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Our readers have doubtless already divined
that the stranger with whom the Princess Azna-Alwaz
had fallen so evidently in love, at the
close of the last chapter, was no other than the
Prince Selim, who had landed upon the island
of Divonduron, in order to procure water supplies
for the good ship “Green Bird.” Doubtless,
it would have been very flattering to the
young man to have been aware that he had inspired
so warm a feeling in the breast of such a
lovely maiden as was Azna-Alwaz, and that,
too, after she had been admired and sought by
so many powerful and handsome princes; but
he remained totally unconscious of the fact, and
returned to the ship, with the mariners, without
experiencing any of the strange emotions which
at that time were agitating the princess of Divosduron.
He found Ali Naro awaiting him very
impatiently.

“We must take advantage of this favorable
breeze,” said the old corsair. “Nothing need
now delay our proceeding to Guzan, where I
trust we shall arrive in a very few days.”

“Yonder isle of Divonduron is a lovely spot,
if one might judge by a portion of it,” said Selim.
“I stood on a lofty terrace near where we
drew the water, and beheld a prospect that reminded
me much of your own fair `Isle of
Eagles.' ”

“Divonduron is noted as a country of great
riches and beauty,” returned Ali-Naro; “I have
myself looked from the terrace where you stood,
and remember well how fine a landscape lay beneath.
True, prince, Divonduron from that spot,
may resemble the `Isle of Eagles.' ”

Ali-Naro, saying this, turned abruptly away,
for the mention of the isle which he had designed
as a princely residence for his son, brought too
vividly before him poor Ali's fate. Selim observed
the old chief's uneasiness, and regretted
that he had recalled the painful theme. But he
knew that words of consolation would be useless,
and so, walking to the stern of the ship, he leaned
upon the high bulwark, and watched the receding
shores of Divonduron till the shadows
of evening gathered darkly in, and the face of
the ocean became undistinguishable in the
gloom.

After a pleasant and rapid run of several days,
the “Green Bird” reached that portion of the
sea in which the island of Guzan was situated,
and soon after Selim beheld with delight the
towers of his native city visible afar, for the capital
of his kingdom lay some leagues inland,
while the harbor and port was the residence of a
large population of merchants and oceantraders.

The “Green Bird” and her two smaller

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companions speedily cast anchor in the roadstead,
and Ali-Naro, summoning the choicest of his
followers, directed them to make all needful preparations
for escorting Prince Selim to the capital.
In a short time, the people of the port,
who had collected in crowds upon the great pier,
to view the armed vessels which had suddenly
appeared, beheld a half-dozen boats advancing
toward the shore filled with fierce-looking men,
apparently armed to the teeth.

Ali-Naro had, however, before disembarking,
taken the precaution to place a white flag at the
prow of the foremost boat, in which he sat, beside
Prince Selim; or very likely a panic might
have been occasioned among the inhabitants
whose peaceful harbor had been thus unceremoniously
entered by vessels-of-war. As it
was, the corsair beheld, on drawing near the
landing-place, that quite a large body of soldiers
were drawn up in martial array, to receive the
visitors in such manner as their behaviour might
warrant. Thus matters stood when the prince
of Guzan, at the head of the crews, and accompanied
by Ali-Naro, stepped on the wide pier.

The young man's noble features and stately
form were immediately recognized by the people,
and a shout of welcome rose at once, clearly
demonstrating that Selim was quite as popular
as ever. The military, clashing their arms, joined
in the acclamation, and for several minutes
nothing could be heard but the name of “Selim”
uttered by hundreds, and mingled with all sorts
of joyful cries.

At length, when the tumult had partially subsided,
and Selim obtained a little respite from
the gratulations of those who pressed eagerly
forward to salute him, a deputation of the eldest
merchants of the port advanced slowly toward
the prince, and formally expressed their joy at
beholding him return in safety, after having
given up all hopes of ever seeing him again.

“Then my brothers—Osmyn and Nadab—
they have returned?” cried Selim, eagerly.

“Many weeks since, and it was the sad intelligence
brought by them, of your disappearance
at the fatal island of the Upas tree, which so
affected the good king your sire, that—”

The venerable merchant, who was the leader
of the citizens, here paused, as if loth to proceed.
Prince Selim at once comprehended that a great
misfortune had befallen him.

“My father!—the king!—speak!” he cried,
anxiously, clasping his hands together.

“Alas! he is with Allah! The news of your
loss, brought by the princes your brothers,
affected our beloved monarch so deeply, that he
never recovered the shock. He died three days
ago.”

“O, Allah! Allah! sustain me with thy
strength!” said the pious prince, as sinking upon
the ground, he covered his face with his robe,
hiding the tears that gushed fast from his eyes.
Ali-Naro and the rough corsair-crew, as well as
the merchants and populace of the place, felt
their hearts stirred with pity for the noble prince,
so stricken with grief. Many sobs and moans
were now heard in place of the joyful exclamations
that had so lately greeted the returned
prince, and not a few of the spectators knelt
upon the ground like Selim, and mingled their
prayers with his.

“It would be well if the princes his brothers
felt their father's loss so deeply as does our
good Selim!” whispered one of the old merchants
to another beside him. “It is said they
have not even wept over his bier.”

“I fear me those princes will yet cause trouble
in Guzan!” answered the other. “For my part,
were I to choose, Selim should be our next
king, and his brothers have no part at all in the
government.”

“So say I,” said the first merchant. “But
that is for the council of the mosque to decide,
and it is said the late king signified how the
choice of his successor should be made.”

“Ay, I have heard,” replied the second old
man. “But, see! Prince Selim rises! He will
speak to us, I think!”

The crowd drew back respectfully as the
prince, rising to his feet, looked around with a
sad but calm countenance.

“Friends,” he said, “it is not for us to
murmur at the dispensations of Allah! He is
wise, and orders all things for our good. Great
joy would it have been to me, could I have seen
my dear father cre he died, and received his
parting blessing; but such was not to be. Now,
my fellow-countrymen, let me perform another
duty—to present to you my friend and preserver,
Ali-Naro—here beside me—to whom I am indebted
for my rescue from a dreadful fate. He
is my friend, and will henceforth be the friend of
my countrymen.”

At the mention of the name of Ali-Naro, which
had a terrible sound to the merchants—many of
whom had in past days suffered from the

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corsair's depredations, a general murmur pervaded
all present. But when they looked upon the
noble face of their young prince, and the grave
features of him whom he called Ali-Naro, and
when, with mercantile shrewdness, they quickly
perceived how valuable would be the amity of
so renowned a pirate, whose future friendship
was here guarantied, and when, at the same time,
they learned that to the corsair the prince of
Guzan owed his life, it is not to be marvelled at
that a loud shout should at once arise, and the
names of Selim and All-Naro be vociferated with
the greatest energy. The old corsair smiled
grimly, and lifted his cap of crimson silk in acknowledgment
of the welcome, and then, marshalling
his men in good order, prepared to ac
company Prince Selim from the seaport to the
capital, a distance of about a league.

A couple of fine horses were soon provided for
the two leaders, and hundreds of the merchants,
mounted likewise, followed by a great concourse
of the people, with banners and instruments of
music. Thus Prince Selim was escorted, in
somewhat of the guise of a conqueror, to the
seat of his late father's kingdom. The corsairs,
to the number of three hundred men, formed his
body guard, and doubtless many thousands more
could be found in the country, who, at his word,
would defend his right and title to the throne
above the claims of his brothers; though none
knew, as yet, of the treacherous conduct of the
latter toward the innocent Selim.