him to his regular pace. Passing before Miss Blandemere, the Kurd saluted her. She could not remain insensible to that mute admiration. Oftentimes she had been told that she was beautiful, and she esteemed as flatteries what she heard of herself in the salons of Europe; but the language which the eyes of this man spoke, demi-barbarian as he was, could not but be sincere, and in no respect resembled a vulgar compliment. She returned the salutation. He looked at her once more, then galloping off with his troop he was soon lost to view.

During the three following days the caravan continued its route. The mountains became more and more bare, and the nights more cold. Even at midday the sun seemed to have lost his heat. Autumn advanced. One morning the grass was covered with a white frost. The winds, coming from the eternal snows on the summits of Tauris, blew upon the plain, despoiling the trees of their last leaves, while the crows wheeled in the whirling blasts of heaven.

The travellers could only lie in their tents. The evening of the fourth day it was necessary to seek an asylum in the house of a poor village. The only abode of any size was that of an Armenian Priest of the place. They were sent thither by the Mouktar. Whilst the strangers warmed themselves before the small fire, the master of the house, a poor creature, clad in a covering of blue cloth, silently smoked his cigarette in a corner. He had spent his life in cultivating the plain, as did his parishioners. He was almost as stupid as they, and, without the round bonnet, entwisted with a black rag, which covered his head, one would have taken him for a peasant. He complained of his misery to Tikraine, in whom he soon recognized a compatriot. He pretended that the Turks, the Armenian Bishops, and the Kurds were alike in their way of despoiling the village. "The Kurds," said he, "are not our worst enemies. Those around belong to the tribe of Abdurrahmanli. Their chief, Selim Agha, attacks only rich travellers like you."

The conclusion of this discourse was not reassuring. Tikraine interrogated the Priest, and learned that the Agha of Abdurrahmanli often despoiled caravans to avenge his people of the Governor of Van, who troubled them a long time. Otherwise he is not a bad man, added the priest, but if the government is not strong enough to conquer him it should not quarrel with him, Selim

Agha is brave and resolute. The Chief of Mekkio, at the frontier of Persia, had taken from him, last spring, a troup, with the shepherd, under the pretext that the sheep had fattened on the pasturages of the Khadarli which appertained to the Persian Kurds. The Agha said nothing at first, but about five days ago he departed dressed as a Turk, with a troop of four or five men only, fell suddenly on the people of Mekkio, broke many of their heads, and delivered his shepherd. He passed yesterday in this village

returning with him.

Tikraine discovered soon that the Chief of the Abdurrahmanli was, without doubt, the adroit marksman whom they had encountered four days ago. He imparted his observations to Stewart. Bah! said the Lieutenant, if they attack us we will defend ourselves. These Kurds are good marksmen, but they take a good half hour between each shot.

As to Miss Blandemere, the prospect which alarmed so much the Armenian did not affright her. The remembrance of the Kurdish cavalier was oftentimes present with her, and she was by no means averse to seeing him again. Besides he was not a vulgar brigand, and she had reason to think he would not do much harm to the caravan in which she travelled. She passed the night tranquilly, while her cousin was more unquiet than he wished to confess, not on his own account, but that of the women he had under his protection. Next day, before departing, he demanded of the Mouktar an escort of soldiers. He knew what value to place on the valour of these official protectors, but the size of the caravan would be too great for the Kurdish tribe to dare to bar the way.

For two days nothing occurred to justify the fears of TikraineEffendi. The travellers encountered frequently long files of mules carrying merchandize in charge of their drivers, who seemed to travel in security. To the right and left were numerous groups of villages, inhabited by a miserable population, one half Armenian, the other Turkish. The poverty seemed inexplicable in the midst of a country of fertile pasturage and rich wheat lands. Tikraine felt keenly the contrast. It was the first time he had travelled through Armenia, his paternal country. Born and brought up at Constantinople, he had come by the Caucasus to Tauris, where he made part of the International Commission, in which General Blandemere represented England. My unhappy country, said he, has been the battleground of the East since the commencement of

history. It serves to-day as a camp for five or six races,- enemies to each other, and, to crown the misfortune, our compatriots live but to quarrel among themselves. At the same time you see that, all miserable as we are, we live, while the others pass away. knows but a better future is for us.

Who

His interloquitur heard with a distracted ear. He had prëoccupations of another kind. In quitting Tauris he calculated on the chances of the voyage- on their common life as giving him an opportunity of explaining himself to Miss Blandemere on a subject which he had not yet been able to touch. Meantime, the days were passing. Each hour added to the power of the charm which subdued him, and less than ever dared he speak. In the reception which Lucy gave him there was nothing cold or severe, but she did not appear to suspect the nature of the affection which she inspired. She had a sweet, kindly, communicative manner. Entering into the many incidents of the journey, which evidently pleased her, she loved also to see her friends partake of the pleasure which she experienced. Yet she remained mistress of herself despite the delirium of the vagabond existence which she led, and she did not appear to care for sweets of any other kind. The lieutenant was very unhappy. Full of energy and activity when striving against the difficulties of life, he dreaded uncertainties of another order. He had a settled confidence in the superiority of the institutions and the excellence of the national habits of his country; he dreamed of happiness in the object of his choice, and in the peace of the domestic hearth. A wife, “distinguished and well born as his cousin," a house filled with beautiful children, the regular advancement which his profession promised, he desired nothing more, and never thought that Miss Blandemere would be opposed to a lot so enviable.

