endured the abuse for some time without
replying; but at last I got up and said--

"What is it that excites your curiosity, O followers of the prophet
Mohammed? Are we not formed like yourselves? In what do we differ,
except that your skins are dark and ours light; that you are at home,
and we come from a far-distant land; that you speak one language, and we
speak another--although Allah has given us the power of acquiring yours?
We have no wish to insult you, and why should you take a pleasure in
insulting us?"

The people were greatly astonished at hearing me address them in their
own language. What I had said had also considerable effect, for they
instantly ceased abusing us; and several of them began to ask questions
about our country, and the business which had brought us to Africa.

Affairs were taking a more favourable turn, when one of those abominable
marabouts came in and reminded the people that we were Nazarenes, and
haters of the Prophet, and endeavoured thus to incite their fanatical
zeal against us. What would have been the result I do not know, had not
Siddy Ischem made his appearance. As we had become his property, he had
no wish to see us injured; so he quickly drove the people away, and
ordered us to accompany him to the house where he was staying.

We soon reached a one-storied building, having a gateway, through which
we passed into a courtyard, round which ran a colonnade. Part of the
courtyard was covered with an awning, under which, on a carpet, sat a
richly dressed Arab, by whose side Siddy Ischem took his seat, and then
calling us up, desired us to narrate our adventures. I did so,
explaining that three of us were officers who had been wrecked on the
coast; that I felt sure a handsome price would be paid for our ransom;
whereas, if we were kept in slavery, though we might labour ever so hard
we could be of little profit to our masters.

I do not know whether the sheikh was moved by what I said, but he told a
slave standing by to bring us some food, and desired us to sit down in
the shade and eat it. He then ordered us to go to the stables and groom
the horses, saying at the same time that we must be prepared to continue
our journey the next day.

We found that the town in which we were, was one of those built by the
Romans when their colonies spread over the northern shores of Africa.
The town had long fallen into decay, the sands of the Desert having
gradually encroached on it ti