"Was it familiar to you?"
"As my mother's voice," answered Komel, with feeling. "It is a song that one most dear to me has sung to me many a time, and when a few nights since I heard it, I would have declared that it was his voice again; but I knew him to be gone to a better land; the Sultan took his life, alas! on my own account."
The Armenian looked at Selim, as much as to say, now for the surprise, while the young officer seemed hesitating as to what he should do next, when a noise was heard at the entrance of the cabin, and in a moment after, he who had steered the boat, slipped within and threw off the outer garment that had muffled him. All eyes were turned upon him as he stood for a moment, when Komel exclaimed, trembling as she said so:
"Is this a miracle, or do my eyes deceive me? that is—is—"
"Aphiz Adegah," said the Armenian, while an honest tear wet his cheek.
"Komel!" murmured the young mountaineer, as he pressed her trembling form to his breast.
All there knew their story, and could appreciate their feelings, while not a word was spoken, to break the spell of so joyous a meeting, the joy of such unhoped for bliss.
"The Sultan then deceived me," said Komel, suddenly recovering her voice.
"He was himself deceived, and thinks me dead," replied Aphiz; "my escape was miraculous."
"O, let us away at once from here," said Komel, anxiously; "the Sultan's agent will surely trace us, and I should die to go back to his harem again. Cannot we go at once?"