but he is in your lordship's 
 hand. May Allah grant him a continuance of 
 favour in your sight !"" 
 
 " Hoh — this is as it should be, youth ; pro- 
 ceed but as thou hast begun, and doubt not of 
 favour and advancement. Inshallah ! yon strange 
 friend of thiiie will prove a true prophetess. 
 Bismillah ! let us now push on, for by my own 
 life we have work enough before us." 
 
 So saying the Khan putting foot in stirrup 
 sprang into the saddle, and after gazing about 
 him for a few moments, as if to fix the spot in 
 his memory, followed his new attendant, who 
 took the lead, down the slope on the south side 
 of the pass. This being the windward side, was 
 far more clear of snow, as all that had freshly 
 fallen had been carried off by the storm to the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 65 
 
 other side of the crest. Their progress, there- 
 fore, was greatly more rapid ; and though they 
 did occasionally flounder into unseen hollows, 
 the day was all before them, and the fresh 
 spirits which a bright and cheerful morning after 
 a good night's rest is sure to give, even in these 
 snowy w^astes, carried them manfully through 
 their remaining difficulties. We shall therefore 
 take leave of them for a time, and open another 
 chapter of our tale.
 
 66 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE DURKHANEH. 
 
 Three days after the incidents related in our 
 last chapter, an equally bright and cheering 
 morning rose upon a very different scene. An 
 amphitheatre of high and picturesque mountains, 
 whose crests shot up in many a varied peak and 
 ridge, half encircled a plain of considerable ex- 
 tent, opening out upon a far more extensive tract 
 of level country, ^vhicll in its turn was bounded 
 and islanded at various distances by chains or 
 groups of brown or purple hills. The snow 
 which covered all the highlands, and descended 
 nearly to the skirts of the semicircle of moun- 
 tains, had disappeared from the plain at their 
 foot ; in the midst of which might be seen the 
 wall of a considerable city, rising but little above 
 the surface of the surrounding ground. It was 
 marked at regular distances by the projections of
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 67 
 
 semicircular bastions, which were almost the only 
 objects that gave the slightest character to the 
 mean and shapeless collection of buildings it 
 inclosed, unvaried at that time by either minaret 
 or dome. This city was Zehran, already select- 
 ed by the successful chief of the Kajar tribe as 
 the capital of that empire for which he was still 
 contending, because it was near the domains of 
 his family, and his other resources, and there- 
 fore fittest to be the sovereign's fixed abode. 
 
 On the crenilated wall and roofs of this city 
 the morning sun, having cleared the bank of 
 clouds that rested on the shoulder of Dema- 
 wound, and the lofty regions of Feerozekoh, shed 
 a red but brilliant light, and played upon the 
 numerous groups of men and animals which, 
 pent within its circuit during the night, were 
 now passing forth in multitudes from the opened 
 gates, on their way to their daily occupations. 
 But not alone did the peasant with his flocks and 
 herds rejoice in its gladdening ray. It shone 
 upon less peaceful objects than the cultivation 
 and cultivators of the neighbourhood ; for on 
 an open space beyond the Durwaze-u-Dowlut. 
 or royal gate, might be seen pitched a number 
 of white tents ; around and among which the
 
 6S THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 busy hum of armed men, and the mustering of 
 troops for the morning's duty, gave ample tes- 
 timony that something was going forward beyond 
 mere ceremonial. And this fact was confirmed 
 by the frequent passage of mounted parties, of 
 officers well attended, and messengers spurring 
 at speed between the Ark or citadel, and the 
 camp. 
 
 Nor would the impression thus created have 
 been diminished on remarking the alertness, as 
 well as the increased number of the guards on 
 duty at the entrance of the ark itself, and the 
 frequent challenge of these guards to persons 
 whom they judged to have no business within 
 its precincts. The Maidaun, or large court be- 
 fore the royal residence, was also filled with a 
 greater than ordinary number of troops and 
 military figures. There might be seen the men 
 of Larijoon and Arjuraund, the trusty and trusted 
 troops of the Kajar family, known by their dark 
 garments, from whence their name of Karachog- 
 has. These were gathered in large groups 
 around their officers ; but interspersed among 
 them were gayer parties of the gholaums, dis- 
 tinguished not more by their smart riding-gear, 
 their silver mounted carbines, and small round
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 69 
 
 shields, than by the Kajar cap set knowingly on 
 one side, and their swaggering, dare-devil air. 
 
 Chiefs and nobles too, of graver mien might 
 be seen clustering round the august gateway 
 and entering or returning from business within; 
 and gallant coursers having their saddles covered 
 with the beautifully embroidered zeenposhes, and 
 held by grooms, or mounted by the Jeloo- 
 dars while waiting the return of their masters, 
 spangled the court like jewels on a mosaic 
 tablet. Purpose-like, dirt-bespattered couriers 
 came and went like flying darts, and busy offi- 
 cials, guards, nassakchees, yessawuls, heralds, sha- 
 tirs (or running footmen,) furoshes, and various 
 messengers bustled about among the numerous 
 groups ; whilst meerzas and moostofees, with 
 rolls of papers stuck in their girdles, slouching 
 gait and shuffling step, glided backwards and 
 forwards in quiet contrast to the more dashing 
 mien of the military portion of the assembly, — it 
 was, in short, approaching the hour of the salaam 
 or public audience ; and the appearance of the 
 remarkable personage whom every one regarded 
 with fear and reverence, w^as anxiously expected. 
 
 In a small chamber, opening from the passage 
 that led from the first gate of entrance to the
 
 70 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 chief court of tlie palace, sat a group of indi- 
 viduals whose dress and deportment left no doubt 
 of their military calling ; while the swords, and 
 shields, and pistols, and war-like accoutrements 
 of all sorts which hung upon the walls, confirmed 
 the fact. This was the quarter of the officers of 
 the kessek or guard ; and a louder hum of voices, 
 with occasional bursts of merriment proceeding 
 from a larger apartment opposite, proclaimed 
 with no less certainty that there was the kessek- 
 khaneh or guard-room, occupied by a party of 
 the royal gholaums and kessekchees, or guards. 
 
 The group in the officers' quarters consisted 
 of about a dozen persons, who, seated according 
 to their recognised rank and condition, upon the 
 felt carpets, spread along the walls of the apart- 
 ment, conversed together with an earnestness that 
 proved how engrossing was the subject of their 
 discourse. The room was warmed by a bright 
 fire of wood, which roared and crackled in a chim- 
 ney at the upper end, and each in turn sucked 
 industriously at the calleeoons which were brought 
 in by servants, and passed from hand to hand. 
 
 " It is true — by your head it is ! rest satisfied 
 of that," said a keen-looking middle-sized man, 
 whose brilliant eyes, and handsome regular fea-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 71 
 
 tures were set off by a large black beard. 
 " There is a chupper just come in from Bos- 
 tam ; and depend upon it, there will be work 
 in that quarter before the next moon comes in — 
 What ? Mustapha Koolee Khan at the head of 
 three or four thousand wild Mazunderanees and 
 give in without a blow ? — impossible." 
 
 *' You say the truth ; he will not give in 
 while he can strike,'' replied a large, hard-fea- 
 tured person, who occupied a high seat near the 
 fire, and had just emitted a prodigious stream 
 of smoke down his long beard, after taking the 
 pipe from his mouth. " I know something of 
 Mustapha Koolee : he is of the true Toorkee 
 breed; if he had acw/ (judgment) to match his 
 ambition and boldness, he would turn out an- 
 other Nader on our hands. Thanks to our 
 Aga's good star, such is not the case ; and 
 Mustapha will break his own head before long 
 without greatly damaging ours." 
 
 " Pardon me, Aga," replied another of the 
 company, a tall gaunt figure, rejoicing in a long 
 nose, and red beard, and eyes tending towards 
 grey ; " what you have said regarding Mustapha 
 Koolee is right ; but I would represent that he 
 is likely to give more work than you seem to
 
 72 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 reckon on ; for lie is well known as a brave sol- 
 dier and a fortunate leader; and he has many 
 friends throughout the low country, both among 
 Kizzilbashes and Toorkomans. These Astera- 
 badees think him a perfect Roostum ; from Bal- 
 froosh to Ashruff, there are numbers who wait 
 but a first success to rise in his favour; and 
 ■what he wants in judgment will be supplied by 
 others who have enough to turn his war-like 
 talents to account. Well did old Alice Murad 
 know his value. Had that cunning fox retained 
 his breath but twelve months longer, where 
 should we have been this day ? By the head 
 of the Prophet ! our Aga''s star was high when 
 that koore-mootshukhus* was taken to the joys of 
 Paradise ! Hussun Koolee Khan was right when 
 he promised us work in that quarter. Well is 
 it that his brother Moorteza has taken his way 
 westward; but, in truth, Mazunderan could 
 never have held them both." 
 
 " No, certainly," replied the second speaker, 
 who was known as Nejeff Koolee Khan, AiFshar, 
 "that has been well proved already; and none 
 knew it better than Moorteza himself, when he 
 
 * "Respectable blind gentleman ;" the appellation given 
 by Aga Mahomed Khan to Allee Murad Khan.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 73 
 
 left the field to his brother, and walked off to 
 make Hedayut Khan as bad as himself — dust 
 on his head for it ! Small were his chance of 
 mercy now, should he fall into our Aga's hands." 
 
 "Ay," remarked another of the party, " when 
 state concerns are in question, small regard to per- 
 sons has our Aga. A brother's blood is no redder 
 than a stranofer's when cauo^ht in the field as a foe." 
 
 " Yes," said Hoossein Koolee Khan, a Kajar 
 and near connection of the family, who had list- 
 ened to the last two speakers, in rather moody 
 silence, " yes, Kajar blood has never been either 
 grudged or spared ; had less been shed, there 
 might now be more friends round the Dur-Kha- 
 neh,* and fewer at Bostam ; but God is great !" 
 
 " Ay, ay, Hoossein Koolee, we know what 
 you are thinking of; but let it rest, man ; this 
 is no time for brooding over past misfortunes, 
 or stirring up a sleeping blood-feud. Too many 
 of these have distracted our tribe, and you know 
 that our Aga has nothing more at heart than to 
 bind it once more together like a sheaf of arrows. 
 But what part will Jaafer Koolee Khan take in this 
 affair ? You know him well ; what will he do ?" 
 
 *' CAe middnumf — What do I know.?" re- 
 
 * Gate of the Palace— the Court. 
 VOL. I. E
 
 i^ THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 sponded Hoossein Koolee, to whom the turn 
 taken by the conversation seemed by no means 
 pleasing, and who spoke in an uneasy accent. 
 
 " Nay, but you are a friend of his, — of one 
 soul, indeed, — more even than a kinsman, and 
 should know his mind. Where is he now ?" 
 
 " Where he may now be, I cannot tell ; but 
 this at least is certain, that JaafFer Koolee is not 
 the man to turn his back on any friend without 
 a cause ; so, if our Aga have given him none, 
 no doubt he may depend on his aid against 
 Mustapha. Jaafer Koolee is full blood to our 
 Aga, and there is something in blood, whatever 
 Ismael Beg may think."*"* 
 
 "Ay, Aga, no doubt; yet, after all, were 
 JaafFer Koolee to think differently on the pre- 
 sent occasion, would it be the first time he had 
 done so ?^* 
 
 " And if it were not, no doubt JaafFer Koolee 
 had his reasons. Treat a man as a dog, and he 
 will turn and bite you. Who has been more 
 faithful, more attached, more zealous for the Pre- 
 sence than JaafFer Koolee, even when our Aga's 
 fortunes were at the lowest. Who was it that 
 saved him from death or blindness, at Balfroosh, 
 when Moorteza and Reza Koolee would have
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 75 
 
 fain removed such a stumbling-block from tbeir 
 path ? Was it not Jaaffer Koolee who prevailed 
 upon — who compelled this very Mustapha, to 
 join him in delivering his Highness from that den 
 of wolves. Wullah ! Jaaffer Koolee is a man — 
 a man I say ; brave as Roostum, noble-minded, 
 frank, and generous ; mashallah ! he is the 
 leader for my fancy, and God grant that our 
 master may feel his value, and confide in his 
 honour. On my head be it, he will not repent 
 it. If fortune follow the good and brave, it can 
 never desert Jaaffer Koolee Khan." 
 
 " Afereen, Afereen, Hoossein Koolee! well said, 
 mashallah! the Khan is a real nobleman, a true 
 Kajar, and God grant, as thou sayest, that he 
 may still keep on the right side, for loath should 
 I and many more be to draw sword against him." 
 
 " Draw sword against Am/"" repeated the other, 
 shaking his head, as he took the calleeoon from 
 the last speaker. " But no fear of that, inshallah ! 
 Let our Aga only deal fairly by him, and on my 
 eyes be the issue.'' 
 
 '* Doubt not that, doubt not that," said Alice 
 Koolee Beg ; "our Aga is prudent, alhumdulillah i 
 wisdom reaches no higher than his, mashallah ! 
 he has the power of persuasion ; when did he ever 
 
 E 2
 
 ^b THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 fail with any whom he has once resolved to secure ? 
 Allah knows best, but one might think he had a 
 talisman, not only to bring men to his footstool, 
 but to keep them to their duty. Praise be to God, 
 he, after all, is the chief to rule the Iraunees." 
 
 " And yet,'' remarked another in an under tone, 
 " in what lies the charm ? surely not in looks, nor 
 in voice — no, nor in manner. What shall we 
 say ? is it his liberality — his courage ?'' 
 
 " Hush, hush, comrades !" observed the red- 
 bearded worthy, whose name was Ferij OoUa 
 Khan, an officer of high repute in the opinion of 
 his master; " there is little prudence in speaking 
 too freely of the lion so close to his den. What- 
 ever be the charm, we all feel it, and, inshallah ! 
 will be true to him who bears it, or woe be to 
 the traitors. But what may this be ? — who comes 
 here.?'' 
 
 As he spoke, a stir was heard at the gate, and 
 forward came a courier covered with mud and dirt, 
 and staggering with weariness, but still making 
 the best of his way towards the guard-house. 
 
 "From whence?" demanded Nujjuff Koolee 
 Khan. 
 
 " From Sultanieh, in your service, and with let- 
 ters from Khumsa."
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 7T 
 
 " Bismlllah ! step up and smoke a calleeoon ; 
 tell us what you know ; his Highness has not yet 
 come out." 
 
 The courier having been helped up tlie few 
 steps, like a man who feels the consequence which 
 chance has bestowed upon him, sat down, dirt and 
 all, with no little fuss, and having received the 
 calleeoon, drew from it several deep whiffs ; he 
 had sufficient discretion, however, not to exhaust 
 the patience of his auditory, and having returned 
 the pipe to the servant, and stroked down his 
 beard, he began : 
 
 *' I would represent in your service, Agas, that 
 being in attendance on the part of his Highness 
 vyrith the Zabit of Sultanieh, I was sent for, and 
 found with him a Cossid just arrived from Zen- 
 jaun. There was much conversation going on, 
 Agas, and I pressed the man hard for news ; but 
 he appeared to be a double-accented ass, and no- 
 thing could be got out of him. He had brought 
 in the papers which are inclosed in this packet, 
 for his Highness ; but all I could learn is, that 
 Alice Khan had summoned his contingent, and 
 has been receiving messengers from the Karagoos. 
 lies of Hamadan and the Sheghaughees of Miana 
 and Heshtrood. What the object of their mus-
 
 78 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 tering may be, did not appear to be known ; but 
 there was talk of something going on among the 
 Koords and the Lours. As for Allee Khan, 
 Agas, your worships are better able than I to say 
 whether he is trustworthy or not." 
 
 '' And is this the way of it, murdeki ? is this 
 all you have to tell ? '"* 
 
 '* By your souls, Agas, it is — there is no more 
 to be told ; and, your pardons, I had best be off 
 to the gate of the Anderoon to wait his High- 
 nesses orders. Wullah ! right glad will your ser- 
 vant be to receive his dismissal, for not a wink of 
 sleep have I had since I mounted at Sultanieh ; 
 and I left one horse sticking in the mud at 
 Siadehn." 
 
 *' It is well, you have leave — begone. Wul- 
 lah ! that ghorumsaug's news are not worth the 
 calleeoon he had. When did we ever hear of Koor- 
 distan being quiet, or the Khumsa folk thinking 
 only of their bullocks and ploughs ? How should 
 the pot fail to boil with so much heat all around 
 it?" 
 
 " Pardon me," said Nujjuff Koolee Khan, 
 "restless as they are, neither Koord nor Toork 
 would dream of stirring at this time of year with- 
 out cogent reasons, and such movements must
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 79 
 
 have a deeper source than we see at present ; my 
 eyes on it, something is going on near Ispahan. 
 But see, here is another beast of the road. 
 Whence from, humsheheree 9 come up hither and 
 let us have your news — here, hand him the cal- 
 leeoon." 
 
 " Wullah — little have I to tell, Aga : I am 
 from Savah, and my news will scarce gain me the 
 mujdeh. Hadjee AUee the Zabit sends his duty, 
 and some fine carpets as peishcush ; but for troops 
 or provisions, heech — nothing." 
 
 " Afereen, Hadjee Allee !" said Ferij OoUah 
 Khan; " now, by my own death ! I would not fill 
 thy cloak for a thousand tomauns in gold. At 
 how much do you value your head or your eyes 
 that you stake them on such a game ? That vile 
 kite smells carrion now ; there is something stir- 
 ing near him, and he is trying to keep quiet till 
 he sees which way the wind will set. Wullah ! 
 such work wont go down with our Aga, and that 
 the Hadjee will find to his cost." 
 
 " By your head, Khan ! " said Nujjuff Koolee 
 Khan, '* you have found it ; no doubt there is 
 some connection between these Koordish and 
 Khumsa movements and Hadjee Alice's inac- 
 tivity. Good ; it will soon be in the hands of one
 
 80 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 who will neither rest nor let others rest until he 
 sees the bottom of it all. But who comes next ; 
 this must be a bird of higher flight, to judge by 
 the screaming of the small fowl."' 
 
 And indeed the sudden hum of voices and ex- 
 clamations of surprise which, rising from a dis- 
 tance, approached with the rapidity of a train 
 of powder fired, did seem to herald an arrival 
 of more than common importance, and every 
 eye was directed towards the gateway, and 
 every neck was outstretched, as a single figure, 
 travel-stained from head to foot, held on with 
 rapid pace towards the Kessheck Khan eh. But 
 this figure, soiled and smirched as it was, with its 
 noble port, its handsome sunburnt countenance 
 beaming with good humour, and exhibiting no 
 symptom of the toil which the dress seemed to 
 betray, was enough, not only to satisfy every eye, 
 but to open every mouth, and tne cry of " JaafFer 
 Koolee Khan ! JaafFer Koolee Khan !" reached 
 the ears of the party we have described, before 
 his person became visible to their eyes. 
 
 At the sound of this name, so lately the sub- 
 ject of their discourse, one and all arose and came 
 forward to receive him, while the guards and gho- 
 laums with whom he was a special favourite,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 81 
 
 turned out even before the order, to salute and do 
 honour to the favourite brother of their sovereign. 
 
 " Alhumdulillah ! Khoosh gueldee ! Khoosh 
 gueldee ! Thanks be to Allah ! Welcome, wel- 
 come my lord ! Welcome your Highness ! may 
 your footsteps be fortunate ; you have brought 
 light to our eyes ! " burst from all the officers. 
 " Praise be to Heaven, you have come ! Your 
 arrival will bring satisfaction and happiness to his 
 Highness ! " 
 
 " Ah, friends ! prosperity to you all ; may 
 your kindness increase ; ye are all in health, I 
 hope ? NujjufF Koolee Khan ; my brave Ferij 
 Oolah ; what — old Alee Koolee Beg, you here, 
 too ? may our meeting be fortunate. Hoossein 
 Koolee, dear friend, praise be to God, you are 
 here ; hard work we have had to reach you ; no 
 matter, we have come. Where is his Highness ?" 
 
 " I would state," replied Hoossein Koolee, 
 after affectionately, yet respectfully, kissing the 
 Khan's hand, " that his Highness has not yet 
 come forth ; doubtless when he is informed" — 
 
 " Hoh,good; let intimation be made forthwith. 
 And now, friends. A caleeoon — by your souls 
 we require it ; not a pipe, nor a morsel of food 
 these sixteen hours, and hard riding, too ; come 
 
 e5
 
 82 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 straight from Cheshmeh Alee, without a halt, by 
 the pass to Dowlutabad ; almost stuck fast in the 
 Gerdunee Aheyoon ; no going by Feeroze-koh ; 
 the snow, Allah knows how many gez deep ! for- 
 tunately got hold of a fresh horse at Somnaum ; 
 all my own done up long before ; but, at length, 
 here am I at his Highnesses disposal ; so this is a 
 comfort at all events ;" and, taking the well-pre- 
 pared waterpipe, he began to suck in with avidity 
 its fragrant fumes, as one who has been dying of 
 thirst would drain a vessel of clear cold water. 
 
 During this time the officers all preserved a re- 
 spectful silence ; but as soon as the pipe was ex- 
 hausted, and the Khan had withdrawn his lips 
 from it with a deep " Alhumdulilla !'^ Nujjuff 
 Koolee Khan ventured to put some questions 
 respecting his journey, and the nature of his 
 news. 
 
 " Why,'' replied he, "as for the first, com- 
 rades, I may tell you that I came straight from 
 Kalposh and Jahjerm, and have scarcely slept 
 since I left the last place to make my way by 
 Shahkoh ; as for my news, there is but little to 
 tell, and that, by your leave, is for his Highness's 
 ear, who, you well know, loves not to be fore- 
 stalled ; so you will excuse me."
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 83 
 
 " Well has the Khan spoken,"'' replied his 
 questioner; " God forbid we should forget our- 
 selves and be guilty of disrespect or indiscretion ; 
 but rumours are abroad, and we thought " — 
 
 *' Ay, rumours enough ; many a one have I 
 heard since I last took leave of his Highness ; 
 among the rest I have learned that we were our- 
 selves termed yaghee ;* you may see the truth of 
 rumours. The same is said of Mustapha Koolee ; 
 no doubt, please God, it will turn out as ill- 
 founded. But here comes his Highnesses messen- 
 ger to summon me ; so pardon me, and Allah 
 have ye all in remembrance !" and, springing from 
 his seat as lightly as if fresh from his couch, he 
 met the Gholaum-peishkhidmut, who had come to 
 usher him to the private apartments of his brother, 
 and soon disappeared through the gateway leading 
 thereto. ♦ 
 
 * Rebellious.
 
 84 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE KHELWUT. 
 
 In an apartment of small dimensions, and 
 plainly, thougli comfortably, furnished according 
 to the fashion of the country, and beside a blazing 
 fire of wood, sat a personage who, at first sight, 
 might have been taken for a youth, so slight was 
 his figure and such parts of his limbs as were 
 visible, and so small his beardless countenance. 
 But a more attentive glance would have satisfied 
 the beholder that the high expanding forehead, 
 corrugated by lines of deep thought, and the brows 
 strongly knit over eyes contracted by habitual sus- 
 picion, yet bright and restless, glancing at every 
 object, but seldom remaining fixed on any, be- 
 longed to a riper age. The general cast of the 
 countenance was grave and anxious, though at 
 times lit up with a gleam of fiercer expression. 
 The mould of the features was noble, and the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 85 
 
 nose in particular, thougli somewhat too long, was 
 straight and well shaped ; but doubts might have 
 been entertained as to the sex of the being to 
 whom these attributes pertained, for the thin 
 upper lip was destitute of mustachios, nor was a 
 symptom of beard to be discovered on the hollow 
 cheeks or long oval chin, from under which the 
 skin hunof in wrinkles over the shrivelled neck. 
 Yet would the beholder have paused in pro- 
 nouncing the person to be a female, for there was 
 a tone of resolute decision upon the pale brow, an 
 air of mental strength and firmness in the outline 
 of the lower jaw, and a capacitv in the skull, sel- 
 dom to be found, save in the male sex. Nor were 
 these delusive tokens . for he whom we have thus 
 attempted to present to our readers was no other 
 than the celebrated Aga Mahomed Khan, then 
 not quite forty-four years of age, and unquestion- 
 ably the ablest as he was the most remarkable man 
 of his age and country at this time, ruler only 
 of the northern provinces, but afterwards undis- 
 puted sovereign of the Persian empire. 
 
 He was habited in a loose chogha, or cloak of 
 brown cloth, lined with fur, rather the worse for 
 wear, which enveloped him from shoulder to foot, 
 concealinsf all his other habiliments, save when
 
 86 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the thrusting forth of an arm displayed an equally 
 shabby sleeve and vest of dark-coloured cotton 
 stuff. His head was covered with a cap of black 
 velvet embroidered with gold, a good deal tar- 
 nished. Before him, on the thick felt carpet on 
 which he sat, was placed his cullumdaun, or writ- 
 ing-case, with a roll of paper and several written 
 notes ; beside it, on a square piece of padded silk, 
 lay an old-fashioned watch in a shagreen case ; and 
 beyond these, ready for use, was placed his gold- 
 mounted scymetar, its curved blade encircling, 
 and guarding, as it were, the other and yet more 
 powerful implements ; an arrangement, which 
 though probably fortuitous, afforded an apt type 
 of the chiefs own mind, relying as it did rather 
 on policy and foresight than force — on the head and 
 the pen rather than the hand and sword, and re- 
 garding the latter but as subsidiary to the former, 
 — a means of resort only when these had failed, but 
 then, indeed, to be used with unsparing severity. 
 The only other person in the apartment was a 
 man of middle size, and rather slender frame, 
 whose features were expressive at once of grave 
 sagacity and deep respect. This was Meerza 
 ShefFeah, at that time the principal and confiden- 
 tial minister of state. He wore a fur-lined robe,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 87 
 
 greatly superior in appearance and value to that 
 which enveloped his master, and, even at this 
 early hour, the shawl-wound cap, and red stock- 
 ings used by the nobles of Persia when in attend- 
 ance on their sovereign : for, so jealous in mat- 
 ters of respect was the Khan, and so tenacious of 
 ceremony, that, though careless often to slovenli- 
 ness of his own appearance, he suflFered no one to 
 approach his presence without due attention to all 
 observances. 
 
 The apartment itself might have been regarded 
 as somewhat of an index to its owner's mind. It 
 was, as we have remarked, furnished with sufficient 
 attention to comfort, but with perfect plainness. 
 The walls, finished above the surface with white 
 stucco work, were ornamented beneath it with a pat- 
 tern of flowers upon a white and azure ground, and 
 the single-pointed window was glazed with painted 
 glass, arranged in compartments of beautiful 
 figures, through which the rising sun threw a many- 
 tinted light upon the carpet. But that carpet, 
 though of the softest and closest texture that the 
 looms of Herat could produce, displayed no gor- 
 geous colours, and the strips of felt which were 
 laid along the sides of the room, though of the 
 finest fabric of Tuft, were as plain in their hue as
 
 88 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the wool of vvliicli they were formed. The niches 
 in the walls contained one or two pieces of china, 
 and a few handsomely-bound books ; and a curtain 
 of Indian chintz, wadded with cotton, hung before 
 each doorway, excluding all cold from this khelwut, 
 which was the private closet of Aga Mahomed 
 Khan. 
 
 It seemed that Meerza ShefFea had just made 
 his appearance ; and the bundle of papers he 
 held in his hand, in addition to several rolls 
 stuck in his girdle, betokened this to be no mere 
 visit of ceremony, but an audience of real business. 
 
 "Well, what news, Meerza?^' demanded the 
 monarch, in the harsh, cracked voice which he 
 owed to his misfortune ; " what arrivals ?" 
 
 " Few, Centre of the Universe," replied the 
 Meerza, after tendering the deep obeisance always 
 paid to Persian sovereigns, — *'none of much im- 
 portance as yet ; but others are looked for every 
 hour : the state of the roads delays the chuppers. 
 Here is a letter from Meerza Ibrahim Larijoonee, 
 about the men who ought to have been here a 
 week ago. Their clothing and equipment has 
 not yet been furnished, but he promises — "' 
 
 " Be jehannum with his promises !" exclaimed 
 the chief; "his promises are like his own kher-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 89 
 
 boozas* — plenty of them, but little worth ; but he 
 shall be reckoned with, and by another account 
 than he expects. — Nothing from Asterabad or 
 Hezarjereeb ?" 
 
 " Nothinor certain from Asterabad, vour Hififh- 
 ness ; but a troop of tofFunchees have come up 
 from Feerozekoh, almost disabled by cold : some 
 have lost feet or hands. The snow is so heavy 
 in the mountains, they say, that caravans cannot 
 pass from the low country." 
 
 " Pshah ! — Feerozekoh is at our door, all easy 
 work ; the news we desire is from a distance — 
 Not a word from Ispahan ?*" 
 
 " Nothing new, Shadow of the Universe, — no- 
 thing since we heard of Ismael Khan having 
 been sent into Louristan by his uncle."'*' 
 
 *' Barikillah ! Meerza, a worthy news-mer- 
 chant art thou ; thou woukFst scarcely live by the 
 trade. Here have we received notice that Is- 
 mael had turned traitor on his own account, — 
 but with small profit, it seems, for the troops 
 dispersed at the uncle's approach, and he has 
 fled to the Wali. A wonderful family, these 
 unsainted Zends ! nothing to be heard of 
 amongst them but treachery and murder, blind- 
 
 * Melons.
 
 90 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ing and strangling, rebellion and fighting. — 
 Strange ! Wulla ! they are not the only fools 
 who play that losing game. Well, but from 
 Khumsa and Miskeen, hah ? — there, there is a 
 point to be guarded. What may Allee Khan 
 be about ? " 
 
 *' By the latest accounts. Centre of the Uni- 
 verse, Allee Khan was quiet at Zenjaun ; no 
 doubt, however, he keeps one eye turned to 
 Ghilan, and the other to Koordistan. But the 
 Eeliaut of Casveen are in our hand and will 
 keep him in check ; we can be sure of four or 
 five thousand of them at a call. Would to 
 Allah, your Highness could depend as securely on 
 Ferraghoon, Austioon, and the central districts !" 
 
 " Ay, Meerza, would to God we could ! 
 The Zend poison is too near them ; we must 
 find them a Hakeem. The ghorumsaugs would 
 play us a trick if they dared ; but, Inshallah ! 
 a good day will come. — Hah ! who is there ?" 
 demanded he, raising his voice as his ear caught 
 a signal at the door of the antechamber, — 
 " Gholaum Allee .?" 
 
 The door was heard to open, the curtain was 
 thrust aside, and an attendant appeared. 
 
 " What is it ?" demanded the Shah.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 91 
 
 " A cliupper from Sultanieh, Centre of the 
 Universe; here are his despatches." 
 
 " Give us them, and let him wait,'** and in- 
 stantly breaking the seals with his own hand, he 
 began rapidly ro peruse their contents : as he 
 did so, his countenance gradually lightened up, 
 his eyes sparkled, and his frame became more 
 erect, but he said nothing. At length, after a 
 few seconds of reflection, he said, " Meerza, leave 
 us for a while, but be at hand. Gholaum Allee, 
 send hither the chupper."" 
 
 Left to himself, the chief sat in deep thought 
 for a while, then again referred to the papers, 
 and appeared to be absorbed in their contents, 
 when the entrance of the messenger, with a low 
 obeisance, recalled him to himself. 
 
 " Good ; thou has returned," said he ; '' what 
 has thou to tell ?"" 
 
 " Shadow of the Universe," replied the man, 
 with an air of deep respect, yet of perfect self- 
 possession very different from that he had as- 
 sumed in the guard-room, '* the Khan of Khum- 
 sa and the Wali are together in league with 
 Ismael Khan, who is at present with the AVali, 
 for the purpose of attacking his uncle. This 
 your slave has discovered from a muleteer of his
 
 1)2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 acquaintance with whom the Wali's chupper tra- 
 velled part of the way from Senna to Zenjaun. 
 The intention of the Koords and Lours to join 
 in that work, is no secret there ; and they talk 
 openly of plundering Ispahan. It is also certain 
 that some of the Khumsa and Gerroos men have 
 already marched to the southward." 
 
 " Good ; thou hast done well. Heard'st thou 
 aught from the other side of the river ?" 
 
 " Centre of the World, the Sheghaghees of 
 Miana and Ser-ab, and the Eeliaut of Heshtrood 
 have been called upon, and some of them have 
 already joined the Khumsa levies ; before a week 
 passes, the Khan himself will have marched with 
 the rest : his baggage had left the train before 
 I quitted it." 
 
 " Barikilla ! Allee Khan — anything more .''"' 
 
 " No, Shadow of the World — nothing of im- 
 portance." 
 
 " It is well ; keep all this to yourself — remem- 
 ber — here is your mujdeh — begone !" and his 
 Highness handing to the man several pieces of 
 money, the latter took his leave with a low obei- 
 sance and departed. 
 
 At a signal from the chief, Meerza ShefFea re- 
 entered. " The news from Khumsa, Meerza,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. VO 
 
 are not bad," said he ; " you shall see the dis- 
 patches by and by — no more arrivals ? '"* 
 
 " Pardon me, Centre of the Universe ; the 
 messenger from Savah — but he has been unsuc- 
 cessful. The Hadjee sends excuses seasoned with 
 some trifling offerings, but neither men nor 
 money.'** 
 
 The chiefs face grew dark ; " Indeed !" said 
 he, '* it is well — we comprehend ; the ghorumsaug 
 shall ere long meet his deserts ;"' and the Meerza 
 felt that the Hadjee's fate was sealed, — that there 
 was blood in the eye of his master. 
 
 " What from Cashan and Koom ?'' demanded 
 the monarch, resuming his composure, '' have the 
 money and provisions come in?'" 
 
 " They have^, your Highness, — at least the 
 greater part, and the rest, inshallah ! will arrive 
 to-morrow." 
 
 ^'Afereen! Moollah Baukher — Afereen ! Had- 
 jee Mahomed Hussun, your faces at least are 
 white. But not a word yet from Asterabad?" 
 added the chief, with an anxious tone and look. 
 
 " Nothing, Shadow of the Universe, not a 
 word ;'" but at that instant the king's quick ear 
 caught the sound of a stir in the anteroom, and 
 again he called Gholaum Allee. But before that
 
 94 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 attendant could speak, his master half started 
 from his seat, exclaiming, '^ JaafFer Koolee, al- 
 humdulillah ! Jaaifer Koolee, alhumdulillah ! ^' 
 
 *' It is true, Centre of the Universe, his High- 
 ness JaafFer Koolee has arrived, and awaits the 
 orders of the presence in the Kessek khaneh." 
 
 " Let him come hither instantly : send Aga 
 Alice and Gholam-peishkhidmut Saduk Beg to 
 conduct him to our presence. Moorukhus Meerza 
 Sheffeea, you may retire. Send messengers di- 
 rectly to every district and town to press for their 
 contingents in men and money; threaten the 
 Zabits and Ketkhodahs, but let them beware of 
 abusing the Ryots — mind ; and should a single 
 act of peculation or rapacity come to our ears, let 
 the culprit tremble — Bero .f^ 
 
 So saying, and the Meerza having quitted the 
 apartment, the monarch, gathering together his 
 papers and despatches, drew his cloak closer round 
 his person, and awaited the appearance of his 
 brother with feelings of a very mingled character. 
 Conscious that the suspicions, which he could 
 never entirely banish from his mind, were not un- 
 likely to be remarked by a keen observer, he had 
 carefully avoided having any witness of their 
 meeting — a meeting to which, though greatly de-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 95 
 
 siderated on some accounts, he could by no means 
 look forward to with unalloyed satisfaction. Though 
 his favourite brother, if any might be regarded as 
 such, he dreaded the acknowledged and well- 
 earned popularity of Jaaffer Koolee, as an engine 
 that might one day be turned with effect against 
 himself. 
 
