wo slaves, which was as nothing compared to his value. Ever
since, for many a long year, have I ridden Bu Saef across the Desert in
safety, distancing every foe when pursued, following up their traces
when they have been attempting to escape, and ascertaining the
whereabouts of their camp."

"Allah is great! you performed a fine stroke of business," exclaimed the
company in chorus.

"Ho, ho! if you stole Bu Saef, we shall be justified in returning him to
his former owners, Siddy Boo Cassem," I thought to myself. But how that
was to be done, was the question. Bu Saef could not carry all five of
us, that was certain; and probably would refuse to move unless mounted
by his accustomed rider. I listened as eagerly as before to the
conversation, which went on without cessation for some hours; for the
Arabs are as good talkers as any people on the earth. I gathered from
what I heard that our party had advanced nearly as far north as it was
considered prudent to go, as the country beyond was held by the
infidels, or by tribes on friendly terms with them; that the great
chief, Abd-el-Kader, having been captured, his hordes were dispersed;
and that the tribe from which the Bu Saef had been stolen was now
encamped at no great distance from where we were. Of course, I knew
that the infidels spoken of were the French; and I felt sure that, could
we communicate with any outpost, the officer in command would do his
utmost to obtain our liberation--though that might be a difficult matter
to accomplish. The tribes of the Desert still entertained hostile
feelings towards those who were on friendly terms with the French, and
no intercourse was maintained between them. The exact object of our
expedition I could not learn; but that was of little consequence. The
great point to decide was the means of getting away; and that I did not
despair of, difficult as it appeared.

I lay perfectly still, so that, should any of the Arabs look towards me,
they might suppose I was asleep. My only fear was that Siddy Boo Cassem
might summon Ben, when I should run a great risk of being discovered,
and he might suspect that I had an object in taking his slave's place.
I was relieved at length when the Arabs separated, some going into Siddy
Boo Cassem's tent, and others elsewhere. At last, on hearing loud
snoring from the tent, I crept slowly away, crouching down on the ground
till I found Ben, who in like manner returned to his proper place.