"Now, Dinah," said he, continuing an earnest conversation which had
already lasted for some time, "you understand de case properly--eh?"

"Ob course I does," said Dinah.

"Well, den, you must go about it at once. Not a minute to lose. You'll
find me at de gardin door. I'll let you in. You know who you's got to
sabe, an' you must find out your own way to sabe her, an'--now, hol'
your tongue! You's just a-goin' to speak--I must know nuffin'. Don'
tell me one word about it. You's a cleber woman, Dinah."

"Yes, my brudder. I wasn't born yesterday--no, nor yet the day before."

"An', Samson, will you trust _him_?"

"My husband is as good as gold. I trust him wid eberyt'ing!" replied
this pattern wife.

"An' Youssef--what ob him?"

"He's more'n t'ree quarters blind. Kin see not'ing, an' understan's
less."

"Dinah, you's a good woman," remarked her appreciative brother, as he
rose to depart. "Now, remember, dis am de most important job you an' I
hab had to do since we was took by de pirits out ob de same ship. An' I
do t'ink de Lord hab bin bery good to us, for He's gi'n us good massas
at last, though we had some roughish ones at fust. Foller me as quick
as you can."

Dinah, being a warm-hearted woman, and very sympathetic, did not waste
time. She reached Ben-Ahmed's villa only half an hour later than her
brother, with a basket of groceries and other provisions that Peter had
purchased in town. Peter took care that the young negress, whom we have
already introduced as an attendant in the house, should be sent to
receive the basket, and Dinah took care that she should not return to
the house until she had received a bouquet of flowers to present to the
young English girl in the harem. Inside of this bouquet was a little
note written by Peter. It ran thus--

"Tri an git owt to de gardin soons yoo kan."

When Hester Sommers discovered this note, the first ray of hope entered
into her fluttering heart, and she resolved to profit by it.

Meanwhile, Dinah, instead of quitting the place after delivering her
basket, hid herself in the shrubbery. It was growing dark by that time,
and Peter made a noisy demonstration of sending one of the slaves to see
that the garden gate was locked for the night. Thereafter he remained
all the rest of the evening in his own apartments in pretty loud
conversation with the slaves.

Suddenly there was a cry raised, and several slaves belonging to the
inner household r