ons at Senegal, in powder, guns, &c.
The sheriff immediately called me, and inquired what was my situation at
the island of St Louis. I answered his inquiries. He observed me a
little more attentively, and then cried out, Are you Brisson? Alas! Yes,
I am the same. He was immediately surprised. Do you know that Christian,
added he, all the property at Senegal is his. This man had imagined,
that all the effects in the king's magazines, which he had seen me order
to be delivered, were my own property. My master's brother-in-law,
encouraged by these few words, did not hesitate long in making a
purchase of me, which he did for five camels.

I did not know of this bargain being concluded, when I was one day
struck all at once with surprise and joy. I had returned with my master
from giving the camels drink (for the third time in three months), and
his wife had ordered me to go and carry into the neighbouring tent a
leathern bucket which she had borrowed. Sidy Sellem, whom I have just
mentioned, was there; he called me, and ordered me to prepare to go with
him the next day to Mogador. I had been so often flattered with this
hope, and had so often been disappointed in my expectation, that I could
not persuade myself that what he said was truth. However, some persons
who heard what the Arab said to me, assured me that it was no deception.
The old man himself again protested this to me. I threw myself at his
feet, I wept, I sobbed, I laughed, I did not know where I was. Alas! who
can estimate the value of liberty? or form an idea of what I felt, when
I understood that my fetters were indeed broken?

My first master called me, and told me I was no longer his property. "I
have fulfilled my promise," added he, "you shall again see your native
country." I forgot in that moment all my resentment, and gave myself up
to unbounded joy. It was no small addition to my satisfaction, when I
understood I was to have a companion on the journey. "We are to meet
with some others at a little distance," added he. How little did I
expect to find the unhappy baker there. I asked at him, when I saw him,
by what miracle he had been raised from the dead. "Alas!" he answered
me, "I know not how it comes to pass that I am not indeed dead. Sidy
Mahammet surprised me one day sucking a she-camel. He ran up to me, gave
me several blows, and grasped me so hard by the neck, that I fell down
almost lifeless at his feet. I was greatly surprised, on recovering fr