sil--"

Thus far he spoke, from the force of habit, in his adopted tongue, but
fear speedily drove him to that of his mother.

All tongues, however, were alike to the negroes, who, rendered callous
from long service against their will in a brutalising office, went about
their preparations with calm and slow indifference.

Just as they were about to begin, one of the sbirros, who had a personal
regard for Bobi, spoke a few words to one of the negroes, who
immediately turned Blindi Bobi on his face and firmly raised his feet so
that the naked soles were turned upwards. The other negro applied one
of the rods thereto with all his might. For a few seconds the poor
sufferer uttered no sound, but at last he gave vent to an irresistible
yell. At a sign from the chief sbirro the punishment was stopped, and
Bobi was released and allowed to rise.

Conducting him to the door, the sbirro thrust him into the street, flung
his blue gown after him, and advised him to beware of again rousing the
wrath of Sidi Omar.

Blindi Bobi was far too well acquainted with the cruelties perpetrated
continually in the pirate city to be ignorant of the fact that he had
got off with a light punishment, yet we fear that did not cause him to
entertain much gratitude to Sidi Omar as he limped back to his quarters
at the Marina.

Arrived there, he observed that the sick old man still lay where he had
left him. Running towards him with a sudden impulse, he drew forth his
flask, knelt down, raised the old man's head and gave him a long hearty
draught, after which he took another to himself.

"Derre!" he said, rising and shaking his fist defiantly in the direction
in which Sidi Omar dwelt, "I's revenged on you--brute! bah! boo-o!"

After this relief to his feelings Blindi Bobi went home to attend to his
poor feet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. In 1795 the Americans concluded peace with the Algerians by the
payment of half a million piastres, and an annual tribute of 24,000
piastres.

CHAPTER FIVE.

SHOWS THE LIGHT IN WHICH CONSULS WERE REGARDED BY PIRATES, AND TELLS OF
A CRUEL SEPARATION AND A STUNNING BLOW.

Seated on a throne in a recess of the audience-chamber of the palace,
Achmet Pasha at length condescended to receive Don Pedro, the
representative of Spain.

The Dey was robed in barbaric splendour, and absolutely shone with gold
embroidery and precious stones. Centuries of