6. CHAPTER VI.
THE PRINCESS ALNA-ALWAZ.
The Princess Alna-Alwaz used often to
wander alone, in the quiet summer time upon
a pleasant silver-sanded beach that stretched
far away to the sea-shore behind the gardens of
her father's palace. Often, either in the early
morning, or at the close of day, when the rays
of the setting sun fell in a brilliant shower of
crimson and gold upon the broad ocean surface
and glittering sands of the shore, the young
maiden would leave her bower, and, without a
single attendant, traverse the royal gardens, and
descending the green terraces that overlooked
the beach, pass an hour or more in watching the
ships gliding to and fro upon the distant
horizon.
Sometimes Azna-Alwaz would seat herself
upon a high rock, the base of which was laved
by rolling waves, and there listen to the melancholy
music of the wind, and the swell of the
surf high up on the pebbly strand. At such
times, it is true, the young maiden would have
dreams in which her imagination pictured a
brave and noble lover, daring all sorts of dangers,
and undergoing every species of ill usage for the
love of a peerless lady like herself; but in these
visions none of the faces of her suitors, not even
that of Prince Caranor, answered to the ideal of
her fancy.
It was upon one of these occasions, and shortly
after she had given her consent to wed the
prince of Caranor, that Azna-Alwaz met with
an adventure which entirely changed the current
of her thoughts, and inspired her with a feeling
that banished all the calmness of her former
existence.
She was listlessly pacing the lowest garden
terrace, and looking forth, as was her wont, from
a thick grove that concealed it, into the depths
of the great sea, when the sound of men's voices,
in loud conversation, suddenly awakened her
from her reveries. Glancing fearfully in the
direction of the beach below her, the princess
saw that several boats' crews had just effected a
landing on the shore, and, climbing the bank,
were advancing toward the spot where she stood.
Her first thought was to fly toward the palace,
but the next moment, perceiving by their manner,
that the strangers had not discovered her,
she moved quietly away from the terrace and
concealed herself amid the dense thicket which
bordered a cluster of trees that half surrounded
a fountain upon the highest terrace, from which
the water was conducted by several channels to
moisten every part of the palace gardens.
Scarcely had the maiden thus screened herself
from observation, when she beheld the strange
men ascend to within a very few yards of the
fountain, and proceed to make preparations for
drawing water out of a pool or reservoir into
which the jet fell, before it was dispersed through
the grounds. Azna-Alwaz then knew that the
intruders were mariners who had doubtless landed
from one of the vessels in sight, in order to
obtain a supply of water. Shrinking back,
therefore among the leaves, she watched them
closely, waiting till they should fill their tubs
and skins with the crystal element, and move
toward the beach, when she could easily make
good her flight to the palace.
But it was evident that the sailors were either
totally unaware that the gardens upon which
they had intruded were attached to the royal
palace, or else the fellows were a most reckless
and independent set; for they ceased not, during
their work, to laugh and make merry, chasing
one another about the pool, and splashing
the water to and fro, with all the indifference
conceivable. Azna-Alwaz indeed could not
helpbeing diverted by their uncouth motions and
grimaces, as the water was dashed in their faces.
But suddenly the noisy gambols came to an
end, and the mariners drew themselves quickly
together, as the figure of a man approached from
the beach. Every red cap was lifted at once
from the sunburnt brows of the seamen; and a
respectful salutation made to the new-comer;
after which they resumed their task of replenishing
the water vessels. Azna-Alwaz felt her eyes
irresistibly drawn toward the stranger, who spoke
in a clear, manly voice to the crew.
“Make haste!” cried he. “The wind is
changing, and we must aboard immediately.
Give way, my boys!”
The mariners, who had by this time filled all
the skins and tubs, began to lift them upon each
other's shoulders, and then, one by one, took
their departure from the pool, whilst their chief,
for such he appeared to be, folded his arms across
his breast, and gazed around him with a glance
that seemed to take in earth and sky with one
wide sweep; so that the concealed princess almost
feared that she was discovered, and shrank
back trembling among the leaves that sheltered
her.
But Azna-Alwaz had no cause for apprehension,
inasmuch as the stranger was too much
wrapt in his own reflections, whatever these might
be, to take note of aught that might overlook
his motions. Consequently the princess, securely
hidden, had a good opportunity of studying
his features.
But, perhaps it would have been better for the
princess not to have regarded the young chief
with so much attention; for she began at once
to experience a sensation in her bosom quite
new and perplexing. A feeling as if she had
suddenly discovered something of which she had
long been in quest took possession of her heart,
and she trembled with anxiety lest she should
as suddenly be deprived of it. It seemed to her,
while her eyes dwelt upon the stranger's face,
that she had never before beheld so perfect a
picture of manly beauty; a white forehead,
shaded by glossy, clustering ringlets, a finely-moulded
nose, and full, rich lips, between which
gleamed a set of teeth white as pearls. A majestic
beard, closely curled around his throat,
depended on his breast, and there was about
his whole person an air inexpressibly noble.
It is little to be wondered at, then, that Azna-Alwaz
should feel a growing interest in the
young chief, or that she trembled lest he should
turn away. She could, as it appeared to her,
have gazed forever upon that noble face; and
when, at length, the stranger descended from the
terrace and followed the mariners to their boats,
the poor princess felt as if a cloud had come
across the sunlight of her life. She crept from
her hiding-place, and watched the party until
they had pushed off from the beach, and were
tossing on the shining waves; and when, at
length, she could no longer discern the boats,
and beheld, too, that the evening was closing in,
she slowly retraced her steps toward the palace,
with tears filling her beautiful eyes, and the
image of the stranger chief fixed in her memory
forever.
