I have delivered him from the hands of those who had carried
him away. I demand, as a reward for my trouble, that he shall be
numbered with my slaves. I have a better right to him, as I have seen
him deliver to his master a great many articles, which appeared to me to
be very valuable." I immediately saw a multitude of women and children,
who assembled around me. They examined me attentively, and cried aloud
all at once, "Es Rey!"

Sidy Mahammet, enraged at what Nouegem had revealed concerning the
treasure, as well as the pretensions which he had so boldly advanced,
cast upon him a contemptuous look, a dreadful frown of rage, and
immediately replied, "Whether this Christian be Rey (King) or not, he is
mine; he threw himself into my arms of his own accord; I have promised
to protect him, and conduct him to Allicoury. I have pledged my word,
and I hope this tribunal will know how to make a distinction in favour
of my rights, between a man of my character and a man like Nouegem, who
deserves the severest punishment from me." One may form some idea, from
this discourse, of the pride of Arabian priests.

"Since you make such pretensions," the Arab quickly replied, "and he
cannot be mine, he shall perish by my hand!" So saying, he lifted his
poignard to strike me. I stood trembling under the threatening sword of
this barbarian; but my master, without loss of time, threw upon me a
kind of chapelet[21] of incredible length; and then took up a little
book, which hung by his girdle; at the same instant, the women, rushing
towards me, drew me from under the hand of Nouegem, and put me under
those of the enraged priest, as they all dreaded, he was to pronounce an
anathema on his opponent. The council in a body approved of this act of
authority of the Talbe. They laughed very much at the women's behaviour,
of which they at the same time approved.

[Footnote 21: The Talbes cord, on which are strung 115 small black
beads. These they keep as the Catholics do their chapelets.]

At some distance from the place where this scene had been transacted, I
found my comrades, who never expected to see me again. But, Great God!
in what situation did I find them!--they now began to feel the first
horrors of famine. They had eaten nothing for two days; nor was my own
case better; but the awful dilemma, into which I had been thrown, so
agitated my spirits, that I had even ceased to feel the hunger which
preyed on me.

In a little time,