384 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES. select party, and a few hours after leaving Acre, was un-expectedly joined by the tall knight, and a reinforcement of converted Pullani. From him he learned that the Arabs had taken the direction of Mt. Lebanon, and from his knowledge of the Assassijj band, his heart sunk within him, at the thought of what might have been the fate of his lovely Eva. In his anxiety for her rescue, all her faults were forgotten, and he only remembered the gentle kind-ness that characterized every action, and the nameless charm, that made her friends as numerous as her acquaint-ances. . Prompted by these considerations, they spurred forward, stopping only to refresh their wearied steeds, till they began to wind among the rocky passes of JVIt. Leba-non. The tall knight seemed perfectly familiar with the local-ity, and guided the pursuers directly to the tower, called The Yulture's Nest, which was the chief residence of the Old Man of the Mountain. There seemed to be an intelli-gence between the tall knight and all the marabouts who guarded the' entrance to this " Castle Dangerous." Leav-ing their followers, the two leaders advanced, and the knight presenting a piece of shrivelled parchment to an Arab, who filled the office of porter, they were ushered into a long hall, at the door of which stood a swarthy Turk, partly leaning upon an immense battle-axé, the handle of which was stuck full of daggers. The Sheik received them with an obsequiousness scarcely to be expected from one of his bloody trade, and in answer to the knight's eager inquiries, motioned his attendant, and instantly that which had appeared a solid masonry, rolled silently back, as if by magic, revealing an apartment fitted up with every ap-pliance of eastern magnificence. Before they recovered from their surprise, voices were heard from the farther extremity of the room, soft female pleading, and then the loud menacing tones of passion. " Eva, thou shalt be mine ! I swear it by all the fiends of hell. Nay, anger me not by thy cold repulse. Thou art now beyond the protection of the smooth-tongued de