d these wounds
again afresh. I frequently fell down without expecting I would be able
to rise again. At the same time I had frequently to turn, sometimes to
the right, and sometimes to the left, to reassemble the camels which
fell behind; and we were often obliged to make counter marches to avoid
these hordes of Arabs, whom we had reason to fear might pursue us.

One day,--Alas! the recollection of that unhappy day will long be
imprinted on my memory!--we descended into a valley which was covered
with verdure by the rains which had lately fallen. My master therefore
made a halt here, in order that the famished camels might get a little
nourishment. He ascended to an eminence, upon a high mountain which
surrounded part of the valley. He sat down a little there, while his own
beast and the other camels should feed, as he meant to carry them to the
city and sell them. I passed on before him to reach the summit of the
mountain, supposing that to be the road which we were to follow. What
confirmed me in my opinion was, that the old man permitted me to
continue my journey, and I also observed the path which I took was a
beaten one. At length, having reached the top, I went to a little
distance from the road, to shake my long beard, which was constantly
filled with vermin, notwithstanding all my care. Having lain near an
hour quiet behind a bush, without seeing any of the travellers appear, I
returned again to the edge of the hill. My God, what was my astonishment
when I could see no person! Where are they? Which way have they gone?
What road shall I take? As the hordes which encamped in this
neighbourhood came thither to feed their flocks, a great number of
different roads met here. I could not think of any other way, than to
cry aloud different times on Sidy Sellem. At length I observed at a
distance four or five Arabs, who were coming up towards me. I ran to
meet them, supposing them to belong to our company. I soon discovered my
mistake; a great dog, and one of the stoutest of the barbarians, made up
to me at the same time. The Arab aimed a blow at me with the back of the
blade of his sabre, which struck me on the head. The others coming up,
drew me among the rocks, where they had an asylum, and there prepared to
place me in a frightful situation.

See then the hope of recovering my liberty entirely lost! My slavery
promised to be harder now than ever. I was absorbed in these
reflections, when the assassins conducted me t