 Nor could this alarm be pronounced altogether 
 groundless ; for Jaaffer Koolee, burning with all 
 the high aspirations and ambition of a Persian 
 noble, and conscious, no doubt, of his own talents 
 and persuasive powers ; disgusted, too, frequently 
 by the harsh, repulsive manners of his brother, 
 had certainly more than once evinced tokens of 
 discontent, and a desire for independence sufficient 
 to startle the jealous mind of Aga Mahomed, 
 although he had never placed himself in that atti- 
 tude of positive hostility which had too fre- 
 quently been assumed by others of his brethren. 
 
 On the present occasion, Jaaffer Koolee Khan, 
 after the Shah's discomfiture in Louristan by the 
 Lours andBuchtiarees, had been hastily despatched 
 into Mazunderan and Asterabad, the strongholds 
 of the family and tribe, to raise troops and warlike 
 supplies, as well as to remove all evil impressions 
 that miffht have resulted from the late defeat, and
 
 96 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 to confirm the loyalty of the wavering. The 
 chief had too good cause to know and dread the 
 ambition of his brothers Mustapha and Moorteza, 
 and doubted not their disposition to turn his late 
 misfortune to advantage. Nor was he mistaken. 
 Ever since the dispersion of that army, of which, 
 for the furtherance of their own schemes of ag- 
 grandisement, they Lad taken command in the 
 service of Alee Mourad Khan Zend, they had 
 remained in the low provinces ; and while Moor- 
 teza passed into Gheelan to try his powers of per- 
 suasion upon Hedayut Khan the governor, Mus- 
 tapha, who for awhile had sought refuge in a for- 
 tress with a few hundred men, on hearing of his 
 brother's discomfiture, actually took the field, 
 levied troops, and did his best to gain the ascend- 
 ant in Mazunderan, as well as to make his way 
 good toward the capital by the route of Bostam. 
 
 Such was then the very delicate mission on 
 which JaafFer Koolee had been sent by his bro- 
 ther, who, though ignorant at the time of the ex- 
 tent of the brewing mischief, had, with that inde- 
 fatigable perseverance so peculiarly his own, 
 turned zealously to provide against the future, to 
 repair his losses and recruit his broken forces. It 
 was subsequent to the departure of JaafFer Koolee
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 97 
 
 that the more alarming accounts arrived, and it 
 was not wonderful that in the absence of all intel- 
 ligence from his emissary, so jealous and suspi- 
 cious a mind as that of the Shah should anticipate 
 the worst, and attribute his brother"*s silence and 
 continued absence to the treachery of which he 
 was ever in dread ; that he should imagine him 
 abandoning his own cause and embracing that of 
 the rebellious Mustapha. This was the cause of 
 his anxiety for news from Asterabad and Mazun- 
 deran,and of the joy which he felt on the announce- 
 ment of his brother's arrival ; yet was that joy 
 dashed by a lingering portion of his habitual 
 doubts, which still tinged his demeanour with a 
 shade of suspicion and mistrust. 
 
 The tread of approaching footsteps, which 
 reached even to the Khelwut, aroused him from 
 the fit of uneasy reflection into which he had 
 fallen, and he prepared to receive his expected 
 visitor with the smile of welcome and alacrity ; 
 but the cloud returned to his brow as another 
 sound fell on his sensitive ear. It was that of joy 
 and congratulation, which not even the respect 
 and dread which they entertained for their master 
 could suppress among the courtiers and officials in 
 waiting — for JaafFer Koolee was a general favou- 
 
 VOL.I. F
 
 98 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 rite — and in his present mood of bitterness such 
 demonstrations fell harshly on the king's soul. — 
 " Treacherous villains ! Thus would they wel- 
 come him to the throne itself were a safe occasion 
 to ofFer,*" was the first thought that crossed his 
 mind, and was half muttered through his set 
 teeth ; " but let them — let him bev/are !'' 
 
 The door now opened, and the pliant muscles 
 of the chiefs countenance resumed the most pla- 
 cid expression ; and as the purdeh was held aside 
 to admit the newly arrived traveller, a gleam of 
 joyful welcome shot across his withered features 
 like a sunbeam over a wintry landscape, while he 
 half rose to receive the joyous yet respectful em- 
 brace of his worthiest and most faithful brother. 
 
 *' Ai, JaafFer Koolee, thou art welcome! — 
 right welcome, my brother ; long, long hast thou 
 been absent. Wullah ! our brain was dried up; 
 we knew not Avhat to think." 
 
 *' May your Highnesses prosperity increase ! 
 We trust that of us you could think in no wise 
 save as of your most faithful servant, and most 
 affectionate brother. May God forbid that your 
 Highness could doubt wze.""' 
 
 *' Astafferullah ! God forfend ! How could 
 we doubt thee^ JaafFer ? Hast thou not ever in
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 99 
 
 truth been affectionate and zealous ? in whom 
 could we confide if not in thee ? But thy news, 
 brother, thy news. They may be worth gold at 
 this moment, man. From whence comest thou 
 now r 
 
 " I would state that I come now straight from 
 Peechuck Muheleh, by the way of Shah-koh, 
 Cheshmeh-Allee, and Dowlutabad, and after 
 having made a course through Jahjerm, Kal- 
 poosh, Finderisk, Gourgaun, and Asterabad ; the 
 upper road was impassable from snow ; but I 
 heard a good deal as I came along/' 
 
 " Well, and what did you hear ? What of 
 Mustapha ? did you see himV^ 
 
 " No ; Mustapha I saw not. It would have 
 answered no purpose, and he might have detained 
 me ; so that evil reports of me might have 
 reached the presence ; but of him I heard not a 
 little : sad it is, truly ; but wliatever be the cause, 
 there can be no doubt of the fact, Mustapha 
 has been defiling himself." 
 
 " Of that, JaaiFer, we need no new proof ; 
 what we would know is, the means he possesses 
 of supporting his rebellious attempt ; what force 
 has he got together ; where he is now ; whul. are 
 his intended movements."" 
 
 f2
 
 100 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " Your Highness shall hear what I have learn- 
 ed. Mustapha has been doing what he could 
 in Mazunderan, but it amounts not to much. 
 It is chiefly from other parts he has been gather- 
 ing followers ; for everywhere there are broken 
 men, soldiers of fortune, yerrim masses, who care 
 not whom they follow, if he but lead them to 
 plunder. There are Kajars among them, and 
 Hajilars, and Toorkomans, and Arab-ajemees, 
 ay, even from my own Bostam ; not a few Kho- 
 rasanees, and no lack of Mazunderanees and As- 
 terabadees. Nay, why start at that ? Kajars 
 will follow Kajars without nicely choosing their 
 object, especially when duty to the absent is 
 opposed by fear for those who are present. From 
 all I could gather, the force with Mustapha may 
 amount to four thousand men, and believing that 
 your Highness is in no condition to oppose him, 
 he is marching hitherward. My last information 
 left him in camp near Shahrood ; but he can only 
 approach by the low road. It was to apprise you 
 of this that I strove to cross the mountains, — 
 no child's play, by your own august head ! and 
 here am I from Finderisk in four days and 
 five nights, one of the last having been passed 
 in the snow on the top of the Shah-koh."
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 101 
 
 The chief turned his eyes upon his brother 
 with a glance of indescribable feeling. Had ten- 
 derness belonged to his nature, it might have 
 been thought to betray itself in the relaxing of 
 his severe features, and the softening of his keen, 
 dark eye. It was a look that seemed to say, 
 " How fain would I love and trust thee, could I 
 but feel perfect confidence in the zeal and the 
 aflPection thou art ever evincing, — did I not fear 
 that thou too would"'st some day turn and betray 
 men !" Could the moisture that glittered on that 
 lid have been a tear ? 
 
 " Ay, brother, thou hast ridden well, nor is 
 this the first or only time ; rememberest thou, 
 Jaaffer Koolee, yon night some eight years ago, — 
 by my soul, too, about this very season ? On the 
 heights of Khooshkizerd, as we worked our way 
 along the mountains behind Dehgirdoo ! There 
 was snow enough then, too, — ay, and cold enough 
 to freeze the heart's blood ; but we bore it all, 
 and bore it bravely, too. I remember, thou 
 did'st force me to take thy cloak, because thou 
 said'st it was warmer and lighter than mine ? 
 Allah, Allah ! how much has chanced since then ; 
 yet, here are we all, still; — but no, not all, 
 not all !" added he, sinking his voice, and his
 
 102 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 brow became once more overcast, as the memory 
 of those who were gone rose reproachingly upon 
 his soul. But again the cloud of sadness passed 
 away, as the wind licks up the moisture of the 
 softening shower, and all was cold and hard. 
 
 " Well, let that pass," said he ; " what think- 
 est thou, after all, of the state of our interests 
 in Mazunderan ? Have the efforts of our rebel 
 brother damaged them much !" 
 
 " No, by your head, my lord ! in my belief 
 your own august presence for a very short time, 
 or the rumour of a single advantage gained, would 
 rally every man in the province to your standard, 
 and turn back the weak or disobedient to their 
 duty ; for more than half of those who desert it, 
 do so from fear. Poor wretches ! they have 
 suffered so often for opposing the lord of the 
 day, that each leader gains their allegiance dur- 
 ing his own ascendancy. I do believe, that had 
 I brought along with me but a handful of troops 
 to show face with, I might have raised force 
 enough to send Mustapha down the pass again.*" 
 
 The chief mused ; again did the devil of jea- 
 lousy rise in his soul ; but the present and tan- 
 gible proofs of his brother's honesty were too 
 fresh and pregnant to be overlooked or misinter-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 103 
 
 preted ; his better angel prevailed, and the evil 
 spirit fled. " Is it so ?" said he ; " and supposing 
 him to make his advance unchecked, by what 
 time, think you, could he be here ?" 
 
 " Why, I would state that the road is difficult, 
 for there is much snow on all the heights ; Ahei- 
 yoon and Sirderreh are deeply covered, and where 
 snow is not, mud is, worse even than the snow. 
 Neither can he move without provisions, for 
 there is little in that way to be had upon the 
 road ; and he is still collecting men. An ordi- 
 nary leader could not make it out under a month, 
 but Mustapha is fiery and impatient." 
 
 " Enough ; it will answer. And now, Jaaffer 
 Koolee, listen while I confide to you the state 
 of our affairs, and learn what I propose to do, 
 your counsel will then be acceptable. Thou 
 knowest that since our arrival here, — after that 
 unlucky check at Nehawund from those accursed 
 robbers, — we have been unceasingly engaged in 
 summoning our friends, and preparing for a more 
 fortunate hour; and this, too, has been done 
 with the greater confidence, because it is well 
 known, that our misfortune arose entirely from 
 accidents of time and place having favoured a 
 crafty foe ; and not from the skill or power of a
 
 104 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 more potent rival. That foe, the plundering 
 Eeliaut of Lauristan, are equally the enemy of 
 our Zend opponent, and are even now in arms 
 against him ; and, better still, Jaaffer Khan, like 
 ourselves, alas ! has found a yet more dangerous 
 foe in his own family. His cousin Ismael, re- 
 membering the ill-treatment which, as thou know- 
 est, he received at the hands of Jaaffer in Ispa- 
 han, although subsequently intrusted by him 
 with a military charge, thought fit to make a 
 party for himself among these very tribes. His 
 measures, however, were but ill taken, for Jaaf- 
 fer mustering his troops, in spite of the snow, 
 marched against his cousin, whose ill-assorted 
 rabble melted from him without waiting for a 
 blow, while he took refuge with the Wali, Khos- 
 roo Khan." 
 
 " Now the Wali, as thou knowest, is the 
 friend of our house from considerations of gra- 
 titude to our deceased father ; — may his soul 
 rest in Paradise ! He has not only promised to his 
 guest his own aid and that of the neighbouring 
 tribes, but has engaged the assistance of Maho- 
 med Khan, Karagooslee, and Alice Khan Khum- 
 sai, who in their turn have united with them the 
 Sheghaghee and other tribes of Heshtrood. Thou
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 105 
 
 knowest that on these we have never been able to 
 place any reliance ; but this coalition, by uniting 
 them all against the Zend, will at least neu- 
 tralize their opposition to us while weakening the 
 power of our rival. Of this intrigue the pro- 
 gress has all along been communicated to us ; 
 nor have our efforts to promote it been wanting, 
 for upon it have we relied for the means of chas- 
 tising Hedayut Khan, reducing Ghilan, and 
 destroying the plans and hopes of Moorteza ; 
 and this very morning have I trustworthy infor- 
 mation that Allee Khan of Khumsa, and his 
 party, have actually broken ground, and that he 
 himself will immediately take the road to Rama- 
 dan . 
 
 " This leaves the road open to our operations. 
 We have collected here ten thousand choice 
 troops : this number will be increased before to- 
 morrow"'s dawn ; and three thousand good Eeliaut 
 horse await our call at Casveen. Now mark me, 
 Jaaffer Koolee. Of these troops, three thousand 
 shall be placed under your orders. Thou shalt 
 lead them against Mustapha, recruiting and in- 
 creasing them from every quarter where success 
 may be expected. To your judgment it will be 
 left either to fight or to negotiate — to manoeuvre 
 
 f5
 
 106 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 and protract the time of fighting, or to hasten the 
 action, as thou shalt see best. I myself, with the 
 rest of the force, will proceed at once to Ghilan. 
 The roads will be bad, the snow deep, the passes 
 difficult — the river, no doubt, will be flooded ; 
 but our minds must be made up to all hazards — 
 push through we must. Our left flank is safe, 
 since Allee Khan and his Eeliaut have got their 
 hands full ; and let Hedayut Khan, with Moor- 
 teza Koolee to boot, stand his ground if he dare. 
 Have you comprehended ?*" 
 
 " By your own august head ! by my father's 
 soul ! the plan is a glorious one, and must succeed, 
 inshallah !" exclaimed JaafFer Koolee, excited by 
 the admirable policy and promising prospects dis- 
 played in the purposed measures of his brother. 
 As for Mustapha, on my head be it, he will listen 
 to reason and fair terms : he is rash and hasty, no 
 doubt ; but his heart is generous and kind." 
 
 " For Moorteza, your Highness will have to 
 deal with him. Let me intreat that your justice 
 be tempered with mercy — that you will not forget 
 that in his veins also runs the blood of Mahomed 
 Hoosem Khan." 
 
 "Of that, Jaaffer Koolee, have thou no fear. 
 Let Moorteza deal reasonably and frankly with
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 107 
 
 US, and he will find us well disposed to mercy. 
 Let him henceforth be honest and faithful, and 
 he will meet with confidence and kindness. But 
 for thee, Jaaffer Koolee, when wilt thou be ready 
 to start ? for these matters require speed ; yet it 
 were cruel to hurry thee, for thou hast ridden far, 
 and must be fiitigued. Were it not best that 
 thou should'st seek repose ?" 
 
 '' Ay, by our death ! and food too ; for scarce 
 a morsel has crossed these lips for four and twenty 
 hours. We are in excellent training, Murg-e-tu!* 
 What flesh there is, is hard and firm enough ; but 
 after all, something of food and sleep may be con- 
 venient : for the rest, we are ready in twelve 
 hours, if it please you to despatch us so soon.*" 
 
 " Thou shalt have four and twenty, brother, 
 and all your .equipment provided. May Allah 
 keep thee for the present ! for us, we must pre- 
 pare for the Salaam." 
 
 * By your death ! a common mode of asseveration.
 
 108 THK DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE GUARD-ROOM. 
 
 No sooner had the name of JaafFer Koolee 
 Khan been shouted forth, as that nobleman made 
 his entry at the outer gate of the Ark, and reined 
 up his weary steed, the condition of which, as 
 well as of the rider's person, betrayed the length 
 and fatigue of their journey, than the joyful cries 
 of the guards and loungers at the Durkhaneh, by 
 all of whom he was well known and Ipved, brought 
 gholaums and attendants to his stirrup, and 
 grooms and furoshes to the assistance of his train, 
 all of whom they found comprised in the person 
 of our friend the Kara Toghaur ; but that youth, 
 springing alertly from his half-dead yaboo, ran 
 himself to the head of his master's horse, and 
 seizing the bridle, held the stirrup, while others 
 aided the rider to dismount. The Khan, as he 
 drew his foot from the stirrup, smiled kindly on
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 109 
 
 him ; and turning to some of those who were 
 bustling round him, said, " See and take care of 
 this youth, for, by my soul ! he will be found 
 worth the pains." 
 
 It was enough : the wearied animals were led 
 away to be tended in the royal stables, while Os- 
 man was hurried through the gateway by a group 
 of gholaums ; and, before he Icnew where he was, 
 found himself seated in the midst of the whole 
 troop on duty in the kessheck khaneh, an object 
 of interest and curiosity to all. 
 
 " Khoosh amedeed ! khoosh amedeed ! Seffa 
 guelden ! — Moubarik ! ye are right welcome ! 
 fortunate be your coming !" shouted the whole 
 body. 
 
 " Approach here to the fire,'' said one. 
 
 " Bring a calleeoon," called another. 
 
 " Off with these wet lafcheens^"" exclaimed a 
 third ; while others took cloak and shield, and 
 would have disburthened him of all his accoutre- 
 ments in their zeal for his comfort. 
 
 " Allah- il-ullah ! he is a Toorkoman," cried 
 one : " look at that Yemoot bow and arrows !'** 
 
 ** From whence come ye, comrade.^" demand- 
 ed another. 
 
 " In the name of Allah,'"' said one of the
 
 110 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 elders, with more consideration, " let the poor 
 fellow alone for a minute till he smoke his pipe 
 and warm himself: patience for a little while, and 
 then no fear but we shall have his news." 
 
 So the Dark Falcon was left for a minute or two 
 in peace and quietness, until he had sucked the 
 water-pipe and spread his limbs to the heat ; but 
 the impatience of the assembly, which was in- 
 creasing every moment, could at length endure no 
 longer. An On-bashee, or commander of ten, 
 taking the lead, asked the young man from whence 
 they had last come, and where they had left the 
 rest of their party ? 
 
 " Let it be represented,"" replied the youth, 
 *' that your servant only joined the Aga some fur- 
 sucks on this side Serdereh of Shah-koh, from 
 whence we crossed the mountains to Dowlutabad 
 of Damghaun, and thence came by the low road 
 straight hither. For the Aga's party, they have 
 all been left on the road, disabled or unhorsed.'' 
 
 " And whence came his Highness to Shah- 
 koh ?" 
 
 " Of that, Agas, I can say little, save that I 
 did understand him to have been at Jahjerm and 
 Kalpoosh.**' 
 
 " And where then wert thou ?'''
 
 THE DARK FALCON. Ill 
 
 " I have already stated, Agas, that I had not 
 then joined his Highness. It chanced that I 
 was on the road when he was in want of a guide : 
 I undertook the office, and have attended him 
 thus far." 
 
 " So then thou wert not in his service before V* 
 
 "- By no means, Aga ; never till that time." 
 
 '• Then please to inform us who thou may"'st 
 be : what is thy name ? where wast thou born ?" 
 
 " I would state, Aga, that the huzruV' there 
 was right : I am a Yemoot lad ; but I have seen 
 some service with the Kizzilbashcs, and had been 
 long absent from the obah, when I fell in with 
 the Aga." 
 
 The attention hitherto paid to the young man 
 by the assembly experienced a considerable dimi- 
 nution after this frank confession. But there was 
 one old man whose harsh and scarred countenance 
 and grizzled beard betokened abundance of hard 
 service as well as of years, and who, after gazing 
 some time on the lad, growled out as to himself, 
 
 " He a Yemoot ! No more the spawn of 
 a Yemoot Obah than the hawk is a chick of the 
 kite ! " 
 
 * Or presence, a common appellation of respect to those 
 who are conversins: with one.
 
 112 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ' " Your servant is ignorant of your meaning, 
 Aga," said the youth, who heard the observation, 
 whether intended or not for his ears ; '* but so 
 far you are right ; for though brought up as a 
 khanezadeh (one born in the house), I was but a 
 captive and a slave. I now am free by my 
 master's act and deed ; this is the truth, and I 
 have no more to say." 
 
 " And well said, too," said the On-bashee ; " it 
 is sufficient. Mind thou not Old Hussun Beg. 
 Crabbed stocks will give sour grapes, and Hussun 
 Beg''s words will sometimes set the teeth on edge; 
 no blame to thee that thou wert a captive ; and 
 what is it to us, if his Highness be pleased, 
 whether thou art Toorkoman or Toork. But thy 
 name youth ? thy fortunate name ?" 
 
 " The name your servant bore in his Obah, 
 was Osman ; but he was better known by the 
 lugub (or ij/name) of Karatoghaur, given him by 
 his comrades of the tribe." 
 
 " Mashallah ! an admirable lugub ! A sharp 
 sighted bird, I warrant ; and now come, thy news, 
 comrade. What do they in Asterabad, and 
 among thy friends of the Obahs ? Heard''st thou 
 of any gatherings below ?^'' 
 
 '* Cher rah f why not, Aga ? Every one there
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 113 
 
 not only hears of them, but is pressed to join 
 tliem. Mustapha Koolee Khan, and his par- 
 tizans take good care we shall not get cold for 
 want of work." 
 
 " And how then ? do many join his party ?" 
 
 *' No doubt ; he has some friends and some 
 money, and fair promises in plenty ; and those 
 who live by the sword are all agape for plunder ; 
 and Mustapha Koolee Khan's name is high as a 
 successful leader.'' 
 
 '' Hum ! is that thy opinion ? how camest 
 thou not to take service with him, then ?" 
 
 '' Because, Aga, I knew something of his ser- 
 vice of old and liked it not. I could feel no con- 
 fidence in a Kajar who once served a Zend against 
 his own father's son. Never, since I was my 
 own master, has a thought of taking service with 
 Mustapha Koolee Khan once entered my brain." 
 
 *' Afereen, Batchah ! Afereen ! this metal has 
 the true sound ; inshallah ! we shall find it strike 
 as hard, and cut as deep. And what is said to 
 be the strength of Mustapha's force ?" 
 
 " Of that, Aga, I can say but little ; for report 
 varies much. It has been alleged that of all 
 sorts, Toork and Taujik, Toorkoman and Kizzil- 
 bash, Khorasanee and Asterabadee, he may
 
 114 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 number six to eight thousand. Others say ten ; 
 but others again, to whose words your servant 
 woukl give more credit, declare that it does not 
 exceed three or four thousand, horse and foot. 
 Some Cherwadars who left his camp on the plain 
 close to Shahrood, assured me he could not have 
 many more.""* 
 
 "At Shahrood, Batchah ! and had he been 
 there long?" 
 
 " No, Aga ; certainly not ; for it is no long 
 time since his munzil was on the low ground near 
 AshrufF; but he has been actively recruiting since 
 then." 
 
 " By the head of our aga, this promises work I 
 thou didst not hear w^hat Mustapha proposed to 
 do ? whither he meant to march next ?" 
 
 " No, Aga, that did not reach the ears of thy 
 servant." 
 
 " What talk is this ? what use in all these 
 questions ?" grumbled Hussun Beg, in the same 
 discontented tone as before. " Will the Jackal 
 tell of the Lion''s doings ? will the snake warn 
 where it means to sting ? The fewer words the 
 less mischief. Let the boy keep his counsel and 
 his news to himself; when our work comes, no fear 
 but we shall hear of it."
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 115 
 
 " Ai Tovah^ Tovah ! Hassim Beg ! what 
 words are these ? is this your courtesy to strangers? 
 What ill can the youth have ever done thee, that 
 thou abusest him in such terms ? What meanest 
 thou, man ? "' 
 
 " What mean I ?'' replied the old man ; "I 
 mean that there is mischief somewhere, — trea- 
 chery ! ' What evil hath he done ?"* thou askest ; 
 I ask, in turn, what but evil was ever found in 
 any of his race ? Let our aga look to it. My 
 beard may be gray, but my eyes are good still, 
 Alhumdulillah ! " 
 
 " La-illah-il-ullah ! this is strange, comrade ! 
 What race art thou talking of? Thou hearest the 
 lad is no Yemoot after all ; how then shouldest 
 thou know aught of his race, when he knows it 
 not himself?'' 
 
 " Yemoot ! no — worse. Worse than Yemoot 
 or Goklan and Tekeh to boot. But let it pass ; 
 call me fool, or fuzool, as you please, but no 
 such tricks will go down with old Hussun 
 Beg." 
 
 While the youth was still gazing with unfeign- 
 ed surprise at the old man who had so strangely 
 attacked him, and meditating what reply he best 
 should make to it, a trampling of feet was heard
 
 116 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 in the passage issuing from the court, and in 
 another moment his new master, JaafFer Koolee 
 Khan, made his appearance, followed by a number 
 of the chiefs and officers who had been in atten- 
 dance within, and who clustered around him with 
 obvious marks of attachment. The guard rose to 
 give him the salute, and the Karatoghaur joining 
 in the train followed to his quarters.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 117 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CHARACTERS. 
 
 The effects of hardship and fatigue are soon 
 repaired in men whose lives are spent in constant 
 toil and exertion ; and the evening of that same 
 dav which witnessed the arrival of Jaaffer Koolee 
 Khan after his rapid and painful journey saw him 
 fresh with renewed vigour, seated in a handsome 
 apartment in another quarter of the Ark, beside a 
 comfortable fire, and surrounded by many of his 
 kinsmen and friends, who had come to pay their 
 respect and enjoy his company on his return, after 
 so long an absence. The hour of evening prayer 
 was past ; and besides the cheerful blaze of the 
 fire, four large wax-lights, burning in candlesticks 
 of brass, helped to dispel the darkness. Every- 
 thing breathed of cheerfulness and comfort ; con- 
 versation was incessant, the only interruption 
 being from the frequent use of the calleeoon.
 
 118 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 which, furnished by the attendants, passed often 
 round the assembly. At length came the hour of 
 repast. The long sofra was spread before them, 
 and on it the sham, or evening meal, which pro- 
 duced a busy and not unpleasant interval of 
 silence. 
 
 When the appetite was satisfied, conversation 
 resumed its sway, turning naturally upon the 
 events which had occurred to the several members 
 of the party, during the time of their respective 
 absences and separation' from each other; and 
 much of mutual interest there was to be recipro- 
 cally communicated. As the night wore on, how- 
 ever, one after another took their leaves, till but 
 a single person remained with the chief. This 
 person was the same lioossein Koolee Khan, to 
 whom the reader has already been introduced in 
 the quarters of the officer of the guard, and who 
 appeared to enjoy both the friendship and perfect 
 confidence of the Khan ; for the latter, beckoning 
 him to come nearer, while he himself drew more 
 closely round him his warm cloak, and assumed 
 an attitude of greater ease, addressed him as 
 follows : — 
 
 " It is well ; at length we are alone : and now 
 Hoossein Koolee come hither, Azeez-e-mun, and
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 119 
 
 let me imderstand how matters truly stand, and 
 have been going on since I left this for Mazun- 
 deran?" 
 
 " Ai, Khan ! what shall I say ? where shall I 
 begin — for there is plenty to tell ; yet, by your 
 own death ! you will find there are many here 
 gaping for your news, as eagerly as you can wish 
 for ours, — all are burning to know where your 
 Highness can have been bestowed all this time ; 
 for strange things were noised about, Wullah ! 
 and some began to fear that our Aga was to lose 
 the service of another brother yet.'' 
 
 " Asses ! downright asses, Hoossein Koolee ; 
 when did they learn to read treason on my brow ? 
 But thou, friend, could'st not be so blind — thou 
 might'st have told the beasts they were eating filth." 
 
 "And so I did, Aga, Jan-e-tu !* so I did; 
 God forbid I should devour their abomination, 
 at least ; but these are strange times, and men 
 say they know not who to trust. For Moorteza 
 and Mustapha Koolee, this is not their first mis- 
 take, and they are known ; but when old, and 
 hitherto faithful adherents fall off and prove false, 
 what are men to say ? Think of Abbas Koolee 
 Khan, Koordmeheleh, and Mahomed Hussun 
 * Bv vour soul !
 
 1^0 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 Beg Furrahbadee, — ay, and these Larijoonees, 
 part of the peerahun-e-tun-e-shah — the very shirt 
 of the king's body ! when such men turn their 
 backs upon their old friends, and take part with 
 their enemies, can it be wondered at if confidence 
 should almost cease to exist, and that all who are 
 absent fall under suspicion ? " 
 
 '' Well, there is something in what you say ; 
 and for those who know me not there is much 
 allowance to be made. But my brother, his 
 Highness, — thinkest thou that he doubted? had 
 he lost confidence in me also ?"" 
 
 " What statement should I make ?" replied 
 Hoossein Koolee, uneasily ; " who is there that 
 can read his Highness' mind ? Whatever may 
 have passed through that brain of his, he has ex- 
 pressed nothing publicly." 
 
 '' But how has he acted ? something may be 
 gathered from that." 
 
 " Ai, Aga ! what is to be gathered from the 
 acts of Aga Mahomed Khan ? Like his pur- 
 poses, all are wrapped in mystery. — Wullah ! so 
 little is he to be judged like other men, that 
 even where his course seems most plain, I should 
 be apt to read his measures by contraries, and 
 impute to him motives the reverse' of those most
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 1^1 
 
 obvious. His work is like that of destiny, — we 
 see the effects, but the cause remains conceal ed/"* 
 
 " It is true, by your own soul it is true, 
 Hoossein Koolee," replied the Khan, shaking his 
 head, and falling into a moody silence, which 
 lasted near a minute. " But his doubts must 
 now be at an end, if they are ever to be so," 
 continued he ; " he cannot now mistrust me !" 
 
 " Certainly not, Aga ; the circumstances of 
 your return, and the striking service you have 
 performed, must serve for the present to satisfy 
 even his mind — for the future who shall answer. 
 His Highness would distrust his own right hand, 
 were it long out of his sight." 
 
 " Alas, alas ! thou art right again, Hoossein 
 Koolee ; that very suspicious jealousy has al- 
 ready caused him more loss than all the intrigues 
 of the Zend. But then who is there like him 
 for repairing a disaster ? There have been great 
 preparations here already, it seems." 
 
 " Ay, Aga, and hard work have we all had 
 of it ; who, indeed, but himself could do what 
 has been done after such a miscarriage, — never 
 truly was there a chief like our aga. Instead of 
 denying a defeat and labouring to make it out to 
 be a success, he frankly admits his loss, and only 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 thinks of repairing it. — Wullah ! he is a won- 
 derful man !" 
 
 " Ay, Hoossein Koolee, few can afford to tell 
 truths that make against themselves. But what 
 must be this man's force of character, when, even 
 as a worsted leader, he can raise troops almost 
 at will. The people trust his words, they know 
 that no falsehood lurks behind them ; whereas 
 little credit is given to the fair protestations of 
 others, because they too often serve but as a 
 cloak to deceit." 
 
 " Afereen ! It is the truth. Our master, 
 Mashallah ! is a man. — Pity that all cannot per- 
 ceive his worth, and yield him their willing obe- 
 dience ; then would his power be secure, and 
 the glory of Iram be exalted. Irresolution rather 
 than dislike causes many to hang back ; they 
 will find their mistake too late ; several districts 
 have refused their contingents, and are already 
 marked for woe and vengeance. Even your own 
 arrival, Aga, confirming, as it will, many in their 
 duty, will be the signal of destruction to others, 
 whose punishments have only been deferred until 
 a convenient time ; we shall hear news of this no 
 doubt ere long, foi this very morning more than 
 one party left the camp on errands, not of mercy.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 123 
 
 as I should guess from those who were em- 
 ployed." 
 
 " Hah ! many contingents refused, say'st thou? 
 from whence ? — not north of Ispahan ? — surely 
 not any within reach ?" 
 
 " Yes, by your head, Aga ! I told you of 
 the Larijoones ; then the Eeliaut and militia of 
 Khaur and Vuromeen, have both of them been 
 backward, to say the least of it. Their brains 
 have been turned, it is said, by the Genduck 
 man, whose own head is also full of wind. Then 
 all the central districts — Ferragoon, Austioon, 
 Miskabad, and all; from Savah to Khonsar, — 
 from Koom to Hamadan, every one has been 
 eating the abomination of that dog of a Zend, 
 Jaaffer Khan. Or perhaps that unlucky affair 
 with the Buchtarees has given them a twist, and 
 they have never looked the right way since it 
 happened. But some of them have already met 
 their deserts, — the sword of vengeance has smit- 
 ten them ere they thought it could be drawn. 
 Your Lordship no doubt has heard of that affair 
 at Tunnacaboon ? — how the rebels must have bit 
 their fingers — how their hearts must have melted 
 that night when they found Ashruff Khan and 
 all his Arabajemees upon them !" 
 
 G 2
 
 1^4 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " Ay, I did hear of that day of judgment," 
 replied the Khan, thoughtfully; that was the 
 doing of the unlucky Moorteza Koolee. I was 
 then at Nica trying my best to bring the 
 men of AshrufF and Ferahbad to their duty, — 
 plenty there was to be done, and small means 
 to do it with. From thence I went by Koord- 
 mehelah to Asterabad, and hard work we had 
 of it in the very teeth of Mustapha and his 
 partisans." 
 
 " No doubt of it ; great was the risk, and few 
 there are who would have taken the duty ; for 
 alas ! in Mazunderan at this time who can be sure 
 of knowing friend from foe ?" 
 
 " True ; and in several instances I had no- 
 thing for it but to trust life and liberty in the 
 hands of very doubtful characters ; and though, 
 God knows we had escapes and adventures 
 enough, we met — Alhumdulillah ! with but few 
 ghorunsaugs. In passing near No-deh, I was 
 hard enough pressed by some of Mustapha Koo- 
 lee's rascals — Yemoots and Khorasanees; we beat 
 them at last, however. But the worst risk I 
 have run for many a day was only three nights 
 ago, in the pass of Shah-koh. The snow was 
 deep, and the booraun roared like a whirlwind,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 125 
 
 but my business was urgent, and there was no- 
 thing for it but to try the pass. My horses got 
 knocked up, — my people failed ; Allah knows 
 whether some of them will ever be heard of again ! 
 We were at the last gasp — in truth I had given 
 myself up. The end of the world had come to 
 me, and no doubt my life was gone, had it not 
 been for a young lad, a Toorkoman he calls him- 
 self, the servant or assistant of some muleteers, 
 who consented to guide me when every one else 
 refused, and who supported and cheered me up 
 when all the rest failed. Wullah ! but for him I 
 should have stuck there till now, but by his aid 
 I got on to a cave at the top of the pass, where, 
 by your head ! I found strange company, and very 
 unexpected refreshment." 
 
