RECAPTURE How long I slept I do not know; but in the midst of my sleep there sounded voices, which at first intermingled themselves with my dreams, but gradually became separate and sounded from without, rousing me from my slumbers.

I opened my eyes drowsily, but the sight that I saw was so amazing that in an instant all sleep left me.

I started to my feet, and gazed in utter bewilderment upon the scene before me.
The aurora light was shining with unusual brilliancy, and disclosed everything--the sea, the shore, the athaleb, the jantannin, the promontory, all--more plainly and more luminously than before; but it was not any of these things that now excited my attention and rendered me dumb.

I saw Almah standing there at a little distance, with despairing face, surrounded by a band of armed Kosekin; while immediately before me, regarding me with a keen glance and an air of triumph, was Layelah.
"Ataesmzori alonla," said she, with a sweet smile, giving me the usual salutation of the Kosekin.
I was too bewildered to say a word, and stood mute as before, looking first at her and then at Almah.
The sight of Almah a prisoner once more, surrounded by the Kosekin, excited me to madness.

I seized my rifle, and raised it as if to take aim; but Almah, who understood the movement, cried to me: "Put down your sepet-ram, Atam-or! you can do nothing for me.