19. CHAPTER XIX.
SELIM WINS HIS KINGDOM.
THE joy of the people of Guzan when they became
assured, not only of succor from Ali-Naro's
ships, but of the return and presence of their
long-lost king was without bounds. They crowded
the beach to greet the landing boats, and
made the air resound with their shouts of joy.
Selim with difficulty managed to calm the exuberance
of their feeling, and, mounting a horse,
rode up and down the ranks of citizens and
mariners.
“Men of Guzan!” he cried, “are you resolved
to free your country from the tyrant? Will you
follow your prince to victory?”
A thousand voices responded with enthusiasm—“We
will!”
“Then let us advance at once!” cried the
young monarch, waving his sword, and then,
surrounded by his body-guard of corsairs, and
by the multitude of armed islanders, he led the
way from the port to the capital in which the
king of Xanda had fortified himself.
The old tyrant, who had witnessed with dismay
the increased numbers of the insurgents,
and recognized the flag of the corsair Ali-Naro
waving beside the banner of Guzan, began to
fear that his position was becoming hazardous,
and he therefore sent out messengers to meet the
advancing army, with proposals for a parley.
“Go back,” said Selim to your master, “and
tell him that the king of Guzan demands his
crown and kingdom.”
The messengers returned to the tyrant, and
informed him of Selim's reply.
“Then,” cried the old Xandian, “he must
fight for them.” And he prepared to resist the
insurgents.
But the tyrant had much better have sought
to make terms, for scarcely had the messengers
been dismissed from his presence, than he heard
the tumult of assault upon the capital. Hastily
placing himself at the head of his troops, he led
them to meet the enemy, and the battle speedily
began.
Selim, surrounded by his gallant corsairs,
was the first object that met the gaze of the
Xandian king, and he recognized immediately
the hero who had so determinedly defended
Guzan against his invasion. He remembered
well the prince's prowess, and felt that there was
no hope of gaining the day unless the death of
the young king could be effected. Resolved,
therefore, to set the victory upon a hazard, he
spurred his horse at once toward Prince Selim.
The battle had in the meantime become general,
and Xandians and islanders were mingled
in close conflict, so that the tyrant found no
difficulty in reaching the spot where Selim rode,
and daring him to single combat.
“If you demand your crown,” he roared, in
a contemptuous voice—“come and take it! It
is on my head!”
The prince of Guzan heard, and at once spurred
to meet his antagonist. Their weapons
crossed immediately, flashing fire, and for a few
moments the combat raged without advantage
on either side. But Selim fought for his country,
and relied on Heaven to aid him in the
strife, whilst the king of Xanda, conscious of
the injustice of his cause, and only intent on
maintaining a desperate conflict, soon gave way
before the impetuosity of his assailant. Almost
at the same instant when a mighty shout from
the islanders announced that they were driving
the defeated Xandians through the streets of the
capital, a terrible blow from Selim's sword fell
upon the usurper's head, and crushing the crown
which he wore, dashed him to the earth, whilst
his steed, flying wildly away, dragged the lifeless
body of the tyrant across the plain.
The victory was gained, and Selim was once
more king of Guzan.
Anxious had been the hours passed by Azna-Alwaz
in the lonely cabin of the “Green Bird,”
whence she could hear the tumult of the troops
departing for the capital of Guzan. After that,
however, all remained silent, and the heart of
the poor princess throbbed with apprehension
lest aught of evil should befall her hero prince.
A thousand times, during the long hours that
followed the army's march, did she wish herself
at the side of her lord, to shield him, if possible,
with her arms, or if he should fall, to die beside
him. But at length the suspense was over—a
courier came riding to the beach, and leaping
into a boat, rowed rapidly toward the “Green
Bird.”
“The battle is decided—our people are
triumphant!” cried the messenger, on coming
within hail.
“And the king—my prince?” cried Azna-Alwaz.
“Safe and unwounded! He will be here to-night!”
answered the courier; and Azna-Alwaz
sank back upon her couch, overpowered with
thankfulness and joy.
The restoration of the prince of Guzan to the
throne of his ancestors, to which he was doubly
entitled by his own prowess, removed all difficulty
which might have been experienced by the
crownless Selim in obtaining the consent of the
king of Divonduron to his espousal of Azna-Alwaz.
The chief obstacle had already been
removed in the death of the prince of Caranor,
who had taken the loss of his betrothed so deeply
to heart, as to have survived but a few months
after her abduction. Consequently when the
ambassadors of the young king of Guzan informed
the father of Azna-Alwaz, not only of
his daughter's safety, but of the wonderful train
of circumstances which had united her to Selim,
the old king of Divonduron was disposed to recognize
the hand of Heaven in the whole affair, and
accorded cheerfully his consent to the marriage.
The nuptials accordingly took place immediately,
and Azna-Alwaz became the cherished partner
of her hero-husband, the king of Guzan, and
chief of the Isle of Eagles.
And if the early youth of Selim was tried by
Heaven in the furnace of affliction, his maturity
and age were rewarded by all the smiles of an
indulgent Providence. He lived in blissful union
with his beloved, and reigned long over Guzan
and Divonduron revered by his people and beloved
by his friends—a bright example of the
reward which Allah bestows upon those who
trust in his mercies and obey his will without
murmuring or discontent.
THE END.