 " Alhumdulillah ! Praise be to God, you did 
 so ! By your own august head. Khan, this is not 
 right ; you think too little of such risks. It 
 may do well for every yaboo, or ass in the army 
 to play with his life as with a straw, or for the 
 hard-headed Mustapha to run his scull against 
 every wall in his way ; but for you, the hope of 
 your father's house, the best pillar of the state, 
 the support of the Ashakhabash — Wullah Billah ! 
 this is not as it ought to be. As for the vouth,
 
 126 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 we have heard something of him. A Toorkoman 
 your Lordship said ?" 
 
 " Ay, a Toorkoman he calls himself — a 
 Yemoot — but in my judgment, no more a 
 Yemoot, Hoossein Koolee, than thou art a Zend. 
 In truth, I thought of shewing him to you 
 before now; by your head, he is worth the look- 
 ing at; I have my reasons too. — Hoh Batchah!" 
 
 An attendant entering, the Khan gave direc- 
 tions that his late guide should be sent for, and 
 in a few minutes, the Dark Falcon made his 
 appearance, in a garb somewhat different from 
 that in which we lately found him. His wet and 
 soiled Toorkoman wrappings, were replaced by 
 the usual dress of an attendant upon a man of 
 rank, and his broad-topped skeepskin cap, had 
 made way for the small conical cap of black 
 lambskin. The alteration effected in his mien 
 and looks by this change, was so strikingly to his 
 advantage, that his master, after regarding him 
 for a moment in silence, addressed him with a 
 " Barikillah, Batchah ! thou hast cast thy 
 slough I see, and comest out in fresh colours ; 
 but discard not ready service with thy rough case; 
 fine clothes may suit the Durkhaneh ; but the 
 times are stirring, and credit me, a working
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 127 
 
 suit, a stout arm and a true heart will make their 
 way better in these days, than silken dress and 
 courtly manners ; we cannot afford to lose our 
 active guide." 
 
 " God forbid, your Highness ! your servant 
 trusts he may never be found either slothful or 
 thankless ; as for work, it has been his daily 
 fare since childhood, and it is not in your Lord- 
 ship's service, he will ever shrink from toil ; for 
 the court, where is it, and where has he been ? 
 He knows nothing of it.'' 
 
 " Afereen ! we doubt not of your zeal ; as for 
 the court, youths such as you have a marvellous 
 faculty of adaptation to its ways: what thinkest 
 thou of what thou hast seen already ? does it 
 please thee as well as the obah and the camp ?" 
 
 "A wonderful place it is, your Highness, — grand 
 and magnificent : never, even in a dream, did I see 
 the like !" said the voung man with kindlinof eves. 
 
 " Ay, boy, but the time for such dreams has 
 not yet arrived — there is hard work to be done 
 ere we sleep — rest must be earned by labour." 
 
 " On my eyes be it, my Lord ; your servant is 
 ready." 
 
 "It is well ; and what say est thou Hoossein 
 Koolee to this animal ?'' said the chief, casting a
 
 128 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 significant glance at Osman as he spoke — " Wilt 
 thou accept of him as a Yemoot colt, hah ?""* 
 
 " Yemoot, my Lord ? never ; never was he 
 foaled on the other side the Goorgaun '" 
 
 " What ? thou thinkest then with ourselves, 
 that these features have more kindred with the 
 Ester than the Attruck ?" 
 
 " By your own august head ! Aga, I do ; it is 
 wonderful." 
 
 At this moment, an attendant entered in haste, 
 to inform the Khan that his Meer Achor Allee 
 Beg had arrived, and was just coming to report 
 himself to the Presence ; and that Hussun Beg 
 was also in attendance, desiring to kiss the hem 
 of his Highness"* robe. 
 
 "Barikillah! Allee Beg — already? well done ; 
 let him come hither: admit old Hussun Beg too ; 
 a snarling ghorumsaug he is, no doubt, but a 
 true and faithful Kajar nevertheless — we must be- 
 ware of affronting him — he shall be welcome." 
 
 In a minute or two, both men made their ap- 
 pearance ; when the Khan addressed the first 
 with an ^' Afereen, Allee Beg — Afereen ! wel- 
 come for a good servant ; thy face is white to-day. 
 Wullah ! thou hast made good speed, Jan-e-tu. 
 And thou too, Hussun Beg, welcome again ;
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 129 
 
 how has it fared with thee these many days ? We 
 are just from thine own country, man ; but few of 
 our gallant Kajars are to be found there ; all at 
 their posts with their chief — Mashallah ! but not 
 all following the same leader ; Would it were 
 otherwise !" 
 
 " May your Highness's shadow increase — insh- 
 allah V returned the old man, in his own gruff 
 voice. " Thou hast declared the truth ; but 
 what shall be said ? What was to be expected 
 from these Euchareebash traitors ?'' 
 
 " Ah, at the old tale, Hussun Beg ; ever at 
 these miserable Euchareebashes. For the sake 
 of heaven, old friend, have done with that fancy. 
 Thou knowest his Highness's orders on that score ; 
 and for the Euchareebash, search the camp of 
 Mustapha Koolee, and on my head be it thou 
 wilt find there at this moment as many of our 
 Ashakhas as of them. Alas ! when even our own 
 family is so miserably divided, what wonder that 
 the tribe at large should not be found united !*" 
 
 " Cheh Airuz Kunem ! what is to be said ? "' 
 grumbled Hussun Beg, silenced, but far from 
 satisfied ; "who shall dare to gainsay your High- 
 ness ; but — " 
 
 " But never mind the Euchareebash just now; 
 
 G 5
 
 130 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 let us hear how my worthy Allee Beg — as true 
 an Ashakhabash as thyself — managed to get on 
 so well ; why man, not a horse was to be had in 
 Dowlutabad, when I left thee." 
 
 " No, your Highness ; but soon after your 
 departure, while I was sitting with Baba Takee 
 in his chamber, at the gate of the caravanserai, 
 who should come up, but a well-mounted horse- 
 man, whom I instantly recognized as Zulfecar 
 Khan's jelowdar. He did not seem to know me, 
 ensconced as I was in a dark corner, and wrnpt 
 in my poosteen ; so, no sooner had he laid him- 
 self down to take a nap, after swallowing some 
 fried eggs, and seeing his horse cared for, than 
 tipping the wink to Baba Takee, who was by no 
 means ill-pleased at the trick, I walked quietly 
 to the stable, replaced saddle and bridle and ap- 
 purtenances, led the beast through a gap in the 
 wall, mounted, and rode gently on till clear of 
 the town, then gave the beast the stirrup iron, 
 and was many fursucks distant, no doubt, before 
 its master awoke. He was pretty well done 
 up by the time I reached Semnoon ; but I 
 pushed him on to Soorkhkallah, where I had a 
 friend, who mounted me for your Highness' sake ; 
 since then, being known, as on his Highness'
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 131 
 
 business, I have got bravely on. I promised 
 Baba Takee, that your Lordship would not see 
 him come to loss.'' 
 
 *'Hah, hah! Afereen, Allee Beg! a capital 
 fellow thou art. Death o"* me ! no Toorhoman 
 Alaman could have done the business better — 
 Wullah ! how the fellow must have looked when 
 he found out the trick ; small chance would he 
 have of being mounted at Dowlutabad.'* 
 
 *' No chance at all, your Highness ; so all he 
 had for it, was to trudge it on foot to Shah-rood, 
 as best he might ; an admirable chupper he will 
 prove ; Allah send all your enemies like speed !" 
 
 " Ay, Allee Beg, and send us such speed as 
 you and I have had, and we shall do well.' 
 
 " In shall ah ! "'' said the jelowdar, " and praise 
 be to God, your Highness has arrived safe and 
 sound ; a perilous night that was, in Shah-koh ! 
 by the khan's salt, but for that young Toorko- 
 man, on whom be the blessing of Allah ! " 
 
 '* Admirable ! and so you too, Allee Beg, will 
 have him a Toorkoman ; dost thou think he 
 bears the marks of that breed ?" 
 
 " What should I say, Aga ? Little could 
 I note him on that night of judgement. We had 
 all enough to do in looking after ourselves, and
 
 132 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 keeping our heads out of that unblest snow ; 
 scarcely should I know him again ; all I could 
 tell is, that he wore the Yemoot dress — " 
 
 " Scarcely, indeed, it would seem, since thou 
 dost not recognize him here. Open your eyes, 
 man, and cast them there ; is there much of the 
 Toorkoman in these features ?" 
 
 " La-illah-il-ullah ! that our guide ? here is a 
 wonder ! A Toorkoman ? God forbid ! "" 
 
 " What then should you take him for ?" 
 
 " Chek Airuz Kunem ? The Presence sees 
 these features. When were such eyes ever seen 
 but in a Kajar head ? and that nose too ! On 
 my head be it, he is a true Kajar, and that your 
 Highness, no doubt, well knows.'' 
 
 '' Nay, by Allah ! to me the truth is not yet 
 known, though I may have my suspicions." 
 
 *' There is no doubt of the truth ; it is as 
 Allee Beg has stated," growled Hussun Beg, 
 with earnest solemnity. " These marks and 
 tokens can never be mistaken. But they all 
 point the wrong way for me. They come from 
 above — not from below; and indicate, not friends, 
 but foes." 
 
 «' By the death of my father !" exclaimed the 
 chief, turning to Hoossein Khan ; "old Hussun
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 133 
 
 Beg has hit the mark, — Wullah ! little chance 
 of his shaft erring when aimed at a Eukhareebash. 
 Thou art a stanch hunter, old friend, and hast 
 sprung the true game. The trick of that eye 
 is not to be mistaken ; it has the glance of a 
 keen and noble race, and on my head be it, will 
 never play the cheat." 
 
 " But what says the youth himself.?" said 
 Hoossein Koolee Khan. *' Can he give no ac- 
 count of his family and tribe ? With your leave, 
 Aga, let us hear what he can tell us ; — Wullah ! 
 we are friends, who would willingly assist him if 
 we could, were it only for the good service he 
 has rendered to your Highness." 
 
 " You hear, Batchah. You have already told 
 me that you were a captive, and not a Toorko- 
 man born ; relate now what you really know of 
 yourself and family. From what passed at Shah- 
 koh it would seem that there must be somethinsr 
 worth hearing in your story, — and there are other 
 reasons, reasons connected with your own interest 
 which make us desirous to hear it." 
 
 *' At, Khodawund ! Ah, my lord, what can I 
 state .'' I am your servant — whatever you require, 
 it is my duty to comply with ; for the rest, what 
 should there be in the story of a creature like
 
 134 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 me to interest your Highness ; still, what there 
 is is yours, and you may judge from it how far 
 I may be regarded as connected with a Toorko- 
 man obah/' 
 
 At that moment an attendant lifted the purdeh 
 before the doorway, and announced a gholaum 
 peishkhedmut from the Shah ; and the messenger 
 having immediately entered the room, intimated 
 the royal pleasure that Jaaffer Koolee Khan 
 should immediately attend the Presence. On 
 this the Khan, calling for the lanterns, imme- 
 diately rose, tightened his girdle, and throwing 
 his cloak over his shoulders, accompanied the 
 gholaum peishkhedmut to the royal dwelling, de- 
 siring Hoossein Koolee Khan to await his return. 
 
 The Khan having quitted the apartment, Hus- 
 sun Beg also rose to depart ; *' God be with you, 
 Aga," said he, with a look of solemn meaning to 
 Hoossein Koolee Khan ; " may His shadow be 
 over thee and protect thee from all dangerous 
 company, and from the evil eye."" 
 
 " Inshallah, Inshallah !" replied the other; 
 " but what is the evil influence thou dreadest 
 just now ?" 
 
 " Aga,'*'' replied Hussun Beg, with an ominous 
 shake of the head ; " a vulture*'s brood will never
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 135 
 
 turn out eaglets, though nourished in an eagle's 
 nest ; nor will the wolf long refrain from blood, 
 though fed and nourished in the shepherd's home. 
 Allah has divided the Kajars into two tribes, and 
 between them there is blood, — canst thou then 
 ask whence the evil influence may be dreaded ? 
 May Allah open thine eyes, and protect thee 
 from all deceivers ;" with these words he turned 
 and quitted the room. 
 
 " A sad old bear that now, but sound-hearted 
 and stout as steel,"' said Hoossein Koolee ; 
 " truer servant never followed master than that 
 same growler, Hussun Beg. For thee, youth, 
 regard not whai he says ; it is not thee he rails 
 at, but the stock whence he believes thee to have 
 sprung." 
 
 " Ai vai ! Aga ; by your soul my brain is 
 dried up ! — What he aimed at, your servant does 
 not comprehend. In truth the meaning of his 
 Highness's remarks, and of those which have 
 dropped from others since I entered these walls, 
 is utterly hid from me. What he or they be- 
 lieve me to be I am ignorant of, — as for what 
 I myself have to represent, it is soon said. Long 
 before I was honoured by meetinsf with his Hisrh- 
 ness, it was your servant's ambition to serve
 
 136 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 under Jaaffer Koolee Klian. I met him as a 
 stranger, unknown to me but in distress, and I 
 did what I could to relieve him. Becoming 
 aware of whom it had been my fortune thus to 
 aid, I found my desire accomplished, and joy- 
 fully devoted myself to his true and loyal ser- 
 vice : but why I am regarded with suspicion by 
 any man, has not as yet reached my understand- 
 ing, and I would gladly learn it." 
 
 " No wonder, youth, that thou should'st be at 
 some loss, — and yet as a captive in the obah 
 thou scarce canst be of Toorkoman blood, and 
 therefore most probably art Kizzilbash. Thy 
 strong resemblance to our own — the Kajar tribe, 
 has been remarked, not only by old Hussun, 
 but by his Highness the Khan, and myself — 
 nay, AUee Beg here has been equally struck 
 by it. But Hussun conceives this resemblance 
 to stamp thee as of the Euchareebash branch, 
 between which and our own, the Ashakhabash, 
 a blood-feud has long subsisted; and the old man 
 has witnessed so much of evil from this unhappy 
 breach, that he regards all of that branch with 
 suspicion and dislike. This is the cause of the 
 old man's ill humour. He is very wrong, for 
 among the followers of our aga there are many
 
 THE DARK FALCON. - 137 
 
 of that tribe as honest and trustworthy as those 
 of his own family; and it has long been the 
 anxious wish of his Majesty to terminate the feud 
 and reconcile a difference so injurious to the 
 Kajar tribe. But old age is obstinate. There 
 is no altering the rugged nature of old Hussun ; 
 so faults must be put up with in favour of the 
 zeal and honesty and courage which he assured- 
 ly possesses ; and thou, youth, must rather seek 
 to soothe his age, than aggravate by retort an 
 ill humour which, after all, can have nothing to 
 do with thee, whom, till now, he never saw, but 
 has for its object a hated race, from which he 
 fancies thee to have sprung." 
 
 " Ah, would to Allah that he were right ! 
 willingly should I endure his ill will, to earn my 
 place in such a tribe. God forbid, Aga, that I 
 should resent a feeling that arises from such a 
 motive. By your own head ! I would rather 
 follow his example, — for Allah is my witness, 
 that be I who I may, my whole heart is with the 
 master I have chosen, and him — inshallah ! will 
 I serve and follow until death, with zeal and 
 honesty." 
 
 " Afereen, lad, well said ! and, by my soul, 
 I believe thee ; act as thou speakest, and Hoos-
 
 138 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 sein Koolee will be thy fast friend. As to tliy 
 race and parentage, we may be right or wrong, 
 as Allah, in his own good time, may shew ; but 
 truth and fidelity are of no tribe, and the honest 
 servant builds his own house/' 
 
 " Ay, Aga," said Allee Beg ; " and on my 
 head be it, if thou hast not good and honest 
 service from this youth. Eukharee or Ashak- 
 habash — Toorkoman or Toork — but for him, by 
 the khan's salt ! not one of our party had ever 
 left Shah-koh. No doubt our aga had strong 
 motives to make the attempt, mad as it proved ; 
 but, were it not for him who stands there, God 
 knows we should never even have reached the 
 Cothul. I owe him a life myself, and Allah 
 forbid I should forget the debt ! But we all 
 owe him still more — even our master's life ; and 
 shame upon his head who ceases to remember 
 that." 
 
 '' Thou hast spoken well, Allee Beg ; and 
 JaafFer Koolee himself will be the last man to 
 forget it — of that be certain." 
 
 " Ai, Agas," replied the young man, blushing 
 and confused, his full heart speaking from his 
 eyes more powerfully than his tongue ; " what 
 have I done to deserve so much kindness ? —
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 139 
 
 only my duty — what I should have done for 
 any traveller, any kafilah that might have sought 
 my poor aid in similar circumstances. May God 
 grant you prosperity ! — may your houses be for- 
 tunate ! Your servant will always endeavour to 
 merit your favour." 
 
 " Good, good — no fear of that, Inshallah ! 
 and hereafter, at more fitting time, we must hear 
 all about thee, and try to discover thy family. 
 Jan-e-tu ! the Khan's curiosity is excited. In 
 the mean time, retire ; better take rest while 
 thou canst — his Highnesses followers have seldom 
 more of it than enough. Peace be with thee ! "
 
 140 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A SCENE AT THE DURKHANEH. PROMPT RETRIBUTION. 
 
 On the afternoon of the day succeeding the 
 above-mentioned events, the maidaun of the Ark 
 became again the theatre of a busy scene, and 
 was thronged with a multitude of officials and 
 of gazers ; for intimation had been given that, 
 at the third hour after noon, his Majesty would 
 come forth from the private apartments, and hold 
 a public audience for the despatch of business in 
 the balcony above the gate of the palace. At 
 this salaam it was that the Dark Falcon, having 
 been directed by his lord to follow in his train, 
 first set eyes upon the celebrated Kajar chief. 
 
 As principal noble and counsellor of state, 
 as well as brother to the sovereign, JaafFer Koo- 
 lee Khan was among the first to arrive at the 
 gateway of the august dwelling ; where, dis- 
 mounting, he entered, and made his way at once
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 141 
 
 to tlie private cabinet of his royal brother. Thus 
 his young attendant had the advantage of seeing 
 the chiefs and officers who came to attend the 
 salaam arrive one by one, and either pass on 
 through the gateway, or mingle with the nume- 
 rous groups which were fast filling the space 
 before it. As the hour of the salaam approached, 
 a drum was heard, and a teep, or battalion, of 
 the karachoghas,* who were scattered here and 
 there about the cannon on either side the en- 
 trance, assembled together in order, and then 
 separating, fell back in such array as to form 
 three sides of a square of considerable dimen- 
 sions, the fourth side being open towards the 
 gateway of the palace. Within this square were 
 collected all who enjoyed the privilege of stand- 
 ing in the immediate presence of their sovereign ; 
 while it excluded and controlled the far greater 
 crowd of those who, having no business except 
 to gaze, might have pressed too rudely on the 
 more highly favoured orders. 
 
 After a while, the nobles and chiefs themselves 
 retired from the centre of the vacant space, form- 
 ing themselves into lines, according to their ranks 
 and degrees ; and a body of handsomely dressed 
 * Black coated troops.
 
 142 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 and well armed men issuing from the gateway, 
 broke into two parties, one of which took post on 
 either side the gateway. These were followed by 
 other officials, whose dress and the brass orna- 
 ments in their shawl-wrapped caps, declared them 
 to be nassackchees and yessawuls ; a number of 
 furoshes with long sticks in their hands assisted 
 in repressing, in no gentle manner, the importu- 
 nacy of the over curious. 
 
 Among those who enjoyed the privilege of en- 
 tering this square and occupying one of its re- 
 mote corners, along with the more favoured at- 
 tendants of the principal nobles, was Osman, 
 who now in the complete dress and arms of a con- 
 fidential gholaum, wore an aspect so imposing 
 that few of the furoshes would have thought of 
 excluding him, even had not his friend Allee Beg 
 been by to smoothe the way for him as well as to 
 explain all that went on. And deeply, indeed, 
 was the young man interested as he saw passing 
 before him, as if for his especial gratification, many 
 of those whose names were familiar to every ear as 
 the great, or brave, or wise, or learned of the land. 
 
 But little time was given him for remark, for 
 the Kajar chief was not of those who, regardless of 
 time, dally with the hours that should be devoted
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 143 
 
 to business, and without compunction keep a whole 
 assembly waiting while indulging some selfish 
 whim, or occupied by some trifle. Punctual him^ 
 self to his appointments he exacted the same punc- 
 tuality from others ; and, accordingly, when the 
 hour of audience was once declared, every official 
 and man of business knew well that then he must 
 make his appearance to time. A slight stir was 
 heard within the court of the palace — the drums 
 beat, the troops dressed their ranks, and, issuing 
 from the gateway, came Jaaifer Koolee Khan, 
 along with a young and very handsome personage, 
 whose noble features, as well as his rich habili- 
 ments and arms, sufficiently proclaimed his near 
 relationship to the noblest of the Kajar tribe. It 
 was in truth he, who then better known by the 
 familiar appellation of " Baba Khan," was des- 
 tined to fill the throne of Persia, and did after- 
 wards become its sovereign under the style and 
 title of Futeh Allee Shah. 
 
 After these came Meerza Sheffeah, with a few 
 of the highest chiefs and principal officers of the 
 court ; and they had scarcely taken their places 
 in the area below when the trumpets sounded — a 
 signal that the sovereign had come forth : a gun 
 was fired ; he was seated ; every head was bowed
 
 144 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 low ; the troops and officers saluted ; the drums 
 rattled ; the horns and instruments struck up, and 
 the camel artillery fired a salvo. In the midst of 
 this noisy ceremonial, Osman, whose eye was fixed 
 upon the window of the Bala khaneh,*had scarcely 
 time to remark the appearance of a slight figure, 
 whose sallow countenance reminded him of some 
 of the Toorkoman boys of his camp, and who was 
 enveloped in a loose wrapping robe of fur ; when 
 a universal and simultaneous sirfuroo, or low obei- 
 sance of the whole assemblage forced him also to 
 remove his eyes from the object of his attention, 
 and to bow to the ground like others. 
 
 It was probably well for him that he did so, 
 for, scarcely had the assembly lifted their heads, 
 when he saw a furosh dart forth and seize a 
 gaping lout who had been caught staring too pal- 
 pably at the " Point of the world's adoration !'^ — 
 and, tripping up his heels, which another secured 
 in the ready noose, bestow upon him a merciless 
 shower of blows, which sent him howling and 
 limping away. 
 
 When Osman once more fixed his eyes upon 
 the person of his sovereign, his wonder, almost 
 his disgust, were powerfully excited by the sin- 
 * Or high apartment, from whence our balcony.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 145 
 
 gular meanness which characterised it ; and when 
 he traced the peculiar and, in truth, revolting ex- 
 pression of the features, which the deep-set pierc- 
 ing eye and strongly-marked nose seemed alone to 
 redeem from effeminacy, and the lamentable de- 
 ficiency in that bulk and presence, so much valued 
 by Persians in the persons of their rulers, he 
 could not refrain from mentally asking — could 
 this be the celebrated Kajar chief, Aga Mahomed 
 Khan ? Could this be the successful competitor, 
 among so many bold leaders, for the throne ? and 
 from thinkinor how much better bestowed were 
 that lofty station on his own chosen lord and 
 master Jaaffer Koolee Khan. 
 
 Business now began in earnest. The sove- 
 reign's command having been intimated to Baba 
 Khan, Jaaffer Koolee Khan, and Meerza Sheffeah, 
 these personages entered the gate, and soon ap- 
 peared standing at the lower end of the Balak- 
 hanch, with their eyes fixed upon the ground. 
 Persons were now called for by name ; petitions 
 were presented; complaints preferred and promptly 
 enquired into. The affair, at one time regarded 
 a province ; at another, the grounds of a village. 
 A ketkhodah, convicted of malversation, was or- 
 dered to receive the bastinado ; and a governor, 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 14G THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 in arrear for revenue, was threatened with a sum- 
 mary collection by the hands of Gholaums, if not 
 placed in the minister's hands within a week. 
 
 The affairs of the army received especial atten- 
 tion. The commanders of certain levies, just 
 arrived, were introduced to make their obeisance, 
 and officers were appointed to inspect and report 
 upon their state and efficiency. On the other 
 hand, stern denunciations were thundered against 
 certain neighbouring districts which had failed of 
 producing their appointed contingents. All was 
 conducted with a systematic and business-like air 
 which proved the salaam to be no mere matter of 
 form, but meant for actual work ; and there was a 
 silent bustle and an active movement, void of all 
 confusion, which to a practised eye betokened the 
 rapid and efficient dispatch of business. 
 
 During the progress of this busy scene the 
 ear was more than once attracted by distant shouts 
 and cries of " Khuherdar ! Rah bedeh ! &c.," as 
 parties returning from service made their way to 
 the Durkhaneh. At length a still greater bustle, 
 accompanied by the trampling of horse, caused 
 every eye to turn towards the entrance of the Ark, 
 from whence a party of cavalry with mud-bespat- 
 tered accoutrements and jaded steeds, proclaiming
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 147 
 
 a long and weary march, were advancing towards 
 the square of troops before the palace. Sur- 
 rounded by the mounted troops were some indivi- 
 duals whose disordered garments and downcast 
 looks sufficiently declared them to be prisoners. 
 Their arms w^ere bound behind their backs, and 
 the bridles or halters of their horses were fastened 
 to the saddles of the sowars ; other captives wore 
 the blue-checked chaders, or veils of women, and 
 rode upon mules ; while from a pair of kajawahs^ 
 or covered baskets, used commonly for the con- 
 veyance of females, and borne by a stout yaboo, 
 might have been heard the half-suppressed sound 
 of woman's wailing. 
 
 Little, however, was the time afforded for spe- 
 culation or enquiry, for the party having escorted 
 their prisoners through the crowd, halted at the 
 exterior rank of the square of troops, which 
 opened to admit them. The escort then fell back 
 and received orders to dismount, while their com- 
 mander went forward to report and present his 
 prisoners. Although such occurrences at the 
 court of a severe and determined sovereign, whose 
 subjects were frequently engaging in evil or rebel- 
 lious proceedings, were by no means rare ; there 
 was something in the appearance of the prisoners 
 
 h2
 
 148 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ill question which excited a very general interest 
 among the bystanders ; and every head was bent 
 forward, and each eye strained to catch a sight of 
 the unfortunate group. 
 
 It consisted of two men advanced in life, whose 
 habiliments bespoke a rank considerably above 
 that of ordinary villagers ; two others of a lower 
 grade, and three young men, of whom one in 
 particular was of a sufficiently prepossessing ap- 
 pearance. There were also several women be- 
 sides those contained in the kajawah, which latter 
 were permitted to remain there concealed. A low, 
 half-suppressed murmur ran through the crowd, 
 and reached the ears of Osman and his friend as 
 they stood contemplating the captives — " From 
 Savah ! — the Zabit of Savah ! — and his brother 
 of Mishkabad ! — ai-vai ai-vai ! what has come 
 over them ! what dust has fallen on their heads ?" 
 
 The women, so soon as they found themselves 
 thus brought forward, and comprehended where 
 they were, began to prostrate themselves, uttering 
 loud lamentations and cries of '' Amaun ! amaun ! 
 — for the sake of Alice — for the sake of the 
 blessed Fatimah — in the name of the holy Pro- 
 phet ! " — while the old men, placing themselves 
 as far as their bonds would permit in attitudes of
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 149 
 
 the humblest entreaty, made less noisy appeals 
 for mercy and pardon. 
 
 At a signal from the Bala kaneh a nassackchee 
 stepped forward and commanded silence in an 
 accent and with gestures which speedily enforced 
 compliance. The clamour of the women sunk at 
 once into a low wail ; while the men, in silent 
 anxiety, bent their eyes upon the being in whose 
 hands they felt their earthly doom to rest. 
 
 Their suspense w^as not suffered to endure long. 
 The commander of the party gave in his report, 
 which did not of course reach the ears of Osman at 
 the moment; but we shall give its purport in order 
 the better to explain the scene which followed. The 
 conduct of the Hakim of Savah, in withholding 
 his contingent, as already mentioned, had so 
 deeply exasperated the Kajar monarch, who saw 
 in it not only a wavering loyalty on the H*akim's 
 part, but a ruinous example to the central district 
 governors, if allowed to go unpunished, that he 
 resolved to inflict a chastisement which should 
 strike terror into all other would-be rebels, and 
 produce a prompt, if not a willing, obedience ; and 
 to this step he was the more encouraged by the 
 intelligence from Khumsa, which promised full 
 employment for his Zend opponent, as well as by
 
 150 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the opportune arrival of his brother from Mazim- 
 deran, which set him at ease in that quarter. 
 Thus, no sooner had he dismissed JaafFer Koolee 
 Khan, on the morning of his arrival, than he sum- 
 moned one of his most active and trustiest Euzba- 
 shees, and directing him to take sixty of the best 
 mounted horsemen which the camp could turn 
 out, including a dozen of his own Gholaums, to 
 proceed with all despatch to Savah, managing 
 matters so as to arrive at night, to enter the town 
 suddenly, and proceed direct to the Zabit's 
 house, to seize his person, and such members of 
 his family as could be got hold of ; while others, 
 acquainted with the place, should pursue the same 
 course with two or three more of the Reish-suf- 
 feeds, or elders of the place, and, having secured 
 them, to return, without an instant''s delay, by the 
 way they came, bearing the culprits to Tehran. 
 
 The chief could not have intrusted this mission 
 to a surer or more trusty hand than Baber Beg, 
 who was a true sung-dil (heart of stone), and who 
 had not a thought beyond that of discharging 
 whatever duty his master might require him to 
 perform. An hour after receiving his instructions, 
 saw himself and his party in their saddles and 
 clear of the city walls. Striking directly across the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 151 
 
 country, and avoiding as mucli as possible all vil- 
 lages, by an hour before midnight they were close 
 to the place. There, in a hollow beside a little 
 water-run, they refreshed their well-trained horses, 
 feeding them moderately with the barley which 
 each man carried in his tobrah, and having rubbed 
 them well down, after an hour's halt each man was 
 again in his saddle. The ruinous walls of Savah 
 offered but little obstruction to the stout horse- 
 men of Aga Mahomed Khan, and being well 
 guided by a native who was of their troop, they 
 made their way good, scarcely disturbing even a 
 dog, to the house of Hadjee Allee, the zabit or 
 governor of the place. This was immediately 
 surrounded by the greater number of the party, 
 while one or two small detachments filed off to 
 perform their duty in other quarters. 
 
 Great, as may be supposed, was the consterna- 
 tion of the inmates of the Hadjee's dwelling, when 
 awakened from sleep they saw themselves in the 
 grasp of armed men, and loud was the outcry they 
 raised at first. But this was soon silenced by the 
 leader of the band, who, shewing his naked sword, 
 swore in terms and voice evidently not to be tri- 
 fled with, that the next who uttered shriek or cry 
 should assuredly feel its edge. He then directed
 
 152 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 that the whole family should be mustered in his 
 presence. " Let the women put on their chadars 
 and prepare for an immediate journey," said he ; 
 "• Let them beware of any attempt to secrete 
 themselves or escape — their lives will answer for 
 it." 
 
 '* And whither dost thou purpose carrying these 
 helpless ones, worthy commander ? " enquired the 
 Hadjee himself in trembling accents. 
 
 '' That thou wilt soon learn," replied the Beg, 
 " seeing they are to travel in thy company and to 
 the same place." 
 
 '* Ay, but to what place, Aga," insisted the 
 trembling man ; but the Euzbashee sternly re- 
 commended silence. 
 
 "Are all the family here present?" demanded 
 he. *' These women shall have ten minutes to 
 prepare themselves; for thee, man, thou quittest 
 not this spot. Hoh, Hoosseen Allee, and thou, 
 Shumsheer Beg, begone ! Search the premises, 
 prick every hole and corner with your swords'* 
 points, bring hither all ye find." 
 
 A low wailing was now heard from the women, 
 who seemed to anticipate something very dreadful 
 from these mysterious arrangements ; on which 
 the Euzbashee, desirous probably to quiet their
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 158 
 
 disposition to outcry and clamour, said, with sonie 
 effort at gentleness, "Fear not, Bajees ;* I swear 
 to you tliat no evil is intended to your life or 
 honour ; only be still and do as ye are bid, and 
 ye shall be safe. Gholaum Allee, look to the 
 stables ; no doubt the Hadjee has got beasts 
 there, on which these respectable ladies may ride; 
 see them prepared forthwith." 
 
 In a short time, the men who had been sent to 
 search the house, returned, bringing an addition 
 to those already collected of a young man and 
 two females, whose sobs w^ere truly piteous, toge- 
 ther with an elderly man of highly respectable 
 appearance and a countenance of much dignity. 
 The latter, addressing himself to the Euzbashee, 
 enquired whether he were the commander of the 
 party ; and on receiving a dry reply in the affir- 
 mative, he demanded by what authority this out- 
 rage was committed. 
 
 " Friend," replied the Euzbashee, " the autho- 
 rity we act under thou wilt find it vain to dis- 
 pute ; so thou had'st best submit in silence. 
 Thou doubtless art of this family, and must ac- 
 company them." 
 
 * Bajee — sister, a kind appellation addressed to middle- 
 aged women.
 
 154 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " I am not of this family — I am but a guest, 
 and claim the guest^s privilege to go free." 
 
 " A guest, sayest thou ? and from whence ? — 
 who mayest thou be ? None can be permitted to 
 depart without at least our knowing who they are." 
 
 " I am known as Kerhelai Baukher Allee, and 
 am Zabit of Ferraghoon ; and these are of my 
 family. It was my purpose to have departed 
 hence on the morrow, and now desire my freedom. 
 If ransom be thy object, it is ready." 
 
 The Euzbashee smiled grimly. " The Zabit of 
 Ferraghoon, hah ? — it is well — thou also goest 
 with us. For thy ransom, it is not with us that 
 question can be settled." 
 
 " I cannot and will not go with thee; my duty 
 calls me homewards, and powerful as thou and thy 
 band of robbers may suppose themselves, let them 
 beware of violence." 
 
 A shout of alarm and call for assistance had 
 but half escaped his lips when he was seized — a 
 cloth stuffed into his mouth, and his arms bound 
 behind him. A soldier entered to say they had 
 found and prepared several mules and a pair of 
 kajawahs, on which the whole party, men and 
 women, were led out, and bound on the mules 
 and spare horses. The women themselves selected
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 155 
 
 those who were to occupy the kajawahs ; and they 
 were just about to quit the space before the Za- 
 bit's liouse, when the other parties joined them, 
 each" in charge of sundry prisoners. The same 
 stern discipline had been employed to enforce 
 silence on these also ; and now it was even yet 
 more strictly enjoined, as the whole of the men 
 springing into their saddles, noiselessly but swiftly 
 filed through the lanes and ruins towards the point 
 at which they entered the town. From the mo- 
 ment when the party first halted at the house of 
 the Zabit, until they repassed the walls and shaped 
 their course through the gardens beyond them, 
 little more than half an hour had elapsed ; and 
 long ere morning broke they had halted to feed 
 their horses, in a hollow several fursucks distant 
 from the town and far out of reach of pursuit. 
 
