eese. Each drank his
allowance of wine at one gulp; the brandy was not even despised by the
ladies. I however preferred quantity to quality, and exchanged my ration
of brandy for that of wine. To describe our joy, whilst taking this
repast, is impossible. Exposed to the fierce rays of a vertical sun;
exhausted by a long train of suffering; deprived for a long while the
use of any kind of spirituous liquors, when our portions of water, wine,
and brandy, mingled in our stomachs we became like insane people. Life,
which had lately been a great burden, now became precious to us.
Foreheads, lowering and sulky, began to unwrinkle; enemies became most
brotherly; the avaricious endeavoured to forget their selfishness and
cupidity; the children smiled for the first time since our shipwreck; in
a word, every one seemed to be born again from a condition melancholy
and dejected. I even believe the sailors sung the praises of their
mistresses.

This journey was the most fortunate for us. Some short while after our
delicious meal, we saw several Moors approaching, who brought milk and
butter, so that we had refreshments in abundance. It is true we paid a
little dear for them; the glass of milk cost not less than three francs.
After reposing about three hours, our caravan proceeded on its route.

About six in the evening, my father finding himself extremely fatigued,
wished to rest himself. We allowed the caravan to move on, whilst my
step-mother and myself remained near him, and the rest of the family
followed with their asses. We all three soon fell asleep. When we awoke,
we were astonished at not seeing our companions. The sun was sinking in
the west. We saw several Moors approaching us, mounted on camels; and my
father reproached himself for having slept so long. Their appearance
gave us great uneasiness, and we wished much to escape from them, but my
step-mother and myself fell quite exhausted. The Moors, with long
beards, having come quite close to us, one of them alighted and
addressed us in the following words. "Be comforted, ladies; under the
costume of an Arab, you see an Englishman who is desirous of serving
you. Having heard at Senegal that Frenchmen were thrown ashore on these
deserts, I thought my presence might be of some service to them, as I
was acquainted with several of the princes of this arid country." These
noble words from the mouth of a man we had at first taken to be a Moor,
instantly quieted our fears. Recov