ll the greater portion of the land fit for
cultivation had been overwhelmed. The only habitable houses were one
story in height, composed of sunburned bricks, and with flat roofs, on
which the occupants seemed to spend most of their time.

I forgot to say that we discovered our abode, which we at first took for
a prison, to be merely a stable, and that the rings and chains were
simply intended to secure refractory horses.

We performed the duties assigned us as well as we could; and Ben's
talent as a gunsmith being noised abroad, he was called on to repair all
the damaged firearms in the place--we assisting him as well as we
could--at a smith's shop to which we were conducted.

"What wonderful people are these Nazarenes!" observed some of the
bystanders. "They know everything."

"Yes," remarked others; "the Jins teach them. It is their turn now; but
they will burn throughout eternity. Curses rest on them! Allah is
great; we have paradise for our portion."

Similar remarks were made during the time we were at work; while some of
the spectators, to show their contempt, spat at us; and several came up
threatening us with their fists, to prove their zeal for their religion.
But we had been too long accustomed to this sort of treatment to take
any notice of it; and even Ben went on with his work, filing, hammering,
and screwing away,--only remarking, when he understood what was said,
"That's all you know about it."

Those who had their weapons mended went away contented; but as we could
not repair half the number brought to us, the owners of the rest were
very indignant, and we were glad to get back to our dirty stable out of
their way.

During the evening, Siddy Boo Cassem, Ben's master, made his appearance,
and informed him that he was to remain in his service, to attend to his
Bu Saef camel when he himself was not riding the animal.

"Not a few clever rogues have attempted to run off with the creature,
which is to me as the apple of my eye; but I know that you Nazarenes
would not know where to run to, so I can trust you," he observed.

I told Ben what Siddy Boo Cassem had said.

"Let him give me the chance, and I will see what I can do," he answered.

We were allowed another night's rest, with a sufficiency of food,--for
just then provisions were plentiful in the place, or we should have been
left by our masters to pick up what we could. We tried in vain to
discover who the charitable female was who had