d escaped. Their intercourse, we may
remark, was carried on in the same curious manner as that referred to in
connection with Ben-Ahmed. Osman spoke in Lingua Franca and Peter
replied in his ordinary language.

"Oh yes, massa, I know," said the latter, with intense earnestness; "she
escaped ober de wall."

"Blockhead!" exclaimed the irate Osman, who was a sturdy but
ill-favoured specimen of Moslem humanity. "Of course I know that, but
_how_ did she escape over the wall?"

"Don' know dat, massa. You see I's not dere at de time, so can't
'zactly say. Moreober, it was bery dark, an' eben if I's dar, I
couldn't see peepil in de dark."

"You lie! you black scoundrel! and you know that you do. You could tell
me much more about this if you chose."

"No, indeed, I don't lie--if a slabe may dar to counterdick his massa,"
returned Peter humbly. "But you's right when you say I could tell you
much more. Oh! I could tell you _heaps_ more! In de fuss place I was
sotin' wid de oder slabes in de kitchen, enjoyin' ourselves arter
supper, w'en we hear a cry! Oh my! how my heart jump! Den all our legs
jump, and out we hoed wid lanterns an--"

"Fool! don't I know all that? Now, tell me the truth, has the English
slave, George Fos--Fos--I forget his name--"

"Geo'ge Foster," suggested the negro, with an amiable look.

"Yes; has Foster had no hand in the matter?"

"Unpossible, I t'ink," said Peter. "You see he was wid me and all de
oder slabes when de girl hoed off, an' I don't t'ink eben a Englishman
kin be in two places at one time. But you kin ax him; he's in de
gardin."

"Go, fetch him," growled the young Moor, "and tell four of my men to
come here. They are waiting outside."

The negro retired, and, soon after, four stout Moorish seamen entered.
They seemed worthy of their gruff commander, who ordered them to stand
at the inner end of the room. As he spoke he took up an iron
instrument, somewhat like a poker, and thrust it into a brazier which
contained a glowing charcoal fire.

Presently Peter the Great returned with young Foster. Osman did not
condescend to speak directly to him, but held communication through the
negro.

Of course our hero could throw no light on the subject, being utterly
ignorant of everything--as Peter had wisely taken the precaution to
ensure--except of the bare fact that Hester was gone.

"Now, it is my opinion," said Osman, with a savage frown, "that you are
both deceiving m