om
my trance, to find myself alone. I found my neck was all bloody, and you
may see the marks of his nails at this hour. I crept upon my hands into
a hole in a rock. The echo frequently caused the voice of my barbarous
master to resound in my ears; he had come again a little after in quest
of me, or at least to see what was become of me. Not having fallen upon
the place where he thought he left me expiring, he called upon me on all
sides; but I would not answer him. I had resolved with myself, either to
perish with hunger, or to reach the borders of the sea, in hopes of
seeing some ship. I arrived at length, after ten days travel, having
nothing to support me but snails, and urine for my drink. The sight of a
little fishing smack, which had anchored near the land, redoubled my
strength. I ran as fast as I could by the water's edge, endeavouring to
make them observe me by signs, and to get the captain to send a boat
for me. But I had scarcely entered upon the rocks which border on the
sea, when I was seized by two young Arabs,[28] who dragged me to some
distance from the sea-coast. The fright occasioned by having fallen into
their hands, disappointment in having failed in my enterprise, and
particularly hunger, had altogether reduced me to such an extremity,
that I would certainly have expired, had not they very quickly given me
some support. They took very great care of me, and from that day became
my masters. I had the charge of keeping their goats, for they have no
other flocks, nor any other livelihood but what they procure by means of
their fish. They appeared to be a much more pleasant people than those
who inhabit the inland part of the country; they are more industrious.
About fifteen days afterwards, they informed me they were to conduct me
to the Sultan; and if they carried me thither, I believed they would
meet with your master at the rendezvous, and inform him that they had
arrested me. I much wished, Sir," added he, "that you had been with me,
well convinced that you would have been happier, for I found no cause to
be displeased with these people. They often spoke to me about you; it
appeared that they all had known of you.[29] But at last we have met.
What are they to do with us? Are they to conduct us to the Emperor of
Morocco?"

[Footnote 28: The Arabs who dwell along that coast live upon their
fish. They are exceedingly poor, but of much milder manners than
the inhabitants of the interior par