* * * *

Well, the gale lasted for a week, and at last one night, when I was at
the helm, we dashed on the rocks of a desolate island. I was pitched
right over the mountains, and fell into the sea on the other side of the
island. I swam on shore, and got into a cave, where I fell fast asleep.
The next morning I found that there was nothing to eat except rats, and
they were plentiful; but they were so quick, that I could not catch
them. I walked about, and at last discovered a great many rats together;
they were at a spring of water, the only one, as I afterwards found, on
the island. Rats can't do without water, and I thought I should have
them there. I filled up the spring, all but a hole which I sat on the
top of. When the rats came again, I filled my mouth with water, and held
it wide open; they ran up to drink, and I caught their heads in my
teeth, and thus I took as many as I wished.

* * * * *

"Aferin, excellent!" cried the pacha, as soon as this was explained.

* * * * *

Well, at last a vessel took me off, and I wasn't sorry for it, for raw
rats are not very good eating. I went home again, and I hadn't been on
shore more than two hours, when who should I see but my first wife, Bet,
with a robin-redbreast in tow. 'That's he!' says she. I gave fight, but
was nabbed and put into limbo, to be tried for what they call _biggery_,
or having a wife too much.

"How does he mean?--desire him to explain," said the pacha, after
Mustapha had conveyed the intelligence. Mustapha obeyed.

"In our country one wife is considered a man's allowance, and he is not
to take more, that every Jack may have his Jill. I had spliced two, so
they tried me, and sent me to Botany Bay for life."

This explanation puzzled the pacha. "How--what sort of a country must it
be, when a man cannot have two wives? Inshallah! please the Lord, we may
have hundreds in our harem! Does he not laugh at our beards with lies?
Is this not all _bosh_, nothing?"

"It is even so, as the Frank speaketh," replied Mustapha. "The king of
the country can take but one wife. Be chesm, on my eyes be it, if it is
not the truth."

"Well," rejoined the pacha, "what are they but infidels? They deserve to
have no more. Houris are for the faithful. May their fathers' graves be
defiled. Let the Giaour proceed."

* * * * *

Well, I was started for the