r horses were large and well-caparisoned, their
saddles being covered with scarlet cloth, to which hung enormous silver
stirrups; while they were profusely covered with ornaments of the same
material. Each horseman was armed with a poignard and sabre, and
pistols in his sash; while he carried before him--the but resting on the
saddle--a fine silver-mounted Moorish gun.

The same ceremonies as I have before described were gone through; an
entertainment also being prepared for the new-comers.

After some time we were summoned to attend the sheikh, when we found
that he was offering to sell us to his visitors. The price to be paid
we could not ascertain, nor the object of our proposed purchasers; our
only consolation was that we were to be sold together, and should not
thus be separated.

What other object the visitors had in coming to the camp we could not
learn. I had my suspicions, however, when I heard the young sheikh--
whose name was Siddy Ischem--invite our master to accompany him.

"No! Allah be praised, I have never been accustomed to towns and their
ways; and within stone and brick walls I hope not to enter, unless I go
at the head of my people, sword in hand, to plunder and destroy the
cursed infidels,--when, with the blessing of Mohammed, I will get out
again as soon as the work is accomplished."

"Each man to his taste," answered Siddy Ischem. "A city affords its
pleasures as well as the Desert."

The greater part of the next morning was spent at the camp. We were
then ordered to be ready to march. Siddy Boo Cassem, owner of the
famous Bu Saef camel, with several of his tribe, accompanied our party.
No camels or horses were allowed us, however, and having to march on
foot, a dreary, fatiguing journey we found it. Some of our masters rode
on either side of us, to prevent the possibility of our running away;
though where we could have run to it was hard to say. We travelled on
all day, the night overtaking us while we were still on the road. In
about an hour, however, the moon rose, and enabled us better to see the
path.

Not long afterwards, we caught sight of a lofty tower rising out of the
plain, and the dark frowning walls of a fortified town; and from the
remarks of the Arabs we learned that this was our destination. We soon
came under the walls, when the leaders of our band began to defile
through a narrow archway. My heart sank within me, for I felt that the
difficulties of escape woul