 Little of rest or sustenance did the well-trained 
 horse and horsemen of the Kajar chief require 
 when duty demanded despatch ; thus, though the 
 distance to Savah. and back to the capital could 
 not fall short of thirty fursucks, or a hundred and 
 twenty miles, they found no difficulty in accom- 
 plishing it, and reaching the city by the hour of 
 evening salaam on the day following that on which 
 they started. It is probable, indeed, that their
 
 156 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 sagacious master had made liis calculations, and 
 purposely arranged the time of public audience so 
 as to produce a powerful effect upon the assembled 
 multitude by the arrival of the prisoners at that 
 very hour. 
 
 The Euzbashee having been summoned to the 
 space below the Balakhaneh, then made a full 
 report of his proceedings, which he terminated by 
 representing that the Zabit of Savah and his fa- 
 mily, together with two elders, or ketkhodahs of 
 mehelehs, and the Zabit of Ferraghoon, with 
 part of his family, were in presence, awaiting the 
 pleasure of the Centre of the Universe ! 
 
 " Barikillah, Baber Beg !" replied his High- 
 ness. " Praise be to God ! thy face is white to- 
 day ; thou hast done thy duty as a good and 
 zealous servant, and it shall not be forgotten. 
 For the present, Moorukhus^ thou may'st retire : 
 refresh thyself and the men : their services may 
 be required again before long." 
 
 The Euzbashee made his obeisance and retired. 
 There w^as then a pause, and a deep anxious 
 silence ; during which the Shah, beckoning to his 
 minister, held with him a short conversation. 
 The Meerza then retired back to his place ; and 
 at a signal given, two nassackchees stepped for-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 157 
 
 ward ; and seizing hold of the Hadgee, who trem- 
 bled so violently that he could scarce stand alone, 
 led him forward towards the Balahhaneh. The 
 unhappy man broke out into earnest supplications 
 for mercy, and would have prostrated himself, but 
 for the officials who held him on either side, and 
 who sternly enjoined silence. That silence was 
 broken by the shrill harsh voice of the Shah 
 himself. 
 
 "At length thou hast made thy appearance — 
 thou art welcome ! Unhappy wretch ! Thou 
 hast eaten thy fill of abomination, and now comest 
 to receive thy reward. Once did we spare thee, 
 upon thy solemn oath of future loyalty and fi- 
 delity ; and how hast thou kept that oath ? 
 Thou did'st believe that our power was curtailed 
 and our arm shortened, that it could not reach 
 thee, and thou hast basely turned against him who 
 had shown thee mercy and forgiveness — against 
 thy prince, to whom thou did'st swear to be faith- 
 ful and true. Doubly traitor, to us and to the 
 Zend : thou art now convinced, too late, that our 
 arm is yet long enough to seize and to punish 
 wretches who attempt to play with us the dan- 
 gerous game of treason." 
 
 *' Amaun, amaun ! — mercy, mercy ! It is true,
 
 158 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 I have erred : I have eaten filth, indeed ! but 
 by the holy Prophet of Islam, by your own august 
 head, let thy slave be but forgiven this once, and 
 for ever after he will be faithful to the Presence — 
 never again will he depart from his duty !" 
 
 " Thou art right there — in truth he shall not : 
 we swear it by our own life," retorted the Shah, 
 whose features had put on the hard contemptuous 
 sneer which was wont, on such occasions, to cha- 
 racterize them, and which betokened too faithfully 
 that there was no mercy there. " No man de- 
 ceives us twice ; but still thou shalt be fairly 
 dealt with : Allah forbid that we should refuse 
 thee full justice ! Thus, then, stands the case. 
 Thou did'st swear to obey our commands ; to dis- 
 charge faithfully towards us thy obligations as 
 zabit of thy district, among which was that of 
 providing a certain number of men for our ser- 
 vice, and a specific amount of money and stores. 
 We ask of thee now, how hast thou fulfilled 
 these obligations ? We demanded that con- 
 tingent — our acknowledged right — no more ; 
 and now we ask thee Where is it ? — where are 
 the troops ?" 
 
 " By the life of the Presence ! by my own 
 death, I swear that the thing was impossible !
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 159 
 
 but, in shaikh ! they shall be produced ; by the 
 head of the Shah,'"" they shall, in five days."" 
 
 " Pah ! — base-born hypocrite — abject deceiver ! 
 Wilt thou still hope to cajole us ? Impossible 
 said'st thou, wretch ? Look here — look at this 
 paper — there — hand it to him : let him examine 
 it, and answer if he dare." 
 
 The unhappy wretch started at sight of the 
 scroll, but making a desperate effort to recover 
 himself, he exclaimed, "It is nothing — by your 
 souls it is nothing V but he was silenced by a 
 blow on the mouth from an iron-heeled slipper. 
 A signal was then made, and three men started 
 forth, truculent looking fellows, clad in dark-co- 
 loured garments. These were the furosha-e-ghu- 
 zub, ministers of wrath, well known by the heavy 
 swords slung under the left shoulder, and wear- 
 ing in their belts the dagger and knife used in 
 their dreadful trade. As these men seized the 
 miserable Hadjee and forced him to his knees, a 
 shriek, wild and irrepressible, arose from the wo- 
 men ; and one of the young men, a fine looking 
 youth, the best favoured of them all, breaking 
 from those who held him, rushed forward, and 
 
 * No man dares to swear by the Shah's life — that is^ 
 to imagine the possibility of his death.
 
 160 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 flinging himself prostrate beside the old Hadjee, 
 cried " Amaun, amaun ! may I be your sacrifice : 
 spare my father, and take this life for his !" 
 
 A murmur of pity and applause burst at this 
 sight from the spectators ; but the Shah, cold and 
 unmoved, as it seemed, calmly signed to have the 
 lad removed, and accordingly he was borne away 
 to the spot whence he came, passionately reiterat- 
 ing his appeals and supplications. In the mean 
 time, after the lapse of some seconds, accorded, 
 perhaps, to allow the ebullition of feeling excited 
 by this incident to subside, the royal head was 
 seen to nod ; the fatal word, " Bekoosh !"" — Slai/^ 
 was uttered, the dark blade waved in the air, and 
 in another moment the head of the victim flew 
 forward almost to the very gateway; while the 
 trunk, after a few convulsive struggles, lay quiet 
 and motionless in the pool of gore which spouted 
 in streams from the gaping arteries. 
 
 Such scenes were too frequent at the Dur- 
 khaneh of Tehran to call forth more than a mo- 
 mentary shudder, and that only from those of the 
 spectators least accustomed to them. But on 
 this occasion the general interest was almost im- 
 mediately directed to another object ; for Ker- 
 belai Baukher Allee was now brought forward,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 161 
 
 in the same manner as liis friend and relative, the 
 Hadjee, whose remains lay bleeding before him. 
 But the Kerbelai^s mind was framed of sterner 
 stuff, as might be gathered from his demeanour 
 on this trying occasion, for he uttered neither 
 prayer nor remonstrance ; but casting a look more 
 of indignant disgust than of terror on the muti- 
 lated body, he reared himself to his full height, 
 and after one full unquailing glance at his terrible 
 judge, stood calm and collected for the event. 
 
 The Shah also regarded the prisoner with a 
 keen and searching eye ; but not a touch of feel- 
 ing was to be detected in that impenetrable coun- 
 tenance as he thus addressed him : 
 
 " We have desired thy presence, Kerbelai : 
 thou, too, art welcome. We would learn what 
 madness it is that hath seized on the Hakims and 
 Zabits of Qulumrow, and blinded them both to 
 their duty and their interest, insomuch that they 
 will turn against the light and strive against the 
 stream, until, one after another, they are over- 
 whelmed and lost ? Wullah ! it is strange. 
 Thou, Kerbelai, art not unknown to us : thou 
 art spoken of as a man of wisdom and discretion 
 — one who can see with the eye of judgment, 
 and takes counsel of prudence ; yet here art thou
 
 162 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 also a-wandeiing like the rest. Yet hast thou 
 not been a false traitor, like that carrion there. 
 Thou art a man, Mashallah ! ay, of the very- 
 stuff we would choose for our trusted servants. 
 Now, open your eyes and look around, for this 
 day must thy choice be made. To Kajar or to 
 Zend thou must perforce belong, and thou 
 mayest now see where the power is to reside. 
 Before three days are past thou wilt find that 
 JaafFer Khan has his hands too full to help, or to 
 be helped by thee ; and canst thou believe that 
 a drunkard and a debauchee like him, who lives 
 but for his pleasures and neglects his friends, is 
 the fittest man to rule Iraun ? Now listen and 
 attend : get thee back to thy charge ; take with 
 thee the son of this fool, on whom I bestow his 
 father^s place, under thy supervision : there is 
 stuff and spirit in the lad ; see thou that they be 
 rightly directed. But for thy family and his, 
 they remain here with us, hostages for ye both. 
 Fear neither for their honour nor their safety so 
 long as ye are true to your salt and your oaths : 
 praise be to Allah ! never had faithful servant 
 cause to complain that his interest suffered in our 
 care. But beware : one false act — one treacher- 
 ous attempt — one failure in strict obedience, and
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 163 
 
 the furoshes for tliem — the Nassackchees and the 
 knife for you. Thou hast discovered that our 
 arms are not short : thou wilt see them lengthened 
 ere long. Let the youth advance."" 
 
 The son of the slaughtered Hadjee was now 
 brought forward, his bosom still heaving and his 
 countenance bearing tokens of the mingled emo- 
 tions, horror, indignation, and distress with which 
 he laboured. But these were not the times, nor 
 this the country, for the uncontrolled display of 
 high and generous sentiments; and those who en- 
 tertained them soon learned that a regard to per- 
 sonal safety imposed the necessity of self-restraint. 
 Whatever might be the true feelings of the Ker- 
 belai or his young relative, no expressions but 
 those of gratitude and devotion were suffered to 
 escape their lips. . Indeed the unexpected boon 
 of pardon, with the prospect of further favour, at 
 the very moment when, from the terrible scene 
 they had witnessed, they anticipated nothing less 
 than death or ruin, had doubtless a powerful ten- 
 dency to soften the acerbity of their feelings to- 
 wards him who was thus the author of both their 
 weal and woe. 
 
 The Kerbelai and his friends were retiring, 
 after tendering their acknowledgments, and the
 
 164 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 Shah was in the act of giving directions for the 
 safe but honourable custody of the hostages, when 
 a woman's voice was heard, remonstrating with 
 her guard, and exclaiming that she had a repre- 
 sentation for the Huzoor. These words were 
 caught by the quick ear of his Majesty, though 
 half drowned in the bustle around her, and he 
 demanded aloud to know who it was that had 
 spoken ? Thus encouraged, and the noise having 
 been suspended by the royal enquiry, the woman 
 raised her shrill voice still higher, and declared 
 that her demand was for justice. 
 
 " Let her approach,"' said his Highness, '' and 
 state her own case/' 
 
 " Ai, Khodawund !" exclaimed the woman : 
 " thou hast declared thyself to be a dealer out as 
 well as a demander of justice, and thou art called 
 Ryot-purwur — protector of the Ryots. We 
 are your ryots : thou hast claimed our alle- 
 giance, and we have sworn to thee fidelity : let us 
 not seek justice, then, in vain. Thou did'st send 
 thy people to seize the guilty : had they thy com- 
 mands to rob the innocent ?"" 
 
 " How meanest thou, woman .?" demanded the 
 Shah, with darkening brow ; *' explain thy words."*' 
 
 '' The meaning of thy slave, protector of the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 165 
 
 poor, is this ; that one of thy soldiers, when 
 searching my house, as he said, for hidden culprits, 
 broke open a box containing my property, and 
 took thence a bag, with twenty good tomauns in 
 silver and gold, together with a string of sixteen 
 coins of gold, and several armlets of silver and 
 stones, besides other ornaments and rarities : this 
 is the complaint of thy servant, and it is the 
 truth." 
 
 Before making any reply, the Shah, with a 
 kindly countenance, issued a rapid order to his 
 minister, and a messenger was seen to dart at 
 speed after the party who had brought in the pri- 
 soners, and who, having lingered for some time, 
 doubtless to see the issue of their own work, had 
 but just left the maidaun. Then, turning to the 
 female, his Majesty thus addressed her : 
 
 " Woman, thy words may be true, or they may 
 be false : what proof hast thou to offer of their 
 being worthy of credit ? ShoukFst thou recognize 
 the robber were he brought before thee V 
 
 " Without doubt, Shadow of the Universe ! 
 Thy servant has cause to recollect him ; for when 
 he seized the money, T strove to force it from his 
 grasp : we struggled, and he threw me violently 
 from him, and hurt me much. I saw and marked
 
 166 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 him well. He was tall and ill favoured, and had 
 a scar upon the cheek, which divided his right 
 moustachio." 
 
 " Of this thou art certain ?^' 
 
 " Certain, Huzrut." 
 
 In a few minutes the party, headed by the 
 Euzbashee, returned to the maidaun, and were 
 ordered to dismount and enter the square of 
 troops. 
 
 " Are all thy men present, Baber Beg?" de- 
 manded his Majesty. 
 
 " All, Shadow of the Universe !" replied the 
 Euzbashee, casting his eye along the double line. 
 But no ! there is one place empty. Ah ! I see, — 
 Gholaun Allee Dehbashee ! what has become 
 of Killich Allee Affshar ?" 
 
 The Dehbashee replied that he knew not of his 
 absence ; the man must have separated from the 
 rest when the party was dismissed, after deliver- 
 ing up charge of their prisoners ; and Baber Beg 
 having so reported to his Sovereign, orders were 
 issued for the Immediate apprehension of Killich 
 Allee. 
 
 His Majesty then directed the woman to ex- 
 amine all the men present, and to point out among 
 them the robber of her property : but after a
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 167 
 
 strict examination she shook her head, declaring 
 that the culprit was not among them. 
 
 After some time, during which other business 
 was transacted, it was reported that the messen- 
 gers had returned wdth Killich Allee. 
 
 " Where was he found ? " demanded the Shah. 
 
 " In the stable, tending his horse. Light of the 
 Universe," was the reply. 
 
 Five other men were now called forth, and be- 
 ing placed in a line, with Killich Allee among 
 them, the complainant was directed to examine 
 them also ; and scarce had she cast her eyes over 
 them, when, pointing to Killich Allee, she ex- 
 claimed " This is the man, Khodawund ! " and in 
 truth the description she had given of the thief 
 tallied so perfectly with the appearance of him 
 she now fixed upon as the culprit, that little 
 doubt could be entertained of her correctness. 
 
 " Ghorumsaug ! " said the Shah with a stern 
 countenance, "what is this we hear of thee ? was 
 it to rob and plunder women that thou wert sent 
 along with these brave fellows ? Is it thus our 
 ryots are treated by scoundrels such as thee ? 
 What reply hast thou to make to thine ac- 
 cuser r 
 
 " That she lies, your Highness — that she eats
 
 168 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 dirt. Whose dog am I, to go and rob zaifehs* 
 when on your Highnesses service ?"'"' 
 
 " Thou hearest, Nana ! he denies thy charge."" 
 
 " By thine own august head, Huzrut, your 
 servant tells the truth. What more can she do ? 
 He has eaten the goods — on my head be that. 
 I have no more to say.'^ 
 
 " Will it content thee if we have his person 
 searched ? — If not in his possession, how are we 
 to discover the truth between thy affirmation and 
 his denials ?" 
 
 " Protector of the poor, the goods may pro- 
 bably not be on his person. For what purpose did 
 he hurry away with so much speed from his com- 
 panions, if not to hide his booty ? Besides, at 
 the first halt we made on the way hither, towards 
 morning, when the rest only loosened the girths 
 of their saddles, this man took off* his, and I saw 
 him busy with the lining of it — the gold may 
 have been placed within it." 
 
 " We shall see," replied the Shah ; and a confi- 
 dential person was immediately despatched to 
 bring saddle, horse, and trappings from the stable 
 to the palace." 
 
 " They will find nothing there !" growled Kil- 
 lich Allee, in a sort of triumphant undertone. 
 * Weak ones — old women.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 169 
 
 But the eye, if not the ear, of the Shah caught 
 the expression of the accused. He demanded of 
 those around what had been said, and they did 
 not dare to conceal it. His Majesty said no- 
 thing, but addressed himself again to other mat- 
 ters until the horse and saddle arrived. One of 
 the royal jeloudars was then directed to examine 
 the saddle, the lining of which exhibited a newly- 
 ripped opening, with a corresponding hollow in 
 the pad beneath it. 
 
 This being reported to his Majesty, he directed 
 the jeloudar's attention to the back of the horse, 
 which was found to be swollen just under the 
 opening of the pad, and salt and water had already 
 been applied to reduce the swelling. The numud, 
 too, usually placed under the saddle on the horse's 
 back, was chafed and worn. 
 
 " Dost thou still deny the theft ?" demanded 
 the Shah of the culprit, wher\ the examinations 
 were concluded. 
 
 " What further should I represent ? " replied 
 the man dog.ijedly— " I have already said that the 
 Zaifeh eats dirt ; the rest is in your Highnesses 
 hands. Your servant is here, search him, or kill 
 him at your pleasure !" 
 
 It is not our pleasure to do either ; but we 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 will that you produce tlie woman's money and 
 goods, to the very last article. '* Hoh there ! fu- 
 roshes ! take that fellow, and let him have the 
 sticks till he does so ;" and instantly the man 
 was dragged away to one side under charge of a 
 Nassackchee ; the horsemen were once more dis- 
 missed ; the villagers disposed of, all but the com- 
 plainant, who was directed to await the issue of 
 the proceeding in her case. In fact, before these 
 directions had all been obeyed, the matter was 
 nearly disposed of. The culprit bore the blows 
 for a while with wonderful constancy, continuing 
 to assert his innocence ; but, as the torture by 
 degrees became less endurable, his cries for mercy 
 increased until they might be heard all over the 
 maidaun ; and in due time he roared out lustily 
 that he would tell everything — that he would re- 
 store the whole. On this the blows were sus- 
 pended until the prisoner's confession should be 
 communicated to the Shah : who, on learning it, 
 gravely nodded his head. 
 
 " We never doubted how it would be," said 
 he ; " let the things be restored to the woman — 
 restored without diminution or reserve ; and, 
 Nana, if it be not so, declare the same to those 
 who shall have charge of thee — declare it fearlessly
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 171 
 
 as thou hast done to us at this time. Mashallah ! 
 thou hast done well — please God ! no one shall 
 dare to use such freedom with the ShaVs ryots. 
 For the culprit, he merits death ; but the man is 
 a stout soldier, and the state cannot afford to lose 
 such. Let the blows he has received be made up 
 to five hundred, and then let him be cared for 
 and cured. Killich Allee rides well, though he 
 sometimes makes mistakes : he now owes us a life, 
 and we shall permit him to redeem it some day 
 or other in the field." 
 
 "Ay, Batchah !" said Allee Beg to Osman, 
 who had regarded the whole scene with flushing 
 cheek and deep excitement ; " that now is what may 
 be called justice, ay, and good sense too, Mash- 
 allah ! Well, truly may our aga be called the 
 rvots** protector ; and as for justice, what Cazee 
 could have picked truth out of such a mess of lies 
 so cleverly ? Wullah ! he has an eye like a hawk, 
 and a judgment like Locman's. After all, he is 
 the true ruler for Persia — your soft-hearted shahs 
 are all pooth I " 
 
 The salaam soon after terminated, the crowd 
 
 separated, and comparative quietness settled over 
 
 the maidaun, late the scene of so many stirring 
 
 incidents. 
 
 i2
 
 172 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HISTORY OF '' THE DARK FALCON.'* 
 
 The morning following these events saw Jaaf- 
 fer Koolee Khan at the head of some two thou- 
 sand foot soldiers, six hundred well-mounted and 
 efficient horsemen, including a hundred of the 
 royal gholaums, and a detachment of camel ar- 
 tillery, in full march from the capital. He took 
 an eastern course, and leaving on his right hand 
 the shrine of Shah Abdullazeem and the ruins of 
 Rhe, held on by the foot of the left-hand hills, 
 on the high road to Khorasan. Near him, along 
 with other officers of rank, rode Hoossein Koolee 
 Khan ; and in his train of personal followers, with 
 Allee Beg and Jan Koolee, was the Dark Falcon, 
 now gallantly armed, and mounted on a stout and 
 powerful horse, rejoicing in the new sphere of ac- 
 tion and hope of distinction thus opened to his 
 ambition.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 173 
 
 To a youth naturally aspiring, no situation 
 could be more gratifying than that which he now 
 occupied, nor could there be a prospect more ex- 
 citing than that which it opened to his view. 
 Placed by a happy combination of circumstances 
 in the service, and high in the favour of the very 
 chief whose character he had so lono^ reofarded as 
 the pattern for all gallant leaders — at a time, too, 
 so pregnant with opportunities for signalizing 
 himself — what had Osman further to desire ? Or 
 if there were, indeed, some feelings of a different 
 and softer character harboured in his heart, it was, 
 for the present at least, controlled, if not stifled, 
 by the more immediate objects of stirring interest 
 which wholly engrossed his mind and absorbed 
 every sense. 
 
 The Khan, impatient to advance at all events, 
 and particularly desirous to get rid of all the en- 
 tanglements of the capital, pushed on to Keboot 
 Goombuz, where he expected to be joined by a 
 reinforcement of the Kazan chais and Seng-e-serees 
 of Helbarood and the hilly country ; but these 
 not having arrived, he was forced to remain until 
 the return of messengers despatched to quicken 
 their movements. It was during this unexpected 
 detention, that on the evening after their arrival
 
 174 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 at Keboot Goombuz, Allee Beg summoned Os- 
 man to the quarters of Hoossein Koolee Khan, 
 who, having kindly welcomed the young man, re- 
 minded him that he still owed them the account 
 of himself which should have been given them at 
 Tehran, adding, ••' There is little chance of inter- 
 ruption here, and your story will serve excellently 
 to pass an hour or two this night ; so, Bismillah ! 
 take a seat ; you and Allee Beg, there, and begin." 
 
 " Alas ! Aga," said Osman : " I fear you ex- 
 pect too much from my poor tale. What can 
 there be to interest such as you in the story of a 
 Toorkoman captive : yet what there is shall be at 
 your command.*" 
 
 " Good, we shall see ; go on, and be sure to 
 let us have it all ; for I promise you his Highness 
 himself takes an interest in the matter, though he 
 cannot afford time just now to play the listener." 
 
 Thus commanded and encouraged, the Dark 
 Falcon seated himself respectfully at the lower 
 end of the small room, while Allee Beg took post 
 on the opposite side of the doorway. Hoossein 
 Koolee Khan kept his place at the upper end, 
 close to the fire, which roared and crackled in the 
 chimney ; and all things thus arranged, the young 
 man began as follows.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 17o 
 
 ^' Your servant has already stated that he is 
 utterly ignorant of who or what his parents may 
 have been. All he can tell respecting his origin 
 is, that he was made captive while a child, possibly 
 from some Kizzilbash family ; but the first home 
 of which he has any distinct recollection is the 
 tent of Oghuz Aga, on the banks of the Parow 
 river ; although occasionally a dim and shadowy 
 trace, as of some former condition of life, does flit 
 across his brain. 
 
 " It is no doubt known to your Lordship, that 
 Oghuz Aga is a Yemoot, chief of the Osmanboy 
 tribe, who enjoys considerable wealth and influence 
 among his people. The principal seat of his 
 obah was a green and sheltered recess, formed by 
 a shoulder of the Parow mountain, that projects 
 into the valley ; and beneath it ran the clear 
 stream of the same name, which, rising among the 
 barren eastern hills, flowed on to join the Attruck 
 in the plain beyond. It was a sweet and pleasant 
 spot, Aga, and many a happy hour have I spent 
 there with those I may never meet again !" He 
 paused for some moments, unable to repress the 
 emotion which his own recollections excited. 
 
 '* Captive though I was," he continued, " my 
 master treated me like a son. I played with his
 
 176 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 children as a brother, and mixed with the others 
 of the obah as with equals. I met with no 
 painful check to remind me that I was a slave, 
 nor did I feel less a Toorkoman than those with 
 whom I dwelt. In truth, my master, though 
 boisterous and sometimes violent, was naturally 
 frank and kind in disposition, and loved to see 
 those around him happy and contented. But 
 such was not the case with all his household. 
 My master himself had his troubles to bear, and 
 his servants could not hope entirely to escape. 
 
 " Oghuz Aga had two wives, differing as much 
 in age, as in disposition and personal attractions. 
 The first, whom he wedded when young, was the 
 daughter of Hyder Kisseh, chief of a branch of 
 the Tekeh Toorkomans, whose obah was at Ger- 
 meli Khan, and widow of one who had been a 
 noted leader of Chuppows, but who had unfortu- 
 nately got killed in an ambush laid for him by the 
 chief of Boojnoord. She had never been remark- 
 able for good looks ; but was known in the obah 
 as excelling in all the accomplishments of a good 
 housewife. She was strong and active ; could 
 make more butter, prepare more cheese, preserve 
 more keskh,'^ make finer carpets and better horse- 
 * Dried buttermilk.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 177 
 
 cloths, weave finer webs of silk and cotton, or 
 camlet, strike and put up an alachick,* load or 
 unload a camel more dexterously, and milk, bake, 
 or cook more skilfully tlian any woman on the 
 banks of the Attruck ; and, above all, manage 
 her slaves, and rule her household with a sway 
 which brooked no remonstrance. 
 
 " She was the very perfection of a Toorkoman's 
 wife ; and Oghuz Aga, then a young man, though 
 of no mean fame, resolved to become the possessor 
 of such a treasure, although her price was high, — 
 so high, indeed, that few could compete with 
 him for the purchase. He was rich, and wisely 
 thought that she was the very woman to watch 
 over, and add to his wealth. So he paid down 
 the money, a hundred tomauns in cash, — good 
 golden pieces, — and as many camels, they say ; 
 and, in due time carried her to his tent, where he 
 soon found that, notwithstanding all her accom- 
 plishments, her haughty and violent temper would 
 make her a bitter enough bargain. Nothing, 
 however, remained but to make the best of it ; 
 and Oghuz Aga did so. By this lady he had two 
 
 * Alachick, or kergah, or kannaut are names for the 
 movable houses of the Toorkomans, formed of felt on a 
 framework of wood. 
 
 I 5
 
 178 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 sons and a daughter, and for a while she held her 
 place as undisputed mistress of his household. 
 
 Such, however, it was not her fate to continue ; 
 and to her own evil temper it was that she owed 
 the change. Long before his marriage with her, 
 there had fallen into the Aga's hands a little girl, 
 a captive like myself, who with others of her 
 family had been taken in some of the quarrels 
 among the tribes about Asterabad, and had been 
 sold to the Yemoots. Having then no harem of 
 his own, she was placed under care of his mother ; 
 but when he married Zehreh Khatoon, his first 
 wife, the young captive, then well advanced 
 towards womanhood, was, along with sundry other 
 gifts, bestowed upon that lady. It was a sad day 
 for the young Goolsebah, when she exchanged 
 the kindness of a mother for the tyranny of a 
 jealous wife ; for the promise of beauty in her 
 young attendant speedily excited the alarm of 
 the banou, and rendered her harsh and severe upon 
 the poor girl. 
 
 " But this jealous severity proved the means of 
 defeating its own ends ; for Oghuz Aga, who 
 had not previously paid any particular attention 
 to the girl, was led, by the causeless harshness 
 and ill-humour of his wife to remark her beauty;
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 179 
 
 and, after several vain attempts to put a stop to 
 the tyranny from which she suffered, resolved 
 to place her in a position which might protect 
 her from such attacks in future by making her 
 his wife. Unfortunately, this well-meant mea- 
 sure had not all the success which the Aga con- 
 templated. The banou could not indeed continue 
 to inflict upon her successful rival the same kind 
 of punishment as before ; but the hatred with 
 which she regarded her became doubly bitter, 
 and her purposes of revenge were deep and 
 deadly. She never let pass an occasion of taunt- 
 ing her with those deficiencies in household ac- 
 complishments, in which she knew herself to 
 excel ; and as the poor girl, never robust, be- 
 came still more delicate after her marriage, and 
 less able to assist in domestic duties, her spiteful 
 rival found still more frequent opportunities of 
 casting up to her her useless beauty, and disqua- 
 lifying feebleness of person. 
 
 " At length, Goolsebab became the mother 
 of a little girl, who promised to inherit her 
 mother's beauty, and unfortunately, her delicacy 
 of constitution also. But Oghuz Aga was de- 
 lighted with his little daughter ; and, strongly 
 attached to the mother, did all he could to render
 
 180 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 her comfortable. He was as gentle to her him- 
 self as his nature would permit, — but, to soften 
 the spirit of the banou, was beyond his power ; 
 while, to deal very severely with the head of 
 his harem for matters connected, as he was sharp- 
 ly informed, entirely with the internal regulation 
 of his household, was a measure which Oghuz 
 Aga, at least, could not bring himself to resolve 
 upon. The consequence was, that his interfer- 
 ence did rather harm than good, and the weakest- 
 minded was driven to the wall. 
 
 " Stung with the repeated taunts of the banou, 
 Goolsebah would exert herself to take her share in 
 the household duties, and not unfrequently did 
 herself harm by efforts beyond her power. At 
 length, one day, when not far from her second 
 confinement, her persecutor called on her to 
 assist in striking one of the large alachicks ; 
 in doing which, she gave herself a fatal strain, 
 and fell to the ground severely hurt. I hap- 
 pened to be near her at the time : her gentleness 
 and kindness had, long before, made me love 
 her. I looked upon her as on a mother, and 
 never let slip any opportunity of assisting her 
 when in my power. On this occasion I ran to 
 her aid ; and, while the banou only laughed
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 181 
 
 at her visible weakness, helped first to complete 
 what she had left of her task, and then went up 
 to see her as she sat resting against some sacks 
 of grain that had been carried out of the tent. 
 
 " She was very ill. She patted my head, 
 and took my hand, but was unable to speak ; 
 and her husband coming up, she was taken into 
 one of the tents which still remained standing ; 
 and there, as I learned, gave birth to a dead 
 child. The march, nevertheless, proceeded ; she 
 was put into a kajawah, and carried to the fresh 
 encamping ground, which she never left alive. 
 She called me to her side, and from that hour 
 while she lived I seldom quitted her. The poor 
 thing seemed, indeed, quite broken-hearted. She 
 never had been strong enough, either in mind or 
 person, for the situation in which her fate had 
 placed her, and was totally unable to bear up 
 against bodily suiFerings, unalleviated by the 
 kindness and sympathy which alone could have 
 given her spirits to sustain them. 
 
 " All she cared about was her little girl, for 
 whom she seemed to anticipate a fate as sad as 
 her own ; and, child though I was, the sight 
 of her distress moved me so much that, while 
 doing my best to comfort her, I cried more than
 
 1S2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 she did. Ah ! how beautiful she looked, as 
 she lay pale and exhausted upon the mattrass 
 beside which I sat — her large black eyes almost 
 hid by their long lashes, which seemed to rest 
 upon her smooth cheek. Those eyes ! — I shall 
 never forget them ! By your own head, Khan, 
 they were as like those of our honoured Aga, as 
 if she had been his daughter." 
 
 " Afereen, Batchah ! — wonderful, truly !'"* ex- 
 claimed Hoossein Koolee, with a laugh, which 
 was summoned up rather to disguise the emotion 
 which the young man's tale had excited, than 
 from any lighter feeling, " The Khan's eyes 
 like those of a dying girl ! a strange resemblance 
 indeed, and one not very easily accounted for, 
 I should say, in that quarter of the country, 
 at least. But, Bismillah ! go on." 
 
 " Nay, Aga, you may smile, yet I swear to 
 you, that never did I look at the Aga's counte- 
 nance, bold, and manly, and joyous as it is, 
 without its reminding me, in some unaccountable 
 manner, of the wretched Goolsebah, with her 
 mild, pale, dying face, the picture of a broken 
 heart, as she w^ould clasp the little Zuleika to 
 her breast, and beseech me, little though I w^as, 
 to watch over and be kind to her child : and I,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 183 
 
 wild with grief and indignation at those who had 
 reduced her to so sad a condition, swore that I 
 would never lose sight of the little creature, but 
 be for ever her servant, and guard her from every 
 mischief. 
 
 " Much cause had the poor dying woman to 
 dread for her daughter, the same hostility which 
 had been so fatal to herself; for the banou's 
 hatred was implacable, although her malevo- 
 lence had sustained a rebuke from Oghuz -Aga, 
 which cowed even her imperious spirit for the 
 time. 
 
 " Shocked at the condition of his favourite wife, 
 and his eyes too late opened to the cause, he 
 had broken out upon her rival with a fury which 
 forced her to slink away with conscious dread. 
 
 " But there was another and more effectual 
 check put upon the evil spirit of the banou than 
 the occasional outbreak of her husband's wrath. 
 The mother and daughter possessed a protector 
 without whose aid their doom would probably have 
 long before been sealed. This was no other 
 than that singular woman with whom his High- 
 ness became acquainted in the cave of Shah -k oh, 
 as the Khan has doubtless heard, and who had 
 been a frequent visitor in our camp. She was
 
 184 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 known there only by tlie appellation of Bho- 
 wanee, the Hindee fakeerek ; but who she was 
 in reality, or whence she had come, no one could 
 tell. Report declared her to be of Indian birth ; 
 and she was supposed to be skilled in the dark 
 mysterious sciences, cultivated so much in that 
 distant region, particularly among the fakeers 
 and brahmins of the Hindoos. 
 
 " The first appearance of this woman in the 
 obah occurred soon after Goolsebah, as a child, 
 fell into the possession of Oghuz Aga ; and, in 
 the course of her subsequent visits, which were 
 made at irregular and uncertain intervals, it be- 
 came evident that some previous, though un- 
 known connection subsisted between her and the 
 young captive ; for the little creature, so far 
 from expressing alarm or disgust at the fakeereh's 
 singular appearance, would cling to her with 
 an obvious expression of recognition and plea- 
 sure, while she, on her part, though seldom 
 heard to speak, would hover round the tent 
 which contained the little girl, and gaze with 
 delight upon her countenance. As for our peo- 
 ple, superstitious to an extreme, like all Toorko- 
 mans, they were puzzled what to make of her. 
 Some shuddering at those eyes of hers, which.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 185 
 
 when she chooses, shed so terrible a light, took 
 her for some ghol or afreet^ forced by a su- 
 perior power to linger on earth for some fearful 
 purpose ; and, as such, avoided her : others re- 
 garded her rather as a guardian jin or peri, who 
 chose to assume this shape in the eyes of man- 
 kind, in order to intimidate them from injuring 
 the being under her protection. Others, again, 
 would have her to be only a human being, but 
 a sorceress, of kin to those fakeers and calunders, 
 who, crossing the mountains of Balckh and Cau- 
 bul, or Badakshan, frequently take their way 
 through the Toorkoman country on the steppes of 
 Khaurezm, in their course to the west ; and who, 
 no question, are most of them proficients in 
 magic. The child was frequently interrogated ; 
 but no distinct or intelligible replies could be 
 gained from her ; and if any one ventured to 
 question the fakeereh herself, the replies, if any 
 they received, were neither calculated to enlight- 
 en them, nor to encourage further inquiry. 
 
