the north,
by the barbarous empire of Morocco, or by Algiers, Tripoli, or Tunis;
while to the south were hordes of savages of whom we knew nothing, with
only one insignificant French settlement where we might expect a kind
reception: and we should undoubtedly have many hundred miles of an
almost barren region to traverse, either to the east or to the north or
south, with but a bare possibility of escaping on board some vessel
which might appear off the coast, provided we could keep along the shore
and avoid recapture.

We were not allowed many minutes for conversation, for our savage
tormentors quickly gathered round us again, and seemed to take delight
in insulting and tormenting us in every way they could think of. We had
been left for some time to the tender mercies of the women and children;
the men having assembled together to hold, as we afterwards found, a
consultation regarding our disposal--their savage yells and cries
reaching our ears even above the shrill shrieks and shouts of the women.
It was evident that our captors were engaged in a hot discussion, but
not one of them, we had reason to suppose, was lifting up his voice in
our favour.

At length Sinne appeared, and ordered us to accompany him. Advancing
with rapid strides, he led us into the centre of a circle of Arabs; but
as we glanced round at their scowling countenances, we observed no sign
of kindly feeling or sympathy for our sufferings. The sheikh then
calling to me, ordered me to interpret to the rest. He said that we
were all three to be separated,--he himself intending to take me. Ben
was to fall to the lot of Sinne; while Halliday was to become the slave
of another chief man. This announcement affected us more than anything
which had occurred. Together, we thought that we could have borne our
misfortunes; but parted from each other, we felt they would be
insupportable.

"You are all young and active, and can each do more work than any three
women," he observed; "let me see that you are not idle, or you will
repent it. And you shall begin at once."

On this some heavy mallets or pestles were put into our hands, and we
were ordered to pound some corn in wooden mortars, which were brought
out and placed before us, while our new masters looked on to see that we
laboured with all our strength. Ben grumbled and growled, the only way
in which he could express his feelings; but seeing Halliday and me
working, he thought it prudent to obe