dful tyrant. I was not
very strong, and not being able to perform the duty before the mast, to
which I had not been accustomed, I was beat so unmercifully, that I was
debating in my mind, whether I should kill the captain and then jump
overboard, or submit to my hard fate; but one night as I lay groaning on
the forecastle after a punishment I had received from the captain, which
incapacitated me from further duty, an astonishing circumstance occurred
which was the occasion, not only of my embracing the Mahomedan religion,
but of making use of those expressions which attracted your highness's
attention when you passed in disguise. "Why am I thus ever to be
persecuted?" exclaimed I in despair. And, as I uttered these words, a
venerable personage, in a flowing beard, and a book in his hand,
appeared before me, and answered me. "Because, Huckaback, you have not
embraced the true faith."

"What is the true faith?" inquired I, in fear and amazement.

"There is but one God," replied he, "and I am his prophet."

* * * * *

"Merciful Allah!" exclaimed the pacha, "why, it must have been Mahomed
himself."

"It was so, your highness, although I knew it not at the time."

* * * * *

"Prove unto me that it is the true faith," said I.

"I will," replied he; "I will turn the heart of the infidel captain,"
and he disappeared. The next day the captain of the vessel, to my
astonishment, came to me as I lay on the forecastle, and begging my
pardon for the cruelty that he had been guilty of, shed tears over me,
and ordered me to be carried to his cabin. He laid me in his own bed,
and watched me as he would a favourite child. In a short time I
recovered; after which he would permit me to do no duty, but insisted
upon my being his guest, and loaded me with every kindness.

* * * * *

"God is great!" ejaculated the pacha.

* * * * *

I was lying in my bed, meditating upon these things, when the venerable
form again appeared to me.

"Art them now convinced?"

"I am," replied I.

"Then prove it by submitting to the law the moment that you are able.
You shall be rewarded--not at once, but when your faith has been proved.
Mark me, follow your profession on the seas, and, when once you find
yourself sitting in the divan at Cairo, with two people originally of
the same profession as yourself, without others b