CHAPTER XI. O hame, hame, hame, Hame fain would I be ; O hame, hame, hame, THE Lady of the Forest, accompanied by Paul and Lord Dalveen, rode through the wood a little way till she came to a handsome lodge amid an encampment of tents and huts, the whole enclosed by a rustic palisade. She threw her bridle to a groom, spoke a few words in Russian to her chief attendant, and, motioning with her hand to Paul to proceed to the lodge, vanished among the huts. The porch of this palace in the wilderness was emblazoned with the arms of Russia, and on its summit the Imperial banner was unfurled. "Now," whispered Paul to Lord Thomas, "we will see our Imperial Mistress, and find out an acquaintance. Our Lady of the Forest, when she is charmed into an empress, will, I hope, remember only what was pleasant and grateful,-her likings were openly discussed, and her person very freely approached."-"I give you joy, Admiral Jones," said Lord Thomas, "of the tardiness of your apprehension. I knew it was Katherine herself before seven words had passed between us, and I know little of woman if she remembers our freedom to our injury." They now entered the lodge, and found it filled with the noble youths of Russia,—with ladies of the court and the Imperial officers. They were conductinto a hall of audience, and there sat their Lady of the Forest-the Empress Katherine-on a couch covered with leopard-skins, with a footstool under her feet overlaid with gold. Her look was noble, her high white forehead was shaded with luxuriant tresses, and her eye seemed to look through one. A jewelled robe was thrown with careful negligence over her person, the crown of her empire lay at her feet, and on her right hand and on her left stood two young noblemen, their hands placed on the crosses of their sheathed swords, with pistols of the costliest workmanship at their belts. All around were the counsellors and state-officers of her vast empire. They made way for Paul and Dalveen, who approached, and acknowledged the presence of the Empress. 66 Strangers," said Katherine with a commanding voice and a glance of dignity, “what would ye with the Empress of all the Russias? Come ye to offer her service, or come ye as suppliants? Katherine loves brave men,-she rewards genius, and encourages enterprise; but she punishes those who insult the majesty of her throne or wrong the lowliest of her subjects. Speak !"-Paul rose and said, “To the Empress of Russia I am the bearer of good news. The Turkish fleet is defeated in The Turkish army is routed, and the Liman sea. These despatches from Marshal Suwarrow will A secretary undid the confirm all I have said." seals of the despatches, and the Empress read them with an eye beaming in delight. "Ah, my gallant Nassau!" she said aloud, "this deed of thine is valiantly done and right modestly related. Saint Peter be praised, the fury of those Mahometan hounds has not harmed thee! And thou too, my rough and martial Russian,-my winner of battles and taker of cities, thou hast conquered this new Vizier, and taken the fair city of Oczakow. What say the counsellors of Katherine ?-the best tokens of our love shall be sent to this brave young Prince; nor shall our gallant Captain-General be forgotten.— Even this messenger shall taste our bounty, and know that the Empress rewards all degrees of merit. Thou wouldst fain speak, I see,-what wouldst thou say?-But first let me know thy name." "Empress of Russia," said Paul, speaking slowly and in a low tone, my name would not be unknown if the victory over the Turkish fleet were told with a tongue of truth. Has the Prince Nassau named no name but his own ?"—" A right bold question," replied Katherine;-" but we forgive thy freedom, seeing thou art of foreign birth. Prince Nassau has added no name to his own in his account of his victory."-" Then," answered Paul, "Prince Nassau has abused the ear of his Imperial Mistress, and done me a great wrong,a wrong rendered more galling by making me the bearer of a deliberate falsehood."—" Thou art a forward fellow," said the Empress, incensed at his freedom;-" what is thy name ?-a question I asked before."—" My name is a humble one,— John Paul Jones. May I ask, since the Prince has dressed himself in the deed which I have done, what course has the Marshal pursued ? Has the fierce sincere soldier forgot the walls of Oczakow and the broadsides of my squadron ?"— "Admiral Paul Jones, Katherine of Russia is glad to see you,-she is no stranger to your fame as a mariner, and, since her chief admiral has overlooked your merit, the Empress will acknowledge your worth herself. Fierce sincere Suwarrow, as you truly called him, has not forgot you; to his fighting Scotchman he attributes much of his success. Kneel down." Paul knelt at her feet, and with her own hand she decorated him with the star of the order of St Anne. "Round the neck," said the Empress with a smile, "where the fair dames of France wound their arms, I have placed the order most revered in my empire.Arise, Admiral Jones, and let me have some talk with thy companion here." She motioned with her hand, and Lord Dalveen stood before her. "Vizier," said the Empress, " your scimitar has not proved so sharp as my Suwarrow's sword; but you are captive to one who respects the misfortunes of the brave. Will you abide with Katherine, or return to Turkey and prove the merit of the Walachian bowstring?"-" Empress of all the Russias," replied Dalveen, with a graceful composure of manner, while the manly beauty of his person was adorned rather than concealed by the richness of his Eastern costume, "I have no such love to Turkey that I should prefer it to life. A prisoner and a slave I was dragged to Constantinople, and, in labouring for my own deliverance, fortune was so much friend as to raise me to the station of Vizier. Suwarrow's despatch has told the rest."" Ay," replied the Empress," the Russian bayonets proved too sharp for your steelbreasted riders and their Arabian horses. But, Vizier, were I to find you some employment near our person, we are afraid that the free way in which you have lived among the dark-eyed beauties of the Sublime Porte, would make you forget the modest propriety of a palace where a feeble woman sits on the throne, and trusts to the mercy and kindness of her subjects." my Empress," answered Dalveen, "let me not |