 " In this way did the fakeereh Bhowanee con- 
 tinue her visits to the obah, making her ap- 
 pearance as suddenly and unexpectedly ; bestow- 
 ing looks of approbation on all who showed 
 kindness to her protegee^ and scowling so wrath-
 
 186 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 fully as to terrify any whom she believed dis- 
 posed to treat the little creature with coldness or 
 contempt. After a while, however, she ceased to 
 appear ; much to the distress of the young Gool- 
 sebah, who pined for the sight of one who, to 
 her, had been a most kind and devoted protec- 
 tress. In time, however, her regret passed away 
 and the fakeereh appeared to be forgotten ; nor 
 was she any more heard of until after the mar- 
 riage of Oghuz Aga with the banou — Goolsebah 
 was then the banou's handmaid, given to her 
 by the Aga himself, who, at that time, had no 
 suspicion of his wife's evil disposition, nor ima- 
 gined that he was dooming a timid and gentle 
 dove to the gripe of the merciless vulture. 
 
 " But the evil spirit soon broke forth. Already 
 had harsh rebukes, mingled with taunts, been 
 poured upon the uncomplaining victim, and her 
 health and spirits were alike failing, when the 
 malice of the banou received an unexpected, 
 though but a temporary check. One evening, 
 after darkness had closed in, Oghuz Aga was 
 seated in his tent, while his wife was setting his 
 sham, or dinner, before him, with Goolsebah 
 attending upon their, or rather her orders. It 
 happened that some trifling omission on her part
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 187 
 
 called forth a sharp reprimand from the banou, 
 which, though received in silence, produced a 
 flood of tears ; the Aga was good-humouredly 
 interfering to excuse her, when the entrance 
 of the alachick became darkened for a moment, 
 and a tall figure, in a strange dress, stood before 
 the party. 
 
 " In a moment, before there was time for 
 thought, all who had ever known the fakeereh felt 
 a conviction that it was she; and the glance of 
 her terrible eyes, burning with fury and directed 
 full upon the banou, left not a doubt of the fact. 
 ' Woman !"* said she, in a voice that thrilled 
 every heart, ' beware ! thou treadest on a drawn 
 sword. If mercy or justice cannot move thee, 
 let regard for thy own safety prevail ; for be sure 
 that the evil thou wreakest on that helpless one, 
 shall fall with tenfold weight on thee and thine. 
 And thou, oh man ! who hast hitherto sheltered 
 this flower of beauty — thou whom Providence has 
 made her guardian, how is it that thou hast 
 shrunk from thy duty ? Beware thou, also, be- 
 ware of that tigress, and watch that she bring 
 not ruin on thy house by the crimes she commits 
 unchecked of thee ! ' 
 
 " Agas, if ever human eye possessed the power
 
 188 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 of striking those it hates by a glance, it was that 
 of the fakeereh Bhowanee ; even now, when she 
 wills it, its expression is terrible, but in those 
 days, when its almost demoniac lustre was height- 
 ened by the fire of youth, its gleam, when agi- 
 tated by fury, was intolerable. The banou 
 shrunk from it, as if a jin or afreet had glared 
 upon her suddenly ; and even Oghuz Aga re- 
 mained amazed and confounded, while Goolsebah 
 flew to her old protectress, who embraced and led 
 her from the tent. 
 
 " Before morning, it is said, the fakeereh had 
 disappeared as suddenly and unaccountably as she 
 came ; but the impression she left was strong 
 enough to produce a very salutary influence upon 
 the banou^s conduct to her slave, and though it 
 wore away in time, a second visit of the terrible 
 Bhowanee again recalled her to moderation in 
 the exercise of her malevolence towards the un- 
 happy girl. It may be, that this last visit con- 
 firmed the mind of Oghuz Aga in his purpose 
 of making the persecuted girl his wife; and Gool- 
 sebah herself, in hopes, no doubt, of enjoying 
 greater comfort, consented readily to her master's 
 will. But both, as I have represented, were 
 deceived ; for to chant^e a nature like that of
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 189 
 
 the banou was hopeless, and Goolsebah the wife 
 was little better off than Goolsebah the slave. 
 The nature of the persecution was changed, 
 indeed, but it was not the less harassing, and 
 terminated, at length, in the result I have 
 described. 
 
 " The term of the unfortunate Goolsebah's life 
 was near a close. She lay almost inanimate upon 
 a couch, her face of a clayey paleness, her beau- 
 tiful eyes half closed, with one arm listlessly 
 extended by her side ; while the other sought 
 to clasp the little Zuleika, as she lay in her 
 bosom, when, as formerly, without word or warn- 
 ing, the fakeereh Bhowanee entered and stood by 
 her couch. 
 
 '• Child as I was, well do I remember her ap- 
 pearance, as with a softened glance she gazed 
 on the dying woman. ' And has it come to 
 this ?' said she in a voice, the tones of which 
 were like low music ; ' Tukdeer ! destiny ! 
 who can contend with thee? Fair flower, thou art 
 broken, but woe to the hand that hath bruised 
 thee!' 
 
 "The attention even of the dying creature 
 seemed roused by these low sweet tones, for she 
 opened her eyes with a gleam of recognition,
 
 190 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 and faintly smiling, tried to stretcli forth her hand ; 
 but the effort was beyond her strength, and the 
 hand sank back upon the couch beside her. 
 The fakeereh knelt, her countenance had lost 
 its sternness, as she took the feeble hand, and 
 imprinted a kiss upon the livid lips — ' Ay,"* 
 she said, ' thou could'st not depart without 
 this. In these arms thy first breath was drawn ; 
 it was meet they should enfold thee while gasp- 
 ing forth thy last ; this too was written, and 
 thus is it accomplished !' With these words, she 
 clasped the frail form to her breast, and held it 
 there for some moments : then gently laid it on 
 the couch. When I looked again upon the face, I 
 felt it to be that of a corpse. 
 
 " For some few moments longer, the fakeereh 
 continued to hang over the sweet but fixed 
 features, and I saw that her own were strongly 
 convulsed; a tear seemed even to be trickling 
 down her deeply furrowed cheek, but the mois- 
 ture in my own eyes may have deceived me. 
 Then passing her hand on the half open eyes of 
 the dead, to close the heavy lids, she took the 
 little Zuleika in her arms, and on rising, I saw 
 that her face had become calm and cold as 
 ever.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 191 
 
 " ' Boy,' said she addressing me, ' thou hast 
 lost one who was to thee a naother ; but merit 
 thou a mother's care, and thou shalt never want 
 one. Attend ; to thee as to a brother, hath that 
 dying one bequeathed this child. On thy head 
 be it, if thou neglect the charge, which /, as 
 well as sAe, commit to thee. Child though 
 thou art, thou never wilt forget this hour, nor the 
 duty it has laid upon thy head ;' and stretching 
 forth the little Zuleika, I kissed the pretty lips 
 which the infant held out to me ; never, in truth, 
 can that moment pass from my memory. 'Ay,' 
 continued the fakeereh, ' she accepts thee for her 
 protector. Of kindred races, see that ye cling to 
 each other, and Allah, in his own good time, 
 will work out his own good pleasure !' 
 
 " Scarcely had these things passed, when 
 Oghuz Aga, hearing from his slaves that his 
 wife was dying, hastily entered the tent, followed 
 almost instantly by the banou. Both started on 
 seeing the fakeereh, but turned their eyes im- 
 mediately from her to the couch, where lay the 
 immediate object of their enquiries. The chill 
 and rigid sharpness of her ashy countenance left 
 nothing to be told, and Oghuz Aga covering his 
 face without a word, sat down by the body, and
 
 192 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 gave vent to a burst of emotion. The banou 
 feeling that she was in the presence of one 
 whom she could not deceive, affected neither to 
 weep nor lament, but stood, hard as iron, though 
 inwardly conscience-stricken and dismayed, with 
 her eyes sternly fixed upon the body. 
 
 " ' Ay, weep, for thou hast lost her ! ' said the 
 fakeereh to Oghuz Aga ; ' she returns no more : 
 and who shall replace her in thy bosom ? Such has 
 been the will of Allah ; for his creatures there 
 remains but submission. For thee woman — vile 
 and evil instrument of the Most High ! on thee, 
 as on her, shall that will be fulfilled, and trem • 
 ble at the vengeance which awaits thee. Beware 
 that thou add not to the black account by perse- 
 cuting the daughter as thou hast destroyed the 
 mother/ With these words, and placing the 
 child in the arms of the banou, which were 
 mechanically stretched forth to receive it, she 
 glided from the tent, before those who were 
 now collected there became aware of her move- 
 ments. 
 
 From this time, however, she returned frequent- 
 ly to the obah, and evinced more decidedly the 
 interest she took in the little Zuleika. She would 
 even remain there for days, and sometimes pass
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 193 
 
 whole nights beside her, absorbed in meditation. 
 No one, however, knew whence she came, or 
 whither she went, nor did any one seem inclined 
 to attempt the discovery. But the effect of her 
 impressive appeal at the death-bed of Goolsebah, 
 maintained, as it was, by the more frequent, but 
 still iiTCgular recurrence of her visits, was strongly 
 apparent in the altered conduct of the banou. 
 The bitter scorn and jealousy disappeared with 
 the death of her rival, and though gentleness or 
 kindness was not to be expected from a character 
 like hers, she did cease to persecute, and even 
 paid some attention to the nurture of that rival's 
 child, and Zuieika grew up in health and beauty. 
 " But the favour of Bhowanee was not confined 
 to Zuieika. Each time she came, I received 
 from her marks of kindness which, not less than 
 the impression made by the scene of Goolsebah's 
 death, made her visits interesting to me ; indeed, 
 I was, perhaps of all the obah, the only one who 
 regarded the fakeereh with least of apprehension, 
 One day, it might be nearly five years after our first 
 acquaintance, I was sent with a comrade to look 
 after some strayed sheep ; and having separated in 
 the course of our search, I ascended by myself, 
 the shoulder of the Parow mountain ; tracing as 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 I believed the track of the missing animals, 
 until I found myself unexpectedly on a far 
 higher part of it than I had ever reached 
 before. But that which chiefly fixed my atten- 
 tion, was the remains of a building, which I 
 remembered to have seen from below, and which 
 was held rather in awe than in reverence. For 
 though formerly a place of pilgrimage, and sacred 
 to Huzrut Allee, son-in-law of the blessed Pro- 
 phet, with whom be peace ! it had now become 
 regarded as a haunt of evil spirits. 
 
 " I remember, Agas, that on discovering how 
 near I had approached to this dreaded spot, a 
 cold shudder came over me, and I was half in- 
 clined to fly ; when a noise, which I took for the 
 bleating of a sheep, induced me to venture 
 further on ; and I had almost reached the build- 
 ing, when I was rooted to the spot, and my 
 hair rose upon my head, at the sight of a being 
 which issued from an arch in the wall, and 
 which I doubted not was one of the evil spirits 
 of whom I had heard. It was long and lean, 
 and almost naked ; its tangled hair floated loose 
 in the wind, giving to a head of preternatural size, 
 an air of unaccountable wildness. It was tossing 
 about its meagre arms in a manner that added to
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 195 
 
 the strangeness of its appearance ; and no sooner 
 had it perceived me, which was immediately on 
 its issuing from the building, than it bounded 
 towards me with fast and fearful leaps ; while I, 
 powerless and horror-struck, was unable to move 
 a step from where I stood. 
 
 '' But though my feet were tied, my tongue vvas 
 not, as the shriek, or roar, which I gave when 
 the creature clutched me, sufficiently proved; and 
 so great was my terror and confusion, that not 
 until my arm was dropped by the supposed fiend, 
 and that accents of melody, recognized even at 
 such a moment, fell upon my ear, did I become 
 aware that another person was present. On 
 looking up, I beheld the fakeereh, who with a ges- 
 ture of authority was motioning to my enemy to 
 leave me. He did so, and retired back to the 
 tomb, with an unearthly yell or laugh, which 
 might well be taken for the mocking of a fiend. 
 
 " The fakeereh then soothing my alarm, en- 
 quired of me what had brought me hither ? 
 
 "On my telling her, she bade me return to the 
 obah, and never to venture hither again ; ' for,' 
 said she, ' you might find better founded cause of 
 alarm than at present, and no aid so near." She 
 then told me, that by pursuing a particular 
 
 K 2
 
 196 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 direction, I should find the stray sheep : and 
 having accompanied me a short way, to put me in 
 the right path, she left me, and returned to the 
 mausoleum. 
 
 " Confounded as I had been by this startling 
 adventure, it was not for some time that I could 
 calmly call to mind each circumstance, and try to 
 comprehend the whole affair. But the more I 
 reflected, the more was I bewildered. Was it, 
 indeed, an evil spirit that had seized me 1 and had 
 the fakeereh in truth exercised her power over 
 jins and demons to set me free ? If so, with how 
 much of awe and terror did this invest her ! yet 
 how valuable must such a protectress prove, and 
 how fortunate was I, in having become the object 
 of her care ! Still it was fearful, and whatever 
 might before have been my childish belief, I 
 could now scarcely regard the fakeereh as one of 
 the simple race of mankind. 
 
 " Yet I loved her, in spite of doubts and fears. 
 To me, she never showed anything but kindness; 
 and even the mystery in which she lived and 
 moved had its charm for my young mind ; so 
 that when present I clung to her involuntarily, 
 and longed for her when absent. So power- 
 fully, indeed, did this longing after her work
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 197 
 
 upon me, that, in spite of my terrors and her 
 warnings, I could not refrain from occasional 
 visits to the Parow mountain, where I had some 
 idea that she dwelt, and even to the vicinity of 
 the very place where I had suffered so great a 
 fright. Like the moth that flutters round the 
 candle, I hovered round the spot which fasci- 
 nated me by its very mystery, in spite of all its 
 terrors. 
 
 "One day, it might be a twelvemonth after 
 my first adventure, while occupied as usual in 
 herding sheep or camels, I wandered on, follow- 
 ing rather the unperceived impulse of my thoughts 
 than any fixed purpose of my will, until I had 
 got far among the inequalities which lie at the 
 foot of the Parow mountain. It was now the 
 fall of the year. The weather had been chilly, 
 and beasts of prey had already been heard hov/1- 
 ing round our folds and tents ; so that there 
 was nothing extraordinary or unusual in observ- 
 ing, as I turned the foot of a hillock, several 
 wolves at work upon the carcass of an animal 
 in a hollow just behind it. 
 
 " Desirous to discover what they had got hold 
 of, I advanced towards the spot ; when three of 
 the creatures, quitting their repast, advanced to-
 
 198 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 wards me, snarling and showing their teeth. 
 This I was not prepared for, as these animals 
 seldom attack a human being, except when pressed 
 by extremity of hunger ; and, doubtful what to 
 do, I remained standing at fault until they had 
 approached pretty near ; when, whether encou- 
 raged by my irresolution or my diminutive size, 
 they advanced at a canter and open-mouthed 
 upon me. 
 
 *' I still can remember the horror of that mo- 
 ment. More in terror than in boldness, I shout- 
 ed out aloud to drive them away, and brandished 
 the club which I carried : but all was in vain. 
 The fierce animals persisted, taking a circuit 
 round me and coming nearer and nearer, until 
 I could almost feel their breath upon my face, 
 while my shouts were converted into one long 
 roar of unutterable terror. At length, the largest 
 of the creatures, making a sudden bound, threw 
 me to the earth ; and all would soon have been 
 over, had not a shout, louder and fiercer far than 
 mine, been heard close by, and a rapid footstep 
 approached. The wolves started, listened, and 
 then stole growling away, leaving me upon the 
 ground with my clothes torn, but little injured 
 in my person.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 199 
 
 " When I dared to open my eyes, I saw 
 bending over me a figure wearing something of 
 the human form, but, so terrible in appearance, 
 that the wolf seemed the less savage of the two. 
 He was tall, and of huge proportions ; a thick 
 fleece of grizzled hair supplied, in some degree, 
 the place of clothes, covering his broad but hol- 
 low chest, his body and uncouth limbs, and 
 mingling with the tangled beard and matted 
 locks, which last were partly bound up in a mass 
 upon the top of his head. A very sharp and 
 highly arched nose rose between two lank and 
 furrowed cheeks. But his eyes were the most 
 remarkable feature of his frightful face ; for, from 
 whatever cause, they shone like burning coal — 
 it was almost impossible to sustain their look ; 
 and his fingers ended in huge talons, like those 
 of some enormous eagle, or beast of prey. 
 Around his waist he wore what seemed to be 
 a rope of hair, twisted in a thousand ways. 
 Down his back hung the skin of a bear ; and, 
 crossing his breast from the right shoulder, was 
 seen a cord of loosely twisted thread. The iron- 
 shod club, which he had wielded in his hand 
 to drive away the wolves, was now planted firmly 
 on the ground, as he leant over me with a look
 
 200 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 of grim inquiry for nearly a minute ; then, seiz- 
 ing me by the arm, he spoke to me in a deep, 
 harsh tone, but in words which I did not under- 
 stand. 
 
 " I got upon my feet, however ; and, after 
 an attempt to express my thanks for his deliver- 
 ing me from the wolves, would fain have left 
 him to make my way homewards ; but he, cast- 
 ing upon me a yet more terrible look, and still 
 holding my arm, muttered a few more unintel- 
 ligible words, and then he begun to move for- 
 wards in an opposite direction, dragging me along 
 with him. Alarmed at this, I would have re- 
 sisted ; but his strength was too great for me 
 to contend with, so that I was compelled un- 
 willingly to follow. Afraid to offend by vain 
 opposition, yet filled with terror of I knew not 
 what, I still could observe that we were pro- 
 ceeding in the direction of the mysterious build- 
 ing where I had seen the fakeereh, and the hope 
 of meeting her somewhat soothed my fears ; while 
 a recollection of the creature from which she had 
 delivered me there, as well as of her warning, 
 came back upon me with a feeling of disgust 
 and apprehension. I had no choice, however ; 
 for the savage relaxed not his grasp until, wearied
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 201 
 
 with the pace at which he ascended the mountain, 
 as well as worn out with my own fright and un- 
 easiness, I stumbled and fell to the ground. On 
 this, without further word, he raised me in his 
 arms, and, throwing me over his shoulder, kept 
 on his way as before, without heeding my expres- 
 sions of distress, which now burst from me in 
 spite of myself, or appearing at all to feel his 
 additional burthen. 
 
 " At length we reached the ruin, but it ap- 
 peared deserted ; and my heart sunk, as the 
 man, lowering me from his shoulder that he 
 might stoop to pass the archway, and taking me 
 under his arm, carried me through an empty hall 
 to the mouth of a yawning chasm, into which he 
 forthwith descended. On this, terror took full 
 possession of my soul, and I screamed aloud with 
 all my strength. The man, with a sound like 
 an imprecation, gave me a shake as a hint to 
 desist ; and, in another moment, I found myself, 
 along with my conductor, in a cavern, the size 
 of which I could not at once discover, and which 
 appeared to receive its light from a hole in the 
 roof, at a considerable height above our heads. 
 Here, pointing out a piece of mat on the floor, 
 and putting a handful or two of parched rice 
 
 k5
 
 202 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 into a gourd for me, he turned to quit the place. 
 I cried and clung to him, beseeching him not 
 to leave me alone in that horrible hole — to take 
 me with him, at all events ; but, shaking me 
 rudely from him, so that I fell to the ground, 
 he disappeared in the darkness before I could 
 rise from it. 
 
 *' Alas ! what a state, for a child, was I left in, 
 Aga ! Weary, and broken-hearted with terror 
 — shut up in darkness, and in a place which I 
 fully believed to be the haunt of demons, and 
 by so savage and terrific a monster, what had I to 
 look for ? — what could I anticipate, but some 
 horrid death ? Nay, the gloom that surrounded 
 me whispered of things more terrible than death 
 itself, because mysterious and unknown. Thus, 
 for a time that appeared to me interminable, I 
 could do nothing but cry aloud for help, and 
 bemoan myself. But, as no one came, either 
 to help or molest me, my mind became somewhat 
 more tranquil, and I rose to look about me. 
 
 " My eyes, now better accustomed to the dark- 
 ness, were able to discover what the imperfect 
 light prevented me at first from observing. The 
 cavern was extensive ; its walls, in part at least 
 of mason work, were blackened, as it seemed,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 203 
 
 by smoke, as well as the vaulted roof. But 
 that which first fixed my sight was a small lamp 
 burning before certain dark objects, which struck 
 me with an indefinable dread, but which, never- 
 theless, I could not refrain from approaching. 
 The lamp burned in a small niche, and shed 
 its light upon a horrible black image, bearing 
 some rude resemblance to a human being with 
 many arms ; the teeth of which grinned hide- 
 ously white from its red mouth ; and the eyes 
 glared with a silvery gleam ! 
 
 " My hair stood on end with horror, and my 
 knees shook as I stood before this frightful 
 image. It was some time before I saw that 
 there were others of a similar appearance around ; 
 and that before the principal idol, there was an 
 altar covered with the remains of various sub- 
 stances, among which I could distinguish drops 
 of black and clotted blood. Alas ! my own 
 was turned to water at the sight ; and I sunk 
 upon the ground before the blood-stained altar, 
 and hid my face in my hands. 
 
 "But to continue thus, was impossible — it never 
 was my nature to endure suspense when in my 
 power to terminate it ; so I rose, resolved to 
 seek out and discover the worst. Accordingly,
 
 204 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 I cast my eyes around, and saw that in the walls 
 there were niches containing objects, varied in 
 shape, though similar in fabric to the first-seen 
 images ; but the darkness prevented all minute 
 investigation. On one side, however, and at 
 some little distance in front of the altar, there 
 was another object which attracted my notice. 
 It was a strong and peculiarly shaped fork of 
 wood ; the stalk of which rose about a cubit 
 height out of the ground in which it was firmly 
 fixed, while the prongs attained about the same 
 height above the stalk. I approached this in- 
 strument with a sensation of mysterious awe ; 
 I touched it — it was wet and clammy, and my 
 fingers were stained with clotted gore. Beneath 
 it there was a pool of the same, which the satu- 
 rated earth had not yet drank up. 
 
 " If horror and death were in my thoughts be- 
 fore, imagine, Agas, what must have been my 
 feelings with this palpable evidence of murder 
 before me ! Even now I shudder to remember 
 what I suffered then ; but praise be to Allah ! 
 mine is not a heart to be easily dismayed, and 
 the life of a Toorkoman boy is not ill calculated 
 to strengthen a stout spirit. I remembered the 
 words of the fakeereh, and comprehended some-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 205 
 
 what of my danger. I felt that I had fallen into 
 the "wolfs den ; but it only roused me to exer- 
 tion, to try whether it were not possible to ef- 
 fect an escape. 
 
 " Half frenzied with eagerness, I hurried round 
 the walls of my prison, seeking for the entrance — 
 but all in vain : nothing met my touch but rock, 
 or wall broken here and there into inequalities, 
 by niches and recesses, which gave no hope of 
 liberation. I looked up at the opening above, 
 but it was far beyond my reach ; and whether 
 it were imagination or reality, me-thought I saw 
 a hideous and fiend-like countenance grinning 
 down upon me from the edge of the chasm. 
 
 " At length, worn out with fatigue, and bewil- 
 dered with horror and excitement, my senses, 
 or my consciousness at least, failed me ; and 
 dropping on the mat which had been pointed 
 out to me, I fell into slumber or insensibility, 
 which must have lasted for a considerable time. 
 
 " I was roused, at length, by the glare of a 
 light flashing on my eyes, and on opening them, 
 as soon as I could distinguish objects, became 
 aware that two persons were bending over me ; 
 the one held a lamp, the other was the monster 
 who had seized me. For a moment, I thought
 
 206 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 myself still dreaming, but that delusion was soon 
 put an end to by a rough grasp on the shoulder. 
 Faint and stupified, I could only gaze around me 
 with dismay, which was not lessened by observ- 
 ing that the new comer had, stuck in his girdle, 
 a heavy-bladed knife, the handle as well as the 
 steel of which bore indubitable marks of its use. 
 Thus, when the man who had laid hold of me 
 pulled me up, I felt satisfied that it was for the 
 purpose of being murdered, and, accordingly, 
 uttered a loud scream. The roughness of the 
 man who strove to silence me did not tend to 
 pacify me, and there is little doubt of what 
 the result would have been, had not another 
 person suddenly appeared in the vault and min- 
 gled in the group. The light fell upon her 
 countenance, and I recognized the fakeereh ! 
 
 " Oh, the ecstacy of that moment ! Sud- 
 denly wrenching my arm from the gripe of him 
 who held it, I rushed to her, and, throwing 
 my arms around her knees, besought her in 
 piercing accents to save me from death, to take 
 me from these terrible men ! She returned my 
 caresses, and keeping off with one hand the men 
 who sought to recover their hold of me, threw 
 the other round my person, and spoke rapidly
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 207 
 
 and eagerly to them in a language wliicli I did 
 not understand. But they appeared by no means 
 disposed to listen to her. Their words were few, 
 indeed, but rough and determined in tone, while 
 those of the fakeereh continued earnest and con- 
 ciliatory. Oh, with what painful eagerness did 
 I watch the effect of her pleading ! and how 
 did my heart sink, as I heard their violence 
 increase and their gestures become more threat- 
 ening. At length, the fakeereh uttered some 
 rapid words in a tone of greater energy and, 
 as I thought, decision ; on which the monster 
 who had taken me, strode forward and seized 
 me with a dreadful imprecation, while his com- 
 panion drew the bloody cleaver from his girdle 
 and brandished it in the air. A mist came over 
 my eyes, and the bitterness of death seemed 
 upon me, when the fakeereh, changing all at 
 once her manner, plucked forth from her bosom 
 a long, sharp dagger, and, drawing herself up 
 into an attitude of great majesty, spoke and 
 gesticulated vehemently for some moments. The 
 effect was immediate; the men desisted from 
 their violence, and, after some further conver- 
 sation, carried on in a more temperate key, 
 turned away and disappeared in the darkness
 
 208 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 at one side of the vault, while the fakeereh, 
 whispering some words of hope and comfort, 
 and bidding me expect her return soon, followed 
 them immediately. 
 
 " As for me, notwithstanding the deliverance 
 which had evidently been wrought for me by 
 the fakeereh from immediate death, and the 
 hope of release held out to me, I was far from 
 satisfied at being thus still left in this horrible 
 place. There was something so frightful in the 
 whole adventure, and so terrible in the beings 
 who had taken part in it ; their power of evil 
 appeared so great, and I so wretchedly weak in 
 their hands, that my mind refused to be tran- 
 quillized ; I sat me down and tried to compose 
 myself, but in vain ; to feel at ease, or persuaded 
 that the danger was over, was impossible : flushes 
 of terror would come over me, and I could not 
 refrain from sobbing and weeping from agitation ; 
 and when I thought of my home, and all whom 
 I loved there, I abandoned myself to passionate 
 bursts of grief. 
 
 "It was afternoon when I was first taken to 
 this accursed vault ; and my sleep or swoon had 
 lasted, as it seemed, during great part of the 
 night. Darkness still prevailed when I was thus
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 209 
 
 a second time left to myself, for I could see 
 the stars shining brightly through the chasm 
 above. How the hours passed I knew not ; but 
 the sun had been evidently some time risen when 
 I was once more startled by the approach of a 
 light footstep. It was the fakeereh, who, plac- 
 cing her finger on her lip, presented me with 
 some food from a basket on her arm, and made 
 signs for me to eat. Comprehending that there 
 was occasion for caution, I obeyed in silence. 
 So great hitherto had been the agitation of my 
 mind, that though faint and weak, I felt no 
 actual hunger ; but now that the means of escape 
 were before me, and that food was placed within 
 my reach, the cravings of nature made themselves 
 felt, and I ravenously devoured the victuals. 
 
 Hungry as T was, however, my anxiety for 
 freedom was too great to permit me to dally 
 with my meal, so that in a few minutes I made 
 signs that I was ready. Accordingly, my pro- 
 tectress taking from my head my cap of sheep- 
 skin, and throwing around me a ragged and 
 dark-coloured cloak, took me by the hand and 
 led me across the floor of the vault. How it 
 was accomplished, I knew not ; but a passage 
 opened where certainly I could find none be-
 
 210 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 fore ; and, after proceeding a few yards in dark- 
 ness, and mounting some broken steps, I per- 
 ceived that we were in the same hall, through 
 which I had been dragged by my ruffian con- 
 ductor. Again the fakeereh made an expres- 
 sive sign for caution and silence ; and pointing 
 to an arched opening that gave entrance into a 
 smaller chamber, I could distinguish the form of 
 a man asleep, as it appeared, upon a mat beside 
 the embers of a fire. She quickened her steps, 
 which fell so lightly as to produce no sound ; 
 and I required no other inducement to imitate 
 her speed and caution. 
 
 " We were soon beyond the walls of the ruin, 
 and certainly the air and sunshine had never been 
 to me so delightful. The morning was, indeed, 
 well advanced, but the dew still hung upon the 
 grass, and light vapour floated over the plains, 
 even to the distant Caspian. All over head was 
 blue and serene, and my heart leaped with joy 
 as I gazed around, and felt that I was free. 
 But my guide, who appeared still uneasy, hur- 
 ried me on until a little bit of rising ground 
 shut us out from view of the building ; even 
 then, while seeming to draw breath with less 
 constraint, all she said was, ' On, on, my child !
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 211 
 
 on and quit this place !' So on we went as fast 
 as we could go, choosing always the less ex- 
 posed parts of the hill-side ; and threading our 
 way among teppehs^ until near noon, when on 
 emerging from a hollow, along which we had 
 wound for some distance, I could discern the 
 obah of Oghuz Aga in the plain, still a consi- 
 derable way beneath us. 
 
 Here the fakeereh stopped ; and pointing to 
 the camp, said ' Behold, rash boy ! behold thy 
 dwelling. How, after my warning, did'st thou 
 dare to venture on this forbidden ground ? Learn 
 that but for the intervention of a power which 
 thou canst not comprehend, thy young blood 
 had by this time been curdling on the floor of 
 yon dungeon ; and that Almighty Power whose 
 will it was to save thee, alone can tell what evil 
 may still result from thy folly. Begone to thy 
 home, and as thou woukFst avoid the fate thou 
 hast so narrowly escaped, let no word of what 
 thou hast seen breathe from thy lips. Hence- 
 forth, should aught lead thee to desire my pre- 
 sence, or require my aid, beware of seeking me 
 yonder, but take and place this stone in a hollow 
 thou wilt find beneath that blasted tree by the 
 * Small hillocks
 
 2\2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 old tomb at the foot of this mountain ; should I 
 then be within reach of the Attruck, thou shalt 
 see me within the twenty-four hours.' 
 
 " So saying, she put into my hands a smooth 
 black stone, engraved with signs and figures ; and 
 bidding God protect me, she placed her hand 
 upon my head, and turning from me, was soon 
 out of my sight. For my part, musing on all 
 that had befallen me, but rejoicing in my won- 
 derful escape, I returned to the camp, where my 
 absence had scarcely been remarked, as it was no 
 uncommon thing for lads in charge of herds and 
 flocks to remain abroad for a night when 
 belated in search of stray beasts. Thus I kept 
 my own counsel, and the mysteries of the Mazar 
 of Parow remained unknown to the obah.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 213 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE "dark falcon's" HISTORY CONTINUED. 
 
 " Nothing worth relating occurred for the next 
 two years. As customary with the youth of 
 our tribe, both native born and khaneh zadehs, 
 or house-born slaves, among whom I was regard- 
 ed, I took my turn with the men in warlike or 
 plundering expeditions, and had the good fortune 
 so far to distinguish myself, as to obtain the 
 name of " karatoghaur,"" or The Dark Falcon, by 
 which I have for several years been chiefly desig- 
 nated ; for though young in years, Allah, praise 
 be to his name! had endowed me with a strength 
 and activity, and particularly with a keen power 
 of sight, which frequently rendered me useful. 
 But the first affair of importance in which it fell 
 to my lot to be concerned, was when his Majesty, 
 after the Vakeel's* death, arrived to give light to 
 
 * Kereem Khan, who, though in reality King of Persia, 
 while he lived called himself only Vakeel, or agent of the 
 Empire. He was chief of the Zend tribes.
 
 214 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 our eyes in Mazimderan. Along with my master 
 Oghuz Aga, who had unfortunately embraced the 
 cause of Mustapha Koolee Khan, I found myself 
 opposed to the true light of Iraun ; and thus did 
 I remain employed, until the arms of the Centre 
 of the Universe, became successful ; and the 
 power of his foes being broken, many of them 
 took refuge with the leader of the Zend. These 
 invaders, however, having met with their deserts 
 in the passes of Mazunderan, were forced to take 
 their way back to the high country ; while the 
 Shah, victorious everywhere, pressed on to Ghee- 
 Ian, and forced its chief, Hedayut Khan, to fly. 
 
 "This opened the eyes of Oghuz Aga. Plunder, 
 not hard-fighting, is the Toorkoman's object, as 
 the agas well know ; and my master, seeing that 
 not gain but danger and loss were all he was 
 likely to acquire by the part he had taken, with- 
 drew to his own country, carrying with him what- 
 ever he could lay hands upon ; for to return 
 to his obah empty handed, would have covered 
 him with disgrace ; the very women would have 
 cried tuph! on so poor-spirited a chief. 
 
 " This, Aga, was my first taste of military life. 
 I loved its excitements, its pleasures, its joyous 
 freedom, its very dangers. It laid open a new
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 215 
 
 world to me, for it threw me among a totally new 
 and superior set of beings, to those I had lived 
 with hitherto. Among the tribes of the Attock, 
 how could I gather any idea of those courtesies 
 and politeness of more civilized society, which at- 
 tracted my notice among the persons with whom 
 my first campaigns brought me in contact ? and 
 I was powerfully struck by the high endowments, 
 the obvious superiority and gracious demeanour 
 of some among the higher officers with whom I 
 served ; for ill assorted as the armies generally 
 were, they always could boast of a portion of vete- 
 ran and experienced troops. With some of these 
 I was fortunate enough to obtain favour, and 
 whatever trifling acquirements I may possess 
 beyond those of any Toorkoman lad of our obah, 
 is due to the advantages I enjoyed during 
 my three or four years^ service in the wars between 
 the Kajar chiefs, and their struggles with the 
 troops of the Vakeel." 
 
 *' And, by the king's head!" said Hoossien 
 Koolee, "it is well seen that thou did'st profit by 
 them. Wullah ! we know something of these 
 Yemoots — a hard-headed, a rough-riding, plun- 
 dering set they are, who know well enough how to 
 draw a bow, or hold a spear straight in the charge ;
 
 216 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 but as for manners or courtesy, Allali-il-ullali ! 
 my hound Tirmeh there has ten times more than 
 the best of them ; by your soul ! they are bears.*" 
 
 " That also is true, Aga ; bears they are, and 
 hard can they gripe, as any Pehlewan of the 
 Zor-khaneh. But there are kind hearts and true 
 men amongst them too, Aga — men who will go 
 to death, to redeem their pledged word, and pay 
 the debt of salt ; good leaders, too — cool judi- 
 cious heads, who can guide a party, plant an 
 ambush — ay, or extricate their followers from 
 one with any chief of the tribes of Iraun, or 
 officer of the Shah. 
 
