Page 49 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

considered her parents, she could not help
feeling some pain at being the daughter of a
Corsair; but what still more enchanted her
was, the thought that Cheri might not be her
brother. She was all impatience to talk to him
about it, and to relate to the whole party the
extraordinary adventure she had become
acquainted with.

She mounted an Isabella-coloured horse; the
black mane of which was dressed with rows of
diamonds; for she had only to pass a comb
once through her hair, to obtain jewels enough
to decorate an entire hunting equipage. The
green velvet housings of her steed were
covered with diamonds and embroidered with

rubies. She was quickly in the saddle, and away
to the forest in search of her brothers. The
sound of horns and hounds sufficiently
indicated their whereabouts, and she joined
them in a few minutes. At the first sight of her,
Cheri left the chase and advanced to meet her
much quicker than the others. "What an
agreeable surprise, Belle-Etoile!" he cried;
"you at length out hunting; who could not be

diverted for an instant from the pleasure you
derive from music, and the _____

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