ow with what they have
already received, and my thoughts tingle with what is yet to come. If
you have need of friends in the palace here are two--good and true,"
said Baba, turning to the chaouses, who stood mute with amazement at the
man's impudence, "and I am one, which makes three, according to the
rules of arithmetic. If we are not wanted, then these men must do their
duty, for Sidi Hassan is wanted, and we may as well go blithely to our
doom together."

"Fellow," said Omar sternly, "dost know that I have power to have thee
flayed alive without consulting thy master?"

"Nay, not without consulting my master," said Baba, bowing respectfully,
"for my master is before me!"

"In sooth thou art a very impudent knave," returned Omar, smiling in
spite of himself; "and were I the vile plotter thou imaginest, I should
be afraid of having such a changeable friend in the palace."

"Am I changeable for preferring the kind master who was slain to him who
slew him?" said Baba simply.

"That is true, Hadji Baba," returned Omar, suddenly changing his
tone.--"Sidi Hassan, fortune is favourable to us. We will trust these
men. They dare not play us false even though they would, because their
own lives would be forfeited.--Hadji Baba, it may be well for thee to
know that, while we avail ourselves of thine aid and that of thy
friends, we are quite independent of it, because it happens that the
train is already laid, and nothing that thou couldst do, not even the
instant alarm of the palace guards, could prevent it from being fired, I
believe thee faithful, but this information may help to increase thy
fidelity. Go, and, hark 'ee, be very careful to have the guards well
placed and looked after to-night at _the hour of nine_."

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

DESCRIBES AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE PIRATE CITY.

"Madman!" exclaimed the elder chaouse, after Omar and Hassan had left,
"you have put the bow-string round our necks as well as your own."

"True," answered Baba, with a bland smile, "and if we would not have it
drawn tight, we must e'en obey the commands of Omar the Dey."

"I suppose we must," returned the chaouse gloomily; "but it is hard
enough to be compelled to spend our days in strangling, thrashing,
burning, beheading, flaying, and tormenting other men, without the
addition of having our own necks put in jeopardy."

The injustice attaching to themselves and their office seemed to weigh
heavily for some time on the minds