uncement came rather like a bolt from the blue. We had
congratulated ourselves upon taking down into the interior a more or less
tried and faithful knave, where knaves of such a description were
proverbially scarce; and now our henchman announced that he had no longer
any wish or any intention of accompanying us to Morocco City.

The reasons or excuses which he gave were: first, that his wages were
insufficient; and, secondly, that "a courier" had been sent over to him
from Tetuan to tell him that his mother and his wife were quarrelling to
such a degree that Tahara had threatened to go back to her native Riff
country with her brother unless S`lam returned, and if she took that step
it would mean a divorce.

His wages had been already raised considerably, because the post he was
now to fill had more duties connected with it: they might have been
further increased. The other excuse may or may not have been true; but as
the two women had never done anything else except quarrel, the situation
was a foregone conclusion. The old mother may have been trying to poison
Tahara again. But would S`lam trouble to prevent that? Whatever his
motive, it was more than annoying that at the last moment he should throw
us over, leaving no time in which to look out for a new man, and a
reliable man, without whom, in a country as lawless as Morocco, it would
be a little rash, on the part of two people only, to travel.

But an unwilling servant is not to be endured. We gave S`lam his release,
stipulating only that he should return the dollars advanced him for his
wife and mother not many days before.

To this he protested that he had no money, not a peseta left--every coin
had either been spent at the feast or had been left at Tetuan.

In this case, the best plan would be, we said, for S`lam to take with him
a letter to the Consul at Tetuan explaining to him what had happened;
then as S`lam earned money, he might pay it into the Consul's hands for
us, until he had made good the sum advanced him. At this S`lam looked
blank: he said such a letter would mean _prison_ for him. We stood firm.
It was a rude shock to our faith when his hand found its way into the
leather bag at his side under his jellab, and he pulled out and threw on
the table two-thirds of the money which had been given him.

It was suggested that he should pay the whole sum.

No! he was penniless.

Then in that case he could sell the new jellab he had just bought.

He s