Dashing down the great street, they at length
entered the old amphitheatre. They dismounted. Alroy made a couch with
their united cloaks for Schirene. Some collected fuel, great store
of which was found, and kindled large fires. Others, while it was yet
light, chased the gazelles, and were sufficiently fortunate to provide
their banquet, or fetched water from the well known to their leader.
In an hour's time, clustering round their fires in groups, and sharing
their rude fare, you might have deemed them, instead of the discomfited
and luxurious guards of a mighty monarch, the accustomed tenants of this
wild abode.
'Come, my lads,' said Alroy, as he rubbed his hands over the ascending
flame, 'at any rate, this is better than the desert.'
After all his exertions, Alroy fell into profound and dreamless sleep.
When he awoke, the sun had been long up. Schirene was still slumbering.
He embraced her, and she opened her eyes and smiled.
'You are now a bandit's bride,' he said. 'How like you our new life?'
'Well! with thee.'
'Rest here, my sweetest: I must rouse our men, and see how fortune
speeds.' So saying, and tripping lightly over many a sleeping form, he
touched Benaiah.
'So! my brave captain of the guard, still napping! Come! stir, stir.
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