Page:Kéraban the Inflexible Part 1 (Jules Verne).djvu/106

108 rogue who kept his engagements. So he decided to act at once.

Circumstances favoured him. Towards evening—before her father had returned—Amasia re-entered the gallery, and this time alone. The girl wished to gaze on the distant hills which contained in their embrace him she loved best. She took her place again, and, leaning upon the balustrade, contemplated the darkening landscape with that fond, "far-off" expression in her eyes which no distance could remove.

Thus plunged in reverie, Amasia did not perceive that the boat put off from the Guidare. She did not notice its almost noiseless approach by the terrace, nor its bringing up at the steps close by. Nevertheless Yarhud and three of his men were even then creeping cautiously towards her, up the slope; but the girl never noticed their approach.

Suddenly Yarhud leaped up and seized her with such force that she had no power of resistance.

"Help! help!" she screamed.

Her cries were immediately stifled, but they had been heard by Nedjeb, who at once came in search of her mistress.

Scarcely had the waiting-maid passed the door of the gallery, when she was seized by two sailors, who at once prevented her from giving any alarm by word or deed.

"On board!" exclaimed Yarhud.

The two girls were at once forcibly carried to the boat, and rowed swiftly towards the Guidare, which, with her anchor a-peak and her sails hoisted, was lying-to, awaiting the captain's return.

As soon as Amasia and Nedjeb were on board, they were carried to the stern cabin, where they could hear and see nothing of what passed, and the vessel was put before the wind, and her direction was made so that she would pass near the little creek at the extremity of the grounds of the villa.

But, rapidly as all this had been accomplished, the scene had attracted the attention of some of the out-door servants. They had heard Amasia's cries, and had given the alarm.

At that moment Selim returned, and was informed of what