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33 anxiously affording me every assistance in his power. I surveyed him with gratitude, and as soon as I was able to rise he led me to a cottage. He informed me that he had seen me throw myself into the river, and had immediately sprung in and saved me. I remained for sometime with this good peasant and his wife, until my strength permitted me to travel; then bidding them farewell, I wandered through the woods in search of my infant. My misfortunes again bereft me of reason, and when the fit went off, I found myself in the house of a peasant, surrounded by his smiling family, Here I passed many tedious and mournful hours, until happening to lose my way, I had wandered long without sustenance, when the storm laid me senseless on the earth, where I was found by you, my dear and long lamented son."

Roderigo and Perez, on leaving the ruin in the forest, proceeded to Murad's court and entered his army, where Roderigo's prowess soon obtained him promotion; and with pleasure he beheld Seraphina arrive with the other slaves, at the royal seraglio. Murad, kept in constant alarm by the daily accounts of Ferdinando's success and encreasing power, determined upon collecting his forces together, and to conquer him, ere his adherents were farther multiplied; he therefore appointed Roderigo, under the assumed name of Valentio, to guard the palace during his absence, while he set forward on this expedition with the flower of his troops.

The aged Sebastian who had been long confined in a gloomy dungeon, one day discovered a secret door, held by a bolt, which he undrew, and passed into a large chamber. At the further end he saw a passage, and on the floor lay a bar of iron; this he took up, and entered the passage.