Mrs. Morton felt little of the mental agitation of Stewart. The brave woman had in her youth travelled over the fourth of the globe in the company of her husband, charged with the commissariat of the army, and had seen many things without being much affected by them. Her husband one day, having adventured far from his books with the Colonel who pursued the Maoris, had been killed, and they say, eaten by savages. Mrs. Morton had returned to England, attached herself to Lucy, then a little girl, and had never quitted her. The thought of going to Persia did not affright her. The return voyage found her as placid as possi

ble. Seated on a mule, she contemplated with her eyes the country which the caravan traversed; sent forth at times a strong, admiring exclamation, ate with a good appetite, and slept soundly at each station. The Turks, who passed, stopped a moment before the great red lady with the calm eyes, habited always in light clothing, and regarded her with consideration. During the intervals of the journey she wrought at a marvellous piece of tapestry commenced at Tauris, and, inspired by the remembrance of the Persian stuffs, covered with birds and brilliant flowers.

II.

WHEN they approached Khinis they found the ground covered with snow. The winter had already burst over those high plateaux which, for six months, experience the cold of Siberia. It was necessary to hasten lest they should encounter a bad time in the mountains between Erzeroom and Trebizonde. The daily march was lengthened. They set out in the morning before the dawn, rested an hour at midday, and then marched till nightfall. The cold became very keen. A white carpet covered the plains, the mountains, and the frozen waters. Long stalactites were suspended from the cascades like to the crystal hair of a Naiad surprised by the winter. The vertical rocks, black in the midst of that immense whiteness, presented the appearance of funeral monuments. The crows perched on their summit, flapped their wings, and pursued with their hoarse cries those who feared not to trouble with their presence the silent mysteries of an Armenian winter.

The travellers, contracting the contagion of the sadness of surrounding nature, conversation became rare, and in the caravan one scarcely heard anything save the noise of the sword scabbard striking at equal times against the stirrup. Miss Blandemere alone preserved her serene and haughty gayety. She was charming under her Astrakan bonnet, with her hair falling in long curls upon the black fur of her pelisse. She rallied Tikraine-Effendi about the discreet enthusiasm with which his country inspired him. You are no patriot said she to him. Why don't all you other Armenians come and establish yourselves in the subterranean huts of these villages in the middle of your national snows. One should have courage with his opinions.

About three in the afternoon the snow fell more thickly. They were traversing gorges, absolute desert, the stopping place yet

far off. The horses advanced with difficulty. The travellers felt the cold under their thick furs. At four o'clock the west wind rose. It swirled between the rocky walls which bounded the way, raising the snow and blowing it into impalpable particles. Like frozen needle points they beat into the nose, eyes, ears, and stopped breathing, sight and hearing. The Lieutenant marched a little in advance of the two women. Tikraine, advancing, said to him in a low voice: "I think that we are in danger. This is the commencement of a snow tempest. I have never seen one, but I have heard of them, and it is said to be terrible."

"What is the nature of the danger?"

"At first the animals refuse to advance, and the men blinded by the whirling snow cannot see two steps before them. All trace of the way having disappeared they are forced to remain where they are and wait by the grace of God the conclusion of the tempest."

"How long does it ordinarily last?"

"That varies. Sometimes two hours, sometimes two days," said the Armenian, becoming suddenly grave and affrighted with his own words. "They say that the simoom of Arabia is nothing in comparison."

At the same time the Lieutenant saw that the chief of the muleteers had stopped to confer with his men. Stewart, who had learned the Persian at Taurus, as well as his cousin, demanded what he did. "Why," said the muleteer, "Do you not see the tipi?" at the same time shaking off the snow which covered his beard and thick eye-lashes.

"What must we do?"

"We have no choice.

Neither men nor brutes can make ten steps now, and in half an hour not that. If the storm continues we are in great danger.

Stewart went to tell the women that it was necessary to stop a little. Mrs. Morton, who had no consciousness of danger, descended from her mule with all the grace in the world, but Lucy had read some descriptions of these terrible storms. She comprehended the truth and turned pale. Stewart was sadly affected. To the sentiment of love was added that of responsibility.

The travellers in a caravan are as the company in a ship, and experience has traced the line of conduct which each should follow in these mountain tempests, as it determines the duty of

M