Alroy | Page 9

words wander, or seem to wander; I could swoon, but will not;
nay! do not fear. I will reach home. These maidens are my charge. 'Tis
in these crises we should show the worth of royal blood. I'll see them
safe, or die with them.'
'O! my sister, methinks I never knew I was a brother until this hour. My
precious Miriam, what is life? what is revenge, or even fame and
freedom without thee? I'll stay.'
'SWEET IS THE VOICE OF A SISTER IN THE SEASON OF SORROW,
AND WISE IS THE COUNSEL OF THOSE WHO LOVE US.'
'Fly, David, fly!'
'Fly! whither and how?'
The neigh of a horse sounded from the thicket.
'Ah! they come!' exclaimed the distracted Miriam.
'ALL THIS HAS COME UPON US, O LORD! YET HAVE WE NOT
FORGOTTEN THEE, NEITHER HAVE WE DEALT FALSELY IN THY
COVENANT.'
'Hark! again it neighs! It is a horse that calleth to its rider. I see it.
Courage, Miriam! it is no enemy, but a very present friend in time of
trouble. It is Alschiroch's courser. He passed me on it by the tomb ere
sunset. I marked it well, a very princely steed.'
'BEHOLD, BEHOLD, A RAM IS CAUGHT IN THE THICKET BY HIS
HORNS.'
'Our God hath not forgotten us! Quick, maidens, bring forth the goodly
steed. What! do you tremble? I'll be his groom.'
'Nay! Miriam, beware, beware. It is an untamed beast, wild as the

whirlwind. Let me deal with him.'
He ran after her, dashed into the thicket, and brought forth the horse.
Short time I ween that stately steed had parted from his desert home;
his haughty crest, his eye of fire, the glory of his snorting nostril,
betoken well his conscious pride, and pure nobility of race. His colour
was like the sable night shining with a thousand stars, and he pawed the
ground with his delicate hoof, like an eagle flapping its wing.
Alroy vaulted on his back, and reined him with a master's hand.
'Hah!' he exclaimed, 'I feel more like a hero than a fugitive. Farewell,
my sister; farewell, ye gentle maidens; fare ye well, and cherish my
precious Miriam. One embrace, sweet sister,' and he bent down and
whispered, 'Tell the good Bostenay not to spare his gold, for I have a
deep persuasion that, ere a year shall roll its heavy course, I shall return
and make our masters here pay for this hurried ride and bitter parting.
Now for the desert!'
CHAPTER II.
The Slaying of an Ishmaelite
SPEED, fleetly speed, thou courser bold, and track the desert's trackless
way. Beneath thee is the boundless earth, above thee is the boundless
heaven, an iron soil and brazen sky. Speed, swiftly speed, thou courser
bold, and track the desert's trackless way. Ah! dost thou deem these
salty plains[6] lead to thy Yemen's happy groves, and dost thou scent
on the hot breeze the spicy breath of Araby? A sweet delusion, noble
steed, for this briny wilderness leads not to the happy groves of Yemen,
and the breath thou scentest on the coming breeze is not the spicy
breath of Araby.
The day has died, the stars have risen, with all the splendour of a desert
sky, and now the Night descending brings solace on her dewy wings to
the fainting form and pallid cheek of the youthful Hebrew Prince.

Still the courser onward rushes, still his mighty heart supports him.
Season and space, the glowing soil, the burning ray, yield to the
tempest of his frame, the thunder of his nerves, and lightning of his
veins.
Food or water they have none. No genial fount, no graceful tree, rise
with their pleasant company. Never a beast or bird is there, in that
hoary desert bare. Nothing breaks the almighty stillness. Even the
jackal's felon cry might seem a soothing melody. A grey wild rat, with
snowy whiskers, out of a withered bramble stealing, with a youthful
snake in its ivory teeth, in the moonlight grins with glee. This is their
sole society.
Morn comes, the fresh and fragrant morn, for which even the guilty
sigh. Morn comes, and all is visible. And light falls like a signet on the
earth, and its face is turned like wax beneath a seal. Before them and
also on their right was the sandy desert; but in the night they had
approached much nearer to the mountainous chain, which bounded the
desert on the left, and whither Alroy had at first guided the steed.
The mountains were a chain of the mighty Elburz; and, as the sun rose
from behind a lofty peak, the horse suddenly stopped and neighed, as if
asking for water. But Alroy, himself exhausted, could only soothe him
with caresses. And the horse, full of courage, understood