"
Meanwhile they had reached the shore, the old servant was awaiting them
with the two mules. Halil helped his wife to descend from the boat.
Guel-Bejaze buried her head in her husband's bosom and tenderly embraced
him.
"Go not back, leave me not alone," said she; "do not leave us, come with
us. What dost thou seek in that big desolate city when we are no longer
there? Come with us, let us all go together, vanish with us. Let them
search for thee, and may their search be as vain as the search for a
star fallen from Heaven; it is not good for thee to be in high places."
Halil made no reply. His wife spoke the truth, but pride prevented him
from escaping like a coward when he knew that his enemies were
conspiring against him. Presently he said to Guel-Bejaze with a
reassuring voice:
"Do not be anxious on my account, I have a talisman with me. Why dost
thou smile? Thou a Christian woman dost not believe in talismans? My
talisman is my heart, surely thou believest in it now? It has always
helped me hitherto."
And with that Halil kissed his wife and his child and returned to the
boat. He seized the oars in his powerful hands and was soon some
distance from the shore. And as he rowed further and further away into
the gloom of evening he saw his abandoned wife still standing on the
shore with her child clasped to her breast, and the further he receded
the keener grew his anguish of heart because he durst not turn back to
them and kiss and embrace them once more.
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