You are likewise too impatient I told you never to be flurried when you approached the place of execution; and yet the moment we arrive at it, your eyes are gleaming like two red suns when the wind is coming from the east, and your fingers are playing with your own neck as if it was that of your mortal enemy."

"Excuse me father," said Yussuf; "I confess I was somewhat absent—I was thinking of Mourad. Trust to my discretion; I will endeavour to behave as becomes the son-in-law of the chief executioner."

By this time they had reached "the place of blood," where a numerous crowd of the true believers, of both sexes, were assembled to enjoy the spectacle of two unbelievers being put to death.

The guilt, moreover, of the culprits was of that appalling nature, that put all sympathy aside, and rendered the exultation of the fair spectators especially, more loud than usual.

The crime of the rayahs was blasphemy; they had been heard, in a fit of drunkenness, talking irreverently of the sacred Sanjak; reviling both the prophet and the remnant of the

unmentionables, which forms the banner of the

faithful.

The two culprits had in vain protested their innocence before the Cadi; a single voice, and that of a disreputable man, but a Moslem, prevailed against their lives. Yussuf took his station; the culprits were not yet on the spot, but they were seen at no great distance, two of the executioner's servants to each, running the pale wretch along at a quick pace, and then dragging him by the girdle, as he shrunk at his approach to the place of terror. Each had his head uncovered, and his neck bared; and as Yussuf, regardless of the injunctions of his father-in-law, brandished the naked scymitar before the eyes of the appalled victims, each palpitating wretch stammered out the futile word, “Imaun, Imaun !" It is said, the drowning grasp at straws; it may be so we have heard dying wretches ask "mercy" of a Moslem.

There was a deep glow on the cheek of the young executioner, as he bared his right arm; his heart beat high; he had already entwined his fingers in the tufted hair of one of his victims, his soul was almost satisfied, when sud

denly the trembling wretch cried in a loud voice, "Allah illah! allah, akbar Mahomet rasur allah!—There is no God but one God, and Mahomet is his prophet!--I desire to embrace the true religion!" The other infidel repeated the same words.

The sword of Yussuf was uplifted when he heard these dreadful words; the fury of a demon raged in his regard, at the probability of being robbed of his victim. "Down on your knees, dog of an unbeliever," he exclaimed; "down, cursed infidel, when I tell you ;" and with these words, pushing the resisting criminal on his knees, he was in the act of striking the fatal blow, when there was a general buzz amongst the rabble, and then a loud cry of

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Stop! stop!--they have made the profession of faith! they have become true believers! away with them to the governor, to know his pleasure!"

Yussuf was hustled about in the most unceremonious way possible; the rabble rushed in on all sides, tore the rayah, already half dead with terror, from the gripe of the enraged headsman, and dragged both him and his com

panion before the governor; where, after a conference with the Cadi, the recantation of both culprits was received, and both were pardoned.

We will leave the gentle reader to imagine the disappointment of Yussuf, his fury at the reprieve, and his vexation at the reprimand of the chief executioner, for his intemperate conduct.

He returned home with more rapid strides than became the dignity of a Mussulman; not so much for any consolation his domestic felicity could afford, as to vent his spleen on the devoted heads of his household!

CHAPTER II.

What causes the variance which I find between me and my cousin Malec, who retires at my approach, flees to a distance?

TARAFA.

and

Yussuf had been a pattern of amiability to all good husbands during the honeymoon, and even for some weeks subsequent to that happy period. Zarafat had likewise been a beautiful example of gentleness and dutiful behaviour to all newmarried ladies for as long a time. But honeymoons in all countries are of short duration, but more especially in Turkey, where four may occur in the fourth part of a lunar month, in the same establishment. Nothing could be more complete than the domestic felicity of Yussuf and his spouse for the delightful period