 " Afeeren, Batchah ! thou canst speak for an 
 absent friend too, it seems. But no harm in 
 that ; thou hast told the truth, as I can testify, 
 and contempt on him who should sneer at it. But 
 come, how camest thou, after all, to leave the 
 camp and all its attractions, and return to the 
 obah ? What became of thy fighting propensities, 
 when that devil Sheikh Vais was doing his plea- 
 sure wdth the country from Tunnacaboon to 
 Asterabad, plundering towns and burning villages, 
 when every good sword and arm — Toorkoman or 
 Kizzilbash, Yemoot or Kajar — should have taken 
 their part against these dogs of Zend ? Hah !
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 211 
 
 " What shall I state Aga ? Who was I, to 
 take a part or choose a course for myself? I was 
 not my own master — I was nobody. But truth 
 to tell, Aga, there were other reasons ; why should 
 I not tell you all ? by your soul I will conceal 
 nothing. I have mentioned the sad event that 
 gave me, when yet a child, an interest in the 
 little girl, the daughter of Oghuz Aga and 
 Goolsebah Khanum ; can you wonder that this 
 interest increased, as the child grew up into the 
 lovely girl ? It may seem strange, that one in 
 my condition — a slave — should have ventured to 
 entertain so warm a feeling for the daughter of 
 his master, or that he should be admitted to so 
 much familiarity with her, even when but a 
 child. But I have already said, that I was re- 
 garded as Khaneh Zadeh, and almost in the 
 light of a child of the family. My master's boys 
 by his first wife, were my elders ; rough, noisy 
 youths, occasionally rude and overbearing, but 
 neither ill-natured nor jealous ; of but mean 
 capacities, they took no share in the domestic 
 affairs of the obah, and spent their time, when not 
 in charge of the cattle, in hunting and smoking 
 with tbeir companions, listening to bards or 
 story-tellers, riding, eating, and sleeping. Oghuz 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 ^18 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 Aga again, fond of his ease, when at home, but 
 oftener absent on expeditions, paid little attention 
 to the female depajtment of his family, so that, 
 even had there been cause for jealousy or suspi- 
 cion, there were none to suspect or take alarm. 
 As for the banou, whatever might be her object, 
 so far from thwarting my inclinations, or throwing 
 obstacles in the way of my intercourse with the little 
 Zuleika, she treated me with no small kindness, 
 and left the child free to associate or play with 
 me. as she pleased. It has since become certain, 
 that though the awe she stood in of the fakeereh, 
 whose favour I was known to possess, may have 
 had some share in this remarkable forbearance ; 
 there was a deeper and a darker motive for her 
 conduct. Be that as it may, I fell more and more 
 into the habit of attending upon my little charge ; 
 and after my own duties were performed, would 
 accompany her to the river to draw water, and 
 assist herself and her companions in the little 
 tasks assigned to them, but which sometimes 
 chanced to be beyond their strength ; while on 
 her part, she became so accustomed to this sort 
 of assistance, that she was wont to claim my aid 
 on all occasions, and would fret much, when 
 occasional absence prevented me from rendering
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 219 
 
 it. I cannot describe the exact nature of my feel- 
 ings towards the little creature, or their gradual 
 progress from childish aiFection to that far sweeter 
 and more enthralling sentiment which a youth 
 conceives for the girl whom he has loved as a 
 child, and who has grown along with himself 
 into maturity and beauty ; yet still, while grow- 
 ing and strengthening as it did, I never suspected 
 this feeling to be other than the affection of a 
 brother for his sister ; of the protector for the 
 protected ; and more than all, the attraction of 
 that peculiar and most interesting tie which 
 bound us together from so early a period of our 
 lives, and which continued since to link us more 
 closely together than that of blood itself. 
 
 " The pain I felt at parting with her to accom- 
 pany my first expedition, had I but reflected 
 for a moment, might well have opened my eyes. 
 But when does youth reflect ? Even when fully 
 equipped and proud of bearing arms in earnest 
 for the first time, I went and kissed her with 
 far more of exultation than of sorrow. The tears 
 and bitter sobs with which she received me, 
 though they melted my heart at the moment, 
 seemed only those of natural girlish regret ; while 
 my own rather moderate uneasiness pointed, as 
 
 L 2
 
 220 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 I then thought, only to the desire of a happy 
 return. Thus did the sweet flower of love grow 
 up and take root in our hearts, unchecked by 
 any chilling doubt, and almost unperceived, until 
 the moment when doomed to be rudely torn up 
 and destroyed. 
 
 " So passed our lives, the pain of each tempo- 
 rary separation serving but to enhance the de- 
 light of the meeting which followed ; and well did 
 the increasing tenderness of the gentle Zuleika 
 repay the toils or wounds of my various expedi- 
 tions. It was happiness too great to be perma- 
 nent, and suddenly and harshly was the cup to be 
 dashed from our lips. 
 
 " I had marched with the Toorkoman contin- 
 gent of the troops who, somewhat more than 
 a year ago, undertook, with so much success, 
 the relief of Bostam, when the once victorious 
 Sheikh Vais was forced to fly, and I was return- 
 ing, after the expiration of our term of service, 
 with my comrades to our camp ; when at the 
 village of Finderisk, we met a chupper from the 
 obah proceeding to the army, with a message 
 from Oghuz Aga to one of his sons, whom we had 
 left behind in camp. On questioning him re- 
 garding the welfare of our friends and the tidings
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 22\ 
 
 of which he was the bearer, he replied, * All 
 at the obah are well, and great will be their joy 
 when they hear of your success ; mashallah ! your 
 faces will be white ! As for the news, that also 
 is good ; for Oghuz Aga is about to strengthen 
 his house by a powerful alliance. Nader Beg, 
 chief of the JaafFer-boyloo teereh^ having heard 
 of the beauty of our Aga's daughter, came to 
 the camp to have his eyes enlightened by her 
 presence ; and having seen her, he approved, in- 
 somuch that he has asked her in marriage, and 
 Oghuz Aga, after some negotiation, has con- 
 sented to bestow upon him this pearl of our 
 tribe. The bashlogne, or purchase-money, has 
 been settled at fifty golden tomauns, a head-dress 
 plentifully adorned with strings of gold and 
 silver coins, a set of silver yirdk, or ornaments 
 for her person, one hundred and fifty camels, 
 and a horse, with a full set of ornamented har- 
 ness for a khelut, and I have been sent to 
 Khaleel Aga, her brother, to desire his return 
 to camp, in order to be present at the mar- 
 riage.' 
 
 " Ai vai, Agas ! how can I express what I felt 
 while listening to this communication ? The 
 first words shot like an ice shaft through my
 
 222 ' THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 brain ; my heart seemed riven, — a mist came 
 over my faculties, so that what was said scarce 
 reached my understanding. I was stunned, — 
 I had fallen from heaven to earth, — such an 
 event had never once entered my head, even 
 in a dream. Zuleika married ! — to belong to 
 another ! — impossible ! my understanding — my 
 heart refused to comprehend it. I felt, indeed, 
 that for me there was to be some great change, 
 a change from light to darkness, but my brain 
 was too confused to take in its whole extent. 
 Alas I too soon did the painful truth force 
 itself into view. The mist passed away ; I 
 felt that Zuleika was dearer to me than life, 
 — that life itself, without her, were nothing ; yet 
 that she was lost to me already and for ever ! 
 
 " What further was said, or how I parted with 
 the messenger of evil, I know not ; but this I 
 know, that no sooner had we entered the plain of 
 Gourgaun, than leaving my party at their first 
 munzil, I pushed forward, and, without regard to 
 the fatigue of my horse, scarcely halted until I 
 was within sight of the banks of the Attruck. 
 But when I perceived from a distance the blue 
 smokes of my own obah rising in the evening 
 sun, and could make out the lines of the alachicks
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 223 
 
 stretching out upon the plain, my heart failed — a 
 shudder of terror came over me, and for awhile I 
 had not courage to proceed. 
 
 " As I sat gazing on the quiet scene, while my 
 horse, left to his own will, moved slowly towards 
 his well-known home, or stopped to crop a mouth- 
 ful of grass, two ring-doves, disturbed by his foot- 
 steps, rose and flew towards the right ; but be- 
 fore they had gone many yards, a kite from a 
 neighbouring bush pursued them with loud 
 screams. It had just overtaken one of the timid 
 birds, and, moved with compassion, I was fitting 
 an arrow to my bow, in hopes of delivering it and 
 destroying the foul creature, when I heard the 
 rush of wings, and swift as lightning a dark body 
 shot by me from behind. It was a noble falcon, 
 which struck the kite just as it was seizing its 
 prey; and the ring-dove, unhurt, rejoined its mate 
 in the bush to which it had fled for shelter. 
 
 " It was a trifle — a thing of mere chance, per- 
 haps ; but the excitement of my mind gave import- 
 ance even to trifles, and, right or wrong, I felt con- 
 vinced that it came as an omen of good. ' Yes,' 
 said I mentally, ' Allah can deliver us from the 
 hand of the oppressor, as that noble falcon had 
 rescued the poor doves. In the name of Allah, I
 
 224 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 will not despair ! "* — and pressing my heels to my 
 horse's sides, he sprung forward ; we swam the 
 Attruck, and soon entering the camp, I alighted 
 at the door of our tent. 
 
 '^ On hearing the tramp of my horse, Oghuz Aga 
 himself came forth. ' Ah, ah, boy ! welcome, by 
 ray head!** said he — 'but how? alone? — where, 
 then, are thy comrades ? — how fare they ? — and 
 what are thy news ? — come, Bismillah !' 
 
 *' ' May peace be with thee, Aga, as with them, 
 inshallah V replied I, dismounting and hissing his 
 hand ; ' my comrades are well, and not far behind. 
 As for our news, they are good : i^e faces of our 
 people are white in the sight of their chief, for their 
 enemies have fled on the foot of terror and shewed 
 the backs of confusion. The Zend are dispersed, 
 their chief has fled, and Bostam is in the hands 
 of the Kajars.' 
 
 " ' All this is well, alhumdulillah ! — thy news 
 are good, boy, and deserve the mujdeh ! But 
 where is my son ? heard'st thou aught of him, 
 or sawest thou any one in quest of him from 
 hence ?' 
 
 " Alas, how this question revived all my pain 
 and confusion ! I longed to learn the truth, and 
 to declare all that was in my heart ; but my cou-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 225 
 
 rage again failed me, and all I could do was to 
 say that I had seen the messenger ; that he had 
 gone on to Bostam, where Khaleel Aga was in 
 good health, and that no doubt he would soon be 
 at the obah. 
 
 " ' And art thou informed of the cause of his 
 coming ?"* said Oghuz Aga. 
 
 " What could I say? — my tongue clave to my 
 jaws. I stammered out at last, ' The cause has 
 reached the ears of thy servant.'' But the tone of 
 my voice was so strangely different from my usual 
 free mode of speech, that the Aga started, and 
 looked at me for a moment or two in silence. 
 
 " ' And is it thus that thou receivest good tid- 
 ings ? ' demanded he. ' Hast thou heard how well 
 I have disposed of my daughter — thy playmate — 
 almost thy sister — Zuleika ? Does not this call 
 for congratulation from all my household ? ' 
 
 *' ' Ai vai ! congratulations from me ? I mum- 
 bled something about my devotion to his house, 
 with wishes for his prosperity and happiness, but 
 excused myself on the plea of weariness, for my 
 seeming indifference. 
 
 " ' Hah ! true, that may be ; no doubt thou hast 
 ridden far — well, boy, retire, and take care of 
 thyself; thou wilt find the banou and the rest
 
 226 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 within — she will tell thee all thou canst desire to 
 know. Bismillah ! go thy ways ! ' And with these 
 words I quitted him, and giving my horse to one 
 of the women, made my way to the banou's tent. 
 
 "She was engaged, as usual, in superintending 
 her slaves, who were busied at their respective 
 works; for no one was ever permitted to be idle 
 in her sight. She received me in her usual abrupt 
 though not unkindly manner, and asked me the 
 news of her son and of the party. Returning her 
 salute, I replied to her questions in as unembar- 
 rassed a tone as I could, though sick with impa- 
 tience and anxiety. ' But hast thou heard our 
 news ? ' said she, when I had done — ' Knowest 
 thou what has happened here ?** 
 
 " I replied that I could not tell what she might 
 allude to, but that the Aga had confirmed to me 
 a piece of intelligence which had come to my ears 
 on the road, and which certainly had surprised me. 
 
 " ' And what may that be ?' demanded she. 
 
 *' I mentioned what I had heard. 
 
 *' * And this surprised thee !' exclaimed she — 
 " La illahilullah ! and what is there wonderful in 
 Zuleika having a suitor, or in that hog Nader 
 Beof desiring a fair wife ? Mashallah ! she will 
 be well off in a husband, and he will be as well
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 227 
 
 wived ;' and her scornful laugh satisfied me that 
 there was something displeasing to her in the 
 affair. But just at that moment, who should 
 enter the tent but Zuleika herself, pale and thin, 
 wearing on her head the cap or head-dress which 
 denoted her being a betrothed woman. I stag- 
 gered back as if I had received a blow ; and she, 
 though at first she ran forward to meet me as 
 usual, stopped short, turned pale, and trembled 
 as she faintly pronounced my name. ' Ah ! Os- 
 man ! ' cried she ; and bursting into a flood ot* 
 tears, she would have fallen had I not rushed for- 
 ward and caught her in my arms. 
 
 " But not long was she suffered to rest there ; 
 for the banou, though she did not at first exhibit 
 any violent displeasure or surprise, interfered after 
 a moment or two, exclaiming in a tone of real or 
 assumed severity, ' How now, maiden, what con- 
 duct is this ? — hast thou so soon forgotten r — 
 retire — begone ; — retire, I say, for the present : 
 and you children, leave us, all of ye ; I would 
 speak with this youth, and teach him his duty.' 
 
 ** The slaves immediately withdrew, and I was 
 left alone with the banou, who, motioning me to be 
 seated, cast a searching look upon me, and ad- 
 dressed me as follows :
 
 228 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " ' Thou hast heard — thou knowest, thou seest, 
 that that girl is a betrothed woman — the pro- 
 mised bride of another ; how then darest thou to 
 lay hands upon her — to take her in thy arms ?' 
 
 '* ' What can I say, mother?"* replied I ; ' my 
 heart is dissolved — my brain is dried up. When 
 I left this place Zuleika was a free maiden — my 
 sister ; the being on earth whom I regarded most 
 tenderly. I return and find her lost to me — ^be- 
 longing to another ; but the heart cannot so soon 
 forget. Allah, Allah ! what dust has fallen on 
 my head ! ' 
 
 " ' Thou did'st love this girl, then ?' 
 " ' Love her, mother ! — Allah ! what can I 
 say ? Has she not been the light of my eyes — the 
 joy of my heart from childhood until now ; — even 
 since that terrible day, mother, when, as well 
 thou may'st remember, her own mother was 
 taken by the angel of death. Love her ! have I 
 not watched over her, worked for her, dreamed 
 of her, from that time till now.? Has she not been 
 as the life-blood of my heart, which I would 
 now pour out for her as freely as the Attruck 
 gives its waters ? As a sister did I love and cherish 
 her, until she grew to be a part of my own heart ! 
 Alas, who am I that I should aspire further ?"
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 229 
 
 " ' Right — thou dicFst love her, then, as a sister, 
 not as a woman. Why then should it move thee 
 that she is to become the wife of another ?' 
 
 " ' Ai, Khodaee ! not move me !' exclaimed I, 
 stung to the heart ; *is it not to lose her? to see her 
 no more ? Misery ! misery ! how can I endure it V 
 
 " ' So, then, it appears that thy wish is to be 
 always with Zuleika; to live with her and she 
 with thee, and for thee alone ; is it not so V 
 
 " ' Alia, Alia, mother ! Why torture me thus ? 
 what need of asking ? It would be the height of 
 blessedness ; what more could I desire V 
 
 " ' Good. It is then plain enough that thy love 
 for Zuleika is just as the love of other youths for 
 other maidens, and not alone as brothers love 
 their sisters ?' 
 
 " ' I fear, I fear, mother, it is even so."* 
 
 " ' There is no doubt of it, boy ; and what then 
 is thy purpose V 
 
 " ' Nothing : I have none. What, in the name 
 of Allah, can I do ? How am I, a slave, to alter 
 the will of my master, or to compete in power or 
 riches with such as Nader Begf 
 
 " 'Then thou hast made up thy mind to resign 
 the maiden, the beloved of thy heart, without a 
 struggle V
 
 230 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " ' Ai vai, mother ! — my mind made up ? — wul- 
 lah! it is like a whirlwind ! — I cannot think, I can- 
 not reason ! — my soul is turned upside down, — I 
 walk as one who has been stunned ! — what can I 
 say or do ?' 
 
 " ' Would'st thou, if thou could'st then, at- 
 tempt to win Zuleika for thy bride V 
 
 '' ' Would I ?— Oh, Allah ! would I not lay 
 down my life for the chance of such happiness ! — 
 one hour with her for my bride, and then let 
 death come ! But thou mockest, mother — thou 
 hast laid bare my folly — my presumption, and 
 takest this way to punish it. What I, the slave 
 of Oghuz Aga, aspire to be his daughter's hus- 
 band l Dust on my head for the folly V 
 
 " In spite of my agitation, which was very great, 
 I could not avoid remarking the piercing and pe- 
 culiar expression with which the banou regarded 
 me as she said, 
 
 "" ' And were such an occurrence to take place, 
 would Osman be the first khanezadeh who has 
 risen to fortune and won his master's daughter ? 
 Have not fishermen and camel-drivers become 
 kings and conquerors ? and would the Dark Fal- 
 con of the Attruck shrink from soaring to raise 
 himself like them ? If it be his destiny to become
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 231 
 
 great, would he thwart the will of Providence by 
 lack of courage ?"" 
 
 " These words made my soul boil within me. 
 ' Khanum !' said I, ' may your words prove pro- 
 pitious ! they have kindled a fire in my heart ; 
 but it will be for you to keep it burning : com- 
 plete your work — point out the way for me to go ; 
 by your own soul, I will be ruled by thee !" 
 
 " ' Thou wilt consent to be guided by me? It is 
 well. Listen, then ; be prudent for thine own 
 sake. The marriage which thou dread"'st shall 
 never take place — I, Zehreh Khatoon, say and 
 swear it — ask not how or why ; but be satisfied 
 that such is my resolution, and such shall be the 
 case. And now I tell thee more — I tell thee that 
 thy love for Zuleika has long been known to me, 
 nor is it hid from me that she returns thy attach- 
 ment. That the secret desires of both have been 
 viewed by me with approbation, thou may st ga- 
 ther from the freedom with which ye have been 
 permitted to meet and live together. Spite of 
 your fakeereh, a word of mine had separated ye, 
 and you would have grown up strangers to each 
 other. In this there was a purpose, and be sure 
 it shall be worked out. For that simple thick- 
 skulled man, my husband, who is so dazzled by
 
 232 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 this alliance as not to see its folly, he shall be 
 dealt with as he merits. The bridal crown shall 
 indeed replace the chaplet of betrothal upon Zu- 
 leika''s brow, but not for him he dreams of. For 
 the present, beware thou chafe him not ; suggest 
 no doubt, attempt not remonstrance, but rest se- 
 cure in the power of mi/ aid ; resume thy usual 
 habits and demeanour ; let the surface be smooth, 
 however swift or resistless the current beneath is. 
 In the meantime go seek thy mistress — yes — I 
 have said it — take this as an earnest of my good 
 will. In the inner tent behind thou wilt find her, 
 and alone.** 
 
 " With a brain still dizzy from the conversa- 
 tion I have related I left the banou and went 
 straight to the place she had indicated. There, 
 indeed, was Zuleika, her face pressed upon the pil- 
 low on which she reclined, and her slender frame 
 convulsed with the sobs which issued from her 
 bosom. Aware of some one's approach she started 
 up, raising her eyes enquiringly, and as the light 
 fell full upon her from the opening in the roof, I 
 read the anguish of her soul imprinted on her 
 countenance ; I saw, too, the ravages which grief 
 had made in that beautiful face. She was 
 thin, pale, haggard ; and there was a look of
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 2SS 
 
 terror in her eyes that went to my very soul. 
 But there was little time to gaze on these painful 
 changes ; for scarce had I advanced two paces 
 from the entrance when, recognising me, she 
 sprang forward with a shriek of delight, and throw- 
 ing her arms about me fell upon my bosom in a 
 fresh passion of tears. 
 
 " * Oh, Osman ! oh, my brother ! ' she ex- 
 claimed, so soon as her sobs permitted her to 
 speak, ' hast thou indeed returned ? — come back 
 to comfort me ? Oh, brother, brother ! save me 
 — save me from this horrible fate !' — and again 
 did the violence of her anguish shake her as if in 
 an ague fit. 
 
 " For some time I could attempt nothing but 
 to soothe and support the poor girl whose reiter- 
 ated fits of shuddering convulsed her whole frame; 
 and it was long ere she could gather composure to 
 listen to a single word. At length, as I besought 
 her to command her emotion, to take comfort, 
 she exclaimed, ' Comfort ! — Oh, Allah ! comfort 
 for me 1 Hast thou heard, Osman, hast thou 
 heard what is to become of me? — where can / 
 look for comfort ? — oh. Heaven ! what will be- 
 come of me V — and another burst of sobbing cut 
 short her despairing exclamations.
 
 2S4< THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 '^ 'Listen to me, Zuleika — listen to me, my 
 soul ! **' said I, when she once more commanded 
 herself. I have heard what thou hast been threat- 
 ened with ; but be at rest — take comfort, I say, 
 for it never shall take place. Thou shalt be freed 
 from this misery, Zuleika, — I, Osman, thy brother, 
 tell thee so ; believe me and be comforted.'' 
 
 " She started at my words, and gazed eagerly in 
 my face with an air at once bewildered and incre- 
 dulous ; then clasping me convulsively with flash- 
 ing eyes she cried, ' Thou wilt deliver me ? — I 
 thought so ! I knew it — dear, dear brother ! — Oh, 
 thanks be to Allah ! — thou wilt save me from 
 this horrid marriage, and I will be thy slave for 
 
 ever 
 
 " By degrees, as she became more composed, 
 I told her what good cause I had for such hopes ; 
 that the banou was our friend, as she must see, 
 by our being permitted such an interview ; but 
 that we must exercise both patience and prudence, 
 under the penalty of forfeiting her assistance. 
 
 " The radiant smile on Zuleika'*s countenance 
 vanished as I said this. ' Thou thinkest the 
 banou our friend, then ?' asked she doubtingly : 
 ' thou belie vest she may be trusted ?"" 
 
 " ' I hope so,' replied I, somewhat startled by
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 2S5 
 
 lier manner. ' Why should I not, since she has 
 said so ? What cause, what object, could she 
 have in deceiving me ? Hast thou seen any cause 
 for doubt ?'' 
 
 " ' I cannot tell ; perhaps not ; yet it is strange. 
 Thou knowest how cold the banou has ever been 
 to me ; yet, since there was talk of this odious 
 marriage, she has been kinder than ever before. 
 Wliat can be the cause of this ?"* 
 
 " ' Allah only can tell : she may have her own 
 reasons against it. The banou is a strange wo- 
 man — a real intriguer; for her motives we may 
 look in vain ; but if her actions favour us, let us 
 be content to take the good of them. Allah 
 knows that this detested marriage is more dreaded 
 and abhorred by me even than by thee, if that be 
 possible ; for oh, dearest ! dost thou not sec, dost 
 thou not fee], that he whom thou so often hast 
 called thy brother seeks more than even a bro- 
 ther's rights ; that he aspires — would give his very 
 life, to be in the place of the man whom thou ab- 
 horrest. He would be thy husband, Zuleika ; 
 to guard thee from all harm, to shield thee from 
 even the dread of such a fate as thou hast been 
 doomed to.' 
 
 " The dear girl fell again upon my breast ; and
 
 2S6 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 hiding there her blushing countenance, murmured 
 ' Ah, dear Osman ! I also — oh ! often, often 
 have I dreamed of this ; but, alas ! I dared not — 
 oh ! it was a happiness too great even to think 
 of. Well did I know the obstacles, the difficul- 
 ties, even had you, dearest, thought of your little 
 Zuleika as other than a sister — even now, now 
 that thou hast given me hope/ 
 
 " ' Ay, now dearest,' replied I ; ' even now, 
 when all seems gloom around us, see Providence 
 sends a friend ; ay, even in the person whose 
 truth thou hast been doubting, the banou. 
 
 " ' Ah, the banou ! Osman, I dread that wo- 
 man ; her very manner makes me shudder. Yet 
 Allah knows, I may be wrong ! and in truth 
 there is reason : but Osman, I must tell you all."* 
 
 *' * Ay, do my soul, do,* replied I, again sooth- 
 ing her : " we shall not be interrupted ; tell me 
 all that has passed from first to last — everything ; 
 we shall then know better how to judge."* 
 
 " ' I will, Osman, T will ! I can speak now, 
 Allah ! my heart seems lighter already ! You shall 
 hear everything, and then you will understand. 
 You remember how sad I was at your departure, 
 and how you, cruel, rallied me upon the excessive 
 lowness of spirits that oppressed me. Alas ! was
 
 THE DARK FALCON 237 
 
 it not a presage of the misery I was about to 
 suffer ? It came full soon, at least ; for you had 
 not been gone a week ere a stranger, well mounted 
 and attended, came to the camp, and stopped at 
 my father's tent. Little did I, wretched girl, 
 guess what was preparing for me ; it was only 
 afterwards that I learned that this was an envoy 
 from Nader Beg Jaaffer-boyloo, who came to treat 
 with my father about my wretched self! His 
 master, he said, had heard of my beauty. He 
 had wives enough for work ; strong active drudges, 
 for striking tents and loading camels, and keeping 
 his slaves to their duty ; but he could afford to 
 please his eye : he would have beauty also, and 
 beauty he was resolved to have. He proposed, 
 therefore, to visit Oghuz Aga, to see this daugh- 
 ter; and after judging for himself, to treat, then, 
 for my price. 
 
 '• ' My father was enchanted with these over- 
 tures. There had, as you know, been some cool- 
 ness between the Yemoots of the upper Attruck 
 and the obahs on the shores of the Koolzoom, 
 and among these, the Jaaffer-boyloo had been 
 regarded as the worst disposed ; but this proposal 
 was considered as displaying the signal for peace. 
 Besides, Nader Beg was a chief of consequence.
 
 ^38 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 not only in his own tribe, but among that division 
 of the Yemoots generally. It was to be held as 
 a condescension on his part to propose for the 
 daughter of the chief of a simple Teereh. As 
 for the wishes of that daughter, you know how 
 little they are thought of or consulted among us ; 
 so an answer of the most conciliatory description 
 was sent, and along with it a pressing invitation 
 to visit the obah. The messenger accordingly 
 departed, to communicate these good tidings to 
 the Beg; while my father shortly and exultingly 
 informed me of the honour intended me, and de- 
 sired that I should prepare to receive my new 
 suitor in such a manner as might tend to fix his 
 intentions in my favour, and secure to myself the 
 desirable position of his bride. 
 
 " ' What were my feelings on receiving these 
 commands ? you will ask, dear Osman. In truth 
 I can hardly tell you. The tidings conveyed 
 to me were so sudden, so unexpected, their na- 
 ture and import so little comprehended by me at 
 the time, that my mind was by no means seized 
 with the alarm which afterwards overcame it when 
 aware of my full danger. Abashed and overawed 
 by my father's words, I stood before him trem- 
 bling and downcast ; so that I doubt not he mis-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 239 
 
 took my confusion for acquiescence, and imagined 
 me ready to conduct myself as he wished. In 
 fact, I had never much attended to the import of 
 his communication at all. Marriage was a matter 
 that had never occupied my thoughts, nor did I 
 take in any of its consequences — never considered 
 that it would separate me from my home and 
 friends — from 3/0?/, dear Osman ! and everything 
 I had been accustomed to see and to love from 
 childhood upwards ; nor was it until some of our 
 women began to congratulate me, and talk over 
 the details of what was about to be, that I took 
 to reflecting and pondering upon the total and 
 fearful change Avhich the proposed engagement 
 would effect in my own condition. Then, indeed, 
 did terror seize me, and I strove to seek for any 
 possible means of escaping from so dreadful a ca- 
 lamity. 
 
 " '- But the indefinite alarm which was caused 
 by the distant view of my danger, was soon quick- 
 ened into the most lively consternation by its 
 sudden and close approach ; for in little more 
 than a week after the departure of the messenger, 
 came a horseman, Mith intimation that Nader Beg 
 himself was on his way to the obah ; and, in two 
 or three hours after, the appearance of a cavalcade
 
 24tO THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 of liorsemen from the westward proclaimed his 
 close approach. 
 
 " ' From the moment it was known in the obah 
 that we were to be so highly honoured, there was 
 a general bustle, particularly in the kannauts of 
 my father. A fat camel was killed, as well as 
 several sheep, and the choicest pieces of both were 
 selected and prepared to form a feast : the finest 
 flour and richest butter were brought forth to 
 make the cotlemdh, or buttered cake ; quantities 
 of keskh was mixed in the coolest water ; sweet- 
 meats and dried fruits were produced from the 
 stores ; and bags of the finest Mazunderan rice 
 prepared, to be ready for the numerous pillaws. 
 Besides all this, a large supply of kinuniz, or fer- 
 mented cameFs-milk, was made ready to gladden 
 their hearts. 
 
 " * As the party approached, my father, attended 
 by the Ak Sakals of the obah, mounted and went 
 forth to meet his guest. They embraced, as cus- 
 tomary, on horseback, and then all returned to the 
 obah, where both men and women stood ready to 
 receive him. I of course was not among them, 
 but I could not help watching through a screen 
 at the door of the women's kannaut, to get a sight 
 of the man whom I dreaded so much. My heart
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 241 
 
 beat so violently as they approached that I. could 
 scarcely stand ; and a mist came over my eyes as 
 I distinguished a huge figure riding alongside of 
 my father upon a tall dun horse ; for I knew that 
 this must be Nader Beg. As he drew near, an 
 old woman, wife of the chief Ak-sakal, came for- 
 ward with a dish of live coals, which she threw 
 down before his horse's feet, with a blessing, as 
 a charm against the evil eye ; and when close to 
 the kannaut he dismounted, and the banou, fol- 
 lowed by the principal women, advanced and 
 placed their hands upon his arms by way of the 
 customary welcome. My father conducted him 
 into the tent, while an old man muttered sundry 
 prayers and pious ejaculations for the welfare and 
 prosperity of their guest. 
 
 " ' And what a guest ! Though too far distant 
 to remark particulars, I could observe that he was 
 a man of enormous corpulence, and that though his 
 stature did not exceed the middle size, his breadth 
 was so preposterously great, that his head, though 
 covered by a large sheepskin cap, looked like an 
 apple set upon a huge skin of butter ! Allah-il- 
 ullah ! how I did shudder as I looked at him : 
 but the walls of the kannaut soon hid his hideous 
 person from me ; the rest of the party followed 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 24t2 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 him in ; some of the crowd settled round the 
 door — the rest dispersed ; and as for me, the 
 painful excitement over, I threw myself on the 
 carpet of the tent, and wept with bitter tears. 
 
 " ' I was not, however, permitted to shed them 
 long in solitude, for most of the women, after 
 having gratified their curiosity by gazing at the 
 stranger, came pouring into the tent with a flood 
 of questions and remarks, chattering and scream- 
 ing like a flight of kites and crows over a carcass. 
 I was beset with a thousand impertinencies and 
 pieces of gossip about the great man who had 
 arrived — how he looked, what he had said, and 
 what he had on ; but one and all agreed that he 
 was no beauty — in short, that he was dreadfully 
 ugly. Weary and sick at heart, I would fain 
 have got quit of their worrying, but was forced to 
 endure it in silence, till the banou herself enter- 
 ing, put an end to their clamour ; and each was 
 sent to take her share in the preparations that 
 were forthwith commenced. The cotlernah^ was 
 kneaded and scathed according to rule ; the pots 
 were hung up from their triangles over roaring 
 fires ; water-skins were fast emptied into them, 
 
 * Buttered cakes generally prepared for guests of dis- 
 tinction.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 243 
 
 and whole sheep were cut up for the pillaws. All 
 became bustle and haste ; but under the practised 
 superintendence of the banou all proceeded with 
 regularity ; and the cotlemah being devoured, 
 the more solid meal was carried in and placed be- 
 fore the guests. This, of course, was done by the 
 male slaves ; but many of the women crowded 
 round the door of the tent, and tried to get a 
 sight of the strangers within. Among those I 
 was not, as you may believe ; indeed I was un- 
 able to give any assistance worth speaking of to- 
 wards the preparations, nor did the banou herself 
 press me to work. 
 
 '' ' Having retired to our kannaut, where I was 
 seated in great perplexity, I was surprised to see 
 the banou enter the doorway ; and still more so, 
 when on my rising she motioned me to sit still, 
 and placed herself beside me. After regarding 
 me for some time with a searching look, she ad- 
 dressed me thus : ' You do not appear much de- 
 lighted with what is going on, child ; has the 
 prospect of becoming the wife of a chief no charms 
 for thee ? Hast thou no curiosity to see the man 
 who is disposed to become thy husband ? * 
 
 " ' I never, as you know, Osman, felt at ease 
 with the banou ; and this address in no degree 
 
 M 2
 
 244 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 contributed to reassure me. I could not reply 
 for trembling ; but kept my eyes fixed upon the 
 ground. 
 
 " ' Speak, child ! ' continued she ; ' tell me 
 what you think of all this — how do you feel ? are 
 you pleased with your prospects ? — What, still 
 dumb ? — Then I must suppose that you are de- 
 lighted with the prospect of being numbered 
 among the wives of Nader Beg ? — good, muhau- 
 rick ! ' 
 
 *' ' Oh ! no, no, no ! ' exclaimed I. ' Allah 
 forbid that I should ever belong to that man ! ' 
 
 " ' Barikillah ! she has found her tongue at last, 
 it seems, and to some purpose too,' said the 
 banou wdth a grim smile — 'and w^hat may be 
 your objections, hah ? ' 
 
 "'Alas! alas!' said I, bursting into tears; 
 ' who am I that they should make me the wife of 
 a chief — why should I have to leave my father's 
 tent ? Let me remain here in the obah — that is 
 all I wish for!' 
 
 " ' Belieh ! — stuff, child ! — are not all women 
 born to be wives and mothers to some one, and 
 why should you be made an exception ? Is there 
 no one whom you would gladly marry ? ' and 
 saying this, she again fixed her keen eyes on my
 
 THE DARK FALCON. S45 
 
 face. I could not stand their look, Osman, and 
 scarcely knowing what I did, I hid my face in my 
 hands and felt the warm tears streaming through 
 my fingers. 
 
 " ' Umph ! — we see how it is,' said she in an 
 under tone, as if speaking to herself. ' Then you 
 would avoid marrying this JaafFer-boyloo hero ? — 
 is it so ? ' 
 
 '' ' Oh Allah ! how eagerly !' 
 
 " ' Good, we shall see what can be done ; mean- 
 time, how do you propose to manage with your 
 father ? — he is set upon this business, you know.' 
 
 " 'Allah help me !' cried I, 'what can I do 
 but die, if he require it V 
 
 " ' Die ! ' repeated she scornfully ; ' no, girl, 
 no need of dying ; you may as well live ; be 
 ruled by me, and you need neither marry nor 
 die.' 
 
