They brought us into this port; where,
with the rest, I was sold as a slave.

"Such is my history," ended the Spaniard, "which I trust has afforded
some amusement to your sublime highness."

The immediate answer of the pacha was a loud yawn.

"Shukur Allah! Praise be to God you have done talking. I do not
understand much about it," continued the pacha, turning round to
Mustapha; "but how can we expect a good story from an unbelieving dog of
a Christian?"

"Wallah thaib! Well said, by God!" replied Mustapha; "who was Lokman,
that they talk of his wisdom? Are not these words of more value than
strung pearls?"

"What was the name of the country?" demanded the pacha.

"Spain, your sublime highness; the infidel tribes which you allow to
remain there, are employed in cultivating the olive for true believers."

"Very true," rejoined the pacha; "I remember now. Let the kafir taste
of our bounty. Give him two pieces of gold; and allow him to depart."

"May the shadow of your sublime highness never be less," said the
Spaniard. "I have here a manuscript which I received from an ancient
monk of our order when at the point of death. At the time of my capture
it was thrown on one side, and I preserved it as curious. It refers to
the first discovery of an island. As your highness is pleased to be
amused with stories, it may be worth while to have it translated." The
Dominican then handed from his breast a discoloured piece of parchment.

"Very good," replied the pacha, rising. "Mustapha let it be put into
Arabic by the Greek slave, who shall read it to us some evening when we
have no story-tellers."

"Be chesm! Upon my eyes be it," replied Mustapha, bowing low, as the
pacha retired to his harem.

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER FIVE.

The pacha had repeated his perambulations for many nights, without
success; and Mustapha, who observed that he was becoming very impatient,
thought it advisable to cater for his amusement.

Among those who used to repair to Mustapha when he exercised his former
profession, was a French renegade, a man of considerable talent and
ready invention, but a most unprincipled scoundrel, who, previous to the
elevation of Mustapha, had gained his livelihood by daring piratical
attempts in an open boat. He was now in the employ of the vizier,
commanding an armed xebeque which the latter had purchased. She passed
off as a government cruiser but was in reality a pirate. Selim, for
that was th