ve me your word three months ago
that your government would pay the six thousand dollars which are still
due to us? Why has not this promise been fulfilled?"

"It grieves me, your highness," replied Don Pedro, with a mortified
look, "that this debt has not yet been discharged, but I can assure you
that I have communicated with my Sovereign on the subject and have no
doubt that a satisfactory explanation and reply will be sent to you
without delay."

"It is to be hoped that such may be the case, for I give you _my_ word--
and you may safely rely on _it_--that if the cash is not sent to me
immediately I will send you to work in chains in the quarries with the
other slaves.--Go, let your Sovereign know my intention as speedily as
may be."

Lest the reader should be surprised to hear of any consul being thus
cavalierly treated, it may be well to explain that the barbarians, who
were thus unworthily honoured in being recognised by the European powers
at all, were grossly ignorant of the usages of civilised nations, and of
the sacred character in which the persons and families of consuls are
held. The Deys of Algiers were constantly in the habit of threatening
the consuls themselves with flagellation and death, in order to obtain
what they desired from their respective governments, and sometimes even
carried their threats into execution--as an instance of which we may
cite the well-authenticated fact that when the French Admiral Duquesne
bombarded Algiers, the consul and twenty-two other Frenchmen were sent
out to the fleet in small pieces--blown from the mouths of cannon!
True, this was in the year 1683, but up to the very end of their bloody
and ferocious domination, the Deys maintained their character for
ignorance and barbarity--evidence of which shall be given in the sequel
of our tale.

When Don Pedro had been thus ignominiously dismissed, Sidi Hassan was
sent for by the Dey. This man was one of the most turbulent characters
in the city, and the Dey thought it his wisest policy to secure his
friendship if possible by mingling kindness with severity. In the event
of this course failing, he comforted himself with the reflection that it
would not be difficult to get rid of him by the simple, and too
frequently used, process of strangulation. The knowledge that Hassan
was a favourite among the Turkish troops prevented his at once adopting
the latter method.

He was all urbanity and smiles, therefore, when the pir