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TIMOTHEUS AND PHILEMON.

CHAP. X.-NEW DANGERS. (Continued from p. 250.) OW the huntsman's horn was again heard, and this time it came nearer and nearer. It was really only a chase. The Pacha was hunting in that part of the country. He had not slept all night, so great was his fury against the Christian Teacher and the father of the boys, and his sorrow concerning his wife; so he had risen long before dawn, and had determined to drive away his bitter thoughts in the chase.

He knew nothing about Lucius having escaped. The sentinel had, indeed, found that the prisoner was no longer in the no longer in the prison; but he had not felt himself bound to announce that fact. He locked the iron door, put the key in his pocket, and walked up and down, with his musket on his arm, as if nothing had happened.

'If they ask me,' he thought to himself, 'what has become of the prisoner, I shall say, I don't know.'

Meanwhile the huntsmen approached nearer and nearer to the cave. Suddenly the dogs raised a loud barking. Two large hounds entered the cave, and jumped joyfully, barking and wagging their tails, round the two boys. They were the Pacha's dogs. They had come upon the traces of the two boys, and were showing their great delight at finding their two little friends.

Ah, you good, faithful animals!' said Timotheus, you little know what a bad service you are rendering us!'

Philemon looked through the entrance of the cave, and said, in terror, It is the Pacha himself; he has got down from his

horse, and, with his bow bent, is coming straight up to the cave. Alas! what will happen to us now?'

Both boys trembled with terror.

The father said, 'Don't be afraid, my dear children; nothing but what God permits can happen to us. The will of the Lord be done!"

He ordered them to retreat further back into the cave, and placed himself before them, in order to protect them and offer his heart first to the deadly arrow.

The Pacha came to the entrance of the cave, expecting to find there some sort of game. He saw that something was moving in the dark cave, and was just about to discharge an arrow, when he saw that it was no animal but a human being. He let his bow drop down, and called out angrily, Whoever you may be, come out at once !'

Lucius stood forth, and remained quietly standing before him, without showing a sign of fear or terror.

'It is you, is it? You!' cried the Pacha, in a fury, my prisoner! You have managed then to escape from me! But it shall not be of any avail to you. Before two days are over your head shall be cut off. Come in,' he cried to his people, seize him and bind him. And you'-he ordered his two mounted huntsmen-'take him between your two horses, lead him back, put him in chains, cast him into the darkest and deepest dungeon, in the most terrible of my prisons."

When the two boys saw how they were binding their beloved father, both came out of the cave, and implored him to have mercy and pity.

"What!' cried the Pacha, and you are there, too! What a wretch must the man be who could entice away the two young slaves, for which a Pacha's wife paid such a costly price!'

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Angry as he was, he could not look on the two sweet boys, with their eyes full of tears, and their hands raised up so imploringly, without some pity.

These children,' he said at last, I cannot be angry with, because they followed their father. They don't deserve to be punished for this, for they did what was right; for a man, however bad he may be, is still a father. However, let each of you two huntsmen take a boy with him on his horse, and bring him back to my palace.'

The Pacha, in a very ill-temper, rode on and continued the chase. But the two boys were taken back to the palace, and their noble father was thrown into a fearful dungeon.

CHAP. XI.-TEMPTATION TO DENY CHRIST.

THE Pacha, whose name was Abdallah, found no longer his usual pleasure in the chase. He let the deer run by close to him, and scarcely noticed them.

It was a terrible thought to him that Elmine his wife should now belong to the Christians, to which accursed race he had sworn a life-long hatred. Nevertheless, love to this noble lady, angry as he was against her, was by no means dead within him. Love and hatred strove together in his heart; his mind was like the troubled sea when it is tossed about by contrary winds. whole day he rode about through the forests; to his followers he seemed as if he had lost his senses. Not till night came on did he take the road towards the city. He forbade his huntsmen to blow their horns. In silence he entered the town. To the sad day followed a restless night.

The

As soon as it was morning, Abdallah sent for three Turkish priests, who are called Imams, and said to them: I consider you the most learned, zealous, and eloquent of all Imams, therefore have I

chosen you to perform an important business for me. Go to my wife and persuade her to give up her new faith, and to return again to our religion. If you succeed, I will give each of you a heavy purse full of money.'

They promised to do their best, and did not doubt that the result would be successful. But after an interview of more than two hours they returned to the Pacha, shrugged their shoulders, and said, with sorrowing faces, Alas! we can do nothing. A strange madness has taken possession of the lady. We do not know what kind of a spirit it is which speaks for her. We cannot-we freely confess it-we cannot resist it."

The Pacha inquired several times in the day, first of one and then of another of the women who waited on his wife. What is she doing?' he said to one of these. 'What does she say to it-to my intention to cut off her head? incensed against me?

Is she very much Does she hate me?' 'Oh, no,' said the waiting-maid; 'quite the contrary. She is still always full of love towards you.'

'Has she not changed her mind yet?' he asked of another.

'She does nothing but pray for you,' was the reply, that you may change your mind.'

'She wishes, then,' he cried joyfully, 'that I should not have her executed?'

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'Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.'-1 Thess. iv. 14.

HOME from the war, young soldier!

Home after battle past;

They have fought the fight-the brave good fight,

And they are home at last.

Ah! did you think to find them

Still on the field of strife?
Still wrestling on with sin and care,
And this world's toil of life?

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