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Updated: May 24, 2025
Aphiz was now in a region that he knew well the navigation of, and he declared that with the wind holding thus for a few hours, they would be off the port of Anapa as safely as a steamboat might carry them. This was indeed the case, and before many hours the well known hills and headlands of Circassia were visible to their longing eyes.
She was aware that the Sultan was impetuous and self-willed, but she could hardly bring her mind to believe that he would actually put in practice such a piece of villany as should cost Aphiz his life. Knowing as much as she did of his imperious and stern habits, she did not believe him capable of such cold-blooded baseness.
"Well, say no more of this, and remember the utmost secrecy is to be observed, for that tiger of an Aphiz will hunt us to death if he does but suspect that we had a hand in the business."
His uniform kindness to her for so long a period had led her to regard him with no slight attachment, but she knew that Aphiz was at that very moment under close confinement within the palace walls for his faithfulness in following and seeking her, and as she was wholly his before, this but endeared him more earnestly to her.
"Krometz, your guilt speaks out in every line of your face," said the excited Aphiz. "Meet me at sunset behind the signal rock on the cliff, and we will settle this affair together." "I will neither meet thee, nor account to thee for aught I may have done." "Then, as true as to-morrow's sun shall rise, with this good rifle I will shoot you to the heart.
"This answer," said the young mountaineer, "is but another evidence against thee." "Do you pretend to call me to an account, Aphiz? You are but a boy, while I have already reached the full age of manhood. Think not, because you were more successful with that girl, than I, that you can lord it over me. I shall answer no further charges from you."
And when, at last, with full consent from her parents, Aphiz led Komel a blushing bride to the altar, and Selim and Zillah supported them on either side, how happy were they all! Years pass on in the hills of Circassia as in all the rest of the world beside.
This was afterwards made known to Aphiz, and with this clue, though he could scarcely believe that there was the possibility of fact or correctness in the surmise, he sought his pretended friend. He charged him with the evidence and its inference, and bade him speak and say if this was true. "It matters not, friend Aphiz, since she is gone, how she came to go."
"Alas! gone, gone," sighed both. "Gone!" "Ay, gone forever." "What mean you? whither has she gone? what has happened to render you so miserable?" "Alas, Aphiz; Komel has gone to be the star of some proud Turkish harem," said the father. "And with your consent?" "No! O, no!" "Nor by her own free will, that I know," he continued, quickly.
Had the monarch rightly interpreted the expression of her face at this moment, he would have understood how deeply rooted was her resolve, at least, so far as he was concerned, and that she bitterly despised the murderer of Aphiz, and in this spirit only could she look upon the proud master of the Turkish nation.
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