The light was now sufficient for it to be perceived that they consisted of a large and well-armed body of Turkish cavalry.
They were led, as before, by the captain of the guard, and the truculent vizier Abdullah.
If was through the latter's acuteness that the vaults beneath the castle had been discovered, and conjecturing that the fugitives had escaped thus, he had traced them into the desert.
He, therefore, organized an expedition to set out and surprise them in the camp.
Abdullah's plans were deeply laid.
He wished to capture the Greek girl, that he might curry favour with the Pasha Ibrahim by presenting her to him.
He was resolved to secure and punish Harkaway and the other Christians, to turn away every public suspicion from himself and Ibrahim, as to the late pasha's assassination.
After that, it is exceedingly probable that the unscrupulous interpreter meant in some way to destroy Ibrahim, and set up as pasha himself.
These subtle treacheries are common under the corruptions of Oriental rule.
The vizier intended to take the Arabs by surprise, and he would have succeeded in this, had it not been for Thyra.