"For myself, I feel sanguine," replied the Prince, and he arose to
retire. "I must at present to my men. We must ascertain more
accurately the movements of the Christians before we decide on our own.
I am inclined myself to reconnoitre them. How far may it be?"

"There is not room to form our array between them and the mountains,"
replied Karam.

"'Tis well. Success attend the true believers! By to-morrow's dawn we
shall know more."



CHAPTER 4


Iskander returned to his men. Night was coming on. Fires and lights
blazed and sparkled in every direction. The air was clear, but very
cold. He entered his tent, and muffling himself up in his pelisse of
sables, he mounted his horse, and declining any attendance, rode for
some little distance, until he had escaped from the precincts of the
camp. Then he turned his horse towards one of the wildest passes of
the mountain, and galloping at great speed, never stopped until he had
gained a considerable ascent. The track became steep and rugged. The
masses of loose stone rendered his progress slow; but his Anatolian
charger still bore him at intervals bravely, and in three hours' time
he had gained the summit of Mount Haemus. A brilliant moon flooded the
broad plains of Bulgaria with shadowy light. At the base of the
mountainous range, the red watch-fires denoted the situation of the
Christian camp.