you, at all events from the city, but it is only such
as desperate men would choose to take."

"We _are_ desperate men," said Lucien quietly.

"Once outside the walls," continued the Jew, "you must keep perfectly
close and still by day, for a diligent search will be made for you, and
only at night will you be able to creep out from your place of hiding to
steal what you can for food, and to attempt to gain the coast, where
your only chance of escape lies in seizing one of the small feluccas in
which the piracies of the Algerines are carried on, and putting off to
sea without provisions,--with the certainty of being pursued, and the
all but certainty of being overtaken."

"Such risks are better than death or slavery," answered Francisco. "We
think not of danger. The only thing that gives me concern is how we are
to get my poor son out of the Bagnio."

"I will manage that for you," said Bacri, "for my gold is at least
powerful with menials; but in order to do this I shall have to leave the
house for a time and must conceal you in a cellar."

"Do as you will, Bacri," said Francisco; "we are in your hands and place
implicit confidence in you."

"Well, follow me!" said the Jew.

Rising and leaving the skiffa, he conducted them down a staircase into a
small cellar, which was almost too low to admit of their standing erect.
Here he pointed out a shelf on which were a pot of water and a loaf,
also a bundle of straw on which they might rest when so disposed.
Having described carefully to them the manner of Mariano's escape over
the roof of the house and by the city wall, and having given them the
rope that had been used on that occasion, he said--

"Now I leave you. I must lock the trap-door that leads to this dungeon,
and carry away the key, because if rioters were to break in and find the
key in it, they would at once discover your refuge."

"And what if you be killed, Bacri, and we be left here without a soul in
the world who knows of our whereabouts?" said Francisco, with a look of
anxiety. "I'd rather be bastinadoed to death than be buried alive after
all."

"If it goes ill with me, as may well be the case," answered the Jew,
"you have only to make use of this crowbar and wrench off the lock of
the door. But if rioters enter the house, be careful not to do it until
some time after they are gone, and all is quiet. When free, you must
use your own wisdom and discretion.--Farewell!"

Bacri ascended the trap-