declared for HAMET, and to secure all the avenues that led to his
seraglio.

OMAR and HAMET were now on horseback, and had begun to form the troops
that had joined them, and as many others as were armed, which were
before mingled together in a confused multitude. An account of this was
brought to ALMORAN by Osmyn; and threw him into a perturbation and
perplexity, that disgraced his character, and confounded his attendants.
He urged Osmyn, in whom he most confided, to dispatch, without giving
him any orders to execute; then turning from him, he uttered, in a low
and inarticulate voice, the most passionate exclamations of distress and
terror, being struck with the thought that his guard might betray him:
when he recollected himself, and perceived that Osmyn was still present,
he burst into a rage, and snatching out his poignard, he swore by the
soul of the Prophet, that if he did not instantly attempt something, he
would stab him to the heart. Osmyn drew back trembling and confused; but
having yet received no orders, he would have spoken, but ALMORAN drove
him from his presence with menaces and execrations.

The moment that Osmyn left him, his rage subsided in his fears, and his
fears were mingled with remorse: 'Which way soever I turn,' said he, 'I
see myself surrounded by destruction. I have incensed Osmyn by
unreasonable displeasure, and causeless menaces. He must regard me at
once with abhorrence and contempt: and it is impossible, but he should
revolt to HAMET.'

In this agony, the terrors of futurity rushed upon his mind with all
their force; and he darted as if at the bite of a scorpion: 'To me,'
said he, 'death, that now approaches, will be but the beginning of
sorrow. I shall be cut off at once from enjoyment, and from hope; and