 " ' I cast on her a look, which, if it spoke my 
 feelings, must have expressed gratitude mingled 
 with doubt. 
 
 " ' Ay,' said she, in reply to my look, ' you 
 doubt, but it shall be so, only do as I bid you. 
 Listen, girl ; the Beg has come hither purposely 
 to see you, and judge for himself, whether you 
 are worth the sum your father has asked for your
 
 246 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 bashlogue or not. This evening, when the crowd 
 shall have departed, your father will invite him to 
 our tent, where they may converse and drink in 
 private ; and he will send for you on some errand. 
 See that you make neither objection nor demur ; 
 alarm not your father into the notion that you are 
 opposed to his views, or have any desire to thwart 
 him in the match he has set his heart on. Make 
 your appearance. If you are sincere in what you 
 have stated to me, I need not caution you against 
 taking any measures to attract ; but let nothing 
 appear which may lead to the suspicion that you 
 wish to create disgust. Be courteous, though 
 cold ; and remain as short a time as you can in 
 their presence — leave the rest to me.' 
 
 " ' Half alarmed and half suspicious, though why 
 I could not say, I merely replied with a low-toned 
 hash ustun, ' on my head be it;' when the ba- 
 nou, with another piercing look and a smile of 
 dubious expression, quitted the kannaut, leaving 
 me in a state of the greatest doubt and perplexity. 
 Cold and unfeeling, if not positively harsh, as 
 this woman has ever been to me, I could feel no 
 confidence in her promised good offices ; and yet, 
 on what or whom else had I to rely ? — who was 
 there, even if so disposed, that had the power to
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 24-1 
 
 aid me so effectually ? As for my father, well 
 did I know that however Jie might love me, he 
 never would consent to depart from any resolution 
 once formed, nor would either comprehend or be- 
 lieve the extent of my horror at the fate to which 
 it doomed me. 
 
 " ' Perplexed and distressed, I sat revolving these 
 thoughts, and idly recalling the happier days 
 which had been so grievously interrupted, when 
 no such misfortune hung over me, until the bustle 
 and the noise of feet and tongues began to dimi- 
 nish, and at length altogether died away ; when I 
 remembered the banou's words, that my father 
 would retire to our tent with his guest, and started 
 up in alarm lest I might be surprised by them 
 there. Nor were my fears groundless; for just on 
 putting aside the curtain which hung at the door, 
 a bright light glared on my eyes, and I found my- 
 self confronted by several men bearing torches, 
 and preceding my father and his guests, who were 
 making their way to the banou's kannaut just as 
 I was quitting it. Scared and confounded, I he- 
 sitated a moment — then turned to avoid them ; 
 when my father called out ' Who is that ? — what 
 thee, my child ? Bismillah ! come hither and 
 kiss thy father ! ' But the sound of his voice, and
 
 248 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 of the laugh which his guest gave vent to, added 
 so much to my terror that even my father's com- 
 mand lost its weight, and with one hurried glance 
 at the dreaded guest I fled to a small kannaut on 
 the right, belonging to the female slaves. 
 
 " ' Entering in haste, scarcely knowing what I 
 did, I was not aware of the banou's presence un- 
 til I saw her seated at the upper end of the kan- 
 naut with her daughter beside her, and felt that 
 her eye was fixed on mine with strong meaning. 
 This added to my confusion, and I slunk into a 
 seat in a corner to hide myself entirely from ob- 
 servation. On recovering myself a little, I re- 
 marked that some of the slave-girls were making 
 the kimmiz ready in the usual vessels for being 
 carried in to the guests, and that the apparatus 
 used for making tea, that rare beverage, was like- 
 wise brought forth. You know how scarce and 
 expensive that precious article is with us, and how 
 seldom it is ever produced. Few indeed among 
 the tribes of the Attock ever saw or tasted it ; but 
 my father having had dealings with the captain of 
 a Russian vessel at Ak teppeh, had obtained 
 from him some of the valuable leaf, together with 
 a vessel used by them for preparing it, and upon 
 great occasions only was it brought forth. It
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 249 
 
 also happened that I, who had been taught the 
 method of preparing it, was the only one employed 
 in such cases. This, it appeared, was one of 
 these occasions ; and accordingly the semavdr,'^ 
 with the small canister containing the dried leaves, 
 had made their appearance. 
 
 " ' r might have suspected what was likely to hap- 
 pen from these preparations ; but I was too much 
 occupied internally to remark what was passing 
 about me, and was gazing on them with a vacant 
 eye, when a person entering the tent informed 
 the banou that the Aga had called for the kim- 
 miz and the semavar, and had desired that Zuleika 
 Khatoon should attend to prepare tea for himself 
 and his guest. 
 
 " ' Had an arrow struck me, I could not have 
 been more disagreeably roused from my reverie. 
 Mechanically I started up, and would have 
 quitted the place, but that I found the banou's 
 eye fastened on my face with calm significance. 
 It brought me to myself, and with a strong effort 
 to command my emotion, I stood trembling in ex- 
 pectation of her orders. These were soon issued : 
 ' Zuleika, child, you hear — go at once ; and 
 you, Nika and Janbajee, carry in the things' — 
 * The name of the Russian tea-urn.
 
 250 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 and adding one of her expressive looks to the 
 emphasis of her words, she waved her hand impa- 
 tiently. 
 
 " ' Up we all got, and having put the things in 
 order, proceeded to the tent I had but just left, 
 and where my father had by that time seated 
 himself beside a fire of sticks ; while at his right 
 hand, in the place of honour, sat Nader Beg. 
 There were but two other persons present ; 
 namely, an old man, an uncle of the Beg's, and 
 Khallee Neaz, the old Ak-sakal, who you know 
 is so great a companion and friend of my father's. 
 They were seated upon the handsome new carpet 
 that had but just been finished by the banou and 
 myself ; and a great lump of fat was burning in 
 a vessel of brass before them, throwing a strong 
 light on every thing in the kannaut. 
 
 " 'All this I had time to remark while remaining 
 a few seconds behind the two slave-girls, as they 
 placed the kimmiz and the semavar before the 
 party upon the carpet. It was then only that for 
 the first time I obtained a view of the person who 
 had signified his desire to purchase me as a wife, 
 or slave — for where indeed is the real difference ! 
 — and what a person it was ! Ugh ! — I shudder, 
 now to think of him ! I had before observed
 
 THE DARK FALCON. ^51 
 
 that he was corpulent — I now saw that he was a 
 monster ! His head, in form a cone, the top of 
 which was covered with a huge sheepskin cap, 
 grew wider as it descended, till cheek and chin 
 were lost in the short bull neck, and rested on 
 his round shoulders, as a pear might do upon a 
 gourd ; and his body corresponding with the 
 make of his head, swelled out in like mannner 
 below to a size that was perfectly enormous, wholly 
 covering from view the short thick thighs on which 
 he sat. But his countenance ! how shall that be 
 described ? Eyes, so small as scarcely to be per- 
 ceptible, except for an occasional twinkle that shot 
 from beneath their swelled lids, were set so 
 obliquely in his face, that they seemed squeezed 
 upwards by his huge protuberant cheek-bones, to 
 meet the still more elevated corners of his bare 
 eyebrows. Nose he had none, though its place 
 was marked by two wide nostrils, which opened 
 above a monstrous mouth, with lips swollen like 
 those of a negro. A few bristles sweeping over 
 the upper lip, mingled with others that were thinly 
 sprinkled over the chin, and which partly con- 
 cealed the singular junction of that feature and 
 lower portion of his cheeks with the neck on which 
 they rested, till all were lost in the clumsy slouch-
 
 252 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ing shoulders. As for his complexion ! to what 
 shall I liken it, unless to heated copper ? — a dark 
 unwholesome red, like that of leprosy. To my 
 terrified senses he appeared like some ghoul or 
 afreet, who might rather think of feasting on the 
 dead than seeking to wed with the living. Oh, 
 how my soul loathed him, Osman ! 
 
 " ' Good,' said my father ; ' so, place these 
 things here before us, and put down the semavar ! 
 Where is my daughter ? Ah ! right,"* added 
 he, as the others, falling back, discovered me to 
 the eyes of the party. ' Come forward, dear ; — 
 she is perfection itself at making tea. Wullah ! 
 What ails thee, Janum ? — approach; none are 
 here but friends, and thy father permits thee ; so 
 set to work, and see what thou canst do for us. 
 Enough,' said he to the. slave-girls — 'ye may 
 leave us ; Zuleika is sufficient. Begone ! if we 
 want you, we can call.' 
 
 " ' Ay, by your soul, Oghuz Aga!' said the 
 Beg, ' well may'st thou say she is sufficient. 
 What ? should w^e not be content when we are 
 served by a peri ? By the soul of the Prophet ! 
 she surpasses her fiir-famed namesake, the mistress 
 of Yussuff-bin Jacoob, herself!' And having 
 o^iven utterance to this effusion, in a hoarse and
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 25S 
 
 wheezing voice, as if liis capacious lungs had a 
 sore contention with their load of fat, he opened 
 his huge fanged mouth, and gave vent to a hide- 
 ous laugh. 
 
 " ' Afereen, Aga!' said my father, resolved, 
 as it appeared, to see nothing but excellence 
 in his rich, though unsightly guest, — ' afe- 
 reen ! — thou hast the tongue to win these women. 
 For my part, I never do tell them anything but 
 the truth, and all I look for from them is the 
 same. After all, they have their uses and qualifi- 
 cations, and that girl does not want for them. 
 Slight and slender as you see her, Aga, she is up 
 to many things which would puzzle stouter wo- 
 men. Praise be to Allah ! she is a good daugh- 
 ter, and would not make a bad wife : is it not so, 
 young one ? ' 
 
 " ' On mj/ head be it, Aga,** grunted the Beg ; 
 ' few words are wanted to satisfy one of this, Al- 
 humdulillah ! The proof is in her looks — she is 
 a rose that the nightingale might be proud to woo, 
 as the poets say.' 
 
 " ' La-illah-il-ullah ! The poets, Aga ! In 
 Allah's name, what have we got to do with the 
 poets, or with roses, and nightingales either. She 
 is a good girl, and here is good drink to warm our
 
 254f THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 hearts ; and behold a cup of tea that would put 
 life in a corpse. Hand it to the Aga, girl — give 
 me the other, there. Wullah ! a wonderful thing 
 is tea ! No, no, Aga ! poets are fools : they 
 prate nonsense about moonfaces and cypress waists, 
 and antelope eyes, and bosoms of jasmin, and 
 lips of roses : give me a good horse, a broad plain, 
 a sharp spear, and plenty of plunder for the tak- 
 ing, with a good wife to keep the stuff at home, 
 and to Jehannum with the poets and their trash ! 
 " ' Nay, Aga ! — what words are these ! ' mur- 
 mured the Beg, attempting to modulate his hoarse 
 gurgling voice to an accent of gentle remonstrance. 
 ' The poets are wonderful people — admirable 
 things do they say ; by your head, rare tales do 
 they tell, too. When I was at Asterabad once — 
 long ago now, in the time of Mahomed Hoossien 
 Khan Kajar — may his soul rest in Paradise! — 
 there was a poet who came there and recited such 
 verses ! All the Mujlis were enchanted, and the 
 Khan ordered the Yessawul Bashee to fill his 
 mouth with sugar-candy. Good, was it not, Aga? 
 But, after all, they said that the good things he 
 recited were not his own, but the writings of one 
 Hafiz, or Jamee, or some such name, a very old 
 poet. They were fine things, though, Wullah !
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 255 
 
 and plenty about the rose and the nightingale, 
 and many excellent tales about love and wine ; so 
 let us have a cup of this same kimmiz, which, by 
 the head of Omar, is not ill made ; doubtless the 
 khatoon there had a share in preparing it.' 
 
 " 'And thus did they go on, Osman, the hideous 
 old Beg every now and then giving vent to 
 preposterous compliments ; while my father, 
 who understood nothing in that strain, replied 
 in his plain matter-of-fact way ; and on they 
 went, drinking kimmiz so long, that watching 
 my opportunity, I stepped out of the tent 
 and retired to a corner in that where we usually 
 slept. Oh ! with what disgust did I look back 
 to the events of this evening — with what pro- 
 found horror did I think of the man to whom 
 I had been thus exhibited ! And how deeply 
 did I vow that no consideration — not the fear 
 of death itself, should induce me to submit to 
 becoming his wife. 
 
 '''As for my father, riches and connection 
 had utterly blinded him. I saw it clearly; and 
 saw too, that any attempt to open his eyes — to 
 reason with him on the subject, would be worse 
 than vain ; that it would but draw the knot 
 tighter, and fix him more in his purpose. So I
 
 256 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 resolved to obey the banou thus far ; to keep 
 quiet counsel, and watch what should occur — 
 trusting in Allah for assistance. I knew too, 
 that you, dear Osman, must soon arrive, and 
 from you I looked not only for sympathy, but 
 help. Ah, well might I do so ! for I felt that 
 for you I should willingly lay down my own 
 life — and could you be less sensible to my dis- 
 tress, than I should be to yours ? I know you 
 could not. 
 
 " ' Heavily did that night pass away, for little 
 could I sleep ; and every now and then would 
 the roar and the noise of the drinking party 
 in the tent come to my ears, and the hoarse 
 growl of my lover's voice, made itself disgust- 
 ingly prominent. 
 
 " ' The next day, both my father and he, stupid 
 with their debauch, lounged indolently in the 
 tent ; and I was saved from being again ex- 
 hibited by the intervention of the banou, who 
 sent me out of the way and substituted her own 
 daughter in my room. But in the evening I 
 had again to go through the hateful duty of ap- 
 pearing, to make tea, and hand the kimmiz cups ; 
 to hear the Beg's detestable compliments, and 
 draw forth his horrid leers.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 257 
 
 " ' Sick at heart, and unable to rest, I rose be- 
 fore the other inmates of the tent — even before 
 the sheep and cattle of the camp had begun 
 to rouse their keepers by their lowings. The 
 sky was still grey, and only in the east did a 
 faint white gleam point out where the dawn 
 would break. The dogs rose and growled as I 
 passed ; but lay down or fawned on me when 
 they recognised me — and I continued onwards, 
 scarcely knowing whither, until having reached 
 the side of the river, I ascended it as far as 
 a solitary dead tree that stands beside an old 
 tomb at the foot of the mountain. The sun 
 had now risen, but was still hid behind the 
 shoulder of the hill ; and a haze which arose 
 from the hollows was blended into a bright mist 
 with the glimmer of his beams, as they slanted 
 up the ground beneath which I stood. It was 
 beautiful, and I was gazing at the brilliant hues 
 which it imparted to the bushes and grass on 
 the mountain ; when the sudden appearance of 
 two human figures in this haze, startled me from 
 my reverie. Relieved against the sky, they ap- 
 peared of gigantic size ; and around them was 
 a halo of light as brilliant as a rainbow, so that 
 for a moment I really fancied them some crea-
 
 258 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 tures of another race than ours ; and my knees 
 trembled under me at the idea. Nor was I 
 relieved by observing, that though one of them 
 wore a female habit, the other was of a strange 
 fantastic shape. All at once, however, they 
 disappeared from view, and I was musing, not 
 without alarm, on what this might portend, when, 
 as suddenly as before, I became aware of a wo- 
 man clothed in dark garments standing close by 
 my side. A shriek was on my lips ; but I 
 with difficulty suppressed it on recognizing the 
 fakeereh Bhowanee, whom I had not seen for 
 long time. 
 
 " ' I instantly comprehended that it was her 
 whose appearance on the rising ground had startled 
 me ; and in a moment I had thrown myself into 
 her arms exclaiming, ' Oh, mother, mother ! is 
 it thou ? " 
 
 " ' Ay, daughter, it is I,"* said she, tenderly 
 caressing me ; and in those soft low tones of hers. 
 ' Fear not, for I come to comfort, not to terrify 
 thee ; thou art in distress and in danger — I come 
 to aid thee."* 
 
 "'Oh, thanks be to Allah, mother!' ex- 
 claimed I, ' thou comest, indeed, in good time ; 
 for sorely do I need thy aid !"*
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 259 
 
 '"I know it, my child,"' replied she; 'it is 
 that which has brought me hither. Take cou- 
 rage, trust in me. The evil thou fearest, shall 
 not befall thee. Thou knowest my love, and 
 hast seen my power — return to thy home, re- 
 turn in peace and confidence. Fret not thy 
 father by seeming to oppose his will, and trust 
 in the power which is already working for thee 
 to deliver thee from the evil that threatens 
 thee.' 
 
 "'Ay, mother!' said I, 'so also says the 
 banou. But knowest thou, that he — he whom 
 I so dread and loathe, is even now in the obah ; 
 even now, with my father, who has openly re- 
 ceived him and accepted his hateful proposal ?' 
 
 '"I know it all, my child ; yet is he no nearer 
 his end than if he had never left his home on 
 the banks of the Koolzun. For the banou, 
 she has counselled well, though little of good 
 will dost thou owe to her.' 
 
 *" Alas ! mother,' said I, 'I dread the ba- 
 noQ — cold, hard, and terrible as she has ever 
 been to me, can I trust her counsel ?' 
 
 " ' Ay, for in this her own objects and thine 
 agree. The prospect on which thou lookest with 
 disgust, may have attractions for others. Thus
 
 260 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 far thou mayest safely trust her ; for the rest 
 she is but an engine in the hands of a higher 
 power, and blindly works its will.' 
 
 " ' Oh, mother, mother !' said I, passionately, 
 ' thou hast been ever kind : what friend have I 
 but thee on earth — in thee I will confide : save 
 me, save me, from this detested marriage, and I 
 will be thy slave for ever ! ' 
 
 " ' Be satisfied, my child,' said she, ' no such 
 calamity shall befall thee ; return to thy home — 
 obey thy father, and hope for the best. I now 
 must leave thee-r-hark ! I am called, may Allah 
 watch over and protect thee ! ' 
 
 The fakeereh kissed me, turned, and was gone, 
 leaving me soothed and comforted ; yet filled with 
 wonder, not less at her opportune appearance, 
 than at the knowledge of all passing events which 
 she obviously possessed. Thou knowest, Osman, 
 how much of mystery and awe has ever belonged 
 to this woman — an awe which with me at least 
 has never yet been efl^aced, even by the strong 
 affection she has unceasingly bestowed upon me. 
 Yet, surely her presence at this time was a re- 
 lief which I have not words to express ; for 
 worn out as I was with suffering and apprehen- 
 sion, from whence could I have received so much
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 261 
 
 consolation ? For, indeed, Osman, I do give 
 credit to her words ; and believe, in spite of all 
 adverse appearances, that the fakeereh will, in 
 some way, make good her promises. 
 
 " ' Thus I returned to the camp with a mind 
 far more at ease than when I left in the morn- 
 ing ; and found, as a first fruits of the hope 
 that had sprung up in my breast, that the Beg 
 was just about to leave the place. Before doing 
 so, however, he placed in my father's hands an 
 assortment of ornaments intended for my person, 
 with a horse of value fully caparisoned, and 
 some arms and other rarities for my father. The 
 former included these strings of vaiious coins, 
 which you see in this hateful head-dress ; a broad 
 girdle of jointed silver, with ornaments for back 
 and front, at least ten inches broad, all of the 
 same metal and gorgeously set with agates, corne- 
 lians, torquoises, and such stones, which, how- 
 ever, are not to be worn until I am a bride, 
 any more than the full head-dress ; and that, if 
 if it please Allah, I never shall wear on this oc- 
 casion ! 
 
 " ' My father then sent for me, when I came 
 trembling, and nearly blind with terror. Some 
 ceremonies were then performed, and I learned
 
 262 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 that I was now betrothed to the hateful Nader 
 Beg. Oh, what a thrill of horror did that word 
 give me ! Spite of all that the banou or the fa- 
 keereh had said, my heart sunk; and when I retired 
 to our own tent, I cried as if this had been the 
 first intimation of my threatened misfortune ! 
 
 " ' The Beg, however, was gone, and I should 
 have felt something like peace again, had it not 
 been for the change in my situation, which his 
 coming had assuredly produced. I was no longer 
 a free maiden ; I was the betrothed bride of a 
 great man, and this my companions with their 
 taunts and jests would not suffer me to forget. 
 Still, hope remained ; the hope in one whose 
 word had never yet failed, and whom I could not 
 help regarding as possessed of some mysterious 
 power, which was exerted in my favour. But 
 alas ! the days rolled on ; the time has now ap- 
 proached, Osman, when the hateful Beg will come 
 to claim the performance of my father^s promise, 
 of my own involuntary vow ; yet nothing has 
 occurred to relieve my growing fears. Such, dear 
 Osman, is my story — my present condition ; say 
 now, have I not cause for alarm ? Canst thou 
 wonder if I am sad and changed, by weeping and 
 anxietv V
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 263 
 
 "'No, by your own soul, no!' said I, embracing 
 her with eager affection — Allah ! what thou hast 
 suffered ; wdiat both have endured ! for I also, 
 dearest, have had my share of misery; Ai-vai! 
 my brain is dfied up with terror and anxiety. 
 But I too, Zuleika, have had my omens, and I 
 do believe in the words of the fakeereh. Sorrow, 
 my beloved, may endure for a season, but be sure 
 the sun of joy will rise, and scatter the clouds of 
 perplexity and doubt which now beset our path ; 
 then cheer up, dearest, and trust to better times. 
 For me, I will not leave thee, and should fate 
 still prove adverse' — I was stopped by the ap- 
 proach of footsteps — It was one of the slave-girls 
 sent to call Zuleika. She rose hastily, and wiping 
 the tears from her eyes, obeyed the call, and I 
 also left the tent."
 
 264 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE "dark falcon's" HISTORY CONTINUED. 
 
 On reflecting on all I had heard, I confess 
 that there appeared to me good ground of com- 
 fort and hope. The remarkable accordance be- 
 tween the assurances of |the banou, and the pre- 
 dictions of the fakeereh, was so striking, that I 
 could not but believe it had its origin in some 
 common purpose ; and I could not imagine that 
 the efforts of two such women, directed to the same 
 end, could fail of success. Still, though my 
 spirits were certainly raised, and my hopes im- 
 proved, and that to Zuleika I maintained a 
 cheerful countenance, my mind was by no means 
 at rest ; and I thought that if I could by possi- 
 bility meet with the fakeereh, she would at least 
 afford me advice and directions for my conduct, 
 if she should not be able to resolve all my doubts. 
 It was long since I had seen her ; but the talis-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 265 
 
 man she had left with me years before, remained 
 still in my hands. I had often seen her since, 
 and had received from her many a mystic word 
 of encouragement, but nothing till now had oc- 
 curred to induce me to make use of her charm. 
 This I now resolved to do ; and at sunset of the 
 third evening after my return, when the cattle 
 had been driven into their pens, and the watches 
 set, I left the obah, and took my way towards 
 the solitary tree at the old tomb, where the 
 talisman was to be used. 
 
 '* I had not, however, walked above half the 
 distance, when in passing through a little hollow 
 on the way, I was startled by hearing my name 
 uttered in a sweet and well-known voice. ' Are 
 the eyes of the Dark Falcon hooded,' said it, 
 ' that he cannot see his game ? ' It was the 
 fakeereh herself, and on raising my eyes, which 
 had been turned thoughtfully upon the ground, 
 I saw her standing on the bank above me, her 
 figure relieved against the pale sky. 
 
 " ' Thou hast been looked for, my son,' said 
 she; ' the foot of the lover is swift, but thine has 
 tarried long,' 
 
 " ' Alas mother !"* said I, ' it is too true I 
 have, indeed, been long absent. Ah ! could I have 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 bnt known, how swift would have been my 
 return ! ' 
 
 '' ' Ay ! the lark doth not hover long in the 
 sky, when warned by the cry of his mate that 
 the serpent is in her nest ; nor doth the sick man 
 long delay to send for his physician. Thou hast 
 come hither to seek me V 
 
 " ' Ah, mother, whom have I to trust to but 
 thee ? thou knowest the misery of thy children, 
 and thou alone canst give them comfort.' 
 
 " ' By the mercy of Allah, I can ! Doubt not, 
 fear not — perplex yourselves no longer; for know, 
 that the kite shall sooner mate with the dove, 
 than the marriage ye dread shall take place.' 
 
 " ' Subhaun ullah !' exclaimed I, struck with 
 her obvious allusion to the omen that had met 
 me on my way to the camp ; ' thy knowledge is 
 wonderful ; my brain is dried up. In the name 
 of Allah say, what must I do ? How must I 
 conduct myself, that I may not ignorantly 
 err ?' 
 
 '* Be prudent, be silent, bridle thy passions, 
 which lead men to their ruin, and thwart not 
 the influence of thy star, which now shines 
 brightly on thee. Fate cannot be controlled, 
 but men by their folly may frustrate the benefi-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 267 
 
 cent purposes of Providence. The man who 
 vainly struggles against the stream, is bruised 
 against the rocks, though still born along ; while 
 he who submits to its irresistible current, flows 
 gently and unhurt to the haven of his destiny.'' 
 
 "'Ay, mother,' replied I; 'would that I could 
 promise so to act. — To those who, like thee, can 
 look into the future, prudence and self-control 
 are easy virtues ; but to poor blind mortals who 
 cannot tell which way they ought to turn, self- 
 guidance is a task of difficulty and danger.' 
 
 " ' The eyes of men, my son, are closed more 
 frequently by vanity and passion, than by that 
 ignorance of the future which Allah in his wis- 
 dom has imposed upon the children of Adam. 
 In the hour of trial search thy breast, and when 
 called upon to act or to speak, beware of precipi- 
 tation; pause ere thou sayest or doest aught that 
 cannot be recalled, and take counsel of an honest 
 and upright heart.' 
 
 " ' Ay, such were indeed the true and safe 
 course, mother; but alas ! youth is hot and rash, 
 and passion is strong : can it always be controlled .'' 
 Then are there not snares and deceivers — false 
 friends and treacherous advisers ? How is the 
 unexperienced eye to distinguish the false from 
 
 N 2
 
 268 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 the true ? It is in these very matters that I lack 
 thy aid and counsel.' 
 
 *' ' My son, the Omnipotent has bestowed on his 
 creatures faculties which, if fitly applied, are 
 sufficient to guide them in their earthly path. 
 In these thou art not deficient ; what then dost 
 thou fear ? what is thy doubt l ' 
 
 " ' Mother, I doubt — I fear myself; I mistrust 
 my own judgment. — Ay, whatever be the 
 consequence, to thee I will say it ; the banou, 
 she has counselled me as well as Zuleika — is she 
 to be trusted I ought I to follow her counsel f 
 
 '' * I know it, my son, and to thee, as to her, 
 I say. Fear not the banou, and for the present 
 follow her counsel. Hard, unprincipled, and am- 
 bitious as she is, her object and thine are for the 
 time the same ; both seek to prevent this union. 
 She, because she would exalt her own offspring 
 at whatever price, and especially at the expense 
 of a rival's child. What doth she care, should 
 that child, the daughter of her husband, lose 
 name and character, and sink into the obscurity 
 which must cover the wife of a slave, provided 
 her own child shall gain riches and consequence 
 by the sacrifice ? Dost thou comprehend ? ' 
 
 '* ' Ay mother, it is plain ; and what shall I
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 269 
 
 say ? She first laid bare my own heart, and de- 
 clared what I never dared admit, even to myself, 
 — the wild, the daring nature of my own feelings 
 towards the daughter of my master ; her, mother, 
 whom I have loved from childhood as a brother, 
 but whom I never could endure to see given to 
 another : nay, she encouraged me to persevere, 
 and promised to aid me in obtaining my desire.' 
 
 " ' All this, my son, I know ; I know thy lofty 
 aspirations ; and I, like her, forbid thee not to 
 hope ; a fate, brighter than the promise of thy 
 youth, awaits thee, if thou mar it not by thy own 
 imprudence. Regard the banou but as an in- 
 strument of that Providence who can bring good 
 out of evil, and take the wicked in their own 
 snare. For the rest, be watchful, but confident ; 
 be continent and prudent, and doubt not of aid 
 in the hour of need. Remember ! the Falcon 
 will never permit the dove to become the prey 
 of the kite.' 
 
 " She waved her arm and was gone, leaving 
 me greatly relieved, on the whole, yet sorely 
 puzzled and perplexed. There was ever in the 
 manner of the fakeereh, a tone of wayward mys- 
 tery which seemed to hint at more than passed 
 the lips, leaving much to the imagination ; and
 
 210 THE dark: falcon. 
 
 never did I feel this more than on the present 
 occasion. Twice had she alluded to that inci- 
 dent which met me as an omen on the bank 
 of the Attruck ; and which I had mentioned to 
 no one. Whence was her knowledge of this 
 and of many other matters, of which she could 
 hardly have had cognizance in the ordinary course 
 of things ? It was strange — wonderful ; yet how 
 fortunate for me that all this extraordinary know- 
 ledge should be excited in my favour. ' Bis- 
 millah ! ' cried I mentally ; ' may the issue be 
 fortunate — inshallah ! " 
 
 '^ Returning to the obah, I resumed my usual 
 course of life. As Oghuz Aga entertained no 
 suspicion of my feelings towards his daughter, 
 and the banou continued to favour our inter- 
 course, it continued unrestrained as before. Per- 
 haps it was the very unreserved and open nature 
 of this intercourse, more even than the voice of 
 prudence and virtue, that cheeked the prompt- 
 ings of passion, and preserved us from error. 
 But this, as it appeared, was not the banou^s ob- 
 ject ; for, as the fakeereh had darkly intimated, 
 it was on our anticipated fall that she built her 
 chief hope of breaking off the purposed alliance ; 
 and for the purpose of betraying us into error
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 271 
 
 alone it was, that she thus encouraged us to 
 meet so often and under such trying circum- 
 stances. But the period of consummation draw- 
 ing nigh, and her time for active operations being 
 short, she resolved to enlist calumny on her 
 side, to complete what temptation and oppor- 
 tunity had failed to effect. With this purpose 
 she employed her agents to spread rumours 
 abroad, intended to blacken the character of 
 Zuleika in the ears of her intended husband, and 
 implicating me as the partner of her guilt. 
 
 " At this very time, an occurrence took place 
 which disturbed the serenity of the obah, and 
 interrupted my intercourse with the inmates of our 
 tent at a very critical period ; but not, as it ap- 
 peared, the intrigues of the banou against me. 
 A misunderstanding had for some time existed 
 between our obah and a camp of Goklans, who 
 inhabited the Moocheeh valley, and were always 
 disposed to mischief; and they chose this pe- 
 culiar time for sending a marauding party to 
 sweep our pastures. So successful too, were they 
 in their purpose, that, besides a large prey of cattle, 
 and sheep, and camels, they managed to carry off 
 a favourite mare belonging to Oghuz Aga, from 
 which he had reason to expect a valuable foal.
 
 272 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " The affront itself, independent of the loss, 
 was so galling, that although a large proportion 
 of our young men and best warriors were at that 
 moment absent in the Kajar camps, it was re- 
 solved to follow the plunderers with the rest, 
 and either retake the stolen animals, or make 
 reprisals — if possible to do both. A dozen of 
 the readiest and most active of our people, were 
 therefore immediately despatched upon the traces 
 of the robbers, with orders to ascertain their 
 route, and keep them in view. The spear and 
 standard of Oghuz Aga was planted at the door 
 of his tent, inviting all who were fit to bear arms 
 in our own camp, and all from others in the 
 neighbourhood, who from lust of plunder, or 
 motives of good-will might be so disposed, to 
 join our party ; and thus a very respectable troop 
 was speedily assembled. 
 
 " It was my lot to be one of the scouting party, 
 or carawal, who, arming and mounting in haste, 
 set out upon the track of the thieves, scarcely 
 an hour after the theft became known in the 
 obah. We soon found their traces, and followed 
 them up the banks of the Attruck to a shallow, 
 where it appeared they had forded the river, for 
 the gravel on either side was pitted with the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 273 
 
 trampling of the animals. From this point, we 
 could trace their marks across the valley, to a 
 small ravine, where the beasts appeared to have 
 run very wild, for their hoof-prints spread far 
 and wide. They finally took their course up the 
 hollow, and we followed it for several fursucks, 
 across dry rocky hillocks, until we knew that 
 they must have descended into the Moocheeh 
 valley. 
 
 " It was now certain that they could not be far 
 ahead of us ; and as we approached the height 
 from which the valley became visible, we pro- 
 ceeded with greater caution, and dismounting 
 from our horses, led them through hollows, and 
 under the brows of the hills, towards a well- 
 known point ; for that country was as familiar 
 to each of us, as to the Goklans themselves. 
 We were not deceived ; for on reaching it, and 
 cautiously looking down, we saw the whole party 
 still urging the cattle forwards, — though their 
 slow pace shewed that the beasts were thoroughly 
 done up. 
 
 " The afternoon was by this time well advanced, 
 and as it was obvious that the wearied cattle 
 must soon be permitted to rest somewhere in the 
 valley, and no doubt by the river-side, for water 
 
 N 5
 
 S74 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 and for pasture, it occurred to me that if anything 
 was to be attempted to prevent their being en- 
 tirely lost to us, it must be done during the 
 approaching night. Our horses were fresh, 
 though we had ridden a considerable distance. 
 The Goklans, indeed, by what we could judge, 
 might amount to eighty or a hundred horsemen ; 
 but then they had ridden more than double the dis- 
 tance ours had come, and had worked their 
 horses hard in driving the unruly cattle ; so that 
 they must, we thought, be pretty well knocked 
 up. Consulting therefore with my comrades, I 
 suggested, that by taking a detour, which would 
 lead us but a fursuck up the valley, we might 
 push on so far in advance, as to place ourselves 
 between them and their route for the morrow, 
 and by keeping them in constant alarm as they 
 moved, and taking advantage of any favourable 
 accident, might possibly succeed in scattering or 
 retarding them, until our large party from camp 
 should come up. 
 
 " Accordingly, one of our number being im- 
 mediately sent back to meet our friends, and 
 acquaint them with our intended plan, as well 
 as to urge them to speed and guide them towards 
 us, we pursued our own way, keeping carefully
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 215 
 
 concealed among the heights, until it became 
 dark enough to move without fear of discovery; 
 when we descended by a winding hollow, into 
 the valley. The way was rough, and we were 
 forced more than once to swerve from our proper 
 direction, to avoid precipices and dangerous 
 passes ; so that the night was well advanced 
 before we reached the point from whence it was 
 our intention to reconnoitre the Goklans. 
 
