for her favourite a long narrative of dark labyrinths, and coftly rooms, and of the different impreffions which the varieties of the way had made upon her. But, when they came to their train, they found every one filent and dejected: the men difcovered fhame and fear in their coun-tenances, and the women were weeping in the tents. What had happened they did not try to conjecture, but immediately enquired. "You had scarcely entered into the pyramid, faid one of the attendants, when a troop of Arabs rushed upon us : we were too few to refift them, and too flow to escape. They were about to fearch the tents, fet us on our camels, and drive us along before them, when the approach of fome Turkish horfemen put them to flight; 7 49 flight; but they feized the lady Pekuah with her two maids, and carried them away: the Turks are now perfuing them by our inftigation, but I fear they will not be able to overtake them." The princefs was overpowered with furprise and grief. Raffelas, in the first heat of his refentment, ordered his fervants to follow him, and prepared to perfue the robbers with his fabre in his hand. "Sir, faid Imlac, what can you hope from violence or valour? the Arabs are mounted on horfes trained to battle and retreat; we have only beasts of burden. By leaving our prefent ftation we lofe the princefs, but cannot hope may to regain Pekuah." VOL. II. E In In a fhort time the Turks returned, having not been able to reach the enemy. The princefs burft out into new Jamentations, and Raffelas could scarcely forbear to reproach them with cowardice; but Imlac was of opinion, that the escape of the Arabs was no addition to their misfortune, for, perhaps, they would have killed their captives rather than have refigned them. CHAP. XXXIII. They return to Cairo without Pekuah. HERE was nothing to be hoped TH from longer stay. They returned to Cairo repenting of their curiofity, cenfuring the negligence of the govern-, ment, lamenting their own rafhnefs which had neglected to procure a guard, imagining many expedients by which the lofs of Pekuah might have been prevented, and refolving to do fomething for her recovery, though none could find any thing proper to be done. Nekayah retired to her chamber, where her women attempted to comfort her, by telling her that all had their troubles, and that lady Pekuah had enjoyed much happiness in the world for a long time, and might reasonably expect a change of fortune. They hoped that fome good would befal her wherefoever fhe was, and that their mistress would find another friend who might fupply her place. E 2 The The princess made them no answer, and they continued the form of condolence, not much grieved in their hearts that the favourite was loft. Next day the prince prefented to the Baffa a memorial of the wrong which he had fuffered, and a petition for redrefs. The Baffa threatened to punish the robbers, but did not attempt to catch them, nor, indeed, could any account or description be given by which he might direct the perfuit. It foon appeared that nothing would be done by authority. pre |