 " The moon, in her first quarter, was already 
 low, so that there was scarcely any light ; but as I 
 rode along, with one of my comrades in front 
 of our little party, my eye caught a glimpse of 
 some object in motion on a height in our front 
 against the grey sky. As I looked more ear- 
 nestly, it seemed to me as if the object became 
 divided into two ; but all was so dim and un- 
 certain, that I still hesitated whether or not to 
 give the alarm to my companions, when the cara- 
 wal, who rode some paces on in front, gave a 
 siofual and rode back to us. Almost at the same 
 moment a figure strangely clad, started up as 
 from the ground, right at the head of my horse ; 
 and, seizing the bridle, began to gesticulate vio- 
 lently, uttering at the same time some low and 
 unintelligible sounds. Startled and confounded,
 
 276 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 I checked the animal to free him from the crea- 
 ture's grasp, griping my sword at the same time, 
 with intent to draw and smite him. But the 
 signs he made were so obviously expressive 
 of entreaty, and not of hostile purpose, that be- 
 tween doubt and curiosity I forbore. My near- 
 est companion, however, less scrupulous, lifted 
 his spear, and exclaiming, ' In the name of Allah 
 the most merciful, what art thou !' would have 
 driven it through the unknown intruder ; but he 
 nimbly shifting his position, avoided the blow 
 by slipping to the other side of my horse ; and 
 at the same moment, the sweet tones of a well- 
 known voice, in accents so low that they seemed 
 to be meant for me alone, said, ' If the Dark 
 Falcon would strike his prey, let him follow the 
 ofuide whom Allah sends him.' 
 
 " I started and strained my eyes around, but 
 in vain ; no one was to be seen but the wild crea- 
 ture still clinging to my bridle. ' Let him 
 alone,' said I to those who were now clustering 
 around us. ' Our fortune is great this night, 
 for this is a guide who may be trusted — on my 
 own head be it !' Some hesitated, and some 
 grumbled ; but others had more confidence in 
 me ; and a few cautious hints, intimations that
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 277 
 
 I had good reason for trusting the strange guide, 
 induced the rest to assent ; so taking the lead, 
 with the creature still close to the horse's head, we 
 changed our direction for one more to the right, 
 and held on in silence. 
 
 " As we proceeded, I looked more attentively 
 at this same guide. It was dark, no doubt ; 
 but there was something in the singularity of his 
 figure, with its long, lean, ape-like limbs, and 
 still more in the strangely-shaped head, that 
 startled me as I gazed — and a pang of indescriba- 
 ble and confused recollections thrilled through 
 my mind. Something there was not quite un- 
 familiar in its aspect, yet where or when I had 
 met with it, I could not by any effort recollect. 
 
 '' A half- suppressed exclamation forced from 
 me by this mental effort, probably caused the 
 creature to turn and look up on me ; and my 
 blood ran cold at observing in his eyes a light 
 which shone like a spark of flame. " Is this 
 a fiend then, after all ?''"' was the thought that first 
 flashed through my brain ; but the next brought 
 to remembrance the terrible being from whom 
 the fakeereh had delivered me in the cavern at 
 Mazar of Parow ; and from him it passed like 
 lightning to the imp-like creature that had seized
 
 278 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 me "when a boy on my first visit to that spot. 
 ' It is he ! it is the very same !' said I mentally ; 
 and at once relieved from my momentary terror ; 
 for that strange being was now connected in- 
 timately in my mind with my protectress the 
 fakeereh ; and I doubted not for a moment 
 that all these extraordinary beings were of one 
 race, whether belonging to the children of Adam 
 or not. That nought, but good was intended 
 to me and those with me, I was confident of; for 
 the fakeereh herself was engaged, as it appeared, 
 on our side, and when had her presence been 
 otherwise than propitious to me ? So with full 
 hopes and improved alacrity, I followed our guide, 
 who, seeing that we no longer hesitated, quitted 
 my bridle and fairly took the lead. 
 
 " I saw that instead of continuing our purposed 
 route, towards the resting-place of the Goklan 
 marauders, the course taken by our guide car- 
 ried us right across the valley, and we soon had to 
 ford a stream, and hold on to the hills on the 
 opposite side. 1 could now form some notion of 
 the direction meant to be pursued, but not as 
 yet of the manner in which our object was to be 
 attained, and my mind was by no means at 
 ease on the subject. An ugly doubt would still
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 279 
 
 rise now and then to perplex me, rendering it a 
 sufficiently irksome task to quiet the suspicions and 
 reason away the alarms of my comrades ; for how 
 could I inspire them with a confidence I scarcely 
 felt myself, or quiet their fears of treachery and 
 miscarriage ? We proceeded however, until after 
 some bad and dangerous riding, we found our- 
 selves, about two hours after midnight, issuing out 
 upon a plain surrounded by rising grounds ; and 
 on this, at some distance, might be seen a few 
 flickering sparks, like those from the embers of 
 watch-fires. 
 
 " The guide now again approaching me, recom- 
 menced his expressive gesticulations, and at the 
 same time seizing hold of my bridle-rein, gave 
 me to understand that we must halt. This we 
 accordingly did ; and scarce had our horses' hoofs 
 ceased to beat the ground, when the lowing of 
 cattle at a little distance, betrayed to us that the 
 Goklans and their booty were at hand, and in 
 our front. Almost at the same moment, the low 
 voice was again at my ear, and distinctly uttered 
 these words, ' The prey lies before you ; advance 
 with caution and silence, wait for the signal, and 
 charge in two divisions ; shout when you hear 
 shouting ; — charge and fear not the result."*
 
 280 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " I turned sharply to discover the speaker, but 
 no one was to be seen ; so calling attention to 
 what we all heard and saw, and adverting to the 
 good chance we should have of discomfiting a 
 tried and perhaps unwatchful foe by a sudden 
 charge, I proposed that we shoulde divide, and 
 attack from two quarters at once. My comrades 
 at once consented, and we instantly made our 
 arrangements. In a few minutes the word was 
 passed, 'Bismillah!' and on we went in perfect 
 silence. 
 
 " For a short distance the way was rough, but 
 we soon reached plainer ground, and could at 
 length distinguish in our front a dark mass, with 
 the gleam of embers here and there, while the 
 uneasy lowing of the cattle and bleating of the 
 sheep, and the roar of the camels, grew more 
 loud and frequent. All at once, a shrill, loud 
 cry was heard on the left ; I knew that it was 
 the signal, and answering it with a shout called, 
 ' Forward in the name of Allah !' and on we 
 dashed, our horses catching spirit as it were from 
 our example. ' Allah hoo ! Allah hoo !' shouted 
 every man of us, as on we drove ; and scarce 
 were the words out of our mouths, when there 
 arose, in several quarters on the other side, a
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 281 
 
 yell wild enough to have scared us all, had I not 
 expected a diversion of the kind. — ' Alhumdulil- 
 lah !"* exclaimed one of my comrades, 'there are 
 our comrades already.' — ' Inshallah ! "* said, I 
 ' but whatever help it be, it is w^elcome. — Allah 
 hoo ! Allah hoo ! Hai woorung, Hai tootung 
 Hurroo !"* 
 
 " In a moment we were upon the mass. The 
 Goklans, who were just rising from the sleep into 
 which they had fallen, no doubt believed it was 
 the whole obah. Few seemed to think of resist- 
 ance. We saw several jump upon their horses 
 and make off; others fell under the feet of ours 
 and were speared. The cattle, frightened and 
 no longer kept together by the drivers, scattered 
 on all sides, and added to the confusion. We, 
 on our parts, spurred about from one side to 
 another, continuing our shouts in order to de- 
 ceive our enemies as to the amount of our force ; 
 while our unknown coadjutors made a din which 
 confounded me as much as our antagonists. 
 
 " Galloping thus through the throng of mingled 
 animals, I found myself all at once close upon 
 the remains of a fire, the embers of which, being 
 scattered about by hasty hoofs and feet, displayed 
 to us a group of men and horses clustering round
 
 282 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 an animal of the latter species ; and in this ob- 
 ject of their care I recognised at once my Aga"'s 
 favourite mare, covered up carefully with gay 
 clothing. Shouting loudly, I dashed in among 
 them, spearing one of the men, who was just on 
 the point of mounting her ; the others fled, 
 panic-struck, and I was left in possession of the 
 prize. Springing from my own horse, I instantly 
 mounted the mare, saddled and accoutered as she 
 was, and led by the continued shouting, made on 
 to join my companions. 
 
 " In this way, riding hither and thither as had 
 been agreed upon, dispersing all of the Goklans 
 we could find, about a quarter of an hour had 
 elapsed, when we no longer found any to oppose 
 us. But to gather the scattered booty with our 
 small force, or even to muster together ourselves, 
 was no easy matter ; and in truth, having already 
 done so much more than was to be hoped for, 
 little remained for us but to look for the arrival 
 of our friends. Some five or six of us did meet, 
 however, and attempted as well as we could to 
 drive the bulk of the cattle into a mass, and give 
 them a direction homewards ; and in this we 
 were aided a good deal by the disposition of the 
 animals themselves to return. By degrees others
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 283 
 
 of our comrades joined, and though we could not 
 tell what proportion of our own property, or that 
 of others, might be in the dense mass which was 
 moving slowly before us, we were satisfied that 
 no more was to be done ; and earnestly did we 
 hope that our friends might appear before the 
 dawn, which was now fast coming on, should 
 betray to any of our enemies, who might in 
 their turn be dogging us, the weakness of the 
 party which had scared them from their booty. 
 
 " Wearily did the next hour pass on, and, 
 though so long in the saddle, and in constant 
 exertion, not an eyelid winked, nor did one of 
 us flag in his work. Nothing, too, had hitherto 
 happened to alarm us ; but at length the whiten- 
 ing sky gave token that the period of trial had 
 arrived, and that another half hour would de- 
 termine the fate of our expedition. We had, 
 however, been gradually making progress ; and 
 the dawning light showed us, scarcely a thousand 
 paces a-head, the pass by which the spoil had 
 entered the valley, and by which, too, it must 
 leave it on its return. We could now, too, see 
 the spears of our companions, who had not as 
 yet rejoined us, some of whom were aiding in 
 driving on the throng of beasts which they saw
 
 S84 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 we had gathered together. It was still too 
 gloomy in our rear to judge whether many strag- 
 glers of the booty had been left behind ; but 
 had such even been the case, there was no pos- 
 sibility of relieving them. We had succeeded 
 so far, and there now remained but to secure 
 what had been done, could we but reach the 
 pass and quit the plain, where our weakness 
 was but too palpable, and if seen would surely 
 provoke attack. But such was not to be our 
 luck, for the light made greater progress than 
 we could do ; and scarcely had the first of the 
 beasts entered the jaws of the defile, when a 
 distant shout behind made us look round, and 
 to our horror and perplexity we clearly dis- 
 cerned a strong body of horsemen spurring to- 
 wards us. 
 
 *' It was a bitter disappointment ; and I believe 
 there were few of us who did not in some de- 
 gree lose heart. But resolved not even yet to 
 yield without a struggle, and still hoping for the 
 arrival of our friends, we called upon each other 
 to leave the beasts alone, and show front to the 
 enemy. So we turned our faces towards them, 
 and soon saw that a body of about fifty Goklans, 
 part no doubt of the robbers, who had rallied,
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 285 
 
 were coming up, as we had anticipated, to as- 
 certain the force which had discomfited them, 
 and endeavour, if possible, to regain some 
 portion of their booty. Of us there were but 
 fifteen in all, for the unseen friends who had 
 aided us with their voices during the attack, we 
 neither saw nor heard any more of after the 
 cattle had begun fairly to move from the ground ; 
 nor could I at that time imagine who they might 
 be, unless, indeed, my protectress, the fakeereh, 
 had summoned to her aid the jins and demons 
 over whom report had assigned her power. 
 
 " Small now, indeed, appeared our chance of 
 safety, for there was no sign of our friends ar- 
 riving, and to wait where we were, to be sur- 
 rounded by a troop more than three times our 
 number, would have been madness. Nor was 
 there much to be hoped for from flight ; for in 
 our rear was the plain and the enemy ; in front, 
 a tract of innumerable small stoney hillocks rose 
 in succession, like sand-ribs drifted by the wind 
 up to the mountains that inclosed the valley on 
 that side ; and to climb these with our wearied 
 horses was out of question, — while the only pass 
 by which we could have retreated, was now 
 blocked up by the cattle.
 
 28Q THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " What was to be done ? One hillock, larger 
 than the rest, stood out like an outwork of the 
 pass : it offered a good position for making our 
 stand ; so shouting to one another to leave the 
 cattle and take heart, and stand fast, we pushed 
 our horses up the side, and took post on its 
 summit. There springing from our saddles, we 
 prepared ourselves for the event. The Goklans, 
 when they saw us draw off, saluted us with a 
 yell of triumph, but it was clear from the pace 
 at which they came up, that their horses were 
 thoroughly tired, and hope entered our souls, for 
 there was good prospect of being able to main- 
 tain our ground for some time at least. 
 
 "As they drew near, they divided into two 
 bodies ; one of which, some twenty in number, 
 pushed on to stop and turn the cattle, as it 
 seemed ; while the rest, riding straight towards 
 our hillock, sent a flight of arrows amongst us, 
 which did us little harm, and then attempted to 
 climb the hill to attack us at close quarters. On 
 this we also took to our bows, and shooting from 
 a height, our arrows flew with better effect, par- 
 ticularly as the steepness of the ascent, and the 
 blown state of their horses, exposed them for a 
 longer time to our aim. They thus soon found
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 287 
 
 it expedient to retreat out of our reach, -when 
 they held a council together. As for us, though 
 encouraged by finding matters not absolutely 
 desperate, so long as arrows remained to us, we 
 were sensible that whenever our quivers should 
 be emptied, we should be almost at their mercy ; 
 and all we had for it was, to be as chary as pos- 
 sible of our shot, and to gather carefully all they 
 aimed at us — for we well knew that the Goklans 
 were too skilful at the bow to let us long alone. 
 
 "Nor did they ; for after a short conference, 
 the party spread, and surrounding the hill, com- 
 menced a fresh discharge, which, being sent with 
 greater deliberation, was more effectual ; and 
 though we kept ourselves pretty well sheltered 
 behind our horses, several of these were struck, 
 and one or two severely wounded. We drew 
 the shafts, however, of such as were not barbed, 
 and sent them not harmlessly back to their mas- 
 ters with an equally cool aim ; but still they 
 were two to our one, and though they cared not 
 to expose themselves much, they did make one 
 or two rushes which it cost us some expenditure 
 of shot to repel. There was also another cause 
 of alarm. We had reason to fear an increase 
 of enemies, either from the gathering together of
 
 288 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 dispersed fugitives, or from parties sent out to re- 
 ceive and assist in securing the expected spoil ; 
 and in fact, we had the mortification of observing 
 several horsemen actually join the troop opposed 
 to us in the plain, or proceed towards the others 
 who were recovering and turning the cattle. 
 
 "At length it became apparent that the ef- 
 forts of these last had proved successful ; for 
 the cattle, after congregating in a mass below us 
 at the entrance of the pass, began again to fluc- 
 tuate, and at length to stream outwards from it. 
 This was dreadfully mortifying ; but what could 
 we do ? Our own situation was critical in the 
 extreme ; for our arrows were nearly all spent, 
 and our enemies seemed resolved not to leave 
 us behind, either to harass their retreat, or to 
 aid in pursuit. In fact, this movement of the 
 beasts was the signal for a renewed and fiercer 
 attack. Several of us were now struck, and some 
 of the horses quite disabled ; w^hile we could 
 see that they also had many badly hurt, for the 
 wounded persons left their comrades, and sat 
 down in the rear, unable at least to take any 
 more part in the skirmish. But now all who 
 were able, rode straight up the hill as far as they 
 could get their horses to go, then rapidly dis-
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 289 
 
 mounting, prepared under cover of the beasts 
 for a rush on foot, sword or spear in hand. This 
 assault called forth our last reserve of shot, which 
 stopped the career of some ; but the rest, more 
 exasperated, persevered ; and those even who were 
 wounded, plucking our arrows from their flesh, 
 held on till our spears almost crossed. There 
 was then a moment''s pause — we could not at- 
 tempt to fly had we desired it ; they, some- 
 what blown and checked by our steady front, 
 seemed half unwilling to provoke our despair. 
 But it was a pause that could not last — in- 
 deed, the forward rush was partly made, and I 
 had already seized and severed with my sword 
 a spear which was thrust at my body ; when 
 suddenly a thundering yell, which rose from 
 the pass and from among the teppehs near it, ar- 
 rested the attention of both parties ; and look- 
 ing down we saw the Goklans spurring with all 
 the speed they could make, and the cattle flying 
 on every side before a dense body of horsemen 
 armed with sword and spear. In a moment our 
 cry responded to theirs, for we knew our friends : 
 another quarter of an hour and they had been 
 too late. The Goklans knew them also, and 
 abandoning the teppeh, each man tried to re- 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 290 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 gain his horse which had strayed down hill out 
 of the way of the strife ; but few ever reached 
 them. Wild with joy at our happy deliverance, 
 we turned upon our assailants, who were pro- 
 portionably dispirited, and many were speared 
 before they reached the foot of the hill. Most 
 of the rest fell under the swords or spears of our 
 fresh horsemen, so that but few of those who 
 returned to attack us, effected their escape. 
 
 *' We had now time and opportunity enough 
 to collect, not only our own straggling property, 
 but to catch and carry off many a good horse 
 of' those which had borne our enemies to their 
 attack upon ourselves ; and thus had my com- 
 panions and myself the satisfaction of knowing 
 that our efforts had, in reality, been the means 
 of saving the property of the obah, and even of 
 increasing it. One or two of us did, indeed, fall 
 sacrifices to their zeal, and many suffered from 
 wounds, amongst whom was myself: an arrow 
 had transfixed my left arm. But we received 
 great praise, and gained a high name for gal- 
 lantry and good conduct in the obah, and among 
 the whole tribe. 
 
 " But of all the results of this exploit, there 
 was none that gave more satisfaction to the obah
 
 THE DARK FALCON. S91 
 
 in general, and to its chief in particular, tban 
 the recovery of Oghuz Aga's famous mare, which 
 I had been so fortunate as to save from being 
 carried oiF. My master himself was loud in 
 his praises, and profuse of his assurances that no 
 reward was too great for me ; nor was there 
 anything he was not ready to bestow upon me 
 short of the precious mare herself, to testify his 
 sense of my merits. Alas ! though his heart 
 was warm and his meaning kind, he little weigh- 
 ed the words he then made use of.''
 
 292 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE " DARK FALCOn's" STORY CONTINUED. 
 
 " For some days after our return to the obah, 
 all was triumpli and rejoicing; and those who 
 had borne the brunt of the work, were of course 
 in high favour. To such a length, indeed, was 
 this carried in my own case, that my brain was 
 puffed up with wind ; and I had begun to cal- 
 culate what chance there might be of my claim 
 to the possession of Zuleika being admitted 
 by her father, when, one day on my return to 
 the camp, I was struck by the manner in which 
 I was eyed by some of the household, and spe- 
 culated on what might have occurred amiss. I 
 made no enquiries, however, but proceeded 
 straight to the alachick of Oghuz Aga, at the 
 front of which he was seated. On observing me, 
 however, he sprang up with fury in his eyes, and 
 roared out, ' Hah ! dog, and son of a dog ! hast
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 293 
 
 thou come hither to defile our beards ? Hoh, 
 there ! fellows seize him, seize the ghorumsaug ! 
 by the head of Omar, he shall pay for his ras- 
 cality !' and seizing me himself, he began to 
 drag me furiously into the tent. 
 
 " Astonished at his violence, and at the sud- 
 den change of his countenance towards me, I 
 folk)wed unresistingly ; till, having got me in, 
 he thrust me rudely from him, exclaiming, ' Base- 
 born scoundrel ! canst thou then dare to look 
 me in the face ? But thou shalt die, dog ! thou 
 shalt die, and that instantly !' and running to 
 his sword which was hanging at the wall of the 
 tent, he would have drawn it and assaulted me 
 forthwith, had not two persons, whom at first I 
 did not observe, risen and laid hold upon him, and 
 sought to soothe this, to me, unaccountable fury. 
 But Oghuz Aga appeared to be beyond all 
 reach of reason, and their efforts were likely to 
 be unavailing, when his wife Zehreh Khatoon 
 hearing the noise I suppose, and probably guessing 
 its cause, entered the tent, and going up to her 
 husband with a determined step, seized his arm 
 and looked him scornfully in the face. ' Oghuz 
 Aga/ said she, ' art thou quite a fool ? shame 
 on thy beard, is it thus thou seekest to wash out
 
 294 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 a foul stain ; to hide a rent in thy garment ! 
 Will this violence heal the wound thou hast 
 received ? Sit down and return to thy senses. 
 And thou, boy, leave the place ; appear not again 
 till thou art sent for — see, the sight of thee 
 makes him frantic ! ' 
 
 " During this explosion I had stood, amazed 
 indeed, and confounded, but supported by indig- 
 nation and conscious innocence of offence, calm 
 and unabashed, awaiting the result of so extrava- 
 gant an attack, and watching the countenance of 
 Ogliuz Aga, who, on his part, while yielding to 
 the appeal of his wife, kept glaring on me with 
 eyes of fire and foaming mouth. 
 
 *' ' But what is my crime after all ?' said I ; 
 ' of what am I accused ?"* 
 
 " * Hear ye the ghorumsaug !' roared the Aga. 
 ' Oh scoundrel ! to Jehannum with thee !' 
 
 " * Go, Osman ! begone, I desire thee,' said the 
 banou : and with a bow of acquiescence I quitted 
 the alachick, intending to learn from others, 
 if possible, the cause of this extreme wrath on the 
 part of one who hitherto had been so kind to me. 
 I had proceeded but a few paces, when looking 
 back, I observed following me, one of the persons 
 who had been in the tent ; an Ak sakal, of the
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 295 
 
 obah who had always been partial to me. I 
 stopped until he joined me, when he said, 
 ' This is a sad piece of folly on thy part, my 
 son ; but thou art young, and youth is always 
 wild and rash. — Come ; there is no help for it 
 now, thou had best fly to the next obah yonder, 
 my son-in-law will receive thee, and keep thee 
 quiet there, until the Aga's anger shall have 
 cooled ; and then the elders will see to make 
 matters up.' 
 
 '* * May your favour increase, father,' replied I. 
 ' But wherefore should I fly? May I die, if I can 
 understand what all this is about, or what it is 
 that has set the Aga's heart on fire against me 
 thus, Wullah ! — What is my fault ? what have I 
 done V 
 
 *' ' Nay my son ! but this is sheer folly ; after 
 all, what use is there in seeking to conceal what 
 is already known ? Rather try now to make the 
 best of the business, and avert, if possible, the con- 
 sequences of your error.' 
 
 *' ' But, Baba, by your own head ! I swear that 
 I know of nothing that I have committed. Allah 
 knows I would not willingly offend my Aga ; 
 and for any trifle committed in ignorance, why 
 should he break out against me thus V
 
 296 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 " ' Well this is strange, boy ! La-illah-il-ullah ! 
 call you seducing your Aga's daughter a trifle ? 
 Is it nothing to be the cause of breaking off such 
 a match as Oghuz Aga had so fortunately obtained 
 for his daughter Zuleika !' 
 
 " ' Seducing Zuleika !"* repeated I in amaze- 
 ment. 'Siibhan ullah! 7 seduce her? Who dares 
 to sav that I ever dreamed of such an outrage ? 
 VVlio has been eating this monstrous abomi- 
 nation V 
 
 " ' How ? you deny it then V 
 
 " ' Deny it ? ay, by the holy Prophet! most 
 positively and most truly ; by your own head 
 Baba ! by my Aga's life — by all that is most 
 sacred, it is false. What! T seduce Zuleika? I who 
 love her better than my own life? Oh Allah, 
 never did I dream of so dishonouring her or my 
 Aga''s house, of committing such a crime. In the 
 name of Heaven ! who is my accuser ?' 
 
 " ' By your head boy, I do not know ; I can- 
 not say I comprehend the business, for the A<ra 
 ■W3S fiercer than fire when he spoke of it. But 
 it seems that messengers have come from Nader 
 I^eg, declining to fulfil his engagements with the 
 Aj?n's daughter, on the plea that some one else, a 
 kkanezadeh of the Aga's has been, he finds, before
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 297 
 
 him, and he loves not spoiled wares. Such is 
 what I have gathered ; but who it is that has 
 played tale-bearer to the Beg, or what proof has 
 been offered to him of the fact, wullali ! I 
 know not. Our Aga, as thou knowest, is blunt 
 and hot of temper, and he may have jumped to a 
 belief of the tale without sufficient grounds. 
 But what then dost thou think of doing ?'' 
 
 " ' Why, what should I do, father, but remain 
 where I am till the Aga's first fury cools, and 
 then boldly assert my innocence ? Zuleika will 
 swear to it also. Let him put us to what test he 
 pleases, he will not find us guilty.' 
 
 " ' That is well ; but you said you loved the 
 maiden ; how are you to act in regard to that ?' 
 
 " ' Love her, father ! Ay, so I do in truth ; 
 but as to what is to become of us, or what it 
 were most proper to do, Allah knows, not L"* 
 
 "'And why not carry her oflT, then, to the 
 next obah, as other youths do their mistresses, — 
 as I did myself, when first I took a wife ! The 
 Aksakals will make up matters, no fear. They 
 will settle what bashlogue you must pay, and, in- 
 shallah ! all will go well."* 
 
 " ' You forget, father, I am but a slave, not 
 of Toorkoman blood ; when would Oghuz Aga
 
 ^^8 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ever consent to give his daughter to such as I ? 
 Besides, would not that be just committing the 
 very crime of which I am now falsely accused. 
 No, father, innocent I am, and innocent, in- 
 shallah I I will remain. I will take my chance 
 here, and put my trust in Allah ! ' 
 
 " The old man shook his head. ' May God 
 protect you, my son ; act as you see best ; but 
 my advice is to fly and trust to others, — I under- 
 stand your feeling, — it is praiseworthy, Mash- 
 allah ! but Oghuz Aga will not understand it. 
 Take time and consider, and if you find that I 
 can aid you, I will — on my head be it.' 
 
 *' With these words he left me ; and I re- 
 tired for a little to reflect on what had passed, and 
 consider what course I had best pursue in this 
 distressing affair. But scarcely had I time to 
 collect my thoughts, when a message was brought 
 me by a slave girl from the banou, desiring to see 
 me immediately. 
 
 *•' With no small agitation did I repair to her 
 presence ; for I remembered well what had passed 
 on the last occasion, and knew not what part she 
 might take upon the present. 
 
 " She was alone, and received me with her 
 customary hard, impenetrable countenance ; but
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 299 
 
 Ler eye was keenly bent on mine, as if to sift 
 my most secrets thoughts. 
 
 " ' So this,' she began, after a moment's pause — 
 ' this is thy return for indulgence and confidence, 
 young man ; this is thy virtue and thy prudence ! 
 Praise be to God ! it is well. And now, what 
 is thy purpose ? what wilt thou do with thyself, 
 and with her whom thou has destroyed ?' 
 
 " Indignant at the tone she had assumed, well 
 knowing that she^ who was cognizant of all that 
 occurred in the obah, could not, and did not, 
 believe us guilty ; I returned her gaze without 
 quailing, and replied, 
 
 " ' The banou will excuse her servant, but 
 she does not believe in his guilt any more than in 
 that of her daughter ; what, then, has her servant 
 to dread, or to do, but to drink of the cup of 
 patience, and to submit to the will of Allah ?' 
 
 *' ' Thou art then aware of all thou art accused 
 of?' 
 
 ** ' Thy servant has just heard from a friend that 
 he stands accused of the seduction of Zuleika Kha- 
 toon ; to the banou, the eye of whose understand- 
 ing is over all that passes around her, he need not 
 again declare his innocence ; what more can he 
 have to represent ?'
 
 300 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 ** ' Thou art right,"* said she, after a pause ; * I 
 do know thee to be innocent of this charge. But 
 hearken now to me : thou rememberest thy promise 
 to be guided by me ; if thou desirest happiness or 
 safety, forget not that promise now. Thy Aga, 
 and Nader Beg, believe thee both guilty ; let 
 them remain in this belief. Thou shalt fly with 
 thy mistress to the obah of my brother. Means 
 shall be provided, and my brother shall receive 
 thee as a son. He and the elders of the tribe, 
 shall in due time intercede for thee, and thou shalt 
 return to the camp with credit and in favour. 
 Hast thou comprehended ? Hah ! " 
 
 " The banou might well put this question ; for 
 her uncompromising openness, and mode of comb- 
 ing at once to her point, had not a little con- 
 founded me, and I was pausing to collect my 
 wits for a reply. No doubt that the suggestion 
 she threw out, coupled with the promise of her 
 aid to promote it, offered a strong temptation ; 
 but in the first place, to follow her advice would 
 have amounted, not only to an acknowledg- 
 ment of the very crime of which I was, as yet, 
 innocent, and most desirous to prove myself so, 
 but to its actual commission ; and in the second, 
 I could not feel secure of the banou's good faith
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 301 
 
 in tlie matter, and dreaded that her purpose might 
 be nothing less than to sacrifice us both, in order 
 to promote her views for her own daughter. I 
 remembered the fakeereh's cautions, which were 
 so much at variance with the banou'^s advice, and, 
 before opening my lips to reply, resolved to seek 
 that friend and solicit her counsel in the very 
 trying position in which I found myself placed. 
 
 " All this passed so rapidly through my brain, 
 that before the banou could repeat her impatient 
 question, I was ready to speak. 
 
 " ' May the banou*'s favour never be diminish- 
 ed ! What should her servant represent ? She 
 proffers to him the first wish of his heart ; yet 
 can he so proclaim himself a ghorumsaug, an un- 
 principled and ungrateful wretch to his Aga, and 
 his benefactor .f^ Never would Oghuz Aga for- 
 give such conduct ; and assuredly, go where I 
 might, his just vengeance would fall upon my 
 head.** 
 
 *' ^ Coward and wretch ! ' said the banou, with 
 angry scorn ; *' hast thou not mi/ word that thou 
 shall be forgiven ? that thou shalt be safe ? and 
 knowest thou not that my words are no vain 
 sounds ? But choose for thyself, take the path 
 which I point out and which leads to bliss and
 
 802 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 fortune ; or follow thine own, and find too late 
 whether it will land thee in disgrace and ruin ; 
 ay, and her too whom thou hast declared to be 
 the object of thy love ! " And her kindling eye, 
 and inflamed countenance, as she half rose from her 
 seat, proclaimed the wrath that filled her heart. 
 
 " For awhile I remained silent, yet composed ; 
 betraying not a symptom of the fear with which 
 she doubtless expected to inspire me, and which 
 it would be too much to say that I did not in 
 some degree experience. But a moment''s reflec- 
 tion served to convince me that what she desired 
 was, to have me in her power — to make me her 
 tool, and then to destroy us both, innocent or 
 guilty ; and the indignation which this conviction 
 excited, enabled me to resist her threats, as well 
 as her arguments. 
 
 «' ' Khanum," said I, at length ; ' God forbid, 
 that I should slight your favour or neglect your 
 counsel ; but this is a grave aflPair, and requires 
 consideration. Let your servant be pardoned if 
 he should require time for reflection. To-mor- 
 row, inshallah !' 
 
 "'To-morrow! — the day of the fool!' said 
 the banou, disguising the rage which she had at 
 first allowed to break forth, under the cloak of
 
 THE DARK FALCON. 303 
 
 a scornful laugh. ' To-morrow ! ay, if thy Aga 
 permits thee to see to-morrow''s dawn in life and 
 liberty ! — Yet be it as thou wilt. The hour 
 may not be far distant when thou wilt rue the 
 folly that slighted my proffered aid. Thou 
 may'st depart, — begone ! ' 
 
 " I bowed, and quitting her presence without a 
 moment's delay, left the camp by the quietest 
 path, avoiding all communication or rencounter ; 
 for I dreaded being arrested and confined, either 
 by the orders of Oghuz Aga, or the machina- 
 tions of the banou, and I earnestly wished to 
 seek my old protectress. Evening had now set 
 in, but the moon had risen ; the talisman was 
 safe upon my arm ; I felt its pressure, — and 
 with an eagerness of spirit that imparted a 
 greater rapidity than usual to my steps, I bound- 
 ed towards the solitary tree. 
 
 " It was not without some touch of awe that 
 I saw the ancient tomb, gleaming hoarily in the 
 moonlight, and by it the skeleton-like form of 
 the one scathed tree standing grimly alone ; for 
 I thought of the terrible things I had seen, and 
 the dangers I had run when this tree was first 
 pointed out to me by the very person whose aid 
 I now sought ; nor could I, without a momen-
 
 304: THE DARK. FALCON. 
 
 tary thrill, step forward to the hollow beneath 
 it, and place the stone I had taken from my 
 arm, in the spot that had been indicated to me. 
 I did so, uttering the culmeh, and I cannot 
 describe the feeling with which I was seized 
 wLec, on retiring a few paces and looking up, 
 I distinguished the dim lineaments of a human 
 figure, standing scarce three yards distant from 
 the tree itself. It was wonderful, — no spell for 
 compelling the apparition of a jin could have 
 produced a more instantaneous effect ; and I 
 stood for some moments stupefied by the con- 
 sequences of my own act. 
 
 " ' Doth the Dark Falcon deny his own sum- 
 mons.^ or have his eyes become dim, that he 
 cannot read its answer?' uttered the melodious 
 voice of the fakeereh. * What is it he requires ? "* 
 
 '"Allah-il-ullah !' said I at length, drawing 
 a long breath, for a weight seemed to be lifted 
 from my chest by the very sound of her voice. 
 ' May thy coming be propitious, mother ! for 
 sorely doth thy son require both thy counsel 
 and thine aid ;"* and without more ado I re- 
 counted shortly to her both the accusation which 
 tad been brought against me, and the predica- 
 ment in which I stood.
 
 THE DARK FALCON. S05 
 
 " * Thou hast judged aright my son,' said she. 
 ' In taking the most honourable, thou hast 
 chosen also the safest course, as by the mercy of 
 Allah thou shalt find. Did I not warn thee that 
 the banou was hard and ambitious, — that she re- 
 garded not the fate of others, so that her own 
 ends were served. She has sought to win thee 
 by a poisoned bait, — but praise be to Allah ! she 
 has failed of her purpose. Had she but suc- 
 ceeded in seducing thee to leave the obah as a 
 fugitive, not only thy character, but thy freedom 
 were forfeited, if not thy life itself; for, so far 
 from providing for thy return, her own best in- 
 terests would require thy utter ruin, and never, 
 be sure, would either of you have been spared 
 to cross her path again. But the wicked shall 
 be taken in their own snare, and their evil pur- 
 posings shall turn to their own loss. Return not 
 to the camp until to-morrow, — return then in the 
 face of day, and seek thy master's abode. Tell 
 him that though escape was in thy power, thou 
 hast disdained to fly. That trusting to his jus- 
 tice, thou hast returned, after the lapse of a night 
 has given time for reflection, to declare thine in- 
 nocence, and abide such test as he may deem to 
 be sufficient. The Aga is hot and wrathful, but 
 
 VOL. I. P
 
 306 THE DARK FALCON. 
 
 well-disposed and liberal when left to his own 
 nature. He will not shut his ear to thee, nor 
 canst thou fail of justifying thyself. But should 
 evil counsel prevail, fear nothing for thyself, nor 
 for her whose name is joined with thine, for a 
 blessed influence protects ye both, and truth will 
 triumph at last. And now depart from hence, 
 and may Allah direct thy path, — for me, I also 
 have my duties.' She turned and was gone, 
 leaving me rooted to the spot in mute reflection 
 on the singular prospect before me." 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 London : 
 
 Printed by S. & J. Bentley, Wilson, and Fley, 
 
 Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
 
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